Chapter 5

3rd P.O.V

Serenity woke up, but she couldn't move. Paralyzed by fear. Then just as suddenly she could move. She let out a gasp, despite the fact it was meant to be a scream. Tears blurred her vision as the horrifying memory left her grasp into a place she couldn't reach. She tried to recall what had caused this horrible feeling in her gut.

'Not ready to remember yet,' Aphrodite mumbled in the corner of her mind.

'She's right, don't go reaching for something that you are clearly not ready for.' The General said with a raw and raspy voice.

Looking at the clock she finds that it's two am. She decided to take a walk, knowing she wouldn't be getting back to sleep. She pulled on a emerald green sweater and a pair of jeans, her boots, and leather jacket and snuck out the door. She walked around the house and froze as she sensed someone here. Serenity was still sleep deprived, and her instincts were screaming danger as she was suddenly wide awake. Dropping into a crouch in front of the tree she was standing in front of she spoke letting The General lightly into her voice, because she was really close.

"Who da fuck is here?" She asked in a hiss. Honestly she was exhausted and didn't have the strength to reach out with her empathetic abilities. She sensed the sneaking up on her before it happened. She snatched the arm as fingers lightly grazed her shoulder. She twisted and flipped over them not registering that it was a shocked Jasper that she now had with a knee in his back, and an arm around her neck. Jasper was so in shock that he didn't realize that he was no longer in control. That is until he hears The Major laugh. Recognition, and her grip loosened slightly. The Major brought his hand up and intertwined their fingers. His mate was mighty confused right now.

"I know that laugh." Serenity uttered as clarity finally came over her. She still held onto him. Just to make sure. "Major?" She asked. The Major hummed and sent a wave of mischief and suddenly he was out of her hold, and for the second time. Serenity found herself pinned to a tree.

"Neva loosen yer hold until yer absolutely sure it's me." He said in her ear. His teeth nipped at her ear lobe.

"Now I know it's you. I took Jay by surprise. Should've known it was y'all out here." She mumbled. The Major huffed and let go of her shoulders. Instead he took her hands.

"Whatcha doin up, anyway, don't humans need sleep?" He asked, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'm not like regular humans, and I can actually function years without sleep, not that it's healthy but I woke up and knew that I wouldn't get back to sleep, and decided to go on a walk until Jay snuck up on me." She said and then she huffed and punched him lightly in the shoulder and it shocked him that it slightly hurt.

"Tell him not to do that! Does he have a death wish?" She asked. The Major snorted, but then noticed that she was serious and seemed troubled. "What's the matter, Darlin, Jay has my training-" She interrupted him. He would have growled but he noticed the sudden panic in her tone as she went off on him.

"I know that, Major, just like I know you're the strongest s.o.b on the planet but I could've really hurt you! I could've actually hurt you, and it's too soon to tell you how or why but I could've- I,I" Her voice broke and she was shaking like a leaf. Her breath was coming out in pants and he could feel her panic and pain at the thought of hurting him.

The Major wasn't sure what to do so he pulled her into his chest and rocked her back and forth like Peter does when he or Jay have a panic attack. The Major made soft shushing noises and held her tightly as Serenity tried to get herself and The General under control. The rocking, soft shushing sounds, and even Aphrodite rumbling in the back of her mind helped with calming them down. Serenity got herself under control but it was The General who was really panicking.

' I could've taken control and if I didn't know, I, I-'

Aphrodite pulled the General into her chest and drew her closer, and the panic finally left Serenity as The General and Aphrodite moved back and back way down into her subconscious.

"Sorry," Serenity croaked against his chest. The Major went to move but was surprised as his mate's arms wrapped around his neck.

"Can we?" She asked then cleared her then sucked in a raged breath a bit embarrassed with her cry fest and panic attack.

"Can we just stay like this?" She asks in a whisper, and then adds, "actually can you just hold me tighter, please Major?" She mumbled. The Major didn't answer, he just tightened his grip and held her to him. She went slack in his hold, and just held him. The Major gave Jasper back control because he felt that Jay would need to talk with her, because she wouldn't believe it, unless it came from him.

"That's some move you got there, Darlin." He said in her hair. "I'm s-" She went to apologize, but Jasper shushed her, and picked her up. She looked over his shoulder to notice that they were now in her room, and she was sitting across his lap. Her breath hitched.

"The Major's right, you know." He muttered in her ear. She sent him her curiosity. Jasper chuckled, pulling away from her slightly. She gripped his shirt.

"I was taken by surprise. I wouldn't let you hurt me, Darlin, not when the thought upsets you so much." He answered with a rumble. "But-" She went to interrupt when suddenly she was pinned down with him on top of her.

"Don't interrupt me, Darlin, or I will show ya!" He grinned down at her. She gulped harshly. His grin turned to a smirk as he felt her emotions change slightly.

"You know, Darlin," He said softly, slowly drawing out the word darlin, before continuing, "If ya wanted me on my knees all ya had to do was ask." He purred darkly. Serenity drew in a sharp breath.

"Jay, this is serious." She mumbled softly. Jasper leaned down and his lips brushed hers.

"I could always make you stop attacking me. All I would have to do is this." He said and kissed her softly. His tongue pushed past her lips and he kissed her slowly as his tongue swirled with hers. He pulled back and let go of her. He hoped that he didn't go to far. As if she knew what he was thinking she pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. He rolled off of her and sat up.

"Stay with me?" She asked with a certain vulnerability in her voice.

"For as long as you'll have me, Darlin," He said laying beside her.

"Then forever, hold me while I go to sleep?" She asked. Jasper wrapped his arms around her and she snuggled into his embrace. He threw the blanket over them and held her to his chest. They talked softly, him about his family of vampires, and her about her hobbies and things she liked. They talked until she drifted off to sleep as Jasper was telling her about one of the many baseball games his family liked to play.