She hadn't seen it coming; how could she?

"Don't" she warned, firmer than intended, but the situation called for it. Her commands fell on deaf ears.

Jasper turned in the direction of the commotion and attempted to move, but the pixie was holding him tightly by the arm.

"Jazz, I said, don't. Please" she pleaded with him, "come away with me"

It was no use, his head whipped around to meet her eyes. Pitch black met amber once again, but this time it was different. He was different. A warning growl ripped through his chest. Still she held on, frozen, in those black lakes.

"My car!" came the traumatised scream of the unsuspecting teenager in the distance, oblivious to the danger he was currently in.

" WHY WOULD SOMEONE STEAL MY BEAUTIFUL CAR AND DUMP IT HERE!"

The human was angry, and Alice felt sorry for him. She hadn't expected it and felt no reason to look for it. Another stupid mistake on her part. But she had never thought someone would follow them when she stole it.

She hadn't seen them exit the shop across the street in time to see the car being taken, hadn't seen the group of friends trailing them in the pickup truck, hadn't seen them attempt to match the pace as she rushed to get Jasper quickly away from the residential area hadn't seen the pickup truck colliding with the rear end of the Chevy sticking haphazardly out of the wooded verge. No, she hadn't seen any of that.

But she did see what came next. And no matter which path she chose, the outcome was always the same.

Jasper let out another guttural growl, and she knew she was treading a very fine line with him. Decisions, decisions.

Sighing sadly, she let her hand fall delicately from his arm, and in an instant, he was gone.

Alice didn't even attempt to follow, listening instead to the screams of the previously incensed group, before silence reigned once again across the forest.

Drifting over to a felled tree, Alice sat quietly, giving him time to come to his senses and return to her. She promised she would never judge his decisions, and she meant it. If he wanted to continue feeding on humans, that was his choice. She had no need to control him; nevertheless, she still felt a pang of sadness for the boys' lives lost.

She stared lazily at the birds in the trees above, listening to their song, almost missing the crunch of twigs to her left. Dragging her eyes away from the beauty above, they finally fell on the sorry sight of her dishevelled mate, his face and shirt caked in the blood of his victims.

He stared at a pile of leaves in front of him, toeing at the dirt beneath his feet, saying nothing.

He was torn. He shouldn't feel guilty, this is what they are. it's their nature. they were predators and it was their right as predators to take what they wanted. she was the oddity here not him. but his resolve was slipping feeling the waves of disappointment coming of of her. despite knowing he had done nothing wrong he hated to disappoint the angel. He growled.

Alice pushed off from her perch on the tree, causing Jasper to instinctively reel back as if expecting to be struck; old habits die hard.

Confusion knitted itself across Alice's brow before quickly being replaced with shock recognition as a gasp escaped her lips. Sadness stained the air, and Jasper flinched again, not out of fear but from rejection of her pity.

Alice tried again, palms raised to appease him, that she was no threat, inching closer. This time, Jasper remained rooted to the spot, looking everywhere but at her eyes.

"I'm not angry with you, Jasper," she inched closer still. "I won't hurt you... I am not her."

It was Jasper's turn to be confused. What was she talking about? Not her? Not who? He recognized her. He let out another guttural growl, his eyes black as pits, and he was no longer Jasper.

"For His sake Leave!" The Major kept his voice low and rough. His command final and leaving know room to manoeuvre- or so he thought.

Shaking her head, Alice straightened up, matching The Major's icy gaze. "I can't do that. I'm sorry. I won't leave him... I won't leave you."

Despite himself, the Major paused, the low rumble in his chest being all that could be heard

Alice pushed on, wanting to have it out with the Major, and she finally got her wish; she needed to make the most of it.

"I'm not her" she repeated ignoring the flinch elicited from the Major "I'm not Maria. I will never force you to do something you don't want to do.either of you."

She took a cautious step closer,palms still raised.

"I'm never going to hurt you"

The Major's eyes narrowed in contemplation, choosing his next words carefully.

"Ah don't believe yah! It's my Job to protect him and I don't believe yah!" Fist clenched he drew closer,still she stood her ground.

"All I ask is that you give me a chance to prove it," she showered him with all the feelings of kindness and love she could muster, in the hopes it would break down his walls. "Your job was to protect him, and you did. You got him out of there and away from her. Now it's my job to protect you both."

The major actually chuckled, something Alice had never witnessed in any of her visions of him. There was something a little unnerving about it; she couldn't lie.

"A little thing like you? Gonna protect us?" He shook his head and continued in a deep chuckle "I dun't believe ya! But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt"

Becoming serious once again, he caught hold of her wrist tightly. Alice made no move to stop him.

"But if ya betray us" he spat "even YOU won't see it coming"

Alice cupped her cheek with her free hand and whispered softly, "I promise."

And with that, the Major/Jasper dropped to his knees.