Forging a Path

A/N: Happy Birthday, Kikibowns! We hope you’re having a wonderful day.

As ever, we do not own Twilight - it owns us.

ooOoo

“So what are you going to do?” I murmur softly into his hair, my arms tightening around him.

He shrugs, not saying a word.

I sigh, rubbing my thumb soothingly over his upper arm. Staring at the ceiling, I try to imagine my life without Edward in it. I can't.

I just... can't.

Still, it has to be his decision.

“Ba-” I clear my throat, frowning as I try again. “Edward, I can't tell you what to do.”

My voice is so quiet, I wonder if he hears, especially when he doesn't respond beyond burrowing his face into my chest.

ooOoo

We lie like that for hours, just holding each other. The longer he goes without speaking, the more worried I become. Scared that he's made his choice and can't bring himself to tell me he's going to do as his father wants.

I swallow hard as I remember his parents’ ultimatum after a so-called friend outed him in retaliation.

“Jazz, Dad gave me a choice. I either give you up, and he'll pay for college, or... Or he'll disown me and kick me out.”

A quiet sniffling alerts me to his distress. It's the first sound he's made in hours.

ooOoo

“Edward?” I whisper.

He shakes his head, angrily wiping his tears away as he sits up and turns his face away from me. Frustrated, he tugs at his hair, grumbling, “It isn't even... How am I supposed to choose, Jasper?”

He turns to me. The pain in his eyes is too much – it cuts to the heart of me. Before I can stop myself, I shift, straddling his thighs and cupping his face. For several seconds, we simply stare, and then I brush my lips over his and sigh.

“I don't care about the money, Jazz. I don't. But how..?”

ooOoo

“They're my parents!” he rages suddenly. “They're supposed to love me, no matter what. Isn't that the bullshit they've always told us?”

He's fisting the covers, his breathing harsh and uneven, and he just looks so hurt. Gathering him up in my arms, I gently sway back and forth, making shushing noises.

“I don't know, sweetheart.”

And I don't. I've been emancipated for a couple of years now, due to physical abuse. I don't have the same experiences he does.

I do know one thing, though. I love him with all my heart, and I need to tell him so.

ooOoo

“I love you, too, Jasper,” he mumbles, his hands clenching my shirt. “I don't know what I'd do without you. How is this supposed to be a fair choice? You, or them? I can't do it, Jasper, I can't.”

My heart aches, sure he's going to stay with his family. Like he said, they are his parents.

Before I can stop myself, I ask, “What do you want, baby?”

I close my eyes, afraid of his answer.

His lips brush my neck. He huffs. “What I want is to be with you. To love you. To have a family someday.”

ooOoo

My heart stutters for entirely different reasons as I listen. I want those things, too. With him. Pulling back slightly, I look at him. His eyes are wide, honest, open, and pleading.

Cupping his cheek, I smile. “I want that, too, Edward. I love you, and I'd be lost without you, too,” I admit.

He gives a half-smile at that. “I guess that means I've made my choice, huh?” he says quietly.

Kissing him lightly, I murmur against his lips, “I don't know where we go from here, sweetheart. We'll cut our own path, though. Together. Okay?”

“Okay.” He nods.

ooOoo

Settling back on the bed, I pull him in my arms. We're both calmer, and I can hear some measure of peace in his voice as we talk about what to do next.

We decide that he'll move in with me – he's practically always here, anyway. Tomorrow, while his parents are working, we'll get his things.

He's already working part-time this summer at the same store where I work full-time. I'm sure our boss will give him more hours, though. She's cool like that, especially if we explain. Edward's hesitant, but agrees after I point out her brother's gay, too.

ooOoo

We talk well into the night. It's the most we've talked about the future, and we discuss all plans big and small in hushed tones. The more we work things out, the more we both relax.

By the time Edward falls asleep – both of us still dressed and on top of the covers – I'm smiling and hopeful. Today's been one of the hardest in my life – well, discounting living at home.

I know it's been hard on Edward. Tomorrow, though, and every day after...

“Wherever the road leads, I'll follow you,” is the last thing I whisper before falling asleep.