Marked 29 - All the Things You Are

A/N: As always, we'd like to thank our wonderful betas and pre-readers, EchoesOfTwilight, kimberlycullen10, and theladyingrey42. You all keep us sane and help make our words prettier - we love you!

Our apologies for the wait, we hope you'll find it worth it.

We don't own Twilight, but these boys own us.

ooOoo

The jolt of the landing gear on the tarmac was more welcome than I could remember it being in a long time. I knew it was still several hours before I would see Jasper, but being back in Boston brought a sense of peace. I smiled as I pulled out my phone, turning it back on and looking at the latest picture of Jasper as I waited for us to be ready to get off the plane.

And waited.

And waited.

Marked 28 - I Wanna Be Loved By You

JPOV
Draining the last of my coffee, I forced myself to slow down. I was unwilling to let on how unsettled I was and how eager I was to get outside - away from everyone's inquisitive eyes.

Breakfast had been a quiet, uncomfortable affair, so unlike what I was used to when I was home. Things hadn't been this awkward since right after I'd come out.

Grabbing my dirty dishes, I made to go wash them as usual when Mama said, "Jasper, honey, would you be a dear and help your mama fix the washing lines? I've been trying to get your daddy to fix them, but he hasn't had time, and it can't wait any longer."

Marked Chapter 27 - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

EPOV

At first I couldn't place the noise invading my dreams as my cell phone ringing – and then I couldn't find the damn thing. Finally extricating myself from the sheets, I fumbled around until I found it on my nightstand. I hit the answer button as I brought it to my ear and cleared my throat.

"Masen," I mumbled, unable to get much more out.

As soon as I heard Jasper's quiet voice say, "Hey, baby…" I was awake. I smiled reflexively, falling back onto my pillow and stretching as I asked him if he'd had a good flight. I felt more whole somehow, just talking to him on the phone, and I asked questions to keep him talking. It seemed like he'd been gone days rather than just hours – especially considering I'd spent most of those few hours asleep.

Marked Chapter 26 - Head Over Feet

A/N: Sorry for the delay in posting on the blog - I completely forgot about it! Totally my fault. SC

JPOV

I stared up at the ceiling, my hands under my head as I gazed without seeing. I was tired, having been unable to fall asleep last night. A glance at the clock told me there was no point in even trying to get any sleep now - my alarm was set to go off in about half an hour, at which point I'd have to get up and get ready to pick up Emily before heading to the airport.

With a sigh, I rubbed my eyes with the heels of my hands, wishing I could get my mind to shut up - or at least settle down. The last three weeks had been...a roller coaster, to say the least. So much had happened that I still hadn't sorted out: running into Paul, trying to figure out what was going on with me - and then with Edward. Getting sick and having Edward take care of me. The way he'd made my birthday feel like something worthwhile again. Waking up and glimpsing my name in his journal...

Marked Chapter 25 - Hanging by a Moment

EPOV

I woke up the following morning to Jasper shivering. I put the back of my hand against his forehead, frowning at the heat coming off of him. Rolling over, I reached for the thermometer and turned to give it to Jasper. He was a little groggy, but I wasn't sure if that was from still being half-asleep or from the fever.

When it beeped, he frowned, handing it to me with a sigh as he let his head fall back on his pillow.

102.1°F

Damn it...

"Jazz..." I glanced at him.

He groaned, muttering, "I'm fine..."

I lifted one eyebrow, holding the thermometer out to him again. "This says otherwise. You need to call, baby."

Marked Chapter 24 - For The Longest Time

EPOV

"Come on...answer already..."

I sighed, running my fingers through my hair in both worry and frustration, my knee bouncing nervously as I sat on the edge of the bed. I'd been trying to reach Jasper since Wednesday night and kept getting his voice mail.

"Hi, you've reached Jasper Whitlock. You know the drill."

Damnit!

I huffed, hitting the end-call button. There was no point in leaving another message, as he hadn't gotten back to me after the last three I'd left. Clenching my jaw, I tried to stamp down the feeling that something was wrong, that this was a repeat of Tennessee. I couldn't - wouldn't - believe he'd do that to me again. Not after everything that had happened.

But still...

My eyes fell on the garment bags with our costumes hanging on my closet door. I ran my hand over my face roughly and sighed.

Jasper, what's going on? Why aren't you calling me?

Marked Chapter 23 - Glycerine

JPOV

Fuck.

I stood there for a minute, frozen in place. I wasn't even sure if I was debating answering the door or not. I just couldn't seem to make myself move.

Another knock brought me out of my stupor, and I opened the door without ever deciding to. I don't know what I expected, but Jason didn't really react at all beyond straightening up and taking a step back from the door. His eyes were darker than I remembered and some mix between stormy and confused.

I stood there, just staring at him stupidly, until he cleared his throat. I stepped back, half-tempted to close the door and pretend none of this was happening, but Jason took it as an invitation. He walked into the living room, and my eyes followed him as I stood there with the door still open.

Marked Chapter 22 - If I Give My Heart to You

JPOV

I was vaguely aware of Edward leaving, but the sense of loss was obscured, shrouded in questions and conflicting emotions. I felt raw, aching and bleeding from my fears about Emily being confirmed.

I still couldn't believe I'd told her what had happened with Paul. I'd promised myself long ago that my family would never know – that they, at least, would still think of me as Jasper and not as some victim. But looking at Emily, knowing she'd gone through something similar, made my defenses crumble. When Edward told me I had to tell her, there was nothing I could do but agree.

And be afraid.

Marked Chapter 21 - I Want to Tell You

EPOV

I set up my pillows on the bed and opened my laptop, pressing the button to boot it up. Instead of waiting impatiently for it to be ready, I picked up the picture frame I'd brought upstairs with me. I leaned against the headboard and began shuffling through the pictures from the zoo, looking for the one I knew I wanted.

I smiled reflexively down at the image of Jasper and me with our arms around each other, smiling at the camera. My index finger traced his face as a pang of longing hit me hard. It was intensified by the anxiousness I felt as I waited to talk to him.

I'd dropped him off at the airport several hours earlier, and I knew he should be logging on any minute now. I wondered if he'd unpacked yet, if he'd found the items I'd stowed away in his suitcase.
I'd felt a little silly when I'd grabbed them before heading over to his apartment to help him get ready, but some part of me just needed to send some of myself with him – so I had. I'd packed a pair of my pajama pants and one of my t-shirts in his suitcase…as well as the picture of us kissing that Emily had snapped on the zoo trip.

Marked Chapter 20 - What Do You Want From Me

A/N: Thank you so much to our betas, EchoesofTwilight, kimberlycullen10, and theladyingrey42, for reading this continuously and giving us fantastic feedback. We love you ladies!

We don't own any of these characters, but these two boys sure as hell own us. We hope that you grow to love them just as much as we do.

---

JPOV

Shifting slightly, I blinked the sleep out of my eyes when the realization hit me.

I'm at Edward's.

I scrubbed my hands roughly over my face, trying to wake up and gather my thoughts. I still couldn't believe everything that had happened. Turning to my side, I watched Edward as he slept. He was on his back, one arm slung above his head while the other rested on his stomach. His legs were hidden by the comforter, which was draped over his hips, covering the tattoo there.

Marked Chapter 19 - More Than Words

EPOV
Of course I woke up early Friday morning. It felt as if my body was vibrating, and my mind was instantly alert. My eyes popped open, and I lifted my head to peer over Jasper's pillow; a quick glance at my alarm clock showed me it was 7:49.
Fucking great.
I sighed and let my head flop back onto the pillow, squeezing my eyes shut, but it was no use. I knew it was pointless, so after a few moments of trying to calm the thoughts racing through my mind, I sat up and scrubbed my hands over my face.

Marked Chapter 18 - Honestly OK

EPOV

"Edward!"

I turned my head, trying to find the source of Kate's voice, but there were just too many people around. She called my name again, and this time I saw her, my face breaking out into a grin at the sight of her. She had her camera hanging around her neck, waving frantically at me as I made my way over. Her hair was up in a ponytail, and she was wearing dress-jeans and a burgundy button down – her usual work-attire.

When I finally made my way to her – having to try to navigate around the sea of people that all appeared to be going in the opposite direction I was – she pushed her camera out of the way and gave me a one-armed hug as she asked how my flight was.

Marked Chapter 17 - What the Hell Have I?

JPOV

I was struggling.

It made no sense, really. It was Wednesday, and Edward had been gone only since Monday afternoon. We'd talked on the phone every day, and it wasn't like I saw him all that often during the week under normal circumstances.

So why did it matter that he was in another state?

I didn't know why, but there was no denying that it was driving me insane. And yesterday morning, I'd proven just how pathetically attached I was when I sent Edward a text.

Marked Ch 16 - What I Wanted to Say

EPOV

Mornin', darlin'. Just making sure you're up and finishing your packing. Will pick you up at eleven thirty, so you'd best get to steppin'. See you in a couple of hours. J.

My thumb traced the side of the screen as I re-read the text Jasper had sent me this morning. I shook my head as I realized I had been staring at it - again - with a stupid smile on my face. Though I wished he could come with me on my trip, and I hated the fact that I wouldn't be seeing him for about a week, the thought that he cared enough about me to want to make sure I was ready...and that he wanted to spend as much time together as possible before I left...

Marked Chapter 15 - You Were Meant For Me

JPOV

"Hey J, you got a minute?"

I looked up from what I was doing to see Mike standing in my doorway. "Yeah, man, what's up?"

He closed the door behind him and walked to my desk, taking a seat without being asked to. He watched me for a moment, grabbing the baseball – which had been signed by Manny Ramírez - that was perched on the corner. It had been a gift from Eric a few years back; he'd found it on eBay and thought I might appreciate it. Mike tossed it lightly from hand to hand as I waited for him to come out with whatever was on his mind.

Marked Chapter 14 - We Belong

EPOV

Feels so warm...

The smell of Earl Grey seemed to surround me, to fill my senses even in my sleep along with the feeling of Jasper lying against my back, his hips shifting into mine in a slow rhythm while his fingers trailed from my hip to my chest, brushing my nipples ever so lightly. His lips alternated between soft kisses along my neck and whispered words I couldn't quite make out but that left me wanting to find out. It all felt so real but so close to the dream I'd had several times now that, with my half-asleep mind, I was convinced it was just that - a dream. It was one my body was most definitely responding to... but then, it always did. And if this was a dream, I really didn't want to wake up to find he wasn't there. So, I struggled to stay in that pleasant haze of not-quite-asleep-but-not-awake-either.

Marked Chapter 13 - When You Say Nothing at All

JPOV

I pulled at my tie, loosening the knot a little less carefully than usual. It was one of the ties Emily had given me - an Escher, to be exact - but I was feeling anxious and couldn't make myself care like I normally did. The tie was actually the reason I was in my car.

On my way to Edward's house.

Marked Chapter 12 - To Make You Feel My Love

EPOV

Earl Grey tea... I burrowed my nose down further into that scent, frowning in confusion when I felt something tighten around me and my bed vibrate lightly.

Wait...bed?

And what's that noise..?

I raised my head a little, my eyes still closed as I tried to figure out why I was hearing a baby crying.

Baby?

I muttered softly, "Oh shit, Bella!"

Marked Chapter 11 - I'm No Angel

JPOV

"Ouch! Goddamnit!"

I quickly sucked on my thumb, trying to soothe the sting from having pricked the pad with a pin. After checking the strips of fabric I had been trying to pin together to make sure I hadn't bled on them, I pushed away from the table. I think that's my cue to take a break.

Since I had gotten the day off on Friday thanks to Mike's screw up, I had gone shopping to get the supplies I would need for all the Christmas presents I intended to make this year. With the help of the girl at the fabric store, I found a pattern for a quilt that seemed easy enough. It had taken me longer to decide on what prints to use for the blocks, and in the end, I opted for prints from Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit.

I spent the better part of the weekend either working on the sketches of my nephews or cutting the pieces for Bella's quilt - in part because it really needed to be done and I wanted to utilize the time I had available, and in part because it served to keep my mind off Edward and how much I missed him. It had already been a long week, what with my sudden trip to Portland, and though we'd managed to get together for a bit before he had to leave - time we had definitely put to good use - the fact remained that he was gone the entire weekend.

Marked Chapter 10 - Take a Chance on Me

EPOV

I was staggering down the stairs Sunday morning when I heard keys jingling in the lock of my front door. I chuckled, running my fingers through my messy hair as I yawned. Kate had called me on her way over, frantic as she asked if I could develop a few rolls of film for her. She’d had a major reshoot and was in a panic, trying to figure out how to get everything done.

I met her in the hallway, amused by her wild eyes as she shoved a bag into my arms. Her long blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she was wearing a Red Sox cap. She was babbling at a rate that my mind, still half-asleep, had trouble following.

“Thank you so much! I can’t tell you how much this means to me. I owe you big. Like make-you-dinner-and-do-your-laundry-for-a-month kind of big. Well, maybe not your laundry, but you know what I mean. I cannot believe I had to reshoot that whole damn thing, and now I have this shoot today, and there’s no way in hell I’d be able to get done-"

I arched an eyebrow at the number a “few” apparently meant to her, but I dropped the bag on the bench, pulling Kate close as I tried to calm her down a little.

“Don’t be silly,” I said, wrapping my arms around her. I smiled when she buried her face in my chest and tightened her arms around my waist, her shoulders dropping as she sighed. “You don’t owe me a thing…just calm down before you give yourself a coronary. I’ve got this.”