*Annabell's POV

     Lying in my bed, I had my head rested on Jasper's shoulder as he played with my hair. I couldn't help but think about what happened a few moments ago. Over the course of days when I was getting changed or completely undressed with Jasper's help, I grew quite confident with my body around him. Whether clothed or not. He always reassured me of his control over himself, always proving to be true and never making a move I wasn't comfortable with whether just changing clothes or while completely at his mercy, naked in the shower.

     Even today, when we were making out. I was ready to progress a little and when he fondled my breast I longed for him to tear my t-shirt off to feel his touch on my bare skin. I nearly told him so. However, at that point something pushed him to the limit of his self control. What caused it, I didn't know. What I did know was that as he hid in the crook of my neck, wrapping his arms around me and breathing heavily, he fought to keep his word to me. And I loved him for it, endlessly.

    "Are you alright?" Drawing a looping pattern across his shirt on his chest with my finger, in the end I asked him. I could tell he was fully in control again as he was relaxed and gently holding me to his side. But I was curious and hoped that he would tell me what happened.

    He replied after a while. "Yes, angel... Please, forgive me for my momentary weakness. Did I scare you?" Worry evident in his voice.

    "No, Jay." I placed a finger on his lips to keep him from further apologizing. "You did nothing to frighten me and moments like that don't show your weakness but strength." He took a hold of my hand and I heard him whisper my name before he kissed it and rested our hands on his chest.

*

    I was woken up by a gentle kiss. Before I could reach up to put my arm around his neck to prolong the kiss, Jasper pulled away. "Peter will be here soon. He'll give us a ride to the hospital. We need to get some breakfast into you before that." He reminded me. I could tell that my bones were almost good as new and the cast was mostly just an obstruction to my ability to walk now. More than ready to get rid of it I got out of bed and before I finished my breakfast we could hear Peter's car stop in front of the house.

*

    "You look good, Annabell." Carlisle greeted me, when we entered the hospital room where I laid before. "How are you feeling? I don't see any bruises left and your forehead looks like there was never any wound to begin with." He sounded impressed.

    "I feel great. Thank you Carlisle." I replied with a smile.

    "Nothing hurts anymore? I know your kind never gets sick and apparently heals fast but it still amazes me." Admitted the doctor, making me giggle.

    "No, there's no pain anymore. I think the bones have healed too already-" Wait... "Ummm what do you mean you know my kind?" Even if Jasper told him what I am, he himself did not know that we're always healthy.

    "I don't think this is the best place for this conversation, angel." Said Jasper gently, placing a hand on my shoulder in what I assumed was supposed to be a comforting gesture.

    Taking a step back to face them both, I shrugged his hand off. "You know what he's talking about? What are you not telling me?" Getting a sickening feeling of dread I waited for an answer.

    "Please, angel. We'll tell you everything, but first let Carlisle check your injuries." Pleaded Jasper softly. His words not really providing any comfort to ease the anxiety that settled in my stomach.

    Thanks to the cast preventing me from bending my knee I walked, limping, past them as if getting through a bunch of strangers on the street and found the bed. "Fine." I sat down and waited for Carlisle to finish his work. I was a little surprised but also glad that Jasper didn't try to settle me down, because if he did, it would only enrage me more. I wanted him to know that I'm angry with him but if he tried to tamper with my emotions now, I would block him.

    When Carlisle freed my limbs of their restrictions, he took a few X-ray pictures. "You're right Annabell. There's nearly no sign of the fractures anymore. But I advise you to still not rush things. You spent over a week unable to use your leg and arm. Give your muscles a little bit of time to adapt before you put them to full use again." He said after some time, which he probably spent inspecting my X-rays.

    Done with the check up, finding nothing wrong with me anymore and not receiving a word from me, Carlisle cleared his throat. "I hear you're coming to our house today?" He asked hesitantly.

    "Yes." I gave a simple reply, not feeling chatty.

    "Umm... I can get there in about an hour if you insist on learning how I know your kind, Annabell." Offered Carlisle slowly. I inhaled to say something, then I changed my mind and just nodded.

    Walking out of the hospital with Jasper behind me, Peter swept me in his arms and spun around. "I don't see a cast anymore, does that mean you've fully healed?" I tried to smile at him. He insisted on coming with us but not inside the hospital, saying that he prefers fresh air.

    "Yes Pete, I'm good." Probably finally noticing the tension between me and Jasper, his cheerfulness wavered.

    Peter set me carefully down. "What happened? Is there still something wrong with you?" He asked, confused.

    "With me? Not that I know of. But then again there must be something. Why else does nobody ever tell me anything?" I snapped at him. Feeling bad for a moment for taking my anger out on him.

    However, only until I heard Jasper's quiet explanation. "She found out that Carlisle knows the Gifted, before I could tell her about it. I meant to do it later but Carlisle slipped up."

    With a hit of both of my fists to his chest I pushed Peter away from me. "So you know too?!" I thought that Peter would tell me right away if he knew, but obviously I was wrong. Furious, for a second I played with the idea that I'll just walk to Cullens' by myself. Slight soreness in my left arm from the hit I gave Peter, told me that such action would be unwise. I didn't know what I could expect to learn today but Carlisle was an excellent doctor and I decided to heed his words this time.

    Feeling my way around the car, I got in the back and turned my head to face the window to let them know I was angry with both of them when they followed suit, getting in the car.

*Jasper's POV

    When I regained control and we rested side by side on the bed, I wondered what was on Annabell's mind. She kept playing with her fingers on my chest and seemed unable to fall asleep. We just laid like that in silence for a while. "Are you alright?" She asked suddenly.

    If I'm alright? I pondered about that for a moment. I was the one who nearly lost control and took her, whether she was ready or not and she was still more concerned about me than herself... I desperately wanted to give her my mark, so nobody could doubt who she belonged to. But she was too innocent and even though it was second hand, I had the chance to experience the claiming of one's mate a few times before.

*

    Back then with Maria, I've met and created hundreds of vampires. From time to time they found mates among themselves. They were all newborns so whenever that happened, Maria had me dispose of them. Because when the usually days old newborn mates found one another their instincts went crazy and they just senselessly fucked each other for days, deeming themselves useless to her.

    There was one exception. Although not helpful to me. I managed to convince Maria to keep Peter over the one year mark, when every newborn in her army was supposed to be replaced by a new one. Peter stayed by my side as my Captain. It was about fifteenth year of Peter's vampire life when I brought Charlotte. She was beautiful and few male newborns were trying to get her attention. When Peter saw her, he immediately went to greet her. His "Hello gorgeous." met with displeasure of the other guys and before I put a stop to it, he managed to beat two of them into a pile.

    I was aware that Charlotte was Peter's mate for I could feel her emotions which were the same as all those unfortunate ones I had to end before. However, she managed to not go crazy and I could but guess that it was thanks to the fear Peter's ruthless show brought up in her. And even though it didn't look like it when he first met Charlotte, Peter wasn't a fresh and impulsive newborn with instincts in overdrive either.

    He knew that he screwed up by her with his first impression and wanted to play a gentleman but still let all the other males know that Charlotte was taken. The same night, when he knew Maria wouldn't be close, he asked Charlotte to accompany him on a patrol. I was not excited about it but went with him in case something went wrong. He explained to her that they are mates and that he just wants to give her his mark to which she happily agreed.

    I thought that everything went fine, however, the moment Peter sank his teeth into Charlotte's neck it felt like he got a shot of ecstasy and in seconds he disposed of both of their clothes and was slamming himself home with Charlotte's legs around his waist. It took me almost an hour to bring them back to their senses. Best worked when I reminded Peter what will happen to Charlotte if Maria finds out. Which she didn't for a while as Charlotte had it out for Peter for months after that.

*

    "Yes, angel... Please, forgive me for my momentary weakness. Did I scare you?" I finally asked, worried. I wanted her to be officially mine but I couldn't bear if she hated me for the rest of eternity for losing control upon giving her my mark, when she wasn't ready.

    "No, Jay." She replied, pressing her finger to my lips. "You did nothing to frighten me and moments like that don't show your weakness but strength." All I could feel was her love and I was so choked with emotion that I didn't manage more than whisper her name and kiss her hand, keeping it where my heart is supposed to beat.

* * *

    Sitting in Peter's Impala, we were on the way to Cullen's house. Annabell was silent in the backseat but her anger screamed at me and I wished it was still last night. I'd rather deal with my yearning for her than her anger with me.