AN: Sorry for the delay in getting this out to y'all. I recently submitted a short story to Dreamspinner Press, and have had a block ever since. LOL I hope y'all are still with me with this saga :)

Thank you to the awesome DelphiusFanfic, for prereading, and the talented Corey, for betaing. Don't know what I would do without them.

Enough rambling - I hope y'all enjoy! As always, I don't own Twilight.

EPOV

Graduation was upon us finally, and I couldn't be happier. In just a few short hours, I would be free to do whatever I wanted with my life. Did I know what I wanted to do? Of course I did. I wanted to move in with and be turned by Jasper. Mom and Dad couldn't be angry with me for my decision either, because I'd kept my promise to them and graduated.

Currently, I was sitting on the Cullens' couch in their living room, catching popcorn in my mouth as Jasper threw it to me. We were all just hanging around, relaxing, before we had to get ready to go to the school. It was a sunny Saturday, and it was a good thing graduation started at dusk.

Ever since Carlisle had talked to Sam at the border, we had no more trouble with Paul, but I was still a little wary. I mean, he came to my house and tried shit with me. How unnerving was that? I love my parents, but I just felt much safer at the Cullens.

"Hey, Edward," Emmett called from the other side of the room. "How do you think Yorkie's gonna do as Valedictorian?"

"Don't know," I replied. "Don't really care. He gets on my nerves."

"He still bothering you?" Jasper asked casually, tossing me another piece of popcorn.

Catching it, I chewed and swallowed before answering, "No. He just gets on my nerves in general. His voice makes my ears wanna bleed."

Emmett laughed at my remark, and Jasper sat the bowl of popcorn on the table then pulled me over to sit closer.

"What was that for?" I asked playfully, and he tightened his arm around my shoulders.

"Nothing in particular," he commented. "I just wanted you close."

It was stuff like that that Jasper said, usually out of the blue, that made my heart catch in my throat and made me wonder what the heck a perfect creature like Jasper ever saw in me.

"All is going to go well tonight," Alice said as she breezed into the room and placed a vase of flowers on one of the nearby tables.

"Good news," Jasper said quietly, running just the tips of his fingers up and down the back of my head. I shivered involuntarily, and he stopped.

I soon became bored with just sitting in the house, so I coaxed Jasper and the rest of his siblings to go outside in the back yard with me. I really didn't have a plan on what I wanted to do. When we walked out in the sun, I was surprised to see Esme working in her flower garden. She was wearing old clothes and had a sun hat on her head, but her skin still reflected the sun like diamonds. Coming to a complete stop, I stared openly. It was strange and fascinating. I had never seen her sparkle before.

Emmett laughed at me and I had to check to see if my mouth was hanging open. Esme just gave me her usual warm smile. Jasper then pulled me by the hand, taking us further out into the yard.

"Sorry about that, guys," I tried to explain, knowing I was blushing. "I just have never-"

"We know," Alice interrupted with a grin. Nodding awkwardly, I figured I'd change the subject.

"Well, what are we going to do to pass the time until we have to get ready to go?"

"Would you like to go for a run?" Jasper asked as he nuzzled his nose against my neck. Glancing around, I saw the others play fighting and nodded.

"Sounds like fun."

In a flash, Jasper had me on his back and took off running into the woods. Startled, I clung to his shirt and buried my head against his back. He was going so fast! While it was true that I had ridden on the back of a vampire before, it wasn't by my own choice, and I didn't take the time to really feel what was happening.

Raising my head, I chanced a look around, and the sight amazed me. It looked like Jasper was going to crash into a tree any minute, but there was never an impact. The scenery flashed past us like we were in a moving car, and the wind in my hair felt exhilarating.

Too soon, we came to a stop and I was set gently on my feet. My eyes took in our whereabouts, and I realized we were on top of a hill, still surrounded by the forest.

"Where are we?" I questioned.

"On the mountain," Jasper answered, then shrugged. "This is one of my favorite places to go. It's...peaceful."

With a soft smile at the serene look on my boyfriend's face, I slowly wrapped my arms around his middle. "I'm happy you have this for yourself, Jay." I said quietly.

"Us," he corrected. "Only us now."

"Mmm," I hummed, kissed the corner of his mouth, and we fell silent. He was right. The only sounds were the slight breeze ruffling the leaves at the top of the trees and the chirping of birds in the distance. Closing my eyes, I rested my head against Jasper's cool chest, letting the tranquility of the moment wash over me. These were the kind of moments I cherished most.

After a short time, Jasper loosened his hold on me and told me we should be heading back. Nodding, I let him lift me onto his back, a little sad to leave our haven. Jasper took off running again, and this time, I didn't hide my face. Instead, I looked into the wind and closed my eyes, letting the free feeling take me to another place. How was it that being with this incredible creature invoked such feelings in me? I was in love with every single thing about my Jasper.

When we arrived back in the Cullens' backyard, windblown and smiling, we were met with a scowling Alice and Rosalie. They were funny, standing there with their eyebrows raised and their hands on their hips.

"Uh oh," I chuckled as I slid off of Jasper's back and onto the grass. "I think we're in trouble."

"Aren't we always?" Jasper snorted with a smirk.

I laughed outright, and we headed toward the girls to face our fate.

"You are late," Alice stated matter of factly.

"I didn't know we had a curfew, dear sister," Jasper said with a grin.

"Very funny," Rosalie said, then grabbed Jasper by the ear. "Come on. Time to get ready to go."

"Hey!" Jasper protested, and I couldn't help the loud laughter that escaped.

"Come on," Alice said, smiling, and nudged me in the side.

Once inside, Alice surprised me with a new three piece suit. It was black, of course, with a crisp white shirt and black silk tie. I tried to tell her it was too much and she shouldn't have, but she shoved me into the bathroom with it and told me not to argue. I shut up and closed the door behind me, because everyone in the house knew you didn't argue with Alice.

While I showered and shaved, I thought about how much everything was going to change after Graduation. I would be free to do whatever I wanted. Was it wrong of me that the only thing I could think of that I really wanted to do was to be turned by Jasper? We've waited so long and been through so much.

What would our families think if I told them that? I was afraid they might think I needed to 'explore' the real world, but I hoped they would understand and give me their well wishes. At the Graduation party later, I planned on telling them.

Finally finished getting dressed, I walked into Jasper's room and my breath caught in my throat. He was wearing a new suit as well, the same color as mine, but he looked resplendent in it.

"Holy shit," I breathed, completely unaware that Rosalie was messing with Jay's hair. He grinned at me and brought his hands out from behind his back. In them was a neatly folded yellow cap and gown.

Rosalie quietly excused herself and left the room, and I walked to Jasper, putting my hands on his.

"Congratulations, babe," he whispered, then surprised me by pressing an icy kiss on my cheek.

Grinning, I took the cap and gown from him, laid them on the bed, and pulled my boyfriend close.

"Thank you," I said softly against his jaw, kissing him there and reveling in the smooth coldness of his skin.

Jasper tilted his head to the side and allowed me to further explore his neck, which I did willingly. A low, deep growl rumbled against me, and I held his hips hard in my hands.

"You look so amazing," I told him. "I want you so much right now."

Jasper gripped my hips as well, harder than I was his, and another growl met my ears.

"If you only knew..."

"Later, boys," Alice called out as she breezed into the room, already in her cap and gown. "Esme says it's time for pictures!"

I groaned, resting my forehead against Jasper's chest. What was it with mothers and picture taking? Sighing, I moved and hurriedly got into the yellow abomination that was lying on the bed. Soon, Esme was having a grand time posing us and snapping lots of photos. Finally, she informed us it was time to go, and we gratefully headed to the school.

Once there, everything seemed to happen in fast forward. Pomp and Circumstance, sitting on the edge of our seats through the awards, commencement speech, Valedictorian, Salutatorian - all were a whirlwind for me and, the next thing I knew, I was shaking hands with the principal while taking my diploma.

The throwing of our hats in the air signaled the end of the ceremony and, just like that, it was over. The moment was rather bittersweet. Families crowded around the other graduates, including mine and Jasper's. I could tell Esme wanted to cry, and my mom's tears flowed freely. There was much hugging, kissing on cheeks, and congratulating. Cameras flashed everywhere, friends parted, and slowly, people started to wander away. Everyone was talking about meeting up at the Cullens' for the graduation party. That was something I was dreading, because I just wanted it all to be over already.

Back at the Cullens', the party was in full swing. Carlisle and Esme had left to get things ready shortly after congratulating us at the school. Kids were arriving, the music was loud, and there was even a buffet table set up in the dining room full of food and drinks. They had to have used their vampire speed to accomplish all of that in such a short amount of time.

As soon as Jasper and I went into the house, I got rid of the cap and gown, throwing them on my bed in Jasper's room before joining everyone else downstairs. I stood near the bottom of the stairs and scanned the room. It looked like everyone was having a good time. Even my parents showed up.

"When in Rome?" Jasper asked, holding out his hand to me. I took it with a smile.

"Why not?"

We went out onto the cleared out living room floor and Jasper pulled me close, moving with the music. For a moment, I was quiet, enjoying the feeling of his arms around me. Then I began thinking. Graduation was over. I was a free man. There was nothing stopping me from getting what I wanted.

Pulling back a little so I could see jasper's face, I asked, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course," he replied with a peck to my lips.

"You know, school is done now. We can do whatever we want, right?"

"We can," Jasper said, then his forehead creased in a frown. "Wait."

"What?" I asked, knowing my face had given me away.

Jasper pulled me close again and spoke in my ear. "Not yet."

I stopped our movement and looked at my boyfriend again, pleading with my eyes that he would listen to me.

"Why not? You told me after Graduation."

"I did," he conceded, "but I didn't specify when after."

"Jasper, that's not fair."

"I know what I said, but-" he started, then looked towards the door.

Following his gaze, I saw Bella coming in, with Jacob right behind her.

"Shit," Jasper cursed and walked away, toward the kitchen, leaving me standing there alone.

Pissed, I walked over to Bella and Jacob, who were talking to Mom and Dad, and pulled her away by the arm. "What do you think you're doing, bringing him here?" I hissed.

"He's my boyfriend, Edward," she huffed. "He is welcome here, too."

"He's on Cullen land," I shot back. "Doesn't that go against the treaty?"

Before Bella could say anything else, a hand rested on my shoulder and I turned to see Carlisle smiling at me.

"I appreciate your concern, son," he said, "but I talked to Sam and, because you and Bella are siblings, it's alright for your respective mates to go on each others property, as long as there is no biting by either one involved."

Great. Just what I needed, Jacob coming here and spoiling the Cullens' house with his presence. I couldn't help it. It pissed me off so much because their house was my safe place, mine and Jasper's place, where we could relax and just be.

Sighing, I nodded at Carlisle then walked off to find Jasper. He was talking quietly in the kitchen with Esme and Emmett, and they got quiet when I walked in.

"What?" I asked grumpily. "Are you two pissed at me for asking Jasper to change me, too?"

Emse left her sons and stood in front of me, her concerned topaz eyes staring into mine. She wore a grave expression, nothing like her usual happy one.

"Edward, dear, we have a problem."

Hope y'all liked it! Thanks for reading!

Penny