A/N:

Hey everyone! Sorry for the long wait, as I said previously, life has been a bit busy lately with finals coming soon and a shit ton of uni workload :,) But here you go, I hope you enjoy this chapter and find that the wait was worth it!

Take care <3

















Jasper heaved a tired sigh, gaze lingering on the papers laid out on his desk.

He didn't know how long he'd spent cooped up in his office, feverishly rummaging through administrative files in search of any crumb of information about (Y/n). But judging by Robert's worried glances and fidgeting fingers, Jasper must have been in there quite a long while.

It was strange how quickly time seemed to pass when he thought about (Y/n), and it was easy to get lost in his daydreams.

"Sir, are you sure there is nothing I can do to help you? You look rather... bothered." Robert asked anxiously as he waited by the door, unwilling to leave the room and leave his young master alone. In all his years serving under the mayor, Robert had never seen Jasper so frantic before, not about anything.

"I am." Jasper answered and plastered on a polite smile. "I'm just having a hard time with some documents but nothing I can't deal with on my own."

Jasper didn't like lying to people around him, especially Robert who was something akin to a second father to him, but Jasper knew that if he told Robert about (Y/n) his father would be the next person to know. And as much as Jasper ached for his father to know that he had finally found his love, he didn't want Elijah to know about (Y/n) just yet, as he knew that Elijah would want for them to get married right away.

Which wasn't what Jasper had in mind.

His father had always been quick to act and rather impulsive, but Jasper wanted to take things slow. He wanted to court (Y/n) properly, to learn more about what she loved and despised, to take her out on dates and live the sweet romance they depicted in the novels he read. Marriage would come after that, not because Jasper had any doubts that (Y/n) was the one for him, but because he wanted to do things right.

"Okay, then." Robert nodded and bowed, politely exiting the room. "I'll be outside if you need me."

As soon as he was once again alone in his office, Jasper leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms behind his head as he glanced at the opened document in front of him, yet another one he hoped would contain some information about (Y/n).

Jasper didn't know how many documents he had browsed through over the last twenty four hours but from the looks of it his darling probably wasn't a registered citizen. Thankfully for (Y/n) though, Jasper was too busy grasping at any thread that could lead to her to ponder much over the reason behind her administrative inexistence.

For now at least.

Jasper grasped another file, heart weighing down on his chest as he opened it. He would have rather found information about (Y/n) herself but considering this hadn't been the case, Jasper might as well look through potential family members. And this was much easier.

Tobias and Marcus Parker.

The former, Jasper recognised as the one who had been with his darling just the day prior at the US. Probably a brother or cousin of some kind. On the other hand Marcus seemed old enough to be (Y/n)'s grandfather. Both were Protectives, and Jasper wondered if (Y/n) was the same.

He wondered if she'd go out of her way to protect him from the dangers of this world. Not that Jasper was helpless by any means, he was quite tall and pretty fit too for a bureaucrat. Jasper had also been tasked with taking care of some... political pests, more than once by his father. He knew how to fight.

If anything, he was probably stronger than (Y/n) herself.

Still, wouldn't it just be so romantic if his sweet darling stepped up to protect him against a potential threat? Just the thought of it had Jasper's blood rushing through his veins and heat rising to his cheeks.

Was this what it felt like to fully embrace his obsessive gene? Was this how it had felt like for his father too when he had fallen in love with his mother?

Jasper had waited so long for this moment to come, imagining what it would be like and feel like. But nothing could have prepared him for the utter euphoria that filled his system every time he thought about (Y/n), which was pretty often. Really, Jasper had never obsessed over anything, and now he found himself thinking about his darling every waking second and every time he closed his eyes.

About her scent that was just the right balance between flowery and sweet and had Jasper wishing he could just bury his nose in the crook of her neck. About her smile that had Jasper aching to kiss her lips. About her touch and how it would feel like to have her skin against his, though Jasper was sure it would feel like nothing less than Heaven itself.

His love for her was just all encompassing, made him see the world through pink tinted glasses. And Jasper thrived off this. For nothing had ever felt more right than to love (Y/n) and worship her.

And now that he had her grandfather's address, Jasper couldn't wait to know more about her and court her like she deserved. Until she fell in love with him and he could finally introduce her to his father. Then, he would ask for her hand in marriage, and they'd have the most perfect honeymoon and the cutest of children and-

"Ahem."

Jasper's head turned in the direction of the uninvited guest who had just cleared their throat, eyes widening as he met the questioning gaze of his childhood friend, Penelope Hayes.

"Robert told me you were out of it but damn." She said, playfully rolling her eyes and approaching his desk before sitting atop of it. "I've been standing there for what, five minutes?"

Heat rose to Jasper's cheeks and he scratched the back of his neck, avoiding Penelope's piercing pink eyes. He must have been too lost in his own daydreams to notice her arrival.

"Sorry, Pen. I guess I've been pretty distracted lately." He said, "What brings you here?"

Not that Penelope always had a specific reason to come see him, but Jasper was desperate to change the subject. Penelope didn't seem to mind, although her doe pink eyes still twinkled with a hint of suspicion as she held his gaze.

"My father came to see yours to discuss some military details." She said with a soft pout that highlighted her doll-like features, "So I thought I'd tag along and see what you were up to."

"Oh." Jasper had completely forgotten about his father's meeting with Penelope's father. Not that it concerned him anyways. Still, it was a pleasant surprise to see Penelope. "Well, I've been working."

A chuckle built up in the back of Penelope's throat as she looked down at the documents littering her friend's usually neatly organized desk. He was probably working on a tough nut to crack and had gotten lost in his own thoughts. This wouldn't be the first time Jasper had thrown himself in his work without a care for the outside world.

"Well, care to spare me some time?" Penelope said with a flirtatious wink, leaning towards him. "I got all dolled up for the occasion, you can't say no."

Jasper offered her a conflicted smile and scoffed.

"You always look good, Pen." And indeed, Penelope always paid close attention to her looks. Not that she needed it though, she had always been stunning and the subject of many's adoration. To Jasper it was a wonder how she still hadn't ended up with a lover.

Penelope stood up from the desk, twirling a lock of curly blond hair around her neatly manicured finger. She had them done just this morning, the light pink color matching the flower pattern of the fluid summer dress that hugged her curves.

"Yes, but especially so today." She said, heaving a sigh and gently tugging on Jasper's arm. "Please Jasper, I've been working on my law exams for days now and I really need a break. You do too."

Jasper sighed quietly, eyes flitting to the opened administrative documents on his desk. He ached to stay in his office and continue his searches over (Y/n). But knowing Penelope she probably wouldn't leave him alone until she had obtained what she wanted, which was his company. In the end, it didn't seem like he had much of a choice in the matter. Plus, if he was being totally lucid he probably wouldn't find anything more about his darling in these dusty files anyways.

He had found her address, and that would have to quench his thirst for now.

"Okay." Jasper stood up from his chair, brushing a hand through his blond locks. "What do you want to do?"

"They opened a new bakery in the city center and I wanted to try it out!" Penelope said excitedly, the brightest smile on her lips as she linked her arm with Jasper and led him out of his office.

She had missed spending time with him and if she hadn't had these stupid law exams she would have swung by much more often. But alas until she graduated from her master's degree, Penelope would have to deal with the necessary time away from her best friend and beloved.

In the meantime, she was looking forward to trying out plenty of sweet bakeries with Jasper. Just the two of them, no one else to take his attention away from her.





























Tobias stood outside of (Y/n)'s bedroom door, hand hovering above the wooden surface as he pondered over his next course of action.

He knew she had been down in the dumps since the day prior because of the disappointment of not finding her sister at the US. He couldn't imagine what she must be going through and what kind of thoughts must be running in her head at the moment.

Tobias had lost loved ones too and could relate to an extent, but in his case it had been different. He had been kicked out of his family, but never had one of his loved ones suddenly vanished and possibly put themselves in harm's way.

Even if he had gone through the same thing as (Y/n) though, Tobias had never been good at comforting people. So his words would have been of poor consolation in any case. Still, he wanted to do something to cheer her up and lift that gloomy expression off her features. For although he hadn't seen (Y/n) smile often since she came to the city, he had seen her far more hopeful and spirited than in her current state.

But just because he wanted to help cheer her up didn't mean this was the right thing to do. Putting as much distance between the two of them as possible still had to be one of his priorities. Both for his own sake and hers. He knew this.

So why did he ache to knock on her door? Why was he even standing in front of her door at goddam 8pm in the first place?

I'm just trying to help. Tobias told himself, exhaling a shaky breath as he stared at his raised fist. I'm just trying to be friendly, I would do the same for Marcus.

Even so, there was no denying the self awareness that pricked at his chest when he thought about (Y/n). He was a threat to her, a potential danger that she had every reason to avoid. A potential danger that she should avoid.

Which is why Tobias heaved a sigh and let his hand fall back at his side, taking a step back to head towards his own bedroom.

But fate had other plans for him apparently, for the very moment he turned around to leave, (Y/n)'s door creaked open.

"Tobias?" She said, tilting her head to the side as she looked at him. It was obvious from the puffiness around her eyes that she had been crying for a good while. The thought made Tobias's heart churn in his chest. "Can I help you with anything?"

And before he could process what he was saying, the words naturally flowed past his lips with a mind of their own.

"Wanna go out?" He said, internally cursing himself. Still, he couldn't back down now, not when (Y/n)'s eyes brightened up with a hint of curiosity at his offer. "I know a place, it's not too far by foot and they've got good drinks."