A/N Recognizable characters - not mine. Almost Priest-ward and Surfsper plotline and characterizations of said not-my-characters - all mine. Just bringing my toys to play in SM's sandbox

Thank you SO MUCH for all the alerts and favorites. It means a lot to me that you all are enjoying this.

Beta'ed by the WONDERFUL Savannah Vee and SarahAH30 and pre-read by the very hot, CarrotTop81690, who always gives me that important male perspective and was my muse for one of my characters.

Well, Hello Surfsper!

Chapter 22 Marked for Life Part I

I swayed drunkenly as the large tattoo artist talked to Brandon about his "tortuga" tattoo. The walls were covered with examples of different tattoos and it was a little overwhelming to concentrate on them with all the tequila, rum and beer running through my system.

Plenty of sponsored surfers were tatted, so while I'm sure Jake thought he had domain over my body, he could fucking get over himself. There was something strong and masculine about a tattoo on the male form. It was primal and sexy as fuck.

I don't know when she walked up, but there was a beautiful dark haired girl with the brownest eyes I have ever seen. She reminded me of Bella, so I instantly disliked her. Bitch.

"Are you going to get a tattoo like your friend here?"

As much as I wanted to be a dick to her, I knew cognizantly that she wasn't Bella and therefore didn't deserve my ire, but I was drunk as hell, so being nice to her wasn't an option either.

I politely smiled and continued looking at the pictures on the wall, not saying anything to her, hoping she would just go away. She didn't get the message and continued to trail me waiting to get her sale.

"Maje, you going to do this with me or pussy out?" Brandon taunted from the first chair.

Raising both eyebrows and looking teasingly at him, I challenged back with a smirk, "I don't pussy anything, and you of all people know that, B."

Brandon blushed and turned his head to watch his tattoo guy drawing whatever he was drawing on tracing paper. Amateur.

"Find what you are looking for?"

My eyes immediately focused on the dark haired, handsome man with the chocolaty voice in front of me.

"Excuse me?"

"I asked you if there was anything here that interested you." He responded with a flirtatious smile.

"I'm still looking, but I'll let you know."

"Don't take too long." Not an amateur

I continued to peruse all the pictures, slowly coming to the decision that I may just do this.

"A man's ink is a very personal thing. I'm assuming you won't be doing a heart or a clover, si?"

I full on snorted. "That's a safe bet."

The ink on his shoulder came into focus. It was a dragon, but I couldn't see it all as it continued under his shirt.

"What's your tattoo for?" I asked, gently tracing the strong lines along his shoulder as he shuddered slightly beneath my touch. Not an amateur either, handsome.

"I thought I told you, a man's ink is a very personal thing," he breathed.

I chuckled, shaking my head slightly, knowing I was a bit of a flirt when I had been drinking.

"Okay, so how does one choose a tat, when there are clearly so many to choose from?"

"We can do anything here. Hearts and clovers are fine for the sorority set, but I would probably go with something surfing related for you Senior Hale."

"How the fuck do you know who I am?"

"Costa Rica is both small and large, it's our business to know who's in town for conventions and competitions, but that's not how I recognized you. Come here, you missed some of my favorite tats on the back wall."

I was still staring slack-jawed at the picture I ripped off the back wall three minutes ago. There I was, smiling. On. Some. Chick's Back. It was an incredible likeness, but what the fuck? I couldn't believe that someone sat for hours and hours while they were permanently marked with my likeness. Two simultaneous thoughts occurred to me. This person needs a life and Emmett can NEVER see this.

"How long did this take?" I asked, still stunned.

"She came back twice and sat for about two to three hours at a time."

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

"No, she was very happy. It set her back about two grand."

"No shit? I feel like I should find her and give her some money back."

"Nah. Like I said, ink is a personal thing. Something in you resonated with something in her. She was happy."

"She doesn't know me. "

"You must have fans all over. This can't be your first fan experience."

"I have fans, I sign shit like tee shirts, surf boards, hats and even tits, but I have never had a tattoo of me on someone. That shit's surreal."

"I've done several tats of autographs for people before."

"Mine?" I ask incredulously.

"No."

"Thank God, I think that mind fuck would have made my brain explode. Did this chick seem sane?"

He laughed a beautiful warm deep laugh. "Yes. Like I said, something about you spoke to her in a way that made her want to permanently remember it."

I had almost forgotten about Brandon, so I walked the picture up to his chair.

His tattoo was almost done and it looked like the experience had taken a lot out of him. Fucker was biting his tongue and I knew he wanted to laugh.

With a glint of mischievous humor in his eyes, he asked, "Maje, can I borrow this?"

"What the fuck for, this your next tat?"

"No, I want to try to convince one of my boys to do this on their back so I could be with you whenever I wanted."

Brandon's tattoo guy just stared at us in horror and the rest of the three of us fell into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

"Am I a sick fuck that I think it's hilarious that some dumbass is going to be fucking her from behind and looking at my smiling ass face?"

This set Brandon's tattoo guy off as well.

"This is why I shouldn't ink drunk asses." He grumbled.

We continued to laugh as the tension completely left the room giving me a chance to look at Brandon's ink.

It was a turtle, but the way the guy had drawn it the turtle could have easily been ocean waves. It was strong and beautiful and masculine and just sexy all at the same time.

I wanted to touch it.

"You approve, Maje?"

"B, that's about the coolest thing I've ever seen. No lie. After what we talked about today, it's damn near perfect, bro."

"Si, I can't think of a more perfect tribute. Maje, this was for me. You know you don't have to do this, right?"

"Thanks B, I know." I smiled genuinely back at him.

"Your friend finds meaning in tortugas. What is it that resonates with you, Jasper Hale?"

My mind immediately exploded with all the options available. I was going to do this.

The first thing that came to mind was his damn smile. Then I looked down at the picture of the tattoo of me. Oh hell no!

I walked over to the crosses. Religion and I had had a love-hate relationship for many years and it meant so much more now, but I just wasn't feeling it.

The ocean, my salvation and sanity, made more sense. It has already marked my soul, why not mark my body as well? I flipped through the books of waves, surf boards and every sea creature imaginable. Some of the tattoos were very cool, just not for me.

I looked over at the sexy dark skinned boy keeping a respectable distance, but available just the same.

"I know you won't tell me what your tattoo means to you, but why did you pick a dragon?"

"You're just asking the same question in a different way, but you honestly seem curious, so I will tell you.

"If you were any other client I would give you the scripted dragons are powerful, protective and fearsome. They are a sign of strength, courage and strong will." He deadpanned.

"And because I'm not any other client?" I prompted.

"Dragons are also a sign of victory of Christianity, as in the story of St. George. It's a bit ironic, but my dragon reminds me of the courage and strength needed to face the overwhelming evil of ignorance and faith that my family and faith will eventually accept me for who I am."

I stared. Jesus.

"Ticos are not as accepting of my… tendencies, as Americans are."

"So the dragon protects you?"

"Some days it does, some days I become the dragon."

"It's all so personal, isn't it?"

"Not always, but the important ones are."

I immediately felt humbled and overwhelmed.

"I want something with meaning. I want important."

He smiled. "That's good; it will be with you forever. I know you've been looking at images. Has anything spoken to you yet?"

"Yes and no. Nothing I would put on my body."

"What about symbolism? Have you thought about Japanese or Chinese symbols? They're quite popular."

I looked over the books and books of symbols for water, warrior, strength, love and even a couple of predators caught my eye, but nothing clicked. I wasn't native anything so tribal bands, while sexy as fuck, were out.

I continued looking, until I saw a picture of a wrist tattoo that looked different from the others.

"What does this mean? Is it Japanese or Chinese?"

"Neither, it's in the wrong book, it's Sanskrit."

"The ancient language?"

"Si. My next ink will be in Sanskrit. It is one of the oldest languages, with deep and powerful words and phrases."

"It's beautiful. What does this one mean, the one that looks like a music symbol?"

"That's Hakuna Matata."

I laughed and sang. "Means no worries, for the rest of my days." I paused then asked, "Like the Lion King?"

"Si, exactly, but think of the meaning of the words you just sang. No worries for the rest of your life. What a powerful thought, no?"

My head felt clearer and I felt almost sober in the seriousness of the moment. "Show me more."

I searched through a hundred phrases, some important, some less so, but I knew I wanted something in this ancient language.

"What does this mean?"

"You have an eye for finding mis-filed pictures."

"What do you mean?"

"This is a picture of Victoria Beckham's tattoo, but it's in Hebrew."

"It looked a little different. What does it mean?"

"It's from the Songs of Solomon. I am my lover-

I interrupted, "-It's actually beloved. I am my beloved and my beloved is mine."

"It's the same, no?"

"No. A lover is a fuck. Beloved is more than a lover, a beloved is everything."

"Maybe you found something important enough to be permanent?"

"Maybe." I acquiesced.

I sat and stared at the tattoo. Edward had become my beloved, my everything. I suddenly realized was already marked; the ink just wasn't there yet.

"I want this one."

"You'll be just like Victoria Beckham and Katy Perry!" He practically squealed. Oh. Hell.

"What?"

"Lots of celebrities get these tattoos."

"How many?"

"It doesn't matter. It's going to look so cool! Where do you want it? On your back? Your shoulder? Maybe your calf?"

"How. Many?"

"I don't know, the Beckham's made it pretty popular. Quite a few I would guess."

Fuck. I actually felt bad for the Beckhams. They took something that was so personal to them and then the world copied it. This was theirs, not mine.

Even if I never got Edward back in my life again, he was a part of me. Our love was a part of me. Permanently, Importantly. As soon as I thought about what that meant, I knew what I wanted.

"Can you get me a bible?"

I found what I was looking for and pointed to it.

"I want this, in Hebrew."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yes, absolutely."

"Where?"

"Somewhere no one else can see it, but I'll know it's there." This was not for the world to see or copy. This was about me.

"You're in board shorts all day long, so a back or chest tat won't work."

"What about the top of my foot?"

"Feet hurt like a bitch to tat. It can be done, but I would never suggest a foot for your first tattoo. What about your hip?"

"My hip?"

"Sure, no one will see it, unless you want them too and it's a sexy as fuck place to put it." He said grabbing my waist and rubbing his thumb along the inside of my hip bone to make his point.

I involuntarily hardened slightly at his touch as I arched my brow.

"Point taken. Hip it is." I told him looking directly into his eyes until he broke eye contact.

"Miguel, can you ink John 13 in Hebrew on Mr. Hale's right hip?"

I looked at him in surprise. "You're not going to do it?"

"No, I'm just here to assist in any way the customer's need me." He answered in that deep chocolaty tone that insinuated so much. "Shall I wait around?"

I smiled. "No, but thank you. I really don't know how to thank you enough for helping me tonight."

"Let me know if you ever change your mind."

"I doubt that will be the case, but if I ever do, I'll let you know."

He nodded. Tell your sleeping friend he could call me too. I looked over at Brandon, passed out in the tattoo chair and smiled.

AN: Who knows what John 13 is off the top of their head? Did anyone guess? HINT – Check Chapter 11 - Better than an RV tattoo or a WindSurfing tat? ::Giggle::

Did anyone else see the full back tat of all the Twi characters from the movie? Wow. I don't any have tats, so if you felt like the experience wasn't realistic… I just wrote what I thought it would be like. From what I hear, tatting while you're drinking causing you to bleed more and is usually not done.

I think I might like to get one, but mine would be hidden too. Have a tat? Tell me about it

Number #1 guessed tattoo for Surfsper? "I'm lost." A J Rathbone reference I hear