Chapter 2: Meeting a friend

I don't own Twilight, but I certainly own Madelyn-Mae and her parents. Credit for Jasper's parents, sister and brother in law goes to Nauticalmass and her story: Leaves of Grass. Anyone who hasn't read her fantastic story needs to go read it!

"I would be honored to change you, mia cara. When would you like to do this?" Caius asked her. She was not surprised by his request. She knew that they had every intention of changing her, but what she didn't know was that Caius made Aro agree to wait until she was ready to be changed. Aro had agreed and even allowed him to induce the change. Despite all of this, Caius was very pleased that she wanted him to be the one to change her. He didn't want anyone else's venom, but his, in his mate. His venom and his alone would flow though her veins

Bella thought about his question. There wasn't really anything left that she wanted to do that she couldn't do as a vampire. She wanted to see Jasper and Emmett again, but that also could wait until she was a vampire.

"In the next month or so, I'm ready to start my immortal life with you."

Caius smiled behind her. He bent over and kissed her jugular vein. "I'm ready for that, too."

The door flew open and a vampire walked in. Caius leapt over Bella and landed in a crouch in front of her.

"I'm not going to hurt your girl, Caius. I can't believe you'd think that of me. I'm offended." A female voice huffed in mock annoyance.

Bella noticed that the voice had a southern accent, which reminded her of Jasper. Caius slowly got up and glided over to the woman.

"If you hadn't had barged in like that, I might have acted differently." Caius told her gruffly.

Jealously rose up within Bella as she watched Caius kiss the woman's hand. What had the woman done to have gotten through Caius' rough exterior? The woman turned to face Bella, and she was struck by a set of facial features that she had never expected to see again. The woman was like a female version of Jasper Hale with long blonde locks that curled at the bottom and mischievous crimson eyes that sparkled and shone like diamonds. Her lips were graced with a ready smile.

"Cara mia, may I present," Caius said turning to face Bella, "my dear friend, Madelyn-Mae Whitlock."

"Madeline May?" Bella asked curiously. Caius chuckled. "It's not really two words, cara mia. It's said as one word: Madelyn-Mae."

"Oh. Are you related to Jasper Hale by any chance?" Bella asked her. She decided to put her jealously aside, until she knew more about this strange female. Madelyn-Mae cocked her head at Bella.

"I don't know a Jasper Hale. Jasper Whitlock, perhaps, but not a Jasper Hale." She told her. "Major Jasper Whitlock is my biological uncle. He was my poppa's younger brother. I have very good memories of him."

Caius chuckled softly as Bella invited Madelyn-Mae sit on the bed with her. He knew that Bella had a lot of questions for his friend. He quietly slid out of the room and went to Aro's study to tell him of her arrival. They all knew that wherever Madelyn-Mae was, the Whitlock coven wasn't far behind.

"Is that his human name? You still have memories of him from when he was human?" Bella asked curiously as Madelyn-Mae settled herself on the bed.

Edward did everything he could to keep her away from Jasper; something about poor control or something. She was now sure that Edward probably lied about it. He just needed an excuse to keep them from interacting and getting to know each other. He was overly possessive and over protective of her. While she hated that quality about Edward, she liked it about Caius. That was part of Caius's make-up, whereas to Edward, Bella was a toy that he didn't want to share. She relished this surprise visit from someone who knew him. She wanted to know all about him

"Yes, it is and yes I do. I don't have a lot of human memories, but the ones I do have revolve around my human family. My poppa and Uncle Jasper grew up on a farm with lots of apple trees. Poppa didn't move very far when he married my momma, and because of this, I got to see Uncle Jasper a lot."

"Do you remember your family, besides Jasper?" Bella asked. She was a bit worried about losing her memories as a vampire.

Madelyn-Mae nodded. "I sure do. Andrew and Johanna Whitlock were my parents. Thaddeus and Rebecca Whitlock were my grandparents. Jasper's my uncle and I also had an aunt named Emily, who I later found out married her beau, Paul Dearborn."

"What do you mean 'you later found out?" Bella interrupted, and then blushed at her rudeness.

Madelyn-Mae smiled and laughed. "It's quite alright, Bella. They didn't let you and my uncle get to know each other, because of his 'lack of control', so it makes sense that you want to know all about him." She said making air quotes. "In answer to your question, I went back to Texas a while back, and found our family records as well as an old newspaper clipping that talked about them getting married. They had lots of children and grandchildren. My older brother and sister both got married and had children. The descendants of my aunt and siblings are still living."

"So, was Jasper their youngest child? What was he like when he was human?" Bella asked.

"My poppa was the eldest son and Uncle Jasper was the youngest son, but Aunt Emily was the youngest of them all. Uncle Jasper was pretty much the same as he is now, except less menacing, scarred and cold. He was a southern gentleman through and through: charming, elegant, polite, gallant and very charismatic. You couldn't help but to like him. When he wasn't helping out on the farm, he was playing with me and teaching me all he knew, as I was always getting in the way. I was about 6 when he went off to fight. He had been on leave when I had my seventh birthday. He left two days later, and that was the last we saw of him. It broke Grandma Rebecca's heart."

"So when did you meet up again with Jasper or haven't you, yet?"

"Oh, I have. I meet up with him shortly after becoming a vampire. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and was almost drained dry by my honoree uncle Peter."

"Honoree uncle?" Bella asked confused. Madelyn-Mae chuckled awkwardly.

"Uh huh, Peter and his mate Charlotte were sired by Uncle Jasper. Peter is very much a brother to my uncle, and therefore is like my uncle."

"So, he almost drained you. What stopped him?"

"Uncle Jasper. He told Peter that I looked like someone he once knew. So Peter removed his teeth and I proceeded to change. I told him all about how I was related to him and about our family afterwards. He went with me to Texas a couple years ago, where we found out about Emily and our remaining relatives. Unfortunately, the Whitlock name has died out. Uncle Jasper and I are all that's left."

"Is Jasper here with you?" Bella asked hopefully, but not trying to get her hopes up. Madelyn-Mae smiled brightly at her. "He sure is. Come on, you can come with me, as I have to meet up with him shortly. Let's go get lover boy and the rest of 'em." Bella laughed as Madelyn-Mae called Caius 'lover boy'.

"It's probably the Captain and his mate that are with her. The Major is most likely still with his mate and the Cullens. It saddens me to see him with them." Aro said to his brothers. There was a knock on his study door. Aro opened it. There stood Madelyn-Mae and Bella.

Madelyn-Mae smiled at him. "'Hello, Aro. I was just going to catch up with my uncle and Bella showed an interest, so I thought that you all would like to come too."

"The Major is here?" Aro asked as he and Caius walked out of his office. Marcus had declined her offer. He said that would meet with the Major later. Demetri, Felix and Alec were to come with the brothers.

Madelyn-Mae nodded at Aro. "My uncle's here, as well as Peter and Charlotte."

She led them through the garden, over the wall and into the forest a few miles from the castle. A mile into the forest, Madelyn-Mae whistled. A minute later, someone whistled back. She smiled and headed toward the sound of the whistle. When they stopped, Jasper Whitlock was in front of them, sitting Indian style on the ground, and was putting a phone back into his pocket. Caius couldn't stop his smirk.

"You know, I enjoy you sitting there like that. It is not every day you see the God of War cease and assist."

Jasper grinned in reply.

"They're not back yet. Peter really needs to tame that thing. It's spoiled rotten." Madelyn-Mae rolled her eyes.

Jasper nodded. "That, he does. I had just gotten off the phone with him, when you arrived, sweet pea." Madelyn-Mae flounced onto the ground next to Jasper as he talked.

"Why are we meeting you and your coven outside the city, Major?" Aro asked.

"His coven? Isn't Carlisle the head of the Cullen Coven?" Bella asked confused.

"He is the figure head, spokesperson and leader, but the golden child often gets too big for his britches. He gets it into his mind that he knows best, and everyone follows him..."

"I do believe the poor things are ripped beyond repair now." Madelyn-Mae interrupted whilst laughing. Jasper glared at her.

"Oops, sorry Uncle Jasper." She said smiling tentatively.

"My coven, Bella, is the Whitlock Coven. It consists of myself, my mate, sweet pea here, Peter and his mate, Charlotte." Jasper smiled at her then turned to Aro, his face lost the smile.

"We are in the woods, because my mate, Alice, was banned from Volterra on pain of death." He then muttered under his breath. "Idiot boy."

"Who's an idiot, uncle?" Madelyn-Mae said with a curious look in her eye as she sat up and looked at him.

Jasper smirked at her. "Edward Cullen, lovely Bella's first boyfriend and the golden child of the Cullen coven."

"I despise that boy. Arrogant, self-righteous," Her mouth scrunched up as she resisted swearing and calling that horrid boy every bad name she could think of.

"I haven't rubbed off on you as much as I thought, Pity." Sounded a male voice from the right side of the group.

"She has better manners than you, Captain. Not to mention, she knows restraint. The boy's been bad-mouthed often enough at home." Jasper glared at the newcomer. The newcomers were a male with short brown hair and crimson eyes, and a short female with long slight blonde hair and crimson eyes, as well.

"Peter and Charlotte Whitlock, this is Bella Swan Volturi. Bella, Peter and Charlotte Whitlock." Jasper said waving a hand between the two groups.

"Oh, come on, Auntie, you know he won't tell us anything without 'cha." Jasper's eyes rose to the trees where Madelyn-Mae's voice was coming from.

"You can come down now, darlin'." He said. Madelyn-Mae jumped down from the tree followed shortly by Alice. As soon as Alice landed Bella ran to her and engulfed in a hug. Alice beamed and gently hugged her back.

"It's so good to see you, Alice." Bella told her when she finally let go.

Jasper smirked at Alice. "I told you, she still loved you." Alice smiled softly back at him.

"Now, what are you all doing in Volterra?" Aro asked getting impatiently.

"Edward." Jasper said getting up from the ground.