*sigh* I'm beginning to think I won't be able to hold off from posting almost everyday. I was trying to hold back a little this time because I don't have a great deal written and I don't want to hit writers block. but ok. I'll post until I run out!

I don't own Twilight

Thank you to everyone that has given this story, or any of my stories, a chance. you're beautiful.

Guest review: I will take that into consideration. Maybe I should brush up a bit. Thanks.

nikalex: Welcome back mate!

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This chapter is a mostly filler but some break is needed. :)


Present Day

Bella's P.O.V

Sunrise came too quickly for my taste. It was start of a new day and normally I welcomed the rays of light warming my skin. It didn't settle with me this time because yet again worries we upon us. My mate was going to be one of the first to patrol and I was sick with worry. Realistically I knew she was more than capable of taking care of herself, but my instincts made it impossible to be rational about it. All night the house was damn near silent as everyone thought about this. To the outside party it seemed silly, but we've faced so much in such short times that we couldn't afford to be careless. The last time we were it nearly cost us our undead lives.

I stood at my window in mine and Tanya's room over looking the tress. On the breach of panicking with each inch the sun rose. As the shadows faded away from the forest I scanned it in wonder of what was out there. I was so deep in thought that I didn't notice I had a visitor until I felt warm arms around my waist. "I can just about hear your thoughts from a mile away." He honey smooth voice caused me to relax instantly. I smiled and held her arms around me closer.

"The only mind reader we knew of is now contributing to the 'pushing up daisy's' foundation." She laughed heartily and I turned to look into her eyes. Mine, I'm sure, held every emotion I was feeling and hers were comforting and full of mirth.

"You shouldn't worry so much, you'll get wrinkles." I scoff and push her a little. She responds with drawing me in for a kiss. " Don't worry, baby. It's just a precaution and I'm almost certain that there is nothing to worry about."

"I don't see why I can't go with you." I pouted and laid my head on her shoulder. She rubbed my shoulders and smiled calmly.

"You don't have enough experience yet and I would be too focused on keeping you safe and would probably destroy half the forest to ensure it. My instincts wouldn't allow me to have a rational mind if we do happen to encounter something or someone." The damn logic was there and I wanted to turn a deaf ear to it but couldn't.

"Don't worry belly, we'll keep your little puddin' pie safe." Emmett filtered in breaking up any moment we were going to have. Tanya laughed as I glared at the door.

"You're annoyance is cute darlin', but unneeded. They'll be just fine." I was thankful for jasper's calm personality. "Wouldn't want to take away your only outlet for sex now would we?" Then again I curse his name.

"You guys better be safe. I don't fancy seeing my sister hump a wall for relief." The light chuckles made me seethe in annoyance after Rosalie added her banter.

"To hell with you all." came my reply. "Language, sweetheart."

"Sorry, mom." The conversation was nearing it's end when Leah decided to join in, never wasting a opportunity to grill me. "Bella isn't very graceful even as a vampire. She'd probably trip and go through the wall before she even got to hump it."

My scowl was more prominent now and even my mate chuckled a bit. "Can we please stop talking about me humping walls now? I wouldn't do that anyways."

"They're only teasing, honey. They seem to forget that they were newborns once upon a time as well." Tanya tried to help.

"Yeah they do. Memory must get worse with OLD AGE!" Huffs and 'heys' were heard throughout the house and a smirk painted my face. "Need I remind you that your mate is literally the oldest person in the family?" Alice was quick to burst my bubble.

"Damned pixie-pire." I knew what they were doing. The sentiment was nice that they would help distract me from my worries even if it was with teasing. "It's time to go." Dad's voice came up and I was a little better but still upset and worried.

We both walked down stairs hand in hand where the others waited with sympathetic smiles. Dad is quick to embrace me and leave me a forehead kiss. It was to be him, Tanya, and Emmett first up. "Shake a dead leg folks, we got ourselves a intruder to find!" Emmett was first out the door making everyone shake their heads.

"You're siblings love you, sweetheart. They were just kidding with you."

"I know, dad. You'll be safe too?" He smiles and rubs my shoulders lightly. "Of course, baby girl." I sigh in a slight relief and let him step away.

"I love you." I say to him as he headed behind Emmett.

"I love you too, sweetheart. Even if you do decide to hump walls."

"Dad!" His kid like smirk was the last I saw as he fled. The laughter rang out in the house after his statement. Even mom chuckled to herself lightly. We all watched as they blurred away for much of the day. All silently praying for a safe return and no interactions.

Aro's P.O.V

Such a fascinating thing power. So desperately sought after and in some cases, easily obtained. It thrives in it's own realm sometimes reproducing more of itself, or, dwindling down to ash. I look around to my brothers and our servants in wonder. They all, in their own way, have power. Some stronger than the others. The notion of something sounding so strong is so fleeting and in a sense, weak. What seems to escape most my guards thoughts, is that some are actually more powerful than even I. I am no fool to think otherwise. How else have I survived for over 3 millennium.

For instance, Jane, a personal favorite of mine, has the ability to make you feel excruciating pain. Her twin, the gift to relieve you of all senses. We even have acquired someone of brute strength to which this world has never seen. Felix. So many gifted, powerful people that serve me. The fact that they serve me tells that power is also easy to toy with. Which brings to me my next point. Control. It is a beautiful companion to power once mastered. It has worked well in my favor over the many years.

My brothers and I aren't known for our compassion nor mercy, so we tend to gather many enemies. Even our guard that has undergone punishment from us at some point. If it weren't for my talents in control, they would have revolted along time ago. Chelsea, my dear, has the gift to sever and bind ties to people. She is how we came to have all these wonderful people amongst us. A small smile paints my face as I remember the day she bound herself to us out of thanks. A passing nomad stalked her family in the country of Greece.

She was but a wee babe when it started. The vampire waited patiently for years until she was of age, hoping to make her his own. When she came to be 20 years on this earth, everything changed. He struck with deadly intent on her people. The demon was too fast for her to clearly see their face, but their carnage was not. Throughout their home the bodies of her family laid unmoving, dead. Their blood painted the white chalk walls in a fury of slashes and spots. Everything she had known was ripped away for her, and she didn't understand why.

We, being my brothers and myself, happened upon her in her time of grievance and couldn't help but offer her. The offer of something more, the offer of immortality, the offer, of vengeance. She didn't take long to accept our offer. The fire in her eyes was a delight as we wasted no time making away from the village with our prize. She was changed and instantly took to training. Her hate fueling her to her personal purpose.

Some months later the nomad was found and brought before us. Of course in the face of death the fool denied everything and Chelsea finally was given the vengeance she sought. From that day on she pledged herself to us. Swearing forever loyalty to her kings and coven. Her ability to bind others to us was used with glee from her. We are her family now after all, and family protects one another.

She would never know that there was never a mere nomad that kept close eyes on her for so many years. She would never know that she was hand picked because of her ability to draw others in with little effort as a human. She would never know that from day one, I controlled everything that brought her to me; and how she willingly gave herself to the man responsible for the slaughter of her family. Yes, power and control were a beautiful partnership when handled in the right manner.

Jasper's P.O.V

It took a solid 15 minutes for Bella to calm down with her mate leavin'. Newborns weren't too keen on letting their new mate out of their sights, no matter how old they are. Our instincts just didn't allow for us to be ok separate from them once the bond was sealed. I thought now would be a good time to get her mind off of it with some productive trainin'. The others were all too happy to help with Bella's foul mood.

"Alright, now startin' where we left off from last session, you will be facing something a little more challenging." Bella gives me a look of disbelief and I know the next words that are comin'.

"What do you mean more challenging? You and a grandma Kate weren't challenging enough?" Kate spits raspberries at her jest but smirks while Irina, Seth, and Riley snicker.

"Yes, we are a difficult spar given my experience and grandma Kate's age." That one earned me a zap on the neck but one I was happy to take. " You need to face adversaries of different structure or else you become accustom to one fighting position. I think, Leah and Alice would be fit for this." The two stand and make their way over to the center.

"I'm going to die." Bella mumbles takin' in the shifter and my little woman. "Don't worry baby Bella, we'll go easy on you." Leah didn't waste an opportunity to pick much to Bella's displeasure. You could nearly see the waves of annoyance driftin' off of her. That newborn temper would get the best of her if she didn't learn how to control it.

"Now Bella, I want you to concentrate on your opponents, both of'em. You know that Alice has the gift of foresight and Leah is a different species all together. Take that knowledge and use it to your advantage. Go."

When the command was give, Leah shifted on a dime and took first charge. Bella looked shell shocked for a moment before she stilled and met the she-wolf head on. Teeth and jaws snapped at the sides of Bella while she dodged waitin' for her moment to attack. Leah was faster than any other shifter which aided her. Alice mostly stuck in here and there testing the waters on what our little sister would catch.

Bella managed to defend herself expertly much to my happiness. A quick swipe from Leah joined by a blind left from my little lady sent her back a few feet. Bella was quick to her feet, not wantin' to be pinned so soon. She looked form Leah to my smirkin' wife then around the area before an idea seemed to enter her thoughts. That was that look I was waitin' for. Alice's eyes glazed over for a brief second before she came too lookin' puzzled and confused. Bella circled to her right, her opponents doin' the same, until she was incased in a small batch of little trees. My mind briefly wondered what she had up her sleeve but I was more curious to let it play out than figurin' it out.

Like last time, Leah attack first head on. Bella stilled but when the woman got within reach she started pullin' the trees out the ground and throwin'em at Leah. No, wait, not at Leah, behind Leah. The female shifter paused, confused by what was goin' on. Either my little sister had very bad aim or she was up to somet'em else. Before long, the trees grew to a three Emmett sized wall behind leah, leavin' Alice on the other side. Leah decided to continue on heading straight for Bella.

Thankfully the wall size had grown to her likin' soon after, she dodged Leah and saddled her up taking her down carefully. Leah did her best to flip Bella off her back but in the end, Bella was able to confirm her 'death'. With a huff, Leah lay still on the ground after her pin then suddenly I knew the game Bella was playing. Good 'ol fashion 'divide and conquer'. To say I was proud was an understatement, I was elated that she used one of our many history lessons to her advantage.

Alice chose this moment to blast through the wood barrier to find her temporary companion 'dead'. That's when she caught on and gave a brief, silent praise to Bella. Bella regained her senses and even I couldn't decipher her emotions. She was blockin' Alice from watchin' her future. Good on ya girl. This time she chose to be the aggressor. Alice moved with ease from her attacks, not retaliatin' but just dancing out of her way.

Something was off though. As we all watched Bella and Alice make their way around the yard I looked closer. Bella was a newborn and Alice was good but evasions seemed almost too easy for her. I notice the stoic expression on my apprentice as she continued. She was feelin' out her opponent. She wasn't really attackin'er. She was seein' what reactions she would get should she aim for certain areas.

By this point Alice knew Bella was blocking her and had to rely on raw power and grace to help her now. She became too cocky as Bella continued to feel her way around the fight. In that moment, I knew Bella had more than a chance to win this fight. I loved my wife, I do. But she is too reliant on her gift. Right now Bella was givin' her a taste of basic trainin'.

So badly did I want to yell to Bella not to wait too long or else Alice would figure out her plan. It seemed as if she knew this for the next pause she regrouped, then came back with a fury. Alice managed to land a few hits but Bella's newborn speed and strength gave her the upper hand in addition to her new found knowledge. She had Alice on the ropes, only able to defend as best she could. The spar lasted for about 20 more minutes givin' a grand total of 45 minutes before Alice made her fatal mistake.

She gave Bella a left hit as Bella blocked with her right forearm followed by a left upper cut. She used my little one's weight against her from our lesson yesterday and Alice was air born. Before my mate could even flip to catch herself, Bella was right beside her in the air, puttin' her in the ground. Alice made to shift but a set of sharp teeth to her throat stilled her movements.

"Point, Bella." My happy tone rang out amongst the grounds. What a lesson and my pride couldn't been more as I watched my baby sister stand with pride at winnin' her match. At that moment, Leah shift back to her human form and was quickly covered by Irina. Alice was first to praise Bella by means of a tight hug and squeal. The happiness rollin' off of the family made me project more but I couldn't find it within me to care at the moment. "I'm impressed baby vamp."

"You did marvelous sweetheart." Kate's jab was over shadowed by our mama. I pushed through the crowd to hug her, feelin' a sense of ownership for her victory. The embrace was hard and all-around amazing.

"I'm so damn proud. Good job, Bella." her unneeded breath hitched and her emotions flooded me once more. It was a big step in our trainin' and I could tell that Kate was excited for her turn with Bella again. The lesson was learned efficiently and it was now time to retreat to the house. I needed to show my mate some attention from her battle with the fierce newborn.


Like I said, filler chapter. We'll get back to the drama at hand soon enough. Like my last one, I really wanted to focus on the characters and what makes them tick in a sense. Aro is a very difficult person to write. He's intense and I feel his actions shouldn't be anything less than. Please bare with me. : )Rage on.

Alex