Peter's POV

I watched Bella leave with the Major. I really wanted to ignore her orders and go with them. It wasn't that I thought Bella couldn't handle herself or that the Major wouldn't protect her if he had to. I was just very protective of Bella. She wasn't just a leader to me. I also thought of her as a sister. I had been with her since the beginning. I didn't want to see anything happen to her.

Being out in the open like this was dangerous for Bella. She had a price on her head and would continue to have it until we eliminated the Volturi once and for all. Of course the price went both ways. Any member of the Volturi that we found was to be killed on sight. Everyone but Aro. Bella wanted to take him for herself once we'd destroyed his empire.

Needless to say, Bella hated Aro's guts. She hated all the brothers, but she had it in for Aro most of all. I couldn't really blame her after what he did to her. He did a real number on her. Rather than break though, she captivated on her anger. She took hold of it and she used to start the mother of all wars.

When Bella first approached me about the idea of a war, I thought she was insane. I thought Aro really had broken her to the point of insanity. How else could she think about taking on the most powerful vampires in world? But she wasn't insane. She was just driven. She was driven to make sure the Volturi could never do to anyone else what they did to her.

I quickly forced those thoughts away. I didn't want to think about what the Volturi did to Bella. That would just make me want to kill someone. I was on the job and I needed to stay focused.

I looked over at the Cullens. They were regarding me and my comrades carefully, unsure of what to do at this point. I found their apprehension very satisfying. I hated most of the Cullens deeply. First they'd taken Jasper and tried to make into somebody he wasn't and then they'd left Bella alone to fall prey to Aro. I really hoped they made the wrong choice so I could send them up in flames, literally.

I watched as Carlisle approached Garrett and Alistair. "Garrett, Alistair, I don't understand. Why have the two of you involved yourselves in this? You never showed any interest in fighting the Volturi before?"

"First of all, Carlisle, this is no choosing to get involved. We are all involved. Our leader said it well; there is no standing on the side lines. But for what it's worth, we weren't that opposed to the fight. I have always believed the Volturi needed to be stopped. I was simply waiting for the right person to do it," Alistair said.

It was true. Alistair had admitted to wanting the Volturi gone. He just wasn't willing to do it himself or fight for someone who he believed didn't have a prayer of winning. He finally agreed to fight when he realized just how powerful and ruthless Bella could be.

"You're wasting time, Cullen. I believe you have a choice to make," I told him.

Carlisle sighed and went back to his family. They all began speaking in low voices, as if that could stop us from hearing them.

"It's pretty clear now that we have to fight. I say bring it on," Emmett said with quite a bit of enthusiasm.

"I've already said we will not be fighting," Carlisle said firmly.

"No, you don't get to make this decision for all of us. Our lives are in jeopardy here," Rosalie said seriously.

"Do not be dramatic, Rosalie. Bella would never hurt us." Edward said.

I shook my head when I heard that. This little boy was delusional. He still thought Bella was that same girl he left alone in the forest the better part of a century ago. He was crazy. Bella had changed so much since then. In fact, I still found it hard to believe that girl he left even existed.

"Edward, I would ask if maybe you lost some brain cells when Bella threw you into that wall, but that would mean you had brain cells to begin with. Did you really not see her just now? She's not that naive little human you could order around eighty years ago. She's a warrior. She's somebody that you don't want to cross," Rosalie said.

"No. I refuse to believe that Bella is unreachable. I will make her see reason. I will make her see that she needs to end this war with Aro," Carlisle said.

I stared at the doctor in disbelief before looking at my wife in a 'Is he for real?' fashion.

Char shook her head at me as if to tell me not to go there.

I just shook my head. If the good doctor wanted to make a fool out of himself, so be it.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Jasper's POV

I followed Bella out of the house and towards her car. To say that I was shocked that Bella was the feared leader of the army going after Aro was an understatement. I never thought for a second Bella could be in such a position. I wouldn't have considered it even if I had known she was a vampire. It just wouldn't have seemed possible. The human girl we'd met all those years ago could never be a leader. She had followed Edward around everywhere and let him control every move she made

This Bella though was different. She was in charge. She gave orders and made threats better than any general I'd come across. No one led her around, no one manipulated her, and anyone who betrayed her had better run for their lives. If I hadn't known any better, I would've said they were two different people.

Once we reached Bella's car, she turned around to face me. "Thank you for joining me, Major Whitlock. I wanted to speak with you away from the rest."

"Why do you keep calling me that?" I asked. The only thing Bella had called me since she got here was 'Major Whitlock'. No one but Peter had referred to me in that fashion for years.

Bella looked me dead in the eye. "Because it's your title and if I'm here on military business, you deserve for me to give you the respect you're due."

"Well, I appreciate that, Bella, but if it's all the same to you, I'd like you to call me Jasper," I told her. I was blown away by the honor she was giving me, especially since I felt like I didn't really deserve it after hiding away for so long, but for some reason, I just didn't want her greeting me so formally. I wanted her to use my name.

"Alright, if that's what you want, Jasper," Bella said.

I nodded and took a deep breath. "Bella, I've wanted to tell you for so long..."

"Don't! I don't wanna hear how sorry you are. I have never blamed you and I won't listen to you blame yourself! You will stop that immediately!" Bella said in a tone that I was sure she must use around her soldiers.

I cracked a smile. "Yes, Ma'am."

"Alright, let's get down to business. I think you know why I asked you out here," Bella said.

I gave her a curt nod. "You want me. This isn't about them. You'll take 'em, but it's me you want."

"Yes. You're the best warrior out there. I need you. The question is are you ready to stop catering to the Cullens and go back to who you really are?" Bella asked.

I winced. She hit a nerve with that one. I couldn't really fault her though. She was right. I'd turned into a different person since joining the Cullen family with Alice. I let all of them change into something I never was and never wanted to be. The person I used to be never would've considered hiding out while a war was going on. True I never actually ran, but I certainly sat on the sidelines. That wasn't who I was. I was a soldier. I took war head on. That was until I met the Cullens. "Well, you certainly know where to strike."

Bella shrugged. There wasn't a trace of remorse on her face.

"Why are you doing this, Bella? You must have a reason for taking on the Volturi. You didn't just wake up one day and decide to start a war," I said. I knew something had happened there. Something terrible had happened to make Bella become so hard and ruthless. I wanted to know what that thing was.

Bella was able to keep her face completely passive. "You're right, I didn't. I may tell you why one day, but not now. I'm here on business. So are you with me or not?"

"Before I answer that, let me ask you something. What would happen if I said no? What will happen when some of the others do? Will you kill them?" I asked. I had already made my decision. I'd made it before Bella even showed up. Her answer wouldn't change anything. I just wondered what she would do.

"Would you have?" Bella asked before going to go back inside. "Come on, you can give me your answer with the others."

I just stood there for a minute and watched her. "I guess that's a yes."