A/n: I know, it's been forever since I've updated. I'm sorry. I was having some personal issues that needed my imediate attention. I'm not sure if this means I'm back or not, but with the Release of the Eclipse DVD in December, i'm hoping good things are coming. I figured, since i had some leeway, i would post a chapter for you so that you didn't think that i had abandon you. So, here's chapter 6.

D/c: If i've said it once, i've said it a thousand times. I. DO. NOT. OWN. TWILIGHT.

Chapter 6


JPOV

It was nice to finally be able to taste the refreshing air of First Beach. It was a center of power because of the ceremonies held here. It was a happy place. The latent emotional echoes were fantastic. Rejuvenating. The sand's memory was the most happy one.

Not many knew that I could pick up emotional traces of the past. That particular expansion came after I hit the century mark. I was also in complete control of it.

I focused on Billy Black and the other elders. It was time to hash this all out, once and for all.

"Jasper." Billy greeted. "Bella, you're obviously in the middle of a major undertaking. Enlighten us. What is it you seek?"

I smirked. "We plan on taking on our leaders. The same vampires that attacked five years ago, just after Renesmee was born."

"And why are you doing this?" another old man asked.

"That's Old Quil Atrea." Jake muttered to me. "Quil's grandfather. The woman is Sue Clearwater, as I'm sure you remember." My anger spiked. All three of them had children among my wolves, and all three had turned their backs on them.

"Because of many reasons." Bella snarled. "The least of which being the threat they pose to this reservation and the town."

My hand found Bella's and I pushed a heavy dose of calm to her. We didn't need her to lose her temper. Judging by what I've seen thus far, that could be detrimental.

"We intent to lead them to Death Valley, where we'll have an army of our kind waiting, most of which will be newborns." I told Billy.

"Why newborns?" Sam asked. "If I remember correctly, you said they were quite the hazard to work with."

"They are." I told him. "And I don't plan to turn them myself. Like you, vampires have their histories. One of which would be the war waging throughout southern Texas and Mexico for the better half of the last three centuries. Peter, Charlotte, and I were born into this war. The cliff notes version is that the war is fought newborn on newborn. I'll be calling in a lot of favors, but I'll be moving those armies into Death Valley."

"The purpose is to distract the Guard." Peter piped up. "They won't expect it, and newborns are stronger than normal vamps. They'll hopefully take out some of the more useless members of the guard before they're destroyed by the Witch Twins."

"What does this have to do with us?" Sue asked. "I don't understand why you want to put our kids in the middle of this."

Bella took this one a little calmer outwardly, but barely containing her simmering rage. "Because the wolves are already involved. Since our last encounter with them, Aro knows about them. If we fail, it will be join him or die."

"You don't have to join us." I spoke to Sam directly. The elders could kiss my sparkly white ass. I was here to talk to Sam. They were a formality. "It's purely your decision, but if we lose, they'll come here for everyone with the Gene and their mates. They'll massacre the area to erase all traces of the supernatural."

Sam stared into the fire. His emotions were calm and you could practically see the wheels turning in his head. Behind him, the wolves shifted and jostled, almost itching with nerves or a want for the fight. "Why add us to the mix? You won't have the element of surprise like you will with the newborns. The most we are is more teeth."

"Because your bonds of loyalty cannot be swayed due to the mystical quality to the treaty." I told him. "And because your teeth, teamwork, and telepathy would be a great asset."

Sam nodded. "I'm sorry, Jasper. Everything in me tells me that this fight would be good for us, for our people, and that it's a fight that we need to win. However, I cannot put my Pack and my People in that kind of danger. I have to decline your request and hope that the wolves you have with you will be enough for you to win this fight."

I nodded in complete understanding. Everyone felt the same way, even Bella.

Billy looked at me. "Is that all?"

I shook my head. "No. We have other things to go over. The plan we've come up with if Alice and Edward show up here and a different request, since Sam has declined our offer."

Billy nodded with a sigh, patting Sue's hand in comfort. I could feel steady flows of irritation coming from Leah. Bella shot her a look and she settled down. I was confused, but would ask about it later.

"Until the fighting beings, we will be recruiting allies from all over the world, but we need to make sure our critical areas are covered." I told them. "We would like to request that, when we leave, Quil be allowed to stay here to keep us informed. This has the added bonus of him be allowed to remain with his Imprint until we call him for the fight."

Billy and Sam shared a look. "We can allow this. He will obey our alpha and works with our pack until such time as he is called, however." Billy said.

"That's fine." Quil said.

I felt smugness, vindication, and loathing coming form the ten wolves sitting behind the elders. That just won't do. Quil is a member of my coven, and as such will be treated with respect.

"I expect that he'll be treated with the same respect as the other wolves in the pack, regardless of loyalty, family, or imprint." my eyes fixated on the three wolves behind Sam and Old Quil. "That's right, I felt that." Their shock was palpable.

Sam rounded on them. "Quil will be treated with the same respect as any member of our own pack." The double timbre in his voice was obvious. Sam turned to me before leveling his eyes on Quil. "Emily will be happy to have you around again, Quil."

Quil smiled and Sam returned his eyes to me. "You expect the mind reader and the seer?"

"We don't." I told him. "But if they appear, we need to know that they're still bound by the Cullen Treaty."

"They will be considered as such." Sam said. "As well as anyone with them. If they cross that line, then they dies. I assume that was why you moved your boundary line."

Bella nodded. "Yes, if they cross the line to attack us, I can help you in their destruction."

"How?" Bill asked. "The Mind Reader can hear them coming, even if the Seer is blind to them."

"Because I have a mental shield that blocks Edward's ability. To hear them." Bella told Billy, smirking. "And it only takes one member of the pack under my shield to block the whole pack, deafening Edward."

Sam was smirking. "Bella, I may hate the circumstances involved, but I really like the new you."

"Everyone keeps saying that." Bella laughed.

Billy grunted. "There ain't nothing new about her. She just went back to normal. Charlie noticed, too, Bella. He was wondering what happened to you. Had Harry and I worried as well."

Bella just laughed. She shook her head. "So this whole ordeal could have been avoided if I'd just stayed normal. Go figure."

"I believe the banter adjourns the official meeting?" I asked, smirking.

Billy nodded. He looked at the boys behind him and smirked. "Go get the coolers. I'm sure everyone's hungry." He winked at Bella. "Charlie will be down soon. I thought we could celebrate your homecoming. Since the Treaty line's been negotiated, we can do it here."

I laughed at Bella's stunned look.

When Sam's pack returned, Charlie was with them, and so was a stereo. When it was playing, I pulled Bella to her feet.

"Lets Dance." I told her, as the Imprints appeared as well. Bella laughed as I swung her into a two-step.

It was a good night.


Volterra, Italy

NoPOV

Edward growled as he watched Alice's mind. Vampires the world over were vanishing from sight. Maria and the southern Warlords been the latest ones.

"This doesn't make any sense." Caius snarled. "How could they possibly escape her visions without knowing how?"

"Someone's got to be making decisions that are allying these vampires with La Push wolves or Half Breeds." Alice snapped. "I can't see what I've never been, as we so helpfully found out with Renesmee."

"Alice." was Edward's sharp reprimand.

"So if a vampire happened across a unicorn, they would vanish?" Marcus asked in a bored deadpan.

"Not helping." Aro murmured. He was the only calm one in the group. Edward was now focused on him. When their future vanished, Alice gasped. "Go," Aro said, "find out what's going on. Take Jane and Alec with you. I know how well you enjoy their company." He was far from the jovial man that they had come to know. Here, he was the Volturi leader and he was worried about his world.

Edward and Alice nodded and bowed. They and two other vampires left the room.

Aro frowned and rested his chin on his fingers. "What is that little woman up to?" He queried out loud before turning to Marcus. "You're sure about this? If she hates him, they could very well be destroyed."

Marcus rolled his eyes. "I assure you, the love is still there. It's weakening, and fast, but you will still have your toys when it's over."

"I hope you're right, Marcus." Caius said.

"I don't need to be a seer to know the outcome, Caius." Marcus murmured, sounding almost tired. "Edward and Alice will live for now because Renesmee loves her father and aunt still."


BPOV

I lay Renesmee in her bed with a smile. Jasper walked in with Jake slung over his shoulder. He lay him on the bed with Renesmee and shook his head. They'd partied themselves silly last night. It was amazing to see them so happy. Jasper led me out of the room and downstiars where Char was laying a very Drunk Leah on the couch. The she-wolf was making it difficult.

"You know what really sucks about this whole shape-shifter bit, Leech?" She was slurring hard. "It's not the eternal youth or the rockin' body or even that I turn in to a giant hairy wolf. Those are all perks. It kinda sucks to be mentally connected to a bunch of guys, but I'm used to that. It's being a genetic dead end." She drew out the 'n'. "Not being able to have babies. Not having that special connection of an imprint. I am the first and only female wolf and since I'm not male and can't pass on the wolf gene, I'm not useful in reproducing the species and am therefore a dead end. I'll be alone forever cause I don't have the temper control to stop …" She passed out cold.

"Finally." Char murmured.

"She sounds like Rose." Jasper commented.

"I don't think it's the children so much as the Imprint." I told him. "To have that emotional connection."

"She's got three years before she finds him, providing we survive." Peter said, coming down the stairs. "I know it's useless information, but I can only give what I'm given. Trust me. She and her Imprint put Char and I to shame."

"That's saying something." Jasper laughed.

I smiled and ran a hand through my hair. I needed a shower. Some of the older wolves decided some late night cliff diving was in order and I wasn't about to pass it up given how epically my last attempt failed, what with my needing saving and all.

I said my goodbyes to everyone and went straight for my bag and the nearest bathroom. The shower was both refreshing and relaxing. It gave me time to think without all eyes being on me. I knew Jasper constantly had a feel on my emotions, but under a curtain of scalding (to a human) hot water, I had relative privacy and didn't give a double damn.

I stepped out and frowned. I would have swore I brought clothes with me. In fact, I knew I did. I'm not that crazy. I found a note where I'd sat them.

My office. Come naked and you might get your clothes back.

J.W.

Really, I thought sarcastically.

I smirked to myself. I couldn't smell Jasper or Char. We really needed to put a bell on Peter or something. I shook my head and wrapped a towel around myself. I wrapped my hair up as well and went to Jasper's study. Should figure Peter would try to play matchmaker. Pair the spares and all that.

I arrived to find Jasper staring, rather perplexed, at my clothes. He turned to me and sighed.

"That explains why he and char vanished." He muttered. "Sorry, Bella."

"Like you can be blamed for Peter's actions." I said reaching for my clothes. Jasper's hand caught my wrist. He looked at me with black eyes. Once upon a time I would have been scared. Now, I was simply turned on. The hunger in his eyes was not for blood, but for me.

"Don't." He murmured. "Not yet. Bella, you have no idea what you do to me. How bad I want you."

"Jasper, we talked about this." I said. "I'm not interested."

"Bullshit." He snarled. "I can feel it, Bella, feel you. You can't lie to a fucking empath."

I stared him down. "Why would you possibly want me?"

"Why wouldn't I?" He responded. "Bella, I've wanted you from your first day in Forks. At the time, I had Alice and then Edward was after you. It was never your blood that drew me to you."

"Everyone always said it was my blood." I told him. I wracked my fuzzy human memories. "In Phoenix…"

"Phoenix was probably the best and worst days of my existence." Jasper told me. "I was relatively alone with you. Surrounded by you, your scent. But Alice was there as well and was constantly telling me she loved me, reminding me what an honorable man I was. I was torn in two. The woman that saved me and the woman of my dreams."

I shook my head. "I'm not that girl, Jasper. I never was. That was an act."

Jasper shook his head. "You're more her now than you were 7 years ago, Bella." His hand fell from my wrist and he tucked them into his pockets. "I know it all makes me sound like a pussy, but it's the truth, Bella." He left the study, his eyes still black. I heard the shower start and sighed.

Why was my love life so complicated?


Volterra, Italy.

3 days later

EdPOV

I led Alice down the hallway to Gianna's desk. The little human was quite mindless, but she did her job well.

I hope he doesn't get too mad. I've heard that he has a terrible temper. When the currior told me who they were for …

Well, this was irritating. She wouldn't even think the words.

"Oh, Mr. Edward, Miss Alice, You're here." She squeaked. Her heart rate jumped though she remained outwardly calm. Very interesting. "These packages came for you today."

She handed us each a large manila envelope. I saw it in Alice's vision before we'd even opened them. Divorce papers.

Oh, my sweet Isabella, you are in so much trouble when I get my hands on you. I tore them open and read through. Irreconcilable differences, abandonment, demand for custody of the child …. I nearly laughed. "What the Hell does she mean irreconcilable differences?" I roared. I would have so much fun when I finally got my hands around her pretty little throat. I would have to find a way to get her to drop her personal shield so that Jane could use her power. It was always highly arousing when she was inflicting pain on others.

I looked to my sister and saw that she was sobbing in a chair while Alec comforted her. "He left me." she whimpered.

Edward, we can use this to our advantage. If they've severed ties with us it means there's a chance for them to get together. Aro wants them both and he can use Bella to force Jasper to cooperate.

I mentally smirked at that. This could have great potential.

"After all the times you left him, you're going to cry about this?" I snarled. We were fabulous actors. We needed to be. For what we were doing, we had to be able to fool everyone. Even Aro. "Even knowing Alec is your mate?"

"It's the principle of the thing, Edward." Alice shrieked. She really did know how to blow eardrums.

I vaguely realized that Gianna was cowering behind her desk. Our outbursts would fly quickly through the castle. Good.

"I don't see why you're bitching, Edward." Jane murmured seductively. She really was a gem. I was happy to have found her. I had loved Isabella, but she wasn't my mate. She and Renesmee belonged to Jasper. I was simply there to help. "You haven't exactly been the most faithful husband and father in the world." I could only smirk at her. Jane and Alec knew everything and were fully prepared to help us.

"You like my dark side." I murmured back to her, pulling her in for a kiss. We were interrupted by Alice's hiss.

"Gianna, I need a pen." She demanded holding out her hand.

"You're going to sign them?" I asked.

I hope this goes well. We'll have to explain everything later. She thought at the same time she was talking to me. "Of course. After what I've seen, I don't give a damn." Alice shrugged. She showed me a scene that I wished not to see. It involved a mostly naked Isabella, Jasper, and a jug of blood. "That was before they even left the Cullen Compound. He pulled her out of her Insanity."

I smirked and signed my papers as well. This should all be very interesting. It still irritated me that she had been the one to send me divorce papers. It was a blow to my masculinity. Honestly, I had been considering doing the same thing. It needed to be done because I had no intention of leaving Jane, but in my day, women didn't initiate the divorce often.

"If she wants to play that game, fine." I snarled. "We'll play. Lets go. Santa Fe and that Idiot 'Warlord' are calling."

It was all going to be very interesting.


JasPOV

Bella sat behind me on that Ducati Edward had bought and never used. Jake and Nessie were on one of the other ones I'd gotten them. Embry and Leah were on the other. We figured it would be easier to move as couples, so we sent Seth north with Peter and Char.

The feel of Bella pressed against me was like nothing else. We hadn't talked about anything but strategy in three days. I'd rattled her with my confession, but I'd had to put it out there. I couldn't have gone another minute without her knowing. Not with her standing therein that fucking towel, looking so damn innocent.

Peter got his, though. Bella and I made sure of it. If the bastard wasn't my brother, he'd have been dead 149 years ago. He's just too damn useful.

We were on our way to Santa Fe, New Mexico. There we could set up shop for the kids before Bella and I moved into war territory. They would be set up in a nice hotel that they weren't to leave until we got back.

It was a 26 hour ride. Good thing wolves could go a day without sleep. That was slightly extended owning to the need to hunt by the vampires. We would be stopping in Salt Lake City for that.

It was going to be an interesting couple of weeks. Many of the Warlords in the south hated me, for one reason or another. That was why I was taking Bella. Thing was, they hated the Volturi more. The constant threat over their heads would either make or break the deal.

I knew I could count on six of the total twenty Warlords to help me. Maria, Paco, Richard, Nina, Luna, and Dominique, if they were still alive, would join me immediately. They were old blood, ancients by war standards, and held a lot of power. The smaller covens avoided their territories. They each had a corner of Mexico to themselves, with Maria planted right smack dab on the gold mine of Monterrey. They were old, they were smart, and they knew how to control their newborns.

I was concerned, however. Moving newborns was tricky business, at best. They were constantly thirsty and barely in control of their tempers and emotions. Just the slightest hint of a human scent would send them into a frenzy of hunger. Only the truly experienced could move more than a few at a time without death tolls rising and the Volturi taking notice.

Than again, that was exactly what we wanted. I would leave that particular task to Maria. Catch their attention without alerting the humans to our presence. She was smart. Much as I hated the bitch, she was smart, and quick on her feet. She knew what she was doing. It would be interesting to see what she had to say.

I also needed to check in with Emmet and Rose to see if they were still on board. I would hold it against no one for telling me to get fucked.

Everything was moving forward as planned. I could only hope for no more snags.

This suicide mission might actually succeed.


A/n: I know, I'm a teasing bitch. But you love me anyway. Drop me a review. You know i live for them. I definitely want to hear what you think.

Super-mega-huge thanks to those of you who reviewed for last chapter. Even getting sparse ones in later weeks were enough to brighten my day. i love hearing from you guys. The beautiful part was that when i was having a horrible day, i would get a review, and it would just make me feel so much better, so thanks for that.

see you next time

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

leggy freak003