A/N – Sorry for the wait but this chapter just didn't want to end. When I finally ended up at 23,000 words I decided to cut it in half. As promised, we finally get to see what Emmett is up to. FYI…I took a little dramatic license with his past. Bella and Jasper go through some growing pains and all you Peter fans might get a little pissed, but please bear with me. Thanks again for all your reviews. And a big thank you to Anubis I. Kasanoda!
Disclaimer – S.M. owns it. And once again, I have no beta so all fuck-ups are mine and mine alone.
Chapter 9
-Emmett's POV-
Why do I always get stuck with the shit jobs? I swear, every time Esme needs a section of the forest cleared for a new cottage or Alice needs someone to carry a mountain of shopping bags, who do they call? Me! Big, strong Emmett. They might look tiny, but they're almost as strong as me. Don't get me wrong; I don't mind helping the girls out. I was raised to be a gentleman and any assistance I can provide is gladly given. But sometimes I wish they would ask me nicely instead of telling me what to do. That's why I love my Rosie. She has always treated me as her equal. She asks my opinion on things and listens to what I have to say. Maybe it's my fault though. I don't think the rest of the family has ever seen past the sports-watching, video game-playing, prankster. I don't often talk about how I'm feeling or how things affect me. To be honest, the only person I've ever really opened up to is Rose, but lately I've been keeping things even from her.
This whole thing with Bella is killing me. I don't know why, but the minute I met her I felt every bit the protective big brother. She seemed so frail and vulnerable and I just wanted to take her under my wing and keep her safe. Why couldn't my Rosie understand that? We've been together for nearly 70 years and, aside from the trivial arguments that result in epic make-up sex, we've never had a fight. Not too many couples can say that. But as soon as Bella entered our lives, Rosalie and I started fighting. She couldn't understand how I could feel so strongly, and I couldn't understand how she could hate her so much without knowing her. Rose and Jasper actually contemplated killing Bella the first night. Thankfully we were able to talk them out of it, but the whole ordeal kind of put a wedge between us. Eventually, in order to keep the peace, I stopped talking about Bella altogether. I never told Rosalie how upset her actions made me. Of course my wife would always come first in my life, but why couldn't she see how torn-up I was?
And then I saw how Rose reacted when she saw Bella at the ballet studio. My wife has never lost her composure in front of anyone except me, but when she saw Bella laying there half-dead, something in her must have shifted. Rosie started pleading with Alice to change her. She said she loved Bella, called Bella her little sister. She fell to her knees in front of her and started whispering apologies. I have never been as proud of my mate as I was in that moment. For the first time she showed her vulnerable side without any reservations. Rosalie was never what you'd call a wall flower. She loves to be seen and be the center of attention. Well, she was sure as shit the center of attention now. Everyone looked as shocked as I was at her reaction. Hopefully now Rosie and I can go back to the way things were. Me saying stupid shit, her slapping the back of my head, and us running into the forest to 'relieve the tension'.
I'm just trying to complete my task so I can get back to my sex-pot of a wife.
And that's how I find myself sitting in Carlisle's jet taking my dipshit brother to Alaska. Why am I the only one separated from my mate? Esme and Carlisle get to fake Bella's death together. Jasper and Bella are together. Jasper's brother Peter and his mate are together. And who do I get for company? Edward's head in a box. To be honest though, this is probably the best time I've ever had with him. He's quiet and non-judgmental.
Boo…bad form Emmett. Here you are making fun of Edward while he's in pieces, being shipped like cargo.
Whatever! Fuck him. That prick almost destroyed my family and he's lucky we didn't kill him when we had the chance.
But maybe I should go easy on him. I know what it's like to slip from our diet. Although I've only tasted human blood once, the experience almost killed me. Rose and I were on one of our many honeymoons, this one to Eastern Europe. We were in Krakow, Poland when I smelled the most enticing scent I've ever come across. Rosalie was browsing in a nearby store while I mulled around outside. As soon as I caught the scent I couldn't help but follow it. I ran for about three miles before I found the source. A young peasant woman was carrying a package on a deserted path. Within seconds her lifeless form fell from my arms into the dirt. Rose walked over to me and cradled me in her arms. I would find out later that she tried to stop me from draining the girl, but I still have no recollection of that. In that moment, I was a predator after his prey; nothing could have prevented what happened. It took me decades to come to terms with my actions, but with Rose's help, I finally forgave myself.
Edward is no better or worse than the rest of us. Aside from Carlisle and Rose, all of us have fed from a human at least once, accidental or otherwise. Even Esme had a moment of weakness. The only reason we're so angry is because he almost killed a member of the family. I was only able to be near my singer for five minutes before I killed her. Edward managed to be around Bella for a month, and if he hadn't tried to save her by sucking the venom out, he may never have succumbed to his monster.
The only saving grace of this trip is Katie. She and I have always had a certain affection for each other. Rosalie loves her, and normally that would be enough for me, but Kate and I have formed a solid friendship over the years. Her sisters, Tanya and Irina have always been a bit…forward, but Kate is calm and reserved. She doesn't talk a lot, but when she does, it's always something worth listening to. She's smart and analytical, quiet and caring. In many ways she reminds me of my Rosie. They're both strong women, with an unwavering loyalty, who put family above all else. I was glad when Alice told me that Kate was going to accompany me to Texas. I know Rose will be pleased to see her, and I think Bella will benefit from her presence.
Just then the captain gets on the intercom and informs me of our impending arrival.
"Alright, Eddie-boy. Time to face the music." I stare at the boxes sitting across from me and wonder if Edward is able to see inside my head in his current state. I guess we'll find out soon enough.
We finally land and I see that the Denali's have left my favorite vehicle, a Jeep Wrangler, at the airport. I've been to their home many times, so I told Elezar not to bother meeting us at the gate. I drove for about 2 hours before their house came into view. As large and as beautiful as our house is in Forks, it pales in comparison to the home that stands before me. I don't know if Carmen and Elezar want to expand the family, or be ready to welcome in a stray nomad, but this house can accommodate 20 vampires instead of the five that currently reside here. Whenever the Cullen's and the Denali's decide to spend some time together, we do so here.
Edward and I pull up to the front door and Carmen comes bolting out of the house to the Jeep.
"Emmett, dear. How are you coping with the recent events?" Her thick, Spanish accented voice is every bit as motherly as Esme's.
"Carmen! It's so good to see you. How long has it been? Two years? Three?"
"Four years, my darling. Sometimes it seems as if we only meet up during a crisis or a wedding. And honestly, Emmett, we have gone to more weddings for you and your beautiful Rosalie than for anyone else. But we do love spending time with you, even if it is under these horrible circumstances." I didn't realize it until now, but I really missed this woman. "Come inside, dear, and fill us in on the goings on of the Cullen family."
I pick up the boxes containing Edward and proceed to follow my 2nd mother into her home. We stop in the living room and, as I'm placing the boxes on the coffee table, Elezar makes his way down the stairs.
"Emmett, my boy. How good it is to see you after such a long absence." He smiles widely at me and offers his hand.
"It's good to see you too, Sir." I don't know why but I always feel like a school-boy around this man. He's a few centuries older than Carlisle so I always treat him with the utmost respect. "I'm sorry to put this burden on you, Elezar, but Carlisle thinks you may be the only one who can talk Edward through this. By the way, are the girls here?"
"Tanya and Irina have gone into town for some unnecessary shopping and Kate is outside in the garden reading." Sounds just like the Katie I know and love. She's the only woman I know who will happily forgo a shopping trip so she can lose herself in a book. Actually, that sounds remarkably like a Bella thing to do; they both seem to enjoy their alone time.
"That's perfect, Elezar. Katie is apparently involved in this whole thing and I would like to speak with you all at once." Elezar and Carmen look shocked at my words. "It's nothing bad, I assure you both. It seems as if she will be a big help in the future. Do you mind if we join her in the garden? I don't know how aware Edward is at the moment, but I don't want to risk him hearing us or reading our thoughts."
"Of course, dear." Carmen wraps her arm around my waist and leads me to where Kate is sitting among the rose bushes. She must have seen the smile creep onto my face because she starts to reminisce immediately. "Do you remember when I planted these roses, Emmett? It was the first time Rosalie brought you here to meet us. She was so happy and proud to have finally found her mate, and I thought it would be a lovely gesture to plant these roses in your honor. You had only been in this life for a few years and you were doing very well. Granted, you and Rosalie always had a very…healthy relationship," I bet Carmen is glad she is unable to blush, "but she did manage to pull herself away from you for a bit to help me plant the bushes you see before you." We finally walk up to Kate, and she must have been engrossed in the story she was reading, because she didn't look up.
"Just give her a moment. She likes to finish the current chapter before she acknowledges our presence." Elezar must be used to this sort of thing because he laughs it off with a shake of his head. Carmen leads me to a bench and she takes a seat.
"It's not that I want to finish the chapter, dear father. I just think it's incredibly rude to interrupt one while one is trying to enjoy a lovely story." Kate finally stands up and throws herself into my arms. "My brother. How I've longed to see you. How is your beautiful wife and mate?" I return her hug for a moment before speaking.
"Ekaterina, it's lovely to see you too. But to answer your question, that's kind of what I would like to talk to you all about. Let's sit down and I will do my best to explain everything. Elezar, may I start by asking why Carlisle wants you to take on this particular job?" I knew that he and Edward were close, but I never heard the story behind it.
Elezar looks thoughtful for a moment. "Edward and I have always had a special relationship. He thinks of Carlisle as a father, but he thinks of me more like an uncle or older cousin. He feels more comfortable talking to me about certain things for fear he will upset Carlisle. This was before you joined the family Emmett, but I'm sure you've heard of Edwards 'rebellious' phase. He was away from the Cullen's for ten years, but he came here after eight. The poor boy was so distraught over what he'd done; he killed hundreds of humans in those eight years and he was afraid that Carlisle wouldn't take him back. Carlisle had turned Esme about five years before Edward left and I believe Edward thought he wouldn't be welcomed back into the family. That he'd been replaced by Carlisle's new mate."
"Carlisle and Esme would have never turned him away over something like that. Sure, they might have been disappointed with his behavior, but they would have welcomed him back with open arms."
"That's what I told him when he came to me. I tried for two years to get him to go home but he wouldn't budge. He said that if he couldn't stay with us, he would go off on his own again. I told him he was always welcome but as soon as he went off on an extended hunt with the girls, I called Carlisle and Esme and asked them if they could come up here. I figured that as soon as Edward read their thoughts he would know that they desperately wanted him to come home. Ever since then, Edward has always come to me when he has a problem."
"Did he come to you after he met Bella?"
"Yes. He was so worried that he would kill her the next time she was near him, but I managed to convince him that he was stronger than that. I convinced him to go home but told him to call me and keep me updated, which he did." We sat in silence for a moment before Kate spoke.
"Brother, I'm confused as to what role I'm meant to play in this familial drama. Will you please explain to us what happened? Esme gave us a broad overview but very few details and I would like to hear the story from the beginning."
"Of course, Katie. I'm going to tell you everything." I feel a buzzing in my pocket so I pull out my phone and see a text from Alice.
Don't tell Carmen and Elezar about Jasper being mated to Bella. Edward will pull it from their minds and react terribly. He still believes that Bella is his mate and, if he finds out, he will do everything in his power to kill Jasper. I'll meet you guys in Texas as soon as I can.
"Carmen and Elezar, there are things that I'm going to keep from you because I don't want Edward to read your minds. There are things that have happened and it's better if he doesn't know about them right now. He needs to deal with what he's done before he finds out about everything else. Katie, when you and I are on our way and safely away from Edward, I'll fill you in on the rest." I steady myself for a moment. This is a difficult story to tell and I need to gather my thoughts before I start.
"Okay, let me start with Alice's vision." I recount the entire story from beginning to end, only leaving out certain events. I tell them how Bella was changed and that Rose and Jasper took her to stay with Peter and Charlotte for her newborn year, but not saying where they live. I don't tell them about The Major coming out; I let them believe Jasper was the one to save Bella. I realize that if Edward knew The Major was present, he would figure out that Bella isn't his. That she was never his. My poor brother needs some time to come to terms with his actions before he's informed of the relationship between the woman he thought was his mate, and his brother.
As I tell the story, I see the faces before me fall in despair. They may not know Bella, but they already think of her as one of the family, and I can tell that the story of her last human moments weigh heavily on their collective minds.
Carmen looks at me with soft eyes. "Darling Emmett, however did you manage to not kill your brother when you had the chance? I love my family, but if one of them ever tried to take the life of another, I don't know if I could have restrained myself. If any of my children were taken from me…" Her voice drops, her eyes blacken and she continues with a deadly calm. "All I know is that Edward should thank his lucky stars that Esme wasn't there. He may be her son, but if she saw her Bella in that state, Edward wouldn't be in nearly as good of shape as he is now. As far as I'm concerned, he got off easy. Don't worry my son. As soon as Elezar is finished informing our dear Edward of his abominable behavior, I will make it a point to help him atone. Knowing Edward as I do, he will need some form of penance for his actions." Carmen looks absolutely livid at my brother's lack of control and I have never been happier to be me at this precise moment. Elezar takes a seat next to his mate and wraps her in his arms. She relaxes into him and is immediately calmed.
God, I miss my Rosie. We need to get to Texas ASAP.
"Emmett, where exactly are we going? You mentioned that you and I are to take a trip together but neglected to tell me where we are going and why my presence is required."
"I can't tell you where we're headed until we're well on our way. And as for why, well you, my dear sister, are apparently going to be a great help to our Bella. She has a power that she doesn't know she has, and therefore can't control. I guess your evil little shockwaves will come in handy." Just the thought of Katie's gift gives me the shivers.
"Do you mean like this, darling Emmett?" Before I can react, she places her hand on my arm and sends 5,000 volts straight through my body.
"Fuck, Kate! That shit hurts."
"Emmett! Language." Carmen looks shocked at my outburst, but I still see a giggle threatening to escape from her.
"Sorry, Carmen."
"Buck-up, brother. That was my low setting. Just wait until I break out the big guns." It's not often Katie uses slang and I can't help but laugh at her words. "It will be a nice change to be around women other than my sisters. I love them, but sometimes I feel as if they live for only themselves." She drifts off into her own little world for a moment.
The four of us sit for a while longer catching up everything else that's been going on with our families. I feel another buzz come from my pocket so, once again, I take out my cell phone.
Enough pussy-footing around, brother. You two need to be outta there before the dumbass is reassembled like a fucking Lego castle. Have Katie pack a bag and get you're asses down here. Some awesome shit is about to go down with these girls and I don't want to wait any longer. And I'm sick of watching Rose pine for you. Take Carlisle's plane and there'll be a car waiting for you at the airport.
Alrighty then. Jasper always told me to never bet against Peter, so I guess we need to leave.
"Time to go, Katie. Go pack for an extended vacation and we'll buy whatever else you may need once we get there." Kate flies up the stairs and is back within minutes. She seems to be excited about our trip. The four of us say our goodbyes and Kate asks Carmen to pass on a message to her sisters. We finally make our way to the Jeep and as Elezar and Carmen wave to us from the front porch, we pull away.
We drive to the airport and as soon as we're in the air, Kate starts in on me.
"Okay, little brother. Spill it. Where are we going? What's going on with Bella? What really happened in Phoenix? I know you had to keep things from Elezar and Carmen, but tell me the truth."
"Okay, sis. Here goes." I launch into the unedited version of the story. To her credit, Kate keeps silent until I finish.
"Holy shit, Em!" I look at Kate, shocked at her use of foul language. Carmen is more of a stickler than Esme on the subject and I don't think I've ever heard a curse word come from my sister. "Bella is mated to the God of War? Does she know who he is and what he's done?"
"Yeah. Last time Rose called, she said that they sat down and explained everything to Bella and, apparently, she took it all in stride. Peter seems to think that she was fated to be the Major's mate judging by her reaction. I guess our shy little Bella has turned into quite the ball-buster. I knew she was gonna be fucking awesome and I can't wait to see her."
"Don't fret, Emmett. We will be there in no time at all and I'm sure that Rosalie won't be able to keep her hands off of you." We spend the rest of the trip in silence and I spend the majority of the time thinking about my Rosie and how badly I need to get laid.
-PPOV-
Shit. Shit. Shit.
For all the things my gift allows me to know, why didn't I see this one coming? Jasper is gonna be pissed. I knew that Bella was gonna wake up early and I should have taken precautions to ensure the package was delivered before she did. I may be a vampire with a perfect memory, but I was so excited at seeing Bella 'super-vamp', that I completely forgot that I was expecting a delivery. I'm usually not this reckless and Jasper is sure as shit never gonna let me forget that I fucked up. Charlotte and I manage to get Bella deep into the woods where the scent of human is long gone.
"What the fuck was that, Peter?" Bella surprises me with her outburst. "I thought I was supposed to be more controlled than that. I didn't even feel like myself. It's like I knew what I was doing but was powerless to stop it."
Char wraps her arms around Bella. "Don't be so hard on yourself, sis. It's nothing to be ashamed of. We were all like that in the beginning. Why do you think we spend our newborn year so far away from humans? That was your animalistic side coming out and it just means that you're a vampire; no more, no less."
"But why didn't I feel any bloodlust when I woke up?" She looks so disappointed in herself and if she could've cried, she probably would have.
"I don't know, Swan. All I know is that you're gonna be fine. We're your family now and we will do everything in our power to help you through this." I wrap her in my arms and, true to form, Charlotte joins in. My wife has never met a hug she didn't like.
I hear Jasper approach and I steady myself for the backlash. My brother stops before me with murder in his eyes and I realize that The Major has joined us. The only thing he hates more than fucking up is not accepting your punishment so I prepare myself for whatever's coming. Bella looks at The Major and I see a flicker of recognition in her eyes.
"Charlotte. Please take Isabella back to the house. Rosalie is waiting for you." He turns to Bella and softens his gaze before he speaks to her. "Isabella, I will meet you there shortly." Char grabs Bella's hand and runs like a bat out of hell towards home.
"Char! What the fuck is going on? Why do we have to leave?" Bella's voice fades as they get further away.
"Explain yourself, Captain."
"I apologize, Major. I wasn't thinking clearly. I was excited about Bella and the delivery must have slipped my mind."
"Slipped your mind? Do you have any idea what would have happened if my mate had fed from that human? She would never have forgiven herself, and she would never have forgiven us for not stopping her. You fucked up, Peter. And not only that, you put Isabella, my mate, in danger. You, better than anyone, know what I'm capable of. I'm tempted to send you away for a decade or so, but Isabella seems to be attached to you and I don't want her to suffer for your mistake." Before I have time to respond, The Major rips my right arm off and throws it into the woods. "Pull yourself together and meet us at the house. You will be expected to explain yourself and apologize to Isabella"
"Yes, sir."
"And Peter, if anything like this ever happens again, I will fuck you up so badly, you'll wish you were Edward." With that, he turns around and heads toward the house. I walk at a human pace to find my arm. Fuck. I have never seen him this angry before. During the Southern Wars he was harsh but indifferent. None of it was personal. He was just doing a job. But this…this is an entirely different set of circumstances. This is his mate. The woman who will someday become his wife. I don't think I really grasped it until now, but Major Jasper Whitlock, the God of War, has found his true, bonded mate. She may be a badass in her own right, but she will be the most loved, most protected and most revered vampire that has ever existed. And it would be in the best interest of all of us to keep her safe.
I finally find my arm and attempt to reattach it. Shit! I'm gonna need Char for this. Just then I hear her run up to me.
"Thank God you're here Char."
"Hey, baby. Are you okay? Jasper told me that you would need my help."
"I'll be fine. How's Bella doing?"
"Bella's good, she's upstairs with Rose. Rose got a text from Alice asking why Bella hadn't looked in a mirror yet so they went to go look at Bella 2.0." She grabs my arm from me and places it back into position. She licks around my shoulder, her venom closing the wound instantly.
"Where's the Major?"
"Jasper's back at the house. But, Pete? I don't think the Major went anywhere. Every time I look at our brother, I can see him. It's like he's always right behind Jasper's eyes, ready to come out. Do you think they're merging?"
"Could be, I don't know. Let's go home. I need to talk to Bella and then I want to spend some time with my wife."
"Sounds good to me, hubby. I love having everyone in our home, but I miss being alone with you."
"I'll ask JP if he'll let us spend the night in the hayloft. I know how much you like doing it in the stables." My woman has always been adventurous and more than a little dirty.
"Mmmm…let's do it!" She's fucking purring at me and I quickly forget what I'm supposed to do, my jeans growing tighter by the second. "Down boy. We have all night for that. Right now you need to make things right with your brother." Since when is Char the responsible one. Usually I have to beat her off with a stick, but she does have a point. I'll never be able to enjoy my wife if I don't fix things.
"Alright, babe. Let's go home. Oh…and Char?" She looks up at me with her beautiful sanguine eyes. "Thanks for putting my arm back on." She pulls me into a deep yet gentle kiss before leading me home.
-BPOV-
Holy fuck! I'm hot. And not like super model, movie star hot either. I'm talking some sort of otherworldly, ethereal hot. Jesus, if I knew I was gonna look like this, I would have made them change me the first day I met them. Now I know why Rose spends so much time in front of the mirror.
"Yes, Bella. You're beautiful and talented and the most desirable woman on the planet. Can we go downstairs now? I wanna see what happened to Peter."
"Stop whining, Rosie." She looks amazed at my words. "Just gimme a minute. I want to savor this moment."
"You're lucky I love you, Isabella Swan. Not even Alice can get away with calling me 'Rosie'."
"But, Char did! Why can she call you that and not me?"
"Now look whose whining. Did you even hear what I said, Bella?" I think for a moment before launching myself into her arms.
"You love me, Rose?"
"Of course I do, Bells." She called me Bells! "You and Char are my little sisters and I love you both. We girls gotta stick together."
"Damn right, sis. Okay. Let's go downstairs and see what's going on." I pull Rose down the stairs and we make our way to the fire pit, which seems to be our favorite place to gather. I always wondered why a bunch of vampires like hanging around a veritable death trap, but if the fire doesn't bother them, it's okay by me.
I see Charlotte walking towards us with Peter and JP in tow and we all take a seat around the pit.
"Where's Jasper?" I feel a slight tugging in my chest and I wonder where my mate is.
"He'll be here in a minute. He's probably calming himself down." Peter looks a bit shaken up but I don't mention it.
"Guess what, Char!"
"What, Bella?"
"I'm hot."
"Yes, I know."
"No! Seriously, I'm like drop dead gorgeous. And taller. And my boobs got bigger." I see Rosalie roll her eyes at me and I just can't help myself. "And there is a 98% chance that I'm hotter than Rosie!" I sneak a peek in her direction.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves now, Bella. Do you think all this," Rose gestures to herself, "happens naturally? This requires hard work and dedication. Granted, I do have a certain…natural beauty." She winks in my direction. Natural beauty? Well isn't that the fucking understatement of the year? She's the most beautiful creature on the planet and she fucking-well knows it. Just ask her.
"If I may be so bold, ladies, I believe ya'll are equally beautiful. Beauty lies within and I think that each of ya's hold yer own unique qualities." The three of us look a little weak in the knees at JP's words. "Miss Charlotte, I've known ya now fer many decades and I don' think I've ever met a more thoughtful or carin' person. Miss Rosalie, I understand that we don' know each other very well, but I can tell from yer demeanor and attitude that ya just might be the strongest, most loyal woman I've come across in all my 200 years." Wow, he's even older than Jasper. He turns to look at me and thinks for a moment before speaking. "Miss Bella. Now I've known Jasper fer over a century an I was startin' to think that no woman, human or vampire, would ever be right for him. But I think he mighta finally met his match. Ya have that rare blend of vulnerability and ferocity which suits him ta the core. Ya don' seem afraid to show yer feelin's, but yer also not one ta sugar coat things. Ya tell it like it is and I fer one respect ya fer it. And ya may not realize it now, but I gotta feelin' that yer gonna be a force to be reckoned with. Yer The Majors mate, and that alone would be enough to make me quake in my boots. But make no mistake, Miss Bella, yer every bit as strong as he is and any vampire who meets ya would do well not ta cross ya."
I'm taken aback by his words. No one's ever called me strong before. I've always been weak little Bella who needs to be protected and watched over. I look at JP, see the honesty in his eyes, and nod my head in a silent thank you.
Suddenly the pull in my chest tightens and I double over in pain.
"What is it, Bella?" Char looks worried.
"I don't know. I have this tugging in my chest and it just keeps getting stronger and stronger. I'm not sure why, but I need to find Jasper."
"That's the mating pull, Swan. It's leading you to your mate. What are you feeling right now?"
"I feel angry, but also scared and a bit sad."
"You're probably feeling what Jasper's feeling. He's projecting his emotions and his empathetic gifts are probably more pronounced for you. Can you feel where he is?"
I let myself feel in which direction I'm being pulled. "Yeah, he's upstairs in his room. I need to go to him." Before the words have finished leaving my mouth, I'm out of my seat and racing up the stairs. I stop in the doorway and see Jasper with his head in his hands and his shoulders trembling.
"Jasper?" His name comes out like a whimper.
"Bella. You're here." He looks up at me and I see that his eyes are pitch black, and not from lust or hunger.
"Yes, Jasper. I could feel your emotions. I knew what you were feeling and I could tell that you needed me. Are you okay?" I take the seat next to him on the bed and wrap my arms around his shoulders.
"I'll be fine darlin'. I was overcome with anger and fear and I needed to get away from Peter before I killed him. But, Bella, I need you to understand that while I'm still your Jasper, The Major is here with us. Your safety was compromised and he came to protect you. Can you feel him?" He pulls me down on the bed and we lay on our sides facing each other. He grabs my hand and brings it to his lips, kissing it softly. I begin to feel a new sensation in my chest. It's similar to the pull I felt before, but this is more of a tingling. Almost like a shiver. It's cold and strong and it makes me feel safe.
"I think so." I explain the differences between the two feelings and he nods his head.
"Interesting. You can feel both of us. I suppose it makes sense since I can feel him more now than ever. Perhaps we're starting to merge. Combine our forces, as it were." I sit up and rest my back against the headboard. I pull Jasper towards me and he lays his head in my lap, all the while keeping my hand pressed to his lips. I begin to stroke his blonde locks with my free hand and he starts to purr, sending vibrations throughout my body.
I don't know how long we stayed in our bed, but it must have been awhile because I see the sun start to rise. It's hard to believe this is only my second day as a vampire. So many things have happened and this is the first time that Jasper and I have been alone. We sit in silence for a few more hours before Jasper finally speaks.
"I love you, Bella." A huge wave of love and gratitude envelopes me.
"As I love you." I try to send my feelings to him and as soon as he wraps his hands around my waist, I can tell it worked.
"No one has ever felt this strongly for me before, Bella. How can you be so certain?"
"Aren't you, Jasper? We're meant to be together. So what if we don't know each other very well. That will come in time. This new life is confusing and scary for me, but there are two things that I'm absolutely certain of." He sits up next to me and takes my face in his hands.
"What's that, darlin'."
"First, I love you. I love you more than anyone in the history of time and I know, without a doubt, that you feel the same." He graces me with a wonderfully gentle kiss. I feel a tingling start at my toes and it manages to work its way up my body.
"What the second thing?" He starts to kiss down my neck and over my collarbone. His hands wrap around my waist and he pulls me into his lap so I'm straddling him. I lose focus for a moment as he kisses my shoulders, sending yet another tingle down my spine. "Bella?"
"Huh? Sorry Jasper. You're just so good at that. What the hell was I saying?" He kisses my neck again and I'm finally able to focus. "Oh yeah. The second thing I'm absolutely certain of is that I could stay in your arms for the rest of eternity and I would be the happiest girl in the world."
"Lucky for you then Bella, we just happen to have all of eternity. But let's get one thing clear, my mate. You are no girl. You're all woman and I plan on spending the rest of my life devoting myself to your pleasure." With that he sweeps his tongue over my lips and I wrap my legs securely around his waist. I feel his arousal press against me and it takes everything I have to not grind into him. But something happened earlier to put him in the mood he was in and, before this goes any further, I need to find out what it was. "Jasper, why were you so angry before? What happened?"
"Why don't we go downstairs and I'll let Peter fill you in. I promise that we'll have all the time in the world to finish what we just started. I want both of our minds to be clear before I claim you as mine." He bites my neck just a little and I growl in pleasure. He smiles into my neck and I feel absolute pride radiating off of him. Apparently he likes how he can make me react with just the slightest tough.
Suddenly I'm cradled in his arms and he's carrying me down the stairs. The rest of the family is still sitting around the fire pit and I wonder if they sat there all night. I wait for Jasper to sit, but when he remains standing, I take the chair next to Rose. Jasper stands rigidly, arms crossed, and Peter begins to speak.
"Bella, I must apologize to you. I took the liberty of preparing some papers for your new life and, although I knew you were going to wake up early, I forgot to tell our attorney to delay the delivery until you were a safe distance away. I had no idea you would react the way you did because we thought you had no bloodlust. I didn't mean to put you in danger." Peter looks so angry at himself and Jasper doesn't seem to be helping matters. He's just staring at his brother with a murderous glare.
"Petey, I don't understand what you did wrong." I walk over to Peter and kneel in front of him. "Aren't all newborns supposed to be unpredictable? I just did what was expected. And what danger are you talking about? My life was never in jeopardy."
"Not your life, Bella, but your principles. Tell me, would you ever consider drinking from a human?"
"Of course not. I intend on being a vegetarian like Jasper and Rose."
"Exactly. Do you know why The Major came out?" I shake my head in response. "If you had killed that human, you would have never forgiven yourself. You would have carried that burden with you for the rest of your existence and it would have eaten you up inside. If it had been anybody but you, no one would have cared whether that man lived or died. Char and I have been feeding from humans our whole lives and nobody cares one way or the other because most vampires share our diet. But there is something you need to realize Bella. You're not just mated to Jasper. You're mated to The Major, The God of War. And believe me when I say this; it doesn't matter if you're in physical danger or emotional. Jasper will reign down the fires of hell on whoever tries to harm you."
My logical brain is trying to wrap itself around what Peter just said, but my heart already understands what has happened. Jasper loves his brother more than anyone on the planet except for me, but he risked their relationship to protect me. But holy hell-fire, if he's this angry over a minor fuck-up, I would hate to see what happens if I'm truly in danger. He will do whatever is necessary to ensure my safety and for that I am grateful. But I'm done being treated like an object. I need to know everything that happened.
"Peter. What did Jasper do to you? Why were you so shaken up before?" He looks to Jasper and if I hadn't followed his gaze, I would have missed the almost imperceptible shake of Jasper's head. I stand from my crouched position in front of Peter and look my mate straight in the eyes.
"Did you just tell Peter not to answer my question?" If I thought his previous glare was murderous, he must think I look absolutely feral.
"Yes, Bella. I don't want you to feel guilty about what I did to Peter. He messed up and deserved to be punished." He's starting to look a bit guilty himself.
"And what do you think you'll gain by not telling me the truth?" I start to quake in anger but I want Jasper to answer me before I completely lose it.
"I want to protect you, Bella. You don't need to see the negative side of being a vampire." Holy fucking shit. Did he seriously just say that? I hear Rose and Char snickering and I look in their direction. They have the same expression on their faces as I do. Complete and utter fucking awe. Could Jasper really be that daft? Does he really think that keeping information from me is the best course of action?
I step even closer to Jasper and proceed to poke my forefinger into his chest. "You listen to me, Major Whitlock, and you listen good. You may be the super-scary God of War, and you may know everything there is to know about battle strategy and one-on-one combat, but you obviously know nothing about being a mate. I was prepared to spend the rest of my life with you. I was even prepared to give my heart and body to you, a man that I met just a month ago. I understand, Jasper, that when it comes to my safety, you're in charge. But if you ever try to keep me in the dark about something that concerns me, I will leave without a second glance, mating pull be damned. I am your mate, your equal. If I couldn't handle who you are and how you live, we would never have ended up together. So don't you dare treat me less than what I am. I deserve the truth. Always." I look at my sisters. They may have found my earlier outburst amusing, but both of them look startled and a little bit proud at what I just said. I turn back towards Jasper and lower my voice to a virulent calm. "No matter how badly you think Peter hurt me, Jasper, you just hurt me ten times worse. I'm taking a run. Don't follow me." Jasper looks like he's about to crumble into despair and, although I can't bear to see him break down, he needs to understand how serious I am. I give a cursory glance to the rest of my family before leaping over the fire pit and running down the hill.
I run through the forest, draining two bucks and destroying more than a few trees before I start to calm down. I can't believe he would treat me that way, knowing what I went through with Edward. Keeping things from me is unacceptable and I won't stand for it. As much as I hated seeing him like that, he needs to know that there are consequences for your actions, a lesson he clearly had no problem teaching Peter.
I still don't know what actually happened to Peter so at a leisurely human pace I make my way towards the stables hoping to find him there. I see the corral and find three horses running around looking happy and carefree. I know less than zero about horses and, except for the week when Renee thought we should become equestrians, I haven't spent any real time around them. I jump up and take a seat on the gate of the enclosure and watch them in a welcomed silence. I still can't understand why I'm unable to smell the animals or why they don't run away, but for some reason watching them relaxes me.
"They're beautiful, ain't they Miss Bella?" I hear Peter and JP approach but stay glued to my spot.
"Yes they are, JP. They seem to be really happy here."
"They sure are, ma'am. This is their home and they love it here. They got their family and lotsa good food, plenty of land to run on and me. I'm their friend." I look at Peter and wonder if JP might be a bit on the slow side.
"He's not crazy, Bella. Why don't you tell her about your gift, JP? I think she'll get a kick out of it."
"You sure, Peter? I thought I was s'posed ta wait fer the rest of the family."
"Our Bella has had a rough night. I think hearing a bit about you might make her feel better." The boys sit down on either side of me and immediately a huge chestnut horse comes up to JP. He pulls a couple of sugar cubes from his pocket and the horse eats them out of his palm.
"This ol' gal is Darcy. She's been with me fer a long time." He gazes fondly at the mare as he strokes her mane.
"Why aren't they scared of us? Doesn't it go against the natural order of things?"
"Indeed it does, Miss Bella. But I have a certain connection ta my animals. I'm able ta communicate with 'em."
"Really? Like they talk to you and you can understand them?"
"No, ma'am. I'm not Doctor Doolittle." I can't help but giggle at his reference. The Rex Harrison movie was one of my childhood favorites. "It's more that I can sense 'em and pick up on their emotions. I know when they need somethin' and I can let 'em know what I'm feelin'."
"But that doesn't explain why they aren't frightened."
"I'm also their protector. It's my job ta keep 'em safe; as long as I've touched the animal at least once, I can mask their scent no matter how far away I am. I've delivered all the animals here, so each and every one of 'em is shielded by me. No vampire can smell 'em and they understand that they're in no danger from us. They'll treat you like they would anyone else. Get to know 'em and they'll respond in kind."
"That's amazing, JP. I've never heard of anything like that. Why is it you have this particular gift?"
"Well, as ya can prob'ly tell, I was a cowboy in my human life. My family and I had a large ranch, this ranch actually." I turn towards my brother.
"Peter, I thought you built the house."
"I did, but the land is JP's. Char and I met him right after Jasper left us for Alice. We had been wandering around aimlessly for a few years and were more than ready to settle down, so when we came upon a vampire riding a horse, I knew that this was where I wanted to stay. I had a farm when I was human so JP was more than happy to share the chores with me."
"It's not as easy as it looks keepin' a farm runnin' by yerself. I was tired of livin' alone and I thought the company would do me a world of good. So I gave Peter and Miss Charlotte a bit o' land and told 'em to do with it what they pleased. Peter built a house fer him and his wife and a few years later he asked me ta help him build her a greenhouse."
"I saw the greenhouse, JP. It's beautiful." JP kisses my hand and I wonder how this man can still be single.
"Thank ya, Miss Bella, but Peter an' I just built the outside. Miss Charlotte done travelled 'round the world an' collected all the plants herself."
"Well I still think it's beautiful." JP looks so shy and humble and I don't think I've seen anything sweeter in my entire life. "How did you become a vampire, JP?"
"Well I am sorry, Miss Bella, but that's a story fer another day. Would ya's mind excusin' me fer a minute? I got somethin' I need ta tend to."
"Of course, JP. We'll stay here if you don't mind. I need to talk to Bella for a moment."
"Course, Peter. I'll be back in a spell." He walks away and I find myself alone with Peter for the first time since I woke up. I take an unnecessary breath and try to figure out what I want to say to my brother.
"First off, Peter, I don't blame you for anything. You did nothing wrong and I don't want you to feel bad about what happened."
"I appreciate that, Bella, but I did fuck up. I should have thought about what would happen if you came across a human. Even if you didn't suffer from bloodlust I should still have taken certain precautions."
"Okay, fine. Let's just say, for arguments sake, that you did make a mistake. What sort of punishment did Jasper give you?"
"He ripped off my arm." Before I could even respond, a primal roar escapes my lips.
"He what? How dare he dismember you because of me. How can he even think that's a fair punishment for something as minor as forgetting to call a lawyer? Peter, why are you still talking to him? That's seriously fucked up. I would've probably cut the bastard off. If he tried that shit with me, I swear to God, I would pull off both his arms and beat him over the head with them. What an asshole…"
"Bella, Bella." Peter is trying to get my attention but it takes him a minute of yelling before I stop my rant. "BELLA! Listen, we're strong and immortal and it's very hard to punish us. There are only three things that work: banishment, dismemberment, and death. Jasper threatened to banish me for a decade but there is no way he could have done that."
"Why not? I thought he was in charge."
"In charge? Really Bella? Fuck no! Granted we all submit The Major, but only during times of war or when it comes to you. This is my home. I built it and he has no fucking say in who stays or who goes. JP, Char and I are the only ones who can make that sort of decision and frankly, I think Jasper was so pissed at me, he was just talking out of his ass."
"So if he's not in charge, why did he dole out the punishment?"
"Why do you think he was he the one to punish Edward? When a vampire is put in danger or harmed in any way, only their mate has the right to exact justice. What if Jasper was harmed?" I growl at the mere thought of him in pain. "Exactly, Swan. You'd stop at nothing to seek vengeance on whoever hurt him, and it would be your right to do so. You could choose to do it yourself or ask someone else, but only you can make that decision. Jasper was just making sure that I would never again put his mate in danger and I gotta tell you Bella, it worked. I've never seen him that angry before and I don't ever wanna see it again. That shit's fucking scary."
"So why does he insist on not telling me what the fuck was going on?"
"Uh-uh. Nope. That's between you two. I'm not gonna get in the middle of some domestic shit between you and Jasper. But don't worry, Swan. From what I've just seen, you can definitely hold your own. Jasper may have scared me earlier, but you absolutely petrified the fuck outta him with your little speech."
"Was it too much? He looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole." Shit, did I go overboard with him?
"Fuck no, it wasn't too much. You were completely right when you told him that you were his equal. Deep down he already knew that, but he needed to see that you knew it too. Don't ever back down, Bella. Stick to your guns and make sure he treats you with the fucking respect you deserve."
Peter's right. I may have been harsh with Jasper but he needs to know how badly he hurt me, and if yelling at him is the only way he'll understand then so be it. My brother and I sit in an amicable silence for a while before Darcy trots over to us with an expectant look and Peter puts a sugar cube in my hand. I look up at him in confusion.
"Don't worry, sis. She's not the one who likes to bite other animals." Peter starts laughing at his terrible joke and as I give him the stink-eye, I put the cube in the palm of my hand and offer it to Darcy. She sniffs me for a minute before eating the sugar. She rubs her nose against my hand and I start to pet her.
"Hey Petey, what papers did the lawyer deliver?"
"Shit, I almost forgot." He pulls a thick envelope out of his pocket. "Has Jasper told you how you 'died'?"
"Not really."
"Well apparently you and Edward are going to die in a fantastic car crash. Alice will be there to help your father, but I know that he'll get through it okay. Wanna know a secret? A bit of information came to me right after you arrived and I have it on good authority that Charlie is going to be married within the year. One of the women that lives near him will help with the cooking and they're gonna end up very happy together." Venom starts pooling in my eyes. I hadn't given much thought to Charlie, but just knowing that he's going to end up happily married is a weight off my mind I didn't even know I was carrying. I throw myself into Peter's arms.
"Thank you, big brother. That's the best news I've heard all day."
"No problem, Swan. Now back to the papers." He opens the envelope and pulls out three passports. "Since Bella Swan is officially dead, I took it upon myself to procure you a new identity." I open the first passport and look at the name printed next to my picture.
"Isabella Marie Cullen?" I look over at Peter.
"I didn't know if you were gonna go back to Carlisle and Esme to be a Cullen." Hmmm…something to think about. I open the next passport.
"Isabella Marie McCarty? Who's that?"
"McCarty is Emmett's last name. I thought that since you and Rose have gotten so close, you could pretend to be Emmett's sister. Now that you're a vamp, you and Em can easily pass for siblings." Can he really be this sweet? I open the last one and read the name.
"Isabella Marie Hale Whitlock." For everything else that's been going on, I didn't even think about my new identity. And I certainly haven't thought about marriage. Peter must have seen the panic in my eyes.
"I thought that you should have a maiden name and I couldn't think of anything better than Rose's. She is your sister after all. But don't worry, Bella. If your dumbass mate keeps fucking up you could always be Peter Whitlock's sister and not Jasper Whitlock's wife, and Hale could just be a family name passed down from generation to generation." I can tell he's joking, but underneath his amusement I see a streak of honesty. He feels very protective of me and he wants me to know that he'll always be my brother. I look through the rest of the papers and realize that he's made birth certificates, drivers licenses (yay, I'm 21), passports, and school transcripts for all three aliases.
"Thank you Peter. This means more to me then I can say. But you know as well as I do that there's no way I am ever going to leave Jasper. He means everything to me and the thought of spending even a minute away from him rips my heart out."
"I'm glad to hear to hear you say that, darlin'." I whip my head around and see Jasper leaning against the horse stable. I leap from my place on the corral so I'm inside with the horses and, in my head, I'm grateful for the gate that separates me from Jasper. I hope he doesn't hate me for the way I spoke to him. I couldn't bear the thought of him being angry at me.
"Jas-"
"Bella, please stop. I need to say something to you and if I don't get it out now I never will." He walks over to me and Peter.
"Lemme give you guys some privacy." Peter starts to jump down from his seat when Jasper stops him.
"No, Peter. I'd like you to hear this as well." Jasper jumps over the gate so he's inside with me. He lifts me back up to where I was sitting next to Peter. He stands in front of us and takes a deep breath before starting.
"Bella, before I knew you were my mate I made a promise to myself. I thought about how Edward treated you and I decided that if I were ever lucky enough to call you mine, I would never be like him. I told myself that you deserved to be told the truth, and have the freedom to make your own decisions based on those truths. You should be allowed to grow into the woman you were always meant to be, not have some old-fashioned barbarian control every aspect of your life. I thought a woman like you should have a man who supports you in every way and will stand beside you for the rest of your life." I begin to tremble at his words. "I'm so sorry, Bella. I'm sorry that I didn't trust you enough to be honest with you. I'm sorry that I made you feel like your thoughts and opinions didn't matter, because they do. You're the only thing that matters and your happiness is the most important thing to me. If that means being brutally honest about every little thing, then so be it. If that means telling you every dirty aspect of this existence, fine. But please, Bella, don't run out on me again. This is the second time in two days you've done it and I can't bear a third. Let's make a deal here and now. I promise to tell you everything, even when it makes me uncomfortable, if you promise to stop running away. We need to talk about this stuff if this thing between us is gonna work. We may be mates, but we still need to work on an actual relationship." He stops for a minute with a small smirk on his lips and looks to Peter. "Looks like you were right, brother. There isn't a woman on the planet better suited to me."
"Told ya so!" My brother, the wordsmith
"Yeah, you did." He looks back at me. "I know I told you about my past, Bella, so I'm sure you've realized by now that nobody has ever spoken to me the way you did back there." I take in a quick breath, afraid of what's coming next. "But you were right. I treated you like I would treat anyone else. But you're not anyone else. You're my mate and, as you pointed out, my equal. I may know a lot about feelings, but I neglected to take yours into consideration. Do you remember how you felt when you were with Edward?"
"Yeah. Worthless and weak."
"Well, I felt everything you did while you were with him, so I completely understand the effect he had on you. But let me tell you something, darlin'. When you were telling me off back there, the only emotions I could feel from you, besides anger, were pride and resolve. I've never felt those emotions come so strongly from you and, even though you made me feel like a naughty schoolboy, I loved you more in that minute than I have since I met you. You were proud of yourself, and for the first time, you felt strong. You knew that I had wronged you and you took a stand for what was right. Maybe my abhorrent behavior was necessary for you to finally become the woman and vampire I needed to keep me in check. I may be the empath in this relationship but you, my Isabella, you are the strength, the heart and the wisdom. You have gifted me with two things I've never had, stability and balance." I hop off the gate into his waiting arms.
"Oh Jasper, thank you. I was so scared that I had pushed you away and you wouldn't want me back. But you're right. I need to stop avoiding my problems and deal with them. So I promise to stop running away." He squeezes me tight and presses his lips to mine with such need that I almost forgot Peter was there.
"Jasper, what about Peter?" Jasper sets me down and looks at his brother.
"I'm not going to apologize for ripping you're arm off, Peter. You messed up and you fully fucking deserved it. But I am sorry for what I said. I should never have compared you to Edward. You are 100 times the man he is and I know that you would never put Bella in danger on purpose. Can you forgive me?"
"I may not always like you, brother, but you're family and I love you. But if you ever make my little sister feel like that again I'll kill you myself, as long as Rose doesn't get to you first. Frankly you should hope it's me. That girl's got a mean streak in her a mile long and she loves Bella more than either of us knows. Deal?"
"Deal, little brother." The guys give each other a very manly man-hug and I notice that JP is on his way back.
"Did ya'll git yer issues sorted? I'm not used ta that kinda drama and it was threatenin' ta put me off my supper." I walk over to JP and put my arms around his waist. He stands rigidly and I can tell he's uncomfortable with the gesture.
"We're fine, JP. But while we're being honest, let me tell you something. I'm a hugger, a big one, so you'd better get comfortable hugging me back." JP squeezes me for a moment before he pulls away and tips his hat.
"I'll do my best, Miss Bella."
"Thank you."
"'Tis my pleasure. Now, I gotta a welcome home present fer ya. Sorta like a welcome ta the fam'ly gift." I've always hated presents, but in this case I think I'll make an exception. JP whistles towards the stable and a beautiful bloodhound comes loping towards us.
"This here's Jack and he's my go-to guy. The first friend I ever made as a vampire was a bloodhound named Sophie. She kinda adopted me and helped me ta realize what my gift was. Jack here is her kin. I been breedin' these dogs for near on 200 years and I got an unbreakable line that's been with me ever since.
"A dog, JP? You got me a dog?"
"Not quite, Miss Bella." He whistles again, this one a bit different from the first. Suddenly the cutest black colt I've ever seen comes up behind Jack. He's a little gangly and seems to have a hard time walking and he reminds me of when I was human.
"This li'l guy's called Ellis. He's Darcy's grandbaby. I figured ya might like to try ridin', Miss Bella, and I thought that you should have a horse ta call yer own. I'm givin' ya a baby so's you can learn ta care fer him and have him with ya fer a good long time." I launch myself once again into his arms and this time he hugs me back.
"Thank you, JP. No one has ever given me such a beautiful gift."
"Weren't nothin', ma'am. Just tryin' to make yer change more comfortable. I'd be happy ta show ya how ta care fer him, and now that ya ain't gotta sleep, you'll have plenty a time ta get ta know 'im."
"I'd love that, JP. Can I ask you a question?"
"Course."
"How did you decide on the name Ellis?" As soon as I asked, JP stuffs his hands in his pockets and looks down at his boots which have suddenly become very interesting. He really is shy. Too bad he can't blush, that would totally complete the effect. "Did I say something wrong, JP?"
"No ma'am. I just don' want ya ta think I'm silly." I cross my arms over my chest and tap my toe as if I'm waiting for him to finish. "Alright, Miss Bella, I'll tell ya. But ya gotta promise not ta laugh."
"Of course, JP."
"Well, I was in the house with Peter and Miss Charlotte one day and he was on the phone with Jasper. I weren't tryin' ta eavesdrop er nothin', but I'm a vampire so I heard everythin' they was talkin' 'bout. Ya came up in the conversation and I couldn't help but hear when Jasper said that yer fav'rite book was Wuthering Heights." He looks down at me with a sheepish smile. "Well that just happens ta be my fav'rite too. And when Emily Bronte wrote it, she couldn't use her real name cause she was a woman, so she called herself Ellis Bell. I just thought it would be a good name fer a horse an somethin' that you and I could share. Is that stupid?" Once again I start to get tears in my eyes.
"No, JP. It's wonderful. You're wonderful and thoughtful and someday you're gonna make some lucky woman very happy." I pull him down to me and kiss him on the cheek.
"Well, uh…I gotta…err… go…um…yeah…crops. I gotta go tend ta the crops." With that he turns around and bolts faster than I've ever seen him run. Jack and Ellis take off after him.
"I think you may have just given our boy a heart attack, Swan. I've never seen a vampire stammer like that. Well done!" Peter looks like a kid in a candy store.
"Keep it up, shit for brains. If you don't watch yourself I'll have you stammering like a little girl too."
"Well done sis. Couldn't have said it better myself." I hear Rose's voice and turn around to see her and Char walking towards us.
"Where the fuck have you two been? You left me alone with these crazy boys and I was worried that I'd never be rescued."
"Aw, Bella. We would never do that to you. We just thought that you needed some time to figure shit out. Rosie and I were working on the design concept for her and Emmett's new room. I gotta say Rosie, we done good!"
"We sure did Char. But remember, Bella and Jasper's room is next."
"Indeed. Jasper's room is about as cheerful as a fucking morgue." Char turns to her mate. "Peter, is it okay if we go into the city to hunt? It's been a while and I'm starting to get thirsty."
"Sure babe. Whatever you want." Peter turns away from and yells out.
"JP. We're going to hunt. Wanna come?" Before I know it JP is standing in front of us.
"Sure Peter. Prob'ly a good idea. Miss Bella and Miss Rose, I assume that you's two are gonna stay here with Jasper?"
"Actually JP, I was going to ask Char if I could come along. You guys can drop me off at the nearest shopping center while you hunt. I want to buy something special for when Emmett arrives."
"That's perfect, Rose. We can spend some time shopping for the furniture I'm told you're going to need." Char wiggles her eyebrows at her sister and Rose proceeds to stick her tongue out in response.
"You just wish your sex life was a healthy as mine, Char. You and Peter are like an old married couple. No spark and boring sex."
"Whatever, Blondie. Peter and I may be older than you, but with age comes wisdom, my dear. I know how to please my man better than you could ever hope to."
"Is that so?"
"Yup!"
"Fine. Then let's go and we'll compare notes on the way." Rose continues in a conspiratorial whisper. "Maybe we can teach each other a thing or two." They both say goodbye to Jasper and me and run to the house to prepare for their excursion.
"Good luck with those two, boys. You're gonna need it."
"No worries, Swan. JP and I will head to the farm supply store while those two hens cook up their special brand of nonsense. JP, I'll meet you at the truck whenever you're ready."
"No problem Peter." JP takes off to where ever it is he lives and Jasper and I are left alone with our brother.
"You two need to be alone. We'll be back late tomorrow afternoon and I hope that you guys work everything out. From what I've seen you're well on your way to becoming the kind of couple I know you're meant to be, so just take it slow and spend some time together. I'll see you tomorrow." Peter runs to the house to meet up with the girls.
Jasper and I stare at each other for a few minutes, neither of us knowing what to say. I'm starting to get a little uncomfortable when Jasper finally breaks the silence.
"Bella, would you like to take a walk with me?"
"Of course, Jasper." With that he grabs my hand and we begin to walk.
A/N – I know this is a weird place to stop, but as I said I cut the chappie in half. Don't hate me for ripping Peter's arm off, I love him as much as you do. And yes, I know it's corny, but JP is a romantic at heart and he likes to take care of his friends. Bella and Jasper have finally figured their shit out, thank God. And it's high time Rose is reunited with Em. Let me know what you think. Am I completely ridicules? *Smooches*
