Author's note: I don't own the characters, I just play with them. Please let me know what you think of the story. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Bella's point of view

I got ready as quickly ask possible while trying to prepare myself to meet Emmett again as well as two new red-eyed strangers. I kept messing up my hair in my hurry and put it back in a braid. I was grateful at that moment that I wasn't one of those girls that painted my face every morning. I put on the clothes that Jasper had laughingly brought to me and I was ready. Leaving the bathroom was another story though. Suddenly I was scared of all these strangers coming to help me. Eventually, I laughed at myself and purposely pulled open the door to find Jasper waiting.

My breakfast of pop tarts was fast and as it was one of my favorites when I didn't have a chef ready to make perfect omelets it was completely sufficient. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Deep breath in.

"Jasper, could we call Peter and Char to be with us when I meet these new vampires?"

"Sorry, Bella, I'm afraid I'm projecting. I'm nervous about needing them as well. I've never needed to call in help like this. Of course, we can call Peter and Char to be with you while you meet new vampires." Jasper got out his phone quickly and made the call.

"They'll meet us on the front porch, it seems the party started without us," Jasper said.

"Then let's be gracious hosts shall we?" Bella fluttered her eyelashes.

"Yes, lets." Jasper agreed, taking my arm.

The front door was farther away yesterday, Bella thought distractedly.

Jasper opened the door for her and Peter and Char were on either side of her. Jasper was at her back. She could do this.

Bella smiled shyly at the three vampires facing them. "Little Sis," Emmett called coming forward to swing her around in one of his bear hugs.

He sat her back down where she was and Jasper said "Garrett, Darius, this is my mate, Bella"

A tall rangy vampire with brown hair and a mustache introduced himself first. I'm Garret, my lady. How have these reprobates been treating you?

Hi Garrett, she reached out to shake his hand but he gracefully bowed and kissed her hand.

Bella eyed the other new vampire. He was tall but muscular. His red eyes studied her as much as she studied him.

"You must be the mysterious Darius. Hi, I'm Bella, she reached out her hand and he shook it.

"Mysterious, I suppose you could say that," Darius replied

"Thank you both for coming to help me," Bella said politely.

"The pleasure is ours," Garret said gallantly.

Peter stage-whispered "They're both full of it, watch em, Bella, Garrett here is a real Romeo.

"What a pity Bella responded. Romeo's true love killed herself."

They all laughed with her. "Come in, please, my father is working right now and knows absolutely nothing."

"So there really are horse sized wolves," Garret clarified, "and this whole mess started at a baseball game?"

"Since I can't run without tripping even the idea of me playing baseball is unlikely, but yes, to both."

And you were almost changed? Darius challenged.

Bella raised her sleeve and showed the scar. "Edward sucked the venom out. I wonder if he knew that I wasn't his mate at the time."

Darius glanced at Jasper, "She isn't scared of any or all of us together is she?"

"No," Jasper responded, "but she is scared of Victoria and Laurent."

"Yes I am scared of them," Bella admitted as if it were a shameful secret.

"Shows good judge of character. Jasper would never invite anyone here who couldn't control himself around you, although asking Peter or Garrett to control their mouths might be a bit too much to hope for."

I tell you sir that I could stop saying fuck any time I had a desire to. I just have no fucking desire to." Peter said while everyone laughed.

"School starts again tomorrow," Bella said. "I go to school, work two days a week, and am home for the most part. Do you think we can stop these monsters before they manage to kill me?"

If you have a place for me to set my computer up I can probably track them that way and we can go take care of them today. Darius claimed.

"Then set up here, just move quickly to my room upstairs if my Dad comes in. I can't think of a good excuse for you all being here."

Peter, Charlotte, go do perimeter runs and one and three miles out. Darius, I hope your computer magic works this time." Jasper ordered, "Garrett, Emmett, go get a good Idea of the layout of the house and every scent in it. We need to know if anything has changed any time we come back. I stay at Bella's side until this is over."

"If you want to examine the house I'll stay right by Darius while you're gone Jasper" Bella suggested.

"You got her Darius?" Jasper asked.

"As if she's my own," Darius assured and Jasper disappeared with the others.

"So are you faking the confidence, Bella?" Darius asked

"Jasper needs to know the house too. The best way to make that happen was to stay with you. Besides, if they attack right now they're stupid and they aren't stupid... but yes, a bit. Still, Jasper trusts you so I trust you."

"That's a lot of trust to put in your mate," Darius commented.

"He deserves it."

"I could like you little bird," Darius said.

"I get the feeling you don't like many people Darius"

"Too true" he confirmed all the while tapping the keys on his computer with inhuman speed.

In moments Jasper, Garrett, and Emmett were back from their exploration.

"Find everything you needed?" Bella asked

"I need every match every lighter that's in and around the house Bella," Jasper directed. Bella just went to a drawer in the kitchen.

"Here Jasper, our emergency supplies."

"Do you have anything else in the house that can cause a flame?" Garrett asked.

In the garage, did you check out there already?"

"No, we missed it. We'll go with you."

Walking out to the old and creepy garage they didn't use didn't make Bella comfortable. "Can you lift the door Jasper?"

The door flew open and the light shined in with impressive speed.

"Here, Dad's road flares for when he goes out on accident calls. He has some in his car but the rest are kept in this duffel bag."

Jasper just reached down and grabbed the bag closing the garage door behind him.

"Everyone get at least one lighter and two road flares," Jasper instructed.

Bella got out a lighter and two flares for herself then picked up another two lighter and four road flares for Peter and Char.

"What are you doing little lady," Garret asked.

"Not dying" Bella responded primly. "Besides, Char and Peter will need theirs."

"Bella you don't need that," Jasper insisted

"What if instead of running yesterday Laurent would have waited behind the bathroom door?" Bella asked. "You don't follow me in there."

"I will be now," Jasper concluded.

"Still, I know mace doesn't work on vampires. I'll feel better with something that will." Bella insisted.

"Wait," Garrett insisted, "How do you know mace doesn't work on vampires?"

"Easy," Bella said, "I tried to mace James. It just made him madder."

Garrett was almost on the floor with laughter. "You tried to mace a vampire."

"It was better at the time than saying pretty please don't kill me," Bella insisted.

" I didn't know you maced him," Jasper said.

"You didn't cover vampire slaying 101 before I slipped away. I worked off what I knew," Bella said indignantly.

"Don't get mad I'm just impressed that you had the nerve to try it." Jasper comforted.

"Well, there's no bank activity, no activity of any kind. If I had to guess they're hiding in the mountains and feeding off the Hikers and Searchers." Darius concluded.

"Who is our best tracker," Jasper asked, "I'm not bad but I'm not good enough for a mountain search."

No one responded. "OK, that probably makes Peter our best bet. Bella, do you feel comfortable to stay with Char and the rest of this motley crew while I go with Peter to try to smoke them out?"

Yes but Jasper, will you think I'm awful if I ask you to bring him here to burn? I need to know he's gone if I'm not going to be haunted by him."

"Anything you need love," Jasper said, kissing her gently on the lips. Jasper picked up his phone and explained what he needed.

Char and Peter were on the porch in seconds.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Jasper said.

"Be careful. Please. I need you."