I sat in the back of Emmett's jeep in between Alice and Jasper trying my best not to look miserable as we drove through Seattle. I had called Tanya before we left and to say that she was angry with me was an understatement. I felt bad, well awful really but in the back of my head I couldn't help but know that this was the right thing for me to be doing.

"How about a game of truth or dare" Emmett suggested, breaking the silence in the car

"How would we go about completing these dares if we're all in a car and you're driving?" Alice asked

"It's not like any of us are going to get hurt we get into an accident….party pooper" Emmett grumbled in the front seat

"Actually I'd like to hear more about you Arielle, if you are going to be a Cullen now what did you do after you left the south?" Rosalie asked. Boy was she a curious one, but I guess it could get my mind off of the Tanya situation...

"Uh…well" I started clearing my throat "After I left the south I headed to New York where I met a group of traveling 'performing' vampires. They did a, I guess you could equate it to what cirque du soleil is now- Using our strength and agility to 'wow' humans and of course attain prey. They told me about all of the older, more civilized vampires in Europe. How they helped to guide them when they were young vampires and helped them to hone their skills. See, I held a specific purpose when I was in the southern armies and now on my own I wasn't really sure what to do with myself. So I decided that I would go to Europe and find a 'purpose' again; then I mayhaverobbedabank and got on the next boat to England."

"Wait, wait wait…did you just say you robbed a bank?" Emmett interjected

"Yeah…I mean it's not like it was hard to do in the early 1900s, no security cameras or anything. Not that it's hard to do now, but you know what I mean. Anyway, after I robbed my first and last bank and made it to England I searched throughout Europe for these so called 'teacher' vampires. I was in Italy and about to give up my search when I was approached by two very large hulking vampires, Demetri and Felix"

"The Volturi Guards?!" Alice questioned

I nodded and continued "Yes, they said that their masters were expecting me. I assumed that these vampires were who I had been looking for, and if not there was no way I could fight my way out of it. So it was best to go along. So after meeting Casius, Aro and Marcus, and Aro discovered my abilities they offered to help me harness them and take up residence in Volterra Palace."

"So you're a member of the guard? Like THE Guard? Carlisle has talked about them, they're wicked!" Emmett awed from the driver's seat

"No, I was and am not a member of the guard. Although I did get to practice on them" I smiled remembering one incident in which I had particularly good time messing with Jane and Alec. I'm sure they still loathe me for it.

"Why weren't you in the guard? Not a good enough fighter? I guess you're not as good as you think eh Jazzy" Emmett joked as Jasper let out a loud growl.

Well at least we know he's not dead….or uh re-dead? Emmett thought and I poorly attempted to cover my laugh with a cough. "No, that was definitely not it. Jazzy is a very good teacher" Jasper rolled his eyes and faced out the window "Demetri wouldn't allow it"

I was content at leaving the conversation there, but I didn't need Jasper's abilities to sense their curiosity, time to change the subject

"Although I should probably be grateful he didn't. Living with the Volturi may seem glamorous but it is very empty. Always falling subject to Marcus, Casius and Aro's wishes, as well as their eating habits are far more cruel than the standard vampire. I'm not sure how much longer I would have lasted. And that is when I met Siobhan, Murphy and Connor, three Irish 'vegetarian' vampires such as yourselves, who had stopped in Voltera to pay a visit. They asked me to join them, sensing I was unhappy, and apparently Marcus felt something between me and Connor so Aro allowed me to leave with them as long as I promised to visit every now and again. Dydime was still alive so Marcus was in a much better mood most of the time. Anyway Siobhan had hoped that Murphy, who was Connor's biological twin and I would be mates like herself and Connor, but it wasn't meant to be."

Jasper had tensed significantly next to me but I ignored it, assuming it was just a reaction to someone else and continued

"Murphy was like all of my brothers combined so we got on quite well but it was never anything more, so when Siobhan and Connor went on yet another honeymoon Murphy and I went to the US where we met Tanya and her family in New York. So I left with Tanya for some 'girling up' as Murphy put it and he went back to Ireland, as far as the last time I talked with him. And that's my story" I sighed and looked out the window "Alice?!?" I panicked noting that far off look she got.

"Is Murphy tall, brown hair, blue eyes?" Alice asked

"Yeah….why?"

"He's going to visit soon and he will be joining us at Christmas" she smiled.

"Oh….ok!" I laughed glad it wasn't something worse.

"So what did you mean by girling up?" Emmett asked "Jazzy didn't make you shave your head and grow a beard or anything did he?" and so the car ride continued Emmett teasing Jasper, Jasper ignoring him or growling occasionally, Alice lost in thought, Rosalie scolding her husband and me trying not to laugh, too much.

-----------------------------

"You regret coming to live with us" Jasper stated, rather than asked, as we tried to stack my numerous books into two boxes. He didn't seem angry but more sad when he said it.

"What, no of course I don't…and that wasn't exactly a question"

"Empath remember, you can't hide behind a smile with me" He said pointing to his head "You've been feeling sad and guilty since we left Forks"
I couldn't deny that "Tanya is very upset with me leaving" I sighed tossing a book into the pile and sitting on the floor. "She didn't even stay to say goodbye"

"If...well if it makes you unhappy to upset her so much then don't feel forced to come with us to protect Edward…" he mumbled something I couldn't make out and then quickly continued "Your abilities would be helpful, but we don't want to pressure you into this"

"You didn't, none of you did…I, I-hope that this is the right decision for you-all of you as well" oh boy he definitely caught that slip…I don't need him hiding in his room for the next two years because I make him uncomfortable

Jasper threw the last book into the box before pulling me up to face him, "What're you doing?" he rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

"Giving you a hug, obviously" I felt all the concerns I had melt away, I pulled back slightly and looked into his eyes "I'm very happy your uh life has turned out the way it has and that you're going to move in with us, Arielle" he kissed my cheek and flew down the stairs. I was paralyzed for a few seconds before I formed a response

"Hey! You cheated! You're not supposed to use your abilities on me!" I could hear him laughing all the way from the garage. I scowled taking one last look around my room and ran down to meet everyone.