This chapter will be in Bella's POV. I don't even remember the last time I wrote a story in a woman's point of view. I always start out that way and I end up writing for the guys. Anyway, thank you for the wonderful reviews (: enjoy. P.S. I winged the whole layout of Stockholm since I'm short on time and I need to update 2 other stories. Sorry to the readers I REALIZED are from there. It gives me butterflies since I've always wanted to visit Sweden.

Disclaimer: Characters strictly belong to Stephanie Meyer. I'm only borrowing Bella and Jasper for the time being. Enjoy (:

Bella

Bella watched Jasper leave in a haste. He left so fast, the stewardess helping Bella out of the plane looked at her skeptically before asking about him. Bella only shrugged and walked past her into the rain.

She missed the rain. Italy rarely held any sort of major weather change, much less rain. Her favorite places to travel since becoming a vampire had been to Northern Europe. She could vaguely remember loving the heat when she was younger but everything had changed in Washington.

Bella walked over to a black Mercedes waiting for her like she expected and got in, giving the driver directions to take her to the main square. She hoped Jasper could find his way into the city. It wasn't complicated but now that she knew that the Volturi's secret wasn't so secret anymore, she was not sure how other vampires would react. It's not like they knew Jasper was traveling with a member of the guard. She kept telling herself that he would be alright.

At those thoughts she leaned back and realized that she was starting care for him. Not just respect him, as she had said before but actually worry about the little things now. Bella pinched the bridge of her nose just like Edward had always done despite it being such a human trait. Bella didn't do it because it reminded her of him. She did that and many other things to seem human and to remember her humanity. It was important to her to make jokes that no longer applied to her, to do things that would no longer calm her down. She did want to know however, when she started worrying about Jasper.

"We've arrived miss," the driver said getting out and helping her with her door and bags. He gave them to a bellboy from the hotel she decided she would just pay for and leave the bags in so she could search the town for this vampire. As soon as she checked in and pocketed the keys she took off.

She noticed many humans in the streets regardless of the rain. She realized that today was the day before Thanksgiving in America. Bella came to a stop at a street corner to take in her surroundings. If she were a vampire hiding from other vampires where would she hide? Alvia could be anywhere in the Stockholm district. But the tab back in France had been specifically over this area. Unless she was just generalizing but it had not been that way for Spain.

They had a year to do this but Bella wanted it done tonight.

"Miss," Someone said behind Bella in a strong Swedish accent. Before turning around she smelled the air and realized it was a vampire.

Bella turned and stared into the red eyes of a blonde Swedish vampire, "Yes?" she said with a bite in her tone. This couldn't be good.

"All vampires coming through the area are now required to check in with the Master," he managed to get out in a whisper. People were starting to stare at them. Edward telling her that everything about him invited her in. His voice, his face, and his smell suddenly burst in her mind. Just like he had when she rode motorcycles with Jacob. Bella shook her head to rid herself of the memories that had been more frequent in her head ever since Jasper had returned.

"I just arrived," Bella whispered back. The vampire started walking around her and down the street. Bella figured that she would be wise to follow him.

He walked into a discrete building, holding the door open for her. Bella walked into the space and found it occupied by two other vampires standing next to one door. As if they were guards.

"Is this where you Master is?" Bella asked. She had been right. Vampires were starting to prepare themselves. The last time she had been in Sweden most of the vampires had been welcoming. Or perhaps it was just the fact that they had known she was in the guard that made them welcoming. She hoped that still counted for something.

"He is busy at the moment, wait here," the vampire walked around her again and stood in front of her. He seemed to be sizing her up and Bella didn't like it.

"Who is your Master?" she asked crossing her arms across her chest. He didn't answer her. "Why must I meet with him?" she asked again but still, there was no response.

"Are you his bitch?" Bella asked with a smirk that turned into a full blown grin the minute she saw his jaw harden and him take a step forward as if to walk towards her.

"Bella?" a voice said from behind the blonde vampire. Bella walked around him and brushed against his arm roughly but stopped in her tracks when she realized she knew the vampire who had spoken to her.

"Eriq?" Bella asked stunned. "It's really you!" she ran to her old friend and hugged him as if she hadn't seen him in 10 years. Which was actually very accurate. "What are you doing here?"

Eriq had left the guard the year after she had been inducted. He had trained her and for a while he had switched over to her diet. It was the reason he had left the guard as Bella remembered. He hadn't stayed with the diet long but it had opened his eyes about life. He wanted a different one so he left but Bella had not seen him or heard from him since.

"I came here two years ago," he said hugging her back extra hard for good measure, "Come in and sit, have you fed? I'm sure we could arrange something if you need?"

Bella shook her head sitting down in his office while he sat in the chair opposite her, "I'm fine," she couldn't believe it. Maybe today would end on a great note. If each vampire was required to check in with him then surely he knew where Alvia was. "How are you? How did you come to be here?" she asked.

"Oh you know," he said shaking his hair off of his face, "I just stumbled upon this great land with the help of a friend and two years later, I'm their leader." He laughed a hearty laugh before pointing out the door and whispering, "He IS my bitch." He winked at Bella as she laughed.

"How are you Bella," he asked after they had both calmed down. His voice was much more serious now, "I've heard the brothers are being threatened."

"How did you know?" she asked dreading the answer. If it wasn't the Volturi spreading the news then surely it was…

"The Romanians." Eriq said simply. "They came by 2 months ago and warned the vampires of the area that a war was going to befall the Volturi. That their reign was coming to an end. One of them made sure to tell us that we would have to chose which side of the war we were going to be on."

"And you-" Bella started nervously.

"Don't be silly Bella," Eriq laughed standing up and walking over to sit on the other chair next to her, "My loyalty is to Aro, it always has been. I would prefer that there be no war at all but these vampires seemed determined."

Bella grasped his forearm and gave it a reassuring squeeze, "Thank you Eriq. We must catch up old friend."

Jasper

Jasper slowed down to a human pace a mile or two outside of the city. He had hunted more animals than usual. Part of him felt guilty and wanted to make up for it later. Perhaps he could donate to a national park or something to ease his guilt. He hadn't touched his money since leaving the Cullen's and it was something he was planning to talk to Bella about. It didn't matter much at the moment seeing as they had just started their mission but he didn't know if the Volturi would be in a position to let him go this time next year.

Jasper was glad he had hunted the moment he entered the city. It was filled to the brim with humans. Tourist obviously. He had finished hunting early with a few minutes to spare so he walked at a slow human pace to the Palace.

He wanted to take in his surroundings as he walked. He was a sun kind of guy as he had been raised and turned in the south but ever since moving to Washington his views on the weather he preferred had changed over to rain. It was soothing, even to a vampire.

Jasper noticed a couple walking towards him while they held hands under their umbrella. He observed the woman look at her partner while he pointed somewhere. He was speaking in a language Jasper didn't know. Jasper saw them getting nearer and when he was close enough to see the whites of their eyes, the female briefly looked at Jasper but almost immediately turned back to look at her partner with the same admiration and love she had been before. Jasper smiled as he past them. You had a winner when she chose you over a vampire.

He was nearing the palace so he began looking for Bella. He found her leaning against a building reading a pamphlet. If she was trying to blend in she was doing a horrible job. It was pouring by now and the humans were starting to disperse.

"You're enjoying the rain a little too much don't you think?" Jasper asked her as he took off his jacket and held it over both of them.

"You're late," she put an arm around his waist and directed him towards another building across the street It looked like a restaurant and bar.

"You mean you're early," he dropped his jacket once they were inside. He looked around noticing it was comfortably packed with people. It was a nice quaint little place with a Spanish vibe. His kind of place. "Did you find her?"

Bella walked over to the bar and ordered a whiskey, "No but I found something better," the bartender returned with her drink but Bella didn't drink it. Instead she placed it near her nose and sniffed. Jasper looked baffled, "I need to hunt," Bella said simply, "It helps with the smell."

"Why didn't you hunt with me?" Jasper asked crossing his arms across his chest like he had every right to be mad.

"Because," Bella said, "I didn't need to hunt when you went." She started laughing out of no where while Jasper continued to look at her like she had gone insane, "I just remembered something, a human memory."

Jasper uncrossed his arms and walked around her to order something as well. He didn't want to seem out of place, "What?" he asked her after he had ordered.

Bella looked down, like she used to when she blushed as a human, "My mom asking me why I hadn't gone to the bathroom before we left if we were going out. I would always tell her it was because I didn't need to go then."

Jasper gave her hand a small squeeze as she sat on the stool next to him. They were both quiet for some time. They listened to patrons speak and watched the bartender make drinks.

"What did you find?" Jasper finally asked, "if not Alvia."

Bella's eyes became saucers and her happiness attacked Jasper out of no where. Instantly a lot of the patron's began talking louder and smiling more, "Little warning Bella…I just projected."

"Sorry," she said laughing and looking around, "I'm just happy, you'll love him when you meet him Jasper."

"Him? Love?" Jasper swirled his drink around, "I don't think so Bella."

"Oh there he is," Bella stood and walked around Jasper before grabbing his hand and pulling him off the stool. They walked over to a booth where only one man sat. Two ghoulish looking guys stood off just to the side, clearly flanking him but trying not to make it seem obvious. "Eriq," Bella said putting her drink on one side of the table, "This is Jasper Whitlock, Jasper," she said pushing him forward a bit, "This is Eriq, he is this areas leader and an old friend of mine from the guard."

"Nice to meet you Jasper," Eriq said standing up and grasping Jasper's hand, "I've heard an awful lot about you since Bella and I reunited 2 hours ago."

"I did talk his head off," Bella said sitting down and pulling Jasper down next to her. "I think it's your turn Eriq."

"Umm," he looked around to one of his guards while the other nodded slightly and took off to the bar, "Like I said before, when I left the guard I traveled a bit. A couple of years ago a friend of mine suggested I visit him here in Stockholm. I came by and made friends quickly with the vampires here. You'd be amazed what people do for you when they find out you were in the guard." The vampire from before returned with a drink in hand that Eriq only swirled around. He didn't sniff it or try to attempt to drink it. "5 years ago when whatever it is that's happening with the brother's got out, this area decided to protect itself. I told you that my loyalty is to Aro, Bella."

Bella nodded, "If Aro asks, I'll be next to him facing whatever he asks me too, in a heartbeat," Eriq laughed. Apparently Bella and Alexander weren't the only ones who are fans of human of analogies. "But since that hasn't happened, yet; these vampires are my main priority."

They spoke for a few minutes before Bella finally brought Alvia up, "Yeah I remember her," Eriq said, "Portuguese, about 5'1, kinda shy."

"That sounds like her," Bella leaned in a bit, "do you know where she is, it's the reason why we're here."

Both of Eriq's guards emotions became tense so Jasper scooted in closer to Bella, "Why do you want her?" Eriq asked casually but his emotions suddenly became skeptic.

"Aro needs her," Bella said, "she's special to us."

"She isn't here," Eriq began swirling his drink around again, "The Romanians took her."

"What?" Bella exclaimed, "How-I'm not even going to ask." Bella was clearly frustrated as she leaned back in her seat.

"They took her last month," Eriq eyed one of his guards before both of their emotions returned to normal, "We couldn't do anything to stop them, she was gifted I remember. I wasn't with the guard when she visited but I did meet her when I first started coming to Stockholm. I'm not sure how much good she'll be to them."

"What do you mean?" Jasper asked.

"She was a paranoiac vampire," Eriq explained, "Most vampires are like that for the first few years of their lives. You're turned and suddenly you have to live this life. You unexpectedly realize that you were never safe in your humanity so why should you be in this life. Of course soon we understand that we're strong and fast and that there is no need to worry but this vampire, yeah she never stopped worrying."

"Well she had good reason to worry," Bella said, clearly trying to defend her, "she was gifted, no doubt a shield to protect herself. Even that couldn't save her."

"She was too terrified to use her shield," Eriq said, "Probably a good thing she's off with them now. They'll realize she's going to be too scared to help them."

"Yeah and then they'll kill her," Jasper said while Bella threw him a dirty look, "What? It's true. It's what we did when we couldn't use a vampire."

"He's right," Eriq agreed. Bella huffed and crossed her arms, "Don't do something stupid Bella…"

"I'm not!" she defended, "But if I could help her I would."

"We know," both Jasper and Eriq said.

"So do you have a plan B?" Eriq asked leaning in, "Or C, possibly D."

"Yeah," Bella said sighing, "But I think we should skip B."

"Why?" Jasper asked. If he remembered correctly Gregory was next.

"No offense," Bella said to Eriq, "But this is extremely confidential Eriq. If they do decide to…kill Alvia then I want to keep my other options as protected as possible." She eyed his guards and then returned her attention to Eriq, "I trust you but…"

"I understand," he smiled and leaned back into his seat, "If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask."

Bella nodded and made to leave, "We need to talk," she pointed at Jasper, "If I need to contact you before we leave, I will."

"Of course," Eriq stood and gave Bella a long strong hug. "I guess I'll hear from you soon no matter what eh?"

"I just hope it's under better circumstances," Bella took Jaspers arm and began walking out of the restaurant before she spotted Eriq's guard from earlier. They made eye contact again and Bella made sure to roughly brush against him again.

"He is not your biggest fan," Jasper said looking back at the pissed off vampire, now whispering something in Eriq's ear.

"He's my bitch," Bella laughed, "By association."

They walked to the hotel Bella had chosen and once they were inside they began making plans.

"Why do you want to skip Gregory?" Jasper asked looking at the files again.

"Because," Bella said pacing, something Jasper found disturbing for a vampire to do, "In two nights there will be a full moon. He is in St. Petersburg and I don't want to run into a werewolf."

"You put all your eggs into this basket didn't you?" Jasper grabbed a change of clothes and took them to the bathroom to change.

"Yes," he heard Bella say, "Gregory is old and he said no the last time." Jasper walked out of the bathroom accidentally finding Bella changing too. She saw him but she didn't pay him any attention as she pulled her shirt over her head.

"You're not the shy Bella I remember," Jasper said suddenly interested in his contact lenses.

"No," Bella walked over to where he had left the papers. She was still musing over her decision, "I think we should just skip over to Marilyn, ugh; Jasper you decide."

"Gregory," Jasper chose him out the two papers she was holding, "Might as well. Maybe he changed his mind. He's old enough to know what he wants. He might not want to have humans know he exists."

"True," Bella said dropping down onto the bed, "I'm not very good at this."

"What?" Jasper said laying down next to her, "The Volturi Princess isn't good at something?"

"I like to fight, I love to hunt, I love to annoy the hell out of Caius. I'm still not great with people…" She rolled over to her side and tucked her hands under her head. Jasper looked over at her with a smile. There she was. There was the Bella from Forks.

"We should stay," Jasper suggested, "A day or two. When was the last time you had a vacation."

"What is this word you speak of?" Bella asked, a small smile spreading across her face, "I haven't vacationed in 10 years."

"Well then," Jasper rolled over to his side to face Bella, "Vacation now."

Bella closed her eyes and sighed again, "We can't. Remember? Two nights from now would be a full moon."

"So?" Jasper said, "I've always wanted to meet a werewolf. Besides, our guy is in St. Petersburg, a city. Are you telling me there are werewolves running around in the middle of the street?" He could see Bella caving, "Bella, we have a year to do this. Two days of relaxation would do you good."

"Two days?" she asked sitting up on her hands looking down at Jasper.

"Two days." He said with a finality in his voice he rarely used. It was the inner planner in him.

"Fine," Bella said shaking his hand as if that closed the deal. "Come hunting with me."

"Nope," Jasper said, a grin spreading across his face, "I'm not your bitch."

Bella threw her head back, "Of course you are, now come on."

Jasper jumped out of bed and followed her out the door. Yeah, he was her bitch.

A/N: Alright. Sorry for all the cussing. I've always wanted to call someone that.

Uh also. I did end up changing my mind about the BIG secret. If you guys want to know what it was then leave it down in the review section and I'll tell you guys in the next chapter.

Review please :)