Previously…

"Oh, shit… Fine," she growled, going and curling up on Peter's lap. "But when I tear off some limbs and faces I want someone there to back me up."

And as if we'd planned it earlier, Peter, Garrett and I all cracked our knuckles at the same moment.

Bella

Cullens. Cullens. Cullens.

It was always about them – always. In Forks, they were the talk of the town, the local superstars, and in Peter's house…well, they were hated, but no one ever stopped thinking about them. They were just there, looming in the distance.

It had been three days since the night I gave in, and it was now the day we had marked as 'Day Zero:' the day we were going to call and ask for a visit. We had all decided that my appearance should and would be one hell of a surprise.

Peter had gone out and bought an old Dodge truck, that fit us and all our stuff, off of a guy he said was 'alright'. It smelt like weed, sex, and piss to me, and since I was the only one who complained I was stuck with cleaning it.

So while Garrett and Peter accompanied Jasper on a hunt that morning – not really for company, but to make sure Jasper avoided the area where we burnt Malice – I decided to get down to it.

I didn't bother taking a shower beforehand, knowing I sure as hell would need one afterwards, and dressed in short-shorts and a white tank. I grabbed the bucket that Peter had left out for me, filled it with hot water and car shampoo until it was bubbly, and then took it outside to the truck, grabbing a box of cleaning products from the side in the kitchen on the way.

You've got to love vampire multitasking abilities.

I ran my gaze over the black truck, thinking of the one that had been destroyed by Vicky and her peek-a-boo act. I didn't feel anything much, and I wondered whether human affections were so easily displaced.

Shaking my head, I got to it. I stepped out into the bright morning light and immediately began sparkling like a goddamn mirror ball.

I did the interior of the truck first, airing it out and wiping down the seats before spraying them with fabric cleaner. The smell of chemicals was almost as bad as the fucking funk in there before it, but it was bearable.

I shined the dash, beat out the dirt from the footwell carpets, emptied out the ash tray full of half-burnt doobies, cleared out the junk-filled truck bed, and cleaned the inside of the windows. It looked and smelt so much better once I was done, and it had only taken me a few minutes thanks to my super-speed.

I rummaged around in the box of cleaning stuff, looking to see if there was anything else that I could use, when I stumbled upon a jelly car freshener shaped like a strawberry.

"Jasper, you silly fucker." I grinned.

Though it smelt like strawberries, it had his scent all over it. It was perfect, and I reminded myself to thank him when he got back.

I took it by its little green string and stretched it around and over the rear-view mirror. It bobbled for a second, before settling down, and it looked right at home there.

I turned to the box once more, only to find something else there. Peter.

He smirked at me as my gaze travelled up his long, lean body. "Like Jasper's gift?"

"Hell yeah," I murmured, pulling him in by his red plaid shirt for a kiss.

It was soft and sweet, but all kinds of fucking sinful too.

He growled against my lips. "If I get that for somethin' someone else did, I wonder what I'll get for what I've got for you."

I held in my inner two-year-old, who was squealing at the thought of receiving a present – not just a present either, but a surprise present – and calmly asked, "Oh, yeah? What's that?"

Peter smirked like he knew exactly what was going on in my head and put his hand behind his back. "Close your eyes."

I gave him a look, but did as instructed. I heard him move and something…shake.

I cracked an eyelid…only to have James Marsters' large and cartoony face greet me. It bobbled.

"Oh, my God…"

"I know." He grinned.

I jumped up and down slightly, taking the bobble-head Spike out of his hand. "Where the hell did you get this from, Peter?"

He tapped his neck. I beamed up at him.

"My own little Spike," I cooed, shaking the plastic figurine and watching in newborn fascination as it shook rapidly.

I looked up, smiling, to see Peter was watching me avidly – it was obvious he liked me being happy, because he had this huge shit-eating grin on his face.

"I'll put it on the dash for you," Peter said, gently taking the bobble-head from me and leaning in the truck to tack it to the dash.

I couldn't help but check out his ass a little bit. His jeans were tight.

Mmm…

"So, what do I get?"

I looked up, shaking my head to clear my lusty thoughts, and saw Peter's smug expression.

I grinned as a thought struck me. "Something…nice."

Peter's eyes blackened a little at the husky tone to my voice. "Uh-huh. What's that?"

I didn't bother answering him. I simply shut the truck door behind him and yanked off my tank.

Peter swallowed hard, eyes lingering on my lace-encased breasts. "Bel-la?"

His voice had cracked slightly, and it made me smile. "Yes, Peter?"

"What are you doin'?"

"I'm giving you a 'thank you'."

I slipped off my shorts and threw them to the side, and then watched as Peter's entire body tensed while his eyes took in my tiny pair of panties.

"What does that entail?" He asked hoarsely.

I bent over and grabbed the bucket and sponge, before straightening up and looking him dead in the eye. "It involves me, getting wet, and then writhing all over the truck and pretending to clean it."

Peter nodded shortly, his eyes turning pitch black. "Continue."

I sauntered past him, a smirk curling my lips as I lifted the yellow sponge to the hood of the truck. Soap suds ran out, rushing over the metal, and it took a gigantic amount of effort not to trail them with my eyes.

Stupid newborn fascination…

I realised then that I wasn't going to get anywhere going slow. I gave up the pretence of washing the truck and sat down the sponge on the hood. I lifted the bucket over my head and soaked myself.

Peter let out a long low growl as I threw the plastic tub away.

I took up the sponge, watching him through my lashes, and quickly hopped up onto the hood of the truck. Peter moved swiftly after me, tugging my knees apart and stepping between my legs.

Peter's eyes never left mine until I lifted the sponge up and squeezed. Suds rained down on me, running down my face and neck and then onto the rest of my body.

Peter's patience ended.

He practically snarled and then smashed his mouth to mine.

He was large, and muscled, and every fucking place I could imagine in the least amount of time. He pressed me back over the hood, climbing up and over me like some kind of wild cat with slowly rolling shoulders…

"Fuck, Bella… You're so hot…"

My panties instantly disintegrated and I couldn't help but moan as Peter attacked my neck, licking and scraping his sharp teeth over my skin.

It was at that moment that my display took a different direction and my previously-lost clumsiness came back with a vengeance.

I slipped on the wet hood, sliding between Peter's legs like lightning and landing on my ass on the dirty ground. I flicked my wet hair back from my face, mortified.

I saw Peter turn from his hands and knees to look over the edge of the hood. "Bella?"

"Fuck…"

I heard him swallow a laugh and I turned to scowl up at him.

He grinned. "Vampires aren't meant to be able to fall off shit. You know, perfect balance and all that."

I kicked my foot in the dirt. "Yeah, well…that didn't go exactly as planned."

Peter dropped down on his ass next to me and wrapped a consoling arm around my shoulders. "It's alright, Bit. While it lasted, it was certainly one of the sexiest things I've ever seen, let alone participated in."

He jutted his chin downwards and I looked. He was hard as a goddamn rock.

I sighed and smirked. "Maybe we can try it again later on."

Jasper suddenly interrupted from somewhere inside the cabin. "I get that you two are mates, but can you leave the exhibitionism until you're alone? Garrett and I have been stuck inside while you two were out there doing your thing."

Peter gave me a look that clearly said 'At least he didn't mention you falling off the truck.'

"Oh, and nice gymnastics, Bella. I'd have heard that thud a mile away," Jasper snickered.

I cooled myself off. I knew he was just teasing. I wouldn't call myself sensitive, but sometimes Jasper just got under my skin – he knew the way to do it, I supposed, working with newborns for so long. He knew our weaknesses, what made us tick, and–

Then Jasper was suddenly there, proffering my clothes. "Don't feel bad. Happens all the time to newborns."

"Well, at least I'm not the only one," I said, sliding on my clothes.

A funny little smile curled Jasper's lips. "You're the only one I've seen fall off the hood of a truck whilst doing a sexy car wash."

Seen. He had said 'seen'.

I growled. "Motherfucker. Did Garrett see too? That shit's not cool."

Peter echoed my growl and started towards Jasper. "You know not to check out my woman, brother."

Jasper gave him a cocky smirk and Peter leapt. They tumbled about in the dirt like two puppies fighting over a chew toy.

I just shook my head and stepped over them – boys… Where was another chick to complain to when you needed one? Well, besides the ones we had incinerated.

I refilled the bucket as Peter and Jasper play-fought. Turned out Jasper was just spoiling for a fight and hadn't really seen anything – according to him. But I understood his need for release – he was at the brink; he needed something to fight for or he'd just fall over the edge.

Our little misfit family was enough for now, but once the play-fights lost their fun and Jasper got bored of seeing Peter and me together every day… He needed his Bambi.

I soaped up the truck and rinsed it off pretty quickly – when I was done, I was sure that it was the best it was going to look.

By then, Peter and Jasper had stopped fucking around and were standing off to the side admiring it.

"Needs a name, don't you think?" Jasper asked Peter.

Peter nodded. "Somethin'…manly."

I raised an eyebrow at them. "It has a strawberry car freshener and a mini James Marsters stuck to the dash. This is a girl's truck, and I should know because it's mine."

I wanted it. That was enough for me claim it. I didn't know why I wanted to, but now that it didn't smell nasty and looked relatively respectable… Yes, it was definitely mine.

Peter beamed. "Good. I bought it for you anyway."

He didn't need to tap the back of his neck for me to know how he knew I'd like it.

I grinned back, stalking towards him before fisting my hands in his shirt. "What do you say to getting cleaned up in the shower?"

He raised an eyebrow, suggesting, "You first?"

I went up onto my tiptoes and kissed his ear. "Not…together, then?"

I was immediately up in the air and thrown over Peter's shoulder. I watched from behind as I was carried upstairs, laughing my ass off.

That night we all gathered around the coffee table, on which sat Peter's cell, like worshippers around a shrine…or diabetics around a Krispy Kreme.

I was comfortably sat on Peter's lap, trying not to wriggle too much because he got turned on at the slightest provocative movement, and Garrett and Jasper sat either side of us. All eyes were on the phone.

"So," Peter said, breaking the long silence. "Do you want to go to them, or should they come here?"

I snorted. "Peter, I'd much rather they fall and burn in the pits of Hell, but we can't all have what we want."

"Theirs it is."

He picked up the phone and dialled the unlabelled number – the digits struck something within me, and I puzzled over the fact it must have been a number I knew for them. Their home maybe. But then…hadn't they left Forks?

A very familiar voice picked up the call. "Jasper?"

My fists clenched at Carlisle's voice, so soft and unassuming – the total bastard.

Peter put it on loud speaker and shoved it into the middle of the coffee table, before grabbing my fists and stroking them softly until they flattened into straight and relaxed fingers again. He nuzzled against my shoulder comfortingly.

"I'm here," Jasper replied. "I'm with Peter and Garrett."

The other end was silent for a moment, before I heard movement and a door slamming. There was wind – he was outside.

"Son, can they hear us?" Carlisle asked.

I bit back a laugh at the title – he wasn't their son anymore. Peter chuckled in response against my neck. Loudly.

Carlisle answered his own question. "I'll take that as a 'yes'. Well, do you have any news on Alice?"

We had discussed this, and we thought it was best just to let it lie. We wouldn't tell them where she was or what had happened – we would just deny, deny, and deny.

"No, Carlisle," Peter said. "We don't. We haven't seen or heard from her."

Jasper spoke back up then. "The reason we're calling is to ask for permission to come back and settle my affairs."

"You don't need to ask, Jasper. Our home is yours, whether Alice is with you or not." Carlisle lowered his voice a little, as if he was trying to give the illusion of privacy – fail... "I do hope you understand though, Jasper, that time heals a lot of wounds. Your differences with Alice may seem insignificant soon enough."

Jasper simply scoffed. Peter was jiggling with silent laughter like it was the funniest shit on the planet.

"He sounds like one of those cheesy horoscopes," Peter whispered in my ear, just for me to hear. "Like the ones that tell you someone close will show their true colours."

"Malice," I said quietly, only for Peter.

Peter nodded. "Dr. Eight-Ball Cullen didn't see that shit comin', did he?"

Jasper shot a look at Peter and my man went silent.

"They will never be insignificant. Alice and I will never be together again," Jasper said to Carlisle, and his tone brooked no argument.

I heard Carlisle sigh. "It's sad to hear that, but I'm glad that you'll come back – at least for a little while."

"Oh, it's not just me," Jasper said, fighting a smile. "This is why I'm asking permission."

Peter smiled outright. "Garrett and I are comin' too."

There was silence.

"Is this going to be a problem?" Jasper asked.

"No," Carlisle replied. "Not at all. We'll welcome you, Peter, and Garrett. But we do have rules."

"About feedin'?" Peter guessed. "Don't worry about that. We'll head out of town when we're thirsty."

"Thank you." Carlisle didn't sound happy, just mildly appeased, and it made me smirk – same old Carlisle… "We also have a slight problem with the wolves at the moment..."

My ears pricked.

"Edward found his mate a while ago, in one of the humans that resided in Forks. She's currently a missing person. She was very good friends with a wolf family on the Reservation, and since her disappearance they are blaming our kind. We're on shaky ground with them, and we would all appreciate it if you kept a very low profile.

Carlisle let out a frustrated laugh. "They might see an increase in our numbers as preparing for war, so to speak."

Peter rolled his eyes.

"Alright, Carlisle," Jasper said. "I'll make sure they behave. Expect us soon."

He reached over and ended the call before Carlisle could even muster a goodbye.

Peter snorted and put on a high-pitched voice. "I'll make sure they behave." He scowled. "Fuckin'-A, Jasper. Thanks for makin' it sound like we're still wettin' our beds."

Jasper grinned. "You're welcome."

"Doesn't make a blind bit of difference anyway, Peter." Garrett shrugged. "They've never liked us, and they never will."

I tuned their conversation out. I was still fixed on the fact that I was a missing person. I mean, I had assumed that people would look for me and never find me…but it was strange to have a label.

Peter suddenly kissed my neck. "Hush, sugar. It's alright."

For the first time, I actually considered what Charlie had been like since my disappearance. But there wasn't that bond anymore – I couldn't feel that fuzzy tangle of feelings that came with his name or imagining his face. He was…kind of a stranger. A stranger I sort of cared about.

"We'll see how he is, and if he's good then we'll leave him alone," Peter murmured, and I nodded.

Sighing, I turned in his lap and curled up to him. He growled to me a little bit, soothingly.

Jasper's fingertips tapped out a staccato on the coffee table. "It's strange that they went back to Forks." He turned to me. "It must have been because of your disappearance…which means that they were keeping tabs on you."

I shook my head. "No way. Doucheward told everyone 'no contact' whatsoever – he told me so himself."

Jasper raised an eyebrow. "You really believe they'd just leave you like that, Bella?"

I said nothing, my thoughts obvious – of course I fucking believe that…

"Well, they wouldn't," Jasper said plainly. "Even if it wasn't because they cared about you, or to see how you were, they'd keep tabs to make sure you didn't blab. They may have been told to keep away from you, with absolutely no contact, by Edward, but the Volturi scares the shit out of them more than that prissy little prick ever could."

I had never, ever, even thought of that. It was just…logical. Of course they wouldn't spill their secrets and then leave like it wasn't a big deal. Damn.

"Bastards," I hissed. "They can't even leave me right. You either leave altogether, or not at all – you don't fuck about."

Jasper just shrugged. "They haven't alerted the Volturi, so they must care a little bit."

"Yeah," I growled. "Because I'm meant to be Edward's mate. If they didn't think that I'm sure they would have thrown me to the dogs by now."

"True," he said, and the conversation was over with.

We were going to leave our home, travel to theirs, shock the shit out of them, and then tell them to leave us alone and stop looking for me. Easy.

"Peter!" I yelled. "Goddammit, Peter – where the hell are you?"

He suddenly appeared at the bottom of the stairs, looking sheepishly up at me as I growled from the top.

"Yeah, babe?"

I scowled. "Where are my shorts? We're meant to be going and I can't find them."

Peter rolled his shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. "Maybe…I hid them."

My anger disappeared in a rush and I just sighed, feeling ridiculously tired for a vampire. "Why? You know I like wearing them when we run."

He flashed up the stairs, wrapping his arms around me and making a whining noise. "Bella, you look hot in them. I don't want anyone oglin' your goods."

I raised an eyebrow. "Peter, the Cullens are all mated."

"Except for Edward." He scowled.

"If he so much as even thinks at me funny, I'm going to knock his teeth out through his anus. You have nothing to worry about."

His hands slipped down my back to my ass and squeezed possessively. "It's bad enough Jasper and Garrett get to see you in them."

I smirked, wrapping my arms around his neck and rolling my hips lightly against his. "They'll be gone soon enough." I put my lips to his ear, breathing teasingly, "And then we can wear what we want around the house."

He practically gulped. "You mean–"

"Uh-huh." I chuckled against his neck, making him shiver. "Naked."

"Oh, fuck…"

He was hard against my stomach, his dick practically panting with need, and I had a momentary realisation that…I hadn't ever given him anything.

I pulled my head back to look at him, a frown crossing my face. "Peter, I've never…"

I trailed off – oh, my God… It had all been about me. Every time we had touched each other, it was always me getting off – I'd never thought about Peter; I'd never even considered his needs.

"Shit."

Peter lifted the edge of my tank and stroked my bare skin – his eyes lit up with information, and he immediately shook his head at me.

"It doesn't have to be about me, Bella. I'm happy just to…you know, cuddle and shit."

Cuddle and shit?

Hell, there was nothing wrong with snuggling, but I was being selfish. And I'd never realised it.

Peter smiled at me reassuringly. "Bella, it doesn't matter. Honestly. When you're ready–"

I cut him off with a snort. "I'm not not ready. I'd just…never thought about it."

He raised an eyebrow at me. I felt like fucking blushing.

"I told you, I'm practically a nun, and when you…uh, you know…well, I mean…you just cloud everything when you get me off and I kind of…forget."

"Bella," he said, cupping the back of my head and tangling his fingers in my hair. "Sex doesn't mean as much to me as you do. Sure, I want it." He smirked a wicked, panty-melting smirk. "Every man does. But I can wait."

Fuck. That.

I grabbed his hand and yanked him towards the bedroom, yelling out to Garrett and Jasper who were throwing things in the bed of the truck, "You might want to tear off your ears, fuckers!"

Peter looked a little fucking nervous as I closed the bedroom door and rounded on him, before pushing him back onto the bed and ripping my tank off. My jeans went next.

"Bella," he panted. "You don't have to do this. Newborn vampires get selfish sometimes. It's fine. I can deal."

I shook my head at him, crawling over his body and kissing his neck. "I don't want you to have to deal. This is happening. Now, shut up."

He kept quiet after that, his black eyes only on my face.

I snickered, sitting up and stretching purposefully. "Don't you want to check out the goods?"

His eyes didn't move for a moment.

"They're all yours," I murmured, and at that his gaze shot all over my body like a kid in a goddamn candy store.

His hands twitched at his sides, and I brought them up to my breasts, unsnapping and sliding off my bra as I did so. My nipples tightened as Peter's palms covered them, his warmth making me tingle.

As he busied himself touching me, I did the same – in a flash, I had the buttons of his jeans open and his hard cock exposed to my hungry gaze.

It wasn't beautiful – even though it kind of sparkled in the reflected sunlight in the room, along with the rest of him, which appealed to my magpie tendencies. I mean…it was a penis. They're not the hottest thing around, with their rather 'unique' look.

But it was long, and hard, and oh, so thick…and my mouth immediately wet itself with venom. Shivers rocketed up my spine and it kind of felt like…destiny – Peter's dick was destined to be mine, and even though it was a just penis it was my penis.

That didn't sound right, but I didn't give a shit. I wanted it.

At the first flick of my tongue it was like he'd been set on fire – he writhed and very nearly howled, and all I could do was continue.

He tasted like motherfucking sunshine. And cherries.

I love cherries…

The more I licked, the more he howled…until I wanted to feel it. Taking it inside my mouth was easy – letting it out, on the other hand, was difficult. I had a one-track mind, tunnel-vision had descended, and all I wanted was to swallow it down my throat and taste more of Peter's delicious flavour.

I got that. Almost as soon as he was all the way in my mouth and my throat clenched around him…I truly tasted him.

It was like a goddamn hallelujah chorus.

His cum was hot, hotter than his skin, and my taste-buds tingled with pleasure – it was sugar and salt, sweet and sour, and thousands of other different contradictions that my clouded mind couldn't think of at that exact moment.

It was everything. He was everything. He was perfect.

His hands flew up and clenched in my hair. "Holy fuck! Bella!"

I just moaned as he released another muscle-clenching load down my throat, my nose pressed into the silky hairs of his goody trail.

His hips bucked and twitched as he came down, his hands loosening their hold, and as I pulled my head back, reluctantly, I sucked him clean to the tip. To which I then placed a tiny little kiss.

Mine…

Peter was spread out before me like he'd just hit the sidewalk after jumping off a skyscraper – he was panting, his muscles loose, and his eyes were barely focused on me they were so glazed.

I waited patiently, stroking his cock up and down almost absentmindedly – mine, mine, mine…

I loved every bit of it – even the empty vein that ran up it. In fact, I was pretty sure that was my favourite bit…because when I ran my fingertip along it he shivered and shook like an earthquake was rocking the cabin.

He slowly came around, his gaze locking with mine. "Jesus says 'hi'."

"That's nice." I smirked.

Peter stilled my stroking hand, almost gasping as he muttered, "Baby, if I come again I'm pretty sure I'll implode."

I reluctantly pulled my hand away, pouting as I did so.

He eyed me, lids narrowing. "Nun my ass."

I crawled up his body. "Good, was it?"

I honestly hadn't a clue. I only knew that I didn't have a gag reflex anymore as a vampire, and that I was officially addicted to the taste of Peter and all his extremities. Including his cock... Especially his cock... Mostly his cock... Oh, hell, I was addicted to his cock.

He suddenly flipped me over, growling against my ear as he palmed my left tit and ground his hips against my damp panties. "I'm never lettin' you leave this bed."

At that, there was uproar.

"Motherfucker!" Jasper growled from outside the cabin. "Get out of that room and in the truck! We're ready! If you make us wait anymore I'm sending an ice-cold bucket of emotions up there!"

Peter groaned. "I hate them."

"Think of it this way," I said, stroking his jaw and nipping at his earlobe. "We'll be in a house full of people we hate soon enough, and it'll be even more fun to fool around there."

Peter just laughed against my skin, kissing the spot over my heart before resting his chin on it and looking me in the eyes. "I love the way your mind works. It's so…evil."

"Hey." I shrugged. "I'm full of your venom. I blame you. Now, get up and pull me along with you. We've got a family to see."

Next time…

"You know, this is exactly how I imagined a road trip with vampires might be."

"What, Jasper bein' sick and Garrett stealin' silverware?"

"Eh. Pretty much. There were more shiny things and less kids mooning from other cars on the road though…and you had a hat… Peter, stop. You should get a hat…and some smokes."

"Are you sure this isn't goin' to turn into some cowboy fantasy?"

"No, not entirely."