A/N: Hi everyone! This chapter ended up shorter than the others because I shuffled some material around at the last second, and I didn't feel particularly inspired to add more to it until recently. Thanks for waiting, enjoy!

True Night

Chapter Nine

Over the course of the next few weeks, Jasper doubled down on my training. He also filled me in on the history of the Volturi and their role in the vampire world. I wondered if Alice had them in mind when she left us so abruptly a few decades ago. I wondered if they'd been enraged by Edward's untimely demise. I know I certainly was, for a time.

I was surprised to learn that Garrett was actually a century older than Jasper.

"I've been hearing some interesting things about the Denali sisters," he said conversationally, as he dodged a swipe from me.

"Your timing was off," Jasper said.

I grumbled and tried again but Garrett feinted to the right and I almost ended up under his arm. Thank goodness for Kate's reflex training.

"They are," I said, as if our conversation hadn't been interrupted. I took note of his murky red eyes and wondered if he'd been sampling the local wildlife.

Rosalie and Emmett had left a few days ago to alert the Denalis as well as Carlisle and Esme of our plans. Alice was still nowhere to be found.

"She'll show up," Jasper said confidently. "She likes to be where the action is, after all."

I felt a tiny pang of jealousy even though I knew he had never been hers.

"D'you really think you'll be able to kill this Victoria?" Garrett asked. "You're a fast learner, but I can tell you wouldn't hurt a fly."

"I'll be able to," I replied, my lip curling.

"She gave me a concussion as soon as she woke up from her transformation," Jasper said, entering the fray. Emotions lashed around him like a tempest, made visible by his deliberate physical manifestation. According to Garrett, being cut by despair, knocked over by embarrassment, and stricken by bloodlust all at the same time is not pleasant.

"Seriously?" Garrett asked, looking at me with newfound respect.

"And don't forget how hard I hit you when you attacked Jasper," I grumbled. "I still haven't forgiven you for that, by the way."

Jasper and I have been spending a lot of time together as a couple, as well. Garrett is a pleasantly low-key house guest and prefers spending time outdoors, so we haven't seen much of him outside of training. Rose and Emmett have already left to help Carlisle and Esme with planning, partially because none of us could put up with Emmett's jokes anymore.

Jasper's not like Edward.

He doesn't feel the need to touch me every few moments, simultaneously too anxious to leave me alone and too afraid to break me. He doesn't shower me with sweet nothings, and he doesn't make ridiculous declarations of love.

We were sitting on the couch, simply enjoying each other's company, when he popped the question.

"Bella, would you like to get married?"

I stiffened. Sensing my distress, Jasper stiffened, too.

"I think I'd like to get married...eventually," I said slowly. "Charlie and Renée didn't exactly set the best example for me, you know."

Jasper took my left hand in his right, pensive for a moment before looking up and smiling at me with his molten eyes.

"I can live with eventually."

"I'm sorry," I said hastily, "I know you're probably old-fashioned-"

"Old-fashioned doesn't matter when we're already perfect for each other," he cut me off calmly.

I'm not ready to say the words "I love you" yet, but I definitely felt something warm welling up inside of me at his sincere words. For a moment, I wished he could feel what I was feeling. I settled with pulling Jasper in for a kiss, instead.

I think he understood.

A few days later, Jasper received a phone call and went outside to take it. When he returned, I could tell from the set of his jaw that our plans were about to be put into motion.

"It's time."

At this, Garrett saluted the two of us jauntily and wordlessly sped out the door.

"Is he always like that?" I asked.

"Yes," Jasper replied.

"The plan?" I prompted as I got up from the kitchen table, my novel falling from my fingertips.

Even though Jasper knew that I'd already memorized it plan many times over, he explained it to me again as we began to pack our things at human speed. Even though I trust our plan completely, I thought to myself that it's times like these where we really could have used Alice to help determine the odds.

"Esme is readying the house in Seattle for our arrival. Carlisle and the Denalis will rendezvous with Garrett there. Rose and Emmett will scout ahead and lure one of her newborns into the open—"

"Riley," I supplied.

"—while the Denalis and Garrett start picking off the other newborns."

At this, Jasper paused to give me a calculating look.

"Even though your scent now is different from when you were human, she won't be mistaken. She will come."

"Peter and Charlotte?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. According to Garrett, I look like Jasper when I do that.

Jasper scowled, but I knew he hadn't forgotten about them.

"They'll be arriving in the next few days to help us as well."

Carlisle would try to negotiate with Victoria and her newborn army, but we all knew that it was a lost cause. It was frightening to see the actions of a woman who had nothing left to lose. I wasn't able to repress my shudder fast enough.

Jasper touched my face questioningly, and I looked at him.

"She's lost her mate," I explained, "and I thought I'd lost mine. I guess I feel a little for her, is all."

"You wouldn't be Bella if you didn't," he replied fondly, kissing my forehead.

A/N: I hope I've done a decent job of softening Bella closer to what she used to be like, before she became a vampire. Next chapter is the final confrontation with Victoria!