"Jasper, I get the feeling I have a lot to learn about vampires in the next year!" I say not just a little bewildered,

"Just a little my Belle," he says laughing,

We discuss a couple of things before his phone goes off and he speaks to Emmett. Turns out Edward had been whinging like a bugger and Esme slapped him hard. She told him he didn't need his eyes, as he already knew where everything was in the house nor his auricles to hear with and he sure as hell was not getting his tongue back as he never had anything important to say! Carlisle was hiding from Edward as he couldn't handle the whining at all. So nothing new at the Cullens then.

"Tell Esme I'll send back his ears soon. That will make him a little less grotesque I suppose. But the others I'm hangin' on too for a while, he's lucky I don't burn them all! He crossed that line, Alice used him of course, more the fool him. She just followed us and was bein' pathetic. But he listened in to our private business and then told her what he saw through the people around us, readin' their minds.

That's stalking another vampire and his mate with the intent to interfere in their matin'! The Volturi have killed for less, does he know that? I was well within my right to kill him for that. I blame Carlisle for most of this shit and you can tell him that from me, Emmett" He said before hanging up, on him,

Does the drama surrounding them never stop? Why have the Volturi not put a stop to Carlisle's frankly crazy behaviour? I saw the less than subtle maxim reference Jasper was making in regards to Edward: Mizaru, Kikazaru and Iwazaru! Otherwise known as the three wise monkeys*. Something Edward would never be! It would bode well for him to learn, but I fear he will die before this lesson ever penetrates his childish mind. He loved to imply he was better read, better educated than me. But he couldn't be more wrong, sticking to one doctrine, one outdated moral code and one way of doing things is not better, its folly.

That's what I love about reading you pick up so much information without even trying. You grow and learn continuously and I think that would and should be a prerequisite for a vampire. Jasper explained that Marcus Volturi knows more than the other two brothers combined.

"What are you going to do about the Quileutes Jasper? I can't see them minding their own business for very long!" I enquire now,

So much of our life is becoming embroiled in other's inadequacies. Why do we have to sort it out for them?

"Oh, I think I'll let them hang themselves first or should I say, Jacob. Because he will and then I'll school them once I've got the upper hand. Like for instance insistin' no Black ever gets to be either the Alpha or the Chief from now on. He's immature and unstable and will bring them to the brink of war.

I unlike them can watch for eternity and would act if they defy me. They think because the Cullens move away they can do as they please. As if they are the only vampires of importance out there, well, they just messed with the wrong vampire's mate!" Jasper growled and I shivered,

Not from fear, of course not. He is so deadly serious and deadly sexy at the same time. Damn, I can't wait until Christmas gets here. Is it wrong that I would dearly love to see him fight and most assuredly win? Talking of Christmas, we're off to Olympia to get some last-minute things and pick up dad's present. I thought I should get Tiffany and Embry something as well. I was thinking along the lines of a leather purse or bag for her and a wallet for him. Not too personal, but showing some thought for her relationship with my father. Yeah, shopping can be a minefield, but needs must and all that claptrap!

We were going in his truck this time, so we'd have somewhere for the presents. I was happy about that when the heavens opened and a deluge engulfed us not twenty minutes into the journey. Jasper and I were getting dad a new fishing rod and tackle; his was looking a little beat up. He's been saying for months that he needed to get a new one but doesn't have the time to go. I was so happy to find a decent leather goods store right away. Pulling Jasper after me I pointed a couple of things out, I realised he had a glazed look on his face. Hell no!

I'm not Alice Cullen and he needs to get his head in the game so we can get this done ASAP! I snap my fingers in front of his face and see him focus on them,

"Hello, I don't like shopping any more than you do, so a little help gets us out of here faster!" I say with a little bite in my voice,

"I'm sorry Belle; I just reverted to my normal shopping state. It was wrong of me to assume you would be like her" he said with a little pout and a wave of sorrow hit me,

"Keep them puppy dog eyes and pouty lips to yourself and help me look for a wallet for Embry" I replied trying not to smile, but he felt it anyway,

He nodded and wandered off to the men's section and I started on the women's. I saw a nice one almost immediately and glanced over to see Jasper looking at a leather belt. I couldn't see the buckle but saw where he put it down and grabbing the bag moved in that direction. He was now looking at the wallets and I saw the belt with the goldish, maybe bronze buckle. Ah, it was the Lone Star of Texas; I scooped it up and dropped it in the bag for now.

I walked up to him and peered at the wallet in his hand. I burst out laughing and nodded, it was embossed with two wolves howling at the sky.

"Brown or black?" he quizzed and I pointed to the brown one, "You grab it, that way I haven't touched it," he said casually and I realised what he meant, they hated each other's scents.

Well, that was easier than I thought and now for lunch and pick up dad's rod and we're done. I always sent Renee gift cards for their favourite clothing store and only once did I make the mistake of giving them a joint one. Poor Phil got nothing that year, she just doesn't think about anyone but herself. Hell, she never has, why start worrying now, she's his problem, not mine. We were just about done when we passed a store that had his and hers tee shirts in the window and Jasper and I both said,

"Peter and Char" at the same time,

They were from the movie 'Underworld, Rise of the Lycans' and they would get the joke and wear them proudly. In fact, we got ourselves two and would also wear them on Christmas day.

"I might wear that when I next meet with the wolves, what do you think?" Jasper asked smirking and I thought it was a really great idea.

The journey home was slower and more meandering, dad was working the night shift again and we were in no hurry to get back. We had just a couple of weeks to go until Christmas and although we hadn't actually had sex yet, we had done just about everything but. He said it was helping him temper his strength, as well as getting him used to my emotions, movements and sounds. This could only be a good thing because I intended to have us go all the way while at Peter and Char's place. Victoria and Laurent were going to one of their smaller, older homes for the holidays, to see how they would cope alone.

Peter told Jasper, they were like two totally different vampires now, once out from under James' thumb. They were happier, more demonstrative to each other, something he had hated and generally just much nicer all around. I was happy for them, that must have been hell. Although they weren't mates they were clinging to each other for now as both understood each other's pain. Maybe one day they would meet their mates and make a real coven. Not monstrous like James' or fake like the Cullens, but normal like Peter and Char along with Jasper and I will be. I can't wait to be a Whitlock.

WTWURU

Luckily we have had no problems with the tribe or Jacob Black especially. But once dad's been down to the Rez for Christmas who knows, because me just breathing seems to set him off. No me dating a vampire is what's setting him off really, but it's none o his business. Jasper has been in touch with the supernaturals that regulate the accords and he explained about the Quileutes and their deplorable lack of knowledge. The vampire he spoke to laughed and bemoaned as he called them part-time supers!

"Oh dear Major Whitlock, you've got yourself a problem and a half. We'll send an envoy to speak with their shaman and Chief. We find those shifters who are not permanently in their spirit forms quite resistant and belligerent. Finding out they are not that special never sits well with them!" he explained and we both sighed,

"Could you give them copies of the accords and impress upon them the importance of someone always being in the know even when they have no pack. They are all teenage boys and rather aggressive and arrogant. They don't know anything about boundaries or real vampires for that matter, well except for their legends.

They have had a treaty with the Cullens for sixty years and that's about the limit of their knowledge and we know that is not how real vampires behave!" Jasper told him and the vampire snorted,

"I don't know how you put up with Carlisle's crap, Major? We'll get right on it and keep you abreast of the situation" he said before they ended the call,

Christmas is in three days and we're heading off to Peter and Char's today. We're driving there because Jasper has stuff from the Cullen's place and he wants it out of there now that he was no longer attached to the Cullen coven. That's something none of the Cullen's understood, he was never one of them, just part of them as it were. He has a coven of his own, of which he's the leader, but he needed help only the Cullen's or Denali's could provide. Peace of mind, if not peace and quiet. He needed to recharge his batteries as it were and learn to relax and be himself and that's where they let him down.

He was never allowed to be Major Jasper Whitlock and they even called him Jasper Hale when introducing him to others. How fucked up is that they believed their own lies. Not that Esme, Emmett and Rose could help it, because they too were fed the lie. Carlisle is lucky Esme is his mate or she would be long gone by now and she'd have taken the other two with her. He pushed his biased, skewed view of things on them all and turned them into a laughing stock in the vampire community. The Denali's weren't like that Jasper told me they had the balance right and weren't pretending to be human.

We had one sticky moment before we left when dad pulled me to one side and asked,

"Are you sure about this! I mean going to the Whitlocks for Christmas, people you don't know from Adam! What if they aren't what you expect?"

"Is this my father asking me or Chief Billy Black?" I quizzed him,

He stopped short, looking at me and huffing in an annoyed manner.

"That was your first thought wasn't it, them interfering, not me being concerned?" he said quietly, obviously thinking Jasper wouldn't hear,

"Yes and am I right about that? Did Billy Black suggest strongly you speak to me and try to make me change my mind? What does what I do; have to do with him and his prejudices? Why are you, my father who was fine with this, now towing the tribe's party line?

I'm going, but I didn't realise that I should have asked for permission from a man who has no affiliation to me! A man who's trying to turn my own father against my relationship with Jasper! Does Billy tell you when to do everything, Charlie?" I spat angrily and stormed off without waiting for his answer.

He would know just how mad I was because I called him Charlie and not dad. Billy Black that sanctimonious bastard, how dare he interfere in my life! Jasper pulled me into his arms and rocked me back and forth making shushing sounds. I felt him stiffen slightly and knew dad was there too, but I refused to look at him.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Bells. I let him convince me it was a bad idea and you're right he's been digging away at it since you started to date. I don't understand why?" he said with a catch in his voice,

"Why! I'll tell you why because his son thinks I should be his! Jake thinks I belong to him by right and his father isn't interested how I feel. Only the almighty Jacob Black is important here!" I state coldly not looking at him,

"But that was just a crush long ago, wasn't it?" day queries,

"It's become more now Chief Swan!" Jasper replied, "Why do you think she never goes with you to the reservation with you?"

"Jesus! That shit at Thanksgiving! Every time you said something over the years, I just brushed it off as a crush. Never once seeing it from your point of view, no wonder you compared him to Edward Cullen! Damn them, they nearly ruined what little of a relationship I have with you. Go on, go and have a good time and Bella I am so sorry for listening to his poison" dad said sadly and I nodded and let Jasper help me into the truck.

"I ask only one thing, dad. No matter what happens on the Rez at Christmas, please remember I love Jasper and with or without your blessing I will be marrying him one day. But if they interfere anymore I will never return to Forks again! I'm an adult and can make my own decisions" I say barely above a whisper, but he hears me.

Tears are streaming down both of our faces, as Jasper gets into the truck and pulls away. He pulls me over to him and wraps an arm around me, but he looks mad, really mad. I have the feeling the shit will hit the fan this Christmas! All because the Quileutes can't mind their own business. We drive for a couple of hours before Jasper pulls into a parking lot for a nice looking hotel. Where the hell are we anyway?

"Portland my Belle. I thought you could do with a rest, we have time to stay over and still be there for Christmas" he purrs at me and I realise this is him needing to reassure me and make sure I'm okay.

"Thank you, Jasper, yes I'd like that," I say smiling weakly at him,

I must have fallen asleep almost as soon as we got into our suite. I never really got a look around or anything. I wonder if Jasper helped me get to sleep, I'm not angry; I needed time to recoup and think about what has happened. I tend to do that while asleep for some reason, it seems less daunting then and easier to work through. I have the feeling my dad will know everything by the time we return to Forks.

"Hey, do you feel better now? I hope you don't mind but I knocked you out?" he asked tentatively,

"I feel good and thank you, Jasper, I needed to sleep and I'd have tossed and turned for ages," I said really smiling at him this time,

Jasper crawled onto the bed beside me and explained what he'd been doing while I was asleep. He'd called that vampire again and explained what was happening and that we believed they would expose themselves and us to my father. Sentencing him to death, because they were untrained petty children. Jasper explained how he'd told them if dad dies, then he would take retaliation on behalf of his mate and wipe out the pack! They unlike the Quileutes believed him and an envoy was sent immediately. They would assess the Quileutes and if things were too bad they would be stripped of their magic right away.

If it was only the Blacks then they alone would be punished that way. But one way or another they would be stopped before they could cause any more harm. I was happy about that if Jacob had to be rendered useless, for me to be free of his nastiness so be it! Three emissaries would be coming here before two headed to La Push. The other would stay here and keep us informed of their progress. Hopefully, this would be a quick fix. If not he would join his parents and come to Peter's later to tell us what transpired. I'm praying for a quick fix, but I can't see it!

WTWURU

We had been out for me to eat lunch, well in the hotel dining room and were snuggled up chatting when there was a knock at the door. Three very tall, very Scandinavian looking people stood outside. I was a little confused,

"It's not just the first nations people who shift my dear," the beautiful woman said, "I'm Lara; this is my mate Anders and our son Einar. I am the Alpha and Anders is my Beta, we were sent by the council to speak with you then seek out the Quileutes," she said with a slight accent,

"I am Jasper Whitlock and this is my mate Isabella Swan," Jasper said nodding, but the youngest of them reached out his hand,

"It's a pleasure to meet you Major and you Miss Swan," he said cheerfully, shaking both our hands,

They gathered any information they could get, mainly from me and left quickly leaving Einar with us.

"We don't need to be outside in the forest once they get there, mother can talk to me without the need to shift" he explained as if it was normal,

It probably was for real shifters who do it all the time.

"How old are you Einar, if you don't mind me asking?" I said slightly embarrassed,

"I'm young only fifty-four. My sister Dagmar, the next Alpha is seventy-five" he said happily, "When mother starts projecting too me, I will touch both of your shoulders and you will also see and hear what she does. It should be about an hour, so I will go and eat and be ready" he told us and I was gobsmacked, they had gifts too,

The hour crept by and Jasper just held me to him humming a song and stroking my hair. I wondered who he was calming me or him. I think maybe himself. Einar returned and said it was time.

"What animal do you all turn into, I meant to ask?" I enquired,

"Any indigenous one to our homeland. Wolf, lynx, fox, beaver, bear and the mighty white Elk or Moose as you call it here" he replied and we just stared at him open-mouthed.

"Aha! Here we go!" he said gripping our shoulders from behind us.

It was the craziest trip, seeing the treaty line and the wolves and as Lara turned her head seeing Anders as a huge white Elk! This was most probably the coolest thing ever to happen to me, well, apart from meeting Jasper. But a close second, I took me a moment to focus on the wolves in front of the couple.

*The three wise monkeys are a Japanese pictorial maxim, embodying the proverbial principle "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". The three monkeys are Mizaru, who sees no evil, covering his eyes Kikazaru, who hears no evil, covering his ears and Iwazaru, who speaks no evil, covering his mouth.