Peter's POV

After I grab a bite with my mate I go to the abandoned warehouse Jasper told us about. It is hard to track the scents near the building because it has been burnt almost to the ground. Char and I make ever-widening circles until we catch the scent of a female vampire. This must be Victoria.

As I track her I hope the Major is claimin' his mate. I know she's innocent but they need each other. I've never seen true mates like them before and Bella is a human. I wonder what they'll be like when Bella is like us. I hated to tell the poor girl she needs to wait to be changin', but we really do need to sort this Victoria problem out first.

The scent trail leads to another abandoned warehouse. I sniff around the outside and find several scents leading in.

When I listen closely I can hear movement inside too. What is going on here? It has to be Victoria. I text Char and she joins me soon after. We hear fighting inside the building. We hide in the warehouse next door and keep watch over everything.

It's not long before we see a group of newborns going out to feed. If we let this go on the Volturi will certainly become interested. I don't want to, they are innocent of wanting to harm Bella, but Char and I kill the newborns. Then we go into the warehouse and kill the few that were left behind. Victoria is nowhere to be seen. We've lost her again. It's time to call the Major.

Jasper's POV

My Bella is a goddess. She's perfect for me. She's been telling me all about her life thus far and I'm amazed that she lived through some of it. If that tracker hadn't been killed already I'd be looking to kill him myself though. Bella didn't deserve the way she was treated by those Cullens and I already know that I won't be going to find them. I can do the animal diet on my own. I don't need the Cullens to help on that. Well, in all honesty, it would probably make it a little bit easier but I'm stubborn. I can do this on my own and wherever I go, Bella's coming with me so I won't be going to them.

Imagine the nerve of them leaving her with a mess like Victoria out to kill her and just going off on their merry way. Even I, an admitted monster, am better than that. I clean up my own messes and everyone knows if you kill one mate, you have to kill the other or they'll be coming for you for the rest of their lives.

Revenge is a big motivator with vampires. It's right below keeping your own existence and your next meal. But this Victoria seems to have a gift for evading trouble. That's going to make it harder to kill her.

Bella kisses me on the cheek, "What has you so distracted?" she asks.

"Just thinking about Victoria and how she keeps managing to get away from us."

The ringing of the phone makes Bella jump a little. "I'll just go get that," she says and kisses me on the lips. I hear her pick up and I hear Peter's voice on the other end.

"I need to talk with the Major, Bella." I was by her side in less than a second. She just hugged me and handed me the phone.

"Major we got a problem. We can't seem to catch Victoria but she's makin' batches and batches of newborns. If the Voltouri get wind of this..."

"Take care of them, Peter."

"I've already put down the latest batch," Peter admits. "But Victoria wasn't with them."

"Let Char keep an eye on wherever this new batch was and you keep following her scent, Peter. You know she's around there somewhere."

"Will do Major, that was the plan I just wanted to give you the update."

"Thanks for that Peter, normally I would come but Bella's too important to leave."

"You need to be a claimin' your girl, Major. I don't know why it's so important but it is. I just know it."

I glanced at Bella. I did need to be claiming her but not just because Peter knew it. I wanted her. I needed her. "I'll talk to you later Peter."

"Yeah, Major,"

The phone disconnected and I was left shaking my head. Armies of newborns. Again. It seemed like we would never be free of them. The only newborn I wanted to be dealing with was my little mate. Her newborn year would be as peaceful as I could make it.

I thought having Peter and Char around to help would be a good idea. Newborns can get out of control easily and I didn't want to raise Bella as violently as I'd been raised. In the armies, if a vampire wouldn't stay put you just ripped their legs off. I could never hurt my Bella like that. I might have to restrain her at times but it would be done as gently as possible.

She would make a fantastic vampire. She would make a fantastic mate. "Mine," I growled low in her ear.

"Yours," she agreed easily.

Bella's POV

The next few days passed quickly. Jasper stayed close by my side and that made life perfect. Charlie barely came home and for now, that didn't bother me either. The more time I was with Jasper the better. On the fourth day, Jasper seemed tense.

"Jasper," I said while we were sitting on the couch, "What has you so tense?"

"Peter and Char haven't checked in for a few days. I'm just worrying needlessly."

"You can call them, Jasper, you don't have to wait for them to call."

Jasper looked so relieved. I only hoped he had the numbers. He went to the telephone and dialed but no one ever picked up.

"Maybe they were busy. Just call them later." I suggested.

I started rubbing his shoulders. I didn't know if it would do any good but I figured it couldn't hurt. Soon Jasper was muttering, "you little minx," and carrying me up to my room.

Jasper took my lips with his and I relaxed into him. Molding my body into his. He ran his hands through my hair and pulled me tighter into his body. As we were kissing I heard the door on the first floor flung open. "Bella," Charlie called.

I pulled away from Jasper and called back, "Yes, Dad,"

"Are you fixing dinner?"

"It will be about thirty minutes. I'm coming."

I looked at Jasper with regret in my eyes and went downstairs.

After Charlie ate he went into the living room to watch whatever sports were on. I went back upstairs to Jasper.

"Jasper I've been thinking," I said.

"Thinking about what little darling?"

"About you, about us, about Victoria."

"And what have you come up with?" Jasper's voice sounded tense.

"I was thinking that even before I change, I can go anywhere. Would that make protecting me easier?"

"I'll talk to Peter next time he calls. It might make things considerably easier."

"Ok Jasper, I trust you."

It didn't make sense to stay here, or at least it didn't to Bella. They could get away from Victoria, out of the area. She'd never even know where they went and if she found them wouldn't she be easier to take care of away from Charlie and school and everything that went with Forks.

The more that Bella thought of it the more sense it made. It wasn't like she had any reason to stay. It was at the very least something to think about.