Jasper surveyed the room as he entered, the women were in the kitchen on the phone with Kate talking about the wedding. The men were strewn about the living room watching a sport game, shouting, and growling at one of the fumbles.

Jasper shook his head as he walked out into the backyard. Even though it was December, it was hot out and the sun was blazing. He was grateful his brothers taste in homes. The house peter and charlotte currently lived in was built into the mountain side and overlooked the valley. It was a genuinely nice set up.

Shaking his head, jasper pulled out his cellphone and dialed the number he knew by heart. Matter of fact, he had her on speed dial. She held his heart possibly more than Alice and that was saying something.

It didn't even get through the first ring before she answered.

"jasper? What's wrong?" she asked as she sounded out of breath.

"nothing at all darling. I was calling to check on you. Why do you sound out of breath? Are you ok?"

There was laughter in the background, as Bella told someone to shut up.

"well, howdy cowboy! Oh yes! I'm fine, I just finished with my cycling class and I'm at a friend's house. They've been chasing me around."

Jasper was taken aback. They had only been in Canada for a short while, he hadn't expected his little sister to gain friends so quickly. And to hear that she was taking some form of group exercise, it showed a lot of progress but why hadn't she mentioned her friends to the family? She had been so depressed and quiet in forks that any form of activity normally scared her off.

"hi! Bella's hot older brother!" someone shouted.

"guys shut up! Sorry jasper. Anyway, I'm doing alright. How is Texas? Peter and charlotte?"

"Its hot out here and they're doing great. Next time we go you'll have to come along. aren't you tired of the cold?" he joked.

"it is cold but it's worth it cowboy. Alright out with-it jasper what's bothering you?"

Jasper grinned, Bella was also so insightful for a human.

"well, how come you didn't tell us about your new friends. You can always invite them over… 'I'm sure mom and dad wouldn't mind…."

There was the sound of shuffling as what sounded like a door was closing.

"jasper, …the last thing I wanted to do was bring more humans into the house. While I know my scent has changed and it doesn't drive everyone crazy anymore, I know its still hard for all of you to be around humans daily. It's one thing at school but I am not going to drag one into our home. Look when we all moved here, I know it made us all happy and I know that everyone being happy helped you out. Don't think I didn't notice the strain feeling other emotions has on you sometimes. I want the family to be able to enjoy themselves without restraints. I am totally fine with going to my friends homes, besides its nice to be around humans sometimes, even though I prefer supernatural creatures..." she laughed.

As much as jasper wanted to argue his sister made a point. The whole family had been a bit happier not having to play high school students and being to be true adults. While they chose to go to college it was vastly different. They could choose their schedule to have less humans or online and what not and where there house was located it was perfectly hidden and miles away from humans. So, they were able to be themselves without interference or having to put on an act.

"well, you do have a point. Alright then darling. I was just checking on you. Well, be home on Monday. Don't get yourself into trouble now."

"don't I always! Alright jasper, I'll see you soon."

With that said, the line went dead.

"jasper! What are you doing out here? You're missing the game! "Emmett called.

"I'm coming! "

Jasper made up his mind to talk to Carlisle. It seemed his sister was progressing, but they didn't want anything to hinder that.

…..

Bella ducked as a snowball came her way.

"Zeke! Why!" she laughed.

"cause were supposed to be partying and your on the phone!" he pouted.

Bella rolled her eyes as she ducked another snowball. Zeke was in her chemistry class and they had hit it off. He originally asked her on a date and when Bella said no, he was fine with it. Zeke had kindly asked her to join his study group and from there she had gained three more friends.

Amanda, kylie, and Tony.

Tony was a bit of jerk, but she ignored it.

"so, Bella how's your hot brother doing?" Amanda asked.

"oh, he's good, he says Texas is hot but the family's enjoying it…" Bella responded as she ignored her friends comments towards her brother.

"that's good. And you're not upset that they left you behind?" she asked curiously.

"what! girl no. I'm glad they left. I get to have the house to myself! And we all get a break from each other. Besides it rare that I get to dance around the house naked!"

Kylie who had taken a sip of hot cocoa was quick to spit it back out.

"you dance around your house naked!"

"yes, you don't? dude its freeing "Bella explained.

Amanda laughed at her friends faces.

"only you Bella."

"whatever, alright aren't we starting the movie?" Bella asked as she diverted the attention off her.

"oh yeah! Lets go! Christmas horror movies!" Zeke cheered.

Bella shook her head. She had a strange group of friends.

…

The next morning Bella awoke to arms wrapped around her and red silky sheets.

Looking around she remembered that she had met up with clarence after she left her friend's house and from then on, it was kind of blurry.

"mm, morning beautiful…" Clarence yawned.

Bella blinked and blinked again.

"how often do hybrid vampires have to sleep?" was the first thing out of her mouth. She had never recalled seeing him sleep before.

Clarence gave a laugh as he sat up.

"well, I only need about two to three hours of sleep and as far as I know, im the only one of my kind. After I met my father and his coven, the laws were changed that vampires males could not impregnate human females. And if any kind of intercourse took place, then the human had to be changed immediately. Could you imagine if vampire men found out they could impregnate human females. There are some sick men out there and it would lead to disastrous results."

"so… where do you fall into that category? And what about the volturi? Do they know you exist…"

Clarence stiffened as he looked at her.

"im sorry, I didn't mean to pry, it's just…"

"no, no, its not you…this is just a very... difficult topic. I…trust ye, but…my family…its complicated. Did it hurt?" he asked?

Grabbing her arm where two vampires bites shone in the morning sunlight.

"it did. At least the first one did, but I don't remember the second one. I was knocked out. When my parents were killed, I sliced my arm to distract the newborns and well I sliced too deep, making me pass out. When I woke up, Carlisle had bitten me to try and save my life. But three days later, I was still human. The only difference was my body temperature and my scent. Apparently, I smell like Carlisle now."

"you do. When you opened that door, that's who I was expecting but im glad I didn't get him. Bella… I love ye so much, it hurts. But I wont lie and say that my past doesn't scare me. Its so painful and im afraid to expose that darkness to you. Im afraid that once I tell you who I really am, you'll see me completely different." He confessed.

Bella's eyes softened at his confession. He was being honest with her and she appreciated that more than he knew.

"you love me?" she questioned.

"cha b' urrainn dha" he whispered.

"…Clarence, the last two men who said they loved me, have wound up hurting me. Edward left me in the woods. Telling me he didn't want me and then left me. The next man I dated fell in love with my best friend. It wasn't directly his choice but still. It hurt. And I am so sick of being hurt… can you promise me that you wont hurt me.." she pleaded.

Clarence, lifted his lovers face as he stared into her brown eyes. She was darn beautiful.

"I... am not them. Don't make me pay for what they did to ye. Ye have my word, that I will never intentionally hurt you. My life was boring before ye. Ye, have opened me eyes to new wonders. My whole life I have been surrounded by vampires. Living that life but meeting you, you've shown me how to be human again. And since were confessing things… my father, is king Caius of the volturi. He rules with my uncles king Aro and king Marcus. My stepmother is queen Athenodora, and my aunts are Queen Sculpia and Queen Didyme. I met them all when I was twelve years old. I apparently have a great tracking gift that rivals Demetri, that's one of the guards and others combined. But im multi-talented. I can turn my scent on and off. Make myself invisible, among other things. I- "

Clarence raised an eyebrow as his lover began to laugh.

"what's so funny?" he asked.

"im sorry, but your uncle, Aro is my therapist. And I know how…exciting he can get. So, I can only imagine, his face when he found out his adoptive nephew shows off all thses talents. I bet he stuck to you like glue for years huh."

Clarence looked at his mate in surprise.

"an uncail Aro is your therapist!?"

"yes? Does that surprise you?"

"yes, he doesn't seem like the type to...to-"

"to care…?" Bella finished.

"yes!"

"well, he does. Apparently, your family has a soft spot for me. And I have never even met them face to face."

"hmmm, by the way, their not my adoptive aunts and uncles. My father and his brothers are related by blood and venom. Apparently uncail Aro was changed first and a few month later he changed my father and uncail Marcus. My father went through a rebellious period before they built the volturi. That's how he met my mother. There weren't many laws because the Romanians were ruling at the time. My father met my mother and thought it was love and he was going to change her, he thought it would be easier during intercourse, but he was wrong. He was a newborn at that time, and he thought he killed her, which is why he left her. Her heartbeat had stopped. However, hours later, her heartbeat started again, she had a rare condition that would make her stop for a while and start. Months later she realized she was pregnant. She wasn't happy. It wasn't what she asked for. And at the time she had no one, her sister Siobhan had disappeared years before, so she had no one. My birth was easy with no complications. But my mother was still bitter. She had tried many times to kill me but failed. She was amid that when my aunt had saved me. She had finally decided that she could control herself and ran to visit my mother. My aunt Siobhan was quick to take me from my mother's clutches and I lived with the Irish coven for a year or two. Once I found my father, the rest is history. I must go back to Italy to visit them soon. My stepmother gets anxious when im gone for too long..."

"what's your full name? your real name?" Bella questioned as she climbed into his lap.

"Prince Clarence Aedan murphy Marco volturi. It's mouth full I know, but my father and my aunt wanted to show my Irish and Italian heritage."

"Well… Prince clarence Aedan murphy Marco volturi. I love you. "Bella told him honestly.

"does none of this surprise you?" he asked.

"no, im pretty good with weird." She smirked.

The only thing clarence could do was kiss her and slowly lower her back to the bed. Sometimes actions spoke louder then words.