Char and I were searching on line for two things, a high factor sunscreen and a luminous air tanning machine. The weather in Forks was so perfect for vampires except for the few days and odd hours of sun. So with a little technology, we could at least tone the sparkle down to a glow and the humans love for luminosity to their skin works well in our favour. But unlike them, we would have to apply it daily rather than every few weeks. We weren't aiming for the god awful orange colour, but just a hint of a tan, to make ourselves blend better.
I also needed contacts in fact we all did. Brown for me and Garrett, grey for Peter, blue for Jasper and Char. We quickly put in place the reason for so many people being in Charlie Swan's old house. Me because of my accident, Char as my nurse and her husband Garrett as my temporary handyman come project manager. I would then get renovations underway with Peter and Jasper as the contractors. They would all be posing as my friends from back home in Arizona, who were only too happy to help me out in my hour of need.
Turns out Jasper knows a hell of a lot about the law, so he was looking into the ramifications of what I could and couldn't do with my land. He found it really amusing that I owned not only most of the Quileutes land but all of the Cullens too. He says they even paid an extra dividend for having been allowed to build on my land. I wonder did they think one day they would outlive the owners and just take it for their own or buy it from the estate eventually. Well, that ain't happening now, Edward saw to that!
It took only the length of time for the cast to dry to realise it wasn't going to last on me. So Char and I slit it up the back enough for me to slip it on and off. Nobody would see unless they physically touched it and why would they. So when the tanning stuff arrives I can get an all-over one before slipping it back in place. So far so good, let's hope everyone else plays their part too. Meanwhile, I need to know if Jacob Black is still on the reservation. I can't go there but I can get close, they have the land but the ocean belongs to no one technically. So it's time to put the fear of God up him or at least his pack.
"Anyone fancy a swim in the Sound later. It's Friday and Billy Black told Uncle Charlie they have bonfires most Fridays on the beach. I need to know if the Black boy is still there!" I say and everyone nods,
"How'd you want to play this Bella?" Jasper asks me now,
"You lead us in and make the introductions; they don't know you're no longer a Cullen. They'll be all you can't come on our land again, but the water ain't land. Then I'll demand to know if he's still here. If he is I'll threaten to phone his father!" I say and he smirks and agrees,
It's just gone dark and we head out to skirt La Push and come up almost onto the beach. We can see the pack with their women, hell we can smell them even under water. They of course panic and start shouting orders at us and Jasper laughs. Half of them phase, the other half usher the women backwards and then I see him. Jeez, he's as fucking stupid as Edward.
"Quiet you fools, it's you and not us drawin' attention to the beach! I am Major Jasper Whitlock and this is my coven" he says and one of them shouts,
"You're a Cullen, they aren't allowed here. We can kill you now for breaking the treaty!"
"I'm not a Cullen and never have been. Your worthless treaty names me as Jasper Hale, which is not now and never was my real name. I'd like to see you try to kill me, but don't waste your energy" he replies in a dismissive manner and they are riled up,
One of the phased one's charges towards us and Jasper drops him like a stone from this far away. Better yet all of those phased also go down and I hear Jasper bark out a laugh.
"Well, well! That pack mind's not workin' in your favour now is it!" he drawls and they all squirm under his power,
"Enough, please. What do you want?" the single female wolf asks,
"We came to see if Jacob Black had left like he was told. But it appears he's not only arrogant but a fool too!" Jasper explains calmly as he releases their minds,
I could see the asshole edging backwards, but he was in for a shock.
"I told them to tell you to leave Washington! I told your Alpha to tell you, did he not?" I said as I pulled him slowly towards me with my shield,
"Why? Why does he have to go? What does it have to do with you?" another male shouted and Jacob looked scared,
"Has he not phased recently? Don't you know yet what he did? Jasper fill him with anger, make him phase, please" I say loudly and the fool is clawing at my shield, but not changing as yet,
"I suggest you all phase to hear his memories!" Peter says from right behind me and I reach back my hand to touch him,
The whole thing takes less than two minutes, but the horrified looks on their faces as they return to their human forms is proof they didn't know what he was capable of.
"You will run Jacob Black. Don't join another tribe or I will kill them all. You can run like a man or a wolf, I care not! You are a bloody coward in both forms. I will hunt you down and kill you, but not yet! I have more pressing matters for now.
So run little wolf, run and I won't tell your father you murdered his best friend and tried to murder me too. But I'm a vampire because of you; Edward Cullen would never have thought to change me if you hadn't rolled my car. You will be to blame for all that will befall your tribe if you don't leave" I tell him and then turn to the other's and say,
"I own all the land surrounding La Push and if he stays I will rescind access to the tribe. I will make it so only the ocean will be your way in and out and you see what can lurk in the water's around here. Drive him out and never let a Black be Chief or Alpha ever again after Billy dies.
It's up to you, now. But know this I am taking back my land. I will let the roads stand and will never stop you using them, but he lost you your hunting grounds!" I say looking at them all one at a time, letting them see my hatred and loathing,
"This is my home! My legacy, my right!" Jacob yelled and his pack stared at him in disgust,
One by one they turned their backs on him and began to chant a mournful song. It was like a funeral, where someone who had once been important has died. I released my shield and he fled into the dark night. His feet pounding as he ran and then he phased into his wolf and picked up speed. I'm sure he thought he could escape my vengeance, but I'm sure Peter would be able to pinpoint his whereabouts for me when we were ready.
"We will leave you now, but remember Miss Swan's words. We are eternal and after you're all dead and gone, we will still be here to ensure no Black ever takes control here again!" Jasper says as we turn back into the sound and swim along the coast before running back to Forks.
OTITRM
"Damn Bella, life won't be dull around you that's for sure!" Garrett says with a massive grin as we run towards the house,
That's when we smell it or should I say him, Edward Cullen. The tree at the front of Charlie's house near my bedroom is covered in his scent. Little creep, pathetic peeping tom. But he wasted his time because we were out. Jasper checked all the security he's been putting in place and no he has never gotten inside. I am disgusted and annoyed; they can't seem to watch him for five minutes. I rip the whole thing out of the ground and start running. The others are behind me all the way and are bent over double after I launch it through the plate glass window into his room destroying everything in its path.
"What the hell?" Emmett says running outside,
"That's the tree from outside my bedroom window Emmett. Edward seems to like spending time in it, so I've brought it over for him to play in!" I tell him and they all turn to the fool who is looking everywhere but at me now,
"You dirty little pervert!" Rose yells and Carlisle goes to step forward,
"Defend him Carlisle and I'll kill him before I leave!" Esme snarls at her mate in disgust,
"So how'd he get past you all, this time?" Peter asks angrily,
"It's the damned mindreading. He knows where we are and when we're distracted, it happens all the time" Emmett huffs in frustration,
"Ah!" That is all I say and turn to stare at him,
"What did you do? I can't hear anyone now!" he screeches, most unbecomingly,
"I have put a shield around your pathetic little mind; nothing will ever get in now. Let's see how you like being a plain old ordinary vampire! I hope you've got other talents, because if not..." I say leaving the threat hanging,
"You can't do this to me! I'm your sire, you must obey me" he ranted as we all turned to walk away,
"That's his last warnin' Em. If he interferes with my coven again I will kill him myself!" Jasper says over his shoulder,
"Your coven?" Rose asks in confusion,
"It's always been his coven; he's just back in the saddle is all!" Char says smiling at her brother,
"So be it, man, the choice is his!" Emmett replies, fear and disbelieve are etched on Edward's face now,
"Oh and Eddie, spy on my mate again and there won't be any of you left for Jasper to find!" Peter says just as we're almost out of range,
"WHAT! No, she was meant to be mine!" floated to us on the breeze and we all laughed heartily,
I so wanted this day to be over, those two fools are spoiling my mood. We all separate to our rooms on arrival and for Jasper's sanity I shield our bedrooms from, well the emotions anyway and the sounds are dulled too.
"Thank you, Bella. You were right about Chief Swan's books, he was a man after my own heart" I hear Jasper say,
Uncle Charlie was a history buff, the 'History of War' mainly. I knew Jasper would appreciate them as much as my uncle once had. I intended to take them all with us when we left. More for the sentimental value, than the likelihood of me reading them myself. Peter and I were snuggled up on my bed, just enjoying each other's company and revelling in each other's touch. I asked him about their home, soon to be mine too. He said it was large but not huge, A two-storey T-shaped building so that each person had their own space upstairs. Garrett shared with Char in her section and I would now join Peter in his.
"When the Major meet's his mate she will join him at the back in his, but the downstairs of the house is communal. We like to hang out together when possible suga', especially in the library" Peter explained and I liked that idea,
It meant if you wanted to be alone you could and not confined to one room like the Cullens. He told me that apart from the bedroom we had a small sitting room for reading and a larger one with a TV and music system. There was also a balcony that gave access to the grounds and each other's section at the back. Together but separate he called it and it sounded like heaven to me. I was really looking forward to moving there. Peter also explained each of them had smaller getaway types of cabin, all over America and they would go to their own or borrow each other's now and again. The more I hear the more I loved the Whitlocks way of life.
"Peter? When I'm officially dead, can I change my name to Whitlock too?" I muse,
I liked the sound of it,' Bella Whitlock'.
"Hell yes! We could make it officially official, if you like?" he says quietly,
"Is that a proposal Captain?" I ask,
"Yup! That's what it was" he replies smirking,
"Then yes, Peter. Once I'm declared dead in the human world, we'll get married" I tell him and hear the shouts of congratulations from Char's room and also from Jasper's,
I've never felt as content as I do right this minute, laying here across Peter's chest, listening to him purr for me.
OTITRM
The arrival of our online shopping caused a bit of a stir this morning. We would all do each other's tanning, but Jasper's suggestion that I do his didn't go over too well with Peter. I know he was joking, so did Char and Garrett, we were all laughing about it. But for whatever reason Peter took the hump and got angry. Does he truly not trust his brother or worse, does he not trust me? I then took offence at that thought and it was beginning to spiral out of control. Garrett and Jasper then dragged him away into the forest and I had Char do mine, but I didn't take Garrett enjoyment from him.
It was a very contrite and visibly upset Peter who returns after his brothers explain how I had taken his remark. After all, he's told me he trusted them both implicitly. So that could only mean he didn't trust me,
"I'm so sorry suga', I never meant to make you feel I didn't trust you. I do, I just got irrationally jealous and forgot he was my brother. I forgot how he liked to joke about these kinds of things. Hell, I laughed when he did it to Garrett when he and Char first got together.
I can only beg your forgiveness, but I did warn you. I told you I'd piss you off constantly. I have never felt this way before and it scares me. I'm so scared I'll lose you. Not that you'll leave me, I know you won't. But that someone will try to take you from me forcibly. This crap with Eddie is getting me down. I don't want anyone thinkin' about you that way!" he explains from the doorway,
I know he means it with all his heart. I smile at him and have just the thing to break the tension between us.
"Okay, Peter. Let me just tell you this once. The makeup sex better be fucking awesome buster!" I say and we hear the laughter from the others as they leave the house,
He is on me in a flash and I feel every touch is laced with love and devotion. He for once shows me his vulnerable side and it's a heady feeling to know his existence, now depends on me. But then so too, does mine depend on him always being there. We should be away somewhere growing our bond to one another in private. But because of two stupid fuck-ups in Forks we can't. If I didn't hate them before I really do now. I wonder fleetingly if Jasper is having as much trouble with Alice, as I am with Edward. But that thought slips away as I feel Peter gently guiding me down onto him.
I had just finished using the spray tanning machine on Peter as the other's return. Peter hugs me and redresses himself. With a kiss on my forehead, he takes my hand and leads me down the stairs,
"Major, I'm so sorry" he starts to say,
"Don't be Peter. I know you weren't being rational at the time and I don't blame you. This whole situation is fucked up!" he says giving Peter that strange man hug thingy, men do,
"Jasper? Is she bothering you as much as he is me?" I finally ask not needing to say their names,
"Fuck yeah! I've replaced my phone three times so far but the bitch keeps getting the number somehow" he grumbles,
"Aha! No worries. I'll buy the next one for you and she won't see or know the number. Cause I won't tell any of you what it is. I'll plumb in all your contacts for you, except the Cullens. Use the house phone for calling them" I say smiling and he high fives me,
"So plans for tomorrow? Who do you want where?" Garrett asks now,
"Me here in my cast with Char and Carlisle. You get to lord it over those two outside maybe. Oh, how about a little landscaping of that massive hole I made out there? Just talk about renovation plans with the Officer and any passersby. Meanwhile, I think Peter should get the pleasure of helping you with your tan, Jasper!" I say smirking,
"Fuck!" was all both say,
"Garr baby, oversee them, please. We don't need the Major looking like an Oompa Loompa!" Char says and she and I burst out laughing.
Well, we are as ready as we can be for this. The contacts are sitting ready for us to wear and we now look slightly more human. I have been working with them on their human voices too, a skill we'll use forever. Why the Cullens never thought of it or even tried is beyond me. I'm guessing they were just too arrogant to really want to fit in. All talk, but as Uncle Charlie used to say about people like them,
"They're all 'Piss and Wind' Bella! Never trust people like that"
That was one of the many things he taught me. How to spot the dud's out there in the world. It didn't matter he was just talking about humans. No matter the species, a dud's a dud!
OTITRM
My cell pings at about six-thirty am, telling me an Officer John Carmichael would be with me by eight am. So it would be easy enough to make it look like Char and I had just finished breakfast with Garrett. Peter had miraculously found a truck for him and Jasper to arrive in. That just knowing thing s helped a lot. They threw all of Uncle Charlie's tools in the back with some sacks and other paraphernalia. I had no idea what they were or cared really, just obscure odds and sods. By the time the guy pulls up they were talking about paint shades and guttering as Jasper levelled out the crater I'd made.
He smiled and nodded to them and Garrett stepped towards him,
"Good morning, I'm Miss Swan's contractor Garrett. My wife Nurse Whitlock and Miss Swan are inside. Just knock and go on in, she's expecting you" He says politely,
"Thank you" he replies shaking Garrett's hand, briefly,
Thank goodness I reminder the guys to warm their hands before they went out there. What came next was a cross between an interrogation and an attempt at flirtation. He was shit at both actually. I had a hard job not laughing in his face. I answer all his questions, repeated several times and fob him off on Carlisle as he arrives half an hour later as arranged. Carlisle plays his part well, stressing his concerns about me leaving the hospital early and not staying off my leg. It is a long two hours and two cups of coffee later when we finally get rid of him, but his report will be in my favour.
The three guys actually made a vast improvement outside to the overall landscaping. Turns out they do it with every house so it's nothing new to them. Just slower than normal, doing it at human speed. I drop the bombshell to Carlisle I want them gone from Forks soon, never to return as I won't be renewing their contract. I tell him it's unfair to the Quileutes, with them turning up every couple of generations and sparking the phase in the younger members. He didn't even know it was their fault, but I bet Edward did! I'm really not sure Edward will make it out of Forks alive, all his sins were catching him up. I tell Carlisle that and he nods his head in agreement.
"If you want your house Carlisle, make plans to move it out of there. I'm turning the whole area into a nature preserve for endangered Flora and Fauna from this state.
I don't need the money now and although I'm taking back the land from the Quileutes too, I will employ them to help upkeep it" I tell him and he agrees that is a good idea and kind of me,
I actually thought I would use the place to help them get out of the stereotypical reservation situation. This generation might baulk at working for a vampire but maybe future ones wouldn't know or care. If I ran it as a private Forestry and Horticulture Estate, with eventually training in Botany, not just plants but trees too and some minor Zoology courses, maybe they could improve their conditions and broaden their horizons too. It's not a handout so much as a hand up in the world. It would also help the people of Forks and the surrounding area as well.
But I would micromanage from behind the scenes, to make sure everyone got a fair shake. Because I'm not blind to the ways of men. After Carlisle left I explain my thoughts to the others and they loved the whole concept. Even thinking that in the future we could work at the place ourselves. After all, we have forever.
"I thought I could call it 'The Charlie Swan Memorial Estate'. What do you think guys?" I ask tentatively,
"That's perfect suga', he'd be so proud of you," Peter says hugging me and the others all smile.
For now, that was all a plan, but once I was free of the CIA, I'd get the ball rolling. Because when I was reported dead in a few years it would have to be handed off to someone else to head, like Char. Then later I'd take back over. I wasn't going to do the handing it down to myself thing, but it would always be in the Whitlocks hands, we would all head it at some point even Jasper's mate when he found her. I had brought that up to him and he was running it all through his head trying to find a pattern that would point him in the right direction.
She's out there and we will help him find her, we don't need Alice's visions. Good old detective work is all that is required and between the five of us, we'll find the answer.