I am so sorry for the eternal wait, but that to all of you wha stuck with me and all of you who favorited/followed the story and reviewed!

On with the story! PS. We have new arrivals in the chapter!


BELLA'S POV

There is a moment of heavy silence.

"I think we should start training Bella" Jazz says, putting an arm around my shoulders and bringing me closer to him.

I snuggle in his side, nodding my agreement. "Yeah. I'd like that. I don't know how much I'd actually be able to help, but it would be nice to feel useful."

"Who knows, you might just tip the scales in our favor, darlin'" Jasper smiles at me, kissing my forehead.

I smile up at him, and his eyes, covered by colored contacts, meet mine in an affectionate gaze.

"How do you suggest we do that? No offence Bella, but I don't think that as a human you have the sufficient control to properly master your gift" Carlisle says, throwing me an apologetic smile.

I shrug, "I don't know either, but I don't necessarily need to master it. I just need to be able to use it a little bit more. As Jasper said, I could help only a little bit but that could be decisive."

"I agree" Jazz tells everyone, "Plus, even if it won't come to a battle, already havin' some knowledge and control over your gift before the change ain't gonna do nothin' but good."

Rosalie speaks up, facing me. "So you are sure? You're going to be changed."

In her voice there is none of the ice that used to scare me so much, there is only quiet acceptance and understanding. I nod, smiling softly, "Yes, Rose. This is what I want. Before, I wanted this life because of Edward but now I have realised that I have found my place with all of you and beside Jasper."

I look up at him just in time to see him sweep in for a heated kiss, despite our audience. I respond to his fervor and wrap my arms around his neck.

His tongue swipes over my lip to ask for entrance and I eagerly open my mouth to let him in. His taste envelops my senses, and I am dimly aware of the others leaving us alone.

His hands reach my butt and squeeze, and I gasp in his mouth. His quiet chuckle makes my knees wobble, nearly making me fall on my ass, but his strong arms finds its way around my waist, holding me up. Never letting me fall. Never.

The heavy makeout session stretches for quite a bit of time—for all I know it could even be days—but as we come apart, both panting (even though only one of us actually needs it), the mood shifts with such brutality that I almost faint.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you."

I cannot speak. I legitimately can't.

Jasper does it for me. "Edward?" he asks incredulously.

EDWARD'S POV (surprise!)

Well. This is awkward.

Unlike what the family thinks, I haven't spent the last days alone, but in company of a beautiful lady. Annalise.

My heart swells as I think about her.

I never thought that I could love someone so wholeheartedly. Even the love I held for Bella doesn't hold a candle to what I feel for my Annalise.

Jasper's thought range from confusion to displeasure to even hate, and I genuinely don't blame him. I'd act like that too if some idiot hurt my mate.

"I know that she's your mate, Jasper. I won't try to take her from you or harm her, for I now truly understand what it feels like to love someone so much" I tell him, slightly baring my neck in an act I'm sure he'll recognize for what it is.

"Why are you here?" Bella asks me.

I look at her. She looks better and happier than she ever was with me. Now when I look at her I don't see my love but a sister. A sister whom I need forgiveness from, for a lot of things.

"I got wind of the crimes that have been committed in town" I look at her with concern, "I'm very sorry about Mike and Jessica. I knew you were close to them."

Her eyes water, but she doesn't take her fiery gaze away from mine. I keep going. "I know I'm in no position to ask anything from you…" at that Jasper takes an even more protective stance in front of Bella, his thoughts are very clear on what he'd do to me if I harm her. Nothing I'd like to experience.

"But" I continue, lowering my gaze, "I beg for your forgiveness, Bella."

Her surprise is clear. "You are asking for my forgiveness?"

"Indeed. I acted terribly towards you, and with you. Nothing I say is going to excuse my behaviour. But I trust that you don't hate me enough as not to grant me the last thing I'll ever ask of you, and the one I'm most unworthy of."

"So dramatic" I hear her mutter. Even with my superior senses I can barely hear her words.

"Why now?" Jasper interjects.

I sigh. "Because I found my mate, just as you did."

"What" they say at the same time. I can hear jasper's thoughts. If ya lyin' Edward I swear I'll end ya.

"Who?" Bella says, but both mine and Jasper's senses pick up on movement. He doesn't know who she is, but I would recognise that lithe step everywhere.

"That would be me" her angelic voice reaches my ears and I feel contentedness fill my insides, not because of Jasper but because of this magnificent creature.

Born just a few years after me, Annalise was changed at the age of 22 by a nomad. Even though she is older than me, her lithe figure, nearly void of any curves, makes her look much younger. And I suppose that could help her pass for a younger person if she ever decides she wants to live like me and the other Cullens. Otherwise I'd simply follow here wherever, just to make her happy.

She curls a strand of her long reddish hair around her pinkie, and comes to stand beside me. She kisses my cheek and smiles at me, looking at me in the eye with her beautiful eyes, nearly completely gold from the transit from human to animal blood, then turns to the other mated couple present.

"Hello, my name is Annalise. You must be Jasper and Isabella."

"Bella" she quickly corrects her, "And yes. Nice to meet you, I guess."

"Likewise." She turns to me. Should I tell them what I found? She thinks, showing me what she saw earlier?

I nod. Before anyone can speak, Bella interjects. "You know, silent mind-conversations annoyed me before and they still do it now" she hisses.

I can tell that my darling is surprised by Bella's attitude, and in fact her thoughts scream What a flapper, this one is, but thankfully she doesn't say anything. "I apologize" I say, "Anyway, Annalise found out something that might be of interest to you and the family."

"The others have gone huntin' ta give us privacy. I'll tell 'em later. Now spill."

Annalise grabs my hands and starts talking.

JASPER'S POV

Well, I'll be damned. Eddie boy has a mate. Damn. My first though is, I wonder if they fucked. The second is, I need ta stay away from Emmett.

I focus on the small lady and the intel she's providin'. "First of all, I have a small talent, not very useful but not terrible either. I can turn off my scent for a few minutes at a time. You can still hear and see me but you can't smell me."

Useless she says? This lady has clearly never seen a battle. Eddie raises an eyebrow at my thoughts and I growl at him ta get out of my head. My mate might forgive him—she still hasn't said anythin'—but I won't let him off the hook that easily.

"Yesterday I was strolling through Seattle when I felt the presence of another vampire. I quickly switched off my gift, and went to investigate" she says, and I can feel Eddie's worry for his mate. I don't blame him.

"I saw a redhead talking with a younger vampire, a male with light brown hair. They were surrounded by another dozen of vampires at least. They were in an abandoned shack at the edges of the city. And with how far I was I could barely hear them speak but I caught the words newborns and plan. I assume they must have created some newborns to do something."

I admire a little the lady for scoutin' the territory, but she's dense as fuck.

"I told y'all that it's Victoria" Bella gushes out, feelin' exasperated. "She must be creating an army of newborns or something."

Trust my Bella to figure out shit as soon as possible. "I think ya right, babe. If that's true the reinforcements I can feel arrivin' will be very useful."

"We will" a voice from the trees bellows, before the bodies blur in front of us.

Peter and Charlotte stop short of a foot away from us, with Peter takin' Bella under his arm and huggin' her as soon as he stops runnin'.

"Hey sugar, nice to see you again" Char says, kissin' my cheek before doin' the same with Bella.

I slap Peter on the back, and smile. "Your shit told ya all o' this?" I ask him

"Hell yeah. My gift sometimes is a fucker, but not this time" he winks at Bella.

My sexy mate not only doesn't look confused at their arrival—unlike Annalise who is currently hidin' behind Eddie—but actively wraps her arm around Char's waist, huggin' her like they've know each other for decades. I had told her about my former comrades, and she seems to have recognised them, like the smart cookie she is.

"Well, Peter, what have you got for us" she teasingly ask.

He smirks at her. "Well, sugarplum, a whole lotta shit. That's what I got. All aimed at ya. But don't worry. I'll save the day as always" he winks, then whines as Char whacks him on the forehead.

I'll never say it out loud, but I missed these fuckers.

"Don't be an ass," Char says. "And be a little bit more specific" Bella adds.

Peter fake-glares at the women. "Well, I see y'all gangin' up on the poor fella—aka me for the stupid ones" a glance in my direction, followed by a kick in the shin—my courtesy of course, "Anyway, I have no idea when, but not sooner than two weeks about two dozen of vamps are comin' in the backyard to try and kill Little Cupcake here. Led by Firehair of course."

Bella barks a laugh. "Firehair. I like it!"

"So we have at least two weeks to train me?" she then says.

Us three nod.

"What about you two?" she asks Eddie and his lady.

"If I can be of use, I'd like to help. As an apology for the past months" he says, lookin' her in the eye.

Bella slowly nods, and I can feel Edward's relief and newfound determination.

From Annalise on the other hand, I feel only fear. Eddie continues to speak, probably pickin' up on his mate's thoughts. "But I ask that my mate be left out of this plan. She has no desire to fight, nor she know how to."

"Very well," I shrug, "We don't need weak links in out chain if shit hits the fan."

"Hey hold up. Mate? Eddie boy has mated?!" Peter exclaims, open mouthed.

Then a knowin' smirk takes residence on his ugly mug. "Did you fuck?"

"PETER! You graceless cretin!" Charlotte jumps into action to kick his ass, and me and Bella laugh.

Eddie and the lady are both stunned but his words, but the spike of lust I feel from both is enough to answer the question.

Well, it's about time he got laid anyway.

"Cut it out" I say, authority in my voice. And Char immediately stops slappin' Peter's face.

"I think we need to call the other and inform them of this" Bella says, anticipatin' my words.

"Yeah. I'll let you do the call, babe."


So now we know that it's actually Victoria, and what she's going to do. Tell me your thoughts in the reviews!