Jasper

Bella was completely overwhelmed after her telephone call with her Mom and I didn't blame her. It was like she was talking to her child instead of her mother. No wonder Bella liked it when Edward made decisions for her at first. It sounds like she's been an adult most of her life.

She took off to the bathroom and I had to admit, I don't think we had a choice but to change Charlie too. I wasn't looking forward to it. He seemed a pleasant enough man but he didn't have time for his daughter. He'd prefer to fish. Maybe he would fit in with the Volturi and leave them free to explore the world. Or maybe the man would prove him wrong. Maybe he would fit in with the group. If he ever came home, maybe they would see.

He was beginning to wish he'd taken Bella away from here when she offered.

Peter looked at him, and so did Char, he just shrugged his shoulders. They'd see what happened next in the morning. Peter offered to go run the perimeter and Char joined him so he was waiting alone on Bella to come out of the bathroom. This was what he needed after a long day; time alone with Bella.

After a long time, the shower shut off. Bella's hairdryer ran for a little while and she came out of the bathroom smelling wonderful in the same ratty sweats she liked to sleep in every night. She came directly to him and burrowed under the blankets. When she came to lay her head on the pillow the wrapped her arms around him. "Can we not talk about today? It went badly at the end." She asked.

"Alright, what would you like to talk about." Jasper agreed easily.

"Char is excited to cook with me tomorrow. We had a lot of fun at Walmart filling the shopping list and getting my purse. I feel like I have a real friend who's interested in the same things as me."

"You do Bella. Char likes reading all sorts of things, from classics to cookbooks to popular fiction. She likes to shop occasionally. She makes beautiful jewelry and keeps Peter in line. Peter is a different sort. He likes training horses that aren't afraid of us. He's fearless I think but he has a wicked sense of humor and a firm sense of loyalty. I think they'd both like playing tourist with us sometimes if that's what you'd like to do. They like having a home too. They've found a good balance. I think we might learn a bit from them." I said.

"Yes, I think we could, but we also need to learn from each other. There is so far to go. I'm not ready yet. Breaking up with Edward is so new. I think we need to become close friends before we become lovers don't you?" Bella asked hesitantly.

"I am happy to go at your pace. I agree that being friends before lovers is the right path to take. I admit that I hope we can progress toward that goal somewhat quickly."

"Well you've already gone from protector to friend, so I don't see why the rest wouldn't continue to move in that direction."

Jasper kissed her forehead gently and leaned back. "I care for you very much Bella. Someday I will tell you I love you and I hope that you will be able to return my feelings."

"Someday I will, I have no doubt. Please have patience with me." Bella pleaded.

"As much as you need," I vowed.

Bella took my hand in a firm grip. I sighed in relief at the renewal of the electricity between us.

Bella laid her head on my shoulder and settled into a state of relaxed calm. I didn't flood her with lethargy or any other emotion. I simply wanted to enjoy her emotions as they were. In ten minutes Bella was asleep and I was enjoying a muzzy-headed calm that was coming from her. I wouldn't influence her emotions unless she started having bad dreams again.

Peter

There was something bad coming. It wasn't long now. We needed to be on guard. "Char, back to Jasper. On guard. It's coming. Whatever it is."

We had been trying to have a little 'alone time' of our own but the dogs kept interrupting accidentally. It was time to let the dogs have the perimeter and take the interior. We ghosted through the dark forest and made our way quickly back into the house. Jasper tensed slightly when we came through the window but not fast enough to protect him from a threat. I closed the window and locked it.

"Danger coming. Soon. I don't know who it is but I am guessing it's the mind raper. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny so that is going to make it difficult to maintain a guard. The only plus is that it will be difficult for our enemies to be out too."

"I will enjoy this night with Bella and face the new day as a coven," Jasper said.

I went through all of our enemies while I kept watching through the window. The elders were potential enemies, I was sure it wasn't them. Carlisle, I didn't think it was him. Esme didn't sound right either. Alice could be helping. I didn't have a feeling about her either way. Last but not least was Edward. It had to be him for lack of other options. Was there someone else I wasn't seeing? I just didn't know."

"If it's not Edward or Alice, who I can't see having more than a bit part I just don't know who the enemy is," I admitted.

"Shh, Peter, quietly we don't want to wake Bella. I would swear that Emmett's intentions were as pure as you can get. What about Rose?"

"Shit, that's it. But why?" I asked.

"She's wanted Bella dead or out of our family pretty much from the beginning. She's jealous of Bella's humanity, her ability to bear children, and her human life. More than that she believes in the Volturi's rules...except she doesn't consider vampirism a viable option.

"It's sunny. We'll try to get her to stay home. I hope she won't mind. She's normally such a reliable girl. Always where she needs to be. Perhaps an upset stomach or a cold as an excuse. There are so few sunny days around here."

Bella

I woke after the best night's sleep I could remember. As I came to awareness I opened my eyes and smiled at Jasper. Then I noticed Peter standing back to the room peering out the window. The other window was covered by Char. They were both stiff-shouldered and tense. I was instantly alert. "What's wrong?"

"Peter sensed danger and we went through our potential enemies. Eventually, we figured out that it was Rosalie who would be threatening you. We want you to fake illness today. It is sunny outside and that makes protecting you near impossible. Please trust Peter as I do and stay home?" Jasper explained.

"Well, I suppose a headache is the best choice. Something that wouldn't give me a fever someone could check if they tried. Let me go get a drink and some Tylenol. It needs to be convincing. I'll get clothes and go into the bathroom and change. I'll bring back a drink and the Tylenol."

"Can I go get the drink for you while you do everything else?" Peter asked.

"Why are you feeling so cautious if I'm staying home Peter," I asked.

"The bad feeling isn't going away yet. So I'm still on alert." Peter explained.

"Sure I'd prefer a soda if you don't mind grabbing some pop tarts while your down there I'd sure appreciate it. I'll get my clothes and go change." I said.

I got up and got a comfortable outfit and had my human moment in the bathroom. Then I got dressed, brushed my hair and my teeth, and went to sit on my bed.

I ate one of the pop tarts and drank the soda. I put the Tylenol on the bedside table.

Then I smiled around at my coven and wondered, "Why don't we ask a few of the wolves to patrol around the perimeter today."

"That's the key Bella, the awful feeling lessened a little when you suggested it. Jasper will you make the call to Sam and ask him if Bella's father is staying on the reservation or not while you have him on the phone."

I smiled back at Peter while Jasper made the call. I learned that Charlie had two wolves on him at the station. There were three coming to the house. And I'd see a different four tonight for training. It was going to be a busy day for a day off.

I should probably call Charlie or the school or both. I guess Charlie makes the most sense. I pulled my phone from my bag. I took a deep breath and dialed.

"Chief Swan please," Bella said.

"Bella, what's wrong?" Charlie asked.

"I have a bad headache and I'm staying home from school today. I thought you might want to call the school."

"Okay, I'll call you in," Charlie said and surprisingly he hung up.

"Jasper, I'm going to offer this one more time, do you think it might be better all the way around if we get out of here, get me changed, and hope that me being vampire is enough to get our enemies off our back? My dad just hung up on me. Can we at least discuss plan B"

"Plan B might be worth considering," Char pitched in her opinion.

"I got to agree with Char and the little darlin' on this one. It's time to talk about it."

"I don't really care where we go but may I put forward the idea that we don't announce the possibilities out loud? It needs to be remote, secure, and hard to find us there. Alice having never seen it before isn't a bad idea either." Peter said.

"It wouldn't be a bad idea if none of the Cullens knew of it. I wish I knew what kind of newborn I would be. Maybe I'll be tame." I said.

"No matter how tame you are you won't be up to having neighbors for the first year." Jasper insisted. That limits our options unless we want to purchase someplace new."

"Bella, may I use your computer?" Peter asked.

"With the wolves here we're probably safe from Alice's visions right now." Bella offered hesitantly.

"Caution is best. The mind raper is out there somewhere," Peter insisted.

Peter brought up a map showing a place miles outside of Boulder Colorado.

"Can I see a pic from above the house? Maybe google earth to see how much land there is around it." Char asked.

"Is that close enough to city life for you?" I asked Peter and Char. "I know I need to be out in the middle of nowhere, but is it close enough to somewhere for your comfort?"

"It's a little far away but we'd be comfortable enough. This is my vote."

Char gave him a thumbs up when she saw the acreage that was around the house. I shrugged and said, would I need to shop for clothing?"

"We can do it online and have it shipped to a PO box if it needs to be done." Char offered.

I gave my thumbs up.

Jasper just grinned around at all of us and put his thumbs up. "Ok. No mentioning even to each other where we are going. Peter search for about fifty more places in the exact same way. Char, the first thing you order needs to be a computer. That one is about to die. I'm surprised that the old thing has worked this long. On second thought, when you and Peter go feed next go buy the best laptop you can get your fingers on quickly."

"Yes, Boss," Char said, saluting with a silly grin on her face. "Peter after you've finished house research, look for computer stores in Port Angeles and Seattle."