Char

Watching Jasper watch Bella was fascinating. He seemed completely intent on watching her write her memories into her journal. She alternated between listening to her music and writing in her journal with occasional comfort stops. Eventually, she put her journal down and took her earbuds out of her ears and Jasper took the opportunity to ask, "Would you do me the honor of going on a date with me tonight?"

"I'd love to Jasper," Bella exclaimed.

"We need to pick up some luggage, I forgot that when we were shopping before. Stop somewhere before the hotel." I insisted.

"We need luggage too," Jasper admitted. "We'll make it a quick trip."

Bella was smiling widely and looking around as if we were getting ready for her next great adventure. She reached out for Jasper's hand and his hand was there to meet hers. She sighed at the return of the tingles between them.

They chatted about the trip, the traffic, and the weather, then Bella turned the topic to her change. She wanted to change as soon as we got to the house. Jasper thought that she'd be more comfortable if they at least cleaned up the bedroom she was going to change in first. It was agreed that we would clean that room first. Jasper was quiet after that.

"Peter, please get us a set of the same luggage you get. I'd like to talk to Bella alone while you're in the mall."

"Sure," Peter said, shrugging his shoulders.

It was only a few more miles to the mall and it passed quickly.

Jasper

I could feel Bella's frustration with me trying to delay her change and I felt I needed to explain myself. My nervousness was rising as we parked and Peter and Char walked away.

"Jasper, what's wrong? You're projecting." Bella said running her hand over my cheek.

"I feel like I should explain why I keep trying to delay your change, even by a few minutes."

"Ok, I'm listening," Bella said.

"Your change is your last chance to go at your own pace. Your going to wake up with the same instincts I have and every fiber of your being will be telling you to claim your mate. Claiming includes intercourse and a bite, where I bite your pretty neck and inject a little of my venom so you will smell more like me. I don't feel like you're ready for that step."

"Jasper I've been getting grumpy with you and you're only looking out for me," Bella said.

"I don't want to rush you. I love you little one "

"Jasper you're perfect for me. I'm ready to change. I'm ready for you to claim me. I..."

I kissed her. It was our first kiss and it may have been in the back of a car but her tongue ran along my bottom lip, asking for entrance. I opened my mouth and our tongues dueled. I pulled back a little but she wrapped her arms around my neck. I had to pull back. I'd gone too long without feeding. I'd have to feed before our date tonight just in case she wanted to kiss me again. I pecked her chin, her nose, and her forehead.

"I need to feed Bella, before our date tonight. Before I get to sample your amazing lips again."

Bella smiled and I could feel her satisfaction.

"Now..." I started to say but the trunk opened and we were interrupted.

Peter put two large suitcases in the back. Bella slipped her book into her emergency bag. Perhaps she intended to read it before bed tonight. She was a little embarrassed but mostly happy.

"We'll change you as soon as the room you're to be changed in is clean," I confirmed and winked at her. She giggled.

Peter got back in the SUV and so did Char. We went on to the hotel.

We checked in, carrying the luggage and the shopping up to the rooms.

"I'm going to go out and get to the edge of town and find deer or something. I'll be as quick as possible. Do you need Char to stay with you or do you feel comfortable if they go find the seedy side of the neighborhood and find a few criminals?"

"I'll pack the shopping and get ready for our date while you're gone. Char can go feed with Peter then they can have the evening to themselves while we're out." Bella said.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Jasper said and pecked me on the nose.

"Hurry back!" Bella said.

Bella

I got my lingerie and sleepwear out and packed them into the smallest bag. It all fit pretty well.

I took the next smallest suitcase and started putting my clothes in. When I ran across the dress I was looking for I sat it out and continued packing. Everything fit neatly. I took a quick shower and dried my hair into its easy casual style. Then I turned on the curling iron so I could add a few more defined curls.

I put on my lingerie and my close-fitting red and black sweater dress. I went back in and looked in my emergency bag. I did my makeup and applied lotion to my arms and legs.

I put everything back in my emergency bag and put my purse back on. Then, surprising me, there was a knock at the door.

I thought Jasper might have lost his key but of course, I wasn't that lucky. There was a tall red-eyed vampire at the door. He had the Volturi symbol on his neck and he looked vaguely familiar.

"You're Volturi," was the first thing I thought to say.

"Demetri Volturi at your service. You are Bella Swan?"

"Yes but I'm going by Elisabeth Dalton right now. I said.

"Well, Miss Swan I'm here to escort you to Volterra," Demetri said.

"My mate is Jasper Whitlock. He's out to feed right now. Can he come with me?" I asked

"I'm afraid we don't have the time and I don't have the backup to deal with a fight with the Whitlock coven today."

"Can we take my luggage, I'd prefer to have something other than this to wear in front of your Masters."

"Get it quickly Miss Swan, we must be on our way." Demetri insisted.

I picked up the two bags and Demetri took them from me. I picked up my emergency bag. "Can I at least leave a message for him?"

"I'm afraid not, Miss Swan, my instructions were very specific."

"Jasper will come for me." I insisted

Demetri motioned me out of the room I followed his longer legs left him far ahead of me.

"Human back here Demetri my legs aren't that long," I grumbled.

Demetri pushed the button on the elevator and then bowed slightly. "I'm sorry Miss Swan, my instructions were to assure you were alone."

"I just want them to come with me. My coven won't fight if I tell them not to."

"I'm sorry, I give you my word that I will do everything in my power to protect you until you are reunited with your mate, however, I'm not allowed to wait for him."

"You promise? You'll protect me." I took a few deep breaths and said, "Okay"

"Okay?" Demetri asked.

"Okay, I'm going to trust you." I clarified.

We got to the front of the hotel and a man was waiting with a very nice sports car. He tossed the keys back to Demetri who put his key in the trunk and put my luggage in there on top of one small bag of his. I handed him my emergency bag.

"Have you got food on the plane? I'm going to need some and it's a long way to Italy."

"I had a chef prepare two meals for you and they are waiting on the plane."

"Thank you Demetri" I settled into the car.

Demetri closed the door and walked around to his side and got in. We sped off to wherever the nearest airport was. I took my glasses off and slipped them in my purse.

"You don't actually wear the glasses, no, I don't have red hair either, it was brown and longer." I clarified.

"I recall. You've grown up a lot since then. It's in your eyes."

"I was kept as a pet by Edward Cullen so he could feed on me. Peter and Jasper saved my life most likely. I caught him mid-feed."

"What do you mean you caught him?" Demetri asked.

"He was making little cuts in my skin and drinking from me while I was asleep. Carlisle had to give me a couple of bags of blood to keep me running."

"Hmph,"

"Not part of the story you were told?" I asked.

"No," Demetri said curtly.

"Yes, well, everyone besides Emmett and Jasper knew it was happening and did nothing to stop it. Jasper's always been my protector even before he was my mate. I actually believed Edward and Carlisle when they were telling me that Edward was my mate. I was naïve."

"You're going to have to tell this story all over again when you get to Volterra so we'd might as well leave it there,"

"Then tell me about you. What do you do for the Volturi?"

"I am Captain of the Guard and the tracker," Demetri explained.

"I know what a tracker is, I was chased by one once upon a time." I admitted, "What does the Captain of the guard do?"

"I'm over the entire guard, Bella, with all the different levels of guard that's roughly fifty vampires."

"And they are the most powerful in the vampire world," I said deep in thought. "That must be a difficult job."

"It can be," Demetri admitted.

"Why am I important enough for a big boss to come to fetch me? I'm just a human." I asked.

"I'm thinking about that myself. If I recall correctly Aro couldn't read you when he touched you. Jane also couldn't affect you."

"True, but what does that matter?"

"I don't know yet but I'll figure it out. When were you going to change?"

"As soon as we got to the house, we had a few days left to travel so if you'd been three days later I would have been mid-change."

"Hmm, The airport is just up here. We will be in the air soon."

I quieted and allowed the miles to pass.

Peter

I suddenly got a horrible feeling. The feeling came with a specific target. I got my phone out and dialed.

"Major, there is danger in the hotel room. I don't know what it is but I know it's there and I know it's now."

The line disconnected and Char and I ran back to the hotel as quickly as we could. I knew whatever was going on we'd be too late to stop it. So would Jasper but I had to tell him as soon as I knew.

"Which enemy was it going to be?" Please, don't be Edward. I prayed to whatever deity listens to vampires. I couldn't come back to find her drained.

We walked into the lobby and went straight to the elevator. I pushed the floor number and waited. Char would catch up with me. She'll be safe.

I sniffed outside of the door and smelled a familiar scent. The Tracker.

I knocked on the door and wasn't surprised when no one answered.

I called Jasper back. He answered, "It's the tracker. He's got her. She's gone."

I'm nearly there. Find us a plane there. I've got to feed before I fight with the Volturi animals aren't gonna do it this time. Get started on finding us a plane, please Peter. Char turned up as I opened the door to our room. I got the yellow pages out and started making calls.

I was setting up a flight for the next day when Jasper got back. His eyes were a vivid ruby and I explained to Jasper what I'd found. Jasper got his room door open and Char looked around sniffing.

"No blood," Char said.

"No Bella," Jasper said.

I stood back and waited to see when the explosion was going to happen. Jasper had gone deadly silent. "This was started by the Cullens," he said.