Peter

It had been a long conversation with Char to make the decision. We would be going back to Forks to train the wolves. Jasper and Bella didn't need them at the moment and in all honesty, the walls of Volterra were too thin for their comfort. There were just too many vampires here and the redheaded vampire was no doubt harrying the pack. They couldn't handle her and Jasper was too busy to keep their promise of training right now.

A call to Sam had confirmed it and a meeting with Demetri had arranged their absence. Now to tell Jasper and Bella.

I hoped that they took the news well. Char went to knock on Bella's door but jumped back when Bella opened it. A freshly scrubbed, truly relaxed Bella was in the doorway.

"Are you coming with us to learn the laws?" Bella asked.

"No Bella, can we talk inside," Char asked.

When we got finished explaining everything we all waited to see how Bella reacted. Bella threw herself into my arms and exclaimed, "I will miss you both, but thank you for seeing to my friends."

Even Jasper expelled a held breath at her response. Bella hugged Char too. Jasper shook my hand and hugged Char. "Are you sure this is the right choice for you?" He asked.

"It's gonna be important that those wolves are trained," I told him plainly.

"Hurry back, we'll miss you," Bella said, hugging me again. She then took Jasper's hand and he wrapped an arm tight around her shoulders.

"You know this with your gift?" Jasper asked.

"Yes," I said plainly.

"Best of luck to you and we'll see you again when it is time to move on from here," Jasper said.

"Now little darlin', it's time that you go learn about laws and history and it's time for us to go meet our plane," I said.

"We'll miss you," Bella looked glum.

"We'll miss you too, little darlin'," I reassured her.

Jasper guided Bella down to her lessons and we watched them go before we grabbed our bags and went for the Volturi's jet. It was time for an adventure.

Jasper

Emmett met up with us in the hallway on our way to the archives. "Hey, Bella bear." He called out, his booming voice echoed over the walls of the catacombs.

"Hi Emmett, how was your first day of work?" Bella asked.

"I'm going to like it here. I got my room set up and everything is going great. I was guarding the doors to the throne room today. It's fascinating to be able to hear the court cases. I never knew there were so many laws or how they could be interpreted." Emmett answered. "Are you eager to learn with me, Bella?"

"I am," Bella answered.

We opened the doors to the archives and Emmett led the way inside. In front of a table full of books stood Demetri.

"I got these books," Demetri said pointing to a stack for you both to read. "This stack is for Bella, and this," He pointed to a third stack is just for Emmett. I suggest you start with our history and progress from there. Jasper, will you come with me and start training the guard in your style of fighting?"

I looked at Bella and asked, "Are you going to be okay without me, my love?"

Bella seemed to think it over for a moment, which worried me. But finally, she said, "I will. Emmett will bring me to you when I am finished for the day."

I followed Demetri from the room and knew he had more on his mind than just training. "So what's up?" I asked as we made our way to the training room.

"There is so much going on to secure my position and I would greatly appreciate your assistance watching over the guard. I have a bad feeling but I don't know why yet."

"I'll do my best. Thank you for everything you've done for Bella. I think she'll thrive here learning our history and laws. She's been calm for this long. I keep waiting for her to have a typical newborn tantrum."

"She is truly special. I envy you. I hope someday my mate is half the woman Bella is," Demetri said.

"Your mate will be your perfect match. It will happen when the time is right. Thank you though for protecting Bella from all the dangers she had arrayed against her. You could have taken the easy way out and left her to Aro's mercy. Her change could have been something truly traumatizing. I owe you," I said.

"She does seem to engender very strong feelings in vampires, for good or ill. Emmett has been instructed to guard her while they study and the elite guard are on their toes to watch her if they catch her alone. Did Peter and Char get to tell you their decision regarding the wolves?" Demetri asked.

"Yes, Bella accepted it better than I thought she would. They are already gone." I noted.

"Very well, here you are. You have complete discretion over their training. Teach them everything you can." Demetri gestured to the room.

Jasper walked in and stopped in his tracks. He was surrounded by the elite guard. He expected to be teaching the lower guard basic combat skills. Felix approached and shook his hand. "I'm looking forward to this Major. Demetri and I decided you should start at the top and work your way down."

"Very well, we'll start with the basics. Let's see what you know about taking on newborns." Jasper said and he relaxed into his role.

Bella

Her mind was being filled with reams and reams of knowledge as Emmett read to her. At vampire speed, they had already gone over the history of the vampire race and were on to many volumed selections of vampire laws rules and customs.

She paid studious attention as Emmett read and she could tell that he was enjoying it too but she was missing Jasper.

"What's wrong Bella bear," Emmett stopped reading.

"I'm missing Jasper. Do you think we've covered enough for the day? I really feel like I need to see him."

"Sure Bella, come on. I'll take you to him after I mark the page we're on and put the ones we've covered away. I think five hours of study is enough for a newborn for a morning."

I was almost weak with relief and dizzy with excitement as they moved through the hallways closer and closer to Jasper. When Emmett opened the door to the Elite guard training room the entire guard was there. I got nervous. Jasper was in the middle of the room sparring with Demetri. The guard cheered as Demetri scored a solid hit on Jasper's chin. Something in her snapped and she ran as fast as she could to place herself between the two men. Something snapped in her head and soon Demetri was encased in a blue translucent ball. Emmett tried to grab Bella's shoulders, to move her from between them but was buffeted back on a wave of power. He was propelled into a knot of guards.

I was livid. Someone dare strike her mate. Her hair was winding around her on the invisible winds of her power.

Finally, her temper calmed enough that she could hear Jasper's calming voice. He was reassuring her that it was just a sparring session and that he was not hurt. With chagrin, she realized that she was the subject of everyone's attention. Blushes could no longer scorch her skin but she threw herself into Jasper's protecting embrace.

Demetri landed hard on the floor as the bubble that he'd been trapped in disintegrated.

Felix, who had been watching open-mouthed with everyone else, directed the guard to get back to work. When the chamber cleared, the only one who didn't follow the order was Renata, who had been Aro's shield.

"My king," She addressed Demetri.

"Speak," He said.

"Bella's shield seems to be stronger than mine, but I might be able to train her in its control."

Demetri nodded and addressed me. "Bella I must insist that you need training on your shield. Power such as this is dangerous if not controlled.

I nodded and hugged Jasper to me tighter. He grunted and I let up on my strength. "I think you have a physical and mental shield Darlin'," Jasper said.

"I came because I missed you and I almost hurt Demetri. I could feel my shield urging me to crush him I was just so mad." Bella exclaimed.

"Go feed and settle yourselves. You'll start tomorrow training on your shield after your work with Emmett." Demetri instructed.

I nodded and started to relax in Jasper's arms. "Thank you, Renata," I said. "Thank you, Demetri, I'm sorry. I'm glad I didn't crush you."

Demetri laughed and said, "As am I Bella. Now how did your morning of study go? I'll walk down to the catacombs with you."

I was getting ready to tell Demetri all about the history I had learned when he opened the door and Emmett was standing worriedly on the other side.

"You alright now Bella bear?" Emmett asked.

"I'm sorry Emmett," Bella flew into his arms and sobbed.

"Easy Bella, let's go get you fed. I think you worked through your normal feeding time. We'll watch that more closely in the future," Demetri said and Emmett nodded.