I finally wrote it! Sorry it took so long, but in my defense no one yelled at me. I have in fact already started chapter 7 since it runs on directly from this one, so fingers crossed it'll get here in time! This is a long one to make it up to you. Hope you enjoy it x

Also the comments and favourites and follows have all been so incredible and motivating. Thank you so much 3

Big thanks to my bf and bff for prereading for me! Extra thanks to the bf for putting up with my lateness induced whining for the past two weeks

Bella sat on the damp Kansas grass and waited for the new year to dawn. Carlisle and the Denalis were celebrating in the house a few miles behind her, but she had needed a minute alone. She had decided a while ago that when she departed for Oklahoma in the morning, she would leave her letters with Carlisle. If she didn't come back then at least her family's wishes would still be carried out.

So she sat down and reread them all, one by one, maybe for the last time.

Of course, as a vampire, Bella had a perfect memory and didn't need to read and reread over again. But there was something soothing in each handwritten note. She traced Esme's smooth pen strokes, Emmett's sharp pencil lines and Rosalie's swirly scrawl. Edward's writing was large and slanted off the page, one pen had clearly run out of ink halfway and he had switched to another colour. He was rushing, and in a bad place. Bella wished that the last thing she had of him wasn't from a sad, panicked moment. But still, the love behind it was real, and she needed some of that to keep going.

She sat back for a moment, just a moment, and let the messages of affection and gratitude wash over her.

You are so brave for doing this.

I'm so proud of you.

For God's sake, please be careful.

Even if you can't do this, I still love you.

I'll love you forever, little sister.

Don't try to work miracles, your life is more important.

Bella smiled as she imagined what her family would say if they could see her now, in her Victorian splendour, about to enter a war zone. Despite having come into a world where her family didn't yet exist, she had managed to both create one and be adopted as the baby of it within two weeks. It was weird to think that she wouldn't be the youngest anymore, that she would be older than Esme, her mother in all but blood.

Trying not to think about how that might affect their relationship, Bella turned to the small pile of maps, diagrams, timelines and ledgers that Jasper had left her. She absolutely couldn't bring the whole thing with her, it was huge and impossible to hide. So she was only going to bring two of the few letters she hadn't opened, one addressed to Jasper himself, and one to Peter.

The plan was rather intimidating. Complicated too. Bella decided to leaf through the papers one last time, just in case she missed anything. It could hardly even be considered a plan, just a neurotic list of do's and don'ts and persistent begging for her not to go. Of course she would go, who did he think he was dealing with.

Still, Jasper had told her so much of what not to do, she wasn't entirely sure of what she should be doing. She took out the paper packet filled with maps and looked over them again. The camp she was heading to the next day was about a 15 hour run away, but she and Garrett would take a very indirect route. She unfolded the next map, but a previously unseen piece of paper floated out and landed on the grass in front of her. Bella snatched it up and read:

For a military man, Jasper really does struggle getting ideas across when he's upset! I keep telling him you can handle it, but he's so very worried that he'll end up hurting you. So promise you'll run if you have to, okay? I know all these plans are super daunting, but I say trust your instincts. You basically just have to get Jaz to like you and you have plenty of practice with that. You have a habit of making us vamps remember our humanity with your cute little ways, so just act like you.

...Perhaps a more cautious you.

Stay safe, I love you.

Alice Xx

PS. I drew you a flowchart of all the instructions, had a feeling you might want one!

Bella let out a little half laugh half sob when she turned the sheet of paper over and found a flowchart drawn in perfect calligraphy with a pink gel pen. There couldn't be anything more Alice.

Alice's scent drifted up from the crisp paper and Bella couldn't leave it behind. She added it to the two letters she was bringing with her. Might as well have a reminder of the plan, and a reminder of Alice. The two photographs would also stay with her; one was necessary to convince Jasper and she wasn't sure she could be without the other yet.

For all intents and purposes, Bella was ready to go. Carlisle and Tanya had poured over every inch of Jasper's instructions and had formed a plan on how to support her. Jasper apparently hadn't counted on her having so much help. Irina had disappeared for about a week without explanation, then returned just as everyone started to seriously worry about her, with heavy bolts of cloth in tow. She had been consulting with every master dressmaker she could find so that Bella had maximum maneuverability, while maintaining her dignity. Jasper would have been absolutely mortified that Bella had spent so much time learning to mend her own clothes when she could have been practicing taking down newborns.

In her defence, she had practiced whenever Garrett and Kate were available, but they had both been conspicuously absent a lot of the time. Bella tried not to show the joy this gave her; that it didn't matter what time they found each other, they were compatible nonetheless.

Despite being ready, Bella was hesitant to go. She had already left one family behind. It hurt her heart to leave this one, perhaps forever.

Still, she almost had to go. She and Garrett would take their time getting there to avoid the more dangerous areas Jasper had pointed out. They had to leave soon if they were to stick to his plan.

Bella took a deep breath and gathered up her big pile of letters. The much smaller pile she tucked into her bag, along with her tape player and photographs. She hadn't come here with much, and now she would leave with even less. Even so, she swallowed her sadness, straightened her spine, and marched back to the house.

Carlisle was waiting for her on the quaint wrap around porch. "Are you ready?" He asked.

"Just about." Bella handed the pile of letters to him. She tapped the top, "I wrote you instructions to find the safe box with everything else buried in it. Just in case, y'know..."

"Yes. I know." Carlisle glanced down at the stack of paper. "It will never stop being strange, that I hold so much knowledge in my arms."

"Well try to resist the temptation to read it all," Bella grinned. "Unless we get to 1911 and I still haven't come back."

"I doubt we will allow you to stay there for that long without coming to your aid in some way."

Bella's smile turned grim. It had been almost impossible to convince Carlisle not to come with her. She was confident in his and the Denalis' abilities, but they didn't know enough about newborns. Bella had tried to explain without giving too much away; that despite having a group of seven mostly gifted vampires and a pack of wolves, they had fought a newborn army and sustained considerable injuries. Plus she had essentially died. That was with Jasper on side. She couldn't imagine the carnage if just the six of them had to stand against Maria's well trained army. Especially if Carlisle decided to storm the camp. No. He couldn't.

"Promise me you won't." Bella gripped his sleeve. "I couldn't handle it if you died, and the others will still need help without me. You are too important."

"You speak as if I could handle it if I lost you," he murmured. "You have a way about you, Bella. You draw such strong emotions from our dead souls."

Bella grinned, "Then trust that I can use that to my advantage. I'll be okay, I swear."

Carlisle nodded as the others spilled from the house.

"Here," Irina handed her a small sewing kit. "I do not want you to have to rely on stolen clothing and be encumbered by it fitting badly. Remember, a stitch in time saves nine."

"I'll remember," Bella pulled her into a hug. "Thank you for doing all this."

"Just stay safe, Darling."

"Right," Tanya gave Bella a quick squeeze. "Are you ready to go?"

"Just about," Bella said. "Garrett, are you ready?"

Garrett opened his mouth to answer, but hesitated and gaped like a fish. He turned to look at Kate, who seemed incredibly conflicted. Bella's heart jumped to her throat. Garrett looked like he was having second thoughts about coming with her. She had expected to go alone, but the idea of him coming along so she could have some support system had given her this sense of security she didn't know she needed.

"I'm coming with you." Kate interrupted Bella's panicked musings. Her sisters stared at her with wide eyes.

"Kate, no!" Tanya gasped. "It's too dangerous! Bella alone staying in that camp is so risky, both of you would seem like too much of a threat!"

"Sister, calm down." Kate tucked Tanya against her side. "I will not join Bella in the camp. I thought it would be nice to experience being a nomad for a while and Garrett kindly said I could come along."

"You… and Garrett?" Irina repeated staring between the two of them. "But what if you get hurt?"

"Then I will come running." Kate kissed her sister's cheek. "But you know I can take care of myself. Besides, someone has to be there to save Garrett when he inevitably gets himself in trouble."

"Speak for yourself!" Garrett laughed. The sisters grabbed Kate and held her tight, Bella knew they trusted her abilities just as she did.

She turned back to Carlisle. "See?" She said. "I'll never get hurt with Kate with me!"

He frowned at her. "She will not be with you, Bella. Only close by."

She deflated, her smile dropped. "You know what I mean. Please, Carlisle, I have to do this."

He put the pile of papers down and pulled her into his chest. "I know you do, my child. Please forgive an old man's worries."

"Always." Bella hugged him back. "I'll miss you."

He kissed the top of her head. "I'll miss you too. Two months with you and my life has been irrevocably changed. Thank you."

Bella breathed in her father's scent one more time, then slowly pulled away. There was one more thing she needed to do before she left, one more thing to wretch away from her heart.

Bella ruffled through her bag to find the tiny pocket in the lining. "There's something I need you to keep safe for me."

"Anything."

She found the pocket and gingerly presented Carlisle it's contents, her wedding ring.

"I can't lose it." She said. "And I don't know what I'd do if it got damaged."

Carlisle smiled sadly, "Then I will keep it as long as you need. It will be safe, I swear."

"Thank you."

Bella had to tear away from her father to leave with Kate and Garrett. She felt his eyes on her back as she held back her sadness and left her second home.

Bella,

It is hard to put into words how I feel about what you are doing for us. Despite being an empath, I'm not very good at expressing my emotions. Something I have to work on I guess. Although, technically this version of me doesn't exist anymore so you'll just have to tell your version to work on it.

"Say Bella," Garrett said twelve hours later. "Do you know when Queen Victoria will die?"

"You mean the Queen of England?" Bella tried to remember something she had read as a human. "Maybe… 1901-ish?"

Garrett barked out a laugh. "It still astounds me that you just know these things, little time traveler."

"Well you'll have to get used to it eventually," Bella laughed.

My feelings aside, I want to thank you for everything you are doing. Alice has always struggled with not knowing her past and the years she had to wander around to find me. You are doing something wonderful for her and I will always appreciate your sacrifice.

But; for the love of all that could possibly be considered holy, Bella. Do not risk yourself to save me. Don't you dare.

She slowed to a walk and her companions matched it. "Where exactly are we?"

"South Texas. We're on the edge of Johan's territory, need to get your scent rubbed all over the place in case Maria checks your story. Go lick some trees."

Bella's nose wrinkled, "Do I have to? Can't I leave some hair around?"

"Your venom is stronger," Kate laughed. "Besides, you won't be so callous with your hair when you realise it will never grow back!"

Well, she had a point. Bella tentatively reached her tongue out and licked a nearby oak tree. She grimaced at the taste and looked back to see if Garrett had changed his mind.

He snorted and gestured around him, "Go on. Get lickin'. We'll be here when you're done."

Bella sighed and got lickin' while Kate and Garrett got pathetically lost in eachothers' eyes.

It's hard to attach events to dates, we didn't exactly have a calendar to hand during the wars. However, I am aware of a time after New Years in 1886, I remember hearing the celebrations. We had just lost a battle against a War Lord named Johan, and about halved our forces. Maria sent me and Peter to scout out a new place to make camp while we attempted to lay low and regroup. I marked the locations on your map.

"Well," said Garrett as they reached a small clearing. "I believe this is where we leave you. Far enough away from Johan that when you come here Maria won't think you're spying, close enough to the new camp Jasper's scouting that you can get here and back in twenty minutes. It's perfect, if I do say so myself."

"So you'll be staying here?" Bella asked.

"For maybe a day, just long enough for you to come running back to us if they try to kill you on sight. We'll build a little shelter so you can leave things here for us without worrying about rain."

"Our own little post office," Kate grinned. "You do have your paper and pencils?"

"Yeah," Bella patted her bag. "And I'm sure I can improvise if I have to."

"Yes," Kate embraced her. "I believe you have proven to us all that you are resourceful and clever enough to do anything."

Bella returned her hug tight, "Let's hope you're right!"

The timing is perfect, it took several months of regrouping until we had to fight Johan again. With any luck you won't see battle.

"Stay safe, my friend." Garrett clapped his large hand on her shoulder. "Keep in touch. We will do what we can to protect you from afar."

"Thank you." Bella stepped backwards away from the couple. "I guess this is goodbye."

"We will see you soon." Kate held her gaze, strong and true. "Stay strong, my Bella."

Bella nodded and took in the sight of her friends for a final second. Then she turned and walked away from possibly the only friendly faces she would see for a long time.

Too suddenly the trees thinned and the sound of them faded. She was alone again.

This is a unique opportunity as Peter and I will not be there when you first arrive. This may sound counterintuitive, but you need to go to Maria while we are gone. Charm her and befriend her before we come back. Despite the horrible things she has done, Maria loves making new allies. She is like Aro in her need to entertain interesting things, so make yourself interesting.

Bella enjoyed the sights around her as she ran towards the southern tip of Texas. The camp was an hour away if she travelled at top speed, but she chose to go more slowly. She was in no hurry to join a war. The trees became less and less common and the lush grass died into shrubland. It reminded her a little of Arizona, where her scant childhood memories took place.

Bella almost stopped when she hit the scents of other vampires. Not one or two, but twenty or thirty. The air was sickly sweet with the smell of venom and smoke. Still smouldering bonfires laid out to the side of her. The smell was so strong that she almost didn't pick out the one so familiar to her; wood and spice mixed with ash and regret. Jasper had been here, this must have been the site of Maria's defeat. Bella tried to ignore the sight of the harrowing battlefield and the sense of dread it created in her. This was perfect really, now she had a trail to follow straight to the camp.

Getting into the camp will be tricky. This is going to require more confidence than you usually have. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT try to sneak into the camp. They will assume you are a spy from Johan and kill you on sight. You need to walk in like you have every right to be there. They will be aggressive at first, but so long as no one gives an order to kill you you should be okay.

Bella slowed to a walk as she neared the encampment. It looked almost human, large tents covered the area from her curious eyes. She had to suppress the instinct to find a high place and spy first. They would detect her immediately and all this effort would be for nothing.

Bella took a deep breath and immediately regretted it. The camp stank of blood. What she had meant to soothe herself instead set her throat on fire. She held her breath and willed the feeling to go away, it only dimmed a little. She swallowed the venom that had welled up in her mouth. This experience would either desensitise her to blood and make her control that much better, or break it and give her a craving for life. In the midst of bloodlust she wasn't sure what she wanted. She couldn't imagine being in this environment for her newborn year, it was hard enough being a few years old. She knew from Jasper that they would starve the newborns to make them more vicious, add that to the stench and she could see why that would drive them insane.

She needed to keep walking. Standing motionless at the edge of a camp was a clearly aggressive gesture, so she took a step forward and started moving towards the middle of the camp.

It was obvious when the diminished army noticed her. The newborns were preoccupied, nursing wounds and severed arms and legs that were slowly binding back to them. Their eyes were deep black, starved of nourishment.

A broad man zipped in front of her, clearly not a newborn but he had the edge on her in speed with his youth. Bella decided he must be one of the lieutenants Jasper had mentioned from his intact clothing.

"Who the hell are you?" He hissed in a strong Mexican accent.

If one of the lieutenants gives an order to kill you, run. Just run. I already taught you how last time we saw each other.

"My name's Bella," she replied, trying to exude a confidence she didn't possess. "I'm here to speak to Maria."

A low growl rumbled towards her from the pack of newborns, the lieutenants eyes somehow darkened further.

"And why should I let you near her?"

"Because I have something she wants." Bella forced herself to smirk. "Something that can ensure she never faces a defeat like this again."

The lieutenant looked unconvinced, she decided to take a risk. "If Maria decides not to let me stay, feel free to kill me."

She could almost hear Jasper screaming at her from the far away future.

He glared at her for a second, then unceremoniously turned and walked towards a large tent on the edge of the camp. Bella inferred that she was supposed to follow.

As they travelled through the camp, Bella saw something she hadn't noticed from her vantage point before. The epicentre of the stench was a large pit in the centre of the vamp. The walls were spattered with smears of human blood. Clean lines streaked through it as if someone had tried to lick it all off. They must keep their human prey in the pit, she realised, to contain the carnage.

At the back of the tent there sat a tiny woman in a huge raised chair. She lounged languorously with her head draping over one of the tall arms. Her long black hair tickled the ground below. Five other newborns surrounded her, their eyes glued to her form. A queen in her court. Maria.

She turned her disinterested stare towards Bella and the lieutenant. "Who on Earth is this, Anton?" She asked unnecessarily, as she must have heard their exchange earlier.

"Some northerner," He grunted. "Says she has something you want, Ma'am."

Maria straightened and peered at Bella's face. "Such strange eyes. Best tell me who you are outsider, before my men rip you limb from limb."

I trust in your ability to charm vampires, after all you charmed all of us. However, Maria will be feeling paranoid after her defeat. You can not make a misstep at this initial meeting. Here is exactly what you need to say:

"My name is Bella," She said. "I heard of your recent defeat from Johan's coven."

Maria's eyes narrowed, "What of it?"

"He had a gifted newborn with him, correct? Who scrambled your army's thoughts and made it almost impossible for them to fight. You only survived by ordering a retreat and he took large amounts of territory from you."

Anton growled and lowered into a light crouch, Bella eyed him warily.

"How do you know this?" Maria asked, "Are you with him?"

"No, I can't stand him." Bella made herself smile. "I'm not from round here, I'm just travelling around. Observing. I didn't want to get involved, but Johan disrespected me. I want to teach him a lesson and you're my best bet to do it."

"As much as I appreciate revenge," Maria said. "I still have not heard a reason to let you keep your life."

"I have a gift of my own." Bella said. "I'm a shield, completely immune from mental powers. Including Johan's newborn's."

Maria sniffed and gestured for her to continue.

"I can expand my shield over wide areas." The court leaned forward, interested. "With enough concentration I can cover specific people, even in battles.

"Johan is planning to attack you again in five months," She continued. "He is rather open with his plans. Without a defence against his gifted newborn you don't stand a chance. So use me. Let me protect your army from him."

Maria's ruby red eyes bore into her for a moment, then she broke into a wide smile. "If what you say is true, then I'm sure I can find a use for you. You have to prove it, of course."

"Certainly," Bella replied. "Do you have anyone with a mental gift?"

Maria's lips pursed, "Just two. One isn't here right now."

Bella thanked her lucky stars again that Jasper wasn't there. Despite his powers appearing mental, they were physical and not stopped by her shield. She doubted that they knew that.

"Anton here is a tracker," Maria gestured to the man standing beside Bella. "He can track anyone's mind right to the spot they are standing in. He will run out of earshot, and you will shield me so he can not find me. Understood?"

"Perfectly," Bella smiled.

Anton gave a quick bow to his queen and ran out of the tent. Bella waited until his footsteps faded into nothing and stretched her shield over the grinning Warlord. She knew it worked when much faster thuds returned into earshot and a panicked tracker raced back into the tent.

"Ma'am I couldn't sense you!" He gasped. "For a moment I thought you were dead and my heart ripped in two!"

Maria laughed and clapped her hands together in glee. "Incredible!" She announced. "You truly may be our salvation, Belle!"

Bella made the decision not to correct her name.

Anton's eyes darted wildly about him. "So she will stay?" He asked.

Maria darted towards him, he somehow cowered away from the much smaller woman. "Do you question me?" She asked.

"No Ma'am…"

"Good." Maria turned to Bella and began to play with her hair. Bella tried not to flinch back. "Our strange eyed friend shall stay. Come sit with me my Belle, and explain them to me. Such a beautiful gold, like the eyes of a hawk."

Be careful with your diet, it is possible that she will enjoy the spectacle of a vegetarian vampire, but she may also be threatened by it. If she insists you drink from a human, just do it. I know you don't want to and it goes against everything you believe in, but if there's a human in the camp they are already doomed. It is more important that you stay alive. Befriend Maria, stay in her good books, keep close to her and avoid the newborns until we return. She needs to convince me not to kill you when I come back. We leave on the morning of January 1st and return the next day at nightfall.

Bella smiled and let herself be led back to the throne. Maria watched her enraptured as she explained her animal diet.

"If I decide to kill a human, I like to enjoy it." Bella quoted Jasper's instructions. "When I have human blood for every meal, I don't appreciate the taste or get as much joy from watching the life drain out of their eyes. You understand that desire, I believe."

Maria giggled in delight. "You are a woman after my own heart, my Belle. I must confess I am in awe of your dedication. To put so much effort into enjoying a kill. How diabolical. I am happy for you to continue your diet, so long as it does not interfere with my army, of course."

Bella smiled back at her. "Of course, I would never dream of it."

Maria clasped her hands. "I have a feeling we will be great friends, my Belle. Jasper, my second in command, will be so pleased when he comes back. Our defeat stressed him greatly. It took so much to convince him to leave me, poor dear."

Bella stiffened at the name of someone she cared for so much coming from someone so cruel.

Remember that I will not be the man you know now, if a strange vampire with strange eyes were to just walk into my territory I would kill them without question. I know you hate Maria, and that she goes against everything you believe in; but you need her.

"He sounds like a dedicated soldier."

"Oh he is!" She gushed. "I must confess I am quite proud of him. So dedicated to me."

Bella glanced outside as Maria continued to tell her all about Jasper and the battles they had won together. It was the second of January and the sky was darkening.

She is not the threat to you here, not really. I am.

Two blonde men were running in from the distance.

I know I'm a tease! I'm sorry!