Two chapters in two days! Amazing! I know, I'm excited too.

I will tell you that there is some F/F slash in this chapter. It has been marked. If you don't like it, don't read it.

Enjoy!

BPOV

"Isabella and Charlotte, your father wants to see you." Jane tells us as Char and I enter the castle.

"We wouldn't be here otherwise, Jane." Char replies snarkily.

"He's in the throne room." she replied studiously ignoring Char's response. "Glad to have you two back. It's been rather boring since you two left. Too quiet around here the past few months."

"Aww, Jane" Char said sickeningly sweetly as she gave Jane puppy eyes and opened her arms to give Jane a hug, "I thought you hated how loud and obnoxious we were. I'm so happy to know that you missed us so terribly."

Jane, understandably, looked absolutely terrified at the thought of hugging Char and did her best to avoid it before I grabbed Char's arm and began dragging her down the hallway.

"Thank you, Jane." I shout over my shoulder while still gripping Char's arm hard enough to hurt.

I was extremely happy to be back home. I had missed this place terribly. Nothing had changed while we had been away, but I hadn't really expected it to considering Aro's aversion change, and that's one of the reasons I loved it here. Even the smells were the same. You don't really know what memories a scent can bring up until you haven't smelled it in a while. It had been far too long since I'd had the opportunity to come back, but the Romanians had to be dealt with and if it weren't for this summons, I'd probably still be in Romania now.

We walk into the throne room to see Aro, Caius, and Marcus sitting on their respective thrones awaiting our arrival. I assume that this is to be a formal meeting between the Captain of their Guard, her Lieutenant, and the Kings in order to report our findings on the Vladimir/Stephan/Maria front.

We bow before the Kings before I begin, "Aro, they number nearly three hundred now. Maria keeps adding more newborns and Vladimir and Stefan are training them into quite a formidable Army. It won't be long before they storm us." I tell him.

"Where are you getting your information from, Captain?" Caius asks formally, following my lead.

I don't have time to reply before Char interrupts, "From reliable sources, sire. Our spies put themselves on the line to get us the most accurate information we can get."

"How do we know our spies are reliable, Lieutenant?" Caius counters. His lack of trust in spies mirrors my own.

"I trained them myself." She states simply. "They are the best and, courtesy of Chelsea, they cannot be persuaded to change sides."

"Aro," I begin, "I know that you say the Guard are enough to handle this. Numbers mean nothing to us, you know that we could handle three hundred without worry, but against the training that both the Romanians and Maria are giving their Army, as well as the Sorcerer they harbor, we need a better strategist and I am not ashamed to admit that is not me. We've been dancing around this entire Romanian problem for months and that is far too long without decent results. I may be good at what I do, but even I know when I'm not good enough to handle this alone. We need someone that everyone respects and will be willing to go into battle with. We need help that only you can get for us."

"That's why I've brought you here from the front lines, daughter. I have news that will benefit the entire Guard." Caius replies with a satisfied smile.

"You've found someone to help?" Char asks hopeful.

"Even better." Caius begins, "Before I tell you who it is, I need to tell you why I believe this person will be of help to us. Now, from what you've told me, the vampire that the Romanian's have hired to do their dirty work is a vampire named Maria. From the descriptions that you've given us, and from the ferocity and savagery that you've told us she's capable of, we believe this is the same Maria that was a key player during the Southern Vampire Wars in the Southern United States and Mexico. At the height of her power, she turned a Confederate Soldier who showed promise. This soldier wound up being more valuable to Maria than she could have imagined. He was originally turned for his military prowess, but an added benefit that no one saw was his gift. He was an empath, and used his gift to manipulate the rage and the bloodlust that came with being a newborn. This gift was so incredibly impressive that Maria made him her second-in-command and was referred to as 'The Major'. He was in charge of all of her newborns and was very good at handling those that got too out of line. Some say that they were lovers, others disagree and say they hated each other, but regardless, he didn't try to leave. They stayed in power for several decades until Maria got greedy over more territory. Worse still, she grew suspicious of the Major and tried to move against him and end his existence. Luckily though, a friend that the Major had made during the Wars helped him escape the grasp of that she-devil. From what I understand, he's been in a kind of self-imposed witness protection ever since."

"Ok, I'm following you so far" I manage "but I'm still confused. First, how is he going to help? Second, will he even be willing to help? And third, how do we know he won't turn on us?"

"All good questions, my dear." Aro exclaims. "He won't turn on us because he hates his maker and would be thrilled to see harm come to her. He's going to help because we're the Kings and he doesn't have much of a choice, really. Finally, his knowledge is what we need to get the drop on her. Once we take Maria and the Sorcerer out, the Romanians will be easy to handle. I have a feeling that the Major can assist us in our efforts with both."

"And you've found him?" I ask finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

"We've found him." Caius states with a smug grin.

"As much as I'm loathe to ask for outside help of any sort, we need it, please tell me the Major is being brought in, Aro. If he has near the experience you say he does, especially with Maria, we need him in order to get rid of this nuisance once and for all." I state candidly.

"My dearest Isabella," Aro begins, "we have already sent the summons. My sources have told me that the Major is now living in Texas with his progeny, Captain Peter Whitlock. I'm hoping to get both of them to show, but I would be happy with just the Major."

"Sir," Char interrupts, "We don't need to tell them what the meeting is about until they get here, do we? I hate to think they would refuse strictly on the grounds that it's Maria they're going up against."

"No. I worded the request in a way that they had no choice but to show up here, but they don't know what for." Aro replies.

"That response sounds ominous." I reply worried. "How did you word it?"

"Short, sweet, and to the point." Aro replies. "I simply said that I needed their assistance with a matter. Nothing more."

"Then why do I get the feeling that you're hiding something?" I ask suspiciously. I can't help but notice how Marcus' and Aro's eyes immediately move to Caius.

"Father?" I ask. "Is there something you wish to tell me?"

"I feel its better if you know now rather than later." Caius states calmly as he shifts in his chair. "The Major is none other than Major Jasper Whitlock. You would know him better as Jasper Hale."

"A Cullen, huh?" I ask sourly. "I might have known."

"No. Not a Cullen anymore. Approximately fifty years ago or so he left their family. It seems right about the time you came into the picture, correct?" Aro asks.

"Yes sir." I reply. "Just please tell me that the rest of them aren't coming, too?"

"Not until you're ready for them to." Caius replies.

"Do-do they know about me?" I ask worried. I refused to let the Cullen's tarnish what life I had here. I was terrified that if they found out I was here, they'd barge in and try to take me from my family.

"No. I swore to you that they would know nothing of your existence until you were ready for them to know." Caius replies. "But working with the Major and using his knowledge to our benefit would also mean that you would be seeing him in person, Isabella. Are you sure you are ready to see him again?"

"He is the only one of the Cullen's that I'm not really angry at, Father." I reply. "Besides, I never really got the chance to get to know him well enough to form an opinion on him when I was human. He was always kept away from me. I don't think we'll be having the same issues this go 'round considering my present state."

"Very well. We would request that you and Charlotte stay here and observe the new recruits until the Whitlock's arrival." Caius replies. "Hopefully they are up to par enough that you can take some of them back to Romania with you."

I thanked the Kings for everything they had done to help and was just about to turn for the door when I was stopped by Marcus.

"Isabella, there is one more thing that we need to discuss with you." He says hesitantly.

I look at the Kings a bit perplexed before Marcus continues, "You brought up the Cullen's." he says with a sneer, "I have information on them that might concern you. I did not wish to bring this information to your attention, but if I don't I feel I would be betraying the trust you have put in me."

I could tell from the looks the Kings were currently giving me that this was no longer a formal meeting, but instead more of a private family meeting. I knew whatever it was I was about to hear was not going to be good and I immediately looked to Char for support. She grabbed my hand and held it in her own as we waited for whatever news our uncle had for us.

I hated the Cullen's and everyone in the Volturi knew it. After my change, I was promised by everyone in the Guard that my presence here was to be a secret from the Cullen's until I was ready to see them. I had a feeling that whatever this news was, I would be seeing them soon, whether I was ready to or not.

"Go on." I said.

Marcus continues, "After your initial report of what had happened to you in regards to Edward Cullen when you first came to us, I had the Cullen's placed under surveillance. At Aro's behest, a former Guard member who is on good terms with the Cullen's, Eleazar who is currently a part of the Denali Coven, was able to implant bugs in their various houses so we could keep a constant watch on their goings-on. We also sent out requests for information on the Cullen's from any vampires that may have known them in the past several centuries. We avoided the rest of the Denali's, and of course we avoided the Cullen's themselves, but we did get one very interesting piece of information from Irina Denali, who has been loyal to us since her maker was burned, but that's neither here nor there." He waves a hand dismissively.

"Anyway," he continues, "in the years prior to when you met them, Irina noticed something peculiar about young Edward. It seems that every 3 decades or so, he will 'fall in love' with a human girl. The relationships themselves never seem to last long, we aren't sure why, but once those relationships end, the Cullen's vanish off the radar for a few years before they are back in the fold of society under a different alias. We don't know if it's true love, or if he's just playing with them, but considering your history, this news had us concerned."

I was shocked to hear that I had not been Edward's first, but disgust quickly overrode shock. "What the hell?" I asked appalled. What did this mean? Did he just use me? If he did, what was it for? Why would he risk his family being outed to the whole community and it possibly getting back here? What good would any of that do? Furthermore, when did it start and how long has it been going on?

"Oh, it gets weirder." Aro states as he takes over from Marcus. "Although it has been more than 30 years since your relationship with the Cullen, we have heard reports that he has once again found a human mate in a high school girl. This one he also can't hear the thoughts of. Apparently all he gets from her brain are colors."

"That doesn't make any sense!" I all but shout. "Why would he risk outing his 'family' like that, especially to us? And why on earth would he be interested in a girl he can't read?"

Caius steps down from his throne to wrap his arms around Char and I in a fatherly embrace. "As of now, we are unsure, but since he is under surveillance, we may be able to figure out his endgame this time. However, eventually we will require the presence of the Cullen's here in Volterra for a formal questioning. Please be prepared for this." He replies. "We will keep you updated to the situation as we receive news, but in the meantime, I think you need to decompress and figure out what your next step is." He looks down at me with kind eyes and I can see he hated having to reveal that news, but I know that he would never keep that from me unless it was for my own good.

I hated to admit it, but my Father was right. I did need to decompress and figure out what I was going to do about the whole Army situation, the Whitlock situation, and the Cullen's were a distraction I didn't need or want right now. I took a deep, cleansing breath and said, "Thank you for telling me about the Cullen's. Please do keep me updated as you hear news. Also, keep in mind that if you need someone on the inside, the blonde, Rosalie may be willing to help you. She hated me with an absolute passion because I was human, and I'm sure that if she knows what plans Edward has, she would be more than willing to share them with someone that actually has the authority to do something about it."

"Thank you, daughter" Caius replies, "we will take that into consideration, but for now we're just gathering information. There's no need to fret over the Cullen's just yet. Why don't you go visit your mother for a while, hmm? I'm sure she would love to see you after you've been away for so long. And a good trip to the Blood Room may also be in order to help you relax."

"I will take that under advisement." I reply, turning to head back out of the throne room. "Could I ask two favors, though?"

"Of course, my dear. What are your requests?" Caius asks.

"Could you find out what happened to those other girls Edward claimed to 'love'? I'm not sure, but I have a hunch something isn't right about them." I state thinking that there may be a system or theme to the girls he's claiming to love. "Could you also make sure that the invitation you send to the Cullen's requires them to be here three months after Major Whitlock gets here? I don't want to be overwhelmed with Cullen drama while I'm preparing the Guard for battle and I have a feeling that the Major will help us take the Romanians out in short order."

"I'll have Alec and Demetri look into the other girls right away." Aro says calmly. "We'll also ask Major Whitlock if he knew of anything while he lived with them. As for your other request, I can completely understand the need for them not to be here causing all sorts of chaos while you, Charlotte, and the Major are preparing for a battle this big. Three months would also give us the opportunity to do some fact gathering so we know as much as we can before they arrive."

I took my leave of the Kings shortly after and made my way back to our chambers, Char following behind silently and leaving me to my thoughts. Our father was right, I did have a lot of decompressing to do about the information I had gathered over the past day. I had to find a way to win the impending battle before things got out of hand, I had the Cullen's coming out to Volterra soon, and I had Jasper Whitlock to see. I'm not sure which I was more nervous about.

Once we made it back to our room, I collapsed on the couch, closed my eyes, and tried clearing my mind of the Cullen's and all the drama they seemed to bring. Char had been extremely quiet while I gathered my thoughts and it was very unlike her. I opened my eyes to see what she might be up to, but found myself alone in the living room and felt a bit disappointed that she had wanted to leave. I couldn't really blame her, though. I wasn't in a mood to really do much other than wallow in my hatred of the Cullen's and wonder what Edward's end game might be.

That thought alone disturbed me. In my years as a vampire, I'd seen some shit. I had seen everything from angry mobs of irrational newborns, to the use of humans as kept pets to feed from, to vampires torturing humans for sport. Those crimes alone are punishable by burning and I was glad to have had a hand in the punishments dealt. It had seemed like the vampires responsible had gotten off far too easy in my opinion, but I doled out punishments as my father and uncles saw fit.

For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why every 30 years would be significant to Edward in some way, nor could I figure out why he would tell these humans that he had fallen in love with them. I was one of those humans a long time ago and it destroyed me. Had it not been for the military life I loved, I was sure I'd be truly dead. The simple fact that I was apparently not the first and, as of now, certainly not the last to be subjected to his 'love', had me feeling sorry for the poor human that got wrapped up in Cullen's shit.

However, my pity for the human was only a fleeting emotion. The one I felt the most was hate. I knew I would be seeing the fuckers sooner than I had wanted to, but I also knew that it was time. I couldn't keep running from my past because it would inevitably catch up to me, and now due to this development, it would catch up with me in three months.

My thoughts were halted as I heard the water in Char's Jacuzzi tub kick on. Apparently she was going to enjoy her evening in a relaxing bath. Good for her. She needed the luxury of relaxing after the mission we just returned from. I can only hope that she leaves some of that lavender scented bath oil for me to use later because I'm not using the sickly sweet strawberry that Jane seems to enjoy.

I don't have the opportunity to let those thoughts sit before I'm being thrown over Char's shoulder quicker than I had thought she could move. I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn't even noticed her presence in the room at all before she got to me. I can't help the squeal of protest that escapes me, but she doesn't put me down until we're in her bathroom. She stands and looks at me knowingly before she starts to remove my clothes. "Char what…" I begin, but I'm thwarted as she places a hand over my mouth and just replies with, "Shush."

I let her continue to strip me of my clothes, boots, and underwear before I realize that she too is completely naked. I think I might just enjoy where this evening is headed after all. I reach my hands out for her, but she simply slaps them away and I can't help but sigh in annoyance. She obviously wants to take care of me, so I suck it up and let her do what she has planned.

Once my clothes are removed, she grabs my hand and leads me to the tub. We both get in and I can smell the lavender bath oil as our movements disturb the water. Char pushes me down onto a seat and immediately straddles me. My hands come up and rest themselves on her hips of their own accord, and other than a raised brow at me, she doesn't mention them or react to move them. Instead she takes my head and leans it back on the side of the tub and proceeds to give me a very welcome massage along my forehead and temples. After a few moments, her fingers work their magic around the back of my head and down the back and sides of my neck. I moan in pleasure when she finds a tight muscle at the top of one of my shoulders and proceeds to work it out for me.

As her hands work their way across my shoulders, I feel her full lips press against mine and my reaction is immediate. I grab her hips tighter and pull her body closer to mine before running my hands up her back and into her hair. Our kiss opens and deepens and our tongues fight for dominance against one another. As I go to take one of her perky nipples in my mouth, she gets off my lap, pulls me to the stairs, shoves me on the top step of the Jacuzzi, and spreads my knees apart so she can see all of me. She kneels on the last step of the tub and pulls me closer to her so she's kneeling in between my legs.

She resumes her passionate kisses and I'd be an idiot not to reciprocate, but she doesn't stay at my mouth long before she's moving down the column of my neck and down to my breasts. Her hands have been busy running themselves all over my arms and legs and up my hips and over my ribs, but when her hands reach my breasts, her mouth does too. She takes my right nipple in her mouth and gently sucks on it while her right hand tweaks and rolls my left nipple in her deft fingers. My body arches into her mouth and my hands fist themselves in her hair. I can't help but growl in pleasure and her answering growl has me so wet that I'm not entirely sure where I begin and the water ends.

Her left hand slowly begins its decent to the apex of my thighs and another growl escapes me when I feel two of her fingers enter me as her thumb gently circles my clit. My hands leave her hair and I grip onto her left arm with my right hand desperately, not wanting her to pull her extremely skilled fingers away from me. My left hand has found its way to one of her breasts and I'm currently kneading it and rolling one of her nipples in between my fingers.

She still has one of my nipples in her mouth and refuses to let up on it. She swipes her tongue over the hardened peak, gently nibbles on it, and sucks ever harder. Her thumb picks up its pace and pressure on my clit to match the sweet torture her mouth is giving me. I can feel the familiar coil in my belly tighten, and I know it's only a matter of time before I'm coming. Her fingers pump in and out of me relentlessly and she curls them to reach that spot that has me seeing stars as my orgasm overtakes me.

She continues to pump her fingers in and out of me as I come back down from Cloud 9 and once I'm back, she kisses me thoroughly. I take the opportunity to turn the both of us and sit her down on one of the seats in the tub. Her body is mostly under the water and I can see the confusion on her face, but I know it won't be there long. It's a very good thing that we don't need to breathe, because my goal will not allow me to for a while.

I don't hesitate and I don't tease her before I'm under the water and have her legs thrown over my shoulders. I can see her glistening pussy and I know that she's ready. I brush my fingers along the outside of her thighs before I grab her ass with my left hand to keep her exactly where I want her. My right hand trails up her inner thighs and once they've reached where she wants them most, I remove them…temporarily and use my tongue to lick her opening from bottom to top. I let my tongue work her clit while I bring my fingers back to her opening and insert two fingers into her. I can hear her growling above the waterline, but I can't really answer her underwater, so instead I take her bundle of nerves and gently suck on it as I thrust my fingers inside her. I feel her wriggling above me and I've never been more glad that I kept a hand free to keep her still. I can tell she's getting close, if the persistence of her moans and growls is any indication, so I gently bite down on her clit as I curl my fingers up to her sweet spot and she throws her head back and her inner muscles clamp on my fingers with the force of her orgasm. I stay down there, licking and sucking to bring her back down as she rides her high out before I remove her legs and rise up out of the water.

"Damn I needed that." Char states dazed.

I can't help but chuckle. "I know exactly what you mean, but I didn't know I needed it." I state as I move to another seat in the tub.

"That's why you have me." Char states cheekily adding a wink.

We both sit there for a while just relaxing with each other and enjoying our sated and content silence. As the water begins to cool, we actually do manage to wash ourselves, but once we get out and begin to dry off, Char asks "Whatever happens with this whole Cullen clusterfuck, you know I'll be there for ya, right?"

"I know Char and I appreciate it more than you can imagine." I reply honestly.

"We'll get through these next few months together. Like we always have and we always will and I have faith that we'll come out better for it." Char states simply as she wraps her arms around me in a calming embrace.

We stand there for some time just holding each other. Her presence has always been a calming one to me and I honestly think I would have lost my mind on several occasions without her. She always seems to know exactly what I need and how I need it without even thinking about it. I have never been more grateful than in this moment that I asked our father to change her before me.

"Now," Char states after a while, "I believe you promised that we would visit mother now that we're back."

"I believe you're right." I reply.

"Well, hop to it, then! We don't want to leave her waiting."

"No. No we do not." I state as I move to my room and my wardrobe to put on something a bit more appropriate to visit the Queens than just a towel. "She'd have both our heads on a silver platter delivered to her door if we forgot about her."

Char just laughs as she gets dressed. We meet each other back in the common area and Char hooks her arm under mine as we head out the door to see Athena. I know that there are a lot of changes coming up in my life soon, but I've never been happier to know that I won't face any of this alone. The Volturi are my family and they will stand by me through whatever comes.

A/N: I know you're probably wondering when the other characters will enter this story. Fret not! I said at the beginning of this story that it would be slow burn. 11 Chapters in and we've not had the main characters meet yet? No. However, it's coming soon, I swear. Just keep reading, and giving feedback. It helps the muse.