Standard disclaimer: Not mine, no money, nothing…

I've been trying to think how I want this story to go and I'm not 100% sure. Please if you have thoughts or ideas, help!? After all I haven't updated in 3 years…better late than never?

Previously in Chapter 8:

"We'll be great together."

Jasper was a bit wary of those words but nodded all the same. He knew she was talking about more than just their relationship but he tried to keep his mind on the moment. The moment he knew he was beginning to feel true love for the warm beautiful creature that had loved him nearly her whole life.

Chapter 9:

Jasper and Bella spent the whole day together just acting like a normal couple. They were having fun, enjoying a day just driving around and they even packed a picnic for Bella to enjoy by a stream not far from the road. It was a relaxing day for the new couple.

When Bella returned home it was with a smile a mile wide that Felix chose to tease her about before she headed to her room for the night. Felix was happy for the couple and unsure of what to do with himself. With Bella mated to the God of War a body guard certainly wasn't as needed as much as it once may have been.

Felix thought back to the last time he was truly needed to defend Bella.

Bella was walking home from 6th grade as she insisted that she be allowed to do occasionally to be free of Felix. She had to know she was never free of him, really. Felix stalked her in the shadows that sunny day but made sure she was always in his sights. Bella walked along in white Nike shoes with her head held high and a slight sway in her denim clad hips indicating that her body was beginning to change into that of a young lady.

Felix watched her with pride knowing she was self-confident in her movements and destination. Bella continued on without a care in the world, her green backpack strapped around her navy blue sweatshirt, her chestnut hair blowing with the wind as she walked and a small smile across her face, probably at her independence.

Before Felix could smell him a small rogue vampire rushed at Bella picking her up and carrying her into a ditch behind some homes. Felix was in motion as soon as the other vampire was.

"Put her down!" he ordered the vampire, dressed in jeans and sweatshirt similar to Bella's, though he much older than her. The vampire that appeared to be in his early 20's when changed seemed overly calm in this situation, he wasn't out for a quick meal.

"She will bring a nice price to my Masters," he growled towards Felix holding onto Bella's arms tightly. She knew better than to struggle though, it would only hurt her more.

"Do you know who she is?" Felix had to know what he was up against, but he continued to approach the vampire slowly. Hoping not to set him off causing injury to Bella.

"She is a Volturi human," the unknown man growled and spit a wad of venom on the ground due to his growing thirst for Bella's blood.

"Then you know you won't leave here alive." Felix jumped at the man as Bella ducked down to the ground. The man's head was off before he could think to hurt Bella though his hands continued to roughly hold her arms while his now headless body pinned her small figure to the ground.

Felix returned and broke the hands off Bella before helping her up.

"No more walks alone." It was a directive, one that Bella understood now. She could only be glad that Felix had followed her today despite her wishes. She couldn't be that defenseless again.

Bella cried softly that night while she fell asleep, her "family" was not told about the attack and Bella was able to maintain a good façade until she was finally alone. Felix left her to cry that one out, angry with himself that she was ever in that situation to begin with.

Jane and Alec were sent in with Demitri to find the "Masters" the vampire had mentioned and dispose of them. Putting a price on the princess' head was not acceptable. The two men, young and power hungry, were found and destroyed easily, without Bella's knowledge or concern. She was shaken up enough by the incident as it was.

Felix had to argue with his Masters particularly Caius to keep Bella in the new world and in school. Felix knew he was going to be punished for not only arguing with a Master but also letting Bella get into that situation in the first place. But they wanted her raised as an American for a reason, because Jasper was American.

Felix's punishment for his indiscretion came on their next trip back to Volterra when Bella was on summer break. He spent a month in pieces in the dungeon without food. Yes, their punishments were harsh and the only reason he escaped with his life is because Bella loved him, and she escaped the attack with her own life.

As days turned to weeks with the new couple the gossip died down at school and people were on to new topics, mainly the upcoming summer break. Plans were being made for people to go to the beach and movies, some were having sleep overs, camping trips, getting summer jobs, a few were going to visit families; this was the category Jasper and Bella found themselves in much to their chagrin.

The Masters had requested Jasper and Bella's presence for the holiday wishing to see how their relationship was progressing and wanting to see their Bella.

Jasper agreed, but made his concerns known. "Aro will read me and see everything I know and have thought about. I'm not comfortable with that, also Felix has heard a great deal. Do you think we'll have trouble?" he asked Bella, as he held her hand driving them both to his home after school to do some "hangout" as the kids put it.

"Ummm, actually…" Bella started and flushed. Recently, she had become shyer and easily embarrassed especially when it came to the physical aspects of their relationship, but Jasper was enjoying that she was no longer being mean.

"Yes?" he asked looking her over as they paused at a stop sign before continuing, the lush greenery speeding by them.

"Well, Aro hasn't been able to read Felix in years and he won't be able to read you either. My gift tends to, I guess rub off on people. Anyone I have contact with will be blocked from Aro. You'll see he actually gives me a big hug, tries to read me, and then basically as he puts it, he gets a vacation too. He won't even try to read you because he knows he can't. He can't read anyone for about a week after he touches me. That only started happening when I started getting the venom. He could never read my mind, but my gift didn't begin expanding until I was 10." Bella looked at Jasper with a worried expression. She had never told him about her gift really. She didn't want to talk about Volturi, prophecies, gifts, anything vampire related, and every time Jasper brought something up she'd dodge it.

"Oh, I guess I didn't think about it that way. I knew Edward hasn't been able to read my mind in a couple months but I thought it was just him. And that Alice couldn't see me because I was associated with you. I figured Aro's gift would be more powerful since it was related to touch.

"What else can you do? Or maybe I should ask, what else do you block?" He was hoping to get some information out of her about her gift and the Volturi before they left on Friday. They would be leaving straight from school with Felix. Her dad understood that she was going to spend the summer with her mother and tour Europe on step-dad's dime.

"I block all gifts." She blushed a deeper red and looked away, she was always embarrassed talking about herself with him, she didn't know why really, but she didn't want him to think she was bragging.

His eyebrows rose into his golden hairline as he stared at her while they pulled up in front of the Cullen's. She felt embarrassed and a little bored, he didn't think she was lying but then his brows narrowed in question.

"All gifts?" he questioned, watching her closely and her own eyebrows raised as she looked at him, thinking about his question.

"No," she spoke slowly. "There's only one that seems to affect me." She looked away and down, wondering if he'd believe her. Her face heated but this time it was more about concern and maybe a little anger. She was sure he wouldn't believe her.

He waited and watched her waiting for more. When he didn't ask or move she looked back over at him through her eyelashes. He found her alluring in that moment and she didn't even mean to be. But still wanted to hear what she had to say, although he knew the answer.

"You have the only gift to ever work on me," Bella finally answered.

"I wonder why?" he commented out loud mostly for her but it wasn't what she thought he was going to say.

"Marcus says it's because you're my mate." She got out of the car and he joined her, they headed into the house hand in hand.

They had come here many times in the last few weeks and Alice always chose to make herself scarce as much for herself as for Jasper and his new relationship. She didn't want to see him happy with Bella and she didn't want Jasper or Bella to be uncomfortable. Today though as they entered the home, she was sitting on the sofa with her own school books strewn about finishing homework+. She didn't really need the books other than to get the specific questions to answer, but occasionally she liked to feel normal, human almost by laying everything about. As she imagined a normal kid would.

"Why would being mates matter?" Jasper asked as they walked into the room looking at Alice. Jasper tensed, he knew she had been trying to keep a low profile. He gave a quick but worried look to Bella.

Bella tensed also, she only really sees the small dark-haired pixie at school and has never spoke with her. Bella's emotions went haywire before she centered back to boredom. Today was the talk for that, how she did that and why. But they had to get past this situation first.

"Because… You can't hide yourself from your mate," she spoke slowly answering the question the way she thought she should but a good chunk of her brain was caught on the fact that Jasper's soon to be ex-wife, the papers were still being processed by the court, was sitting in front her like a deer in headlights.

"Bella, this is Alice." Jasper grabbed her hand led her over to meet the vampire girl.

"Alice, this is Bella," he introduced as they got closer. Alice snapped out of her shock.

"Yes, hi Bella, I'm Alice. Sorry, I was just shocked because I didn't see you coming. I mean I can't see you, but I can usually see that I can't see and I didn't see…" she babbled and trailed off but held a hand out to shake Bella's.

Bella hesitated and looked at her curiously but nodded her understanding to what Alice just tried to say.

"See, no one's gift works on me but yours," she replied confidently standing in front of the girl who's man she had stolen. She would not look weak or vulnerable here.

Jasper noticed the change in her demeanor, she was enveloped in sudden confidence before her emotions once again became bored. The girls never broke eye contact and Jasper felt the tension rising, due to overall uncomfortable feelings and Alice's sadness and loss. Bella leaked small amounts of jealously, but she was trying desperately to keep a lid on it.

"Well, shall we?" he asked Bella, motioning towards the stairs for them to retire to his room.

Bella gave a short nod and then a second nod to Alice before they turned and headed for the door. They could hear Alice picking up her books and things. Bella was happy she would not be there when she went back through the home. Jasper noticed her relief settle in as the boredom dissipated.

"Tell me how you learned to control yourself so well and why you always feel bored?"

They stopped in Jasper's bedroom and Bella pushed a rough kiss up to his lips before setting down on the bed. His stunned look turned to a smirk. "You aren't getting out of the question. And yes, I'm yours." He couldn't help but feel a bit smug knowing the kiss was because Bella had been jealous downstairs when facing Alice.

"Marcus, taught me." She figured that was a simple enough answer as she faced Jasper who sat next to her.

"That doesn't really answer my question. Please explain. I don't want to go to Italy, having all these unanswered questions. I need to know what I'm dealing with and why," he gave her a pleading and serious look.

She huffed, "fine, Marcus figured your gift would work on me so we picked an easy emotion, boredom, and he worked with me to calm myself every time I became upset. I was to work on feeling nothing but bored and it also helped with my anger issues." She looked away. "I have anger issues," she mumbled.

"I noticed."

Her head shot back around to look at Jasper. "You noticed? I thought I was doing a good job of keeping my anger in check."

"Oh you are, but as an empath and well your boyfriend, I know when you are angry. Like in the car just now, you got angry because you thought you knew what I was going to say. You were ready for a fight before I even had a chance to answer. I see more than you give me credit for. You can't always feel bored, you center yourself quickly and well, but things just leak out…like jealousy." He gave her a pointed look, indicating he felt the jealousy downstairs and didn't need to be an empath to know the kiss she just gave him was for the same reason.

"Yes, well I'm not perfect, Marcus trained me the best he could. If your gift worked on me, we didn't want my 'teenage hormones' upsetting you." She made little quote marks with her finger when speaking of teenage hormones.

"What else?" he asked and she gave him a quizzical look, not following his train of thought.

"What else have they taught you because of me? You once mentioned, submissive in the bedroom. But you're untouched? Is that right?" He had a sudden cringe worthy thought that made him wonder what else they had subjected her to.

"Oh well, yes," she blushed again. He liked seeing this shy person with him. It made him feel normal, human almost. It was at times when she would blush and look away that he knew she was unsure of herself and embarrassed because it was all new to her. They taught her many things but explaining all of this to him was apparently not thought about.

"Bella?" he was getting worried the longer she stayed silent.

"Oh sorry, nothing bad. Just Dora had me read some books, like that new popular one on BDSM. I know you aren't into that, but it talks a lot about submission too. Nobody has touched me… ever," she sighed wistfully, longing leaking from her emotions.

"You want to be touched?" Jasper asked as he placed his hand on her shoulder, mirth coming from him while he held it there.

She rolled her eyes at him. "You know what I mean."

"I do," he leaned in and kissed her gently, lovingly, their mouths moving together before his cool tongue swiped her puffy bottom lip seeking entrance. He took his time, tasting her and the hand on her shoulder moved hold the side of her face and back of her neck. His other hand ran up her jean clad thigh to her hip and stopped, holding her firmly in his grip.

He pulled back giving her a chance to breathe and smiled at the flushed look and glassy eyes that searched him out when they opened.

His hands still in place as they stared into each other's eyes. "Don't worry, it will happen," he spoke softly and authoritatively. Her only response was a shiver and a weak nod. His dirty chuckle filled the air as he released her to get back to their conversation.

Her heart was racing but as it slowed she smiled up at him adoringly. "It better," she responded.

"Now about your training, what else?"

She pouted, she didn't like the topic. "I'm not supposed to avoid you. I need to be strong willed and a strong fighter. I can't be afraid of your scars. I don't speak poorly about the Volturi," she gave him an evil smile, knowing they both have broken that one. "I treat you with respect as an elder, a man, and a warrior." His eyes narrowed a little.

"I was told all about Maria, how you hate killing people but are weak because of the Cullens and rather learning to enjoy the kill and feed, they have tamed you. We are to be King and Queen and I need to never cuss, never lie, always be on my best behavior, and exude boredom to help you, and keep myself in check." She looked him in the eye, silently daring him to argue with any of it.

Yep she had been brainwashed, even if she didn't like the Volturi, there are things that have sunk in. She still planned on being Queen, despite the talks they've had, she still believed he was weakened by the Cullens and animal blood even though she said she understood. She had been taught that it was unnatural and nasty and no matter how she looked at it, it was ingrained, no matter what he wanted, it's all she knew.

He couldn't do anything to change her mind in a minute, so he let it go. He thought she was coming around to his way of thinking, or not thinking of him as a murder and she maybe truly was but 16 years of training, of only knowing one thing, one way, one side of the story, well it was going to be a long road for them he realized.

They spoke more about the Kings and her visits, Jasper wanting to know about the enemy and even though she wasn't his enemy, far from it, she was not 100% his, he realized.

He could see despite her words saying she was not happy about returning to Italy that she was in fact excited about the trip. He could hear her heart race when she spoke about the castle and riding bikes in the corridors as a kid, her fondness for Caius, her love of her bedroom suite and how all the other vampires catered to her, avoided her, and called her princess or highness. She didn't seem to be one for attention but then it wasn't human attention and it wasn't at a regular high school or in a small town. It was attention at being the only human in a fortress of vampires that she had control over, as their princess, and she liked it.

This was going to be an interesting trip. Jasper thought as they boarded the private Volturi jet Friday afternoon. The white plane sat unassumingly in a hangar at a small airport in Port Angeles awaiting their arrival, a large black V on either side of the tail the only marker on the plane other than the routine stickers needed for all aircraft.

Jasper followed Bella up the steps and saw her take a seat in a plush red chair with seatbelts and figured this was her normal seat. He took the one next to her, while Felix chose to sit at the back of the plane. The pilot at this point still unknown to Jasper kept his seat in the cockpit. Another female vampire came from the cockpit wearing a black flight attendants' uniform and closed door to the airplane. She looked at the passengers her red eyes sparked upon seeing Jasper and lust emanated from her.

"Bitch, put your eyes away before I have them removed from your head," Bella growled.

"Sorry, Princess," the unknown vampire spoke her dark hair flew behind her as she returned to the cockpit. A chuckle came from Felix at the back, but no words were said.

"Princess and Prince of Volterra, thank you for flying Volturi Air, we will be taking off in about 5 minutes, please make sure your seatbelts are secure. Thank you." The pilot spoke at just a slightly louder tone than normal as the plane powered up, but everyone was able to hear him. Jasper's eyebrows rose at the announcement, hearing himself called a prince.

"You need to watch yourself," he heard mumbled words from the cockpit, the pilot again speaking just to the female who had already been yelled at by Bella.

Jasper had a feeling this was indeed going to be a long flight as he studied Bella who didn't seem to hear the chastising or didn't care. Her attention was focused looking out the window watching the tarmac and open fields pass by.

Jasper took her left hand, it was closest to him and closed his eyes leaning his head back against the seat wishing he could sleep. This was going to be an interesting summer.

AN: Was it worth a 3 year wait? I dunno lol.