The two days between the phone call and the Cullen's arrival seemed to pass in a whirlwind. Bella was grateful for Peter and Charlotte's training; it kept her mind off the upcoming meeting.

While Bella could say she was coming on in leaps and bounds in regard to her control she could not say the same for her training. Her first experience had made her wary. She knew that the limbs could go back on, but she hated to see it happen, and so she held back. With every time she held back, Peter would come back at her harder, telling Charlotte to go faster, stronger, play tricks. She knew what Peter was doing, he was trying to frustrate her into reacting, like he had the first time. But while she certainly had felt the frustration and wanted to snap out, she had remembered what had happened last time she had given in, it had ended with Charlotte's hand on the floor.

They were over half-way into the first day and Peter had gotten nowhere in regard to getting Bella to let go of her inhibitions. He was more likely to snap before her at this point, then again, his temper had never been that easy to hold.

"For God's sake Bella, we're not breakable. Charlotte will go back together. While we're training at least. But you won't if we're facing an enemy. They won't care for your reservations; they'll rip your head off and throw it into the closest fire. I don't know about you, but I'd really like to avoid that scenario." Peter was aware that Charlotte was sending him a dirty look, but he needed to get through to her, sooner rather than later.

Bella reared back from him, standing ramrod straight.

"Yes, Sir." Peter ran a hand through his hair. He hated to do it, but he just wanted to see the people he cared about able to protect themselves.

"No, I'm sorry Little Lady, I shouldn't have stopped. We need to work on your fear of ripping our limbs before we start you on fighting. But that can wait until tomorrow." He had a plan, he just needed to talk to Charlotte about it first, it would be her in the firing line after all.

"Bella found herself back by the river after her dismissal. She could see the importance in what Peter was trying to teach her, but her human self was just too close in her mind. It was there telling her that if she went too hard, she'd do permanent damage. People couldn't cope without their limbs. She ran a hand through the water, somehow despite her iciness it still felt cool to the touch. She watched as the fish under the surface took a wide berth around her, bringing a smile to her face. She was only there for half an hour before she felt Jasper coming to sit beside her. She sent him a small smile.

"Peter didn't mean to snap at you. He cares about you." Bella sighed. She guessed that it might be that, that Jasper had come to her about. She took her hand out the water, stretching back on her arms so she could see Jasper better.

"I know. He was right to snap at me. I know why he's trying to train me, but the idea of ripping someone's limb off conflicts so strongly with my human memories." Bella sighed. Being a vampire at the minute seemed like one new challenge after the last.

"You'll have time to make peace with it. This is the first time Peter has trained a newborn outside of Maria's camp. It was fight or die. You didn't have the chance to dwell on your human memories. But this isn't the war, and you're not a normal newborn." Jasper pulled the shirt away from his collar just slightly, "I've lost count of the amount of time I've lost a limb, been bitten. You couldn't see the scars as a human, or if you could they wouldn't register."

Bella turned to look at what Jasper was showing her. Jasper had always worn long sleeves with high collars. This was the most skin she'd seen of him, and it became immediately obvious what he was showing her. Barely any skin was exposed and yet what she could see was covered in tiny ridges of half-moons. She recognised them straight away, she had been carrying one herself since her time with James. Vampire bite marks. She'd seen them on Peter and Charlotte too but had yet to enquire about them. They could escape the war, but the memories would follow them forever.

She reached out tentatively, a finger running over the curve of Jasper's shoulder. She looked up at him with pure sympathy in her eyes.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that." Then almost as an after-thought, "Is that why you've always worn long sleeves."

Jasper nodded. He wasn't quite expecting her reaction. He had used them as a lesson before, and he had experienced fear and disgust in response to their sight, but never sympathy, a deep compassion turned towards him. "Foreign vampires see them as a threat. Alice wasn't too fond either." He couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice. He had remembered the first time they met, the way she projected so much joy and affection, and yet even that couldn't hide the disgust she had felt when she had first set eyes on his scars. He had taken to hiding them since then.

"Are you ashamed of them?" It was a strange question. He had never really considered it; he was ashamed of some of the things he'd done in his past but not the scars he had. They were now a part of him. So, he shook his head at Bella's question, "You should stop hiding them, then. Pete and Char don't."

"They don't bother you?" He had yet to meet a vampire yet, that hadn't been in a war, that hadn't been bothered by them. In fact, those that had been in a war were more likely to be bothered. Bella merely looked confused at his question.

"Why would I be? They are a part of you. I was alarmed when I first woke up, but that settled soon because I know you guys." Her finger still absent-minded ran over the piece of skin he had exposed to her. She never failed to astound him with her viewpoint towards the world. She was a breath of fresh air.

"I'll consider it." It was the most he could bare to agree to at the minute. He was so used to covering up. Maybe if he spent more time here, he would feel more comfortable having his scars on show, Peter and Charlotte definitely had no qualms.

The next day rolled around and Peter was glad that Charlotte had agreed to his plan. Though he definitely owed his girl after this stunt. Bella came out onto the front again, there was nerves still obviously in her eyes, but he could clearly see some new resolve in her face. Maybe he wouldn't have to resort to his master plan.

"We'll only do a few hours today, Little Lady, with the visitors arriving. Get into position." Bella nodded. Her talk with Jasper had given her some resolve. She knew Peter was used to a certain type of teaching and she would try to play into it, he was only trying to help her. She faced Charlotte, lowering her body ready to attack.

Today's practice certainly went a lot smoother than the previous day. Bella was clearly lacking skill and the way to use her speed, but she didn't hold back as much. Once again, she ripped Charlotte's arm clean off. She felt the panic rise in her chest like a fire, threatening to consume her. But she didn't show it, she breathed slow and deep as if she was a human experiencing a panic attack, she watched with cautious eyes as Charlotte spit into her own hand and used it as a glue to fuse her own arm back on. It was a strange sight to watch.

The limb twisted in Charlotte's grip fighting to get back to its rightful place, it sucked back into its place comfortably with a final click. Charlotte looked at the limb, gave it a testing flex before adding some more venom and grinning. She turned back to Bella.

"Atta girl, we'll make a soldier out of you yet." Bella sent her companion a shaky smile. She was glad that Charlotte hadn't gone to take any of her limbs as of yet. It was weird enough watching someone else put their limbs back, she couldn't imagine doing it to herself.

"Come on, that'll do for today. We should make a game plan for the upcoming visit." Peter's voice was still that clipped authority voice he used with his training. If it wasn't aimed at her Bella was sure she would giggle every time he adopted his 'Captain' persona. It was so far removed from his fun-loving free personality, he folded his arms behind his back, standing at ease.

But it was aimed at her, and so like a good little soldier she followed his orders. He led them into the main house where Jasper was sat with a nose buried in a book, grumbling to himself. It was a point of great amusement to Bella when she discovered that Jasper enjoyed reading books about the civil war and bemoaning the inaccuracies. She plopped down next to him, while Peter and Charlotte sat in the other slightly lumpy sofa near them. The furniture was definitely well loved in the household.

Once inside and by Charlotte, Peter's 'Captain' persona visibly left him, back to the brother she had come to know and love in these few days. At their presence Jasper placed his book on the table beside them.

"How'd it go today?" Jasper had taken Peter to heart when he had said that he'd be the one training Bella, he respected his brother enough to not undermine him needlessly especially when he knew he would give impeccable training. That didn't mean he wouldn't be curious nonetheless about how the training was going. Especially after yesterday.

Peter grinned at him widely.

"She's still got a while to go, but we'll make a savvy fighter out of the Little Lady yet, she ripped our Char's arm off again." Jasper could feel Peter's pride and feeling of accomplishment with his gift and see it in his face. After a minute his face become a little more serious. "We have a few hours until the Cullens arrive, how do you want to play this?"

Jasper couldn't imagine he would ever need a 'game plan' to face his family. But then again, the game plan wasn't for him, it was for Bella beside him who had become stiff and wary beside him. He put his hand over hers, squeezing gently to attempt some comfort.

"You and Char should await them as the hosts. I'll join you if you'd rather. Bella should stay here where she's as calm as can be." He looked to her to make sure she was okay with this plan of action. She knew one of the things she hated about Edward was the way he always made decisions without asking her first. She smiled warmly at him and nodded thankful.

"If Bella's staying you should stay too, I don't want to see the Little Lady alone at the minute." That was definitely a valid point on Peter's part, Jasper knew how good Bella was at jumping to conclusions and left alone with her worry it was what she'd undoubtedly do.

After it was decided, it was just a matter of waiting for any sign of the Cullens. At the first sounds of a truck in the distance Peter and Charlotte went to the door. Bella and Jasper were left behind. Jasper kept his hand in Bella's rubbing his thumb in circles on the back of her palm. He didn't need his gift to see just how terrified she was of how this would go. He only hoped this went well for everyone's sake.

Charlotte stood at the door staring almost absently into the distance. She had never hosted the Cullens, never had a desire to either. Then again that was mostly due to Alice and Edward. Other than their weird drinking habits the others were okay. She like Rosalie and Emmett, they were the most similar to them, and while she would never see truly eye to eye with the Matriarch and Patriarch she could at least respect. Well mostly. But this was different, they were possibly a threat to her family, and though for so long it had only been just Peter and Jasper she considered family, it didn't mean she wouldn't protect Bella just as fiercely just because she was new.

Peter had decided to play bad cop, she was indifferent cop, Jasper could play good cop. They were his family. It wasn't long they had to wait until the jeep got steadily closer. She observed what she could see through the tinted windows. The good doctor looked wary, but not overwhelmed with emotion. His mate beside him and the large bear in the front looked nigh on as nervous as their own Bella in the house. And when she made eye contact with the blonde driving, she saw her own resolve mirrored back. This woman wouldn't let them hurt her family as much as she wouldn't the Cullen's hurt her own family. They exchanged a nod of understanding.

And then the Cullens were upon them.

I entirely intended on having the Cullens meeting Bella in this Chapter. But I got a little carried away. I'd love if you dropped a review if you're enjoying this