Jasper couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt weirdly uncomfortable with the idea of everyone being back together., as if the finely orchestrated balance they had achieved in Texas was being unsettled. But he was glad to see a hint of happiness back on Bella's face. The only other people he had seen give Carlisle a talk down when they believed he was wrong were Peter, Charlotte and Garrett. He imagined there had been others, but none that he had experienced himself. More the pity really, it was definitely an interesting experience to see the Good Doctor humbled.
He could tell that Peter and Charlotte weren't quite as comfortable as Bella, or even him, having all the Cullens here. It was likely a mixture of things, they had never really clicked, and they also probably didn't appreciate someone interfering with their progress with Bella, however positive that extra influence might have been. He could tell from the undercurrent of nervousness and care that floated from them that they were also worried that they'd lose Bella emotionally now she was back with the Cullens. Jasper knew Bella a little better to know that she wouldn't compromise friendships for them, but they had only known her for barely a few weeks, and honestly, he himself hadn't been the best example.
It took longer than Bella would have suspected for the conversation to come around to her dietary choices. Maybe it was because they thought other things were more important, maybe they just hadn't really payed attention, or maybe she was enough of a newborn that they wouldn't have expected a change yet, either way it had taken a surprisingly long time, and yet she wasn't prepared for the flash of fear that ran through her when the question finally came. It came from Emmett, in his usual relaxed manner.
"It's kinda weird seeing you with red eyes, Bella Bear. Have the Whitlock's being feeding you well?" There was no accusation, but Peter looked affronted anyway, his arms crossing over his chest and a frown marring his features. It was enough to relax her if only slightly, she felt Jasper trying to influence her, but while it was pleasant to feel the fear fall away it wasn't conducive, and so she pushed back against it slightly with a wave of gratitude to prevent any offense.
"My control's apparently better than most, they're hoping to take me out on the town soon." She saw Rosalie's eyebrows raise in surprise at that, she at least figuring out town didn't mean just to test control like it had with the rest of them.
"Humans?" Her eyes flashed to Peter and Charlotte, "You chose that?"
Rosalie couldn't keep the surprise out of her voice, it had taken her a long time to accept that one day Bella would join her, before it had all fallen apart of course, but she had always imagined Bella would join them in more than just name.
"Completely, honestly animals taste like shit. I'm not indiscriminate, criminals, the terminally ill." While there was an attempt to come across as confident, Rosalie's perception was better, and she didn't fail to see the undercurrent of nerves that coloured Bella's words.
"Hmm, I do suppose it's an acquired taste. I never expected you to be one to play Judge, Jury & Executioner." She genuinely was surprised. The Bella she had known had always been the epitome of a goody-two-shoes.
"I don't think the Bella you knew would have been. But this is the right decision for me." The worry had left her voice, being inexplicably replaced by strength. It was good to see.
"I think I like this Bella better." It was the easiest way Rosalie could think of to show her acceptance. Rose drank from animals because it was the only thing she'd known. Likelihood was that Bella had been given more choice than she had regarding dietary choices. She sent a warm smile over to Bella, one that was returned, but was thankful for her husband's childish excitement overtaking the conversation.
"You're all vamped up now… does that mean we can arm wrestle?" A short laugh was ripped from Bella, between building new bonds with Rose and rebuilding her old one's with Emmett, the mated pair was slowly becoming her favourite Cullen's.
"I don't know if you could handle that, Emmy Bear, I've ripped off Char's arm at least a couple of times now." Bella was surprised to find herself making a joke out of the thing that had been causing her the most anxiety regarding training, and yet it had felt natural at the time. She looked over to Peter and Charlotte to see amused smiles gracing their lips. Char rubbing her arm at the shoulder with a mock glare sent at Bella.
"She's a feisty one when she wants to be." Outside of introductions this had been the first time either Whitlock's had spoken since the Cullen's had arrived.
"She won't rip my arm off in an arm wrestle!" And yet his eyes flashed to Bella in slight worry. The first time he had fought with Rosalie he had learnt not to underestimate a female just because they were physically smaller, and here Bella had the advantage with her Newborn strength.
"But she could in a fight," Peter intercepted here, cogs obviously turning in his mind, "Why not have a proper fight, there's plenty of space here. You would have fun; Bella would get a change of partner in her training."
Bella let out a weary groan, she was sure she'd get a break from training today, but Peter, ever the Captain, could find any excuse for training.
"Don't groan at me, Little Lady, he was the one that suggested it, I just made it less mindless." Peter sent her a smirk, Bella hated that he made a very good point.
"Well then, I hope you're ready Em!"
"I know the training seems almost pointless right now, Little Lady, but for starters protecting yourself is useful in general, and honestly none of us truly know what Edward and Alice were truly planning. There's more than just a slight possibility they were planning more, and I don't want you caught unaware if anything occurs." Bella's eyes flicked up to Peter at that.
"You think they're planning something else?" Fear tinged her words. She had accepted they weren't good people, but she never imagined this wasn't the end.
"Without understanding their motives for what they've already done, we can't really say. What do they get out of your death? What about Jasper? And why get so blasé now? And honestly Suga' I just feel like something is coming in my bones."
It was Jasper's turn to look up at this. Peter didn't have a confirmed gift. It wasn't honed at least. But whenever Peter felt that something was coming, well then Hell or high water was something coming. It was a more accurate but less detailed prediction than Alice had ever achieved.
"You're sure?" Peter just sent the Major a glare, that was all that was needed, "Then we all train. I don't know what or when, but if you feel it in your bones, then something is coming." The comrades shared a look, and then a nod of agreement.
"You think something big is coming?" The question came from Carlisle, darkness shadowing him slightly in his worry.
"I'm almost positive." Peter's reply sounded more than 'almost' positive. "Any of you not willing to fight in whatever comes I suggest you all take yourself to some nice pretty Island for the foreseeable future, here we train."
Carlisle spoke for his whole family, his hand gripping his wife's harder than he really needed to, "We're family, if something is coming, we stick together."
"Lovely. I suggest then we spend the rest of today hunting and then tomorrow we start to train."
Bella was being taken with Peter and Charlotte into the town for the first time. Everyday was training for her being a newborn.
"There's going to be more scents than you're used to Little Lady, Jasper only took you to the outskirts, and that certainly wasn't a Saturday night, but you fed reasonably recently. We believe in you, me and Char will be with you the whole time." Bella nodded, while she wasn't over-comfident she was beginning to have faith in her control. It was the one thing of vampire life that she had adjusted to as a duck to water.
She followed Peter and Charlotte's lead, their steps swift and sure in the shadows. When they were reasonably close to town, obvious by the scent of blood dancing in the air, they stopped and turned to Bella.
"You still okay?" She nodded assuredly, the scents danced in her mind, that familiar headiness swimming slightly in her min, but overall, she felt like she had a handle on her control.
"I'm ready, I'm okay." Char sent her a big, proud grin before they continued into the heart of town.
There really was more scents, Bella wasn't even sure she could distinguish one person from another, her ears were so filled with beating hearts she could almost trick herself into thinking she was living again, blood was all around, sweet, heady, a hundred different flavours. She could, if she allowed herself, get drunk on this feeling, lose herself, give up every moral she had and gorge herself until she was swimming in the blood of innocents. But she couldn't allow herself that, she breathed deeply once before holding her breath. The heartbeats still sang like a mantra to her, but she could focus a little better now.
"Where are the criminals in this town?" Peter did not answer, he merely went down a alley way, a man pushing a lady against the wall, fear dancing in her eyes.
"You carry on until you find them, then you hunt." He stepped aside, "Go get 'im, Suga'."
And go get him she did. Rushing at him, pulling the man away, the woman looked at her with confusion but ran quickly, deciding her desire to escape was greater than questioning who her rescuer was. With the woman gone Bella sunk her teeth into the man, relishing in the sweet taste of blood that assaulted her mouth. This was heaven she was sure. But all too soon the man was done with and she moved onto the next alley.
She finally felt sated after the third meal, she waited at the agreed point for Peter and Charlotte, but knew they had not travelled far for their own meals. They were back with her within five minutes and then they were back on the way home, conversation light at first as they made their way home. When they were just short of a mile away, Peter came to a stop, putting a hand on Bella's shoulder.
"Before we head back, can me and Char have a word?" He looked unsure of himself, it was a look Bella was unfamiliar to seeing on the often cocky man.
"Is everything okay?" She was worried. It must be important if he was addressing it outside of the reach of the Cullens. Without warning, he pulled her into a hug, a gesture that Charlotte quickly joined in on. Bella returned the hug just as fiercely, the worry increasing within her. "What's going on guys?"
It was Charlotte who provided the answer. "Truthfully Suga', having the Cullen's here has got us a little out of sorts. We both love you like the little sister we never had, and we're scared that now you have the Cullen's back you'll leave us when this is all over." At the admission Bella tightened the hug. She couldn't imagine leaving Peter and Charlotte.
"They're family to me, they always will be, but people live away from family, you're my coven. I wouldn't have got through this transition without me, you were there at my lowest point, they caused it. I'm not going to leave you guys." And they weren't just empty words. She meant every one of them. Peter and Charlotte were her vampire family, they had accepted people they didn't particularly like into their home just to make her happy. "I may have been introduced to this life by the Cullen's but, if you'll have me, I want to live as a Whitlock?"
She phrased it as a question, unsure she was overstepping a mark. The beaming grin that Charlotte provided her with, as well as the almost watery look in Peter's eyes told her she was on the right track.
"Officially we'd have to ask Jasper, it's his name after all, but consider it done in our hearts at least."
"I'll ask him when we're all done with training tomorrow." She really wanted this, and so she was more than willing to put the effort in to ask Jasper.
They engaged in one more tight group hug before running the final mile back home.
Oh lord she lives. Hooe y'all enjoy, drop a girl a review. More hopefully soon.