It had been easy telling Jasper that she wouldn't be joining the Cullen's after whatever was coming. She did not feel nearly as easy about telling the others. It had been a week since she had spoken to Jasper and training had occurred every day since.

She loved Peter to pieces, but she hated how constant the training was. It was only Alice and Edward, how much of a threat could they truly pose to them all. But she kept up with it, surprised to see herself improving in leaps and bounds. In fact, she'd beaten every one of the Cullen's at least twice apart from Jasper. She didn't feel too bad about that though, she wasn't expecting to get the jump on a former war Lord. She'd come close a few times though, pleased to see the amused pride dancing in Jasper's eyes as she met her target.

And when training was done, they'd head into town, sometimes to hunt and sometimes they'd go to meet with Jasper's lawyer. Bella was quite honestly fed up of paperwork. She just wanted to change her name, for Christ's sake. Four separate sessions she'd had to go to, all with at least 3 things she'd had to sign. And though she grumbled she had to admit that it was worth it.

Jasper's lawyer, Jenkins, was a stout man with a moustache he would look better without, he seemed wary of Jasper, always wiping his hand subtly on his suit before shaking his hand as if to remove some excess sweat. Yet despite his physical misgivings he was a very professional man, not letting his nerves get in the way of how he orchestrated meetings, commanding proceedings with a sure tone. Bella was sure the only reason she disliked the man was for the dirty look he shot her every time she sighed as he passed her over more paperwork. She supposed he had more right than her to be annoyed, but that knowledge didn't make her like the man any more.

But finally, a week after her first meeting she was (very nicely) shaking the Lawyer's hand, her new passport, driving licence and birth certificate in her hands. She had previously discussed with Jasper, Peter and Charlotte that she would tell the Cullen's about her decisions when it was official. And she guessed that was now.

That's what had led her to this point, the nerves dancing in her heart as they quickly neared the end of the day's training. By the end she had managed to get an admittedly lucky shot in on Rosalie and was handing the blonde woman her arm back with a sheepish grin.

"That's it for today guys, you're all doing a lot better, I'll give you all some specific things to work on tomorrow before we start." He no longer gave them verbal dismissals, merely said what he had to say then turned to walk away.

"Before everyone goes their separate ways, can I talk to you all about something?" People had got into their habits of going off in their own separate couples at the end of the sessions. She was glad for Jasper's presence in those days as without him she would have been the lone sheep. Of course, she was also glad for what they were doing when they went off

together, and now she had to pluck up the courage to tell the Cullen's she wouldn't be staying with them.

"Of course, Bella dear, is everything alright?" Esme's soft concern made this coming conversation all the harder to get through.

"Everything's fine, I just wanted to discuss a decision I'd made with you guys." She made it obvious she'd already made her decision, hoping it'd stop some of their attempts to try and talk her around.

"Why don't we go back to the house and have this conversation in comfort." It was Peter who made the offer. While he was glad Bella was choosing to stay with him, he wasn't ignorant to the fact that this was difficult for her. Bella sent him a grateful smile, following after him and the Cullen's as they assented to his idea.

Jasper hung back just slightly with her, "It won't be as bad as you feel. They were too upset at losing you to lose you again over something mundane."

"Have you noticed how you never quite talk as if you belong with them? You always say 'they'" She hadn't meant to make the observation at that particular point. She'd noticed it before but just put it to the back of her mind, but it was acting as a distraction now and genuinely did pique her interest.

"While I know they care, I wouldn't insult them by suggesting otherwise, I've always felt like the weak link I suppose. It took me a lot longer for me to adjust to this way of life and I'd only initially being accepted into the fold because of Alice, my reputation very much proceeded me back then." Bella placed a hand on his arm, her sympathy drifting over to him in comforting waves. He'd never really thought about it until she asked.

"If this goes not too badly, maybe you should also think about stopping with me, Peter and Char too. They were very first thing you knew as family in this life, they forgave you 50 years of absence in minutes," Then with a conspiratorial grin she added, "And you wouldn't have to go back to school."

Jasper had to admit that last bit was tempting. Truth be told the whole offer was tempting. He'd just sit and wait out what was coming and make his decision later.

"I'll think about it, Darlin'" She smiled at him, stopping their conversation as they reached the house.

As the lasts to arrive they had been stuck with the love seat in the corner, neither could say they minded too much, Bella appreciated the comfort that she associated with Jasper's presence.

"So, what decision have you come to Bella?" It was Carlisle who had asked the question, his curiosity undeniably getting the better of him.

She pulled out her purse, drawing her new driving licence as she did. With an uncomfortable smile she placed it on the coffee table in front of the Cullen's. It was Rosalie who picked it up, she made no comment, merely raising her eyebrows. Jasper squeezed Bella's leg in comfort, she placed her hand over his in thanks as her new licence was passed around. While they'd already seen it, Peter and Charlotte pulled a proud smile onto their face as they viewed the document over Carlisle and Esme's shoulders.

Esme's eyes filled with sadness as she looked down at the offending item.

"You're staying?" She said it as a question but there was little doubt in her eyes. Bella nodded just once.

"This doesn't mean I love any of you less, but this just feels right. It's a number of things, Peter and Char don't just feel like family, like I see you guys too, they feel like coven. Between my diet and my desire not to repeat school I'm more compatible with the nomadic lifestyle." Her words didn't get rid of the sickeningly hurt look in Esme's eyes, but she nodded anyway. Bella didn't feel the need to add insult to injury by admitting she just didn't respect Carlisle as much as a leader anymore.

"For what it's worth, Bella Bear, while we'll definitely miss you day to day, I think this is s good thing. I dunno, you've come into your own since changing, and something tell me it's not the change itself that did it," Bella, hell all the Cullen's, sometimes forgot how wise Emmett could be, he hid it so well behind a well placed joke sometime, "When did you make the decision, these documents take some time to get your hands on." Bella sent him a sheepish look.

"A week ago, I wanted to make it official before I brought it up." Emmett and Rosalie nodded at her, they could see the logic in that.

"She was not a fan of all the signing, I'm sure Jenkins was glad to see the back of her," Jasper tried to infuse some amusement into the situation. While it worked with Emmett and Rosalie, pulling a guffaw from the male, Esme was sending him distinctly accusatory looks. He'd seen them before, usually in the early days when he'd fallen off the wagon so to speak, but he hadn't seen them in the while.

"You helped?" Again, it wasn't a question, just a need for confirmation, he merely nodded, "Why?" He could feel Bella's annoyance beside him. She had suspected that they wouldn't be happy about it but she hadn't expected the judgement against anyone else.

"She'd already made her decision Esme, Peter and Charlotte had already accepted, the name was just a formality." Esme still crossed her arms, that look of distaste still on her face.

"Did you even try and talk her around?" Jasper was going to answer, but he was beaten to the punch by Bella who had passed frustrated and into anger.

Bella couldn't stop the small growl that escaped her. She hated the look that Esme was giving Jasper right now. It wasn't fair, this was her decision.

"Are you listening to yourself Esme? The more you talk the more you're proving to me I'm making the right decision. Jasper, in fact, did not try and talk me around, just like Emmett did not. And believe it or not, it's not because they don't care, it's because they respect my decisions. I know you get caught up in your roles to stay in humanity but you're not my mother, you're not any of their mothers, we are adults and we don't need parenting, we need leading." She paused, her anger deflating slightly at the shocked look, "While I still care for and love you all I'd rather stay with my coven, with a leader who I both respect, and respects me." She realised that she had implied she didn't respect Carlisle, not as a leader, but she didn't inherently regret it.

Esme looked physically taken aback and a flicker of guilt ran through Bella. She hadn't meant to hurt anyone, her emotions had just gotten the better of her. She felt the ever more familiar feeling of Jasper's gift wrapping around her, trying to fight her own emotions. She let them settle around her like a blanket, comforting, but she did not let them take over her own emotions.

"It'll be okay, Darlin', sometimes the truth is hard to hear." Bella was surprised that Jasper was not angry with her, in fact looking at Rosalie and Emmett he wasn't the only one. Carlisle looked disappointed, though she couldn't tell if that was with her or himself. The room had gone deadly silent, the feeling unnerved her, pulling words from her chest.

"I'm sorry." She wasn't necessarily sorry for her words, just the impact they had had. She leaned just slightly into the comforting presence of Jasper beside her, his manufactured emotions feeling like a blanket on a cold day. Finally, after a minute Esme spoke. The hurt was still in her voice, but also acceptance.

"Don't be, you're right. We have become complacent. Rose always rebelled against the parenting, Jasper never needed it, Emmett didn't after his newborn year. Family doesn't have to be such clear-cut roles. Sometimes change in needed to inspire change." The truth was she'd never gotten over the loss of her son when she was human, she did everything she could to fill that gap. Maybe it was not the same, but maybe she should consider getting training as a nursery nurse, something to occupy the nurturing spirit within her.

Peter suggested everyone take some time to themselves, of course everyone read that as in their mated couples. Peter and Charlotte also took it that way, going out to the horses, while they could run faster there was something majestic about the creatures, something that gave them both more enjoyment than simply running.

Peter had a lot on his mind, while he wasn't sure what or why Alice and Edward's master plan was, he had at least figured out part of their game he thought. If he was right, and he was almost positive he was, then they were destined for death.

Despite what many a romance novel liked to claim, mating bonds were not love at first sight, maybe they'd foster some kind of concern, something to facilitate the bond, but it was only time that would develop that bond into love, and he was sure he was watching that process right here on his ranch.

He isn't sure why Edward and Alice would want to keep mates apart, but he knew Jasper enough, and was getting to know Bella enough, to pick up the signs of a fledgling relationship. In fact, Jasper had also mentioned in passing that Edward had reduced his interaction with Bella even when she was still human, if they were mates then it would certainly explain that behaviour at least. And explain their behaviour since they had both ended up at the Whitlock ranch.

It was in the way that Bella turned to Jasper every day at the end of training and invited him down to the river, when by their naturally solitary natures they should have gone off alone, or the way Jasper would call her 'Darlin' without thinking, the way they gravitated towards each other, his hand finding her thigh in comfort, her sitting just a little closer to him than she did to anyone else. Yes, the signs were definitely there, he just had to wait for them to realise it. It would be good to have the Major back in the fold.

Charlotte had stayed silent, just enjoying the ride as she waited for Peter to put his thoughts in order. He was just about to share his revelation when his phone rang. Not many people had his number, the most likely to already on this ranch. He was pleasantly surprised to see Garrett's number lighting up the phone.

"What's up fucker, everything alright Garrett?" He heard a familiar deep chuckle on the other end.

"Found myself in France, have some interesting intel that could become important soon." This caught Peter's attention, he could see Char beside him also listening in, concern on her face.

"Fill us in then." His patience was shorter than usual between the not knowing and having the Cullen bunch in his homestead.

"I'm not sure quite when they left Carlisle's nest, but the future seer and mind-reader are currently amassing an army to launch a revolt." Peter closed his eyes, exhaled just once, and let out an expletive.

"Shit."

I believe we're finally getting both to the action and the romance. Woo. Sorry if anyone got a false notification about an update, had some issues updating this chapter