If she could have cried, she surely would have. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever imagine what she saw before her golden eyes now. That little thing had surprised Peter and Char when Camille finally uncloaked herself she had the eyes of a vegetarian vampire.

"I'm a protector of human's first, vampire second! So I feed only from animals. I have even managed to hunt only the weak, the infirm and the dying. I tried very hard not to upset the balance too much, wherever I went" she explained to them in that bar,

But here before her was a whole tribe of her people, not her tribe, but definitely her people! They were chanting and the drums were beating. Quil Ateara the third, Shaman of the Quileutes met her at the edge of the village. He greeted her in the time-honoured way between two Shamans, and then he held out a cloak, the type of dressing she hadn't worn for many years. Then together they entered the village of La Push and finally into the tribal meeting hut.

The ground below their feet had been strewn with herbs as a welcome for her and a blessing. But the most shocking sight was the young man on his knees before her as she entered the building. There was no doubt in her mind he was a Lahote; he almost exactly resembled her beloved Lu'kka and his father before him.

"I am Paul, grandmother!" he said with a catch in his voice as he stood to step into her embrace.

All the wolves were surprised; she didn't smell like a vampire at all. In fact, she smelt more like them than anything else. Cah'mel was stunned by the acceptance she'd received, the feeling of once more belonging somewhere. Even when the feasting commenced she was shocked to be presented with animal blood to drink.

"We have learned much from our neighbours Cah'mel. Making us less judgemental and more accepting of what the spirits bring our way. How can we expect to achieve enlightenment if we do not open our eyes and our hearts?" Old Quil said at he bemused look.

Tomorrow she would meet the other supernaturals, but today was for them alone. This was the rejoicing of a people, old traditions brought forth by the return of a lost ancestor.

TCHBTE

All of the many other communities around La Push heard the tribal drums and the upraised voices of the people. They were really happy for them, each of them had intermingled more so than the Quileutes. So having different species among them was less alarming. Heavens the fairy Queen had just recently taken a vampire to her heart and her bed. This was quite normal now for them all; they saw only that it strengthened them, with their diversity.

Bella and Jasper were spending the day together; she was showing him all her favourite hangouts. Each suited to a different element in her make up. The calm waterfall, the mountains which he'd seen after her renovations. The open landscape where the sun could beat down on her and the forest where the wind whistled through the trees. They were all different from each other, but all tied together by her presence.

"There's not much call for an elemental in day to day life. But I usually have a large role to play during our rituals and things like that. I mainly just use my powers for small things and concentrate on basic magic. It doesn't come all that naturally to me. The same as the elements don't sit well with others and tend to get away from them. Each to there own as they say!" Bella explained to him and he understood, because gifts were like that, except others couldn't master yours or vice versa.

But what Jasper noticed, was that the magical folk weren't power crazy with their magic, unlike vampires with gifts. There was next to none of, my magic is better than yours! Whereas that happened all the time in the vampire world. Bella said usually it was just friendly rivalry or occasionally family-oriented. How did they deal with it, easy Bella told him, with 'Hex Wars'! Not real wars but set aside days where anything goes.

Everyone tried to outdo their rivals or friends by hexing more people than each other. Only the elders and children were left unscathed, along with non-magic's like the Mer and the Quileutes and if you could hex one person multiple times even better. A leader board was set up in the centre of town and each hex was magically counted, on who and by whom! Points were awarded for Spoken, Unspoken and Hand controlled hex.

Hand controlled were the easiest, spoken next and unspoken was the hardest. On the day it was not unusual she told Jasper to see people with multicoloured hair and skin. Or animals running about in clothes they could recognise as belonging to friends. She and Eric were not allowed to use their main magic as it would be too easy for them to win.

He could freeze everyone and hex them at his leisure and she could trap them with water, fire, wind or bury then up to their necks and do the same. So major magic was not allowed, but for instance, Charlie could use his gift for one second to confuse. Teleporting was okay, but every house and building had a safe room for that day and all hexes had to be done between 9 am and 9 pm only.

The whole town became the battlefield and it was like paint-balling on steroids. People could do it alone or in teams of two, but the judges had to know beforehand. Bella was very competitive and had come third, two years ago in a team with her father and second last year with Angela. This year she intended to win and Jasper would be her secret weapon.

With her shield, his speed and ability to distract others by messing with their emotions she was convinced they could win this year. This was a side of her he hadn't known existed and since he himself liked to win, he was sure they'd make a good team. But it was a couple of months away and they would have time to practise some moves.

TCHBTE

The one thing they did agree on was when they finally built a home for themselves it would be by the waterfall, it was so peaceful and calming and Jasper loved it right away. He also had decided that he would take Bella into the human world on their dates. Not to prove she was missing something, but to show her his world was sometimes beautiful too.

Life had settled back down in Forks and the school mothballed once again, seeing as the Cullens knew about them all, there was no need for the subterfuge anymore. Everyone had met Cah'mel and were happy she had joined them. Bella and Jasper's first date was approaching and he explained he wanted to take her to Seattle during the day.

"What will I wear?" she asked and he mentioned that he'd loved her biker chick outfit she'd worn the first day and they could go on her bike if she didn't mind.

Bella didn't mind at all, in fact, she would be letting him drive so she could just wrap herself around him. They hadn't progressed much beyond hand-holding and long passionate kisses, but the tension between them mounted with every day. But it was a pleasant feeling, not painful or angsty because they knew they could change their status at any time if they wanted.

But neither wanted to rush this thing between them, it would be for eternity, so why leap in gracelessly. They would learn about each other slowly and when the time was right they would know. Jasper had noticed on several occasions that the weather could change when they got a little carried away, he imagined that when they finally came together it would be amazing, exhilarating even.

Maybe somewhere unpopulated would be best, in case her powers got away from her. Carlisle and Esme owned an Island off the Brazilian coast; far enough out that nobody would notice any weather anomalies now and again. Yes, he liked the idea and would ask their permission, before he suggested it to Bella. He wanted her to have as much input into their life together as he did. He wondered if she could teleport them there? He would ask her that too.

The trip to Seattle was good for both of them, she loved the speed and the holding him tightly. He also enjoyed the speed and feel of the bike below him, but Bella's arms holding him were much more to his liking. He showed her all the sights and they wandered around a couple of galleries, discussing paintings and sculptures they saw. He was trying to find out what she liked and more importantly what she didn't.

As the day was coming to an end Bella asked Jasper if she could take him somewhere now. That somewhere was a hidden community on Kellogg Island. Unseen by humans and other supernaturals was a thriving trading post for magical beings. Here items were bought and sold, well bartered more often than not.

It was so well hidden it didn't even disturb the birds now living there. Witches and Wizards teleported out and in without anyone being aware. Jasper was fascinated as Bella traded items he didn't even know she had on her. She was buying blood of all things and he was most confused,

"I thought we could try you out on some of these and if they work, then you wouldn't need to go hunting as often or at all!" she said hesitantly and he smiled at her concern for him.

"Sounds like a plan to me darlin'," he said kissing her tenderly,

"Major?!" said a voice nearby and Jasper stiffened smelling a vampire.

"Garrett? What in hell's name brings you here of all places?" Jasper quizzed,

"I could say the same Major, but I can see for myself, is this your mate?" Garrett asked back to him,

"Yes! Isabella, meet Garrett an old friend of the Whitlocks and Carlisle" Jasper said quietly, still a little unsure why Garrett would be on an island that hid a magic trading post.

"Relax Major. Hello, Isabella, it's a pleasure to meet you" Garrett said bowing over Bella's hand gallantly,

"It's my pleasure," she said seeing at once how like Peter he was, just a big flirt really.

"Garrett, my love! Who are you flirting with ..., Jasper? What? Who's here with you?" Kate said panicking,

"It's okay sweetie! He's here with his mate Isabella" Garrett said pulling the stunning vampire up against his side. Making it obvious to Jasper that she was his mate.

"Mate! You're a witch? Sorry, of course, you are! Short explanation Jazz, Sasha, my sire was a witch, but she couldn't teach us, my sisters and I since we were all Succubae. But we do use some magical products to keep us looking our best!" she whispered to Jasper and Bella,

"Carlisle doesn't know, does he? I am sure Alice and Edward would have condemned you out of hand otherwise!" Jasper said hugging Kate quickly,

"We felt it best to keep that under wraps. So where is everyone?" she asked now looking around.

"It's just us and don't worry, Alice no longer lives with the Cullens. We're all in Forks now, please tell Tanya Edward met his mate in Selente, the Queen of the Fairies!" Jasper whispered back,

Both Garrett and Kate tried to stifle a laugh, but couldn't. Before long the four of them were laughing hard.

"Now Jasper, he's got a lovely pair of wings! They match his hair perfectly" Bella sniggered and they all burst out laughing again,

"Damn, that I'd love to see!" Garrett said as they all calmed down again.

Once proper introductions were made and Bella insisted only Jasper and her father called her Isabella, for them to call her Bella. They agreed it was now safe to tell Carlisle and that way they could still visit back and forth.

"We were just leaving do you need a teleport out?" Bella enquired, knowing non-magics used a portal that was always busy and they might have to queue for ages,

"That would be wonderful, thank you Bella," Kate said liking the Major's young mate right away.

Once back in Seattle they all decided to go to a club to hear some music and dance a little. Bella was really enjoying this and decided next time they should go with Char and Peter. Jasper loved how she felt about his real family; none of the Cullens had really liked them because of Alice and Edward. By the time they were ready to head home, Bella was exhausted.

"Why don't you bind yourself to me and catch some shut-eye darlin'. I'll wake you when we reach Forks" Jasper said and Bella nodded and did a hand movement that even he felt the results of,

"You can tell me tomorrow why Succubus can't do magic!" he said over his shoulder just as Bella fell asleep.

TCHBTE

Carlisle smiled knowingly and admitted he'd guessed years ago. Over the many years, they had let slip an odd saying or fact that was not quite normal for vampires. It hadn't taken Carlisle long to piece it all together. Of course, Alice and Edward had put it down to their Slavic origins. He remembered several instances now, where he had been let down by their attitude to others, it wasn't just arrogance or even ignorance, but intolerance he now realised.

He also knew in his own heart this was not his fault, because none of the others had ever felt that way about the sisters. He once again wondered if Alice really knew nothing of her past or pretended to, as she felt her roots were beneath her. Edward he knew had been a product of his era, where so much emphasis was placed on standing in the community.

Then he looked at Rose and Emmett if two people should never have been it was them. But they had scaled the social divide, because now as vampires it meant absolutely nothing to either of them. Yes, love truly had conquered all in their case. Carlisle himself had lived so long he was totally at ease in whichever human social class he found himself in.

It was irrelevant; a non-issue to him and Esme had taken a leaf out of his book and acted the doctor's wife on every level with him as the eras rolled by. Of course, being a doctor had automatically put him in a more affluent class years ago, as had Rose and Edward's fathers, being bankers and lawyers respectively. But he above anyone knew, money wasn't everything, but then he'd had many years to work it out for himself.

He was glad he wouldn't lose his friends because they now lived here in Forks. Sometimes you needed the company of like-minded people to help you see what was happening around you. Vampires were very guilty of stagnating and ignoring the ever-changing world around them. The Volturi were a prime example of that. The middle ages were a terrible and cruel time, but that was where they had finally stopped moving forward.

Carlisle shook his head, he was letting himself think too much of the past. Here in Forks was his life now and he intended to embrace it. He wasn't really needed as a doctor, so he would concentrate on research and writing all those papers he'd never got around too. He would have the time to for once prove soon of his long-held theories. He was excited about it and the others could see this and were happy for him.

TCHBTE

"So what you're sayin' is no matter what they tried to do for others it would only work on them? Because the person askin' for the spell or potion would be besotted with them! Damn, that would be awkward and slightly maddenin' too!" Jasper said as Charlie and Bella explained why the sister couldn't perform magic,

"Yes, it was decided aeons ago that Succubae would, for the human's safety, not be taught magic. Because their gifts as you vampires call it and powers as we do are not stable enough!" Charlie told the enthralled Jasper.

It was beginning to become obvious to him that many gifts were not gifts at all, but latent magic. He and Edward fell into the gift category, his natural caring nature had become empathetic and Edward's intuitiveness became mind-reading. But Alice's was surely magic; she might not have known there was magic in her background. Her power proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt.

The magical community called vampire gifts either gifts or powers. Powers were all magic-based, even when the wielder was unaware. Take Aro and Marcus Volturi, Aro's was a gift and Marcus' was a power, he was a soul reader. The same with the twins, they used their powers to commit evil, they should have been healers.

Demetri the tracker, his was a gift, whereas Heidi's was a power and like the Denali sisters one not trained. She was a Siren and they like Succubae were unstable enough to wield magic. Bella believed from what Carlisle had told her Benjamin of the Egyptian coven his was a power, just like hers. Also, it sounded like Eleazar was an aura reader; therefore his was a power too.

Peter's too she said was a power, it was a seeing of sorts and much more reliable than Alice's power. Like the Oracles at Delphi, he saw definite outcomes, not possibilities. Jasper was amazed at first and then it became obvious. They were not the only supernatural and as every vampire had once been human, well the odds were great that many had some latent magical power.

"Peter's gonna be chuffed darlin', you just proved that he doesn't have a gift! He's been tellin' us that for years, adamant that it was not a gift at all. You should make a list of all known vampires and sort them into gift or power for future reference" Jasper said happily, not knowing how important that would be in the future.

But in the meantime they just got on with their daily lives, having a couple of more dates and even double dating with Peter and Char. But tonight they were off to Seattle dancing with a crowd. Rose and Emmett asked to join them the next time they went, as did Angela and Ben along with Lauren and Austin. So it was a group of ten that set off for Seattle in a mini convoy.

What drew their attention no one was sure? Was it five vampires out with five humans, or what appeared to be humans? But on leaving the club and heading back to their cars, the group were stopped by a group of three nomads! Their confusion at the mixed eye colours of the vampires put the nomads on the defensive, was this not a feeding party after all?

But the scars on three of the five made two of the nomads apprehensive and they backed up slightly. The leader was either stupid or cocky!

"Care to share? Maybe we'll just take them from you, after all, who wines and dines their dinner it's unnatural?" he spat in disgust,

Bella immediately shielded her friends, not with a thin barrier but a thick impenetrable one. The move was almost choreographed as Peter and Charlotte flanked Jasper. Both Rose and Emmett dropped back behind their non-vampire friends in a protective stance.

"You're about to make the biggest mistake of your life!" Jasper drawled and Bella glanced over at him,

This was not her loving gentle mate jasper, this was Major Whitlock. She deadened the sound in the bubble and said,

"Lauren transfigure those four stones to look like you guys and teleport out at my signal, Austin make the illusion as real as possible. Peter a little distraction please!" she said and Jasper felt a thrill run through him at how commanding his mate was.

"Well, well! Looky here, Major. We've got ourselves a bunch of idiots! Can I play with them please, pretty please?" Peter said as all the nomads looked at him, Bella nodded to Lauren and Austin,

"They're gone," she said touching Jasper's back gently,

"You should have left too, Suga'" he murmured, but she shook her head as if to say, I think not!

"So which of you, damn fools wants to die first!" the Major asked raising an eyebrow,

The two at the back turned as if to run and hit a brick wall that wasn't there. Bella had inverted her shield over them and was in her own personal one.

"Where the fuck did the other four go" the leader yelled,

"Mind your mouth there are ladies present!" Emmett said cracking his knuckles,

"God damn it, James, I warned you! I said it felt wrong didn't I? But, Oh no, the great and almighty James knew better" The woman yelled at the leader,

"Should have listened to her dumbass!" Char said dropping into an attack crouch just waiting for Jasper word.

"Bella darlin' please go!" he said quietly,

"No, it's all or nothing baby!" she replied and he nodded understanding as she stepped back, sliding between Rose and Emmett,

"Em left, Pete right, that asshole is mine!" the Major said and the fight was on.

"Mon Dieu!" the guy with dreads said as Rose and Emmett descended on him,

"Sorry, no speaky the lingo!" Emmett said as Rose ripped off both his arms and he tore off his head.

"Now now, sweets, you're not tryin' to leave are you?" Char asked grabbing a handful of red hair and yanking the screaming bitch back to her,

As she removed the woman's head, Peter neatly stacked her suddenly dismembered body.

"Damn that's efficiency!" Emmett laughed as they all turned to watch the two men now circling each other.

Jasper was unscathed, but James was down to one arm and had gouges leaking venom everywhere.

"Lesson one son, know your enemy! Lesson two, never bite off more than you can chew! Lesson three; always make peace with your God before a fight! Finally, damn there is no lesson four, goodbye, see you in hell!" the Major drawled before finishing off the guy and stacking him neatly, just as Peter had.

The purple haze blew away quickly, in a wind Bella made happen and as they all looked around the parking lot, nobody seemed to have seen a thing. Jasper turned to his mate in slight apprehension; it was one thing wanting to know all sides of him. It was another thing altogether seeing it. But Bella was across the space and leaping into his arms before he could open his mouth.

She was running her hands all over him checking for any injury he might have received. But there were none and she sighed loudly before crashing her lips down on his in the most intense kiss they had ever shared. Peter nodded to Emmett, telling him and Rose to take Austin's car back to Forks. He and Char climbed into Jaspers and drove away leaving the two still in a passionate embrace.

"Bella?" Jasper queried,

"Hotel now! Never mind baby," she said teleporting them to the waterfall in Forks and into the little cabin that Jasper had started to build.

With a click of her fingers, a soft pallet of blankets covered the floor and Jasper laid her down gently.

Mon Dieu! (French) - My God!