A/N: Found a solution to avoid any other P.O.V lol xx Doing places in Texas for my Facebook group xx Alexis

I was sittin' in a tree; it's becomin' a habit here in Forks for some reason. I was close enough to feel Bella's emotional signature, but not hear her voice. I'm her mate for heaven's sake, not her jailer! I was just leanin' back soakin' up Bella's emotions when my cell buzzed.

'Take my call, but say nothing. Love you x'

So I do exactly as she says and hear a bratty male voice demand,

"Who are you texting?"

"What's it got to do with you Jakey?" Bella asked snarkily,

I hear a slight struggle and then a sharp intake of air and a very girly yelp.

"Why the fuck did you do that Bells?" he whimpered,

"Well Jakey, dad told me if someone bigger than me ever tried to steal something of mine, to elbow them where it would hurt the most!" she replied tryin' not to laugh,

"Isabella!" her father censured,

"What dad? Are you saying if a family friend of yours, attacks me I shouldn't fight back? I thought you were a better father and cop than that. You do know the statistics of how many women are physically abused and raped by close friends and family? Do you tell them not to fight back too?" she snaps right back at him and I hear him blusterin',

"I never said that! Don't twist my words to suit yourself! This is supposed to be a celebration" he said soundin' embarrassed,

"Yes, it is a celebration, for me! But strangely I'm the one being berated; you sure know how to ruin a birthday dad! Oh, and just in case you were going to rug sweep it, neither you nor Uncle Billy has said one thing to this child, about him trying to take my phone without my permission!" she replied harshly,

Both men immediately drew in a breath of shock, did they think she wasn't aware. Both tried to say somethin' as an excuse but exhaled sharply when Bella said,

"Way too little and far too late. Now if you'll excuse me, there are a million places I'd much rather be right now! Oh and Jakey, who I was texting before, that would be my boyfriend!" Bella said as all three gasped,

I heard her father call her name as she walked towards the door, but she didn't stop or turn around. But she did say very loudly for everyone in the Lodge to hear,

"What are you going to do Chief? Arrest me for wanting a life of my own outside of Forks?"

I waited until she turned the corner and swooped down and scooped her up takin' her home.

"You okay darlin'?" I asked as we arrived at her house,

"Yup, let's blow this town before I do something really stupid!" she says sadly,

"Bring what you want; it can go in the back of Pete's truck. I'll get my bike and be back in five minutes" I tell her and she nods,

I was back in three, but her father was there as well. Did he break the speed limit to get back so quick? He was livid and yellin' at Bella about embarrassin' him and the Blacks in public. Beratin' his daughter who just stood there lookin' at him with obvious disgust on her face. This, of course, made him angrier and he threatened her with everythin' he could think of and she laughed in his face.

"Two points dad! One, I'm eighteen; I need your permission for nothing anymore! I do what I want to do, not what you would force me to do!

Two, my mother had legal custody of me up until today, so if I needed permission I would ask her and not you, thank God! "She spat savagely at him and it stopped him in his tracks,

Looks like he's finally seen the damage his ridiculous attitude has caused, she barely likes him anymore!

"Bells! I...," he tailed of not knowin' how to fix this mistake before it ruined his plan,

"Save it, dad. But your unhealthy obsession with having Jacob Black as part of your family is out of control! So much so, you have pushed your only daughter away because of it!

I hope you can live with your choice because I will never return to Forks. Not to live, not to visit, I will never again set foot here and it's your fault!" she said pickin' up her bags,

Painful as it was to feel his heart breakin', it was his own doin' and now he had to live with that decision. He staggered to the door as she threw her cases in the back of Peter's truck and I handed her a helmet. He couldn't see my face or in their tinted windows either.

"Who are these people Isabella?" he demands,

"None of your concern Charlie!" she says,

This is as she starts to mount the bike behind me and he makes to grab her arm. I grab his instead and sneered,

"What emotional abuse not enough for you, gonna make it physical now? For a cop, you ain't that smart!"

He rears back lookin' at his hands and just crumpled to the ground sobbin'.

"I..., But..., It was..., I just wanted...," he spluttered almost unintelligible,

"Yeah, but I didn't dad!" Bella retorted as I hit the gas,

WAITWNTW

'Hi mom, just to let you know I left Forks early! Charlie's not happy! I don't care'

Bella texted her mom as we stopped for gas and food for her. We were headin' to our home to Texas. I truly felt sad for her, but she couldn't help the way her father behaved. The man acted like an idiot and then seemed surprised when she wouldn't comply with his ridiculous demands! It was barely five minutes before her cell rang.

"Oh, sweetie! He really is an old fool, I told him you were never going to stay in Forks. Of course, he wouldn't listen, he never did! I'm sorry I let you go now" Renee Dwyer said to her daughter,

"No mom, it wasn't all bad. Just the Jacob Black bit!" Bella replied,

"I never told you this, but one of the reasons I left was him pushing the tribe down my throat! I was friends with Angela, Jessica and Lauren's mums, but he wanted me to be friends with Sue Clearwater and Sarah Black only.

Well, Sue and I hated each other! So it helped me decide to leave and then Sarah died and I knew he would have made me care for Billy if I'd stayed!" Renee said sighin', glad to get it off her chest,

"Jeez mom, what's his deal with the tribe?" Bella asked confused,

"Ah, well! Molly Swan wasn't the first to marry into the tribe. So Charlie is maybe a quarter Quileute, or maybe an eighth, you know Biology isn't my thing. Anyway, whereas some ignored them, like his own grandparents, others embraced the connection.

Molly of course did, and now your dad! But he took it to the point he wanted to literally force you to marry Jacob Black and finally he'd have a strong family connection to his second cousin William Black!" her mom explained,

"Why doesn't he just marry into the tribe?" Bella asked,

"Oh, he tried! Before me, he wanted to marry Sue, but her parents refused him and married her off to Harry Clearwater!" Renee spat,

"Aha! That's why she hated you!" Bella sniggered and Renee burst out laughin',

"Anyway, are you staying in Texas before going to Greece? Send me your address sweetie, so I can send out your Christmas presents. Now let's talk boys! Is there someone in your life? Who did you leave Forks with?" Renee quizzed,

"Mom! Okay about the address it'll be a PO Box and yes I'll be in Texas near the Uni. About the boy, he's not a boy, he's a man. He's from Texas and he's called Jasper" Bella says and I'm surprised at how vague she was,

"Ooh, a real-life cowboy you lucky girl! I'll need a picture as proof, I'm so jealous" Renee sighs,

"Mom, you bagged a ball player. Looks like we both lucked out. We're about to hit the road again, speak later mom" Bella told her before they ended the call,

"Wow, your mom's somethin' else," Peter said and Char nodded,

"Yeah, less is more with Renee. She fills in the gaps herself" Bella said laughin',

She turned to me and winked.

"Get on the bike sexy and I'll snap a picture for mom," she said huskily and I complied.

I slid my shades on to cover my eyes and smirked at her from the seat of my bike. She actually moaned and if we weren't in the middle of a busy gas station I'd have taken her here on my Harley. Peter threw me my hat from inside the truck and I placed it on my head just as Bella was about to take the shot.

"Damn!" was all she said and Peter and Char laughed,

Her mother's response was exactly the same 'Damn!' I feel kinda embarrassed when people react like that to me; it's not what I'm used to. Yes, when I was human, but not since becomin' a vampire. The rest of the journey was quiet and easy. Her dad didn't have her number, not because she didn't offer it, but because he stupidly thought he would never need it. Charlie Swan never thought she would leave, but Bella was more like her mother than he realised and they both refused to be pawns in his idiotic game! Well, maybe wakin up alone in the future will make him realise his mistakes?

WAIYWNTW

I was so happy when we reached the spread in Texas, we came in through El Paso and I promised her we would come back and see much more once she was settled at our place. Bella loved the homestead and her happiness was makin' me project it. Peter and Char were smilin' so big because of her reaction. She just leant on my arm and kicked off her boots at the door as if she'd been doin' it for years. It was that easy, Bella fitted into our dynamic, even as a human. Char was just stoked she would have another female to go shoppin' with, includin' Christmas shoppin'. So between now and when we needed to leave that's what we all did, fannin' out in all four directions. Lettin' Bella see what Texas had to offer and she was more than happy with it. Startin' with Frisco, then Kilgore and finally Ennis.

We would do the larger cities later, but we wanted her to see what small-town Texas had to offer. As it was the middle of September, everywhere was headin' for the run-up to Thanksgivin'. I wondered if she wanted to go to her mother's place for it. It's not like we can join her in the eatin' anyway! But she says she is quite happy to stay here and eat out on the deck or by the fire pit. That way we could all be together while she ate if that's what she wanted, I'm happy when she'd happy. We are normally together at all these big events; it's kinda like a throwback from when we were human. Of course, we don't act as if we are human or anythin' like that, but we use it as a time to reconnect and reaffirm our bonds as a coven. The fact we will be two couples now is so much better, I hate feelin' like a third wheel, even when they say I'm not!

The next few weeks were all about Bella gettin' acquainted with the area and us all settlin' into a routine. I had nowhere to be and no business needin' dealt with. Several notifications came in from Italy, some good, some ridiculous! But I answered promptly and refuted most of the crap comin' from Edward Masen and Carlisle Cullen. Alice, it appeared found kindred spirits in Heidi and Chelsea and joined the guard without a backward glance at Carlisle. Well, he treated her badly concernin' the money she made for them, so he deserved it! Edward was refusin' to admit he wasn't a Cullen and childishly refused to answer to his own name! Aro has still not even acknowledged that they are even there in Volterra, who knows what he's playin' at.

The place must be full with the three of them and now the Denali's. I'm sure that would be hell, all those prima donnas in one place, Caius must be goin' insane by now. Well, it's not my business until it is my business! Meanwhile, we are into November and Bella has heard from her mother that she tore a strip off of Charlie Swan. Askin' him if he was happy now havin' driven away his whole family? Not just his wife but his daughter too! She told him he was a ridiculous fool and when Jacob finally finds the right girl for him, he will be thrown aside just like they were. That he'll be a joke and Jacob will answer when asked about him, Charlie who? That will be when he finally sees what he's done, but it will be too late because she and Bella have moved on and are livin' their best lives without him!

Peter and Char have gone to hunt and Bella is happily redecoratin' our room. It was very male-orientated before and I insisted she makes it her own too. Funnily enough, our tastes are very similar and like me, the books are most important to her. Whereas I just had the shelves and read on the bed. Bella designed a window seat, which I gladly built. I enjoy workin' with wood and she loved the carvin's I suggested and ordered some comfy cushions for it. Seein' her things mixed in with mine was the best feelin', one I didn't know I needed. It a strange thing matin' one minute you're on your own and next you have a partner you can't live without. So the room is more homely and feels like it has a heart now. I wish I could fall asleep with her every night, but her serenity does give me a wonderful sense of calm that I enjoy immensely.

We have seriously talked about what it will feel like for her once I'm gone. I just hope it isn't too painful for her because I'm guessin' it might be for me! I will stop by as often as I can and she could meet me in some of the places, with Peter and Char of course! We'll just have to play it by ear and pray everythin' goes alright. These years will be hard, but once we get Master Marcus' backin' and protection things should be good. I will kill to protect her and I hope everyone is aware of that! Well, that will be soon, but we've Thanksgivin' first and more explorin' of Texas to do. I'm really enjoyin' showin' Bella around my home state, she's like a sponge and just soaks everythin' up. We've already done Seguin, George West and Rockport.

We have been savin' the bigger and biggest cities like San Antonio, Austin and Dallas for stayin' over and final Christmas shoppin'. Bella had insisted on gettin' a gift for Master Marcus and had found an antique lookin' leather bound journal, with a quill and ink set. Insistin' on havin' an engraved plaque on the front with the lines,

φαίνεταί μοι

φαίνεταί μοι κῆνος ἴσος θέοισιν
ἔμμεν᾽ ὤνηρ, ὄττις ἐνάντιός τοι
ἰσδάνει καὶ πλάσιον ἆδυ φωνεί-
σας ὐπακούει

(Sappho 31 That man seems to me to be equal to the gods who is sitting opposite you and hears you nearby speaking sweetly)

We were pickin' the plaque up in Greece, not trustin' anyone here who didn't speak the language or understand the nuances to do it! I know Bella sees this as a reference to Master Marcus and his late wife Didyme, it was never about vampires and humans, but it fits all the same! I had told her all I knew and Lord knows that's not much at all. Bella seems to have picked up that their love; their lives together had been one for the ages. That love all others try to attain and fail miserably at. The heartbreak of being the one left behind was still there inside of him and as fresh and painful as the day he lost her! On the outside, he is calm and serene, but on the inside it a heartbroken vampire screamin' in agony at the loss of his one true mate!

I pray that this fate never befalls me, because I know I would walk into a pyre of my own makin' and gladly embrace death. Yet he is still here, not through his own choice, but because Aro had him bound to him and Caius by usin' Chelsea's gift. I find it inordinately cruel and every time I'm in Volterra I project his feelin's onto the two of them. That might be why they cut down my visits, not wantin' to be reminded of their own failin's and refusal to let the poor soul go! I would truly miss him, but if he asked me to kill him, I would do it! I have a feelin' that they have prevented him from askin' the guard, specifically Demetri. But I would not be in that and as far as I could make out from Chelsea herself tryin' to change the original bond would break it.

WAIYWNTW

Well, we had thought Bella's father would have given up but not so. Peter told us he has put an official block on her passport. Obviously tryin' to stop her from goin' to Greece, but we put a rush on an adult adoption and she is now Isabella Marie Dwyer and Charlie Swan could do nothin' to stop it, she is no longer known as his daughter, but is now Philip Dwyer's! What little tenuous hold he had has been completely severed and he will receive the official documents whilst we are in Greece. Maybe finally he will grasp what he did, but I doubt it. Bella is no longer any of his concern, we could have gotten her a fake one, but this is safer and will be a slap in the face to Charlie Swan. The man is seriously startin' to annoy me with his childish antics.

Everyone was packed and ready to go, Renee and Phil's presents were sent and Bella opened hers from them early. She received a top-of-the-range camera from her mom and new dad and she was so excited to use it. I hope she likes my presents, I had already gotten her a cowboy hat to shade her eyes from the Texas sun, but now she would have the boots too. Real handmade leather boots designed to last and a belt with the Whitlock crest on the buckle. I know she doesn't like shows of wealth for no reason and well, neither do we really. Money was a necessary commodity for a very long life, but out here it would be ridiculous to be rubbin' it in folk's faces, they'd laugh and call us assholes! That's what I couldn't understand about the Cullens, it was as if they wanted people to hate them.

This will be Bella's first trip abroad and her excitement is rubbin' off on all of us. After so long you can become jaded, so she is helpin' us to see old things with new eyes. We were flyin' out from Austin headin' to Athens. That's a place Bella must see, it is so beautiful especially as the sun sets. We'll stay a couple of days and then head to the island of Los to meet up with Master Marcus and Demetri. Christmas will be spent there and we have rented a villa and organised Christmas dinner for Bella, well I arranged it for two people because it seemed abjectly sad to order for one! We arrived in Athens in the evenin' that way we didn't need to hide from the sun. But even at night the city was amazin' and lit up for tourists to see. Bella was clutchin' my arm and gaspin' at the sheer beauty and age of things around her here.

It totally puts the youth of our own country's people into perspective; we are indeed very young in the grand scheme of things. This country's great civilisation had risen and fallen before we even were a mere thought in the minds of the Europeans! But it was so amazin' and beggared believe that it was still standin' after all this time had passed. In Master Marcus' time, he was born in 1350 BCE, it was a thrivin' Empire and he was there for all of it being changed in 1331 BCE approx. But losin' his mate around 1000 BCE made everythin' feel like nothin' to him. He was there for the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE and the three-hundred-year drought which brought the Mediterranean to its knees. Finally, the Romans conquerin' them in 146 BCE and on and on and he could not care less.

It's staggerin' how one person or should that be vampire could see so much, thankfully he found solace eventually in the documentin' of history from a vampire's view.

Sappho 31 is an archaic Greek lyric poem by the ancient Greek poet Sappho. This is fragment 31 of a possible 200 or more. The translation above is one of many and no two are the same!