A/N I know you guys are extremely pissed because I haven't updated in so long, but what with school starting and a shitload of personal issues, I just haven't had time to update XD But I'm back so hopefully my updating won't be so infrequent. So please forgive me *puppy dog eyes* There will be a huge time jump but I need things to move along a bit, just know that they all bonded and shit and look out for each other. Thanks for all the alerts and favorites and reviews, I enjoy every single one!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, SM does!

Previously

Jasper turned towards his best friend and sister, knowing this would be hard on them. "Let's get this over with."

Venom tears filled Bella's eyes but she knew that there was nothing that they could do about it. If Maria found out that they had disobeyed her, there was no telling what she would do. She comforted herself on the hope that perhaps this would give the newborns peace and that they would be in a better place.

She had to continue to repeat this mantra in her head as she tore through every newborn, alongside Jasper and Peter, trying to ignore their screams.

Chapter Five: Heartbreak

Ten years later

Bella sighed, remembering the days when it pained her to kill newborns once they outgrew their use. Now, she had been forced to do it so many times, that she was numbed of feeling anything about their demise. It had become a chore to her, one she didn't really want to do, but knew that she had to.

Because of this, she never tried to befriend a newborn, knowing that unless they had an extremely useful gift, they would be destroyed in a year or two. Unfortunately, some of the male newborns were too thickheaded to realize this.

…All right, she would admit that she was only talking about one. The only newborn that seemed to not be intimidated by her brother or Peter. Damien.

Admittedly, he was markedly more handsome than most of the vampires she'd seen. He had short dark hair and a well-defined musculature. This was balanced by a sort of carefree nature that only disappeared when he was in battle. He was one of their better fighters, but still no match for her. He was reaching his two-year mark, but he most likely wouldn't be destroyed for one reason and one reason only. His gift.

With just one look into his eyes, he could make you do anything he wanted. This didn't surprise her, she was sure that this was just part of who he was. Even though her mental shield blocked him, she sometimes felt as if it worked on her too.

This, of course, annoyed her to no end as it made her feel weaker in that he held some sort of influence over her. And she made damned sure that he had no idea of this fact.

But, back to the problem at hand. Damien. He was constantly following her around and trying to start conversation. It seemed that she had picked his interest when he discovered that his gift didn't work on her as he tried to get out of training.

It seemed that he was at least attempting to be sneaky about it, walking several paces behind her and wandering around aimlessly.

Bella spotted Peter up ahead and made her way over to him. Her heart ached whenever she saw him, knowing that he would never want to be with her as more than a friend. Over the past years, he had clearly avoided her as much as possible, which only made the pain in her heart worsen. Ever since that kiss, things just hadn't been the same with them. Even if she just tried to start a conversation with him, he would only give her short responses before making some excuse to take off.

The funny thing was that around other vampires, he was very protective of her, especially when those vampires were males. After battles, he would check her over for injuries before stalking off in a fury.

As she approached him now, he looked ready to escape, but his gaze hardened as he saw that Damien was trailing behind her.

Hmmm…Peter doesn't like Damien? She filed this information away for later.

Walking up to Peter, she struggled to conceal the pain in her voice. "Hello, Peter. How are you doing?" She knew that he had gone on a mission with Jasper to follow up on rumors that someone was preparing to attack them.

He broke his glare with Damien to meet her eyes. "It was fine. Turned out to be just a rumor. If you'll excuse me, Jasper asked me to do something." He took off without a backwards glance.

Bella's shoulders fell and she took deep breaths as she fought to control her gift. No one else was supposed to know about it except for Peter and Jasper.

Her concentration was so focused, that she nearly jumped when she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder. It was Damien.

"He doesn't know what he is missing. Even I can see how remarkable a creature you are."

Bella took in a deep shuddering breath. "I understand. After what happened to me, I shouldn't expect him to want anything to do with me."

Damien growled under his breath. "I don't know what exactly was done to you, but I can guess. And based on that, I'll say that whatever happened to you was no fault of your own. I'd say it's made you a stronger person for it. And if he can't see that, he's denser than I thought."

Bella laughed, realizing that maybe he wasn't as bad as she thought. "I'm afraid he'll probably never notice me as any more than his best friend's sister."

Damien chuckled. "I highly doubt that's true, based on the nasty looks he was shooting me."

Bella shook her head. "He thinks of me as a little sister. He's probably just being protective."

Damien didn't look convinced. "May I suggest to you a wager?"

Bella glanced at him warily. "I'm listening."

Damien winked at her. "Pretend that we are...together, and see how long it takes for him to show his interest."

Bella almost said no immediately. But the longer she thought about it, the more she wished Peter would see her as she saw him. "All right. It's a deal."

Damien held out his hand for her to shake it and she did, though somewhat grudgingly.

As they walked back to camp, he put his arm around her shoulders and she fought the instinct to rip it off. It felt wrong but if this is what she had to do to get Peter, she would.

Peter stormed into camp and burst into Jasper's tent, barely controlling his temper. Jasper looked up from his battle plans, but decided to let him vent for a bit. He sighed; it wasn't too hard to figure out why he was angry. Damien.

"I hate that kid. Always trailing around Bella like a goddamned puppy. Isn't that strange to you?"

Jasper raised an eyebrow. "Jealous?" He usually tried to stay out of the complicated relationship between Peter and his sister, but sometimes it just frustrated him that it was so obvious that the two were head over heels in love with each other, and yet neither of them realized it.

Peter stopped his pacing and looked at him in shock. "N-no. I'm just worried about her. Shouldn't you be worried? She is your sister after all."

Jasper shrugged. "She can take care of herself. And so what if she decides to get involved with the kid."

Peter almost spluttered. "Are you fucking kidding me? He isn't..and…he's not good enough for her!"

Jasper nodded. "And you are?"

"Yes. I mean no." Peter sat down on the ground heavily. "I like her, I definitely do. But, she sees me as a friend, maybe even a brother. And I don't want to jeopardize our friendship. Plus, there's no telling what Maria will do if she finds out."

Jasper almost wanted to smack Peter upside the head and then force him and Bella inside a room until they dealt with their shit. "So you decide to stay away from her and make you both miserable."

Peter grimaced. "It's better this way."

Jasper became serious. "For you or for her?"

Peter sighed. "I don't know."

Peter and Jasper walked outside the tent, knowing that Maria would be back soon. Bella and Damien arrive seconds later and Jasper mutters a "Fuck!" and prepares himself for the outburst.

Peter follows his gaze and sees that Damien has his arm around Bella and she appears to be perfectly content with that. He sees red. "Bella, what the hell are you doing with him! I thought you didn't like him."

Bella raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so you do listen to me when I'm talking to you and you just stand there. Interesting. And besides, I don't see that it's any of your business."

Peter narrowed his eyes. "The hell it is! You're my-"

Bella interrupted him. "Your what? Friend? That hardly means you have a say in my life."

Peter clenched his fists and spat out words he would come to regret. "Fine. Fuck him. I don't care. But don't expect me to pick up the pieces again when he hurts you."

Bella felt a prickling sensation in her eyes and knew that this was the closest she'd ever get to being in tears. "You asshole! How dare you compare what happened to me to..this!" They felt just a hint of her pain before she took off into the desert.

Peter realized what he had just said and was about to take off after her to apologize when a fist smashed into his face, causing cracks to appear on his face. Looking up, he saw Jasper staring down at him furiously. "I try to remain somewhat neutral in this situation because I care about you both, but you went too far and you know it. Fix this. Because if Bella goes back to how she was before, I will kill you Peter."

Peter nodded and stood up, wincing slightly as his face healed, before taking off after Bella.

Damien watched the scene in amusement, biding his time.

Peter knew where he'd find Bella. The place where everything had changed. The clearing. As he approached, he collapsed, feeling the radiating pain that made him just want to walk into a fire and end his life. This is what she was feeling? Peter realized that perhaps this aspect of Bella's gift was stronger than they'd thought.

"Bella! Reign that shit in!"

Bella startled and quickly pulled her emotions back into herself. "What do you want Peter?"

Peter winced at the venom in her voice. "Look Bella, I'm sorry I said those things. I didn't mean it, I was just angry."

Bella took a deep breath. "Why were you angry?"

Peter frowned. "Because I care about you and you shouldn't be with that kid. He's nothing but trouble."

Bella huffed. "Why do you care, Peter?"

Peter sighed. "Isabella. Don't. We've been through this."

Bella glared at him. "Why not? Do you or do you not have feelings for me?"

Peter pinched the bridge of his nose. "Isabella, it would never work out. Maria would use our relationship against us, and I just can't risk anything happening to you."

Bella ran her hand through her hair in frustration. "We could get around it! Maria isn't even at camp that much!"

Peter was shaking his head before she even finished. "She has spies everywhere, Bella. You know that. If there was any indication that we were more, she'd put a stop to it and fast."

Bella knew he was right and slumped her shoulders in defeat. "Where does that leave us?"

Peter slid closer to her and bumped shoulders. "I'd say the best of friends."

Bella smiled, but her heart wasn't in it.

They sat in silence for a while and she thought about their situation. If they wouldn't be able to pursue their relationship until they were out of Maria's clutches, she wanted something good to come out of it.

Fueled with this determination, she turned to Peter. "Make love to me."

Peter stiffened. "Isabella…"

Bella wouldn't be turned down this time. "Just this once, Peter. I don't want to be haunted by the memory of what he did to me, forever. I need something to replace that with and you're the only one I trust enough to do it. Please Peter. After I will be nothing more than a friend to you."

Peter's resolve wavered for just a second, but that was all she needed. Bella moved in closer and her lips met his. Sparks flew the moment their lips touched and Peter groaned, pulling her even closer to him.

They tumbled to the ground, lips meeting lips in a dance that seemed all too familiar to them. Peter's tongue swept her lips, and she granted him entrance. She moaned and grabbed his hair as he flipped them over, trailing kisses down her throat, he ripped her bodice open and she arched her back when his lips brushed against her sensitive nipples.

When his tongue made contact, she cried out, which only seemed to spur him on. His hand began to trail to her pants before they too were ripped off.

Bella felt a breeze and judging by the tearing sound, she knew that Peter had managed to take off the rest of her clothes.

Peter paused his ministrations and looked down at her. With her glistening skin and wild hair spread out in a halo around her, she looked like a goddess. He growled as he smelled her arousal and bent down once more to kiss her. His hand trailed down her side until he was stroking her inner thigh.

Bella moaned. "Please Peter."

Peter smirked and removed his shirt and pants. He smirked even more when he heard Bella's sharp intake of breath and darkening eyes as she looked him over. He was about to ask her if she liked what she saw when she pounced.

Bella grinned down at him. "It's not good to keep a lady waitin'."

Peter rolled her over again and ducked his head. "My apologies, ma'am."

Bella giggled but was silenced with his lips. He kissed her for a few more minutes but stopped when she started laughing again.

Peter narrowed his eyes at her. "This isn't exactly the time to be laughin'."

Bella bit her lip to stop laughing. "I'm sorry, Peter. But can we get a move on? You're kinda pokin' me and I must say I'd prefer it if you were in me."

Peter sighed. "No patience at all, I see."

She was about to object when he suddenly entered her and she forgot what she had been meaning to say.

Peter struggled to stay still while she adjusted to his size, but she was so warm and tight that he felt that if she didn't give him the okay soon, he would die from sexual frustration.

Bella lifted her hips and pushed him even more inside of her and Peter groaned even more as her internal muscles squeezed him.

Peter set a slow pace, sliding in and out of her heat, before it became too much and he began to pound into her. Bella's moans got louder and louder, until it turned into screams. "Yes! Peter! Oh God! Faster!"

He complied, almost slamming into her, a part of him shouting MINE MINE MINE! Bella was shouting his name, clutching him to her, her nails digging into his back. He was close, so close, but he wanted to make sure she came as well.

Without reducing his speed, his fingers moved in between them and he began pinching her clit sharply. She screamed his name louder than ever before. "PETER!" Her muscles clamped down on him hard and he too yelled out a, "Bella!" and emptied himself into her.

They stayed connected for a little while until he gently slid out of her and collapsed into the ground beside her, taking much needed breaths.

Bella seemed dazed for a bit, but turned to him. "That was amazing."

He could only nod in response and they laid there in silence, just watching the sun set.

As the sky began to darken, Peter sat up, a cold mask settling over his face. He pulled on his pants and tossed her his shirt. "We need to get back to camp."

A hurt look flashed across her face before she covered it up and steeled herself. Without a word, she slipped on the shirt and trudged back to camp, Peter waiting a few minutes before following.

Bella stormed back into camp, ignoring the surprised looks that Jasper gave her, as she went into her tent.

Peter arrived not too long after and shook his head at Jasper's questioning glance as he went into his own tent.

The next morning, Maria arrived and ordered everyone to meet her at the center of camp. Bella walked beside Jasper and Peter as they pushed themselves to the front of the crowd.

Maria smiled coldly at them. "Ah, Major and my Captains. I have a surprise for you."

Bella grimaced, not sure she wanted whatever it was.

Maria ignored their wary glances and stepped aside to reveal a rather short and petite vampire. She had short and curly blond hair and seemed innocent enough until you looked into her eyes. There was a calculating look in them and her shifty eyes moved around before locking eyes with Peter. She smiled warmly at him and Bella had to fight back a growl.

Peter himself seemed entranced, his eyes not leaving hers, which made Bella even angrier.

Maria seemed nonplussed and continued on. "Now, I want you to take good care of Charlotte, she is very special to me. She will help you to keep control of the newborns, but she still needs more training. See to it she gets it. I'll be back in two weeks to see your progress." And with that done, she left camp to do whatever it is she does when she's not there.

Charlotte pranced over to Peter and touched his arm, her wide innocent eyes looking up at him adoringly. "Will I be staying with you?"

Bella hissed. "You will have your own tent just like the rest of us."

Charlotte scowled at her but turned back to Peter. "Will my tent be next to yours?"

Peter shook his head. "It will be a couple of tents down, but if you need any help…you can ask me?"

Charlotte smiled. "Wonderful."

Jasper had to restrain Bella from ripping her eyes out as Peter took Charlotte to get settled in.

Later that night, Bella sat in her tent, reading a book she'd stolen while they were in town under the lamplight. Hearing moans coming from outside, she laughed, glad that at least her brother seemed to be happy. She shuddered as soon as she thought it, that was just disgusting.

Deciding to go ask Peter if he wanted to hunt, she left her tent to go to his. The sight she saw stopped her in her tracks. The moans were coming from Peter's tent, and there was no mistaking those curls and his figure.

Her heart tore open and her pain radiated throughout the entire camp. Newborns stumbled out of their tents, snarling in pain, while Jasper was forced to the ground by it. The mixing of their two abilities was too much for him. Peter and Charlotte could barely move. Finally, the pain slowly ebbed away and they were able to get their bearings.

Peter froze from inside the tent, knowing what happened immediately. He was about to leave, when Charlotte pulled him down on top of her. "Stay with me."

Peter shook his head. "She needs me. I have to apologize."

Charlotte grabbed his head and looked into his eyes. "No you don't. You want to stay here with me."

Peter's eyes clouded over. "I..want..to..stay here with you."

Charlotte smiled and nodded. "That's right."

A/N Yup, a cliffhanger. Where has Bella gone? And what's up with Charlotte? What will Jasper do? Review review review and you'll find out XD