AN: I am SO sorry about this massive delay in updating. RL is a bitch! And I know this chappie is short, but I had to end it where it ends, it just seemed right. I also want to say a huge thank you to Mynxi for her rec of this story on her story, A True Mate's Heart, she's amazing, and if you haven't checked her stuff out yet you should as soon as you've R&R'd this chapter. =] Alright, without further ado I will leave you to the story.
Disclaimer: SM owns all, I just like being a puppeteer with her characters.

"I don't want to talk about Peter, Jay." I growled stepping around my mate and pulling the bedding off the bed, stripping it bare.

"What're you doing Darlin'?" Jasper sighed from behind me.

"I'm clearing this room of that bitch." I replied throwing the final pillow to the floor. "Oh yeah, just what was Maria doing in here anyway?" OK, I was feeling insecure and childish, but that really wasn't the point right now, she had been here with my mate, touching him.

"She was trying to convince me to go back to her." Jasper explained coolly, presumably picking up on my typically newborn emotional climate which was oscillating wildly between my desire to reclaim my mate and the desire to find Maria and rip her into tiny little pieces. The latter seemed like the most fun at this moment in time. "Calm down Sugar."

"Has saying 'calm down', ever worked Jasper?" I snarked; glancing at him before turning back to the bare mattress and contemplating throwing it out of the window.

"Occasionally." He sighed coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. I pulled away from him, wrinkling my nose in disgust.

"You need to shower before you come anywhere near me, her scent is all over you, it's sickening." With a dutiful nod he turned away from me and headed into the bathroom. I waited until I heard him step under the water before I tossed the mattress off the bed. It might not have been out of the window but it was better than nothing and alleviated some of my anger.

Four minutes sixteen seconds later Jasper emerged back in the bedroom, slightly damp but fully dressed in a new outfit. "Feelin' better Darlin'?"

"No. Can't I just set fire to this whole place? That'd make me feel better." I pouted from my seat in the armchair beside the bed.

"'Fraid not Sug." He chuckled perching on the edge of the bed.

"Am I being irrational?"

"Yes."

"Do you at least find it mildly cute?"

"It's incredibly cute Bella. And it's refreshing to see you act your age for once. It's a little unnerving to see you so in control all the time."

"You knew I was abnormal when we started this thing Jay, you can't back out now." My insecurity was back again.

"No one's backing out. I'm in this way over my head and in this forever."

"Good." I smiled softly. "Now some rationality has returned to my brain can we talk about this meeting we have to attend?"

"Sure thing. What specifically did you want to talk about?"

"Just how pissed is the megawhore going to be when she realises I'm the Colonel Peter told her about?" I asked with a feigned innocent curiosity, making Jasper chuckle.

"Incredibly. You're going to shatter what little belief she still has that we're still loyal to her."

"Yay." I grinned.

"Anything else?"

"Nope. I'll follow your lead for the rest of it, for the most part."

"Alright, now can I ask you a question?"

"Ask away."

"Did you ever think I might still have feelings for Maria?"

"Honestly? I was afraid you did, but I never really believed that you did. Does that make sense? I felt like I could've been walking into my own worst nightmare, but I knew, somewhere deep inside, that I never was." Jasper nodded, kissing my forehead lightly.

"It makes sense, in it's own special 'Bella' kind of way. But you know I only love you right?"

"Of course I do, doofus. Doesn't stop the occasional bout of insecurity, but it helps shoo it away."

"Good." We didn't say much after that, we just sat and watched the morning light creep into the bedroom, climbing the walls and making the stark white soften into a haze of yellow, orange and pink. It was glorious, but much to short. Sooner than I liked we had to get ready to face Maria and her meeting.

Jasper had decided to wear all black, so black shirt, black jeans, black boots. And damn did he look good, though he didn't appreciate it when I told him he'd be beating Edward on the emo front if he just wore a littl ebit of eyeliner.

I settled on some grey skinny jeans, a blue corset top with white detailing and a pair of brown knee high cowboy boots. We met Peter and Charlotte in the hallway, Pete didn't meet my eyes while Charlotte was grinning at me with a gleam in her eyes.

"Let's get this over with." I growled, feeling the tension in the corridor without even being an empath, and it was setting me on edge. I started down the stairs, and noticed a few of the things Jasper had mentioned when he'd told me how I was the Colonel. I held my head high, and felt a sense of strength and determination flowing through me. I wasn't the scared little girl Edward had left in the forest anymore, I was a vampire, mated to the God of War, and every bit worthy to stand beside him. And with that knowledge I walked into Maria's drawing room, followed by Jasper, Peter and Charlotte.

I noted the sense of pride emanating from Jasper, but ignored it for now. I had also noted the two lackeys Maria had stationed in the corner of the room, and the way she was frowning, presumably at my leading the group into the room. Jasper chose that moment to speak.

"Maria, may I introduce you to The Colonel." Maria shifted her eyes from me to Jasper, then back to me. Disbelief shining in her eyes.

"You can't be serious Jasper. This cow eyed little girl is no more a colonel than I am a common whore." I bit back a laugh.

"Well, I wouldn't say you were common, but whore? Sounds about right." I smirked at my mates sires.

"You...!" She leapt at me, not a wise move. I dodged her without thinking and grabbed her arm as she passed me, pulling her back flush to my front, one hand on her arm the other at her throat.

"That's not a nice way to treat your guest." I growled in her ear, my teeth in easy reach of her throat, and I was fighting every primal instinct I had to not rip it out. "Listen, and listen good. I am The Colonel, whether you like it or not. Jasper isn't yours. He hasn't been for a very long time. He's my Major, and Peter is Charlotte's mate, and my Captain. We will help you in this effort of yours, but only because Jasper feels he owes it to you, once this is over, you will never contact us again. Understand?" I felt her swallow against my hand before nodding. "Good." I released her with a small shove, not wanting her near me any longer than necessary.

"Go Colonel!" Char called out from behind me, making me smile slightly as I turned to glance at her. I caught Jay's eye for a moment and felt a wave of love and pride wash over me, it was truly staggering, and I only just managed to remain on my feet.

Turning back to Maria I spoke again. "Now, shall we get started?"