On our way to wherever the fuck we were going, I asked the driver to make a quick stop so that I could pick up something for my girl. I didn't know exactly what to get her that said a big enough 'Sorry I fucked up", but I didn't want to show up empty handed after this either. Well, when dealing with a female, I went with new clothes. On top of the fact that my girl looked bangin' in a pair of low riding jeans and corset style top, she was a newborn that went through clothing like a fat man went through cake.

After being called a kissass and giving Jasper the finger, we were once again on our way. I spent the last leg of the drive going over what I was gonna say to Izzy because I really didn't know how pissed off at me she was right now. This was the longest... hell, the only time that we have not been together since she woke up, barring two feedings on my part, and I was feeling a little twitchy, but I wasn't about to get all touchy feely if she was pissy. I knew better than that when it came to the young ones.

When we pulled up to the hotel that Aro was staying at, Demetri looked at all of us, "from here on, you are on your own. I have something I must tend to. Master Aro is waiting for you in the pool area with Miss. Izzy." As he got out of the car, he turned back and smirked a little, "Good luck to you." With that, he was gone leaving us to face our fate.

I didn't have the highest hopes with this.

We headed inside, none of the three of us in any hurry to have this talk with Aro, but at the same time knowing that we really shouldn't keep him waiting; not with as much trouble as we were already in. So, through the hotel to the pool we went, foreboding settling into my gut. I felt that this was going to be fine in the end, but this exact moment in time, I wasn't going to put too much stock into that since the last time I figured it would be alright, I ended up in jail for the night.

Pausing at the door to prepare ourselves for round two with Aro, I opened the door and walked inside, my eyes finding my mate immediately on the diving board. That was either Heidi's suit or Aro took Izzy shopping last night because that wasn't something I bought her. However, it is something I am keeping in mind when, or IF, we ever make it to Colorado. My girl looked even more fuckable than normal at the moment. The suit itself was black, a stark contrast to her pale flesh, covering only enough for me to not kill the other three males present for how much skin was showing.

I liked it.

I was pulled from her by the sound of a throat clearing, making me swallow a growl and close my eyes. 'Must not snarl at the king. Must not snarl at the king.'' Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes and glanced off to the far side of the room to where Aro was seated in a chair with a book and a beer. Huh, guess for him it was never too early either.

He didn't look up from the pages, just lifted a hand and crooked a finger at us, indicating for us to quit lollygagging and get our asses moving. WIth one more look at my mate, just in time to see her take her approach, I followed Jasper and Garret over to Aro's table and took a seat in the only open chair. He still didn't look up at us when he began speaking, "five thousand dollars in restitution and a paper trail. I certainly hope the three of you enjoyed yourselves."

None of us said a damn thing. We might have been a bunch of stupid fuckers last night, but with no alcohol in us right now, we knew better.

Finally, he set his book down and looked at all of us in turn. Once he did that, he sighed a little, "Honestly gentlemen, you are not children any longer. You must learn to act your age and not your shoe size from time to time. Though nothing amiss to the point of undoing happened last night, it could have turned out very different and the young lady would have been the only one to suffer for it." He then locked eyes with me, "I have never taken someone's mate away from them before, but if you pull something like this again, Captain, you will leave me with little option on the matter."

I cocked a brow at him at that, "excuse the fuck out of me?"

He wasn't even fazed, simply gazed back at me. "I do not think I could be much clearer than that. I have told you once before, it is my job to ensure my subjects are properly cared for, no matter what I have to do, to do so. I ate grass for you to once again have full use of your gift, that you have apparently forgotten how to use properly anyhow. So what would make you think for one fucking second if I thought that an innocent newborn was being neglected or mistreated by the one vampire that should always put them first was not doing as he should, I wouldn't step in on her behalf to make sure she reached adulthood?

"This is not something I want to do, believe me when I say that. I have absolutely no desire to take her away from you, Peter. I am simply informing you that if you do not keep in mind that she is a newborn and as such needs constant supervision for the next few months, I am prepared too. You have responsibilities to her as not only the male in your mating, but as the elder vampire as well. When you were in Italy, you went to bat for the Major on her behalf. Two weeks later, you are with the major getting arrested and leaving her to her own devices. Now, let me ask you this," he paused and glared hard, "do you not see the fucking problem?"

I dropped hard on to the back on the chair with a sigh, looking over at the pool where my mate was really trying not to pay attention to the conversation. Giving the implication of what he was saying a once tumble, I blinked at him, narrowing my eyes a bit, "You don't honestly think that I would actually choose Jasper over my mate?"

He cocked a brow and crossed his arms, "You tell me. To tell you the truth, that is the way it seems."

Oh, fuck no. Now I was pissed. Leveling a glare at him, I growled, "While I can't deny last night got a little out of hand, ain't no one more important than her. I went to bat for Jazz on her behalf because SHE wanted him around. I got arrested with him because she's smarter than we are. I will tell you the same fucking thing I told the cunt ass bitch, you ain't takin' shit from me as long as I continue to exist. King or not, I will fuck you up ten way to Sunday if you so much as THINK about pulling that shit. She is mine and if I have to take out your entire fucking guard, you take her and I will get her back."

Aro just looked at me a short moment before smirking wide, "now, there is the passion I wanted to see from you, Peter. You certainly know how to keep people guessing when it comes to your thoughts."

Snarky little fucker.

Shooting out of my seat, I leaned over the table and got in his face, "You're a fucker."

He shrugged, "Sticks and stones Captain. Now have a seat. Time grows short here and I want to go home." Then turning from me, he called out to my girl, "Stella, would come here, please? This pertains to you as well."

Izzy glanced his way before nodding and swimming to the edge of the pool, climbing out and, after grabbing a towel and wrapping it around her hips, walked over and dropped down in my lap, leaning back against my chest as I wrapped an arm around her waist.

Aro smiled a little before looking back at the rest of us. A short pause to drink his beer, he swallowed and sighed, "Demetri, along with Felix and Heidi, are currently in your camp setting up an escape route for you. They are making it look as if your unreturning is connected to their presence for reasons other than the real reason you are not back yet. They will make it look as if you were captured by us and taken back to Italy for your parts in creating an army."

Finishing his beer and standing, "I suggest you take it for what it is and get the fuck out of dodge as soon as you can."

I thought about that for a moment, taking in the out and pairing it with my ruling desire to fuck up a coven of little fuckwads and teach them a very valuable lesson in fucking with something that belongs to me.

Looking down at my mate and seeing her looking up at me, I decided that a little extended leave from the army wouldn't hurt. She wanted to go to Colorado and what she wants, she gets.

Plus, there are all KINDS of things I can do to her in the privacy of my own home.

*X*

We had hung out in Mexico until later in the afternoon before boarding a plane and headed to Colorado for a little down and dirty time. I figured we had about a month or so before all this shit came to a head and we would use that time to prepare Izzy fully for the showdown that was on the horizon. The best part of doing it this way, no more punishments for her; no more bites, removal of limbs, threats; none of it. I could train her to be a kickass fighter without actually hurting her. It was a win all around in my book.

Once we arrived and got the house opened up and the older ones of us got it baby proofed, I kicked Jasper and Garrett out to the guest house on the back of the property. I had spent quite enough time around others for the time being and while their help was still needed, that didn't negate my need for solidarity and quiet. I had spent so much time on my own since I killed Char that I really didn't like others anymore. My mate aside, of course.

I let her roam around and get a feel for the area, telling her the boundaries of the property and where she was allowed to go and where she wasn't, while I spoke with Jasper about what to expect when we finally met up with the coven of pussies. There was something there that I knew I needed to find out but I wouldn't know what it was until I heard it.

I didn't think that they were all that hotshit without the use of reading minds and seeing the future, but it turns out that the stupid bastard had actually taught them how to fight... properly. The restraint I showed in not punching him in the mouth again should tell him that I still see him as a brother, even if he is a fucking jackass.

"So, let me get this straight. You actually taught the 'peace loving, human protecting' coven of golden eyed jackoffs how to fight?"

He crossed his arms and shrugged, "It was decades ago, way back when I had first joined up with them and I was still being hunted by BOTH Maria and the Volturi. At the time, it was necessary."

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I sighed, "Alright, I can work with this." Looking up at him, "Did they all participate or just a few?"

"All but Carlisle and Esme, but they watched. If they are any kind of real vampires, they will still know what to do."

At that I snorted, "come on, Jazz. Let's face facts here... none of us are REAL vampires. For fuck's sake, we SPARKLE. You tell me ONE legend that we sparkle in and I will call you a fucking liar. Seriously, where are the fangs? I would trade the sparkle for fangs any day of the fucking week."

He smirked, "Yeah, and then there is the sun allergy that is a bit deadly."

I gave him the finger, "Don't be pissing on my parade, asshole. But let's get back to the point here. What kind of pupils were they?"

He snorted, "piss poor at best. If any one of them were actually in the southern army, they wouldn't have lasted a week. That being said, I have zero way of knowing if they were being a bunch of retards or were fucking up on purpose."

I cocked a brow at him, "You don't, huh? Jesus Jasper, do I really have to do every fucking thing for you? Use the brain Satan gave you and think about that shit a moment. How long were you with them? Did the mutant midget have enough time to open her mouth about the future? What were they feeling while you were showing them different shit? Did you show them shit that was actually worth a fuck or simple defense? Think fucker, this shit is important."

He went quiet for a few minutes, searching his memories from over 60 years ago as I waited. I knew that the answers I needed were locked in there somewhere and if I had to beat them out of him, I would. I needed to know the kind of threat they actually were without the three gifted vampires at their disposal. I was relatively sure that between me, Jasper, Garrett and Izzy we would be able to deal with it, but I was beginning to become concerned that they had an ace in the hole that had nothing to do with Maria.