Chapter Twenty

Bella

Now we'd found Em and Rose and they were overjoyed to be reunited with Jazz we couldn't just leave them so I suggested taking them back with us. I didn't think Peter would mind, he and Em were very similar but Jazz wasn't so sure,

"Peter hates the Cullens full stop"

"Yes he does but only because he's basing them all on Alice."

"He hates Edward too."

"So he's got some good sense. I still think he'll like Rose and Em and if he doesn't then maybe we should find somewhere of our own and then they can all live with us or visit whenever they want. Please Jazz lets give it a try"

He gave way in the end, OK I bribed him with sex but hey, a girls gotta use whatever weapons she has! We all drove back together but I could feel the tension in the air, mainly emanating from Jazz but Rose was anxious too, it was as if Peter were a ticking bomb amongst us.

When we arrived back Charlotte came to greet us and when she saw the others she stopped briefly then the smile returned and she was as warm with them as with us but again Peter was the fly in the ointment. He came out onto the porch and stood there arms folded looking very sober. I got out first and ran up to him for a hug,

"Peter please. This is important to Jazz, they are family or at least they were for a long time"

He stepped back and glanced at Rose and Em who were standing by the car waiting,

"I hate the fucking Cullens"

"No you don't, you hate Alice and Edward not Rose and Emmett."

"Hey, I know who I hate, you don't need to tell me Bella. Why are they here?"

"Because Jazz wanted them with him, to complete his family. Please don't be difficult Peter."

"The Major has his family, Charlotte and I and you, we don't need anyone else especially not more fucking Cullens."

He shook his head angrily and turned his back walking into the house and shutting the door firmly behind him.

Charlotte

I knew this wasn't going to be easy, Peter had fixed views about the Cullens and he wouldn't be easily convinced his wasn't the right one. The Major looked hurt and Bella angry but Rose just shrugged, she'd heard enough to know it wasn't going to work and she got back in the car with Emmett. Bella went back to them while he came to me.

"We're going to find somewhere of our own where I can have my friends and family visit when they want. As soon as we're settled I'll give you the address, tell Peter I'm sorry but I need to do this"

"I know Major but don't expect Peter to come round. You know he's very protective of you and he thought, still thinks, that the Cullens were bad for you. I wish you luck, I'm going miss you and Bella, take care."

I kissed him on the cheek and heard a low growl from Bella but I just stepped back and waved farewell as they drove off then went back into the house to face Peter.

Peter

I knew shit was on its way but I didn't expect it in the form of Cullens. Did The Major really expect me to welcome them with open arms? They were bad news, the whole lot of them. I heard the car drive off and I knew he'd made his choice so I knew where I stood. Charlotte came in frowning,

"Before you fucking start, don't. You know what the Cullens are like. They're bad news and I want nothing to do with them. He's chosen to go with them, fine. Let him go."

"Peter for Gods sake grow up. He's not choosing anyone. He wants all his friends around and as you well know there aren't many, give him a break."

"Sure, arm or leg?"

She grabbed me by the arm and swung me round to face her.

"Now you listen to me Peter Whitlock. Stop acting like a spoilt child. You know very well The Major loves us, we're family but the Cullens were family too for a number of years and he's close to these two. What did Rose and Emmett do to upset you so much?

"Let me think about that for a second...oh yeah I remember now...breathe"

"You're impossible to reason with when you're in this mood so go sulk and when you grow up come back and talk sense."

"Yeah sure, we're there to pick up the pieces, at his side in a fight, but the cuddly Cullens mean more."

"What?"

"Well he went of with them, didn't even try to speak to me"

"No and I don't blame him, after all he wouldn't get any sense out of you right now either. Just go away and find a hole to sulk in, I can't be bothered with you when you act like this"

I stormed out slamming the door which splintered under the force, so there was a job for me later, great!

Bella

We drove in silence for a while then Rose touched Jazz on the shoulder,

"Maybe we should go Jazz. I know how important Peter's friendship is to you and you lost him once because of the family."

He shook his head but he didn't speak and I could see anger and pain fighting for top spot in his mind.

"Lets find somewhere to stop Jazz. We need to talk, all of us."

He started to shake his head but I carried on talking,

"This isn't going to happen. Rose and Emmett aren't Alice and Edward however Peter might see them. He'll come round because you mean a lot to him"

"He didn't with Alice"

"Only because she didn't like him either but I think he and Em will get on really well if they just gave it a chance. We need to rent something close by and invite Peter over to talk."

"He wont come"

"Yes he will because I'll be the one doing the asking. Now lets find somewhere."

He pulled in at a motel and we booked a room for a week so we could find a rental here, somewhere big enough for all of us and with room for Peter to have a paddy if that's what it took to show him what a horses ass he was being.

Rose

I wasn't sure Bella was right about Peter and Emmett but at least Em was willing to give it a shot which just showed how much he felt for Jazz. He could hold his own against any man, including Peter Whitlock, but I really hoped it wouldn't come to a pissing contest. Spending time with Bella and Jazz made me realize how much we had missed them both. Bella as a vampire was magnificent but more than that she felt deeply for Jazz, she wanted to make things right for him, a way for him to keep contact with all the people who were important to him but I thought personally she had one hell of a task ahead of her. Em and Jazz went to hunt together leaving Bella and I alone and she explained why it was so important to her that we all get on.

"I know Aro will come for me at some time and he'll want me back in Volterra. In order to do that he'll use any means and that includes threatening Jazz or our friends. I can't protect us if were fragmented and all over the place, we need to be a strong family unit and I know Peter would be fine with you and Em if he only gave it a chance and forgot the stupid Cullen blanket ban he set up in his tiny mind"

"You may have a job selling him that one. He'll think you're trying to frighten him and Peter fears no man."

"Neither do I, but I fear the Volturi and what they could do to us and all our friends Rose. I saw what Aro is prepared to do over the years I was with him and I have to tell you no one stoops lower than he does if it gets him what he wants."