Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns it all.

Rated M for several reasons.

Chpt 2 Big Sister

BPOV

While Jasper's busy kicking Pete's ass around the county, we had missed the reverend an' his happy band of singers by a gnat's whisker, Char an' I settle in for some girl time.

Even though the house is relatively empty for once we decide to don our bikinis an' veg out by the pool.

"So, did you do it? Did you mark him?" She asks excitedly.

"No."

"No?" She pouts in disappointment. "What do you mean no? Why not?"

I shift uncomfortably. "I don't know. It just didn't seem like the right time."

"Did he say anythin'?"

"No, he's never mentioned it."

"Sugar, he must be wonderin' why you've never done it. It's not cos you're still mad at him, is it?"

"I'm not mad at him." I gasp in surprise. "I just married him. I love him."

"Bella, my simple sister. You are still mad at him, I know you like to make out like it's all a joke but to your family it's obvious."

I sigh an' shift on my sun lounger. "He knows how I feel. Anyway, that's not why I didn't bite him."

"And?"

"I don't know, it just seems unnecessary really. I know there'll be great sex an' all but I thought I might save it up for our honeymoon. Assuming we ever get one."

"Don't you want other females to know he's yours?"

"He is mine. Besides, it's never been a problem."

"Oh hun, are you in for a rude awakenin'." She drawls in amusement before changing the subject.

Eventually we work our way around to our current situation.

"Do we need to find a new Jenks?" I ask.

"Nah. Even Pete's got a law degree, we're blood suckin' leeches by nature, remember? Beside that Alfredo was a master forger before he was changed, I reckon we're good."

I have to laugh. I've been so busy stomping around in a huff since Washington I haven't noticed Char working her own charm on the Guard. Between her an' Pete we probably know more about them than their own mothers by now.

"So what else do you know?"

She giggles an' fills me in. Our new family of thirty four includes a multitude of personalities an' backgrounds. I am unsurprised to discover both that Demetri was a pirate in his former life, an' that Char thinks he's hotter than hell. There's another computer geek for her to play with, several accountants, a former pole dancer with an' interesting gift, a handful of mated pairs, a lot of ex-military types an' a shrink. From every corner of the globe an' every period in history, truly we are the United Nations. I am relieved to find out that they aren't as personality free as they look but as Char points out as far as they are concerned as Jasper's mate I am not to be treated as one of the gang, The Volturi were very stuffy about that sort of thing.

"They're very well trained." She continues. "An' anyway sug, nobody wants to be crushed."

Brilliant. Already they think I'm a monster.

"I wish I'd seen it." She barrels on. "It sounded awesome, that witchy bitch Jane was famous, an' I can tell why, never felt pain like it. Expect you will be now too."

I groan.

"Oh Bella." She chuckles. "Get the stick outta your ass. You crushed the vampire world's leadin' bitch out of existence in defence of little ole me. People will be scared of you, enjoy it."

I snort, trying not to laugh. It was one of the most satisfying things I've ever done. Aside from my husband, hasn't he finished beating on Pete yet?

Picking up on my thoughts Char snorts herself. "He'd better not lose any more parts, the butt an' pinky finger I can deal with, if my poor man's reduced in size any more I might start turnin' my attention to Demetri."

"You would not."

"No, I wouldn't, but that don't mean I can't think about it."

We lapse into companionable silence, watching the sky darken above us. Only vampires would sunbathe at night.

"I suppose we need to find a house or compound somewhere where the neighbours are so fuckin' dense they don't realise they're sharin' air with the walkin' dead." Char sighs. "Needs to be remote enough to keep us away from pryin' eyes, close to good game for the veggies an' near a major city for the more classically palated."

"I'm glad you're the resident real estate expert." I laugh.

"You can laugh." She growls. "The best idea I can come up with so far is the Olympic Peninsula."

"No way. There are wolves."

"There are at the moment." She mutters darkly.

"How big a place will we need?" I ask, attempting to divert her.

"Enough for fifty, sixty to live comfortably. That should cover the rest of the Guard Demetri's bringin' back from Volterra plus visitors etc, etc."

I sink back on my sun lounger with a massive scowl on my face. It'll be like living in an army barracks. Jeez.

"Does it need to be that big?" I ask wearily. "Do you think they'll stay loyal, stay with us?"

"You an' J have incited two orgies already, from what Demetri's told us that's already a better deal than they were gettin' in Volterra. Anyway, this is J we're talkin' about, that man just seems to inspire loyalty. Look at me an' Pete, weren't no obvious reason for us to go back for him. He was a bastard most of the time, yet you could somehow tell what a good man he was deep down. People want to make happy."

"Only because they're scared of what he'll do if they make him unhappy." I grouch.

"There is that." Char allows. "Do you really think so little of him that you believe the only reason he'll be successful with all this is because he's a badass?"

"No, of course not. It's just that 'all this' as you put it is doin' my head in. Bowin' an' scrapin' vampires everywhere you go." My voice starts to rise a little as I vent my spleen. "No privacy. You heard what Demetri said, we've gotta hold a court, tout ourselves around so everyone can meet us, dispense justice. Whatever the fuck that's supposed to mean. Put out fires, stop wars, start wars. Clothe an' house the Guard. An' take on any an' all comers who think they'll do a better job than Jasper, which is depressingly familiar. When do we get to have a fuckin' life? What was he thinkin'?"

"Bella, why don't you look at this way. As far as we can tell the main other person who wants to make himself king of all he surveys is Rutilio. Is that a better option for you? Even assumin' he doesn't kill us as soon as he gets the chance do you want that evil fucker hangin' over your head for eternity? An' there's no tellin' who else might get the idea into their heads. We took out The Volturi, we have to be a target for anyone who fancies a shot at bein' in charge.

After everythin' we've been through do you really think J would just take the risk that we could ride off into the sunset without a backward glance? I know you guys didn't intend to kill Aro, but you did. Instead of bitchin' about it why don't you use that schemin' brain of yours to think up a safe alternative to J bein' Numero Uno?

Because that's what he is now an' what he'll stay if that's what it takes to keep us all safe. Whether he wants it or not.

You've had a tough time of it an' a fuckin' hard introduction into vampire life an' yet you still expect to wave a magic wand an' get a happily ever after? It won't happen little sister. Get over it an' get with the programme."

Ouch.

Smiling apologetically, she doesn't like hurting the feelings of people she cares about, she scuttles off before she can start begging for forgiveness. Which makes it worse. It's an important message she's trying to give me.

"What are you doin' sittin' out here on your own?" Jasper's voice startles me out of my thoughts. How does he sneak up on me like that?

"Thinkin' about bein' a better wife." I answer truthfully.

"Already?" He asks in mock surprise, flopping down on the sun lounger next to me.

I tell him about my conversation with Char.

He reaches over an' takes my hand swingin' it gently in the gap between our loungers.

"Darlin', I know this is hard for you. It's not what I wanted either but it's for the best, at least for now."

"I understand Jasper, Char was right. I should know better by now but somehow I'd convinced myself than when we got Pete an' Char back we'd be able to wander off an' live a relatively normal life. It's just takin' me a while to let it go."

"Don't be too hard on yourself." He squeezes my hand. "It's a lot to adjust to for you. Me, Pete an' Char we've lived in large covens before. The only other vampires you've ever really known have lived in smaller, more human families. What we're doin' now ain't that unusual. Bandin' together for safety, more like a tribe than a family."

"What does that make you?" I snort.

"Chieftain. Head Man. Big Cheese. Head Honcho. Mr Big. His Lordship." He chuckles an' then adds seriously. "Jasper."

"Does it worry you?" I ask quietly.

"No." He sounds completely confident. "I ran Maria's coven an' it was a lot bigger than this one, she was fuckin' useless at it. Grand ideas an' lousy execution. Rulin' by fear. I will not be anythin' like her."

I laugh. "Apparently I am."

"That's not funny Bella. You are nothin' like her an' you never will be." He's angry. "At this early stage it won't do them or anyone else any harm to realise we're not to be messed with lightly."

"Peace through strength?"

"Exactly. I won't lie to you darlin', it'll probably be a long road to get there but we will get there."

We are quiet for a while, starin' up at the stars.

"I suppose I'd better go practice on my shield." I sigh.

"You can practice on me if you like." He waggles his eyebrows suggestively. "It is our weddin' night."