Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns it all.

Rated M for several reasons.

Chpt 4 Adjusting

BPOV

"We own a fuckin' jet?"

"Yes Mistress." Simon answers calmly. "A really big one."

I like Simon. He's covered in scars, reputedly as hard as nails and our chief accountant. Pete an' Char have decided he's the ideal person to ease me into big coven life. Poor man.

I have learnt many interesting things this morning but the knowledge that I am now part owner of a freakin' jumbo jet has shocked me into silence.

"Mistress." Simon says quietly. "It is only an aeroplane."

I open an' close my mouth but nothing comes out.

"Owning an aeroplane does not mean that you cannot love the really important things more." He continues. "And being part of a large coven does not make the relationships between members any less important."

"What are you, the family shrink?"

"Yes Mistress." He quirks an eyebrow at me.

Crush. Laugh. Crush. Laugh.

"Pete." I finally grind out.

"Yes Mistress."

Harsh laugh.

"What did he tell you?"

"Just that you are having difficulty adjusting to the changes in your life."

"Asshole!"

"Yes Mistress." Simon winks at me an' then chuckles. "But he is an interesting one."

"Alright Simon, what are we really supposed to be doing here other than discussin' finances?"

"You are not going to crush me?" He asks with amusement.

"Of course not!" Jeez, they really do think I'm a monster.

"His Lordship thought that you might need an impartial friend."

"And?" I ask with a growl.

"The Master required you to have a bodyguard." He informs me. "My Lord Peter has decided that I am the most acceptable choice."

"Why?"

"Because I am intelligent and well read, and therefore will not bore you. Because I am funny. And because aside from the Master and Demetri I am the mostly deadly vampire on the planet." He chuckles. "And My Lady Charlotte suggested me because I can balance your check book before the Master knows how much you have spent."

"I don't spend any money." I huff.

"Exactly Mistress. My Lady Charlotte thinks I will be able to 'shrink' away your puritanical issues with wealth. She wants you to be happy."

"And just how does she think you will be able to help with that?"

"My Lady Charlotte is operating under the impression that as a homosexual I will be an expert on shopping, fashion and making you look fabulous."

Oh. There isn't a lot you can say to that is there?

"Um. Are you?"

"Oh yes Mistress. Absolutely as gay they come. It will be my pleasure to assist you with spending the Master's money."

I know I shouldn't, but I laugh anyway.

"See?" He chuckles with satisfaction. "I have already made you laugh."

"They really do know me too well don't they?" I growl.

"Yes Mistress. And of course they love you very much."

"Shrink, Bodyguard or Friend?" I ask simply.

"All three Mistress." He chuckles.

"An' you're not afraid I'll crush you?" I ask.

"No Mistress. I have seen the way you are with your family. You may be capable of great violence but that does not mean you are violent."

"How old are you?" He looks about thirty. Tall, but not a muscular man, more lean an' sinewy. His short brown hair is a nondescript style an' his face pleasant. He looks unremarkable until he smiles, and then he looks like a naughty little boy. Almost too cute for words.

"Twelve hundred years, give or take a few."

"I must seem very childish to you."

"Yes and no, Mistress. Eternity is a very hard concept to grasp. Until you have it. If I may say so, I believe you are entirely suited to making the most of it."

"I don't feel suited at the moment Simon." I snort.

"Perhaps not. Your dedication to your family is admirable, what better motivation is there for making the most of the opportunities presented to you?"

"How long have you been with The Volturi?"

"About six hundred years."

"Why did you join?"

"I wanted to make a difference."

"Did you?"

"No." He says wryly. "I was a little late for that."

"Why did you stay?"

"Because I hoped something would change and because I was lonely. Aro himself may have descended into a caricature of the adage 'power corrupts' but most of the rest of us still hoped for something better. We were, are, a family. Drawn together by adversity."

"An' now that's over. Won't you just drift away from each other?"

"I had thought so Mistress, but now I am not so sure. I think, perhaps, the Master can give us something worthwhile to fight for."

The word fight has me scowling immediately.

Simon laughs.

"I know you will fight for what you love Mistress. Perhaps you just need to re-examine what it is you love?"

"Shrink, Bodyguard or Friend?"

"Friend. I think." He laughs again. "But I can be flexible."

"I wish I could." I mutter.

"Oh Mistress, you adapt better than you recognise."

"Do you want to know what is upsettin' me the most at the moment Simon?"

"Of course."

"I have wanted, for the longest time, to rip Rutilio Asturias into little pieces for what he did to Jasper, to us. An' now I can't. Apparently. Even though I now have the ability, the power, to do it easily. It sucks Simon, it really sucks."

"Mistress. You have the heart of a warrior but it is time to adjust your thinking and see a bigger picture. You need to be more than that now, you need to be a stateswoman."

"That's a tall order." I groan.

A new thought occurs to me an' I laugh.

"Mistress?"

"Rutilio thinks The Major is dead, I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he finds out it's not true an' who he's dealin' with now."

"Now that is thinking like a stateswoman Mistress."

RPOV

The Guard are incredibly well trained and these two do not flinch under my murderous glare.

I shall regret allowing them to see how this news has affected me, but that will be later, right now it is all I can do to remain seated and still while furious thoughts swirl around my head.

The Major is not dead, that in itself is a sphincter tightening concept. That he has defeated The Volturi and claimed his right to take their place is the icing on the top of a very bitter cake. For the moment I am relieved, the presence of these emissaries assures me that, at least for the time being, he is not going to attack me outright. Since I have no hope of defeating him under those circumstances this is the only piece of good news. I will ponder why he is not later, when I have calmed down.

When Demetri brought us to Washington and we discovered that Aro was being attacked, by humans no less, I took the opportunity to escape. From then until now I had assumed I was living on borrowed time, that Aro would send Demetri for me as soon as the attack was thwarted. On that basis alone I should be grateful that Aro is dead.

Of course it was always part of my plan for him to die. However, afterwards, using Stefan's network I had expected to take control.

It seems now that The Major has taken that network right out from under my nose along with my sovereignty.

It is quite ironic. I had involved him in my scheming as a simple pawn, to assist me in attaining my goals, now I find that he has beaten me to the prize. I do not normally underestimate people but apparently when I do it has spectacular consequences. He is most devious.

Oh well, I suppose I will have to start again. Annoying, this time I have no Stefan to devise a Machiavellian plot, clearly I acted rashly when disposing of him. Still, my mate is no slouch in that department, between us I am sure we can devise something appropriate to the new situation.

I had better say something, I do not wish to appear incompetent in front of The Major's men.

"Thank you for delivering your message Gentleman." I say graciously. "Please convey my regards to The Major and inform him that I look forward to meeting with him soon."

"My Lord." The elder Guard bows gracefully and they depart.

"Sebastien." I snap, calling for my Second.

"Master?"

"Fetch me a meal."

"Yes Master."

Impatiently I listen to the sound of screaming and pleading as my meal is brought to me. After dinner I must explain things to my wife, not something I am particularly looking forward to.

Sebastien almost tosses the young girl at me and not feeling particularly polite I tear into her neck savagely.

I try to follow my wife's diet but when I am upset it is frankly too much like hard work.