Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns it all.

Rated M for several reasons.

Chpt 11 Diplomatic Reception

BPOV

Char, Elise an' Simon have worked really hard preparing for this party. The rather utilitarian function room on the complex has been transformed into a charming ballroom, magnificent but not overly fussy with a large dance floor an' plenty of tables. But where they've really outdone themselves is with the pomp an' ceremony they've invented to display the new regime to its best advantage.

Jasper vetoed thrones, much to my relief, but there is a table set up which very subtly screams out Whitlocks only. Or safe zone, as Simon explained it to me, somewhere for us to have a break from pressing the flesh.

Most of the Guard will be attending the party, Demetri has carefully arranged things so it will seem like there are more of them than there actually are. With guards posted around the complex an' moving amongst the guests.

At the far end of the room a stage is set, waiting for an orchestra. A human band was out of the question an' Demetri refused to spare any of the musically talented Guard to create one so Daniel is sat there alone, master of the complicated sound system which is filling the room with realistic sounding ball type music.

There are already several guests inside mingling with the Guard when Jasper an' I arrive to complete the receiving line. Grinning Alfredo an' Simon take up their positions behind us, for show both Jasper an' I will have bodyguards tonight.

Pete an' Char will be first in line, then us, Demetri will walk the guests up the line making introductions. As we take our positions I take a deep breath, I can do this. Beside me Jasper does the same.

First up are the Cullens. Carlisle an' Esme, the perfect couple as they greet Pete an' Char. The men shake hands an' the women kiss cheeks, even Rosalie to my astonishment. Pete an' I exchange a glance, we still don't trust Carlisle.

Em gives me a boisterous hug which earns him a low growl from Simon.

After the Cullens a steady stream of smaller covens an' nomads joins the party. I finally get to meet some of the vampires I have heard about including the Denalis an' Garret.

Kseniya an' Vassili arrive together, bowing to Jasper an' I before shaking hands an' moving on.

Next is Lefu, leader of the African Coven, an' his mate Zuna. They greet us very formally, making it clear that they will not bow to us, three equally stiff looking vampires accompany them but aren't introduced. From the staring contest going on over my shoulder with Simon an' Alfredo I guess they are bodyguards too.

The Tibetans are next an' I struggle to keep an impassive face. In my mind I had mentally pictured them as monks in saffron robes an' that's exactly what they are. Vampire Buddhist monks, go figure. The three of them are very composed but they seem friendly enough.

Behind them I can see Rutilio approaching with Alice clinging tightly to his arm. Behind him is a beautiful woman with honey blonde hair an' a swarthy looking man with mean little eyes.

"He's nervous." Jasper whispers to me.

Good. So he fuckin' should be.

Demetri does not introduce him. A message is being sent.

Pete an' Char shake his hand stiffly an' as they greet Alice he moves onto us.

"Major." He says extending his hand. "How very nice to see you alive."

Jasper nods curtly an' after an awkward pause takes the proffered hand and shakes it briefly.

"And the lovely Bella." He turns his snake eyes on me, offering his hand again. "How wonderful that you did not actually lose your mate."

I grit my teeth, physically this time, an' briefly take his cold hand.

"Well." He declares happily. "I am looking forward to having a chat with you later Major and I see that I am holding up my wife who is very much looking forward to seeing you again."

Chuckling he moves on, the swarthy vampire going with him.

"Jazzy!" Alice squeals in delight, leaping up an' flinging her dainty arms around his neck. "I'm so happy to see you."

Fury rushes through me but before I can act on it Simon reaches forward an' lightly touches my shoulder. Off to one hundred we go, one, two, three, four . . . .

Jasper gently disengages her hands from around his neck an' lowers her to the floor.

"Alice." He says calmly. "It's been a long time."

"We must catch up later Jazz, I have so much to tell you and I want to hear all about what's been happening with you." She gushes on.

Sixty, sixty one, sixty two. If I make to one hundred she's dead where she stands. Sixty three . . . .

"Of course Alice." Jasper responds, deftly passing her on to me.

Sober now she lifts up an' kisses my frozen cheek gently. "We need to talk." She whispers. "Urgently."

I nod an' she skips off to catch up with Rutilio.

The honey blonde is now standing in front of Jasper, shaking his hand a little too long for my liking. One, two, three, four . . . .

"It is so nice to finally meet the famed Major of the Southern Wars." She purrs seductively. "You certainly do not disappoint."

Jasper shifts uncomfortably an' she moves onto me.

"Aren't you lovely?" She smirks, taking my hand an' squeezing it a little too hard. "Well, it's nice to meet you, I should go and find my Master."

She sashays away swinging her hips.

"That was Chelsea, Mistress." Simon informs me. "Do not let her anywhere near the Master."

"Please don't." Jasper adds with feeling. "She gave me the creeps."

"Me too J." Pete chips in.

"Don't you worry none Petey." Char coos. "I'll have her hand off if it comes anywhere near you again."

Jasper brushes his lips lightly against mine. "I'll see you later darlin'." He says softly. "Pete, D, let's go make a start with Lefu, shall we?"

Before he can walk away I pull him back an' kiss him properly.

When Pete starts coughing I try to pull away.

"It's not that I didn't enjoy that darlin'." Jasper growls playfully, refusing to release me. "But you're not goin' anywhere until the problem in my pants has."

"In that case I'd better come with you." I laugh rubbing myself up against him. "Keep an eye on that little problem you've got there."

Behind me Simon snorts in amusement.

"It is not." Jasper growls. "A little problem."

By this time we're all tittering like school children, except Jasper who is promising to do wicked things to me in retribution the next time he gets me alone.

"You do realise that's not helpin'?" I observe when even I start to get embarrassed by what he's saying.

"If you don't stop rubbing up against me I'm gonna do the first one now." He threatens.

"Oh hell no." Pete objects, pulling Jasper away from me. "Come on Master Zipper Problem, tuck it in an' let's do what we came here to do."

"Come with?" Jasper pleads as Pete drags him away.

"I'll catch up with you in a minute. Char's says I've got to mingle too."

Demetri an' Alfredo trot off after the others an' Char and Simon take an arm each an' escort me into the party.

"I'm glad to see you two a bit closer again." She says happily.

"Was it that obvious?" I ask in surprise.

She rolls her eyes an' Simon says "I told you so Mistress. But you still need to have a proper talk with the Master."

"Okay, okay, I know. Can we just enjoy the party for now please?"

"We will." Char chuckles. "But you won't."

"Hey, I shook hands with Rutilio, how can it get any worse?"

"Oh Mistress." Simon says with heavy patience. "You did not take My Lady Charlotte's advice."

"Huh?"

"You didn't mark J hun. It's your own fault. Just don't crush anybody."

"What?"

"Mistress you nearly wigged out in the receiving line. Many females will be wishing to make a good impression on the Master this evening."

Oh.

"Well thanks for remindin' me now. What do you want me to do, fling him down on the nearest table an' bite him."

The evil bastards just laugh an' drag me into the throng.

Since the boys have cornered Lefu we decide to start on Zanu. Its hard work at first but she does begin to thaw out after a while, even with the constant interruption of people wanting to introduce themselves.

Fascinated by their lifestyle in Africa I would have stayed there all night but Char pulls me away to make a round of the lesser covens at their tables.

The boys are now talking to Rutilio, it does not look like a particularly happy conversation, especially as the Whitlock Coven dwarf the diminutive Spaniard an' his mate. Alice looks slightly bored an' is scanning the crowd, Chelsea is hanging on Jasper's every word but Demetri, bless him, has placed himself solidly between them.

After an hour or so Char an' I are flagging so Simon escorts us to our table an' hovers over us looking forbidding.

Jasper is now talking to Carlisle an' Kseniya. Pete is brown nosing the coven from England an' Demetri appears to be in the middle of an argument with Chelsea.

"I'll go." Char says picking up on it too. "Eavesdroppin' is one of my gifts."

Quickly she scoots around the room taking up position in one of the alcoves near the still arguing pair.

I used to love people watching an' I find that vampire watching is just as satisfying.

After a while Simon plops down beside me.

"Are bodyguards allowed to sit down on the job?"

"Only the very best ones Mistress." He replies easily, stretching out his long legs.

"There are a lot of intense conversations goin' on." I remark.

"Yes. Vampires do not get together like this very often, in fact I would probably say this is a first, some of these people won't have seen each for millennia. If they talk more often perhaps they will fight less."

What if they're all plotting to turn on us?

As if reading my thoughts Simon laughs.

"Stop it Mistress. Probably the only one here plotting anything is you."

I scowl at him which makes him laugh even more.

"I am sorry Mistress." He says pulling himself together. "It is unsurprising that you have a persecution complex under the circumstances. You need to relax more."

No time to relax now, Alice is making her way purposefully towards us, it must be time for that urgent talk.

Simon stands up an' moves back to a discreet distance as Alice takes a seat beside me.

"I'm sorry Bella." She says earnestly. "If my being so pleased to see Jazz upset you, I didn't mean to cause any offence. I'm just so glad he's not dead, I have missed him."

Have I got insecure new wife tattooed on my forehead or something? Are they giving the female guests spoons to stick in my cauldron?

"What did you need to speak to me about Alice?" I ask as politely as I can manage.

"I think that Rutilio is plotting against your coven."

Behind me Simon comes to attention.

"What makes you think that?" I ask, remembering that in the past she has always denied really knowing what was going on.

"After The Volturi came for us he was forced to explain to me what he had been up to. How he had killed Stefan and taken over his plot to usurp The Volturi. When we fled Washington Chelsea joined us, she had visited us regularly but before then I had no idea she was Volturi."

Her voice sounds bitter an' her expression is pained. As she talks her eyes dart around the ballroom an' it dawns on me she is checking to make sure Rutilio does not know she is talking to me.

"Do you know what Chelsea's gift is?" She asks me.

"Something to do with forming bonds?" Gus did tell me but I'm distracted.

The honey blonde bombshell in question has finally made it back to Jasper's side.

"Yes." Now she sounds exceptionally bitter. "And breaking them."

Jasper looks up an' his eyes meet mine briefly. He smiles then turns his attention back to whatever Chelsea is saying.

Alice is still talking.

Chelsea says something that makes Jasper laugh. I love the way his eyes crinkle when he laughs, a proper belly laugh, just like the one he's doing now. She moves closer to him an' he doesn't back away.

He's so beautiful. Does he look as handsome when he smiles down at me like that?

"Bella." Alice shakes my arm to get my attention. "Chelsea has been ordered to sever the bond between you and Jasper. She's going to try and take him away from you. Are you listening to me? She will be successful, we need to stop her."

Across the room I can see Chelsea place her hand on Jasper's chest, on his heart scar.

Daniel's music swells an' falls in time with Jasper's almost heaving chest as he gazes down at Chelsea with rapt attention.

The honey blonde splays her fingers out, lightly tracing the ropey scar on his skin through his silk shirt.

Jasper sighs.

An' suddenly he's staring down in surprise at a plume of sparkly dust.

Across the dance floor Rutilio's face is frozen in shock.

Too late I realise that I should have been paying attention to what Alice was saying.