Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns it all.

Rated M for several reasons.

Chpt 13 Perspectives

CPOV

I didn't stop to think. What can I say? Emotions were runnin' high.

The sight of my brother, with his ex-wife, while my sister was fallin' apart was all it took to push me over the edge.

I'll give J credit, he's a gentleman, he didn't even try an' defend himself.

It was an undignified struggle but a satisfyin' one. Fucker's upstairs fusin' his foot back on as we speak. That'll teach him to wear dress shoes.

I am calm now.

"Pete." I say evenly. "You can stop sittin' on me, I'm good."

Chuckling he gets up, offering me his hand an' helpin' me to my feet.

He really doesn't know shit.

I haul off an' land one squarely on his handsome jaw.

"Ow. Shit." He howls. "What was that for?"

"Because you're fuckin' useless." I growl. "How could you not know this was gonna happen?"

If he says 'it's not a precise science' I'm gonna rip his dick off.

"Mi esposa, it's not a precise science . . . ." His hands immediately go to his balls, his eyes wide with innocent shock.

An' I laugh. Bastard knows me so well.

"What did I miss?" Back to plan A, findin' out what the fuck is going on.

"We circulated the party." Pete recounts. "Let everyone know what happened. No one seems to have a problem with it. All seemed to see it as a direct an' unprovoked attack against us.

Fuckin' Alice was followin' J around like he was a life preserver an' she was lost at sea. He mostly ignored her . . . ."

"Then what the fuck was that I walked in on?" I interrupt, anger levels risin' rapidly.

"Baby." He whines. "Can you never let me finish a sentence?"

I wind my neck in. He's got a point.

"Party started to break up, everybody leavin' peaceably. Except the Cullens who were followin' Alice around like rats after the pied piper.

As soon as it cleared out enough J dragged her over here an' demanded an explanation. Which reminds me, Cullens are due back here any minute. Anyway. She was explainin' what she knew of what had been goin' on an' she got a bit upset. He sent her upstairs to sort herself out but she was gone ages so he went to look for her.

That's all I know."

"An' what was she explainin'?"

"Rutilio used Chelsea to bind her to him. I gotta tell ya, even I feel sorry for the teeny weeny durian fruit. She reckons he wanted her gift to help him with his plot, says he got increasingly angry when she couldn't see shit. But in true Alice style she never put two an' two together till they were scarpering from Washington an' he had to come clean."

"He told her about Chelsea?" I can't decide if that's the ultimate cruelty or a streak of honesty I didn't know the fucker possessed.

"Nah. Apparently she figured that out later when it started to dawn on her she couldn't stand her husband an' mate. Chelsea's gift was very complex but not impossible to overcome."

"Then how come J couldn't?" I'm growlin' again.

"Baby, we don't know any damage was done yet do we?"

"Don't we?" I snap, fear roiling over me again. "Where the fuck is he then? Why wouldn't you let him go after Bella? You tell me one thing that happened after we left which will make me believe she didn't break their bond or make him fall out of love with our sister?"

He opens his mouth. He closes his mouth. Before my he can open it again, uselessly, like the twat he is, J bursts into the room with Alice an' the Cullens hot on his heels.

"Oh good." I drawl sarcastically. "Shithead an' the turd army are here. Everythin' will be fine now."

I'm not normally this rude, but I can adapt, if I feel like I'm fightin' for my family.

DPOV

It is afternoon by the time we reach the Whitlock ranch. Bella is a surprisingly fast runner although she is just barely past her newborn year.

We stopped on the way to hunt. I tried my first bear. The jury is still out on that one.

Bella went straight up to what I assume was their room. Because she came rushing back down again looking absolutely stricken and hoisted herself up on the roof. She is still up there.

I cannot believe that Chelsea has broken their bond. They are surely meant to be together, The Major and his Mate. I should know that better than anyone. I do know that better than anyone.

I sigh, heavily. Not that I am able to explain to her what I know.

I find the house here entirely in keeping with what I have come to know of the Whitlocks. And to love. It is homely, a place where a family, however you define one, can reside and be at peace.

I wish I had the Master's gift. Then I could know if being here is bringing her peace.

Simon has suggested that we leave her be for the time being but I do not know how much longer I can bear this.

I have spoken to Alfredo and ensured that he knows where we are. I have not been explicit about whether or not he can inform the Master, I have merely suggested that he leave that up to My Lady Charlotte. I am not too concerned about the altercation he described on My Lady's return, frankly I wish she had done more damage. Frustratingly the key players have been sequestered with the Cullens since then, so he has no further information to impart.

However, professionally, I have assumed that we are at war with The South American Coven and have given orders accordingly. The news of a traitor in our midst disturbs me greatly but that I cannot deal with until we return home.

Rutilio Asturias must die. I find it somewhat amusing that I am merely one name on an exceedingly long list of vampires who share the sentiment. I am used to being number one on any such list. I almost feel sorry for the poor bastardo. Bella, the Master, My Lord Peter, My Lady Char, Alice Asturias, Simon, the entire Guard, even the weedy Cullens. His days must certainly be numbered.

As for Chelsea, I cannot mourn my comrade of centuries. I admired her once, until I discovered her black heart. My Mistress has done the vampire world a great service by ridding it of Chelsea Volturi and as far as I can tell she and Asturias were entirely suited.

I can feel him now. A little dark spot on my mental radar. I could not tell you exactly where he is, but I could easily lead you to him. So easily. Others figure on the radar more prominently, those I care about most are bright pulsating beacons and these are all close to me now. I track their movements unconsciously.

My Mistress has not been herself since that Russian bitch attacked her. Am I the only one who can see the fear that has taken root in her heart? She wants only to protect the things she cares about and yet she is assailed by the knowledge that even with all her power it may not be enough, may never be enough. Can they not see how badly that experience has affected her? They know more of her history than I do and yet they cannot see how this attack has sparked all her old fears? And Chelsea? She struck at the heart of all the Whitlocks hold dear.

I am sure Simon could explain it all using many excessively long words but I'm a simple buccaneer at heart and so my own musings will be sufficient.

Talk of the devil. Here he comes on his hourly mission to poke about in my head. For the many things I could hate Aro for, sending Simon on a psychiatry course ranks amongst the highest.

"Would you like to talk about it?" He asks.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"You might feel better if you do." He prods.

"Nothing will make this better Simon." I growl. "As you very well know. Now fuck off and find something else to do."

"Yes My Lord." He chuckles, wandering away again.

Centuries. It will be centuries before this lets up. I should have killed him when we had our first duel after he joined The Volturi. Instead I am to be plagued by him forever. A true brother, yet able to push all my buttons with one quirk of his stupidamente expressive eyebrow.

Dio! I hate to feel this useless.

Why did I offer to do this?

Oh yes. I remember.

Tecum vivere amem, tecum obeam libens.

A/N Good ole Horace . . . .