A/N – I want to apologize for the almost 4 month delay in updating. I had an expected yet agonizing death in my immediate family. I want you all to know that I didn't forget about you but I was in no place to write a shopping list, let alone this story which I have come to love. My readers and my characters deserve more than I was able to offer so I chose to wait until I was ready. This is my first chapter since everything went down so I hope you can forgive me if it doesn't flow properly. My readers mean the world to me and I hope I don't disappoint. And, as always, a big thank you to Anubis I. Kasanoda.
Disclaimer – S.M. owns all. As I have no beta all mistakes are mine alone.
-PPOV-
Charlotte rolled off of me and onto her back, panting heavily.
I sprawled out on my back and looked up at our surroundings. Char had chosen her 'desert room' for our little rendezvous and, if I could feel, I'm sure the arid temperature would have felt nice. "Fuck me, babe!"
"I thought I just did, Peter." She turned on her side and gazed down at me. "And I was amazing, if I do say so myself."
"Ain't that the truth? I haven't felt this good since our second honeymoon. Don't get me wrong, Char. Sex with you is my favorite pastime, but for some reason this felt more…urgent than usual." Char laid her head on my chest as I wrapped my arms around her tiny frame.
"Maybe it was. So much has happened recently and we're not used to being around so many people. It's been nearly a week since we've been alone together and I think we just needed to reconnect and remind ourselves of what's important. We've been so wrapped up in the goings on of our new extended family that we forgot to take care of ourselves." She began kissing up my neck before placing a soft kiss upon my lips. "Remember, Peter. We're the old married couple here. You and I, with the help of Rosie and Em, are gonna help Bella and Jasper figure out their new relationship."
I let out a groan as I covered my eyes with my forearm. "How am I supposed to help them when I don't even know what's coming."
"What do you mean, Peter?"
"Ever since I got the first glimpse of Bella, information has been flooding my brain."
"I know. You saved her life, baby."
"It's not just that, Char." I turned on my side to face my wife. "I feel like there's been a nonstop stream of shit entering my brain. I don't know what any of it means and I can't find a common thread. One minute I see Bella and Jasper locked in battle and the next minute I see the vet coming to check on the animals. Why the fuck am I seeing that? How does any of this fit together? And what in the hell is going on with you girls?" Charlotte wrapped her arms around me as I laid my head on her breast.
"Peter, calm down. No one expects you to know exactly what's going to happen. You've lived with this gift forever and it has never failed you. Tell me, do you remember how you were able to convince Jasper to let us escape?"
"Yeah. I befriended him."
"And how did you manage to do that when no one else could?"
"I worked my ass off and proved myself to him."
"No, Peter. That's how you got him to notice and respect you. But what did you do to make him like you?" I knew Char was prompting me to remember something but I'm not sure what it was.
"I honestly don't know, babe. I tried so many things to get him to open up. It took me nearly a decade before he even cracked a smile."
"Let me ask you a question, Peter. What's my favorite thing about you? The thing that made me fall in love with you?"
"I don't know. My striking features and coital prowess?" Char ran her fingers through my hair and kissed the top of my head before she continued.
"Yes, baby. You're a regular sex god." She giggled for a moment before sobering up. "But seriously, Peter. What was it that made me truly fall in love with you?"
I thought back to when we met.
I was out on patrol with some of the better behaved newborns searching for Marias next meal while The Major stayed at the camp to wait for the next batch of newborns to wake up. We finally found what Maria had asked for and we took him back with us, giving the boy to Maria before joining The Major in the barn. The newborns were beginning to stir and we watched as they awoke, one by one. I could feel The Major dose the new vampires with his usual cocktail of fear and calm, essentially paralyzing them, and they just sat there staring at us with frightened expressions.
The Major stood in the corner, arms crossed, looking every bit the monster he was. I began pacing in front of the group and watched their reactions. I knew that they had noticed our scars and most of them couldn't decide whether to look at me or at The Major because their heads whipped back and forth between the two of us. I walked around the back of the group and noticed a tiny girl with straight strawberry-blonde hair sitting with her arms wrapped around her knees. Her eyes never left mine. Even when The Major sent out another dose of fear she kept her gaze locked on me. I don't know how, but I realized immediately that this waif of a woman was my mate and I noticed a tugging in my chest unlike anything I had ever felt. I also knew that I would do everything in my power to keep her safe, and at that moment the best thing to do was to ignore her. I may not be able to hide my emotions from The Major, but if Maria ever found out I had a mate, we would both be destroyed.
I looked at The Major to see if he had noticed anything but he just stood there looking at the new crop of vampires. Walking back towards the front, I gave the girl a look of understanding. She looked like she was about to say something but I stopped her with a slight shake of my head. The girl nodded once before tearing her eyes away from me and focusing on the ground.
Once I was standing in front of the group I began my speech. A few years after I was changed, The Major noticed I had a flair for oratory. He also noticed that the newborns responded better to me, probably because I wasn't as scary. Whenever he did the talking the vampires were usually so scared that they didn't really listen to what he was saying. He decided it was best if he just stood off to the side while I explained to the newborns what was expected of them. I told them what their jobs would be and what would happen if they didn't fulfill their duties. I explained the hierarchy and introduced The Major, myself, and the sergeants they would be reporting to. Most of the group looked over at him and he just stared down at them with onyx eyes.
I let my eyes wander to the girl in the back and saw that she was once again staring at me. If she felt any fear, she was hiding it well. I walked over to The Major and he told me what everyone's jobs would be. Who would go on patrol, who would be trained to fight, and who would serve Maria personally. He had chosen my new mate to be one of Maria's servants.
Oh, hell no!
That sociopathic bitch killed her servants for the most minor fuck up. There was no way I was going to let my girl wait on that whore hand and foot just to be killed within weeks. So I did the only thing I could think of to save her life. I lied. I told The Major that although she looked weak, with the proper training she would be a fierce warrior. He stared at me for a moment before nodding his head in agreement. I was about break the newborns into their respective groups, but before I had the chance to walk away, The Major spoke.
"Peter. You have been a good and loyal soldier for many years." I nodded a thank you. The first rule when dealing with The Major: speak only when asked a direct question. I am offered a bit of leeway when my gift acts up, but now was not the time. "You have served Maria well and always perform your duties perfectly." He looked over at my new mate before placing a hand on my shoulder. He began to squeeze and it took everything I had not to cry out in pain. His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "I will grant you this one concession as a reward for your loyalty. But if you ever lie to me again, Peter, I will make you watch as I destroy her. And then I will destroy you. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir." He removed his hand from my shoulder.
"This girl is your responsibility. You will train her to fight and it is up to you to keep her safe. If Maria finds out about her, I won't be able to help you."
"Thank you, Major." With that he spun on his heel and walked away. I felt proud that I was able to save my mate and even more proud that The Major trusted me enough to let her live.
I broke the vampires into their groups and introduced them to their sergeants. Once everybody knew their jobs, they left the barn to feed. I walked over to the girl. She was still sitting on the ground with her eyes cast down. I offered her my hand and she looked up at me before taking it. I pulled her to her feet.
"Follow me." We ran out of the barn and I led her to the nearby town. Neither of us spoke as we searched for her first meal. We saw a drunken man brutally beating a young girl behind the saloon. I looked at my mate. "What do you want to do?"
She looked at the scene before her and spoke for the first time. "I want to kill that man. Nobody deserves to be treated like that." My God! Her voice sounds like wind chimes. Without another word, she stalked over to the man, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw him against the wall. He slumped to the ground in pain and she leaned over him with a murderous look on her face. I leaned against the wall and watched my mate in action. She was absolutely breathtaking in her ferocity and I can hardly believe that she's mine.
"Do you like beating on little girls? Does it make you feel strong and powerful? I'm a little girl. Why don't you try beating on me?" The man, having noticed my girls beautiful crimson eyes, just laid there looking terrified. "No? Fine. I'll just show you what we little girls are capable of." With that, she grabbed his hair and exposed his neck. Before he knew what was happening, she sank her teeth into his flesh and drained him. She threw his corpse aside and walked over to where the little girl was laying. She looked unconscious and I could see my girl searching her for injuries. Never in all my years have I seen a newborn care about the life of a human. I walked over to them and crouched down.
"How does she look?"
"Not good. Her body is badly broken and she's lost a lot of blood. What should I do?
"That's your decision, ma'am. You saved her from that man and now you must decide what to do with her. From the looks of it she won't survive."
"Can we make her one of us?"
"No. Only Maria and The Major can create a newborn."
She stayed silent for a moment, probably weighing her options. She lifted the girls head and gave her a kiss on both cheeks before sinking her teeth into her neck. When the girl was dead, I picked up my mate and carried her into the nearby forest where she sobbed and trembled. I held her and rocked her and ran my fingers through her hair until she began to settle down. Eventually she wrapped her arms around me and buried her nose in my neck, taking in my scent. I smelled her hair and noticed that she smelled like apples. We stayed like that for a while, just holding each other, before she turned to face me.
"I'm Charlotte, by the way." Holy shit! We've been together for hours and I didn't even think to introduce myself.
"Pleased to meet you, Charlotte. I'm Peter."
"Hi, Peter." She leaned into me and placed a gentle kiss on my lips, and with that simple gesture I knew I would be by her side for the rest of my existence.
"PETER!" I turned my head and saw Charlotte looking at me with worry. "Where did you just go? I've been calling your name for 2 minutes."
"Sorry, babe. Just got caught up in some memories."
"What were you thinking about?" She began to run her fingers up and down my back.
"About how we met. I was trying to remember how I got through to Jasper and I think I've figured it out."
"What was it?"
"At first I thought it was my sense of humor, but I realize now that it was my loyalty. He never asked me about it but I knew he understood that I was loyal to him, not Maria. She may have been in charge, but he was my maker. I did anything he asked, even when it disgusted me. But you know how it was back then, Char. Our lives weren't our own and the only way to survive was to keep your head down and do your job."
"So what changed? How did you go from soldier to friend?"
"It was you. Do you remember the first time we locked eyes?" She nodded her head. "We immediately knew we were mates. I think Jasper knew it to. He always kept track of my emotions and there's no way he didn't know what I was feeling. I didn't realize it at the time, but I think he wanted to see what I would do. How far I would go to save you. That's why he told me to make you one of Maria's slaves. He wanted to see how I would react. And even though I lied directly to his face, he knew I did it out of love. I never really thought about this before, but right after Jasper told me I could save you, I felt proud. Part of me thinks it was because I finally did what was right, but another part of me thinks Jasper may have sent me a tiny wave of pride. He may have been cold and calculating, but he also understood how I felt about you. I don't think he had ever felt anything but rage, anger, and lust. So when he felt the burst of love between us, he couldn't bear to let you die."
Charlotte wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a loving embrace. "I don't think you've ever told me that, Peter."
"I never really thought about it until now. Can I ask you a question, Char?"
"Of course."
"I know you asked me earlier, but I don't think I know the answer. What made you fall in love with me?"
Char thought about her answer for a moment. "I knew from the first moment I saw you that you were my mate. I didn't really know what that meant at the time, but I knew we were destined to be together. You have to realize, Peter, that I didn't love you right off the bat. I was shocked and intrigued and I was looking at you before you ever noticed me. When you put your life at risk to save me that was it. You didn't know me yet you risked everything to save me."
"Of course I did. You were my mate and there was no way I was going to live without you."
"And that, my dear, is why I fell in love with you. Your unwavering loyalty. That's why Jasper loves you too. He found in you something he never had. Someone he could always depend on, who would always be there. He may have never told you this, Peter, but he needs you. He loves you. So much, in fact, that when Maria decided it was my time to die, he sacrificed his own happiness for yours. He would have rather lived without you than see you suffer.
I thought about what she said for a minute. "Why are you bringing all this up, Char? What does any of this have to do with my gift?"
"Don't you see, Peter? I'm trying to stop you from doubting yourself. Your brother, the scariest vampire the world has ever seen, has no qualms about putting his life, and now his mate's life, in your hands. You've always managed to figure things out and now is no different."
"But why am I seeing so many things at once?"
"Peter, this is the first real family we've ever had and I imagine you're getting information concerning each and every one of us. I'm sure you're going through the same thing Alice does every day. Thank God you're not her. At least you don't have to wade through every possible outcome." Char ran her fingers through my hair while I thought about what she had just told me.
"Good point, babe. I don't think I could handle that level of responsibility." Suddenly a new bit of information stormed into my brain. "Char, will you reach into my jeans and hand me my phone?"
"Sure, baby." She reached behind her where my jeans were laying and pulled my phone from my back pocket before handing it to me. "Who're you calling?"
"Just need to shoot Jasper a text." Char rolled onto her back and looked up at the giant date palm trees surrounding us. I finished my task and propped up on my elbow to look down at my wife, memorizing every beautiful inch of her for the millionth time.
"Peter?" My wife gazed up at me, looking every bit the 17 year old girl.
"Yeah, Charlotte?" I nuzzled her neck, trying to take in every bit of her scent. Apple pie and cinnamon with a hint of clove. I've been next to this amazing creature for over a century but I don't think I'll ever get tired of breathing her in. She smells like the perfect blend of love, sex, and comfort. To me, she'll always smell like home.
"I told you what made me fall in love with you…" She trailed off and looked down, apparently embarrassed to continue. I placed a finger under her chin and lightly brushed my lips across hers.
"What is it, honey?"
Her crimson eyes once again met mine and she took a deep breath before continuing. "Well I was just wondering what made you fall in love with me?" She looked so shy and vulnerable in that moment that I couldn't help but mess with her.
"That's easy, Char. Your rack. You have the best tits I've ever seen." She looked shocked at my answer, but when she realized I was fucking with her, she punched me in the shoulder.
"Fuck you, Peter. I'm trying to be all serious and sentimental and here you are trying to ruin the fucking moment. You're such a dick!" She was practically growling at this point, and fuck me if it didn't turn me on.
"I'm sorry, babe. I couldn't help myself. You looked so cute with that innocent little look on your face." I smiled at her before adopting a serious expression. "It was the girl in the alley."
"What girl?" She looked a bit confused at my answer.
"The second life you took. You were so caring and compassionate towards that human girl. First you saved her from that brute and then you tried to care for her. I've never seen anything like it from a newborn. You managed to hold on to the best parts of your humanity and it was in that moment that I knew I would love you for the rest of my existence." She looked shocked at my words. Once again she laced her fingers through my hair, but this time she crashed her lips to mine sending me every ounce of passion she possessed. I truly love this woman with everything that I am and I couldn't be more proud to call her mine. "Thanks, baby."
Char gazed up at me. "For what, Peter?"
"For talking me through this. For putting shit into perspective. For being my wife. How can I ever thank you?" Charlotte wrapped her arms around my neck and once again pulled me to her lips.
"I can think of a couple of ways…" She began licking my lower lip and I rolled on top of her to show her just how thankful I was.
-JPOV-
As Bella and I walked towards the house I began to think about this past week. A century of war couldn't have prepared me for the rollercoaster ride I've just been on. The last 7 days have been filled with love, lust, deceit, anger, sorrow and forgiveness. And on top of all that, I still have no idea how to be a proper mate. Bella was absolutely right when she told me that even though I excelled at battle strategy, I knew fuck-all about being a boyfriend. Hmmm…boyfriend. That word doesn't seem strong enough for how I feel about Bella. I knew she was kind and giving and a bit too selfless for her own good, but I never knew she had such strength. Esme calls it moxie. That's how she described Rosalie or any woman who knows what she wants and how to get it.
"Hey baby?" Bella's voice pulled me from my reverie.
"What's up, darlin'?"
"I'm gonna hop in the bath. I kinda want to relax for a while with a good book. Is that okay with you?"
"Of course, Bella. You don't need to ask for alone time. We've been through a lot and we could both use a breather. Why don't you take the bath in our room and I'll use the shower in the hall."
"Thanks, Jas." She raised herself onto her tip-toes and planted a kiss square on my lips.
"Anytime, Bella. I'll meet you in our room when you've finished." We went into the bedroom where I grabbed a change of clothes before heading to the hall bathroom. I spent a good half-hour letting the scalding water rush over me, washing away all the doubt and confusion that's been plaguing me. If I have any chance of being the man that Bella needs, I need to pull my shit together and man-up.
I jumped out of the shower and, after getting dressed, went into the bedroom where I pulled out a recently published book on the Civil War that Peter picked up for me. This is the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the war and I wondered if this author finally managed to get it right. I sat down on the sofa and, after a cursory glance at the first few chapters, it became abundantly clear that this man, along with his predecessors had no real understanding of the facts during that time. I suppose it's to be expected, though. History is generally written by the victors and therefore generally lacking a certain impartiality. But to his credit, the author did have a grasp of the day to day life of a confederate soldier. It made me wonder if he didn't have a family member who fought for the south. I heard a faint buzzing come from the pants I'd just changed out of and realized my phone was ringing.
I grabbed my phone and saw that Peter had left me a text.
Call the pixie. She can't see us and is starting to get worried. Bella needs to talk to Esme and Carlisle for some reason. When Bella asks, tell her to focus, like she did with you.
And once again I found myself mystified by the vagueness of Peter. What the fuck did any of this mean? I dialed Alice's number, something I used to be so familiar with and, for a moment, I felt myself miss the friendship I shared with her.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Al."
"Jasper! Oh my God! How are you? How is Bella? What the hell is going on? Why haven't you called me? I swear! This inability to see you all is killing me. Peter told me to trust him, but I'm going out of my mind, and so is Esme." Alice kept ranting for a few more minutes before she finally began to simmer down.
"You done, Alice?" I asked with a slight smirk.
"Yes. But don't smirk at me, Jasper Whitlock. Just because you're mated doesn't mean I still can't kick your ass from here to eternity!"
"I'm not…wait. How did you know I was smirking? You can't see what's going on here."
"I may not be able to see what's going on, but I sure as shit know you. I could feel that smirk from a thousand miles away." I could hear the laughter in her voice. It felt very comforting to talk to her and I silently berated myself for not calling sooner. "But seriously, Jasper. How's she doing?"
"She's fucking amazing, Alice. I've never met anyone like her. She's strong and opinionated and, between you and me, she has one hell of a dirty mouth. And she's beautiful, Alice. I don't think I've seen anyone as naturally stunning in all my years."
"Thanks a lot asshole. What am I, chopped liver?"
"No Alice. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that…" I heard her start to chuckle on the other end of the line.
"I was kidding, dummy! Before everything went black, I saw just how beautiful she was. Hell, I saw a vision of her a few years ago and you're right. She is absolutely breathtaking."
"What do you mean you saw a vision of her years ago? What the hell are you talking about?" I heard her breath hitch in her throat. "Alice! What aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing, really. It's not important right now and we'll talk about it when I get to Texas. What we need to focus on is my gift. I haven't seen a vision of you guys in a few days and I'm starting to freak out."
"Calm down, Alice. What exactly did Peter say to you?"
She stayed silent for a moment before answering. "He told me that Bella has a gift but doesn't know how to use it. He said that when Kate arrived, Bella's gift would kick into full gear and I wouldn't be able to see any of you until she figured it out. What exactly is her gift, Jasper? Why am I in the dark?"
"She's a shield. We haven't figured out the extent of it yet, but as soon as we do, we'll let you know." At that moment Bella stepped out of the bathroom wearing a tank top and some drawstring pants and, once again, I was amazed that this engaging creature was mine.
"Hey, Jas. Is Alice here? I heard her while I was in the bath." She looked so happy at the prospect of seeing her best friend that I almost didn't want to tell her that Alice was only on the phone.
"Hi, Bella. No, I'm not here. I guess this is the first time that your vampire ears get the chance to hear a phone call. Jasper, give her the phone." I've never been one to fight with Alice, so I obliged and gave Bella the phone. I watched as they squealed for a few minutes before they finally settled down and started to talk.
"Alice. God! I didn't realize how much I missed you until I heard your voice. Where are you? When are you coming down?" I hadn't seen Bella this excited since she learned she could swim underwater without breathing. She sat down next to me on the sofa and began towel drying her beautiful chestnut hair.
"I'm still in Forks. We still have a few things to do before we can leave, but I promise I'll get there as soon as I can. I miss you, Bella. You're my best friend."
Now it was my turn to feign anger. "I thought I was your best friend, Alice. I guess the last 60 years meant nothing to you." I gave Bella a wink to let her know that I was only joking.
"Oh, c'mon Jasper. You know what I mean. I love you, but sometimes a girl needs another girl to talk to. Who else am I gonna talk about boys with?" Bella giggled a little at her response and I was taken aback by the sheer beauty of the sound.
I got up from the sofa and walked into the bathroom. It still smelled like her vanilla scented shampoo and I couldn't help but take in the scent. I looked down at the vanity and saw Bella's brush laying there. Hmmm…I wonder if she'd let me brush her hair? Guess there's only one way to find out. I picked up the brush and went back into the bedroom where Alice and Bella were gabbing away like a couple of twelve year olds. I sat down on the sofa, pulled Bella directly in front of me, and held up the brush with a questioning gaze. She nodded her head and turned around so her back was facing me. I took the towel from her hands, threw it on the ground and began to run my fingers through her hair to make sure there weren't any tangles. Bella let out a little moan and I felt her lust spike at my touch.
Alice kept chattering away. "…and then Mike Newton got up in front of everyone and started talking about how close you two were and how you were his best friend in Forks. He cried. That asshole actually cried. Honestly, Bella. He only knew you for like a month and he was acting as if you'd know each other for years." Was Alice actually talking about Bella's funeral? I checked her emotions to make sure she was doing okay but all I felt was contentment coupled with a healthy amount of lust.
I began to run the brush through Bella's locks and I lost myself in the simple pleasure of the action. The conversation between the girls slowly faded out as I focused solely on the task at hand. I don't know how long it took, but I brushed her hair until it was dry. Once I had finished I began to run my fingers through her hair. Bella shifted slightly so she was sitting between my legs with her back resting on my marble chest. I watched as her hair fell over her shoulders onto her beautifully shaped arms. And from this angle I could see just a hint of cleavage. Wow, she's right. They did get bigger. I chuckled softly to myself and continued to sweep my fingers through her hair.
"Jasper, that feels so good," Bella purred.
"What feels good? What are you two doing? Please don't tell me that you're…"
"No, dirty-bird. We're not banging while I'm on the phone with you. Get your mind out of the fucking gutter, Alice."
"Oooh! Jasper's right. You do have a mouth on you. I like the new Bella. I just wish I could see you."
"Speaking of that, Alice, Peter said I was blocking you but I don't know how to turn it off."
Oh, that's what Peter's text meant. I turned Bella around so she was facing me. "I have an idea, darlin'. Remember when you were blocking me? How did you turn it off then?
"She blocked you, Jasper? I didn't think anyone could do that." Alice sounded intrigued at the idea.
"Not only did she shield herself from me, Alice, she managed to shield all the girls. It was awful. One minute I'm feeding the horses with Peter, and the next minute I'm freaking out because I can't feel my mate. It felt like she was dead."
"That must have been terrifying, Jas. You said she was able to turn it off. Bella, how did you manage to do that?"
"I don't know, really. Peter told me to send some strong emotions to Jasper, so I did. All of the sudden he could feel me again."
"Thank God for that," I sighed. "Bella, why don't you try focusing on Alice? Maybe it'll work again." I took the phone from Bella's hand, turning on the speaker phone and placing it on the coffee table as she began concentrating. "See anything, Al?"
"No, not yet," she replied.
Suddenly, I couldn't feel Bella anymore. No emotions and no mating pull, just like before. I would have been worried if it wasn't for the fact that she was sitting in front of me, completely unharmed. "Um, Bella? I don't want to worry you, and I promise I'm not angry, but you're blocking me, darlin'. I can't feel your emotions and I can't feel the pull."
"I'm sorry, babe. I didn't mean to. But weirdly enough, I can still feel the mating pull. What should I do?" Maybe we could use this to our advantage.
"Tell me, Bella. Are you able to feel the shield around you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not sure really. Maybe some kind of energy?"
"Like a force field? Cool, just like Star Trek." Leave it to Alice, my closet-case sci-fi nerd. Bella laughed at the reference.
"Actually, Bella, she may have a point. Do you feel any kind of barrier around you?"
Bella stayed quiet for a few minutes, her brow furrowing in concentration. She looked so cute with her face all scrunched up like that.
"Jasper, please. I'm trying to focus." Oops!
"What's he doing, Bella?" Alice asked.
"He's projecting his emotions."
"Lemme guess. Lust?"
"Yep."
"Jesus, Jasper. Turn it off. We're trying to work."
"Sorry, Alice. She just looks so fuckin' sexy in her little tank top with her beautiful br…"
"STOP! There is such a thing as too much information, Jasper."
"Wait, I think I've got it," Bella yelled out.
"What is it, darlin'?"
"I can feel it. It feels like an elastic band wrapped around my body." She looked very pleased with herself.
"Bella, can you push it out? Can you try to cover me like you did when Katie shocked me?"
"Let me try." A split second later, all of Bella's emotions came rushing towards me.
"I can feel you again, babe."
"Are you telling me that even though you couldn't feel Bella's emotions, she could feel you projecting lust?" Alice asked.
"Yeah, I guess so. Weird. Alice, are you able to see us?"
"No, not yet," she replied.
"Hey, Alice. Are your visions mentally based or physically?" Bella asked.
"I think they're mentally based. Why do you ask, Bella?"
"Well Edward was never able to read my thoughts. He told me once that his gift was based solely in the mind." I can see the wheels turning in Bella's mind and I have a good idea of what she's trying to get at.
Just then I heard Esme enter Alice's room and she immediately started screaming. "Mary Alice Brandon Cullen! Just when were you going to tell your father and me that our daughter was on the phone? I've been imagining the worst and have been going out of my mind with worry. Honestly, Alice, I expected more of you." Her voice quieted down considerably, but she continued muttering under her breath for a few seconds before ripping the phone out of Alice's hand.
"Sorry, Mom. I was just so excited to talk to Bella and Jasper that I completely forgot to tell you guys." It's not often that Esme raises her voice but I secretly love it when Alice gets scolded. Esme is the only one who can make her feel like a toddler who's been caught misbehaving and I loved feeling the shame roll off of her. It's not a feeling she often has so I take it when I can get it. I looked down at Bella and saw that she was covering her mouth, trying to hold in her laughter. She must be enjoying this as much as me.
"Bella, dear! How are you holding up? Is Jasper taking care of you? Is Rosalie being nice? I swear, if that girl hasn't gotten ahold of her manners…"
"Hi, Mom. It's so good to finally hear your voice. And yes, Rose is behaving perfectly. Actually, we've gotten quite close. I'm telling you, Esme, I couldn't have gotten through all of this without her and Charlotte."
"Oh, Charlotte! How is my girl? Did Jasper tell you? It's been almost 20 years since I've seen her." I could hear Esme begin to sob on the other end of the line. She truly loves Char and I wonder how long it will take for her and Carlisle to make their way down here.
"Hi, Esme," I said.
"Jasper! Oh, honey, I miss you so much."
"I miss you too, Mom." I heard Esme begin to sob even harder. I don't often call her Mom, but whenever I do, she starts acting even more motherly than usual. "Char's doing great, by the way. I think she really enjoys having the girls around. She's been stuck with the boys for so long I think she forgot what it was like to have female friends. You should see the four of them together, Esme. They're incredible. They fell into their friendship so easily; it's hard to imagine that just a week ago none of them really knew each other, aside from Rose and Kate." Waves of pride started rolling off me and I felt Bella take my hands and wrap my arms around her tiny waist, like she was placing us into our own private little bubble.
"Holy shit," Alice exclaimed.
"Alice! Language, please."
"Sorry, Mom. But I just had a vision." Bella rolled onto her side to look me in the eye, a surprised expression gracing her features.
"Alice, what did you see? Was it a vision of Bella?" Although I was still in control, I felt The Major stir in the not-so-deep recesses of my mind. My voice took on a very familiar, yet seldom used, authoritative tenor. Alice had only seen me like this once before, the day Bella was changed. She knew immediately what was going on and answered my question without pause.
"No, sir. I saw Charlotte and Peter in a desert of all places." They must be in the greenhouse. "I saw Kate and who I assume is JP riding horses in a pasture. And I saw Rose and Emmett in a…shall we say…very compromising situation. I swear, if I never see those two doing it again it will be too soon." Alice's voice trailed off as she started searching for another vision.
"Jasper, why was she able to see everyone but us?" Bella asked.
"That's a very good question, my dear." Bella's face erupted into a look of pure joy at hearing Carlisle's voice. "Bella, honey. How are you doing? Are you adjusting to the change well?
"Hey, Dad." I heard Carlisle's breath catch in his throat at Bella's term of endearment. "I'm doing great. Jasper, Peter and everyone else is helping me get through it all. But I miss you and mom so much."
"We miss you too, sweetheart. But tell me, how is the bloodlust? I know it's early in your new life but I just want to make sure that you're getting through it okay." I could hear the concern in his voice and I saw that Bella noticed it to. She looked up at me with venom in her eyes and I silently prayed that Carlisle and Esme would show up her sooner rather than later. Bella needs her parents and I want whatever's best for my mate.
"Honestly, Carlisle, I've had very little bloodlust. There was only one time that I was truly affected." She looks sheepishly at me, ashamed of her weakness. I send her a cocktail of comfort and security, giving her a hard stare and daring her to deny my help. She graciously accepts my offering and looks at me with all the love she possesses.
"That's amazing, honey. I've never heard of anyone having such an easy time of it. I'm proud of you, dear." I can tell that Bella isn't ready to tell the family that particular story quite yet, and I can tell that Carlisle doesn't want to push her on the subject.
"Thanks, Dad. Peter and Charlotte helped me get through it." I feel no small amount of pride coming from my mate, probably directed to her brother and sister. "So Alice, why do you think you saw the rest of the family but not me and Jasper?"
"I'm not sure, Bella. What were you two doing right before I had the vision?"
"We were telling Esme about the friendships that have developed between me and the girls. Jasper started projecting massive amounts of pride so I wrapped his arms around me and cuddled into him. That's about it." That's my girl; clear and precise.
"Actually Alice, ever since she curled into me, I've felt kinda like we're in our own personal bubble. I can feel everyone else's emotions, but they're slightly muted. It's actually kinda refreshing." Alice stayed silent trying to take in what I just said.
"Can I ask you a question, Carlisle?" Bella asked.
"Of course, dear. What's on your mind?" I hear my father's voice go into doctor-mode.
"As I'm sure you've heard, apparently I'm some sort of shield," Bella recounts. "I gotta tell you dad, this shield bullshit is starting to get on my nerves."
"Bella! I thought you knew better than that. Honestly! Did Peter teach you to speak like that?" Esme sounded every bit the offended mother hen.
"Sorry, Mom." Bella sounded like she was truly sorry, but her emotions told a different story. She began to silently chuckle and her emotions, wrapped up in mine, caused me to laugh out loud.
"Jasper Whitlock Hale! How dare you!" Oh shit…now I'm in for it. Bella's humor increased ten-fold but, incredibly, she's able to keep her laughter silent. "I thought I raised my children better than that. Such language…" I heard Esme muttering under her breath.
If only she knew that she didn't raise any of us, but we don't have the heart to tell her that we were fully formed people by the time we got to her. Especially me. Don't get me wrong. I wish more than anything that Esme was there when I first woke up into this new life; my life would have been completely different. I wouldn't have become a monster. I wouldn't have taken so many lives. And most importantly, I wouldn't have felt every single emotion coming from my prey. I tend to humor Carlisle and Esme, letting them feel like the parents they so desperately want to be, but deep down I realize that I can never give them what they need. I'm my own man, always have been.
Maybe Bella had it right. She said that if it wasn't for my entrance into this new life, I wouldn't be the man I am now. Maybe I needed to experience what I did so I would become who I needed to be. Who Bella needed me to be. Once again I wrapped my arms around the woman who's quickly become the only thing in my life. She nuzzles her head in my chest and, as I purr in response, I realize that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.
-BPOV-
I heard Esme muttering something about ungrateful children and it took everything I had not to burst out into laughter. I don't ever remember hearing Esme mutter but I suppose my new vampire senses are picking up on all sorts of new things. I looked up at Jasper and was once again taken aback by his beauty, his strength. I laid my head on his chest and began to take in his scent and as a reward I was graced with his purr. No matter how long I live I don't think I'll ever tire of hearing that sound come from my mate.
"What's on your mind, Bella?" Shit! I almost forgot that Carlisle was on the line.
"Before I start on my gift, Carlisle, I was wondering if you knew if Alice's gift could be physically based."
"I've never really thought about it, but I suppose it could be. Why do you ask?"
"It's just that ever since Katie showed up, Alice hasn't been able to see us. We know for a fact that Jasper's gift is purely physical, correct?"
"Yes. What are you getting at?" I pause for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts.
"Well, I don't know if you heard, but as soon as I hugged Kate, I blocked myself and the girls from Jasper. He couldn't sense any of us."
"Bella. Was there some reason you would have felt protective of the girls at that moment?" Carlisle sounds like he's onto something.
"Well, I didn't immediately recognize Emmett and I was worried that he was a strange vampire who wanted to hurt Rosie." I cringed at the memory of threatening my big brother.
"Hmmm. That's very interesting." I can almost see Carlisle furrowing his eyebrows pondering what I just said.
"Right after that, I hugged Katie which happened to be the precise moment Alice's visions stopped. We all knew that Edward could never read my mind and his gift was obviously mentally based. I was just wondering if I'm blocking Alice the same way I blocked Jasper?"
"Give me a moment, Bella. Let me think about this."
I sank back into Jasper's arms and turned on my side so my nose was in the crook of his neck. I could feel him nuzzling my hair and let out a sigh of contentment. There was nowhere else I would rather be so I snuggled into him even closer. Jasper squeezed me tightly and placed a soft kiss upon my forehead. I gazed up at him and saw that he was looking down at me with so much love that if my heart had still been beating, it would have surely done a flip-flop. Before I got the chance to kiss him, Carlisle spoke.
"Okay, Bella. I have a couple of theories that I would like to share with you. First of all, Alice informed me that Peter sent her a text saying she wouldn't have any visions of any of you as soon as Katherine showed up. When you asked if Alice's gift could be physical I realized that you were correct. Her gift is physically based, just like Jasper's and, although I'm not sure why, I believe that when you touched Katherine for the first time your shield kicked into full gear."
Jasper chose this moment to speak up. "Carlisle, Peter informed us that when the four girls finally came together their powers would expand."
"Thank you, Jasper. That helps me quite a bit. This is what I think, Bella. I believe you've always had some sort of mental shield, but when Kate arrived and the four of you were together for the first time, the physical side of your shield kicked into full gear. That's how you managed to block out Alice and Jasper. Have you figured out how it feels?"
"Yeah, it's like an elastic band around my body. But why does that matter?"
"I think that when Emmett walked in the room your defenses went up, which is a very natural response. You felt that you and your sisters were in danger and you felt the need to protect them. Is that correct?"
"Yes," I said.
"Well, Bella, when you touched Katherine you somehow managed to physically shield the four of you. You were so completely covered that even your mate couldn't feel you."
I felt Jasper growl beneath me, undoubtedly remembering that moment. I was beginning to make sense of all this, but I still had one question weighing on my mind. "Carlisle, what about the vision Alice just had? Why couldn't she see me and Jasper?"
"After hearing what Jasper said about feeling like you two were in a personal bubble of sorts, I believe that at that moment you were so focused on how you and Jasper were feeling that you inadvertently raised the shield on the rest of the family and focused solely on you and your mate. What you need to figure out, Bella, is how to control it. We know that you can mentally and physically shield one person, and we know that you can shield numerous people. Your job is to figure out how it works." Awesome! One more thing for me to figure out. As if being a newborn isn't hard enough, now I have the vampire equivalent of homework. Fuck me.
If I thought that we were done with the Q & A portion of our conversation, I was sorely mistaken. Jasper wasn't quite finished. "Carlisle, how is it that Bella can shield herself from me but is still able to feel the emotions I project?"
That's a good point. I hadn't really thought about it, but the answer is completely obvious to me.
"Because you're my mate, Jasper. I know you would never harm me so I don't feel the need to block your emotions. I like knowing how you're feeling." Just then a huge wave of love and gratitude swept over me, peppered with a small trace of lust. I looked in his beautiful amber eyes and watched them slowly turn black. The lust increased exponentially and I knew that we needed to get off the phone ASAP. "Hey, Mom and Dad. Do you mind if we call you back later. I'm getting kinda thirsty."
"Sure, dear," Esme said. "I'm glad to see you taking care of yourself. We love you both and tell the rest of the family the same. Oh, and Bella? I'm sending you a package of school work. Just because you're a vampire doesn't mean you can ignore your studies. For some reason Peter gave me a P.O. box to send it to instead of the house, but it will be there in two days." Great! Not only do I have vampire homework, I have human homework as well. Fucking figures. We all said our goodbyes and hung up the phone.
Before I knew what was happening, Jasper had me turned around on his lap so I was straddling him and he crashed his lips to mine.
"What was that for, Jasper?"
He ghosts his lips over mine as he answers my question. "We've been through a lot this week darlin', but I have one more thing I need to say to you before we begin fresh and start building a life." Oh, shit. What now? I don't think I can handle any more surprises. "Calm down, Bella. Why don't you let me say what I have to say before you assume the worst?" Just then I felt every emotion Jasper has ever felt for me. It was kind of a timeline of our relationship. Anger – probably when he realized the Edward had brought a human into the family. Curiosity, wonder, affection, desire, hope, fear, possessiveness, acceptance, lust, love. A whirlwind of feelings he shot directly into my heart. My eyes widened at the sensation and I claimed his lips with mine.
"I love you. I love you, Isabella Marie Swan." I took one look in his eyes and saw that he spoke only the truth. After peeking at the manila envelope containing all my new identities I gazed back at Jasper and said the first thing that came to mind.
"It's Whitlock."
I know I promised a slightly less innocent Bella, but in my current frame of mind I was unable to do it justice. Please relieve some of my stress and let me know if you're still with me. I need all the encouragement I can get. I thank you all! -Dawn-