Chapter Twenty Five
Bella
I knew he was worried about me although I knew he would always protect me and there probably weren't too many other vampires who could get past him. The thing that terrified me was the idea of losing him, that he was holding back purely because he wasn't sure I was what he really wanted till the end of time. The very thought that he might find another woman he loved rather than me caused physical pain. I wanted to be his and I wanted him for me, exclusively. Things were just so difficult at the moment. We had no idea what Charlie was doing, we hadn't heard from Alice, Victoria was threatening me and the Volturi were looking for me because Edward had told them I might have some special gift enabling me to block vampire gifts and also I was associating with vampires thus breaking their most fundamental law, keep the secret from the humans.
When Peter came back he was on a high,
"Fuck that red-head is good. It took me ages to persuade her she was really following Bella and not a false trail but once she got on it she was fast".
"Yeah I know that Peter I travelled with her for a while remember?"
"Hey its my story so let me tell it. I worked it so she thought I was travelling with Bella that way I could break the trail sometimes to give myself a breather. Anyway she's about ten maybe twelve hours behind me so how do you want to play it Major?"
"I don't want her too close to Bella, we take the fight to her. Bella you stay here with Charlotte, she'll keep you company".
"Keep me safe you mean".
"Hey have a little faith human, I've just run all over the fucking country for you".
I cringed, "Sorry Peter I didn't mean to sound ungrateful".
He turned and his red eyes flashed before I saw the first smile appear.
"Its OK Bells, you're kinda growing on me and I'd hate to have to say goodbye yet. The Major and I won't be gone long, just behave till we get back, no prat falls only I'd hate to miss any".
I stuck my tongue out at him and he chuckled.
"For a human you're good fun, hell I don't even want to drain you any more".
"Well thanks for that Peter, I'll sleep a whole lot better now".
Jasper came over and kissed me on the cheek,
"We won't be long Bella".
"I'll still miss you".
He smiled and it made him look so much more vulnerable,
"See you".
As they walked out together my heart sank.
Charlotte smiled seeing my expression, "Don't worry Bella they're way too good for Victoria".
"Oh I wasn't worried about them, just me".
"Sorry?"
"How do you cope when Peter's away?"
She smiled at me, "Oh I see. Hurts does it?"
I nodded reddening.
"I remember that feeling, but it gets better once you are mated. Then you know there's no one else for either of you. Even when Peter is away I can feel him, like a warmth inside me".
"When Jasper leaves I just feel an ache deep inside which gets worse with every hour and since we've been together all the time for days now I feel his absence so much worse. I want to run after him, to hold him, to hear him. I think I'm going crazy Charlotte".
"No you're just in love with a vampire, its pretty intense".
"Intense? I think its more than that Charlotte".
"No Bella it's just that, and remember he's feeling the same way".
"Is he though? He hasn't said much to me since we got here".
"I think that's because he's been otherwise engaged. He won't relax until you're out of danger, that's his main concern and until he knows you're safe he wont talk about you and he as a couple. He can't see any future for himself with you while there's danger. The Major has lived his entire life in danger and I think it's about time he stepped out of that world and into one a little softer but I think you got your work cut out for you. He doesn't know much other than fighting, pursuing and looking for the next enemy around every corner. You have to persuade him that there is another way for him, another path he can take. Do you think you can do this? Is he worth it?"
"Yes, he is to me".
"Good, I was hoping you'd say that".
Peter
The Major was his usual quiet self as we laid our trap for Victoria. I watched him though and I saw a difference, his mind wasn't totally on the next few hours.
"Major you've got something on your mind, do you want to talk about it?"
"Bella".
"Yeah I guessed that much, what exactly about Bella?"
"Do you think I'm doing the right thing Peter, bringing her into our world?"
"I think she was already in our world before you came along".
"You know what I mean. She was only playing around on the edge with the Cullens. They're hardly the same as you and I"
"True, but she called and you followed".
"Not exactly".
"Yes exactly. You already told me you stopped Laurent from attacking her at the baseball game".
"Yes but she was under the protection of the Cullens. I didn't want to start a fight".
"Oh really? The odds too great were they? Let me see, there were what, six vampires and a human girl against three battle hardened vampires. Yeah I can see how the odds might have scared you off. Shit you could have taken them on your own with a hand tied behind your back. Then when Laurent decides to try again you stop him and save the girl from bleeding out. So, let me get the scenario just right. There's a human girl being beaten to death by Laurent, blood every where, and you come in, take him out then stop the bleeding and leave the girl to be found by her Cullen friends. Now correct me if I'm wrong here but there's something a bit weird about that. You stop her bleeding out and let her live instead of finishing the job yourself and feeding on a perfectly good meal"
"Peter shut the fuck up"
"No, no, there's more. You follow the girl back to Forks Washington and start making contact, pretty fucking weird on its own. You meet her, you go on a fucking date with her and she still stays intact. Now you bring her here and introduce her to another pair of vampires who would be only too pleased to taste her blood and you tell me you're worried about dragging her into our world. You have serious issues Major, totally fucked up thinking. The girls crazy about you, bite her and change or kill her but make your fucking mind up one way or the other. Its interfering with your thought processes and that scares the shit outta me".
He looked at me furiously for a minute before nodding.
"OK you made your point, let's get rid of the bitch and head back".
Bella
While we waited for the guys to return I thought about Charlotte's words. She was right of course, Jasper was dangerous and he was right, their world was dangerous for me but I couldn't see a way out. I couldn't leave him and if Alice and Charlotte were right he couldn't leave me either. We were tied together by bonds far stronger than human love. There was no alternative, to be together meant my remaining in danger with only him to protect me or for him to change me.
"Charlotte, do you think he would change me?"
She looked slightly shocked at my question and thought about it for a few minutes before replying.
"Bella I think you're asking the wrong question really. It's not would but could he change you. It's a very big difference. The Major hasn't changed a human in over a hundred years and I'm not sure if he could now, neither is he, I'm sure".
"So what are you saying Charlotte? I have to stay human with him, a liability, because there's no one safe enough to change me?"
"There is someone but it would be very awkward".
I saw it, "Carlisle Cullen you mean?"
"Yes. But I don't think he'll be any too eager to help under the circumstances".
She was right, how could I approach Carlisle after dumping his son for Jasper?