Well here goes, you wanted more of the story so here it comes. Jules

Chapter Ninety Two

Bella

Emmett and Rose headed back a few days after Carlisle and Esme, promising to be careful. I hated to think what Esme might do next, she seemed to have lost all connection with reality and I was worried for Jasper too. I wouldn't let the bitch get to him again.

"Bella you're watching the wrong fucking enemy girl"

Peter was shaking his head,

"So who should I be watching oh wise man?"

"If it were me I'd be watching the Volturi. Do you really think Aro and his cronies have finished with you? You prevented their two little treasures from joining the Guard and the only one who has a really good gift they might covet now is...drum roll...you."

"They know I'd never work for them and I can protect us so what are they going to do?"

"Fucked if I know, but then I'm not as devious as Aro. What do you think Major?"

"I think you're right Peter, I think we need to watch our backs from all directions. I'm wondering if we should be asking the wolves for some help"

"Have you lost your mind Major? Ask the wolves for help? Do you think they're going to drop everything and pop down here to protect us? It may have slipped your mind but we are their enemy. You remember wolves + vamps = war."

"Very nice speech Peter but how else do you think we're going to watch in all directions?"

I put my hands up,

"Hey, truce guys. I think Em or Rose would let us know if Esme starts scheming so that's one front we can ignore for a while, the wolves have made their peace so that just leaves the Volturi"

"Just she says, just? Bella they are the real bad asses here."

"I know Peter but we do have my shield"

"Yes my love but unless we all stay with you all the time its no fucking good is it?"

That stopped me, he was right. For my shield to work we had to be together and that was impractical in the long term.

"Who do you think are the most vulnerable of us?"

"Well lets see...that's a difficult one...how about all of us once were out of sight of you. What a fucking question!"

Jasper

This bickering was getting us nowhere so I took Peter out to hunt leaving the cooler heads to discuss things. He muttered under his breath for the first hour until I stopped and he walked into me,

"What did you stop like that for?"

"Well as we stand no chance of taking anything other than a deaf man down with all your bitching I thought maybe you'd like to get it off your chest now."

"Look Major, I like Bella you know that but she doesn't seem to understand what's going on here. She thinks her shield is a magic talisman. Well its not. The rest of us are only safe as long as we're with her and that's just not a long term solution now is it? When are you going to explain to her what it means?"

"Well, why don't you tell me what it means first Peter?"

"OK. It means we have one mother of a fight looming in the not too distant future. Esme is as likely to let this lay as a fox is to pass the time of day with a fucking chicken., Then there's the Volturi and I dread to think what they are busy planning for us."

"We can't fight the Volturi Peter."

"Wrong, We can fight the Volturi, but we can't fucking win."

"Well what do you suggest mastermind?"

"Fucked if I know but I feel better for getting it off my chest"

"Good, then shut up and let's hunt."

Bella

I was about to ask Char what Peters problem was when the phone rang. I listened wordlessly to the news then put the receiver down. Charlotte seeing my face came rushing over,

"What's wrong Bella?"

"That was Emmett. He and Rose are on their way back to join us."

"Oh what's Esme done now?"

"She's dead, her and Carlisle. Both dead"

"How?"

"He killed her and himself. They're gone Char."

"Well I'm not sorry she's gone but I think he was basically a good man. It does mean there's one less problem for us though and two more pairs of eyes to help."

"I don't know what to say Char. It's such a shock. How much danger do you think we're really in from the Volturi?"

"Too much, even with Em and Rose, we don't really stand a chance Bella. They have the numbers and the gifts while we only have you and good as you are I doubt you can shield us all from now until who knows when. If they can split us up they can pick us off a few at a time. Once it's just you and Jasper he might concede defeat and leave you to it but I doubt it even then. Aro doesn't do defeat."

"Is there no way to win?"

"Not one I know of but we'll keep trying Bella."

Jasper

Bella came out with the news as soon as we got back.

"The first bit of good fucking news we've had in a while"

I couldn't help bit feel Peter was right in that assessment. It would be good to have Em and Rose here as the more we were, the less vulnerable but we were fighting a very tough opponent and one who wouldn't give up if it took centuries. Bella was scared for the rest of us after Char had rightly pointed out that Aro had the advantage. She wanted to work on her shield, see if she could protect someone out of her sight. It was one hell of a long shot but if it made her happy I was content to help her. Peter volunteered as a guinea pig, so of course Rose offered her services as his enemy. This was going to be fun.

Peter

I hadn't factored Blondie in to this equation but what the hell. I got to grope Emmett's girl quite legitimately so I wasn't complaining too much. Bella wanted to see if she could keep an enemy away at long-range so Blondie and I went into the woods out of sight for the first days experiments,

"So Blondie. You ready to grapple with a real man?"

"Shut up Peter and get ready to get your butt handed to you."

I smiled at her and when we heard the signal I swung up into the branches away from her,

"You're not supposed to be trying to get away idiot"

"Oh come on. I'm not going to make it too easy for you am I. Come and get me"

When I hit the ground for the fourth time I'd had enough and stalked back to the house rubbing my sore back. Bella looked stricken,

"I'm so sorry Peter. I'll practise and we can try again.

"Fuck that! You find another guinea pig next time Bella. My back will never be the same again."

"Oh poor Petie" Crowed Rose as she came back with a huge grin on her face.