Chapter Thirty Nine

Carlisle

I let Bella sleep until about two hours before they were due to land then went up to Jaspers room and knocked on the door. She called for me to come in, still sleepy, and I carried her bag in with me. Seeing me, I think she had expected Esme or Rose, she sat up pulling the throw over her legs and I had to smile to see her in one of Jasper's old tees.

"Sorry Bella but I need you to do something for me if you will."

"Sure Carlisle, I owe you big time. Is there a problem?"

"Yes but I'm not sure how you are going to take this. Please hear me out before saying anything."

She looked wary now and sat up straighter,

"Did you manage to sleep?" I asked which confused her.

"Yes thank you."

"Do you know why, when you were so angry?"

"I don't understand the question Carlisle. I was tired."

"Yes I Know but you were also very angry, yet you fell asleep in here."

She looked confused and didn't say anything.

"Bella I want you to do something for me on trust."

Her eyes narrowed but then she nodded,

"OK Carlisle. As long as its not dangerous, I've had enough of that."

I laughed,

"No Bella its not dangerous. I just want you to come with me to the airfield and meet the plane."

"The plane? The one with Emmett and The Major on it? Why?"

"They need your help Bella, well the Major does."

"My help? I don't even know him."

"Yet he flew out to help you."

"Point taken Carlisle. Do I have time for a shower?"

"Yes, We'll leave in about half an hour if that's all right"

Bella

I was confused but Carlisle was right, this Mysterious Major had come looking for me although he'd been hurt somehow in the process. So I guessed I owed him, after all he'd sent the Whitlocks and Jasper to guard me, it wasn't his fault I'd been handed round like a parcel so I'd save my anger for Jasper if I ever saw him again which seemed unlikely. He hadn't even turned up to find me when the others did. I stripped off and showered but the comfortable feeling I'd had seemed to evaporate as I got dressed in the stupid clothes Edward had got me and that was all I'd grabbed before fleeing. I looked at the tee I'd slept in and sighed, opening the drawer and taking another one out. I slipped it on under my sweater and felt that warmth again. It was something I needed to think about, but not now. When I was ready I came downstairs to be greeted by the others although Peter and Charlotte were missing.

As I followed Carlisle to the garage Rose took my arm,

"Don't think too harshly of him Bella. He needs you."

I hadn't the foggiest what she was talking about but her words stirred something deep inside me. We drove in silence, neither of us willing to start a conversation that we both wanted to have. We arrived before the plane and sat, still in silence then I broke,

"Carlisle I don't understand what's going on. The Whitlocks and Jasper were guarding the last remaining free children Aro had sired, so why are you and the rest of the Cullens involved?"

"We have always been involved Bella. Ever since Alice joined us, like the Whitlocks, Aro would perceive us as helping, and Jasper has been a part of our family for a long time now."

"OK I'm with you so far, so you helped me even though Alice turned out to be a sleeper and Edward tried to take me for himself?"

"Yes that's about it Bella."

"And The Major? How does he fit in?"

Carlisle looked at me guiltily,

"I'm afraid I have allowed you to continue under a misapprehension Bella and I hope you will forgive me when you learn the truth. Just a little longer and everything will be clear, all your questions answered."

"What aren't you telling me Carlisle? Why was I passed around from guard to guard like a parcel? Why did Jasper leave so suddenly?"

"Bella please believe me when I say that you were never seen as a parcel, everyone wanted to keep you safe but somewhere along the way other emotions became involved. What do you know about our relationships?"

"Well you and Esme are married and I think maybe Em and Rose are although they don't admit to it."

"Yes well that's true but its not what I mean. We vampires find our mate for life and that's it. There is no one else and sometimes it takes many years to find the one."

"OK but why are you telling me about that?"

"Listen please Bella. When we find the one there's an almost physical need to be together. We can't be parted for any length of time without suffering physical and emotional consequences. If a mate dies often the other follows."

"Wow, it sounds intense."

"It is but it is also the most wonderful bonding. Just being close gives us peace, a peace that we can get no other way. A feeling of calm and love in their presence."

I found myself thinking of the feeling I had in Jaspers room. The warmth I got from wearing his top and I wondered if he thought...no that was stupid. Jasper was a vampire and I was only a human girl. It couldn't work that way for humans...could it? And if he felt that he would hardly have handed my security over to someone else would he?

"Thank you for sharing all this Carlisle but I don't see how it helps me understand why I'm here now."

He pointed to the flashing lights growing larger as the plane descended,

"You will Bella. You will."

Emmett

It was with great relief I saw the airfield getting larger because Jasper was almost out of strength. I just hoped Bella would be there when the door opened or I had no idea how we'd get him any further. He hadn't spoken in the past few hours or even moved. He just lay curled up across two seats, shaking slightly now and then. I'd never been so shit scared in my whole existence. As soon as the wheels touched the runway I got up and looked out of the window, I could see Carlisle's Mercedes and to my great relief there were two figures standing beside it.