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And on with the story:
Bella's Point of View
I was finally starting to settle into this life. Three months had passed and it was still hard but control wasn't as difficult anymore. Most of the time it wasn't anyway. I occasionally snapped at Jasper or ripped a shirt trying to put it on. They all assured me that this was normal and I was gaining control more quickly than the average newborn.
If this was accelerated control I'd have hated to be an average newborn. This was more than hard enough. I didn't think I could stand to be around a human yet but I could live without constant inner turmoil. Of course, I still got frustrated when I broke something or took my anger out on Jasper. He always reminded me I was doing well, he was proud of me, and he loved me.
I was down to hunting every other day now instead of every day or a couple times a day. That made me proud of myself. Jasper and I still went out every day for alone time but it wasn't always to feed. Some days we didn't come back at all but no one seemed surprised or bothered.
The rest of the group did the same things with their mates at times. It wasn't like we didn't know what was going on. We became a family. We were family by choice, not need or chance but choice. It felt good to have a family. It made me miss Charlie less. I hoped he'd moved on with his life and finally found someone to stare his life with, but maybe that was just a wish for a dad from his absent daughter. I knew I couldn't see him again and that hurt sometimes but Jasper always comforted me.
Jasper became the center of my life. Wherever you found him you found me too. I was pleased with my mate. I didn't think I deserved such a wonderful man for a mate but fate gave him to me anyway. I didn't even have to give up Emmett. Rose and I had slowly built a friendship. It took time, but me not being given a choice to change made it easier for Rose to accept my transformation. She still grieved what might have been, but I didn't. When I wasn't having trouble with basic things I was grateful for my life as a vampire. I was even more grateful it had been Jasper who saved me.
I didn't even hold a grudge with Aro, Caius, and Markus. They could have insisted I be killed immediately. Instead, they gave the Cullens a week to save me and then gave Jasper four days to get to know me before the change so I didn't wake up to basically a stranger. By vampire standards, they showed me exceptional kindness.
Even with all my new brainpower, I can't figure out why I didn't see Jasper before. I could have insisted on getting to know him, but I don't think Edward would have allowed it. It's kind of amusing now, Edward was always so worried about Jasper being dangerous to me. Instead, I'm the dangerous one. I'm the one with the freaky power who could turn a vampire to dust.
It was a passing thought only, but I wondered if Edward had known Jasper was the one for me. After all, he wasn't that much more dangerous than the rest of them, except for feeling all of their thirsts. It must be awful to be an empath. To feel everything everyone else feels.
Now though, like me, he was happy. We were happy together. We read together, we hunted together, we even spent times with the others together. I just couldn't bear to be apart from him for more than a few moments. It hurt in my chest if he was too far away, but that was only secondary. I needed him with me.
Jasper's Point of View
Bella was coming along surprisingly well. She didn't need constant supervision any more but we still spent all our time together. I hadn't told her about Peter's news yet. I wanted her to enjoy as much of her newborn time as possible. Peter felt more danger coming. As if we hadn't had enough danger to last a few lifetimes. I wish I could say that Peter was wrong, but he'd never been wrong before. Perhaps this time will be a first.
I've spent a lot of time analyzing and thinking about who could possibly want to be against us now and I can't think of anyone. The Volturi let us go, Victoria is dead, all my other enemies are long dead, possibly Maria but why now instead of decades ago? We have no enemies.
While I try to figure it out I spend every moment I can with Bella. It's an amazing feeling with her. She loves me as I am and for who I am. I don't have to change myself or try to alter myself to be good enough in her eyes. Her eyes see into a man's soul and she thinks I'm good enough for her. I have been eternally blessed.
Charlotte
I'm beginning to doubt Peter this time. He said he felt danger coming but it's been months and nothing that could possibly start any danger has turned up here. Perhaps this is the one time his feeling is off. I hope so.
We're going hunting today. It is such a sensual experience to see my mate hunt it always leads to amazing sex afterward. Sometimes we're away for a few days after a hunt just because we want the together time.
Bella is doing so much better we don't feel the need to hurry any more when we leave the property. Unless another human comes by she'll be fine. We always stagger our hunts with Emmett and Rose so Jasper and Bella will have the backup if anything bad should show up and cause them problems but I don't think it will.
Rose and Emmett have turned into two fierce fighters and even more fiercely loyal friends. I don't worry when we leave them. They can handle anything that Peter and I could handle and they have the Major and Bella on board to help if things really go sideways. Even though I think he's wrong this time, I admit things have a habit of going sideways around the Major. He doesn't seek out trouble, doesn't start fights, but sometimes the fight comes to him and he'll finish it well enough to discourage anyone for a while. It's always just for a while though. There's always someone willing to try their luck against the God of War.