Chapter Fifty Nine

Peter

Things had gone to hell in the proverbial handcart! Not only was there no fighting and The Major knew I liked a good fight but instead I was supposed to nursemaid some human girl he'd got the hots for! Why the fuck he couldn't stick to what he did best and fight was beyond me. First there had been Maria, enough to frighten the shit out of any man, then Alice Cullen and the less said about her the better, she just wound him round her pretty little finger and led him around by the dick and now...now we had some human girl doing the very same thing.

"Charlotte I'm telling you now if this bitch turns out to be anything like the others I'm walking, he can look after her by himself."

"Peter you don't know anything about her, at least give her a chance."

"Why? So she can rip me to pieces or sneer at me? Been there, done that, got the fucking tee-shirt. I was really looking forward to a good fight, its been far too long, I'm getting rusty."

"No, you're getting miserable. Well more miserable. I swear Peter if you say anything to upset either of them before we get a chance to see what she's like I'll kick you out on your own."

"Thanks for that vote of confidence and solidarity, what happened to loyalty and love?"

"I'm sick and tired of your constant bitching about every woman he's ever shown the slightest interest in. Look what you did to Amber."

"Amber? She had the brain of an ant, she just happened to have a rather appealing body."

"That's immaterial. You played up so much when he visited with her that she left without a word. I think you're just jealous."

I laughed in shock at that statement,

"Jealous? Of Maria? Of Alice the high and mighty Cullen? Of Amber the dummy? You can't be serious! The psychotic Mexican, the Serial shopper from hell and the bimbo who couldn't add one and one without a calculator, give me a break. You're better than they were."

"Well thank you kind sir. Just button it until you meet her, she might surprise you."

"Yeah and Elvis might come by and ask for a lift but I sincerely doubt it Char."

We waited at the airport as the hours ticked by,

"Maybe they aren't coming, we could go."

"Bye Peter."

I sat back in my seat looking around at the human cattle and passing the time eyeing up all the pretty human girls but not one of them was as good as my Charlotte. I looked at the clock,

"He said he'd be here by now."

"Peter I'm warning you, one more word."

Then I saw him and the girl he'd lost his head over and I had to admit she was a little different from the usual human females and a vast improvement on his last two. I stood up and plastered a welcoming smile on my face.

"Peter!"

"Now what?"

"Wipe that stupid grin off your face before I do it for you and play nicely".

Charlotte moved forward to greet him with the usual hugging and a far too long lasting peck on the cheek while I stood eyeing the female up.

"Decided how much to offer for me?"

I stopped trying to work that one out and she saw mystification,

"You were looking at me like a cow in a market. I just wondered if you'd decided how much you were going to offer for me."

I couldn't help but laugh at her words, maybe she wasn't going to be quite as bad as the others!

Jasper

I'd told Bella to brace herself ready for Peters caustic wit but she'd caught him on the back foot and for the first time I saw my friend speechless.

"Well, who knows, you might even turn out to be bearable!"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence Peter but I could be a real bitch and just hiding it for now."

She turned to Charlotte and held out her hand,

"You, must be Charlotte, it's very nice to meet you. Jasper hasn't said much about you so maybe we can get to know each other on the flight."

She sat down with Charlotte and they began chatting as I grabbed Peters arm and pulled him close,

"Peter, Bella is the one and if you upset her..."

"Too late Major, Charlotte's already used up all the good threats so take a number. Besides she has spunk and I guess that's something.."

"Ready to meet Darius and behave?"

"Why there? Of all the places you could have chosen to take Bella why his cave? You know he and I hate each other."

"No you don't. It just pisses you off that he can be as cantankerous as you."

"Never! He's just a miserable fucker, at least I do it with style."

I rolled my eyes and looked over at Bella,

"I love her Peter. You remember me telling you about the human girl I saved in the woods all those years ago?"

He nodded then a grin spread across his face,

"You old dog, you pissed on her years ago to mark your property and now you've come back to claim her."

I groaned

"Peter why do you always have to drag things down to basement level?"

"Because my friend, that's reality. You carry on believing in fairy tales and lovely things, you need someone like me to keep you grounded in the down and dirty.

Bella

I could feel Peters eyes on me as Charlotte and I talked and I knew he was discussing me with Jasper. I'd been warned about him but there was just something that I could relate to, in short I liked Peter Whitlock. Now whether that would be reciprocated I had no idea but I knew he was important in Jaspers life and that meant it was important that we two, well three, got along. Charlotte I liked immediately, she was more down to earth than Alice or Rose, from an earlier age I thought and she didn't appear to be looking for things to dislike about me. I got the feeling that if I made Jasper happy then she would do all she could to get on with me.

"What's Garrett like?"

"He's very much a cross between Peter and The Major. A little of each, very gallant but earthy at times."

"And Darius?"

"Ah Darius. He's a very secretive person who doesn't like anyone very much except The Major."

"Can you tell me why?"

"I'm glad you put it like that Bella, it means you appreciate that there are some tales only certain people have the right to tell. I could but its his story and I'm sure he'll tell you in his own time. Don't expect much when you first meet him, his people skills leave a little to be desired."

"Like Peter's you mean?"

She laughed and looked at her mate affectionately,

"I fear my mate has no people skills whatsoever. He's the kind of person who could clear a party in two seconds. Peter instinctively knows what to say to put the largest number of backs up in the shortest possible time. It gets wearing sometimes but if he takes a liking to you then you couldn't want for a better friend."

"Then I'll do my best to maker sure he likes me."

"Oh he already does. If not you'd know by now trust me!"

Jasper

Peter insisted on sitting by me on the plane forcing Bella to sit with Charlotte but she didn't seem to mind, the two girls seemed to be getting on really well whenever I glanced over at them but I knew Bella's eyes flashed to me every few minutes, not only could I feel her attention wander but Peters grin got wider,

"Hell Major she'll be panting for you by the time we get to Darius place."

"Peter I'm warning you, remember she's a human and a young one at that."

"Don't try that shit with me Major, I smelled her scent, yours too. She's no pale little virgin all sweet and innocent, no siree."

I grabbed his arm and hissed at him to shut it.

"Peter don't spoil this for me."

He pulled free with a grimace,

"You nearly broke my fucking arm Major. Ease up, you're like a cat on hot metal. She can't hear me, none of the humans can. So is she good?"

I shook my head and closed my eyes, when Peter was in this mood the only thing that worked at all was to ignore him and often not even that shut him up! Sure enough he started whistling a little X rated ditty from the Civil War about a young maiden who fell in with a group of Union Soldiers and I did my best to shut the tune out realising I had another two hours of this to endure and it wasn't possible to rip his head off on a commercial flight. I did contemplate opening the door and booting him out but again it probably wouldn't be the best solution but it was mighty tempting never the less.