Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, I just enjoy borrowing her characters for a while.

AN: Thank you to everyone who is still reading and reviewing. I appreciate you all. I've had a challenging week this week, the least of my problems being no access to a computer but that's the main reason for no midweek update this week.

This chapter deserves its M rating. If you're not an adult or that kind of thing isn't for you, skip the first part and start from the first xWx.

I Woke The Other Day

I traced my fingers along Bella's bare arm, marvelling at the tingling that danced up my fingers and straight to my heart whenever we touched. Her skin was no longer the flawless perfection of when we'd first met; it was now marred by multiple bite scars, each one proof of my failure to protect her but also of her strength, resilience and ability to survive. They didn't detract from her beauty but enhanced it. My warrior mate.

I was flat on my back on the floor, Bella sitting astride my hips with me deeply seated inside her. Joined like this, we were one body and one soul. I could never have imagined that feeling such contentment was possible. The previous hours of indescribable pleasure were seared into my memories; I wanted to repeat every second, to draw out every sound of pleasure from her so that I could hear them again and again but I also wanted to just stay still and stare, savour the feel of our bond connecting us.

Bella touched the scar beneath my collar bone that she had put there the first time we were together and she clenched around me.

"If I'd have known then how much venom hurts, I would've sought your permission before I did that to you," she told me.

"You like to see it though," I smiled. I could feel how much she liked it. "I love that you've marked me as yours. I loved it even before I understood who you were to me. It didn't hurt the same way as the other bites did," I reassured her truthfully.

"I want one then," she whispered, "I want your mark on me."

"I wouldn't want to hurt you, Bella," I was still being truthful but I was conflicted, the thought of my mark on her was intoxicating.

"You said it didn't hurt the same way," she teased.

I thought back to the moment she'd bitten me and how it felt. The memory was powerful and overwhelming. In one swift move, I reversed our positions and I was on top of her, her legs wrapped around my waist as I pounded into her desperately.

"I want it Garrett," she moaned. "I want your mark on me."

"I don't want to hurt you," I breathed, slowing my pace as the temptation clawed at me.

She met my eyes, "I want your mark here," she ghosted her fingers above her right breast before reaching to touch her mark on my skin. "I want it to match yours," she said quietly, pleadingly. Oh God. How could I deny her anything she wanted? Especially when I badly wanted it too. "Please, Garrett," my name on her lips was my undoing.

I resumed my punishing pace, knowing how much she loved it. My fingers teased her nipples, gently at first and then the rough way I knew would bring her close to climax. She cried out and I captured the sound, angling my mouth over hers and kissing her deeply. I kissed my way down her neck, over the place she'd indicated and she hissed in disappointment when I didn't break her skin but carried on down, drawing her nipple into her mouth and she arched into me, her hands rough in my hair as she hissed in pleasure. I slid my hand between our joined bodies, knowing my touch there would tip her over the edge. As it did, my mouth released her taught nipple and moved back to where I knew she wanted it. I hesitated long enough to give her the chance to stop me. "Please, Garrett," she repeated, pulling me to her. She gasped as my teeth bit into her and the force of her climax forced me to follow. It felt like the pleasure would never end. I collapsed onto her and she hugged me close and we murmured our mutual declarations of love and loyalty.

"Let me see it," she demanded when we finally came back to ourselves. She dragged me over to the full length mirror and I stood behind her, nuzzling her neck as she stared at our naked bodies in the reflection. I was almost painfully hard again now as we took in our matching marks below our collar bones. I spun her to face me and kissed my mark and she hissed.

"Does it hurt?" I asked reverently.

"Only in the best way," she said and I raised my eyebrow at her lie. "When you put it there, it only hurt in the best way," she amended with a seductive smile.

"Let me take care of you," I said softly and started to suck gently on the wound, pulling out all traces of my venom leaving only the healing scar that would always mark her as mine, as I was hers.

xWx

I answered Bella's house phone fully expecting it to be Charlie so was surprised to hear Jake's voice. Fred and Bree had returned without incident a few minutes ago and I felt a stab of fear that something might have happened while they were out for the day with Jake and his pack.

"What can I do for you?" I asked, keeping my tone light so as not to alert the other vampires in the house to my concern.

"Nothing, everything went fine," Jake replied but it didn't reassure me. His voice was very low, barely a whisper. He didn't want to be overheard. "How confident are you in Bree and Fred's control?" he asked almost silently.

"They're doing well," I replied cautiously. Actually they were doing amazing. We had deduced that Bree had been turned around the same time as Bella and Fred was over two years turned. Fred's gift must've been the only reason he hadn't been destroyed once he'd matured out of his newborn speed and strength.

Their ages meant that clawing back some control, despite the horrific conditions they'd been subjected to, wasn't as difficult as it could have been had they been newer to this life. Having interrogated them intensively about their time in Seattle, I understood that Riley had allowed those with the best control who could be trusted not to instantly expose themselves to live for longer than the others. This was why Bree had survived so long. Those who were especially violent and those that would feed without restraint on the rare hunting trips they were allowed tended to disappear. Riley told the other newborns that it was because they had been too slow to return to base and had been caught out in the sun but that was obviously a lie. I guessed that those were the vampires that were despatched to Forks to challenge and test the wolves' defences. Victoria wouldn't to keep those who might expose her around for long and those with more control like Bree and Fred would be a good influence on the newer vampires so they were kept within the base for much longer.

We were effectively able to manage Bree's perpetual thirst caused by her repeated starvation when newly turned with regular hunting. However, even though their control was good, it wasn't flawless. They had fed on humans for most of their immortal lives. "But if you're thinking of testing them the way Sam tested Bella and I, then that is a very bad idea." I told Jake.

"Fred said you let Charlie visit the house when they are there?" he asked.

"Yes. We're very careful though. Bella would never put Charlie at risk. They are both determined to stick to an animal blood diet. Fred has excellent control and Bree was so traumatised by the feeding practices she was subjected to that she finds the idea of drinking human blood repulsive now. I know that she is always thirsty and has to hunt often, but I think that she would take drastic measures to avoid drinking form a human. As long as no one's bleeding or hugging, then it's as safe as it can be. Bella and I stay very vigilant though. We would never be complacent and would not allow any harm to come to Charlie."

Charlie's visits were frequent. He and Bella spent as much time together as they could. Their relationship was open and honest since her return to Forks. Bella valued it highly and I thought Charlie did too. I enjoyed his company as well and he was fascinated and probably slightly appalled by my age. He would ask me questions about historical events that happened during my lifetime and quiz me about my human life. He also liked Fred and had a soft spot for Bree. He saw them as victims, not predators.

"Is it okay if we come over to yours tomorrow?" Jake asked.

"Of course Jake. You know you're completely safe around us." I was still struggling to find the point of Jake's call. He didn't usually warn us he was coming, just breezed in and out of the house uninvited.

"Sure, sure," he ended the call distractedly.

xWx

When I opened the door to Jake the next morning, he looked tortured. One of his hands was braced on the door frame which he was squeezing so hard it was starting to crumble under his fingers. His face was contorted in pain and he looked like he would throw up on my shoes.

"Are you okay?" I asked redundantly. Clearly he wasn't okay.

His eyes met mine and they were pleading. I wanted to help him but I had no idea what was happening.

A curvy, petite woman suddenly ducked under his arm. She held a huge bouquet of flowers in her arms and she beamed at me. "Hi, I'm Leanne," she introduced herself.

"Leanne?" Bella asked, shocked as she materialised beside me.

"Hi," Leanne greeted her happily. "You must be Bella. I've heard so much about you. I normally bring cookies when I visit someone because who doesn't like cookies right but obviously you don't so I brought flowers instead. I thought it might help a little with my smell. I don't want to make you uncomfortable in your own home." Her words were nervously tumbling out of her mouth even as she seemed determined to keep a bright, airy demeanour.

Jake groaned in contrast to the adoration on his face as he gazed at Leanne. He had brought his imprint here. To a house full of vampires. The level of trust was staggering and I could tell how much it was costing him. "You don't mind if Seth and Leah come it as well?" he ground out.

"Of course not. You're all always welcome," Bella told them. I could tell she was overjoyed to meet Leanne. Jake talked about her so constantly we felt like we already knew her. I know that Bella was pained to think she would never meet her but she had never asked to either. Neither of us could've imagined Jake would allow us to be in close proximity to her.

Leanne was genuinely lovely. It was easy to see how she was a match for Jacob. She was just overwhelmingly kind. We were all a little besotted with her. How could you not be? She asked curious questions, sincerely interested in the answers. She obviously wanted to get to know us and included Bree and Fred.

Leah was trying her best not to stare at Fred but was failing spectacularly. Fred kept stealing glances at her too and as the morning progressed, he was unconsciously edging closer to her. Leah rarely spoke, but when she did she had Fred's undivided attention. Maybe, just maybe, he might actually be drawn to her. It could be a reaction to her bond to him but maybe by some miracle it could be the stirring of the beginning of a bond from him to her.

After they left Bella was almost euphoric. "Jake brought Leanne to meet us," she almost squealed, throwing her arms around me and I laughed into her hair as I let myself get caught up in her joy.

That afternoon I kept catching Fred staring out towards the reservation.

"Are you okay?" I asked him

He blinked at me, dragging his gaze away from the window. "I don't know."

"Tell me," I offered.

"I can't stop thinking about Leah," he told me. Fred didn't really do deception or evasion which was ironic considering his gift. "It should feel wrong but it doesn't. I could tell something was bothering her. She seemed worried. I want to go check on her, make sure she's alright. I know I can't cross their boundary but I really, really want to."

"Why don't you ask her to meet you somewhere off rez?" I suggested.

"Like a date? I really don't think she'll want to spend time with a bloodsucker," he said, uncharacteristically despondent.

"You might be surprised," I told him. "I'll call Jake and see what he says. Doesn't hurt to ask, right?" and I was rewarded by a hopeful smile.

AN: If you take a moment to review, you will make me happier than you can possibly imagine. I'd love to know what you think.