A/N: It's not mine.
I have no beta.
Thank you for all the comments/reviews. They mean a lot.
BPOV
I woke early this morning so I can go run a mile before I got back to do my workout. It was a typical dreary day in Forks, but the rain seemed to be holding off for a while. Luckily, I will be able to get a full workout in before the eventual downpour that was sure to happen.
It only took me twenty minutes to run a complete mile this morning. I chose not to take my time because I didn't want to get stuck in a torrential downpour. That's happened to me on several occasions and it was not enjoyable.
Once I got back to my house, I headed out to my backyard. I had the entire backyard landscaped beautifully. I love to do my workouts outside, so I have an area installed where I can do my Tang Soo Do training. I had a pergola installed with a lovely canopy overhead to shelter me from the usual rain showers Forks is known for.
As a martial artist, it is important that I maintain prime physical condition. Engaging in strength and conditioning exercises as well as doing all the required stretches helps with that. I also do a lot of core strengthening exercises which are essential for performing most Tang Soo Do maneuvers.
After doing my workouts for an hour, I begin practicing with my weapons. While I usually compete using my bo, I also do the si, nunchucks, and the coma. Of course, my practice si are not sharpened and neither are my kama. I have no desire to ever cut myself again. Slicing my upper thigh open with sharpened si was not an enjoyable moment for me. It was definitely a learning experience, a learning experience that landed me with twenty-five stitches. I will never touch a weapon that I have not been cleared to use ever again.
I was finishing up with my bo staff when I saw Grandpa Caius and Felix standing over by the tree line. I started calling Caius grandpa last night as a joke but seeing him freak out over being called that, I decided that I was going to stick to it. It's funny because Caius looks to be my age.
I completed my helicopter spin and transitioned into a figure eight as I walked over to the two vampires. "Hi, Grandpa Caius, Felix," I greeted them with a smirk.
Felix barked out a laugh while Caius rolled his eyes at my antics. He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a gentle hug. "What can I do to stop you from calling me grandpa?" he asked.
I grinned mischievously, "Hmm… I'm not sure. What is it worth to you?"
"Bella, dear, in case it has missed your notice, we look like we're the same age. Being called grandpa is making me age emotionally. I'm a vampire. I should never feel like I'm aging. Please, for the love of all things holy, stop calling me grandpa," he pleads while making ruby red puppy dog eyes.
I tapped my finger to my chin appearing to be thinking hard over it. In reality, I wasn't even considering it. Caius was my grandfather several times over. What else would I call him? Grandpa to the one-thousandth power? "What do you want me to call you?"
"I have thought about it and would like you to call me pappous. It's Greek for grandfather but doesn't make me sound ancient," he replied.
"Uh, Gramps, you are ancient," I reminded him with a laugh.
He sneered in response. "No, just no."
"I'm kidding, pappous. If it makes you happy, I'll call you that," I placated him. "So what do I owe the honor of your visit so early in the morning?"
"You mentioned last evening that you get up early each morning to run and workout. I wanted to come to spend time with you," pappous said giving me another hug.
"You just wanted to watch me with my weapons," I teased with a wink.
"It's true," Felix piped in with a chuckle.
Caius gave him a look that meant retribution in the near future. I laughed. I would love to see Caius fight, and Felix is so freaking huge that it would definitely be worth seeing.
"Well, I'm done for now. Besides, it looks like it's going to rain anytime now. I hate getting caught in the rain. It brings back unpleasant memories," I said with a shudder. Memories of the night Sam Ulley found me in the woods drenched to the bone and shivering violently came to mind. It was immediately after Edward left me in the woods. I had gotten lost and it started to pour rain. I was completely soaked through and was laying on the ground like that for several hours. By the time Sam found me, I was already running a very high fever.
"Why do you hate getting caught in the rain so much, little one," Caius asked putting his arm around my shoulders and walking with me to the house.
"When Edward dumped me, he brought me far out into the forest. I think it was deliberate. Anyway, I got lost and it started to rain really hard. I was so wet that I got sick. By the time I was found, I was spiking a very high fever," I explained to him and both he and Felix growled in anger.
"Permission to tear him apart, master?" Felix asked.
"Granted but only after I have taught him a few lessons," Caius angrily replied.
"Well, I'm just happy I'm not his mate. I probably would have killed myself by now," I admitted to them with a shrug.
I led them in through the back door and into the living room. I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge while on the way and sat down on the couch, motioning for Caius to sit down on my captain's chair. I quickly drank the entire bottle of water while they watched me in amusement.
"I have never seen a human drink that fast in real life," Felix muttered.
I laughed, "It's really not a big deal. I'm thirsty from working out. Normally, I can't drink that fast. It's a human thing, I think."
We were interrupted by a loud banging at the front door. It sounded like Jacob's typical knock, so I got up to answer it. When I pulled the door open, I was greeted with a snarling Jacob who looked about ready to phase at any moment.
"Jacob, calm done. I'm not in danger," I ordered him.
He pushed his way past me and stomped into the living room. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded.
"Jake, calm your ass down now, or you can leave. I was going to call you later and let you know what's going on. Why are you here?"
"Brady and Seth smelled the scents of unfamiliar vampires. Since your luck in that area sucks, I decided to check up on you," he replied while his eyes never left Caius and Felix.
Caius stood up and walked up to Jacob. "My name is Caius Volturi. Bella happens to be my descendant. We are here for hers and Charlie's protection."
"Protection? From what I've seen, vampires don't go around protecting anything. They destroy," Jake replied while trying to appear intimidating.
"While it is certainly true that there are vampires that see no value in human life or pretty much anything for that matter, my coven is different. We are the rulers of our kind," Caius explained.
"Rulers, huh? So what are you going to do with that douche bag, Edwin?" Jake asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Douche bag? I am unfamiliar with that term but I would guess that it is an insult. As far as Edward is concerned, he and the Cullen coven minus Jasper and Emmett are in tremendous trouble and will be facing severe punishment. And if I have my way, Edward's future will be ash," Caius sneered.
"Hmm… What are your plans for Bella?" Jake asked tilting his head in my direction.
"My plans are to protect her, get to know her, and provide for all her needs. She is my family. I take care of my family, even if she likes to protest it," Caius said giving me that knowing look he likes to use whenever I protest him providing for me.
"Well, good. I like to hear it. My name is Jacob Black, wolf shifter and Bella's best friend," he said as he stuck out a hand in introduction.
Caius took his hand and gave him a firm shake. "Bella tells me that you and your pack have been protecting her. I thank you for it. It means a great deal to me as does she."
"She is my sister in spirit. I would do anything to protect her as would the pack," Jake told him while looking questioningly over at Felix.
Felix stepped forward to introduce himself. "I am Felix, Master Caius's personal bodyguard. Forgive me for saying, but you must be the tallest human I have seen in a very long time."
Jake laughed, "Yea, that's a wolf thing. We are all well over six feet tall in our human forms. I am the tallest at six foot nine inches. Our shortest shifter happens to be our only female shifter and she is six foot two inches tall," Jake explained sheepishly.
"If your human form is that tall then your wolf forms must be gigantic," Felix said with his eyes wide in shock.
"Their wolf forms are huge like nearly ten feet tall," I told him proudly. "Sometimes I can convince Jake to give me a ride wolf back." They all laughed at that.
"This one," Jake said pointing at me, "Likes to think I'm her own personal petting zoo and wolf ride."
"You are. You're much better than riding a pony," I agreed with a grin just happy that Jake was okay with Caius and there was no longer any awkwardness.
"On a more serious note, have you met Charlie yet?" Jake asked.
"Unfortunately, no, but I was hoping to as soon as we are able to," Caius said.
"Charlie lives down at the rez now. Vampires are forbidden to cross the treaty line. Although that treaty is with the Cullens, so I am not sure how we can work around it," Jake said.
Caius lifted his hand to get Jake's attention. "It is not my desire to disrupt your pack and your people's lives. I would be more than happy to meet Charlie here if that is acceptable?" he suggested.
"I don't have a problem with it, but I am going to have to run it by the tribal council. I'll let Bella know so she can relay the message," Jake said.
"That is fine," he nodded. "Now, I'm afraid, we must be on our way. We have a previous engagement we cannot miss," he said while turning to me. "Bella, little one, we must head on out for now. Will it be alright with you if we return later this evening?" Caius asked me.
"Of course, pappous, you are always welcome here," I said walking over to him and giving him a big hug. He hugged me in return and placed a kiss on my forehead. Grandpa Caius shook Jake's hand again and both he and Felix ran out the backdoor.
"You know, Bells, it's just your luck that you have an ancestor that's a vampire. Of all the things I thought of, that was not it."
"Tell me about it. It seems as if I was always fated to be in the vampire world," I stated with much certainty. When you think about it, I have always felt more comfortable around vampires than I ever did with humans. Surely, this was the reason why.
CPOV
Ever since that day Edward came home in Forks and claimed he met his mate, I was unsure. I tried to keep my thoughts to myself since I knew that if Edward had heard them he would throw a monumental temper tantrum. Anyone who has even been on the receiving end of those understands my need to placate him before it ever got that far.
However, as Esme and I watched Edward's behavior toward Bella, we were both a bit concerned. The first concern was the way Edward was speaking to Bella. He talked down to her but never to her. He treated her like she was his child and not his mate.
I had brought it up to him early on in their relationship, and his fit was one for the record books. He screamed and ranted and tried to guilt trip me into allowing him to handle his mate the way he chose to. He brought up how lonely he has been in a house full of mated pairs, and I did feel bad, so I caved.
Unfortunately, his attitude toward her worsened. He commandeered her life and spent all their time together bossing her around and treating her like a child. Esme and I knew it would only be a matter of time.
I knew I was guilty of giving in to him constantly and it has put a strain on our family. Edward's latest order for me to move us all back to Forks caused a huge fight between me and my mate. What I should say is that my giving into Edward again caused a huge fight.
Esme was fed up with Edward and his behavior. She felt that he should be told to move out and grow up. Since I always went along with Edward's demands, she is fed up with me as well.
The night we returned from Florida, Esme went off on me. Bella's refusal to talk to the family upset her greatly. Esme really has been missing Bella a lot and has been struggling with the guilt of leaving her without saying goodbye.
It was her ultimatum that got me thinking. Esme told me that either I put Edward back in line, or she is going to leave. I cannot lose my mate. It would hurt too much. She even mentioned that she was beginning to doubt my love and dedication to her because I listen to Edward more than I do to her.
I feel like I'm between the proverbial rock and a hard place. Edward was my first companion in this life. He helped me to create this coven. I'm afraid that if I were to stand up to him, he will leave, and I will never see him again.
On the other hand, Esme is my mate. I love her with everything I am. I'm afraid that if I don't stand up to Edward then she will leave.
There are times when I wish I didn't start this coven. The unnecessary drama which usually comes from Edward has turned me off to the very concept of us being a family. We just do not exhibit the usual characteristics that would define us as a family. Are we trying to hang on to our humanity too tightly? I'm not sure. Now, I have decisions to make. Do I lose Edward, lose Esme, or dissolve the Cullen coven?
