Chapter 23

Bella POV

It only took a couple of phone calls by Caius to arrange for a plane to pick us all up at a rather remote area on the outskirts of Seattle. After the call, Caius had offered to drop off Peter and Charlotte en-route but they declined as they both said they would prefer to return home on foot.

Overall, it was a hectic morning. Jasper was saying farewell to his two good friends Peter and Charlotte. They were planning on departing today. Jasper was the main person to bid them farewell, as the rest of us stood off to the side, giving the trio some much needed privacy—well, as much as possible. Afterwards, when finished, Jasper learned the truth: Peter and Charlotte were planning on travelling with us for another few more days. At that point, it seemed like his emotions were in a jumble… rather sadly, he might have healed a lot throughout the course of this mission, but his insecurities still leak out, especially now. I have a few speculations behind that.

One, it could be that he fears the welcome they will give him after all these years. Perhaps he feels that they won't treat him in the same manner as they did now the next time they cross paths. Two, maybe he fears that I'll respond in the same way Alice would have done had she been in our situation… I hope Jasper is okay. I know it isn't an intentional response; I try to show him that his needs and wants are just as important as mine, but I wonder if that actually registers in his mind.

I took a chance and had a quiet word with Caius about the issue. He nodded in agreement at the concerns I voiced.

I also made sure to voice these concerns to Peter and Charlotte. "Peter, Charlotte, tell me, how would you feel about some visitors now or in the future? I would love to have the chance to get to know you both better, and I know that Jasper would love to catch up properly."

Jasper, surprised by my sudden questions, looked at me in shock and then Caius.

Caius merely smiled and said, "Charlotte, Peter, I appreciate your assistance on this particular mission. You have successfully aided the Volturi in completing a mission that would have taken much longer had you both not offered to help. As well, you do not need my permission to enter and depart from Volterra, should you choose to visit now or in the future. Remember that the Volterra doors are always open to you both, and you are more than welcome to come and go as you please. We will all miss your presence and I hope you choose to stay in contact with us. Time is not something we are short of, but contact on occasion is quaint. Enjoy time with your friends. We will see each other again."

Jasper cupped my face in his hands. As he stroked my cheeks with his thumbs he whispered, "Thank you," then he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my lips. Afterwards, Jasper straightened up and wrapped his arms around me, holding me in front of Charlotte and Peter as he looked to them and lifted an eyebrow.

Peter grinned and Charlotte looked at me and smiled, "We'd love visitors," she responded.

Caius nodded. "Feel free to keep the bikes. I shall be in contact with you both once you return to your designated home quarters. I shall also have the other team ship any of your possessions that we left behind here."

Peter and Charlotte then went on to describe themselves as civilized nomads. They travel and move around to disguise their hunting but they like having a home base for comfort, in each location.

Days passed as the four of us travelled to their nearest "home" only stopping for fuel.

Throughout the drive, Peter spent days talking with Jasper, telling him tales of their adventures over the years, of their colleagues and acquaintances, those that escaped the confinements of Maria, and what they were doing now. Charlotte would add some embellishments to the conversation, but Peter did most of the talking.

I was pleased to see Jasper gradually relax in their presence. When he spoke of them to me, he had feared they would blame him for not visiting. He had also worried they wouldn't want to see him since so many years between their last visit has passed. At least twenty years, I think. I remember trying to reassure him that things would be fine and Charlotte and Peter would accept him, but I didn't know them so my words never carried any weight. Seeing him here like this though, smiling and laughing, makes me so happy.

On a side note, we were well into the second week before Peter spoke to me. "Bella, I have to make a confession. Originally Char and I feared you would control Jasper like that freaky pixie. We feared you would use his gift and his fears against him. It's pretty obvious how much he relies and leans on you. You hold so much power over him. We've both watched you closely but you never use that power over him. I can see he has just as much power over you. You would happily sit at his side for years without us ever speaking to you, just to see him smiling."

I squeezed Jasper's hand as I replied, "He feared you'd think less of him about the distance that grew over the years. I didn't believe you would from everything he told me of you but he has been through so much." I shook my head trying to suppress the thoughts. "Peter, Jasper is my Mate, and seeing him happy makes me happy. You can't tell me you wouldn't do the same for Charlotte, no? His well-being is my first priority; I would do anything in my power for him, and I know he would do the same for me."

Jasper confirmed my words with such a strong burst of emotion that all I could do is throw my arms around him and sigh with obvious joy.

Peter nodded at Charlotte as I sank into Jasper.

The unwanted feelings that Peter and Charlotte originally gave off to me has finally dissipated. In short, they have both opened up with me. The joy that Jasper exuded with their acceptance of us both I allowed to escape for us all to appreciate. As it built inside each of us it really did feel like it was seeping into our souls.

It was another couple of days as we set off to hunt when Jasper mentioned Peter's gift. Peter wouldn't openly admit that he has a gift, but I have noticed far too many coincidences to attribute them to luck alone.

The three of them tried to describe Peter's ability to me. From what I can gather it is what Renee called 'women's intuition,' not I would ever describe it as that to Peter! He'd kill me for that… but to him, he just calls it a gut feeling. Something he just 'knows' you could say. Peter then went on to tell me how he can go months without it kicking in or it can go off constantly. It turns out that was why they happened to be in the right place to help Caius out; although it didn't give him any warning about who he was helping. Boy, did he grumble about how annoying it can be… Not that I blame him.

Caius keeps sending updates about the gossip in Volterra. He amuses me. I would have thought Aro would be the gossip monger of the group but that title firmly rests with Caius. He is forever trying to get us to bet on the outcome of latest scandal but he tries to manipulate us by withholding vital information until after we make the bet, the conniving sob.

The Wolves have been in contact with Caius. They sent me an apology. It doesn't just cover Embry's assumption that I had chosen this life but for every conceivable wrong that happened to me from the minute I arrived in Forks to today. They also attached a link to digital photos. The photos were every single one Charlie had of me and many of Charlie throughout his entire life; there were even some of Renee and my half-brother. They included a promise to keep adding more photos later-on.

Upon obtaining the message I replied. I told them that I forgave them and thanked them for the photos. I let them know I would keep my promises of staying away unless danger was upon them. I tried to make my message a final goodbye.

After flipping through the photos myself, I called over Jasper, Peter and Charlotte. Together the four of us looked through them. To say the least, it was a bittersweet experience. While they had plenty of laughs at my childhood photos, they triggered many memories both happy, sad and embarrassing for me. But embarrassment aside, I enjoyed having the photos and am so happy the Wolves sent them. I must admit however, the recent ones are the most difficult ones to look at. They show me how much my family and friends have aged. Some photos include an older Charlie with a child sitting in his lap and a smile on his face, for example. It is photos like that that remind me of what was stolen and lost from me by Victoria.

Jasper, no doubt feeling my sadness, archived all the photos for me. I don't want to look at them very often when they make me feel like this but I don't want to lose them either, so the action was quite thoughtful.

As the months passed, Charlotte became what I can only describe as a sister to me while Peter is the supposedly annoying brother-in-law. Angela became my first genuine human friend. Jane filled the role of close friend in a completely different way to Angela. Charlotte has a different vibe in her attitude to me. I have seen it before but only within families. We bicker with each other but if Jasper or Peter joins into our arguments we go from bickering at each other to fighting against the interloper, tooth and nail. I love her with an intensity that scares me but we disagree with each other to almost a violent degree. It's pretty funny.

Overall, with these three and the Volturi family at my side, I feel like I've found a forever home and balance in more ways than I could ever hope for in this life. Even if Jasper and I spend years without seeing Peter and Charlotte, I now know in my heart that they are an integral part for both Jasper and I, like I think we are for them.

A/N

Thanks to SheikahLover for betaing this story. I really appreciate all her help.

Thanks to everyone that has taken the time to review, I enjoy reading each and every one!

:)-J