Epilogue

Peter

When they came back some hours later it was obvious they'd done more than just hunt. I took one look at the creased and grass stained clothes and rolled my eyes,

"I can't let you two out of my sight for ten minutes can I? Now go upstairs and get cleaned up, you look like a pair of savages. Oh yeah, Major could I have a minute?"

Bella looked at me but I out stared her so she carried on upstairs looking like the cat that got not only the cream, but half a dozen mice and the Tom for the night! Once she was out of hearing I whispered in his ear,

"I heard from Alice a little while ago. Charlie didn't make it, he got a secondary infection so there's no need to tell Bella about him now. She said she's going to Volterra to stay with Esme and Marcus for a while then she might visit us. That could have just been a threat though, she knows what I think of her but I guess I should give her a break. She did help us with Bella."

He nodded absently looking up the stairs to where she had disappeared,

"Go on then, you're obviously gagging for her. Young people today, I don't know, they just can't control themselves. Still if you can't beat them I guess you can always join them. Come on Charlotte, I'm in need of a woman".

I watched as The Major took the stairs three at a time, it was good to see him so happy and as I turned back to cuddle my own mate the front door opened and Em and Rose appeared,

"Wanna go hunting Peter?"

"Now Em what you do can hardly be called hunting. Playing with your food is a disgusting habit. I must show you how a real hunter works. Follow the master and prepare yourself to be amazed."

Bella

Jasper came in just in time to join me in the shower and inspected the fresh bite on my shoulder touching it gently.

"I'd like to say I 'm sorry about that but it would be a lie. I like the fact you bear my mark Bella."

"What did Peter want?"

"To tell me Alice rang. She's going to visit Esme and Marcus in Volterra but after that she's threatened him she'll visit us."

"What else?"

"Charlie survived the explosion, I didn't tell you because I never found the right time but he died later of an infection. I'm sorry Bella."

"It doesn't matter to me Jasper, he was just another lie like all the others. I'm sorry he died but he meant nothing to me and in all honesty I didn't mean much to him or he wouldn't have stayed with Renee would he?"

Over the next few weeks life settled down to something resembling normality although with Emmett and Peter together normal was a relative term. They had built two log cabins in the grounds so we all had our own bolt holes but we spent a good deal of time together. Jasper taught me to ride and we went on long camping trips which ended in hunting for us "vegetarians" and plenty of sex for all of us! As we rode back home after one if these trips we saw a sports car parked out front and Peter groaned,

"Fuck, I thought she was just winding me up."

I looked at Jazz and grinned,

"Alice!"

She came running out to us almost dragging me off my horse to hug me then she turned to look at Peter who sat looking down on her scowling.

"I see you haven't got any better looking Whitlock."

"Yeah well that's a matter of opinion Cullen, you don't look so hot yourself, still a dwarf I see."

She beamed at him,

"Haven't I earned any brownie points with you by helping Bella and Jazz?"

He swung down out of the saddle and walked over to stand toe to toe with her although she had to look up into his face,

"You think you can bribe me that way?"

"It did occur to me, yes."

He snorted,

"Fucking Cullens, they always find a way to worm themselves into your life somehow. OK, you are officially no longer the Poisoned Dwarf."

"Thank you Peter and you are no longer the Ignorant Hill Billy."

"Really? Well that's very magnanimous of you."

"You going to show me around?"

Peter looked at me and rolled his eyes,

"Shit, and still she wants things from me! Come on then Pixie but any nasty little digs and you go over my knee."

"OK Pa"

We watched as the two of them walked off arm in arm,

"Now that's something I never thought I'd see. I think he's finally going soft, must be all the whacks on the head you've given him Charlotte."

She smiled at Jazz,

"If I know Peter it wont be long before those two are at loggerheads again. Lets just enjoy the peace while it lasts."

Of course she was right, Peter was too volatile to be sweet for long so we went in to wait for the fireworks we all knew would come eventually.

The End.

Thank you for reading and reviewing. Jules x