A/N: I know I said I'd do 'My Damned Town, My damned Rules' next, but this and 'Follow Where The Music Takes You', wouldn't leave me alone. So you guys choose and I'll continue the most liked one. Don't worry I'm working on MDT,MDR, but I don't want to spoil it by rushing xx Alexis

'The sky overhead was black, black as Satan's heart. Rain ricochetin' off the sidewalk like bullets, as I watched the people below my window! Silently scurryin' about resemblin' roaches, trying not to get stepped on! That's when I saw it, bright red in the darkness, like fire. Seemingly floatin' down the sidewalk, headin' in my direction. The dame below it all in black, lettin' her umbrella do the talking!'

"You're doin' it, that voice you're doin' it again!" Jasper's own voice broke the silence, as he whined exasperatedly at his brother,

"No, I'm not! What voice?" Peter retorted quickly, knowing he'd been caught once again; sliding into a 'Film Noir' daydream, it for some reason freaked Jasper out.

"I can feel your emotions change when you do that, they become laconic and almost drained! It's weird, stop doin' it when I around, please Peter, it gives me the fuckin' shivers?" Jasper asked deliberately nicely, so he'd not upset his brother too much.

"Okay, okay! So what's first on that list in your head?" Peter queried letting the matter drop, knowing Jasper would have a mile long list of jobs, he always did.

"We need to decide on a colour for the walls, from this lot and paint this place; it's totally shit just now!" Jasper nodded to the paint in front of him then continued,

"The electrics and plumbin' are good, so that's a bonus. Then it's pickin' the furniture and decor. Do you want to sort out our licences or will I? We can frame copies for the walls. Then next week we start interviewin' for a secretary or in your parlance a 'Girl Friday'! I've put a flyer on the window out front already" he said smirking at his brother, who just gave him the finger and said,

"I'll go sort out the documents, do it Ivory, that won't offend anyone, dark furniture for our office, lighter out here. How's that sound? Leave the decor to the secretary, we need a woman's touch to make it more user-friendly," Jasper smiled, people thought Peter was just going to be the muscle in this venture, but he was anything but stupid, he just hid it well. Sometimes too well!

That boy knew what he liked and could lecture on many subjects if he put his mind to it, he just didn't let on, is all. The dumb hick act worked in their favour often, as folks talked around him, thinking him too thick to understand. Edward Cullen used to do that all the time.

"Grey or Black?" Peter asked as he passed his brother on the way out,

Grey or Black what? Jasper asked raising an eyebrow.

"Fedora man can't wear our Stetson's or we'll look like hicks!" Peter replied laughing,

"Ah, grey for me then, but no goddamned suspenders Peter okay?" Jasper drawled, knowing his brother too well.

"I'm gettin' a holster though, you want one?" Peter's voice said from the street now,

"Yeah, why the hell not! We need to at least look the part" Jasper called after him, not actually raising his voice above a speaking tone. He was trying to rein his brother in a little; otherwise, they'd end up looking like something out of 'The Big Sleep'.

IIBOIIN

Not that he, Jasper hadn't loved that era, the suits, vests and his second favourite style of hat. He was a cowboy first and foremost, but there was just something about a tilted Fedora and a vest that called to him. He remembered Alice trying to continually keep his hair under control back then. She resorted to biting it off, fighting to keep it short. But being a vampire, how you died is how your body wanted to stay, so it always grew back.

Wow, Alice, he hadn't thought of her at all in over two years. She just ended it, their relationship. Sixty plus years thrown aside, with a brush off three years ago. No discussion, no talking just,

'You aren't in any of my future visions Jazzy, so it's best we finish this charade now!'

"That bloody charade you started pixie!" he growled to himself. Hating how it still got to him slightly.

In the beginning, she had insisted they were meant to be together, meant for each other. But he knew even then she wasn't the one but was happy to at least have the love of someone. It was new and novel, heartwarming even. Her fear of his scars could not be disguised though and eventually, even he could not ignore it either.

If she'd been the one it wouldn't have mattered at all. So they slowly drifted into a friendship, which now was gone too. She treated him like a pair of her cast off Jimmy Choo's, not like a friend or ex-lover and that hurt the most. Alice's interpretations of her visions were as subjective as they were themselves. Not always right or truthful, but how she saw them. How she wanted to see them, nothing more and that was her downfall.

Six months after she left Alice found herself another so-called mate, Peter told him. Jasper didn't know if he really was or not, but this guy wasn't interested in the Cullen's lifestyle or the Cullens. He didn't care about her visions unless they made him rich. He also didn't like her excessive spending. In fact, he demanded complete subjugation from her and has bitten her several times for not doing as he said.

As for the Cullen's well they were no longer together. At the same time Alice threw Jasper away, Edward became obsessed with a human from school and almost exposed them all, damn fool. She was then hunted by the very man who became Alice's mate. Carlisle and Emmett managed to save her, but Edward was killed when Alice refused to back him up, against her mate.

So they had a newborn on their hands and Jasper refused the call to help them. He was sick and tired of their drama. He hadn't forgotten them asking him to leave once Alice was gone. Plus the pain and anguish of Edward's loss would be too much for him. Carlisle and Esme couldn't see past Edward and everyone else paled in comparison.

Peter told Jasper, Emmett and Rose took her away when they realised she was being blamed and castigated at every turn for Edward's death. So much for them being compassionate parents! Last they knew Rose and Em were in Canada or Alaska and their newborn had been doing well, but that was about two years ago so who knows.

Jasper felt kinda guilty about losing touch with Em and Rose but not enough to find them. Carlisle and Esme seemed to have dropped off the map; everyone assumed they were at Isle Esme licking their wounds and feeling hard done by.

Victoria, James' previous companion hates Alice and causes as much trouble for her as she can get away with. So Alice is now living in a hell of her own making. She let Edward die, so she could have her life of pain and degradation. It's a shame her visions didn't tell her this or maybe they did and she thought she could change it.

"Maybe I wasn't so bad after all, Alice" Jasper mused as he started to paint the office walls.

IIBOIIN

Peter was just getting back from the Washington Department of Licensing, Business & Professional Licensing. Although they were going to be working out of Seattle, he'd had to run down to Olympia to sort everything out. While he'd waited Peter got their Fedora's and gun holsters. Now he and his brother were licensed to open their offices, 'Whitlock & Whitlock Investigations'.

Next, he was heading off to get them guns, just for show of course. He wanted a Colt Buntline single-action revolver with a 12-inch-long barrel. Jasper had said,

"Just get me a damn gun, Peter!" But he knew he'd love a working replica Colt No. 5 Texas Paterson Revolver, just like the last time he'd carried one.

Peter too had been reminiscing about the past; it was triggered by knowing Jasper was already doing that. His story was a little different than the Major's, his wife was dead. Although he had a feeling Alice would do something drastic very soon. She was reaching the end of her rope and would take herself, James and Victoria out permanently. He almost felt sorry for her, almost.

When Peter had fled with Charlotte from Maria's camp with Jasper's help, he truly thought she was his forever. But as the years passed they grew so far apart, wanting to go and do different things. It was too easy to spend time away from each other and then that fateful day when he knew her light left this world, he expected to want to die too. But he didn't, he actually felt free for the first time since he was human.

Although he did track down and kill Charlotte's murderer. As a last mark of respect for his onetime love and next to Jasper, closest friend. It took him nearly five years, but he was determined to do this last thing for her. He kept getting conflicting information, guessing the guy had a gift. But with a dogged determination, he eventually caught up with the no good piece of trash and gave him a good ole' Southern Wars send off.

Jasper too had been devastated by the loss of someone he saw as a sister and was beyond glad when Peter had told him what he'd done. So then he was all alone and Peter hated it. Naturally, the first thing he did was call in on his brother only to find Jasper had lost his wife, home and family in one fell swoop.

The Cullens weren't so keen on having him, without her. Except for Rose and Em, but they were outvoted. Probably instigated by Edward no doubt. So Peter just packed up all Jasper's things for him and took him away. He almost decided on going back to Texas, but he just knew their futures were going to be in Seattle.

So they had settled into a place on the outskirts of Monroe, Jasper could get to Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest with ease. He didn't want to go anywhere near the Olympic Forest and Peter couldn't blame him. They just gave themselves time to heal and be brothers. Both had their finances to sort out, but money was one thing they weren't short of.

Jasper then reverted back to his own name of Whitlock. Jenks had sorted out new documentation for them and everything was great for a while. Then about six months ago Peter started to get antsy and said they needed a purpose. So some ideas were bandied about until they settled on the plan of becoming Private Investigators. Who better, they could use their gifts to solve any cases and would be quicker, smarter and if need be deadlier than the criminals the needed to catch.

IIBOIIN

She was just walking past on her way home, when the advert in the large plate glass window, caught her eye. One of those half opaque ones that made you wonder what was behind it, were they hiding something.

'Dang it's perfect' the girl thought, just the kind of job she was looking for. It's still in the industry she was working toward at University. Criminal Psychologist was her aim and the much needed hours logged, as well as the need for extra cash weighed heavy on her mind. She was a twenty-year-old doing her PhD at UW on a full scholarship. But in the workplace youthful looks were always held against you, so when others got work easily she tended to struggle.

Praying that it wouldn't be so this time, she made to enter the office. Being so far advanced in her chosen career was a blessing and a curse. As she started down the corridor the door opened quietly behind her and a guy damn near flew past her.

'Wow, fit or what?' she mused as he spoke,

"Hey kid," Peter said passing her quickly on his way back into the office, she cringed slightly but carried on coming up behind him.

"Hello Joe, What do you know?" she replied automatically and he laughed at the terminology, much better than today's equivalent one of 'Whazzup'.

Peter caught her scent as he passed her and just for a second his mind stalled. Nothing, just for a moment nothing was going on in there and for a guy who often heard voices that was pretty damn strange. He had stopped now so held open the inner door for her and realised she was actually older than she'd first appeared.

"Sorry doll, didn't mean to insult you" he said with his usual southern drawl, so this time it was her that stalled, flushed pink and stammered.

"It's... its fine, you're not the first and you won't be the last, I'm sure" she replied slightly breathless, not from the walk but because of the guy in front of her. He smiled down at her as their eyes met in the light from the office.

'Oh, his eyes are a strange colour, there's a red hue to them, very unusual' Bella thought,

'I wouldn't mind bein' her last, damn she's more than fine' Peter's inner monologue said and he shook his head, where had that come from? But he agreed with himself she was damn fine looking.

"So suga', what can Whitlock & Whitlock do for you?" he asked still finding himself more than a little drawn to the woman-child before him. He even recognised authentic 40's clothes when he saw them and she was wearing a pantsuit right out of that era.

"Peter? Who are you talkin' to?" Jasper asked as he came out of their office paintbrush in hand, having heard every word. But it was the powerful emotions that drew him into the outer office.

"Oops, sorry miss, but my brother has been known to talk to himself on occasion," he said smiling at her and she was stunned, two dreamboats in one place, dang they had first dibs in their gene pool.

"I'm Jasper Whitlock, Peter's partner and younger brother," he said laughing.

"I umm, I came about the job," she said gathering her senses back together and although Jasper was one hell of a good looking guy, again with a strange eye colour. Her eyes strayed back to Peter and stayed there.

"Well darlin', I'm not meanin' any disrespect here. But how old are you?" Jasper quizzed her,

"I'm twenty, will be twenty-one this September, doing a PhD in Criminal Psychology at UW and I need hours logged!" she replied and Peter visibly relaxed, whereas Jasper was intrigued.

Jasper's eyes jumped to Peter, his emotions were intense. Taking in the way they were both looking at each other, damn it all to hell? Peter and a human, unbelievable!

"What's your name Suga'?" Peter asked in a slightly awed voice, she was smart and beautiful.

"Isabella Swan, but please call me Bella" she answered looking him straight in the eye. Jasper smirked,

'The colour doesn't seem to bother her at all' he realised and laughed internally because he might as well not be there.

"Well Bella, you're hired!" Peter said still staring at the vision in front of him, Jasper cleared his throat.

"Have you ever worked in an office before Bella?" Jasper asked getting exasperated with his brother, who was acting like a lovesick fool.

"Every Spring, Summer and Fall break for the last two years; I've been dispatcher, receptionist, telephonist and gofer for Forks police dept. Is that enough experience?" Bella answered and didn't miss Jasper's flinch at the town's name.

"Forks huh? Small world, I did my senior year there. So I'm guessin' Chief Swan is your daddy?" Jasper asked paying close attention to her emotions.

"Yes he is, I didn't attend Forks myself, everyone thought it would be better to go elsewhere. Nothing like a ten-year-old in your class to make you feel bad" she said smiling, but Jasper felt the underlying pain from her statement,

"What? What about you, didn't anyone care that you had to go to a strange school, with strange people?" Peter demanded; mad that they would do that to a child.

"The town council suggested to my father it might be best all around!" Bella answered with a hint of bitterness.

"Oh, as in it was important to his livelihood? Wow, nice bunch of S.O.B's! Didn't want you showin' up their little darlin's I guess!" Jasper said with scorn.

"So, I can look older if that's what's worrying you. I came in on the off chance straight from Uni. Umm, Peter can I borrow your hat a second?" she asked and he just nodded and handed over his brand new Fedora.

Bella turned her back, rummaged in her satchel that was on her back and then twisted up her hair, leaving a few tendrils hanging down. Stuck Peter's hat on her head, she applied lipstick and a quick flick of mascara and liner, before turning around to the two brothers who were both amazed.

The bright red lipstick was enhanced by and at the same time enhancing her pale complexion and she now looked every bit the Girl Friday of Peter's dreams. While Bella waited for a response. Jasper smirked and nodded to Peter who was motionless and lost in a world of his own.

"I think you broke him, Miss Bella. Welcome aboard, you're now the Girl Friday for Whitlock & Whitlock Investigations."

Three hours later, Bella left armed with a list of things needing to be bought and plans for the office's decor. She was in possession of a brand new cell phone and tablet for the business, plus a credit card also for buying the things on the list. She would be working part-time in the evenings and all day Saturdays and could use the office to study as well, during any downtime she had.

The guys would handle calls during the day, but leave documentation and billing to her. Bella saw right away that it would be Peter she would have to chase up for information, as Jasper wrote copious notes for everything. But her first purchase would be a coffee machine; they had had to go out for it three times while she was there.

IIBOIIN

After Bella left, Jasper could get nothing sensible out of Peter, so he went off to hunt and cough up the remains of the coffee. They absorbed most of the water without problems, but the coffee grounds accumulated if left unchecked and it was better to just get rid of it as soon as possible. Thank god coffee still tasted quite good, as long as it was black. It was a way of blending in and heating up their hands at the same time.

'She sashayed towards me on four-inch killer heels. Her lips were blood red and beggin' to be kissed. This dame spelt trouble for me, trouble with a capital T. I tugged the brim of my hat down and my collar up as I met her under the dim streetlamp. I wanted to crush those damned lips to my own, so badly it...!'

Peter's cell vibratin' in his pocket broke him out of his reverie,

"Hey Peter, I picked up a couple of things, are you still at the office? If so I drop them off before I head home" Bella said sounding hopeful.

"Yeah doll, I'm here. Jasper's gone for the night. I'll lock up and walk you home after you dump the stuff if that's okay with you?" he answered smiling largely; glad to be able to see her again today.

If Peter could have seen her through the phone, he would have laughed at her little happy dance. They were both struggling with this new attraction, Peter was sure he knew what was happening, Bella not so much. Not five minutes later she arrived, hurrying up the short corridor and into the office.

"I'll need keys by the way, if you two are on a job and such! Now I got a coffee maker, most importantly and all the fixings. I also picked up a brochure about personalised stuff, doormats, name plaques, mugs the works" she said in a rush and Peter laughed, Wow she's a firecracker, his girl.

'Our girl, our mate', He heard his internal voices fighting over Bella and laughed again, Jasper was right he could start a fight in an empty room. Bella raised an eyebrow and he said,

"Just thinkin' you're perfect for the job and us Suga', you'll have us whipped into shape in no time."

Peter was pleased Bella didn't live too far away, but she did say the rent was high and she was looking for another place. She refused to live on campus as everyone treated her as either a fool, which was stupid, as she was doing the same work but at a much younger age!

Or the ones her own age tried to get her to do their work, treating her as their own personal slave so they could party. She decided it was better to stay off campus for all but class times. This meant she missed out so much on the social aspect of college and no one seemed to care.

Peter was both sad and angry for her and then he remembered,

"Bella, there is a studio flat above the offices; it's a right mess at present. You could live there, I know you won't accept it rent-free suga', but we could agree on a reasonable rent. What do you think? That way you'd be close to work and Uni! Once it's painted up and cleaned we could get your stuff moved in. Please think about it and I'll start tidyin' it up, then you could have a look around." he said pleased with himself.

She'd be close and that would make him happy and more relaxed.

"Oh, that sounds great; okay I'll look at it and let you know. Thank you, Peter, you're goin' above and beyond for me." Bella said a little choked up; people were usually not so kind to her.

Peter and Jasper hadn't dug into her affairs, like why she lived in Seattle, off-campus and not with her dad. Bella was emancipated and had been for four years, for one good reason. Charlie couldn't grasp that she was more mature than most thirty-year-olds and no she did not want to live in Forks, go to the rez with him and hang out with Billy Black's teenage son.

Jacob Black was eighteen going on twelve in her mind and that stupid crush he had, was beyond annoying. She loved her father, but Forks and all it brought with it, not so much. It's not as if she'd spent much time there really to call it home.

Granted she was only twenty, but she was mentally much older. She had left high school at thirteen, college at sixteen, both times doing four years work in three. Then did her bachelor's degree in two and a half and now had only eighteen months left of her PhD doing it in four rather than eight years. So by her twenty-second birthday, she would be a fully qualified Criminal Psychologist.

Doubling up on classes at Uni was much easier and the work although interesting and informative was very easy for her. Having no social life made it possible for her to do more hours than others, as did the lack of a job. So living above her work would actually benefit her and not slow down the schedule she had set for herself.

Renee, her mother had washed her hands of her years ago. Unable to cope with the demands of an intelligent child. Renee was only interested in herself and refused to share the spotlight with her daughter. Knowing little or nothing of Bella and her hatred of being the centre of attention. She had sent her to Charlie at age eight and he had fobbed her off to all the schools desperate to have her, for the prestige she would bring them.

After he left her at her door, Peter scouted around the area. Deemed it safe or his mate and set off to find a meal. He unlike Jasper still fed from humans, but of a seedier nature. Feeding only once a month his eyes were dark most of the time and when they were bright red he always wore shades to cover them up. He wondered if Bella had noticed they were more a burgundy than brown.