• 1-Alice Knows Best
• 2-He Needs A Family, Jacob
• 3-Petunia Dursley's Disgrace
• 4-The Best Laid Plans Are Often Foiled By Politcians
• 5-I Think We Should Listen To Jasper
• 6-Yeah, I Know Them
• 7-Difference of Opinion
• 8-Change Of Venue
• 9-Who Needs A Judge And Jury?
• 10-Catching The Mouse

Thoughts In Italics. Pack Mentality in underlined italics. Edward's super-cool thought theft conversations with the Pack in bold italics. Super-cool thought theft conversations with those in the know in bold underlined italics. Those last three apply to this chapter only...may be modified in the future.

Billy was ready to begin the long, frustrating process of awakening a teenager against their will when the phone rang. Harry had all but kicked him out of the kitchen when he realized that Billy's idea of making lunch was 'pour Cheez Wiz over Doritos, put in microwave', and had already started...well, Billy had no clue what it was but it smelled great.

Ring.

It actually surprised Billy when Alice Cullen's voice didn't greet him this time; Old Quil's voice was dusty and quiet, but held a strength that never failed to grab Billy's attention.

"We have considered what you told us after your meeting with the Cullen family. If what this Wizard says is true than it would only be to our benefit if we were to modify the treaty to a full alliance. We would like you to contact the doctor and make arrangements to meet as soon as possible, he and you can decide on the location. Jacob may check it for our safety. Call when an agreement has been reached, please."

Simple, to the point, and still with the ability to make him feel like a five year old who tried taking a cookie after his mother said no. It always made Billy feel better to know that there was someone older than him; made him feel younger. Since Old Quil hadn't waited for a response before hanging up, Billy cleared off the display and dialed opened his contacts. Alice called before he could call her.

**

Jacob was ripped from the arms of Morpheus without his knowledge or consent and told to go to the field where he's fought the newborn army several months earlier. Sure his dad promised food when he returned, but Jacob wanted to eat now; whatever was going on in the kitchen smelled amazing. Emily must have come over.

It never occurred to Jacob to wonder where the British teen was; he was too tired to remember that there was another teenager in the house. He'd used the night off from patrols to make a quick report (and get pissed when the pack was frustrated that he'd never actually looked at the new guy) and catch up on his homework. Sure the school on the res was more than willing to overlook any missed schoolwork from The Pack, but Billy still wanted him to keep on top of it.

So did Bella, though Jacob had let it slack off out of spite.

Jacob, the little psychic and the mind reader will be there scouting the place out for their side. Be nice. This is important to the Elders.

Jacob didn't need Sam's voice in his head telling him what he'd figured out for himself but he sent a positive response, getting a command to eat lunch at Emily's afterward in return. Sure it was phrased as an invitation but Jacob knew better. Sam always got on his ass if he tried to refuse these 'invitations'.

Jacob, I just want us to plan for this. If something goes wrong, I don't want us to be caught off guard.

Jacob pushed the voices to the back of his mind when the icy sweetness of the Vampires hit him. It worried him a little that the scent wasn't as bothersome as it used to be. He wondered if he was getting used to it as he stepped into the clearing. Standing in the center were Edward and Alice, the former on his cell phone. As he approached Jacob realized that it was Bella on the other end of the line, and the Vampire was trying to gently dissuade the human from going to his house.

"I'm really sorry, Bella, but the family is getting together today. No, it's not just us, Bella. We are meeting another family. No, this isn't a good time for you to meet them. I can't tell you not to call Jacob, but I'm fairly certain he's busy this afternoon as well. No, I'm not just being jealous and possessive, Bella."

Things continued in this vein for awhile and Jacob was surprised when he realized that the bloodsucker was actually encouraging his girlfriend to retain her friendship with Jacob; it went against everything he understood Vampires to be. Edward sent him a look that would have been a glare had he not looked so tired, and Jacob was getting tired of the whining he could hear through the phone, so he phased. Completely ignoring his nudity, Jacob gestured for the eternal teen to hand over the phone.

"Hey, Bells."

A moment of silence before a sniffle followed by a shaky voice.

"Jake?"

"Yeah, it's me. Listen, we both really need you to stay home today. Do homework or laundry or something, ok? We're reworking the treaty this afternoon with an outside mediator."

"I should be there, Jake. I'm involved. I can help."

Jacob understood Isabella Swan in that moment. She always threw herself into the middle of things, often making things worse and more difficult for the people around her, and it was all because she'd never been anyone special. Here in Forks she was special, and she was willing to do anything to keep it that way. Edward gave Jacob a startled look; that obviously hadn't occurred to the Vampire. Jacob gave a short nod and turned his attention back to the phone.

"Sure, sure. Now's just not a good time for it, ok? We aren't just dealing with our issues here, Bells. The outside guy is involved, too, and it would be better to keep the spectators to a minimum. It's pretty much gonna be Old Quil, Sam, Billy, the Doc, Alice and Edward doing the talking. We're saying the rest of us are there for protection but we're really just there to hear the new rules as they get put down, ya know?"

Alice looked impressed before zoning out for a moment. Bella was also silent and Jacob hoped...Alice re-focused and shook her head in Jacob's direction just as Bella spoke again. Damn, there went that hope.

"I really can help, Jacob. I'm involved in this! I can explain how everything happened!"

Jacob could hear her still talking and he was ready to snap so he cut her off with the first thing that came to mind. The fact that the Vampires looked impressed was secondary. Seriously.

"Listen, Bella, I'm trying to be nice here, but I'll just give it to you straight. This guy came in to mediate the Treaty because it already got broken on both sides. One of three things is going to happen. He's going to kill us all for breaking it, he's going to let us set up a new one, or he's going to kill you for being the reason it got broken. He's already leaning toward door number three and you being here will just make things worse for yourself. He's already of the opinion that you can't keep out of things that don't concern you because there's no reason a mortal should have been involved with the Volturi. There's no reason you should have ever discovered about us and the Cullen's in the first place. And the fact that a newborn army was created just to come after you...well, things aren't looking good for you, Bella."

Jacob could hear her gasping and sputtering so he went in for the kill.

"Edward and I are trying to figure out how to keep you out of this completely, but as far as Alice can tell you being here pretty much guarantees your death."

Edward looked very impressed with that and Alice danced closer to whisper in his ear.

"I'll back you up."

The tiny Vampire took the phone, injecting the appropriate sorrow and desperation into her voice while Jacob and Edward looked at one another. Finally Jacob broke the silence.

"I'm going to check things out and warn the Pack that Bella might still get it in her head to interfere. You coming?"

Edward agreed quietly and Jacob phased back, completely ignoring the fact that he'd been standing there naked for so long.

Why did you phase, Jacob?

Jacob gave a mental sigh and heard Edward chuckled as he rolled his eyes.

I was helping keep Bella away for the meeting, Sam. She's determined to be there.

Jacob let the conversation flow back through his mind, and knew in the way that the Pack knew things that Embry was on his way to let Billy know so the new guy knew.

"His name is Harry, and he's a really nice guy, Jacob."

Sure, sure. I guess I just don't know him yet. I promised not to hate him before I met him, doesn't that count?

Edward chuckled slightly while they took off toward the nearest tree, both making sure the other hadn't compromised the position. They stayed silent for awhile before Edward let out a chuckle seemingly out of nowhere. Since the Pack was focused on Embry's views of Harry (which Jacob was pushing away as firmly as possible) Jacob could only assume it had to do with Alice. Edward confirmed with thoughts with a smile.

"Harry is really going to get into the role of high executioner now that we know Bella is going to ignore our warnings to stay away. It will be...interesting to see Jasper's reaction."

Why his reaction specifically? Because of the wars?

Edward chuckled as they wove through the trees, scenting deer and hare and the occasional bird or snake.

"Well, that too. Mostly because Harry looks very sexy in his battle gear and Jasper is interested in Harry in a romantic sense."

Jacob was fairly certain that his eyes were bulging. He was positive that the little psychic could hear them, and Edward's chuckle seemed to confirm his thoughts.

So...what? His wife says he can look but not touch? Or like my sister says 'It doesn't matter where you get the appetite so long as you come home for dinner'?

Edward laughed outright, and Jacob could hear Alice's wind chime laughter in the background. They'd nearly looped around the entire clearing once without problem, though both knew they'd take a second pass a bit further out.

"No, no, nothing like that. Alice and Jasper have been together for a very long time, but they have both always known that they are not meant to be together for eternity."

Jacob could hear the pack clamoring for attention at that, so Jacob sent forth something that resembled Huh?

"Vampires have something like your Imprinting. We call it Mating, which really isn't very original. Alice's Mate will be coming with Harry's Army, and Jasper's case is...unique. He has more than one Mate."

Jacob would have found it funny and a little satisfying to see the pained grimace cross the Vampire's face if that pain hadn't been coming from his own head; or, more accurately, the Pack shouting questions in his head.

"No, it's not because he's going to kill or turn one. It is simply a fact of life. It apparently happens with Wizards, as well, so this tells us that Jasper may have been an unrecognized Wizard before he died."

The Pack was pretty much silent at that, which Jacob appreciated. Apparently Edward appreciated it as well, because he sent Jacob a small and nonthreatening smile.

"I can't tell you who else he's Mated to, he has to do that himself. Thanks to Alice we know that there are three Mates for Jasper, but Jasper has only met two of them so far."

They continued the patrol in silence, Jacob curious about the identity of the second person; if the first was Harry and the last a stranger, who was the second? At least Edward didn't laugh at him while he tried to figure it out.

**

Billy settled into his chair, eager for the meal he'd been smelling for the past hour and a half. Embry had let them know that Jacob would be eating with the Pack, so Billy and Harry had the meal to themselves. When Harry served it, Billy stared at it for several moments trying to figure out what it was. It smelled really good, and a bit spicy which Billy didn't really mind. Chicken in some sort of sauce sat on a bed of rice. Vegetables in the same sauce sat off to the side. Piled on a plate near the center of the small table was some sort of flat bread. Harry took pity on him.

"It's curried chicken and vegetables."

Harry mixed everything together, explaining that some people liked everything separate and some people preferred to mix it together like he did. He then explained that the bread was called Naan, a type of flat bread that he'd set to rise that morning after breakfast. Once Harry likened it to pita bread Billy understood. He watched the way Harry scooped with the bread and followed the teen's example. The flavors burst in his mouth and got a reaction from the older man.

"If you were older and female I would propose to you right now."

Harry burst out laughing.

"Be careful, I might accept and then what would you do?"

Billy laughed in return, and Harry had a case of the giggles for the next hour.

After the meal was over Billy insisted on cleaning up, shooing Harry back to his bedroom; they had to leave soon and Harry needed to be threatening. Plus he needed to get together some supplies he promised would make the Treaty more stable; it would also, he promised, make the punishment much more severe if it was broken. Harry also wanted to find a book to take with them. When Embry had been there he'd answered several questions for Harry, and had phased for him a few times so that Harry could get a good idea of how it worked.

He knew what they were, and he wanted to show them with the proof of a very old book on his side.

"Hey, kiddo, it's about time to go! You almost ready? Leah's here to drive us."

Harry's attention jerked from the Potions belt he was trying to position perfectly around his waist, surprised that so much time had passed. Well, at least I'm just about ready.

Grabbing his bag and the swords lying on his bed, Harry headed toward the living room. It was time to show them what he was made of.