Chapter 1 Welcome Home!

Waiting in the airport terminal 25 year old Lieutenant Isabella 'Bella' Swan was waiting for her girlfriend Leah Clearwater to pick her up to take her home. It's been a long six years and she was honestly glad her time with the Marine's was done even though she loved what she did she had seen so much of the world and learned so many things while defending her country. But she had seen so much death too, too much really and she couldn't wait to be in her lovers arms once more.

A year after the Cullen's left her Bella surprised everyone when after she graduated she joined the Marines. Everyone knew she took the breakup with her first and only boyfriend the mysterious Edward Cullen hard. What no one not even her father knew until she told him was it wasn't Edward she loved or was even attracted too. Hell he was a controlling asshole and a stalker! He kept trying to tell her what to do and when she wouldn't listen he intimidated her or abused her. Not physically but he came close, no he verbally abused her every chance he could especially when she didn't listen to him or pushed him.

Sometimes she wondered why she would stick around other than the obvious she knew their secret and was in essence trapped because if she wasn't with him he would kill her to keep their secret of that she had no doubt. But that wasn't the main reason, no she stayed because of her mate, not Edward no he wasn't her mate, she doesn't swing that way. Bella is a hermaphrodite and gay so being mated to someone with a cock and no pussy is not possible as mates complete each other and make each other happy and this would not make her happy.

Anyway Edward was not her mate, in fact her mate wouldn't give her the time of day, and she was also married to someone else, a guy actually so the chance of attraction even without her contempt would be impossible anyway. You guessed it Bella's mate is Rosalie!

Now you're probably wondering how does she know who her mate is and why doesn't Rosalie feel the pull? Bella doesn't know why Rosalie doesn't feel the pull, which is a way to tell if you are mates, both parties feel the pull and once you accept the pull you just know he or she is your mate. As for how Bella knows Rosalie is her mate the answer is simple, even in Phoenix Bella had always been attracted to the fairer sex so she knew she was gay, but she was always bullied about it. So when she moved to Forks she decided to have a fresh start even if that meant hiding the fact that she was a lesbian, with a small a town as this people talk and she wasn't sure the outcome for her choice in partners was.

So when Edward pursued her she agreed because she already knew she was attracted to Rosalie and if she can't be with her like she wanted to she could at least be friends with her. She also agreed because she just knew Edward was gay, don't ask how but she totally pegged him on her gaydar and through observation she was proven correct he was gay and he already had a mate if he and his mate pulled their collective heads out of their asses they would see it.

Bella felt attracted to Rosalie and felt a slight pull to her it was not as strong since she was human but once she was bitten she could feel it, even with the venom out of her system she could always feel it luckily it doesn't feel as painful for her to be rejected by her mate as she could be, yes she had venom in her system and caused her bond to Rosalie to amplify but she is still human so the pain is more manageable

After rejection after rejection from her mate she became used to the pain from her mates insults and rejection. But it soon got to the point where instead of being hurt by it she grew numb and apathetic toward her mate meaning her bond was hanging by a tether one more rejection away from snapping.

Still despite her feelings for Rosalie when the Cullen's left, it was his family and especially Rosalie's leaving without a goodbye that devastated her. It was then that she truly knew just how much she meant to Rosalie, nothing, she apparently meant nothing to the others either, not even her surrogate mother and her so-called best friend. That day in the woods she felt that last tether of the mating bond snap, breaking the mating bond she had with Rosalie and making her all but apathetic.

It took time but she finally moved on, she knew though that should she ever see the Cullen's again she wouldn't feel a damn thing about any of them Rosalie included and that was okay with her.

During one of her visits to Charlie she went to a bonfire at Lapush beach with her childhood friend Jacob and his girlfriend who was also one of her high school friend's Angela Webber where she met Leah. The moment she met Leah's eyes she knew something was different, she felt like the mating bond she had with Rose only infinitely stronger. After she found out about the wolves and imprints Bella became scared, not of the wolves but about imprinting she had already been burned by a mating bond, and what with her tour in Iraq (the Marines are fighting in Iraq in this story I don't know if they do that but if they don't deal with it it's my story!) she tried to fight it but in the end she gave up fighting it and never once regretted it. By the time she left for her last year in Iraq she was head over heels in love with Leah Clearwater.

"Bella!"

Bella was brought out of her musings by a tall lithe russet skinned body slamming into her nearly knocking into her. Leah had arrived, holding her lover close for the first time in three years Bella felt at peace for the first time in three long hard years. Bella thanked every deity not for the first time for giving her someone like Leah who made her feel happy and at peace with herself.

After a long hug Bella reluctantly pulled away from Leah and looked around for anyone suspicious. Her sense of paranoia kicking in being in an open and populated area with her mate an open target for anyone to shoot them. If there is one thing six years in the military did for Bella it made her paranoid like nobody's business.

Frowning at her lover's actions Leah looked over her mate fully for the first time since she saw her in the airport. Bella had changed so much, gone was the shy, weak and clumsy girl she was before and in her place was a confident albeit paranoid, strong and graceful woman. Bella's once ass length mahogany with a slight red tint curls were now shoulder length and darker with her red tint more prominent. Bella's brown doe eyes that once held so much innocence held so much pain and weariness that it made her want to cry. Her height of 5'2 shot up to an impressive 5'9 and her once C cup breasts grew to a delicious D cup. Her body ripples with muscles and power not enough to be a body builder but not unlike a lithe swimmers build. Wearing a tight fitting uniform proudly displaying her name and rank of Lieutenant with a purple heart and displaying a delicious view of her ass and breasts she looked intoxicating.

Leah wasn't the only one checking her mate out, unlike Bella Leah had not changed much in the last three years. Leah still has her beautiful silky smooth raven black hair, her jade green eyes that once held so much anger held so much love and happiness. Her height of 6'2 shot up a little to an impressive 6'5 and her once B cup breasts grew to a C cup. Her body ripples with power and grace not unlike a panther even though she is a wolf. Wearing a tight fitting tank top displaying a delicious view of breasts and toned stomach and tight fitting short shorts showing her tight ass she looked sexy as shit!

After basically eye fucking each other in the airport Bella snapped out of it and grabbed her green army duffle and followed Leah to the parking lot.

As she bent down to grab her duffle out of the corner of her eye she could have sworn she saw a vampire. Whirling around and automatically putting herself in front of her girlfriend who had followed behind her she reached for her shoulder holster for her Beretta hidden beneath the jacket when Leah's gentle touch on her arm stilled her.

"Babe? What-" She stopped herself when she took a sniff and visibly tensed. She obviously smelled the vampire who was here hidden among the crowd just a moment ago. After watching her face carefully Bella noticed the worry lines suddenly appeared on her face, and the tension in her shoulders and the hatred in her eyes, but the biggest give away that something besides the vampire was wrong was how her hold on me turned possessive and protective.

Now Leah knows that Bella can take care of herself and even when she was overseas Leah and Bella were secure in their relationship. So as Bella thought of what could make her wolf react like this, she could only come to one conclusion.

"The Cullen's are back aren't they?" Bella deadpanned already annoyed at the constant headache she will have from now on if she has to deal with them for any amount of time and with the Cullen's having an interfering seer than it is a guarantee she will have too.

Jerking her head to look at her imprints annoyed face Leah knew she would not have to worry about Bella wanting to be around the Cullen's or leaving her for them. Leah smirked as she thought of Bella confronting the Cullen's, her little soldier always carries around a lighter even though she quit smoking. When she asked her why she still carried it her face went blank and she deadpanned "barbeque" and Leah understood it was to set any vamp on fire who annoyed her.

"Don't worry baby, I'll keep the big bad bats away from you," Leah cooed to her lover teasingly.

Bella simply grunted and hoisted her duffle over her shoulder and headed for their jeep that Charlie bought Bella for a graduation present. Hopping in the passenger seat she looked over at Leah who had followed behind her slowly so she could admire her girl's ass.

"You ready to go home babe?" Bella called over to her wanting to go home and have a nice hot bath she was exhausted. Leah smiled at her Bella as she delighted in the fact that Bella was home for good not for the first time. No more war just them.

Shaking her head with a soft smile toward her Bella she got in driver's seat and started the car. After Bella shut the door, Leah leaned over the console and gave her love a slow languid kiss. When air became necessary they broke apart with soft smiles on their faces and sparkles in their eyes.

"Welcome home baby, now let's go home" Leah murmured against Bella's lips, with one last smile she leaned back.

And with that they were headed home.