Ok! This one was requested, well it was either a Tanya, Esme or Edward POV request, not specified, I chose Tanya! NZTwilighter- this one is all yours darlin'. I hope you like it…

I will take requests for chapters done from a different POV- if you should be so inclined to ask! Just ask in a review, or send me a PM, I won't disable those! I'll post up on the next chapter of Through Glass that the outtakes exist- I know not everyone has me on Author Alert and I don't want you guys to miss out!

Also- NZTwilighter has also asked for an alternate ending. I'm totally cool with doing that, when the story is over, I'll post up here- on the outtakes, a Jasper/Bella alternate ending. And no bashing her for that! You know that almost all of you were Team Jasper before he turned in to an asshole and I could totally redeem him! You just wait!

Without further ado- heeeere's Tanya!

All things Twilight still belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Someone told me long ago,

There's a calm before the storm,

I know, it's been coming for some time.

-Have You Ever Seen the Rain?, Creedence Clearwater Revival

~Tanya POV~

What an awful day. I didn't understand how anyone was holding up as well as they were. I felt like collapsing all day long and I didn't even know Peter Whitlock. It was so very obvious how loved he was though. The grief and the respect and the love for him was present on every face at the funeral and burial.

But no face showed it as much as his wife. Charlotte was such a wonderful woman, and she tried so hard to be brave and strong in the face of burying the love of her life. The past days spent in this rainy, small, depressing town were brightened with stories told by Charlotte about her husband and his undying love and devotion to her and their children. Every once in awhile, you could see the strain on her face, in her movements or how her body sagged just a bit, but she tried so hard to stand tall for her children and everyone else. Only when we all heard his casket hit bottom, did she lose it. Taking her son down with her in to the soft, muddy earth beside the gravesite, it was impossible to not feel her pain.

"Excuse me, Tanya," Edward murmured as he made his way to the front row. I don't know how he was handling it either. He loved Bella so much- he'd told me so on many occasions. He came to me the night he first met her- or slammed a door in to her head was more like it. I laughed at him and told him that only he could manage something like that. The boy was not smooth, no matter what he liked to think. A dork trapped in a gorgeous man's body. I doubted Bella knew the extent to his dorkiness yet- he'd been trying so hard to impress her. From the way she looked at him though, she didn't see it at all. He was the sun, moon and stars to her, and she loved him too. I'm so glad that she finally admitted it. Regardless, he was one of the best men I had ever met, and that was the reason that he was the first one out of place and rushing to help Charlotte and Jasper.

And Jasper- ugh. I just didn't know what to say about that boy. He was gorgeous, of course he was. He was everything that Edward had described jealously to me and more. Wavy, chin length blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes and a smile to die for- that was Jasper Whitlock. It was no wonder at all why Alice had married him and Bella had carried a torch for him. I knew somewhat what was going on- Edward had told me what he could. That Jasper and Alice had dated and married after seven years together- high school sweethearts. That Jasper left Alice, claiming to be in love with Bella. That he too, had carried a torch and after he married, felt it was undeniable what he felt for Bella. What a terrible situation to be in regardless, add to that- the two women are best friends, has been forever? Well…

I don't know how Alice is dealing with it. I've been on both ends of the spectrum. At least it feels that way. I can sympathize with Bella- I carried a torch for Felix for a long time. And regardless of whom he actually is versus who I thought he was… well, you can't help who you love. And neither can Bella. So, of course I feel for her. But I feel for Alice too. How can I not? She tries so hard to keep on a happy face, to be that person that everyone thinks she is, but sometimes I get the feeling that not everything is as good as Alice thinks it is.

I shook my head, bringing myself back to the situation at hand and realizing that people were leaving now. I moved my eyes to the front row, Jasper was clinging to Bella for dear life, sobbing painfully but she was in tears too. I saw Alice slowly, almost hesitantly walk up to the front row and sit to the other side of him, grabbing tight and sobbing in to him as well. He didn't acknowledge her at all- not from what I could see. That would just kill me! I've seen it happen time and again since we've been here- Alice does what she can to try to help Jasper, that is, before he disappears behind closed doors with Bella, and he just ignores her or flat out refuses to do what she asks or answer whatever question she has posed. I can't honestly say that I don't care too much for him.

My eyes catch Edward, still standing close to the front row and wiping his eyes gently. God, I can't imagine how he feels right now. He knows that Bella loves him. He knows how much she wants to be with him. But he knows that his patience is all he can offer her right now. To know all of that and have to watch the one you love crying with someone they once loved, comforting someone they once loved- I don't know how he's standing it.

"Tanya dear, we should go up there," Esme said gently to me. "Rose and Emmett helped Charlotte to the car, we should see if we can help those three," she inclined her head to where Japer was sandwiched between Bella and Alice.

So we did, I asked Bella if she needed help and with her acceptance, Esme took Alice while Edward and I helped Bella and Jasper to the family car. That was a source of contention before the funeral. All of the Whitlock's family that came in felt that Alice should have been with the family, in the family car and sitting with the family, or that no one at all should have. Everyone looked on with disdain as Bella followed behind Jasper all day, into the car and out at the church and then back to the car and to the front at the burial. I wanted to scream at all of them! It was obvious beforehand; everyone had heard Jasper and Bella quietly bickering about it, Bella felt just as the rest of his family did- save for his immediate family. Charlotte agreed with Jasper, if Bella was who he wanted there, then by God- Bella would be there. Rose and Emmett were between a rock and a hard place; they both knew the whole situation but couldn't very well voice that. They just remained silent. I think that it wore on Alice though- her face had been tight and emotionless all day, until she broke down beside Jasper after the burial.

Esme, Edward, Alice and myself rode quietly back to the Whitlock house. I turned my head to look at Edward, I was right, today was wearing on him immensely. His face showed the array of emotions he was experiencing and I wished so much that I could do something for him. I knew though, he wouldn't be okay until Bella was in his arms again. I just had to sit tight and be strong for him; much like Bella had to do for Jasper.

Alice disappeared immediately after arriving at the Whitlock house, I wanted to follow her, but first I really needed to talk to Edward. He couldn't walk in there looking like he did. People knew that he didn't really know Peter and I didn't want him going in there looking that miserable and having people wonder as to why.

"I'm going to check on Bella, she probably needs help- if I know her, she's already in the kitchen," Esme said quietly. I nodded to let her know that I agreed and felt her place a hand on my shoulder. I turned and found that she'd placed her other hand on Edward's shoulder, she told us, "You two just hang in there. It's almost over, son. And Tanya?" I raised my eyes to hers, "Thank you for taking care of him."

I smiled at her, earning myself one of her beautiful smiles in return. I adored Esme, well, now I did. The woman used to seriously intimidate me; I know she did it on purpose. After the terrible rumors that I had heard Gianna spreading about me, well, I understood. I begged Edward not to tell her or any of his family the truth of the matter, but finally caved to letting him tell his mother. She showed up on my doorstep not an hour after he'd told her. Armed with a loaf of banana bread and two Venti Latte's, Esme asked for my forgiveness. Of course I didn't forgive her for anything- there was nothing to forgive in the first place. She's one of my best friends now and probably the most incredibly strong and kind person I've ever met.

Grasping Edward's hand, I asked, "Hey mister, how ya doing over there?"

He let out a long, low breath, "I'm good."

I squeezed his hand before pulling my own back and whacking his bicep. He muttered 'ow' like the big baby he is and I asked, "How are you really doing?"

"Honestly?" I nodded my head; of course I wanted him to be honest. "I feel like I'm losing my fucking mind. I actually do feel sorry for Jasper- and I'm glad that Bella is able to help him. Then in the same breath? I want to knock him in to next week and yell at him to keep his fucking hands to himself!"

I sighed, "You know she loves you, right?" He nodded, "So don't sweat the small stuff, Edward. You go back in two days and you should just-"

"And that's what else," he interrupted, "I'm flipping the fuck out about leaving her here with him. Alone. I know they won't technically be alone, but… I don't want to go back without her."

"Edward, look at me," he turned his head to look at me. When I saw his eyes uncloud and his attention focus to me, I continued, "You can't do that. If you love her, you have to trust her-"

"I do trust her-"

"Don't interrupt! Rude!" He rolled his eyes at me for that but shut his mouth anyway. "Trusting her means trusting her. There's no if, ands or buts about it. You say that you trust her- and I think you most definitely should. Then show her. She didn't receive that kindness from Jasper, show her you're different."

He sighed, long and deep before nodding to show his agreement. "Okay, good. Now straighten yourself out and I'll meet you inside. I want to check on Alice."

~*~

But Alice was like a recluse. It took me nearly an hour to find her and when I did she didn't say much at all. She was uncharacteristically quiet all day. I was worried; I had a bad feeling about what that might mean. She reminded me of a saying I was brought up with – 'the calm before the storm.' When the time came to bid Bella goodbye for now- we'd see her later that night, I couldn't find Alice anywhere to ask if she was ready to leave as well. Of course I didn't make a big fuss about it, she had her own car, but still, I was worried.

I voiced my concerns once we had returned to the Swan house. Charlie assured me that Alice was fine. That she was a trooper, but today was a sad day and Peter had been like a father to her. If she was only being quiet, then she was doing good. I didn't feel any better though; there was a gnawing in my gut telling me something was wrong.

Esme tried to distract me, pulling me to the kitchen and telling me we were going to cook for 'Bella's bachelor father.' She and Charlie got along famously. Actually, everyone seemed to get along famously with Charlie. He was incredibly easygoing and aside from the confusion of the whole Edward/Jasper/Bella triangle drama that he wasn't pleased about, he was obviously happy to have a full house. Esme had been trying to coerce him into moving to Jacksonville all week. She went so far as to tell him that she had 'connections' with the police force. We all looked disbelievingly toward her until the grin broke across her face, along with a gentle giggle and a wink. That woman…

About an hour into cooking- and Charlie was stocked up on leftovers for a week at least, we heard the door close gently and we all turned as Alice walked in. She smiled her sad little smile at us and then promptly broke in to tears. Esme and I both made a move to get to her, but it was Charlie who made it first. He led her to a seat at the kitchen table and sat down next to her. Esme and I continued to clear the dishes as Charlie tried to calm her down. Edward didn't move from his seat, he was staring off into space and I knew that he was wondering why Bella hadn't come home at the same time as Alice.

After Esme and I had finished, we sat down at the table too. Alice was completely calmed down now, whatever Charlie had told her was obviously effective. Esme reached across the table to her, gripping her hand and squeezing. No words were spoken, but with Esme- no words were needed. Anything she could say with words, she could say with just one look and that's exactly what Alice found right then. A genuine smile appeared on her face and I let out a breath at the sight. I was happy she was back.

I turned to Edward and noticed that he still had that worried, spaced-out look on his face so I took my shoe off and kicked his shin. He shot me a dirty look but it worked, he came back to the present and hopefully he would stay that way- he didn't need to worry about Bella. She was a big girl and she had handled the Jasper situation just fine up until now. He needed to trust her.

"So, Alice," Esme said, gathering the attention of not only Alice but the other three occupants of the table as well. "Personal shopper, eh?"

I really couldn't help the laugh that spilled out of me at that. Everyone else joined in also, though the guys at the table rolled their eyes. Esme wasn't stupid though- it was the distraction that was needed. Alice began to ramble about designers and fabrics and spring lines. Esme was completely enraptured and I must say that I was too. I found myself wishing that Alice was in Jacksonville too- I'd love her to be my personal shopper. She obviously knew her stuff.

I'm not sure how long we'd all been lost in Alice's voice, but suddenly a door slammed from the front of the house. It was so forceful that it reverberated through the whole first floor and shook the windows. Alice shut-up real fast and we all turned toward the incoming stomps. When Bella walked through that door, I think we were all shocked.

Her face was blotchy and swollen from crying. The tear stains ran down her face along with some smudges of mascara and eyeliner. Her skin was red- bright red and it screamed 'angry.' Her whole appearance was disheveled and I immediately tensed up wondering what had happened. I followed the bitch-glare she was shooting, and found that it was directed at Alice.

"Hey there Bells-"Charlie started to say and just as I was thanking him mentally for breaking the silence, Bella went crazy.

"What the fuck were you thinking?!" Bella yelled. Like the door before that, it reverberated through the first floor. I cringed, I didn't know Bella's voice could be that loud for one, and for two… why was she glaring and yelling at Alice?

Charlie tried again to insert himself into conversation with Bella only to be cut off once more. Only this time when Bella yelled at her, Alice broke down in tears. Immediately, I poised my legs to push myself up. I was going to go to Alice and try to comfort her, so that someone could get to the bottom of this. I saw from the corner of my eye, Esme itching to do so as well. Charlie beat us both to it though, he surrounded Alice with the warmth and security and his own arms and quietly, I let out a sigh of relief.

But it was short-lived, as Bella rushed around the table toward the two, yelling that Alice wouldn't receive comfort from Bella's father. What was the matter with her? She ripped Charlie's arms from around Alice, stunning him into submission. I'd never pegged Bella to be cruel. Alice of course started crying harder. It broke my heart and again, I made to get up, but again, I was beaten. Esme was already up and pushing her chair back when Bella yelled at her to not come.

Esme was clearly concerned, "Bella dear, what's happened?"

And then of course, we all received the shock of a lifetime. I knew something bad was going to happen…

"Ask Alice," Bella spat right into Alice's face. She was breathing heavily and I can honestly say I had no idea as to what she would say next. When she spat that Alice had spilled the beans about Edward to Jasper, I gasped. So did Esme and I heard Edward cough from across the table. I turned my attention to him. The relief at the statement was clear on his face, but mingled with that was the undeniable guilt he was feeling.

It was another complicated situation. He'd said earlier he felt bad for Jasper, but he didn't want Jasper touching Bella anymore. Clearly, he'd gotten his wish and the relief that he should have felt was clouded with the realization that he'd taken Jasper's only sense of comfort.

"Oh, go to hell, Bella! He fucking deserved to know! What you were doing was wrong! It should have been me there to comfort him!" Alice yelled back at Bella.

And that right there was all the answer I needed. I had a bad feeling all day where Alice was concerned. None of us had seen it, she'd tried to stand to the side and be the gracious friend and ally that Bella needed. But all along she'd still been in love with her husband. Who wouldn't have reacted that way? Not one person at that table agreed with Bella leading Jasper on. But we all knew her reasoning behind what she was doing and not one of us had felt that she was leading him on. We'd encouraged her and tried to comfort her- it wasn't something she wanted. Now… now we find out that Alice had still been in love with Jasper all this time…

Of course Bella called her out on it, amongst other things. Namely, Alice's encouragement and involvement with Bella and Edward admitting their initial attraction to each other. Well- Bella's attraction to Edward, he was gone the moment he saw her.

They went back and forth, shooting accusations at each other. Not solving anything. Alice said some really cruel things- Bella did too, I was disappointed in her. I understood to an extent, but still… her vision was clouded with anger right now. She couldn't see how hurt Alice was by everything, she was too busy being hurt and angry herself. I really was upset over Alice's actions as well. I knew how hurt she was and I sympathized with her completely, but there was a time and a place for everything. And Alice had picked the worst time and place to tell Jasper the woman he was in love with was leaving him for another man.

I wanted to shake them both- and I'm not a violent person, but when Alice yelled out, "Nothing is ever your fault Bella! You're the most selfish person I've ever-"I opened my mouth to say something. Again, I was cut off. Charlie put his foot down and inserted himself into the yelling match. Both girls did as he said and sat at the table, but I stayed locked in what I was about to say.

How could Alice say that? Honestly? Bella left town, to try and keep herself from falling apart. No one should judge her for that, and I sure as heck wouldn't. I did the same thing. Bella stayed out of contact with them both, to try to give them the space that Rosalie had spat out they needed and to try to pull herself back together. Again, I wouldn't begrudge her that; I stayed out of contact for two years. Only after reading Alice's letter did Bella call. And she was calling Alice. It wasn't Bella's fault that Jasper answered. And from what I understood, she fought him on the phone, trying to make him see that he was wrong before he wore her down. Bella sent him back. Maybe she didn't send him back to Alice, but she didn't keep him there, away from his friends and family and everyone else important in his life. Bella came, when he needed her. Even though she was just then getting her life back in order from the shit-storm that Jasper had caused in it. Bella did nothing to receive this anger from Alice. Not this anger.

This anger was misplaced and wrong. It isn't Bella's fault that this awful event took place, and if Alice would listen for one minute then Bella would tell her that she just didn't want Jasper to hurt anymore than he already was.

Charlie asked Alice to start and she told all of us of a person that was at the Whitlock house today- one that she wasn't happy about being there. When asked further, she admitted that Jasper had cheated on her- and not with Bella.

So there was someone before Bella that he felt the need to 'share' himself with? Well that by no means was Bella's fault! That was all on her husband and his inability to stick to one woman!

Charlie scolded Alice for not minding her own business and Alice looked properly chagrined. Before she broke out in tears again, that is. I didn't feel sorry for her anymore though. I couldn't bring myself to. I couldn't even feel anger toward Bella for her unexpected cruelty toward Alice earlier. In my opinion, Alice had completely misplaced her anger. She'd been upset with Jasper and out to hurt him in any way possible. That was why she opened her mouth and spilled about Edward.

I was seething, I'd never been so angry with someone! I turned to Edward and found him in the same boat as me. His eyes were tight as was his mouth. Every feature of his face pulled and strained. The most telling of his current emotions were his hands though, they were gripped together in front of him and clasped so tight, the white was spreading from the knuckles through to the rest of his hand with the pressure. I wanted to reach out for him but found myself turning to Bella instead. Why wasn't she touching him? This is what they've been waiting for- you'd think she would have curled in to him by now. That's… odd…

"Bella dear," Esme's gentle voice broke the silence. "Did you and Jasper talk?"

And so began Bella's interrogation. It didn't last long but we knew that it had gone worse that Bella let on to us. When she told us that he'd flipped off his sister and stormed out, I wanted so bad to reach for her. To show her that it would be okay. I could tell that Edward was itching to do so as well, for the life of me, I don't know why he hadn't.

"You told Rose?" Alice gasped. I had to fight not to roll my eyes. Of course she would be upset about any of the Whitlock's thinking badly of her for telling. She reminded me of a petulant child.

"No! You told Rose!" Bella had popped her head back up from her observation of the table top, "About me and Edward! Could you keep anything to yourself?"

Now, in my defense, there are very few times in my life that my mouth speaks without me telling it to. But the first thought that ran through my head at Bella's question was: Obviously she can't keep a man to herself. Horrible, I know- I try not to think things like that, really I do. But then another thought went through my head just as fast, Alice has spilled secrets to Rose about Bella. Alice has spilled secrets to Angela abut Bella. Alice has spilled secrets to Jasper about Bella. So obviously she can't keep anything to herself.

Try as I might, the comment came out anyway, "Apparently not."

I thought it came out quietly, and I was grateful. I didn't like being hateful, and tried to always keep my opinions to myself. My cheeks blushed and my breath caught when Alice spat, "What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Tanya?"

I immediately made to apologize, but again, I was cut off. By Bella this time, "Hey! Leave her out of this!"

Alice went back to the insulting, this time about me and Edward and I could see his fingers clench tighter when her hand came in to contact with his arm. He wanted to say something, you could tell. Charlie stepped in again, this time getting after me as well. I apologized quickly and found myself wanting to crawl in to a hole because of my outburst.

I felt a hand grab mine and raised my eyes to meet Bella's. She was looking at me with such a warm, caring expression, asking if I was okay. I smiled, slightly and nodded to let her know I was. And I was, she had consoled me that easily. I had a flash forward moment, to when we all went back to Jacksonville. I couldn't wait to spend more time with her and I knew how happy she and Edward were together. She was the most accepting person, save Esme that I'd met since moving there. Well, and Edward, but he doesn't count.

I was brought back to the present by Charlie saying he would put an APB out for Jasper. I jerked my head to Esme and she mouthed, 'everything's fine,' to me. She knew I was in my own little world, thank god for her observational skills. I heard Edward ask Bella if she was okay and turned my head back to look at them.

They still weren't touching. I didn't know what was going on and Bella had shut her eyes and thus her emotions off from Edward. He didn't know what was going on with her either. The strain of the situation was seriously starting to wear on him. The helpless expression on his face was almost too much to bear. I wanted to help him and I was, quite honestly, a little pissed at Bella for not offering him anything more than a nod. He needed her too. She needed to realize that.

I think tonight Bella and I are going to have a little talk.

Alice piped up again; I tuned her out for the most part. I had come to find in the past hour that she truly was a childish individual. I found myself dreading the next round of argument that was sure to ensue.

But then she said, "Wait! Wait a minute! You were going to tell him? You really weren't doing that chickenshit thing?"

My brows furrowed, what was she talking about? I turned to Bella and found her with the same expression. Bella came to the realization before I did though, I didn't come to it until after Bella said, "You thought I wasn't going to tell him?"

I realized then. When had we had time to tell Alice of Bella's true intentions here? We hadn't. Every night that had been spent staying up late was spent doing girly things to keep our minds off of the situation. We hadn't spoken of Jasper at all and you could tell when the conversation veered toward him at all, the tension would get thick. None of the three of us wanted that so we avoided it. I gasped at Alice's not having the knowledge and immediately sympathized with her again.

What a rollercoaster of emotions tonight- and I'm just a bystander. I can't imagine what Alice, Bella, and Edward are going through.

Alice couldn't finish answering Bella though. All of a sudden there was a loud knock from the front door. We turned and looked between the five of us, matching expressions of confusion on all of our faces.

Charlie came back through the kitchen on his way to the door, pausing to ask us, "Are we expecting anyone?"

We all shook our heads at him and I turned to find a worried expression on Edward's face.

Jasper's drunken voice yelled through the door, "Bell! Please Bell! I'm so fucking sorry! Please talk to me! Bell!"

I sighed, it was going to be a long night.