Here are just a few thoughts, thank you to my wonderful beta, Jocelyn Torrent for making my story into something worthy of your time. To my love, here is a little story for your pleasure, as I promised. To everyone else as we all know Alice and Bella belong to Stephenie Meyer, and I am borrowing them only for my own enjoyment and yours. Basically this story takes place before Breaking Dawn, taking Alice on a quest for a past that will affect her future. When a vision she has kept a secret comes back to haunt her, what are the consequences. Begins with Bella and Edward together planning their wedding, but have no worries. I have every intention of Alice's feelings for Bella coming into play quite soon. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I've loved writing it. So now without further ado…
Chapter 1 Ignorance is Bliss
The young women looked out the window at the falling rain as it traced slow ribbons down the cold glass. She laid her own forehead against the pane and wished for one moment to be human. That her own tears would flow in her own bitter grief, and haunt her no more. She could just feel the stinging sensation of the tears unable to fall. Her golden eyes, pure reflections of the misery she couldn't forget. She was living a lie.
Alice turned from her window and the forest outside that reached endlessly against the gray sky. Crossing to her bed she picked up the book that not even twenty-four hours ago, she'd tried to read. The one Esme, her adopted mom, had given her as a gift. It was a vampire story and Esme had chosen it without knowing. She had ordered it on Borders online. Only as it recently had been on the best seller list and Alice had found it well written. Even worth reading and addictive through seriously lacking in accuracy.
She closed the book, knowing she'd never be able to concentrate. Not with the endless battle going on inside her mind. Looking over to the bridal magazines left by Bella the evening before, she felt a deep heaviness fill her. It was barely a month until Bella would become her sister. When she married Edward and took her rightful place in the Cullen family. Then the eternal transformation as they had promised would take place. Bella would no longer cry, or blush nor be vulnerable. Alice knew it would be then that Bella would no longer need her. She would move into the cottage Esme made as a surprise. Together into eternity she would live in happiness. Blessed in ignorance never to know, as Alice had promised herself she would never say a word.
She pondered, playing with the necklace at her throat with a delicate but absent minded air. As she pulled her sweater closer around her small but strong frame, she felt her own doubt. Encircling her like demon wolves at bay only as long as she could keep her feelings locked away. Yet each and every moment, visions of what could have been had her own fear reminding her. Had she only been brave from the beginning? No she could never destroy her family, and by telling this one secret she'd lose everything. She'd hurt Bella, her dear Bella—no, Edward's one true love. Not to mention her Jasper. The one she was supposed to love as much as he did her. When he held her in his arms every night and kissed her. Made love to her, and whispered he loved her beyond measure.
'Ignorance is bliss,' Alice thought. The world goes right on turning. The wedding would come and go. She alone would know the truth. She felt the strong arms of Jasper wrap her in what should have been a romantic embrace. She let his love wash away the doubts for one more night. Turning in his arms she let him kiss her.
"I've missed you, love," he breathed as he enveloped her in a strong and safe embrace.
Alice couldn't help smiling. Jasper always missed her. Even when they'd been together since the 50's and ever since he'd understood her and been there for her. Always watching over her and protecting her. Even though as vampires they were both strong, their love was innocence, simple sweet, and safe even. Though Alice knew that she and Jasper had long ago lost their fire; if in fact she had ever had the same desire she felt whenever she just looked at Bella.
"Something wrong, Alice?" he asked.
"No, just have a lot on my mind with the wedding," she trailed off.
He kissed her once more lightly on the lips. He turned off the lights, smiled lovingly and drew her back only to gather her into his arms and carry her back to bed. Alice sighed inwardly, and looked into her Jasper's eyes. Pools of love and care, and she knew she'd forget at least for one more night. She could never tell them all she loved sweet, beautiful Bella Swan.
"I missed you too, Jasper," she sighed sadly.
Her words reverberated back across time. Time was all she had……until the vision snapped all sensibility from her shattered soul.