Jasper POV

I returned to our large plantation style house as the rising sun's rays illuminated to tree line. I felt awful about what had happened between Alice and I and knew I had to fix it. She'll come around, like she always does. We had been through this before, and she was usually understanding when I tried to explain why I acted the way I did.

I had seen so much pain in my life, before I had met Alice. I had felt so much fear. I had been so lonely for so many years until I met her. She's my soul mate. She's the reason I live every day and I need to show her that. I knew that I had hurt her and that was unacceptable. It was my job as her husband to try to make her happy and my behavior yesterday was inexcusable. She has such a big heart, it's no wonder she wanted to comfort Charlie.

I forget Alice's compassion sometimes and stupidly disregarded Alice's bond with Bella. She was always the person in our family that had supported their relationship, even when it had been dangerous for all of us. She knew Edward better than any of us and had seen his pain and loneliness after living with couples for the better half of his life. I had been the cause of Edward's pain and she was merely trying to do something to right a wrong.

Shit, I'm an idiot. I have such a wonderful wife, one I do not deserve. I needed to do something special for her. This was going to be a hard year for all of us…

I was encapsulated in my thoughts as I reached the front porch and sauntered into the main hall. I slowly walked up to our bedroom, hoping to sense some calmer emotions than yesterday when…nothing.

"Alice?" I called. No response.

I went downstairs in our basement to find Esme's pottery collection growing by the hour.

"Esme, where is Alice?" I asked, my usual anxiety beginning to build.

"She's upstairs. She said she wanted some time alone", Esme answered simply. "Why?"

"She's not upstairs." I said before rushing upstairs.

I tried to sense her emotions in the rest of the house to no avail. I sprinted upstairs and ran quickly throughout the house, the roof, the basement. Nothing.

I ran to the garage to confirm my worst fear. Esme's car was gone and Esme was here.

No, no, no. Maybe she went shopping. She wouldn't leave like this. She never has. She would never… She knows what would happen, what this would do to me…

I almost broke my phone dialing Alice's number and impatiently waited for a response.

"Jasper?" I heard her voice and my anxiety was now replaced with anger.

"Alice! Where are you? Come back home now!" I yelled.

"Jasper, calm down. Bella is alive. Isn't that wonderful? I'm so reliev—" Alice began until I interrupted.

"You went to Forks! You did exactly what I told you not to do! Alice, how could you? How could you leave me here?" The feelings of hurt and rejection were apparent in my voice, feelings that I tried to hide from my wife. It was unbearable knowing she had separated us. I did not know how to feel without her around me and it scared me more than anything I had encountered. I could not longer protect her, feel her presence, hear her laugh, touch her…

"Jasper, you know why. I am fine." She said suspiciously nervous. There was an eerie silence on the phone.

"Alice. Where are you?" I demanded, frightened of the answer. I knew something wasn't right.

"Jasper, I'm on a plane to Italy. We took off a few hours ago." Alice said quietly, knowing my response.

"WHAT! Why would you be on a plane to Italy? Alice! Come home now! I order you! Come back now!" I screamed, not knowing how I still had not cracked the delicate phone in between my fingers.

"I had a vision of Edward asking the Volturi to kill him. They declined and now he will force their hand by exposing himself. I need to try to stop him. Bella is with me and we have a chance to stop him before—"

"Alice! You're going to the Volturi! They will kill you when they see Bella! She is evidence that we broke their only law! What are you thinking! Edward would never want you endangering yourself or Bella and you are walking into a death trap. Alice, come back now. If you have ever loved me or cared about this marriage, come back now." My voice faltered as I spoke, my last sentences begging my wife to come back.

"Jasper, I can't. I can't knowing there is a chance we can save Edward." She pleaded with me. She was doing this for our brother, but I did not care. My life was nothing without her. I needed her back.

"Alice, please." I begged. "Wait for us there. We'll get on the next flight to Italy. We can do this together."

"Jasper, there is no time. Edward will be dead by then. He's made a clear decision and only Bella and I even have a chance at stopping him."

"A chance? What do you mean a chance? Alice!" The feelings of helplessness and fear brought me to my knees. There was a chance, a good chance, my wife would not return home. I was speechless and horrified. Only minutes ago I had expected to be comforting my wife, have her in my arms, kissing her…

"Jasper, I can do this. You have doubted me for so long. I can take care of myself and I'll show you. I'll make it out one way or another. Don't follow me". With that, the call ended.

I pressed redial and the call went to voicemail. I crushed my phone as I heard her voice asking to leave a message.

My wife has left me, abandoned me. How could she? How she could do this to me? She knows she's the only reason I'm still here.

By this time, Esme and Carlisle had heard my screaming from the garage and had overheard the conversation on the phone.

Carlisle approached me slowly, unsure of my temper or my next move.

"Jasper…" Carlisle took a step closer to me and then rushed over as I collapsed on the ground. Esme quickly wrapped her arms around me as the tearless sobs took over my body.

"She left, she left…" I could say no more and stayed in Esme's arms while I overheard Carlisle's somber call to Rosalie and Emmett to tell them the news.

Alice POV

I felt awful knowing I had caused my husband so much pain. I had only expected to go to Forks for a few days, never expecting this to happen. It was different now. Edward's life was at risk.

But Jasper's voice, the way he pleaded with me. This must be killing him. I wanted to go back and be wrapped safely in his arms, but also knew this was my opportunity to show him I can be strong and save someone I love. I hate putting him in this pain, but it will all be worth it, I reasoned, not believing a word of it.

Bella and I finally arrived in Florence and at the most human speed I could manage, left the airport terminal.

"Bella, we need a car. A fast car."

"There's a rental care agency back in the terminal…" She stopped when I shook my head and quickly caught on as we approached the airport parking lot.

"Oh."