Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

A/N: We are completely blown away by the response this story is getting and are so thankful for all of you. We really hope you enjoy this chapter, CoveredInGlitter worked very hard on this.


Chapter 2:

The Cullens, much to Jasper's displeasure, headed home to discuss a strategic plan and to hunt before heading off to Volterra. They had dropped Bella off home as much as she protested that she wanted to help. Edward insisted that it was too dangerous.

"It's too dangerous, love. I know you wish to help but I will not put you in danger once again as I so foolishly did when I went to Volterra." He stated, gently, fingers caressing her cheek.

"Don't go please…I almost lost you…"she pleaded, biting her lip. She felt selfish for asking him to stay but as she thought of her time in Volterra with him, Jane torturing him simply with her mind, she couldn't bear to have that happen to him again.

Edward smiled that crooked smile that always dazzled her and cupped her cheek with one hand.

"I will return to you, love. I promise. This is my fault; Jasper is angry with me because I put my sister, his wife, in danger. I must go with him now to get her back. He can't do this alone."

Bella sighed, "Promise me."

He leaned down to kiss her, passionately, lips gently moving with her own as she grasped his neck.

As he pulled away, she refused to let go so he gently disentangled her arms from around his neck before taking her two hands in his own and pressing a kiss to each. "I promise."

Sitting around the dining room table which was only ever used for occasions like this, the Cullen family all began thinking of various plans and which would work best in rescuing Alice. All remained sitting except for Jasper who stood tense, scarred hands clutching the top of the chair where Alice usually sat.

"We need to go now; I am not waiting around while Alice is alone with the Volturi thousands of miles away. I promised myself I'd protect her…"Jasper trailed off, golden eyes swimming with thousands of emotions: pain, sorrow, fury, regret, heartache…

"And what do you propose we do, Jasper? We simply cannot go waltzing into Volturi headquarters and expect them to hand over Alice?" Edward stated, calmly, with his hands clasped together on the table.

That's when, to everyone's surprise, Jasper lashed out at Edward but not before being pulled back by Emmett who held him back as Jasper snapped his razor-sharp teeth at his younger brother whose entire fault it was that his Alice was gone.

Edward refused to meet his fiery gaze, and looked down to stare at his hands clasped on the table, shame and regret emanating off of him. "I'm so sorry, Jasper…It's my fault…"

"You're damn right it is! It's because of you that Alice has been taken. I told you once that if you put her in any danger, I swore I'd make you regret. You haven't a clue of the way I feel about her…" Jasper snapped, viciously, still being restrained by Emmett.

"Easy, Jazz. Calm down, man. We'll get her back." Emmett soothed.

"Let me go, Emmett!" he snapped, furiously, struggling against his strong grasp.

Emmett reluctantly let him go. Jasper went to stand by Alice's chair, clutching the top, determinedly.

"I am going after her. Waiting around and trying to think of plans is a waste of time. The more we wait, the more Alice is in danger. I do not trust the Volturi; I've seen what they are capable of." Jasper concluded, hands clutching the top of Alice's chair so tight that the wood snapped and crumbled in his fingers. Esme showed nothing but concern and sadness for her own son and missing daughter. Standing up, she walked over to her oldest son and enveloped him in a motherly hug. Jasper tensed but accepted.

"Oh Jasper, don't worry, dear. You will get her back. No matter what happens, I know you will be with her again soon. Edward and the others will help you get her back. Have faith, my dear." She said, running a hand through his messy blonde locks. She usually never did this with him but right now he needed her gentle, motherly touch. Squeezing his eyes shut, he nodded. Pain and overwhelming sorrow rolled off of him in waves and was starting to affect the whole family. Esme gasped and put a hand to her mouth feeling her son's raw pain at losing his other half as she pulled him closer to her chest.

The room was suddenly engulfed in silence as Esme silently sobbed into her son's golden locks. Carlisle walked up to her and put an arm around her waist as she let go of her son, to let her husband envelop her into his warm and caring embrace. Carlisle held his wife with one arm wrapped around her while putting a hand on Jasper's shoulder, reassuringly.

"Jasper, I'm sorry…so sorry…" Rosalie stated, genuinely feeling guilty as Emmett held her hand on the table. She gripped his strong hand. She couldn't imagine living without him and she could only guess what Jasper was going through right now without Alice.

Jasper's hands were clenched into tight fists as he fought to compose himself. He couldn't break down in front of his family; he was supposed to be the strongest of them after all. Carlisle released his shoulder to hug his sobbing wife to his chest. Jasper's body began to shake as he could no longer contain himself, quietly crying for breaking his promise to Alice, his beautiful little pixie whom he had sworn to always love and protect from the day she set foot in that diner and took his hand, saving him from his hellish past and neverending loneliness, showing him an alternate way of life with her where he could be happy and where he was loved. "Alice…I'm so sorry, love. I failed to protect you like I promised I would…I am truly unworthy of you" he silently thought to himself in aguish. His despair was so great that poor Rosalie stood up and walked over to him, embracing him in a silent hug, whispering over and over, "I'm so sorry, Jasper. I am so sorry…so sorry…" she mumbled on and on, trying to keep a hold of herself and for Jasper's sake.

For a while, it was silent, the silence pierced by Esme and Jasper's quiet sobs, until Carlisle cleared his throat.

"We can't just go like this, Jasper. We need some sort of plan. I know you're worried about Alice; we all are, but I assure you that the Volturi will do her no harm. I've lived with them long enough to know they will not hurt her." Carlisle stated, firmly.

"I say we storm their little palace and take them down!" Emmett enthused.

"That's a suicide mission." Rosalie spoke, scolding him as she held onto Jasper. "This whole situation is my fault. If I hadn't have told Edward about Alice's vision, she'd still be here right now as would Bella and Edward. Now that she is with the Volturi and seeing since I am to blame, I will do anything to bring my sister back."

"No way, Rose. You're staying here." Emmett stated, protectively, as she glared at him.

"Storming their headquarters will not work with the Volturi. What we need is some sort of negotiation." Edward stated.


Cold…darkness…emptiness…was all she could feel as she stood alone in her chambers on the north side of the building where not a ray of sunlight poured in through the small window. The curtains were drawn, engulfing the room in complete darkness….darkness and cold and emptiness like at that place where they kept her throughout her childhood years, shut away from the world, quarantined like some dangerous disease. Silent sobs shook her tiny frame, trying to hold onto that small glimmer of hope that Jasper-her beloved, beautiful Jasper would come and save her.

"He won't come, you know…" a deep, sure voice, hinted by a British accent startled her out of her thoughts.

"I am afraid I do not know who you are talking about…"

Demetri slowly approached until he was standing right behind her, cool breath whispering in her ear.

"Oh, I think you do..."

She shivered but not out of pleasure like when Jasper's cool, sweet breath blew over her.

"I am talking of one Jasper Hale…your husband if I am correct?" he stated, suddenly wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer.

Startled, she tried to pull away but his grip was strong, firm. She elbowed him from behind but he simply laughed.

"Let me go, otherwise Aro shall hear of this!" she threatened as she continued to struggle as he held on tight.

To her shock and horror, Demetri let out a loud laugh. "Aro does not particularly care what I do with you…He thinks that it would be in fact lovely for you to have a mate whilst you are here…permanently. Seeing since I do not have one…"he stated slipping his ice cold fingers underneath her shirt to stroke her tummy. His touch was nothing like Jasper's warm, gentle and loving touch. She finally managed to pull herself away and slapped him, while her black as pitch eyes flared.

"I do not need you as my mate, I do not care what you or Aro think. I have a mate, a perfect one and I do not or ever will need someone as vile as you." She spat, lips curling over her teeth in a snarl. "And for your information, my Jasper will come for me and he most certainly will not be pleased with you or your actions."

Demetri let out another low laugh, "If your Jasper does come for you, what good will that do you? Might as well as get over him, move on seeing since you are now a permanent member of the Volturi guard. You should be quite pleased with yourself." And without another word, he left her chambers.

Alice slumped against the hard stonewall, small frame beginning to rack with tiny tremors and quiet, tearless sobs.

"Jazz…" she cried quietly, as she gazed at the golden band adorned with a single ruby heart and studded with tiny white diamonds. The beautiful and one of a kind ring he had given her on their wedding day. Despite her anguish, she smiled at the memory.

He looked so handsome and breathtakingly beautiful, the sunlight sparkling off the visible skin on his face and hands as he walked proudly down the aisle inside the little church where they were to be wed today.

The large stained glass windows sent splotches of rainbow colored brilliance across the tiled, stone church floor. She stood at the end of the aisle by the grand piano Edward was softly playing as background music, looking the image of an angel adorned in layers of white silk and lace. Her strapless dress and veil fanned out on the spotlessly clean church floor Esme had taken great care to polish before the wedding. Her veil hid her smiling face and her short hair was adorned in tiny white and blue flowers, periwinkles. Her heart swelled for Jasper as he walked proudly down the aisle like a soldier emanating nothing but love and happiness to be blessed by finally becoming his wife on this very day. He didn't think he'd ever get this lucky; much to his surprise, she didn't think so either.

He always thought he was a monster, flawed with zillions of scars and tainted by his shameful past with Maria, his creator. Alice never once showed any shame or fear or disgust with him. Instead, whenever she looked at him and his flawed skin, his unruly curly blonde hair, his beautiful golden eyes, she only saw beauty and strength. Strength to withstand anything and to protect her which he vowed to do since the day she set foot in that diner on that fateful rainy day in Philadelphia. He had gone through everything, through hell and back, always carrying the weight of his past on his shoulders. Never did he imagine that he would be standing here today in front of this angel who loved him unconditionally and saved him in every sense of the word, ready to make her his forever. To say that he felt lucky and unworthy was an understatement but he loved her, sometimes more than she loved him he'd like to think.

He smiled at her that dazzling smile she adored when he stopped in front of her as she turned to face him. The priest droned on but Jasper's thoughts were only on her.

"Do you know how absolutely beautiful you look today?" he whispered.

If Alice could blush, her cheeks would be like the pale pink roses she held in her hand.

They said their vows and the priest pronounced them husband and wife. Then Jasper uncovered her veil and leaned down, capturing his lips with hers, moving them slowly and gently against his own. His family erupted into cheers and clapping and if Esme could cry, she would have.

When the first dance came, he took her hand and placed the other on her tiny waist. They danced to the music of Edward's piano, lost in each other.

"I'm so happy, Jazz. I can't believe we finally made it. You know you've kept me waiting a long time," she smiled.

"I'm sorry; Ma'am." He chuckled, following the script before leaning down to capture her lips in his once more, pulling her closer to him.

"I say we ditch the dance and the reception and go on our honeymoon. I can't wait to be with you for the first time." She stated as they broke apart.

He twirled her once before bringing her spinning into his arms again. "As much as I can't wait to make you mine, we have to follow protocol darlin'."

She frowned and pouted and Jasper laughed. He picked her up so she was straddling his waist and twirled her around the dance floor as she giggled.

"Jazz, I'm getting dizzy." She laughed as he chuckled, stopping as the song ended, and setting her down gently on her feet.

She stared at the wooden platform that was brought out as a dance floor just outside of their house. She was deep in thought as she felt Jasper's lips on her hair and then felt his sweet, cool breath against her ear. "What are you thinking about, darlin'?"

Smiling, she brought her gaze to meet his, feeling nothing but love and bliss rolling off of him in waves. Love for her, and if she had a heart, it'd be melting into the floor just now.

"Nothing, just…"she sighed. "can we ditch this and go off on our honeymoon?" she pouted, biting her lip.

Chuckling, he stated, "Impatient, are we?"

"Just a little," she said, shyly.

Chuckling, he took her tiny hand and led her off the dance floor to say farewell to everyone before going to grab their luggage and heading to the little cottage they had made their own whilst looking for the Cullen's, and that was hidden in the woods of Canada.

The flight didn't last long, a few hours and they had found themselves standing on the stone step of their cozy little cottage.

"Aren't you supposed to carry the bride over the threshold?" she teased him, setting her luggage down.

"How could I have forgotten?" he picked her up, swung open the wooden door that creaked with age and carried her inside, setting her gently down on the couch before going to get their luggage. In the meantime, she started a little fire on the wooden logs that were still there to make the place more homely.

As she was dusting the table in the sitting room with a feather duster, Jasper came up to her from behind, and before she knew it, she was cradled against his arms and being carried over to their queen sized bed in the only other room in the cottage.

She giggled as he laid her down gently before climbing over her and leaning down to kiss her lip, careful to keep his weight off her.

She pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. Jasper trailed little kisses down her neck and collarbone as she pulled off his gray sweater and began undoing the buttons of his flannel white shirt.

She gasped as she took notice of the many scars that adorned his chest and torso for the first time.

Shocked, Jasper pulled his lips from her neck and stared at her in horror. He had forgotten about the scars and the fact that though she may have seen the ones adorning his arms and face, she had not seen the worst that was his chest and torso. Before she could react, he quickly climbed off of her and began buttoning up his shirt.

Horrified, Alice sat up, topaz eyes reflecting pain.

"Jazz…"

"I'm sorry; you shouldn't have seen, I mean you should never have to see the hideous monster that I am," he said, ducking his head in shame.

Alice was suddenly pulling his face to meet her worried gaze. "Jazz, you are not a monster…please, these scars do not make me fearful or disgusted with you like you may think. Never, Jazz…"

"Alice, please." Jasper pulled away from her and walked over to the window where the snow was falling and shimmering in the fading sunset.

Pulling his sweater on, he stepped out the door, without another look at her.

Alice was hurt.

As soon as he'd gone, she sat on the bed and cried silently.

Jasper returned in only an hour's time as the night began to descend over the forest beyond. When he saw her tiny body shaking slightly with her quiet cries, he felt horrible and he instantly regretted hurting her like he just did and knelt beside his wife, hiding his face in shame on her knees. He kissed her knee softly, his eyes closed as he let out an unnecessary breath, shame and guilt and pain rolling off of him.

"Alice, love, I'm so sorry. I didn't think…I didn't mean to hurt you like that…"

"How could you even think for a minute that I do not love you even with the scars? Haven't I already proved that you are worthy of my love when I married you today and became your wife for eternity?" she stated, voice pained.

He looked up into her sad, beautiful golden eyes.

"I know, darlin.' I know, and I am so sorry for doubting you. Please forgive me…I just thought, since you hadn't seen…"he trailed off, feeling ashamed.

She pulled away from him and curled herself on their bed.

"Alice, please, love…"he pleaded with her silently, standing up. "It's our honeymoon; we shouldn't be fighting."

She didn't say anything and Jasper could feel his undead heart break.

"What would it take for me to prove to you that I am not and never will be afraid, ashamed or disgusted with you or your scars?"

"You gasped when you saw me…"

She suddenly sat up, facing him. "Oh Jazz, I'm sorry; it wasn't meant in the way you think…I was only saddened by what you went through. About what that horrible woman did to you."

Jasper shook his head. "Let's not think about what happened in the past. Let's just enjoy the time we have now. It is our honeymoon after all and the last thing we should be doing is fighting. I'm so sorry I left."

Alice bit her lip and stood up, walking over to him. "Never doubt my love for you again," she stated, not in a mean way but rather as a statement not to be argued with.

"Never."

And he picked her up and brought them back down on their bed, once more on top of her. Her fingers stroked through his blonde locks as he leaned down, capturing her lips once more. She pulled him closer and began unbuttoning his shirt before helping him to slip it off and tossing it carelessly to the floor. Her fingers danced and traced scars as he placed little kisses all along her neck and collarbone. He pulled off her shirt and kissed all along her stomach and she sighed, in content, stroking his hair gently.

"Jazz…look at me…" she moaned, slightly. He brought her gaze to meet his and gold met gold.

He moved his lips to brush against the inside of her wrist as her fingers stroked his cheek. He smiled at her and she beamed before she flipped them over and began to lightly and lovingly kiss each scar. She kissed one particular nasty one that stood out on the right side of his chest below his nipple and going to his abdomen. He sighed, contentedly, in bliss and awe of his little pixie angel.

They made love throughout the night; Jasper taking his time and being extra careful and gentle with her even after she insisted that she was not some china doll about to break.

The next morning, the warm sunshine streamed in, lighting the room in a soft yellow glow. Jasper's beautiful, smiling face was all that held her attention though. He then leaned down to kiss his wife for the first of many kisses they would share that day.

Alice came out of her memory, smile disappearing as she became aware of her surroundings and realized where she was. She didn't have a clue when Jasper and her would be together again but she knew he'd come for her soon. Until then, the distant but happy memories would have to do to keep her sane in this cold and lonely place amongst the Volturi guard and the ever-persistent Demetri.