Author Note: All recognizable characters are the property of SM.

Chapter 2

I couldn't believe that just the other day we were racing to Volterra. It seemed like so much had changed since then. I almost preferred standing in front of the Volturi to this awkwardness.

Alice slowly walked toward me and took a seat at the end of the sofa, curling her legs up and facing me. I sat up and mirrored her position.

"I guess you saw that happening, or at least heard what I said to him. Did everyone else hear it as well?" I asked embarrassed and wondering how much I would eventually put this family through.

"No. When Edward felt you were about to wake up, he asked for privacy, and we all left the house. I didn't come in here to talk to you about visions I've seen or to talk to you as Edward's sister, though. I just thought you could use a best friend," Alice said, smiling timidly.

After not seeing her for so many months, I was taken aback by how beautiful she was. Of course she was; all of the Cullens were eternally beautiful. After all the drama of the last three days, Alice looked as perfect as ever. Unkempt and unwashed for days, I was embarrassed to sit across from her.

"You must think I'm crazy. All I've wanted for so long has been for Edward to come back to me, and now that he's here, I may be throwing all of that away. I love him; I truly do, but . . ."

I suddenly couldn't make myself say the same words I had said to Edward.

"Maybe it's not enough," she sadly finished for me. Her frown seemed so out of place on her usually grinning face.

"Maybe it isn't. I can't constantly be left behind or sheltered from helping to make decisions—decisions that concern me. I spent so much of my life taking care of my parents that, at first, it was nice the way Edward would make all the decisions. Finally, someone was taking care of me. However, I realized I don't need to be taken care of."

I was angry just thinking about it. While in the time we had been together, I had certainly required some saving, that in no way made me a helpless damsel.

"I need a boyfriend, a partner—someone who will see me as an equal. I'm afraid he can't give that to me. No matter how much he loves me."

We both sat silently for a moment, contemplating what I might be saying.

"If Edward and I aren't . . ." I nearly choked on the words, "us . . . together . . . anymore, what then?"

I started to nervously wring my hands and bite at my lip. "Will you leave again? Regardless of what happens with Edward, I don't want to lose you again," I said, starting to panic.

I couldn't help the tears that were spilling over my cheeks. Alice looked like she would be crying, too, if she were able.

"Have you . . . have you seen anything?"

"In the short term, I can't give too much away. I need to make sure you're making your own decisions," she said, shaking her head. "What I can say is that the vision I've always had of you becoming one of us is still there. My visions can change, but what will never change is our friendship. I left you—stupidly—at Edward's insistence. That will never happen again. You're stuck with me, Sweetie!"

I couldn't help it. I threw myself at Alice, wrapping my arms around her neck and deeply breathing in her cotton candy and peaches scent.

"I could never be stuck with you. You're the sister I've always wanted. I'm so glad you're back, and I hope you mean it when you say you won't leave, no matter what happens with Edward."

Alice pushed me back and held me at arm's length, regarding me seriously. "Bella, my promises are binding, and nothing could ever come between us. Always remember that."

I nodded and wiped the tears from my face as Alice dropped her hold on my arms and relaxed back into the sofa.

"What about the rest of the family? I don't want to see anyone uncomfortable because of me. You shouldn't have to choose between wanting to be near your best friend and the comfort of your mate."

Alice shook her head in disagreement. "You worry too much. The family loves you. Carlisle and Esme already see you as their daughter, and that's because of who you are to them, not who you are to Edward. You know how much Emmett sees you as his little sister. I know you haven't spent that much time with Jasper, but that will change in the future, and you will see how much you mean to him as well. And Rosalie, well . . ."

"We don't need to talk about Rosalie." I laughed, breaking some of the tension in the room. "The rest of the family is good enough."

"She'll come around eventually. Honestly, don't worry about us. That is so like you to be surrounded by a family of vampires and worry that you are making us uncomfortable. And, about me and my . . . well, me and Jasper, there are some things you should know," Alice said, looking worried.

"I assure you that I never blamed Jasper for what happened on my birthday. Nothing was his fault, and what happened was a natural reaction. I hope he knows that. I hope he could feel that I didn't harbor any resentment toward him," I said in a rush.

Alice held up her hand to stop me. "Again, there are some things you should know about Jasper. You don't know much about him, namely because Edward didn't want him to be close to you. Jasper doesn't have the lack of control the other family members think. In fact, other than Carlisle, he has been interacting with humans longer than anyone in the family. He's even changed several humans without killing them, something that isn't that easy to do."

"What? When did that happen? Where are those vampires now?"

I couldn't believe that Edward wouldn't share something like this with me. Well, on second thought, I could believe it; anything about changing was taboo.

"That was before he and I met," she continued, "but we'll get to that soon enough. More importantly than how Jasper reacts to random humans, he's never had any problems around you: not on our way to Phoenix, in the hotel, or in the ballet studio where you were bleeding profusely. Emmett and Rosalie had to leave after being in the room for a couple minutes, and I'm ashamed to admit that Carlisle even had to tell me to hold my breath," she said, averting her gaze.

"Alice." I grabbed her hand to reassure her that one moment of bloodlust meant nothing to me.

"Then what happened at my birthday party?"

"When you cut your finger, Jasper was dealing with the thirst and desire of every vampire in the room. And, you are Edward's singer. That would have been a lot of bloodlust thrown at him. However, things happened so fast to your eyes, there's no way you could have correctly judged Jasper's actions. I promise you, he was not the greatest threat to your safety that night. Soon you'll know the truth, but it isn't my place to tell you. I hope that's okay."

I sighed. "While I'm tired of secrets, I learned a while ago not to bet against you. I trust you," I said, moving closer to her on the couch and laying my head on the back of it.

"I'm sorry for keeping you awake, but I promise these things are important to know, and you need to learn them tonight."

Alice started to look around the room, out the window, at anything other than me.

"When I had the vision of you jumping off the cliff—what I thought was you committing suicide—I was devastated. Not only was my best friend gone, but you died thinking we didn't want you. I don't remember anything from my human life, and as an immortal, I've never had to deal with grief. I've never felt so much pain, but I wasn't alone in it. I was shocked by the depth of Jasper's grief for you."

She finally turned to look at me. "I know it wasn't only because of his ability to feel my pain. It also wasn't simply because of any guilt he had from his role in Edward and the rest of the family leaving. Things aren't always as they seem . . ." Alice trailed off hesitantly.

"Because you should also know that Jasper and I aren't mates."

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Author Note: Thank you so much for reading. Please, let me know what you thought by leaving a review. This will be my last update before the holidays. I will also be having a baby at the start of January and will be taking a couple weeks of fan fiction maternity leave.