The Twilight universe belongs to the Awesomely Awesome Stephenie Meyer.

Okay I hope I did this chapter Justice, I had a plan for it and it kinda built from there. as crazy as it sounds Alice is bopping around in my head and very seldom has a quiet moment, (I became Insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity, E. A. Poe) who can blame her though she's about to get a story of her own.

Thank you for your reviews, as always you guys Rock it.

Chapter Two - The Party

After catching up with the wrapping and the plan that we were going to put the stereo into poor unsuspecting Bella's truck, we were finally ready. Emmett was going to be installing the radio. He was quick and always did a good job with the wires.

Edward and I would be giving Bella our gift last, we were excited about the CD, so we wanted her reaction to be big. We knew that Esme and Carlisle's gift was going to go over well because she hadn't seen Renee since she'd left the hospital in Phoenix, and I knew that she hated that the reunion had been on such uncomfortable terms.

"Where are they, Alice?" Rose asked. Her hand was on her hip and she was feigning impatience. She just wanted to see Bella's reaction to their gift, no matter how vehemently she denied it.

"They're in Bella's truck Rose, be patient." I sighed as I made sure everything was in it's rightful place. I wanted a smile from Bella, not the scowl and frown she'd worn all day at school.

"I'm bored."

"Rose." Emmett whispered in her ear gently. "Behave."

"Alright, I'm sorry."

I looked at Jasper, he was unusually quiet tonight, I had just noticed his silence because of the lull in conversation. I headed towards him smiling, but as I got closer I realized what I had forgotten to do.

"Jasper, I am so sorry. I promised you didn't I." I lifted my hand and gently stroked the dark circles under his eyes. They were a little bit darker than they should have been. I hadn't gone hunting with him, like he'd asked me to. I knew it was harder for him to be around Bella than the rest of us, and I'd just put him in the most awkward of situations.

"It's okay," he smiled brightly and kissed my forehead gently. "I'm sure it'll be fine."

I shook my head sadly and rested it on his shoulder, his hand swept up to the middle of my back and he rubbed gently, soothing me. I didn't deserve that, but Jasper was a loving man, and I couldn't step away from him when he was being so affectionate.

"They're here." Carlisle said pacing into the room.

I couldn't move myself away from Jasper, I felt like I had neglected him. "Go on, Alice. You arranged this thing baby."

"I'll wait," I smiled up at him tentatively. He returned the smile, which helped me relax a little. I hated to see him uncomfortable.

As the two of them entered the door, I let the grin out. I was looking for a reaction to the hard work Esme and I had put into making this special for her. Edward pulled her towards him briefly and kissed the top of her head. It suddenly dawned on me how daunting this all was to Bella, I had to get her out of this frame of mind. Especially if she wanted to join this family, being a wallflower was not an option.

Esme stepped forward and hugged her gently, kissing her briefly on the forehead. The maternal smile never leaving her soft features. As she stepped away Carlisle wrapped his arm around her should and grinned. "Sorry about this, Bella, we couldn't rein Alice in."

I rolled my eyes and laughed along with them, it was true I did have a proficiency with this type of thing, and we never had much occasion to throw a party before. Bella's gaze moved around the room to Rosalie and Emmett.

"You haven't changed at all," Emmett was mocking disappointment but the huge grin stayed plastered to his face. "I expected a perceptible difference, but here you are, red-faced just like always."

"Thanks a lot, Emmett," Bella's cheeks grew a deeper shade of red, but her smile was faultless.

Emmett stepped around the group and laughed, "I have to step out for a second" — He winked at me conspicuously — "don't do anything funny while I'm gone."

"I'll try,"

I let go of Jasper's hand and stepped forward, the grin was now plastered to my face. I couldn't help myself. Bella smiled genuinely at Jasper behind me. "Time to open presents," I announced happily, and I guided Bella towards the table that held the cake and presents.

"Alice, I told you I didn't want anything—"

I cut her off, "But I didn't listen, open it." I said pulling the camera from her hands and replacing it with the empty stereo box. I had arranged she open the box while Emmett installed it, he was happy about that.

Bella read the tag on the top of the box and sighed lightly and she pulled the wrapping away. She stared at the empty box she held in her hands, a complete look of confusion filled her eyes as she tried to see what it was. She opened it to figure out the mystery, but the box was empty.

"Um . . . Thanks."

I heard Jasper laughing behind me, "It's a stereo for your truck," he said happily. "Emmett's installing it right now so you can't return it."

I grinned at Bella as she shook her head at me, smiling. I'd won and she knew it.

"Thanks, Jasper, Rosalie." she said grinning. "Thanks, Emmett!" she said a little louder. Emmett's laugh came flowing into the house from the meadow outside, Bella laughed too.

"Open mine and Edward's next." I could hear the shrillness of my tone, but I could no longer contain my excitement. I held out the small, flat, silver square. Bella turned to Edward, "You promised,"

Emmett bounded happily into the room, cutting off any answer Edward was about to give her. "Just in time!" he added, as he squeezed in behind Jasper, who I hadn't noticed had gotten a little closer in the anticipation.

"I didn't spend a dime." Edward told her brushing a strand of hair from her face. Bella inhaled a large, over-exaggerated breath, and turned to me. "Give it to me," she sighed.

I grinned and heard Emmett chuckle across the room. Bella took the package and rolled her eyes, she stuck her finger under the paper and slid it along the edge under the tape. The instant she did this, my mind clouded over with red and I saw Jasper charging. I drew a sharp breath, but before I could do a thing Bella had a drop of blood on her finger and Jasper was launching himself in her direction.

"No," Edward yelled, and threw himself at Bella, she fell across the table knocking the crystal plates and cake to the floor with her. She landed hard in the shattered shards as Jasper slammed into Edward at full impact causing the windows to tremble at the deafening blow. Jasper was snarling and fighting to get past Edward with every little bit of strength he had, his teeth bared and snapping inches from Edward's face. I was frozen in what could have been interpreted as shock. My feet wouldn't move. I had never seen Jasper when his blood lust had taken over, he was always so controlled when we hunted. . . When we hunted! This was all my fault. The guilt began gnawing at me, I wanted a black hole to open and swallow me on the spot.

Emmett stepped in and pulled Jasper back holding him in the steely grip of his arms, Jasper continued to struggle and I could see the difference in his eyes, glazed and dead. I was sure this was where the term 'living dead' came from. There was none of the compassionate, loving man in those eyes. This was the bitter truth of our kind, this was what we were.

That was when the smell hit me. The warm, red, inviting blood called to all of us, and it was gushing freely from Bella's new injury, a large, open gash running the length of her arm. I stopped breathing mid breath. I had to keep my mind. The smell lingered in my senses, my body was losing control and it craved what Bella had. My throat became tight, calling out to scarlet liquid that we tried so hard to abstain from.

"Emmett, Rose, get Jasper outside." Carlisle demanded in his most authoritative tone. Emmett, unsmiling nodded as he complied. "Come on, Jasper."

Jasper continued to struggle against Emmett's iron grasp, his eyes still blank as he twisted and struggled against them. I snapped out of whatever had taken over me, holding my breath had meant that the smell was now gone, and I had to focus again. I heard a low and dangerous growl emit from where Bella was still sprawled on the floor, I glanced over quickly. Edward's stance was protective as he leaned over her, his eyes were focused on Jasper.

"I'm so sorry, Bella," Esme cried from the other side of the room. I looked towards where Esme was now holding the door open for Emmett and Rosalie as they struggled to pull Jasper from the house. She followed them out, the shame evident on her soft features.

My chest lurched. Poor Jasper, he wasn't going to take this well when he came around. He always took it badly when he lapsed, but it had never been someone he knew and regarded as family before, and I was sure that he would be inconsolable. If I went to him now, he wouldn't hear reason. I had to let him relax and unwind before he would let me close.

All I could do now was offer my help to Carlisle and Bella. I didn't think I would be able to help for long but I was going to do everything in my power to help as much as possible. I disappeared upstairs and pulled a towel from the linen closet. I knew that this could help control the bleeding a little. I rushed back downstairs where Edward had relaxed his stance and Carlisle was examining the large gash on Bella's arm.

"Here, Carlisle," I said offering the towel.

"Too much glass in the wound." he reached over and ripped a long, thin scrap of material from the table cloth, he twisted it and wound it around Bella's arm as a tourniquet.

Bella's eyes glazed and her nose screwed up. She looked close to fainting.

"Bella, do you want me to drive you to the hospital, or would you like me to take care of it here?"

"Here, please." She whispered weakly.

"I'll get your bag," I said as I disappeared to Carlisle's study. I pulled the lamp from his desk and his bag from beside the door. I headed towards the kitchen and plugged the lamp into the wall and placed his bag on the table. I waited as they brought Bella into the kitchen. They sat her gently in a chair and Carlisle began working.

Edward hovered over the top of her, the look of helplessness he was wearing, made another deep wound of guilt. He wasn't breathing either.

"Just go, Edward." Bella sighed.

"I can handle it," the determination on his face wasn't winning the battle with his thirst, a thirst that would be greater than any of ours. A battle he wanted to win more than any other he had come up against.

"You don't need to be a hero," Bella continued. "Carlisle can fix me up without your help. Get some fresh air." Bella winced, and blinked more than necessary, I couldn't even imagine the discomfort she was feeling.

"I'll stay."

"Why are you so masochistic?" Bella mumbled in reply. She knew as well as we did that Edward's thirst was a big battle for him. He had explained that to her.

"Edward, you may as well go find Jasper before he gets too far." Carlisle stepped in. "I'm sure he's upset with himself, and I doubt he'll listen to anyone but you right now."

"Yes. Go find Jasper." Bella agreed. Once again the girl shocked me, as soon as Jasper's name was mentioned, her concern was directed towards him. I felt a swell of affection for her.

"You might as well do something useful," I added hoping it would be the straw that broke the camels back and he would find my Jasper. I could only imagine what was running through his mind. He was always so gentle, I was almost afraid this would break him. He had a history, most of us did, but he wanted to change and he liked the lifestyle we led. Liking, unfortunately, never made it any easier.

Edward's eyes narrowed and he headed towards the back door, sprinting.

I stood leaning against the counter, talking hadn't been a good idea. I had breathed during those few words and I could feel my throat tighten again. I didn't want to move again until I knew I was under full control of my body. I had never really been all that bad at this lifestyle, because I had known from my first memory that there was an alternative to human blood. But I knew my limitations and I knew that Jasper was hurting.

Bella stared at Carlisle's face, she was avoiding the wound on her arm at all costs. I watched Carlisle as he pulled the glass shards from her arm and placed them in a bowl. I took the opportunity to sneak out, I had to find Jasper, I knew he would have calmed a little now, and he would be waiting for me. As I got to the door I turned to catch Bella watching me. I gave her a small apologetic smile and headed out to find my husband.

I caught up with Jasper and Edward down by the river. Jasper was sat on the ground, his head in his hands. Edward was crouched next to him talking quietly. I approached slowly. Edward heard my thoughts before my footsteps. 'How's he doing?' I asked, stopping a couple of feet away watching. Edward shook his head solemnly.

"Hey Jasper," I said approaching slowly. I nodded at Edward again to let him know it was okay to leave. He stood up and placed a hand on Jasper's shoulder in support.

"Jasper, you can't carry the guilt of this, it could have happened to any of us, it's in our nature." Edward sighed as he pulled his hand away and jogged at human pace back to the house.

I knelt in the grass in front of Jasper and ran my hands down his arms. "This is all my fault, Jasper." I wrapped my arms around him the best could and laid my cheek on the top of his head. I felt his arms move as the wrapped around my waist and pulled me closer. His head fell to my chest and I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered knowing I couldn't make this right, I could feel the emotions flowing from him freely in his desperate state.

"Stop, Alice. It was all me."

I sat back on my feet unwrapping my arms from his neck. I looked into his eyes and shook my head. "I should have gone hunting with you Jasper."

Jasper leaned forward and cupped his hands on either side of my face, never breaking eye contact. I could see the pain etched around his eyes, and my metaphorical heart shattered for him.

"Don't take this on your shoulders, Alice. I could have gone out hunting."

I pulled myself into him and wrapped my arms around his waist. His strong arms wrapped around me and held me to him. I listened to his systematic breathing and closed my eyes. I was trying not to focus on anything but this moment, but Edward was trying to make a decision and the pictures were flying through my mind like a slide show on fast forward.

"How is she?" Jasper asked into my hair.

"Fine, she was a little shocked, but she seems to be taking it a lot better than any of us. I think she was more worried about you."

"Typical Bella, absolutely no regard for self preservation."

I laughed and lay my head on his shoulder, and closed my eyes. We would get through this . . . we had to.