Chapter 7: Explanations

"So;" Alice gives her most dramatic sigh, "I guess I'd better explain why were here"

Bella nods vigorously.

"Well, the first thing I knew about any of this came from a vision I had while we were hunting. The vision was fuzzy in a way, indistinct. You didn't disappear all together like you would with a werewolf, but it seemed like something else was trying to block me." Alice grimaced.

I thought bout how the guards had cloaked their minds from me that day and wonder if there is a common cause, but decided to wait until Alice had explained everything first.

"We tried to call but your phone went straight to voicemail each time. So we raced home, but you weren't there and obviously hadn't been since morning. You had taken the car so we couldn't follow your scent and we were trying to think where to start looking first when the police knocked on the door.

They informed us that your car had been found smashed into a tree and both of you had died on impact. Well of course we knew that that couldn't be what really happened but still we put on a good show for the humans. Jasper used his ability to help; he even got Rosalie to have hysterics, which was actually kind of funny."

Alice looked sideways at her husband, who merely smiled. "Well I've always wanted to know if it would work" Jasper shrugs, "and it seemed to be a good time to find out"

"Anyway" Alice continues "At first we weren't sure who had taken you or why although we could guess. We had no proof until we got a trace on your credit card. Hacking the system gave us the delivery address and we knew for sure that the Volturi were behind it. Good idea with the shampoo too- it was a good way of letting us know Bella was safe and with you."

I smile weakly at her, not wanting to admit I hadn't planned that at all.

"I was watching the future more carefully than ever, so we had a few days notice of their arrival. We got the others to go to Denali on a visit and waited for the Guard to come."

Alice is interrupted by Jasper's laughter filling the room.

"Didn't they get a shock? They arrive, expecting a fight and instead they get Alice congratulating them for being exactly on time. Next she sends Afton and Felix to fetch our bags from inside, which they do because they're so confused. I follow Alice to one of the waiting cars and we get in the back.

No one else has moved yet, so Alice calls out to them to send our driver quickly because she doesn't want to be late. If it were possible for vampires, I swear Jane would have had an Aneurism right there."

Jasper chuckles as he shakes his head, sending his honey curls flying. Bella is red in the face with the force of her laughter, gasping to find enough breath. Alice is grinning and I am laughing so hard it's shaking my whole frame. I can see the memory of Jane's face in both my siblings' minds. Her little body totally frozen in outrage, her expression disbelieving and thunderous at once, like she couldn't believe what she was seeing was real.

Bella controls her laughter first and asks the burning question. "If you knew they were coming after you next why didn't you run?"

The grin abruptly leaves Alice's face. "A number of reasons, Dmitri for a start" She obfuscates.

I can see what she doesn't say though. Remembered visions flood her mind.

The whole family being dragged to Volterra and used as hostages.

Myself injured, trying to provoke Aro into kill me.

Jasper fighting the guard and loosing under the weight of numbers.

Bella, pale, malnourished and bruised lying on the floor of a concrete cell.

Esme heartbroken at losing another child.

Carlisle destroyed by those he had once called friends.

Jasper wraps his arm around Alice reassuring her. "When we planned to run Alice couldn't see any paths that didn't lead to our family loosing someone. So we decided to stay."

Alice took up the story. "Once that was decided the future shifted. I've seen us all together again, far away from here. But I don't know how or when."

This vision is brighter than the others. The eight of us are gathered in a spacious living area, talking and laughing in a seemingly perfect family moment.

Bella smiles sadly. "I hope it's soon. I'm so tired of these rooms."

My arms wrap themselves around her, trying to offer her comfort and I press my lips to her hair. I can see how being in this cage, despite its gilding, is dulling her spirit. Alice shoots me a venomous look.

"Were you told she had to stay in your rooms?"

I shake my head no.

"So what, you've let her stay stuck in here for ELEVEN DAYS?"

Jasper can feel my unhappiness about the situation and he lays a hand on her arm, preventing her from jumping out of her seat. Bella interjects loudly "Don't yell at him Alice, you know this isn't his fault!"

Alice has the decency to look a little ashamed, but I can hear she is still waiting for an explanation.

"We are also allowed out into the city under guard, but not together as a precaution against escape attempts. You know how dangerous that would be for Bella alone with other vampires, those who don't usually try and control their thirst. You've said it yourself how delectable she smells to our kind!" A bitter laugh escapes me. "We are free to move about the castle, but where would we go?"

Alice nods her head "I'm sorry Edward. It just makes me mad to see Bella looking so listless."

I show her my agreement with her thought using one of our secret signals. They were something we had worked out between just us years ago and not even the rest of the family knew that we communicated this way.

"I'm sorry" Alice speaks out loud for the benefit of Bella and Jasper. Her eyes un-focus for a tiny moment

"Ah!" she beams, "Bella, I'm going to take you shopping tomorrow! I've seen it."

Alice speaks firmly, clearly expecting Bella's normal objections. As always though, my angel is full of surprises.

"I can't believe I'm going to say this" she sighs, "and I may never say it again. Alice, I would love to go shopping with you."

Jasper and I laugh, unable to stop ourselves. Alice gives us a look of mock offence and jumps off the couch.

"Lets go see what you need Bella. Where's your wardrobe?"

I free Bella from my stone arms and she leads Alice to the walk-in.

While they are busy, I fill Jasper in on our side of the story. I speak quietly and at vampire speed, knowing Bella can't hear me but Alice can. I'm not trying to hide anything from her, but she doesn't need a reminder of our experiences and it's faster this way.

Jasper considers the possibilities for escape. Like me he quickly concludes that it will be very difficult.

Our main obstacle is Aro's power. If we somehow get around him then Dmitri will be sent to track us. Only Alice's vision keeps me from believing there is no way of escape at all.

I am hoping Jasper with his military training will find the solution because after eleven days of thought I have nothing. There can be no help from the outside. The Volturi are too strong for our family alone, even with help from our Denali cousins.

No-one else would join them in the fight either, even if they believed us. Fighting against the Volturi is tantamount to suicide.

Jasper flinches in his seat as the despair I have been trying to deny rushes to the surface. My fingers pinch the bridge of my nose, an unconscious reaction to stress.

"There is a way out Edward. Or are you willing to bet against Alice?" He silently asks.

I shake my head slowly, both as an answer to his question and a futile attempt to clear my mind.

"Edward!"

Bella squeals loudly from the closet. I am at her side instantly, searching for the source of her alarm. Relief washes over me when I realise its only Alice and a pair of strappy blue heels. Bella hides herself behind me.

"Please tell Alice that she can't make me wear them tomorrow" she whispers, stretching up on her toes to reach my ear. I pretend to think about it for a moment.

"please, please, please!"

Alice thinks as loudly as she can.

"Edward" my love begs.

"Sorry Alice." my tiny sister pouts at me.

"It's just not safe with all those cobbled streets out there" I explain trying to appease her a little. Bella throws her arms around my neck in thanks. I reach behind myself pulling her up onto my back and carry her piggy-back into the living room.

I deposit Bella safely on the loveseat as Alice comes through the doors, trying to look as if she might cry so she can get her way.

Seeing her small form entering the room alone reminds me of something I noticed when she had been brought before Aro.

None of the Guard had seemed willing to go near her.

I hadn't thought about it at the time, too distracted by their presence and Jasper's situation. My eyes follow her as she settles herself onto the lounge once more.

"Alice, why would none of the guard go near you earlier?"

She shrugs.

"That was me" Jasper answers softly.

"I was deflecting the fear Alice had felt at them whenever they went near her. They learnt not to by the time we got to the castle."

Alice curls herself into his side, for once not making a point about being able to defend herself. "There's something very wrong about Felix; his emotions are twisted somehow. He had better not come near Alice again." Jasper muses to himself.

I nod slightly to him, confirming his silent suspicions. My brother meets my eyes, his gaze hard now as he feels my animosity for Felix.

"Fill me in tomorrow when the girls are out?" I nod again.

Alice is telling Bella all the things that have been happening in Forks since our "deaths."

Apparently a combined memorial service held for us was very moving and well attended. Bella's family were doing ok all things considered.

Phil had taken a shattered Renee back to Florida a few days after the funeral.

Sue Clearwater was around at Charlie's a lot, cleaning, cooking and making sure he actually ate. Alice and Esme had visited him a few times, seeing that he wasn't doing so well when he was alone.

My family was well apart from being worried about us and keeping up the show of mourning for the humans.

Carlisle has let the hospital and school know that the family was planning to shift soon, it being "too much" for them to stay in Forks after the tragedy so no-one would be surprised when they disappeared.

As the sun lowers toward the horizon Bella begins preparing her evening meal and Alice helps her.

Our discussion shifts back to the Volturi.

Jasper wants to know everything I have learnt so far about the workings of the Guard so I toss him the manual that Alec had given me to read.

Alice is chopping up vegetables for a stir-fry as she follows the conversation between her mate and I.

"I've never really resented my ability like both of you have at times. My visions aren't as intrusive I suppose" She muses aloud.

"But it does seem silly now! I mean the Guard wouldn't even want us if it wasn't for our extra talents."

"Yes!" I agree with Alice

"I mean hearing the others thoughts is occasionally helpful but mostly it's just annoying. Generally people think about very little of interest, but I hear it all anyway."

I throw my hands in the air for extra dramatic effect and Jasper snorts at me.

"Try feeling everything around you!

Last year some mopey freshman arrived late for an assembly and the last empty seat was next to me. Well sitting between him and Alice I ended up feeling both joyfully happy and suicidally depressed at the same time.

That's not the worst though. Thanks to my little talent I feel it every time some guy is lusting after Alice."

Now it's my turn to snort.

"At least you don't have to see their fantasies! I don't know which is worse- seeing men's thoughts when they are fantasizing about my girlfriend sisters or mother or seeing women's fantasies about my father, brothers and myself!"

Alice bursts into laughter at my outburst. I growl at her but she takes no notice. Bella giggles too as she sits down at the counter to eat her meal, but at least I can tell she feels sorry for me.

Bella plays with her food as she eats slowly occasionally biting her bottom lip. I wonder what she is thinking. I seem to spend a lot of time trying wondering about her thoughts actually.

Even after knowing her this long, I still find it strange not hearing her like I do everyone else. Bella says she tells me everything anyway, but I know she edits.

I shift so that I am standing next to her as she eats and rub her shoulders gently.

"What are you thinking of Love?" I speak softly into her ear.

"I'm just wondering" Bella mumbles. I wait for her to continue.

"It's nothing really" she tries to insist.

We just look at her, still waiting. Her cheeks flush, the ruby hue spreading to cover her whole face.

I love watching her blush.

"Ok already!" Bella nearly shouts at us.

"I was wondering if Aro has any idea just how annoying it can be to live with the three of you!"

We laugh at her outburst; she sounds like Rosalie on one of her bad days.

Bella scowls at us "Seriously though. Everyone has secrets they would like to keep but they can't with you three about. Either you 'hear' it"

she pokes a finger at me.

"Or you 'see' it"

she points to Alice who is cleaning up after their cooking.

"Or you"

Bella waves her hand at Jasper, who is still sitting on the lounge

"make a person feel all warm, fuzzy and confiding until they spill!"

We three grin back at her.

"But you love us anyway!" Alice almost sings the words.

Bella rolls her eyes. "Yes I do, but sometimes I doubt my sanity."

Soon it will be time for my evening's duties. As always the prospect of leaving Bella alone here causes anxiety to swell within me and I frown. Jasper sends me a wave of relaxation.

"You must go soon?" I nod to him.

"Don't worry. Alice and I will watch over her until you are back.

Now we are here one of us should be able to be with Bella at all times. No harm will come to our sister if we can prevent it."

My own relief floods me and I smile my thanks to him.

I change swiftly while Bella washes her dishes. Alice and Jasper wander out to look over the courtyard, tactfully giving us a few minutes alone before I have to leave.

Bella has just put away the last item when I wrap my arms around her. She turns in my grasp and stretches up for a kiss.

Her hands tangle in my hair as our lips meet. With one arm I lift her up and she wraps her legs around me without breaking the kiss.

Pulling away for air, my Angel rests her head on my shoulder. I hold her as close is physically possible, immersing myself in her scent and presence.

One small hand rubs the back of my neck and the other comes to rest against my chest. Bella begins to whisper to me and I revel in the sound of her voice, in the nonsensical endearments and reminders of her love for me.
I murmur back, speaking her name into her hair, trying to convey feelings so intense I have no words to describe them.

Too quickly the time is gone. I put my love down on her feet and kiss her lips lightly. She touches my cheek and smiles into my eyes strengthening me for the hours ahead.

I take up my cloak and leave our rooms as reluctantly as always but with the comfort of knowing she is not alone this time.

AN: Thanks for reading and for the reviews (hint, hint!) Feel free to pm or leave any suggestions you have! Hopefully the next update will be a little quicker; I had some issues with this one- I knew what I wanted to say but it didn't always come out right the first time.