***Thanks for all the comments and PM's over the previous chapter. I'm trying to respond back to all of you, but this posting schedule is killin' me! But, you're all worth it!

Carlisle

Esme and I had been in Italy for about a month; touring, sightseeing and researching. We decided to get in a vacation before I started my new job in France. I was excited the rest of the children would be joining us and we would live as a family again. Well, everyone except for Jasper, but that was a situation that just couldn't be helped.

We were here at Alice's request. I had to admit she was a bit cryptic about sending me on this little expedition, but she assured me it was because she didn't want Aro finding out anything that could complicate matters down the line. She knew I could research her question and if the Volturi had any information on this particular subject, I'd find it.

I was rather curious as to why she wanted to know if a vampire could be mated to a human. It was an interesting concept. She wouldn't give me much information; only that it would happen to one of my children. By process of elimination, I narrowed it down to Edward, Alice or Jasper. But, when I presented my question to Aro, I just told him Esme and I were curious about vampire history and we were here in Italy trying to explore our roots. I didn't need Edward's gift to know he didn't buy it. But, because of our long history, he humored me.

I hoped once I gained my answers, Alice would let me in on her visions.

I couldn't even venture a guess.

Part of me hoped it was Edward who would be finding his mate. He'd been the only one of my children who had been alone and it was taking a toll on him. It pained me to watch and I wished there was a way for me to create someone for him the way I had for myself and Rosalie. I didn't think he was fully over what had transpired between him and Bella. I wasn't sure he ever would be. And, for that reason, I had a hard time believing it would be him who fell for a human again.

Alice seemed carefree and at peace with her decision to separate from Jasper. So, that made me wonder if maybe she had seen her mate in a vision and was afraid to pursue him until she knew if it was allowed by the Volturi. She didn't want to set herself up for disaster. It was hard to tell with her though. She seemed to be enjoying her freedom at the moment and was really looking forward to starting a new life in France.

And then there was Jasper, perhaps the most troubling to me out of all of my children. I had failed him on so many levels. I hated that he strayed from our animal drinking way of life. If I had to choose which one of them ended up with a human, it would be Jasper. In my opinion, falling in love and mating with a human just might be the only thing that could save him.

***Remember...it was supposed to be short!