Chapter 7: Guests

Emmett slid into Edward's Volvo.

"I'll bet Mrs Goff thinks you're on drugs, you've been so erratic lately. Where were you today?" Emmett said, slightly exasperated but of course, being Emmett, with a hint of humour to his tone.

"I was...doing good deeds." Emmett looked puzzled, and Edward chuckled. "Caring for the sick, that kind of thing." Emmett looked even more confused but then inhaled.

"Oh. The girl again?"

Edward grimaced, probably in reaction to something Emmett was thinking.

"Tell me about it." Edward mumbled, as he often did, in a quirky way, replying to something no one else could hear. That was one reason why I loved Edward the most as a brother, we were both freaks, with talents for knowing additional things, in a group of people who were already freaks.

"Hmm, she does have quite a flavour doesn't she?" Emmett stated. Edward growled.

"Easy, kid, I'm just saying."

I saw Rosalie walking up and I walked over at a perfectly human speed to join her. Jasper joined us too and together we strolled to the Volvo. Rosalie picked up on the scent and glowered at Edward. I saw the hungry glint in Jasper's eyes when the scent took him. I skipped around to Edward's side and held out my hand expectantly, waiting for the key to Bella's truck.

"I only say that I was. You'll have to tell me the whys."

"This doesn't mean-"

"I know, I know. I'll wait. It won't be long." I said, slightly smug. Edward sighed and handed me the keys. I strolled to Bella's truck, and started it up. The truck roared to life, and I drove out of the parking lot. Oh, please! This truck is ancient! I crawled up the road at around 60mph, as this was the limit. It simply could not go any faster. I parked up outside the Swan house and dashed into the back of the Volvo and we were off. We were home in minutes and we all wandered off to our various pastimes. Emmett and Jasper were playing their own confusing game of chess involving eight boards taped together and a whole new set of confusing rules. I knew Rosalie wouldn't be helping with my fashion designing of her wardrobe today, she'd laze around on the sofa for a while and then run off to the garage. I ran over to my computers and started working on the project. I saw Emmett's next move and decided to tell Jasper seeing as Emmett had his back to me. I spent a while mouthing Emmett's next moves to Jasper. Suddenly, music filled the house. It had been so long since Edward had played the grand piano. What a beautiful tune! Hmm... So lovely! Then, abruptly, the music stopped and Edward laughed.

"Don't stop, Edward," Esme encouraged. Edward began to play again, and Rosalie stalked out.

"What's wrong, Rose?" Emmett called after her. "What's that about?"

"I don't have the faintest idea," Edward lied, clearly. Emmett grumbled.

"Keep playing," Esme urged Edward. "It's charming. Does it have a name?"

"Not yet."

"Is there a story to it?" Esme continued, Edward playing again gave her great joy.

"It's... a lullaby, I suppose."

"A lullaby." Esme repeated to herself, satisfied. I left Jasper to carry on his game with Emmett and went to sit beside Edward on the bench. I began to sing along to his melody with my own tune.

"I like it," Edward muttered. "But how about this?" Oh, how beautiful...I changed my tune to suit the new mood his melody had taken.

"Yes, perfect." Edward said. The song drifted slower and lower, and I changed my voice to match. The song ended on a very solemn, melancholy note, and Edward bowed his head over the keys. Esme stroked his hair.

"Thanks," Edward whispered. I assumed that Esme had said something to him in her thoughts. Edward laughed once, without humour. Seconds passed and he sighed. I wish I understood their conversation!

"Stop it, Mom. You're making me blush," Edward teased. I laughed and started to play 'Heart and Soul'. Edward grinned and finished it with me, then began to play 'Chopsticks', a favourite of mine. I giggled. But then I thought of Rosalie stalking off..and Edward laughing. What was so funny? What was she thinking that amused Edward so much? I considered asking Edward and searched the future. Damn! He wouldn't tell me. I sighed.

"So I wish you'd tell me what you were laughing at Rose about. But I can see that you won't."

"Nope." Edward replied. I flicked his ear with my finger.

"Be nice, Alice," Esme chided me. "Edward is being a gentleman."

"But I want to know." I whined.

Edward laughed and said, "Here Esme." And began her favourite song. A song Edward had written in tribute to the love between her and Carlisle.

"Thank you, dear," Esme said.

I glanced over and watched Jasper and Emmett playing chess for a moment. Then something flashed in my mind.

"Oh! Jasper! Guess what?"

"What, Alice?" Jasper asked.

"Peter and Charlotte are coming to visit next week! They're going to be in the neighbourhood, isn't that nice?"

"What's wrong, Edward?" Esme asked, sounding concerened.

"Peter and Charlotte are coming to Forks?" Edward hissed at me. I rolled my eyes, unable to help myself, at his over-protective fury.

"Calm down, Edward. It's not their first visit." I heard Edward's teeth clench together. I frowned at him. How could he expect that Peter and Charlotte would do something like that?

"They never hunt here. You know that."

"When?" Edward demanded. I pursed my lips at his reaction to my good news, but I thought it best to just give him what he wanted.

Monday morning. No one is going to hurt Bella.

"No," Edward agreed. "You ready, Emmett?"

"I thought we were leaving in the morning?" Emmett replied, puzzled.

"We're coming back by midnight Sunday. I guess it's up to you when you want to leave." Edward replied simply.

"Okay, fine. Let me say goodbye to Rose first."

"Sure."

"I suppose I have." Edward replied. Clearly replying to something he'd heard in Emmett's mind.

"Play the new song for me, one more time," Esme asked.

"If you'd like that," Edward replied, slight hesitancy to his voice. He took out a bottle cap, and placed it on the empty music stand. He nodded to himself and began to play. I exchanged a look of bewilderment with Esme, and she didn't need Edward's mind reading talent to know what I was thinking.

Edward and Emmett left not long after. I sat around for a while on the bench, playing simple tunes on the piano. Esme had returned to her blue prints upstairs, humming parts of Edward's latest composition. Rosalie was still skulking in the garage, which reignited my interest as to what Edward had been laughing at. Whatever it was, Rosalie was mortified by it. Eventually I left the grand piano and returned to my designing project. Carlisle was working late shifts at the hospital, the house hadn't been this empty in ages.

Jasper drifted to my side. Every cell in my entire body seemed to tingle with his nearing presence. Closer to me, until I felt his breath tickle my neck. It took less than half a second to realize I needed him, and took less time for me to dive into his arms. Although our relationships were equally as strong, Emmett and Rosalie had a much more physical relationship, and displayed their passion clearly in front of anyone. Jasper and I were much more discrete, but no less passionate. We weren't two people, two vampires, who found each other. We were two halves of a whole, that found each other. My unbeating heart had always belonged to him, and his heart belonged to me. Together, forever. We looked into each other's eyes for any length of time. Could have been seconds, or minutes. All the unspoken understanding, every memory of each other, every feeling, every emotion. We both felt the same way, even without Jasper's talent, I could tell how he was feeling. His lips pressed to my neck gently, and rested there a moment. He pulled back and we studied each other's faces, taking every aspect of the other in. Our lips met, urgent, passionate. For a brief moment, I wondered what kissing was like as a human. Could it possibly be as intense? That thought however, was pushed to the back of my mind when Jasper kissed my cheek and pulled my tight to his chest. Less than a second later, we had escaped, for some privacy away from Esme. Our soul's were always one. Our feelings, emotions and thoughts, all part of one individual being, not separated. And for that time, our bodies' too, were one.

Peter and Charlotte arrived exactly as expected. It was lovely to catch up with Jasper's brother for all intents and purposes, and his mate. We mostly all hung around the house, Charlotte was interested to see my design project. Jasper talked Peter into an intense game of his and Emmett's version of chess. They wouldn't be staying long, they were heading South. I sat on the sofa perfectly motionless. I knew Edward planned to return, Sunday at midnight. I searched Edward's future to see what may lay ahead for him. He'd return to Bella early Monday morning... sneaking into her room and watching her. How long would he make me wait to meet my best girlfriend?

We couldn't go to school for a while because it was sunny, which suited Jasper and I fine, as we got to see our friends. We mostly hung out around the house but sometimes ventured to the forests to run. Our absence from school wasn't a problem for Emmett or Rosalie either, but Edward found it very difficult. He spent his time following Bella. Watching Bella. Listening to Bella in people's minds. The others were getting more and more worried for him. I was quite glad he was keeping an eye on Bella, cos she really did seem absurdly accident prone. He was a little over the top though. Peter and Charlotte were leaving soon, so we all decided to go up to Rainier field and play football. Edward wasn't back yet, and Emmett insisted on leaving a note for him, despite the fact I told him that Edward wouldn't go. We played for hours. I played with great passion, as it is easy to give your all when you know you're going to win... I'd seen it from the beginning. We returned home early in the morning. Edward still wasn't back, but he'd returned and scrawled 'Sorry' underneath Emmett's note. Emmett was disgusted that Edward had missed a game of football to watch someone sleep.

Edward would be home soon, to pick up his car. He intended to follow Bella and her friends to Port Angeles tonight and keep an eye on her. This constant stalking of Bella, as well as being quite over protective, was a clear sign of Edward's love for her. How Edward couldn't live without her. This meant I'd soon be able to talk to Bella, it was getting nearer, I knew that. Edward came in through the kitchen.

Have fun in Port Angeles tonight. Let me know when I'm allowed to talk to Bella.

I ran over to join Jasper, Peter and Charlotte. It was time to say goodbye to them.

"If you see Maria again, tell her I wish her well," Jasper said as I joined him.

"I don't imagine that will happen soon," Peter said with a laugh. "But should it happen, I certainly will." Jasper shook hands with Peter and kissed Charlotte on the cheek. I hurried forward and kissed them both on their cheeks. It had been nice to see them, and I would definitely miss them.

"Charlotte, Peter," Edward said, nodding.

"It was nice to see you again, Edward," Charlotte said doubtfully. Peter just nodded in return. I wasn't sure if Edward was truly worried about Peter and Charlotte running into Bella in Port Angeles...or just using it as an excuse to follow Bella.

They're going straight east, to Seattle. Nowhere near Port Angeles. I chided in my mind.

Edward acted as though he hadn't heard me, headed for his car, and was gone.

Edward, Peter and Charlotte were gone now. Rose and Emmett went hunting. Esme was fussing over her blue prints again while Carlisle was in his study. I was snuggled in Jasper's chest, listening to his steady breath. Jasper's fingers traced my spine as we sat. I knew Jasper was thinking about our anniversary, and about what gift to get me. He was trying not to decide on a gift, because flashes of different things kept popping up. Then, there was the same flicker of an images as before, but then one vision lasted longer than the others. A beautiful ring lingered in my mind a moment. It was delicate, white gold. In the centre of the white band, was a sapphire, the deep blue of a cloudless sky in summer. The gem was encircled by tiny diamonds. I had no sooner processed the image in awe, when it vanished. It hadn't remained in my mind for long, but longer than all the other flickers. I am sure this was what he was getting me. My husband has very good taste! And he knows me so well. I love it! I burrowed my head into Jasper's neck and sighed, contented. A face forced it's way into my mind, of a man, a total stranger. He was heavyset, dark-haired and appeared to be in his early twenties. What did that mean? Jasper was shaking me gently.

"Alice? Alice! What have you seen?" he asked calmly but urgently.

"I..." I tried to speak but I couldn't quite grasp reality enough to organise my thoughts.

"What is it Alice? Are you okay?" I shook my head to try and clear the haze to make it possible to find Jasper's face and focus.

"I don't know what it means..." I managed to get out.

"What did you see?" Jasper asked patiently.

"A man... I don't know him. He's...heavyset...dark-haired."

"Human? And you've never seen him before?"

"Yes, definately human and no...never."

"What was he doing Alice?" Jasper asked, concerned, but I was unable to answer him. Another vision was forcing it's way into my head.

The man and three others saw Bella, and followed her. She hurried down a street followed by two of the men and walked straight into a trap of the the men. They surrounded her. They would rape her, hurt her, then ultimately kill her. They were going to hurt her! Bella was going to die! Edward was nowhere to be seen! Oh no! NO! I have to ring him! What if I was too late for him to get there? How did Edward miss this? How did I miss this? Jasper was shaking my shoulder again.

"Alice!" Panic laced every syllable he uttered. I couldn't answer him, I was too focused. I jumped up and dashed across the room. I grabbed my phone and rang Edward. It continued to ring, and Edward didn't answer. Was I too late? Was Bella still alive? What could Edward be doing?

"Alice? What is going on?" Jasper was no longer calm and patient. He was scared.

"Bella..." I couldn't find my voice to explain.

"What about her?"

"She's in danger. That man...he's with a group. They're going to rape her, Jazz! They'll kill her! I missed it! I should have seen it! I should have known...and warned Edward! Why wasn't Edward paying attention either? I tried ringing him but he didn't answer and..." My words were flowing fast now, and then my speech was interrupted.

Another vision appeared. Edward making it just in time, and taking Bella far away from the men. Phew! Bella was going to be safe... Oh...Edward will take her to dinner? He's going on a date with Bella? I can talk to her soon.. I'm sure. I collapsed back onto the sofa. Relief seared through me. Jasper's came to my side.

"Alice...?" He asked. The panic and urgency was gone now, I guessed he could sense my relief.

"She's fine. Edward realised what was happening a little late, but just in time. Edward will be arriving there soon and taking her to safety. He's taking her to dinner! Can you believe it? He's gone from practically stalking her, to saving her life again, to dating her all in one night! I'm going to keep a closer eye from now on though." At that moment, I noticed Carlisle and Esme had come over to us, to find out what was wrong. I explained everything.