AN – To everyone expecting an update sooner than this…I apologize. Between work, school, kids, reading fan fiction, writing fan fiction, and my newest addiction of playing on Facebook my husband had become severely neglected by me. That was not a fun conversation, but I am glad we had it. I spent the last three and a half weeks reconnecting with him. So even though I am sorry I did not keep my promise to update sooner, I am not sorry about how I spent the time.
I am not 100% happy with this chapter and it has not yet been beta'd (if there are any major changes needed once my beta reads it, I will repost.)
Thank you to those who have sent me reviews on this story. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your comments! If you have not had a reply from me (mostly those sent in the last few weeks) I will be replying after I update my other FF story, hopefully tonight or tomorrow.
As always – the characters belong to Stephenie Meyer, the warped plot to me.
Chapter 7 – Welcome Home
Alice POV
"Alice?" I could feel the vibrations his voice made through his chest. He was sitting with his back against the headboard of our bed; I was curled into his side with my head on his shoulder. He had one hand absently stroking my hair. Even though we did not need to make these types of movements, we had come to find that it was immensely comforting. `
"I know what you are going to ask, Jazz. It is going to be hard, really, really hard, but I will try to keep my promise to Carlisle." I sighed. I did not know how I was going to do it. For years I had been very vocal with everything that I had seen. But Carlisle had a point. It was possible that my visions had manipulated the future. Being extremely honest with myself, I had manipulated those around me too. Especially Bella, she didn't like shopping but I manipulated her decisions. That needed to change.
"What about the vision you told me about? The one with Bella, is that really going to happen?"
"I don't know Jasper. It all depends on the decisions that are made. Either one could make a decision that will forge a different path with a different ending."
"How solid did that future look?" Jasper asked, brushing his fingers over my shoulder.
"It was pretty clear." I answered. I could hear Carlisle's voice begin to rise, so I jumped off the bed and turned on some music. It is best if their conversation remain as private as possible. I quickly resumed my position next to my gorgeous husband.
"Is it the only possible outcome?" I could hear the slight hint of sadness in his voice. I felt the same, if this vision came true, it would mean big changes – for everyone.
"No, I have seen others and the others are just as clear. It is obvious that there is much that needs to be worked through and decided on before I will know which path has been chosen. Things in the next few months are going to be very confusing and extremely intense at times."
"What do we do?" He sighed, leaning down and brushing a kiss against my forehead.
"Carlisle asked that I keep things to myself unless someone will die. This may be taking liberties with his expectations, but I am going to keep this to myself. As long as Edward stays away, you and I will be the only ones who will know of this possibility."
"Are you sure this is what you want to do Alice?"
"Yes, Jasper, 100%. This is what I have to do, for the family."
"Ok, I trust you. Just let me know what I need to do, and when."
"So…" I said leaning back away from him, my body beginning to thrum with excitement. "When can we go back?"
Jasper chuckled softly. "How much longer can you wait?"
"An hour?" I answered bouncing on the bed next to him.
"I don't think we can be ready to go back to Forks in an hour, Darlin. It will take you 2 days along to pack all your clothes. And then there is the shopping I am sure you will have to do to prepare for the trip and for being back in the house and for seeing Bella again and for…."
"Oh shush! Fine, so we can leave in 2 days?"
"Yes, my dear wife, 2 Days."
I quickly brushed my lips against his and then danced out of his reach before he could pull me to him to deepen the kiss. "Not now Jazz, we have too much to do.
"Alice, your emotions are driving me insane. Will you calm down please?" I could hear the utter amusement through his words. I knew that I was practically vibrating with excitement but at the same time I was nervous, which for me was a first and I knew that he could feel me flipping between both emotions.
We were currently at the family's old house in Forks; it was Friday afternoon around 2pm. We were waiting for school to let out and Bella to be home. I had debated over how to do this so much that poor Jasper didn't know what to do and ended up leaving me on my own to reach my decision. I knew he supported me and would do anything to help me but he knew this was something I had to reason out on my own. I was grateful that he gave me that time on my own. The emotions I went through while figuring out the best approach would probably have brought him to his knees.
I finally decided to call Bella after school, today, and ask to speak to her. I could have just shown up at school but that would have been somewhat presumptuous, I was not entirely sure she wanted to see me. I also considered just showing up at her house or better yet, being there when she returned from school. However, taking everything Carlisle and I had discussed and all the thinking I had been doing since, I wanted to give Bella the choice to talk to me. I was fully prepared to leave the decision in her hands.
This was uncharted territory for me. Usually I see the person's decision before hand and know how everything is going to turn out. Not this time. Bella did not know we were here, she knew I wanted to talk to her from Carlisle, but she had not decided whether or not she was going to listen to what I had to say. I could see several endings to this conversation. I was trying not to dwell too much on any of them. I wasn't even sure she would agree to talk to me, I had seen one such scenario where she refuses to have anything to do with me for several months.
"Alice, baby, please. Things are going to work out how they were meant to, please stop worrying."
"I can't. I am not even sure she will want to talk to me, how do I calm down? She is my best friend and I want her back in my life. What do I do if she refuses me?" I could not keep the half sob out of my voice at the end.
I needed Bella to know how bad I felt for leaving. She needed to know that I did not just leave because Edward wanted us to but more because I saw how much Jasper was hurting and how getting away for awhile was what he needed.
"I hope she gives me a chance to explain and can find a way to forgive me so we can get back to being friends."
"It may take some time, but I think she will come around." Jasper assured me, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. I was standing in front of the window looking out toward the lake behind our house.
"From what I could gather from Carlisle, it may be a struggle to get her to trust you again. Are you prepared for that?" He asked.
"Do you mean, am I prepared to sit back and let her do this at her own pace without influencing her? Yeah, I am." I leaned back against his chest wrapping my arms around myself and resting my hands on his arms at my waist.
"At first I was angry with Carlisle for asking me to stop speaking about my visions; you know how I feel about that. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that even though I may see a possible outcome to various situations, things would still work out how they were meant to if I kept quiet about what I saw. I needed to accept that if decisions changed and things didn't work out how I saw them then that was ok too. This was going to be a big adjustment though. Some of the things I have seen I want to come true, others ….well I wouldn't mind if they never did.
"Bella should be home now Alice. It is time." His arms tightened slightly around my middle before releasing me and handing me my cell phone.
As I took the phone from his hand, my fingers grazing along his palm, I was hit with an intense vision. This was by far the worst one yet. I saw Bella answering her phone and becoming extremely angry when she heard my voice, she hurled insults and obscenities at me left and right and eventually hung up without giving me a chance to speak at all.
Jasper had to have known I had a vision, he had to have felt my desolation and despair but thankfully he did not mention it. Knowing that I would need the support, he simply wrapped his arms around my waist again and pulled me back against his chest. He also sent me a small wave of courage as I opened my phone and dialed her number.
My hand shook slightly as I held the phone up to my ear, I was still unsure which vision would play out when she answered the phone, but since my last vision was also the strongest I was sure she would be furious.
The phone had rung three times before she finally picked up and said hello.
Well here goes nothing.
"Hello Bella." I stated simply.
Her response was a loud shocked gasp as she recognized my voice.
AN - Please let me know what you think.
