A/N: So sorry for the delay! I've been reading all of the Twilight books again before going to see Eclipse this week & I couldn't write this story while reading them. It's short, but the next chapter is done & will go up tomorrow to make it up to you! Thanks as always for reading & reviewing! You all are made of awesome sauce! PS~Still looking for a permanent Beta if anyone is interested. Let me know :)
Jasper
Bella was the most intriguing newborn I ever met. From the moment she first opened her eyes, she exhibited the most control I ever saw a newborn have. Carlisle felt that it was her being prepared that made her different and I had to agree with him. We spent most of our days hunting and training and nights we spent reading. She loved the library at the house and wanted to read every book in it. I knew it was overwhelming to be a newborn and while there were plenty of other things I would much rather be doing at night, I didn't want to rush her. I wanted her to feel safe and secure the first time we made love and I knew being a newborn she didn't have that sense of security. Well I also knew because anytime I deepened our kiss to lead to something more, her emotions went into total fear. I always reassured her that we could wait and she would smile relieved at that. I promised myself that I wouldn't rush her no matter how badly I wanted to make love to her and I wanted it badly. I was a southern gentleman after all and I would never break that promise.
"I don't understand why you two don't just have sex already" Emmett was saying as we hunted. Bella and Rose were doing some online shopping for more clothes while we hunted. Surprisingly, Bella had a bit more confidence in her clothes now and her and Rose shopped like crazy. Just wait until Alice gets wind of this I thought and smiled to myself. Alice would go ballistic when she saw how much Bella enjoyed shopping now.
"Emmett, I'm not going to rush her. You know very well how overwhelming it is to be a newborn. She has too much to process as it is. I'm not going to make it worse by rushing her into sex. When she's ready she will let me know".
"I know your right bro, but all that lust you keep throwing around when you look at her is a lot to take in sometimes" he grinned at me. I smacked him and that started it. I knew he was just itching to take me on in a real wrestling match and he provoked me at every chance he got. He was trying to get me into a headlock and for once I let him. I could get out of it easily enough. I kept it playful though, because we were going home soon and I didn't need either one of us to be healing from any injuries. Plus, Bella and Rose would kill us. The first time Emmett tried to wrestle me when Bella was around, did not end well for him. She launched herself into her hunting position and tackled him to the ground. If Rosalie and I hadn't stepped in, I was sure she would have pulled off one of his limbs or even worse. Of course she felt horribly guilty at attacking him like that but Rose reassured her that Emmett deserved it once in awhile. I was glad to have Rose and Emmett with us and they both showed Bella everything they knew too. She picked it up easily and was a natural at it. Of course, she was a natural at everything.
I miss you already I heard in my head. I was so happy that Bella was finally okay with talking to me like this. We informed her before her change that mates could communicate this way, but the first time I said hi to her in her head, she freaked out. She freaked out the first few times actually. Most of the time now I waited for her to speak to me first. I didn't want to freak her out anymore.
As I miss you already too darlin' I thought back.
I wrestled out of Emmett's headlock and sprang after the scent of bear. He smelled it too and raced me. He beat me and took down the biggest bear as always. He always liked the challenge of the biggest bear and we all gave it to him. For Emmett it was personal. He was still pissed about that bear that had gotten him as a human and sought out revenge on any bear he could. It was quite funny to watch sometimes. We hunted for a little while longer and then headed home. I hated to be away from Bella for any length of time and I knew she felt the same way.
I scooped her into my arms and hugged her as soon as I came in the door. I pulled her into my lap as I sat on the couch and kissed her. I heard Emmett grumble something about getting a room and then him and Rose were gone. "How did your shopping go?" I asked her.
Great! Rose and I picked out some really cute stuff for both of us, but we won't get it before we leave so she's having it delivered to Forks. She says it won't get there before us.
I laughed, Alice is going to be so thrilled to see you like to shop now. I felt her stab of pain as she thought about Alice.
How mad do you think she will be at me?
At you? Not at all darlin'. But she will be pretty pissed off at me for awhile. It's okay though, I'll take her wrath for this.
I'll make sure that she's not mad at you. Bella told me as she kissed me again. I could spend all day kissing Bella, but we had to pack for Forks. I insisted on packing the entire library up for her because she loved it so much. She worried that Carlisle and Esme would mind, but I already asked and they both insisted we bring it with us. We weren't entirely sure when we would be back to this house and Esme was set on giving Bella whatever she wanted. We were leaving tomorrow as it was a two day drive. We had planned our arrival so that none of them would know we were there. They would be too busy with the Volturi at that time and we would watch and wait for the right moment to make our presence known.
I've loved spending all this time with you, Em, and Rose, but I can't wait to get back and see Esme, Alice, Carlisle, and Garrett Bella told me excitedly as we packed.
I'm sure they will be just as happy to see you. You do know that we can't let Jacob or any of the pack know we are there. They will start a war with us over changing you.
She nodded and I felt her pain at the mention of Jacob's name. It had pained Bella greatly to lose Jacob's friendship when I came back, but she had made it clear to him that she wouldn't be forced to choose between us. He had tried for about a week to convince her that he was the better choice for her and she hadn't budged. She had told him if he couldn't be friends with her while she was friends with me, than he wasn't that good of a friend to begin with and they had parted ways.
I'm sorry darlin' I told her as I kissed her cheek.
You have nothing to be sorry for. I've told you that a million times. Jake made his choice and I made mine. I am so glad that I made the right choice. I smiled at her and finished packing. We trained some more and then spent the night reading on the roof while gazing at the stars. In the morning we hunted and then left for Forks. I was anxious to get this whole Edward situation put behind us.
Alice
We were waiting for the Volturi and Edward in the baseball clearing. Why did everything seem to happen in this damn clearing? It felt like we kept having to come here for one bad experience after the next. I was ready for this. I felt like today would be the day my visions came back and I was ready for it. I was still sad about Bella's death and I missed Jasper, Rose, and Emmett terribly but I felt like everything would work itself out. I had to keep believing that for my family.
They approached from the north and stopped about ten feet from us. Aro was in the front and flanked by Felix on the left and Demetri on the right. Jane was on the other side of Demetri and Edward was on Felix's left.
"Why Carlisle my good friend, it is so good to see you" Aro said as he smiled at Carlisle.
Carlisle smiled warmly back, "As it is so good to see you as well Aro".
"Edward has shown me some very interesting things that have been happening in your coven Carlisle" Aro said. It looked like he wasn't going to waste our time and get right to business.
"I'm sure he has, but Aro has he shown you the whole truth?"
"Of course he has, how could he block me? I saw you and your mate had his lovely Bella killed".
Esme hissed, "We did no such thing".
Aro raised his eyebrows, "So young Edward has found a way to lie to me and dragged me here for no reason?"
"Yes. I'm not sure how he has done it, but he's gone quite crazy and he's the one who killed Bella" Esme replied. Her eyes locked on Edward's and if looks could kill, he would have died on the spot. I noticed that his eyes were bright red and I was sure Carlisle was disappointed. How could he go back to drinking human blood?
"Hmm, I do believe one of you is lying to me and I intend to get to the bottom of this right now. Give me your hand beautiful Esme" Aro said as he stepped forward. Carlisle pulled Esme behind him. I knew Carlisle wanted me to be the one to show Aro everything and my visions, but that was still strange that he would feel like he needed to protect Esme.
"Aro, I think you would get the truth clearer from Alice than Esme. Alice can show you not only her memories, but her visions before those things came true". Aro looked in my direction now and his eyes widened in curiosity.
"Of course Carlisle. I remember you telling me about this beautifully talented young lady. Alice, may I?" he asked. I nodded and stepped forward to meet his hand. I stopped as I saw a vision and whispered, "Impossible". I saw Edward lunging for Esme and Bella of all people coming to her rescue. Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett would bound into the field right behind her. How was that possible? Bella was dead!
"What did you see?" Aro asked me excitedly.
I couldn't answer him. For the first time in my existence I was speechless. How was that possible? Unless they all lied to me about Bella being dead? I would kill Jasper for that! I saw all kinds of visions now, ones of the past, the present, and the future. I saw where my brothers and sisters had been for the past few weeks and what they had been doing. Aro ghosted towards me and grabbed my hand so he could see what I was seeing. His eyes were closed and his head was bent forward a little. "How interesting" he muttered when he saw my vision of Edward killing Bella and the actual memory of Edward trying to kill her. Edward must have been back to reading thoughts now because he hissed when the vision of Bella being alive and Aro deciding to have him killed flashed through my head. It took a few minutes, but finally Aro was done with my memories and the visions had stopped. He released my hand and turned to Edward.
"Well, well, well young Edward, it looks like my suspicions about you hiding things from me were true". Esme was smiling in relief as she stepped around Carlisle to see Aro better and Edward lunged for her.
