Rekindles Ashes
Chapter 11: Unsavory Decisions

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, sadly, otherwise I would have a nice log cabin in the woods where I would be a complete recluse and write until my heart was content. Instead, I have a full time job! So, that being said, the characters all belong to Stephenie Meyer, but the story came from my twisted little mind. Rated M.

Safety net don't hold me now
In this hole I've fallen down
Secret home I've made and found
A new way to breathe

Skin by Zola Jesus

Bella woke up and stretched out in the huge bed. On one side of her was Stacey who was curled into her side, emitting fragile snores through her miniature features. On her other side was Millie, who, Bella imagined, had found her at some point while they slept and climbed in with her. It wasn't that she minded. The bed could have held half of the girls in it comfortably.

It had taken longer for her to fall asleep than she'd intended. As tired as she was, her instincts were screaming that someone needed to be awake to keep watch. It was a ridiculous notion when they were being protected by vampires that didn't seem to need to sleep, but she'd spent so long alternating with Summer and keeping things in order it was like fighting her very nature.

Trying not to disturb the girls, Bella slipped out of the bed and hopped to the floor before padding to the bathroom and peeking inside. The thing was cavernous and the memory of the four showerheads blasting hot water over her the night before made her long for another. She hadn't felt that clean in a long time. Catching her reflection in the mirror, she smiled. She hadn't looked that clean in a long time. Gone were the dark highlights of eyeliner that she'd worn for years. The dark circles under her eyes had faded a little, and her clean hair shone in the spotlights that were directed at her from the ceiling.

Even the shirt that fell just above her knees made her look more alive than she had in a long while. It also smelled distinctly like Jasper, which only brought another blush to her cheeks. She couldn't believe her verbal projecting before he'd left the room. There was something about him that made her feel comfortable, which in turn hadn't made her think about what she was saying until it was out there and he was grinning at her.

After finishing in the bathroom, which included brushing her teeth when she'd found two toothbrushes and paste on the counter, she wandered through the room on tip toes and pulled open the door, blocking the small space with her body so the rays of light wouldn't disturb the girls. She left it cracked only a quarter of an inch once she was on the other side, so if the girls woke up they would know she wasn't far.

As she stepped away from their room, she rolled her shoulders and stretched her aching body out. She wasn't sure if the aches were from her heavy sleep or the fighting anymore. Her chest was still burning from inhaling the smoke from the fire, but here in the mountains, she was certain it wouldn't take long to heal and remedy.

Her eyes scanned the hall she was in lazily, and she almost laughed out loud. There was a huge ornate wooden cross at the end of the hall, and it appealed to her sense of irony. Walking toward it, her bare feet slapped against the wooden floor. It was the only noise in the silent house and she found herself wondering just how long it would take someone to realize she was awake. As she stepped closer to the huge cross, her fingers ran over the aged wood and over the cool metal that seemed to bind the thing together.

It was rough against her fingertips, but she couldn't help feeling as though there was years of history locked up in the gentle grains of wood that were more visible this close to it. Her eyes moved over the rest of the wall as her fingers lingered, and for a moment she felt like she were in a museum. All of the pieces were exquisite.

"You're up," Jasper said from behind her.

She hadn't heard him coming so her heart was in her throat as her body convulsed and expelled all of the air in her lungs. She spun around to face him with her hand on her throat. The sound of her blood rushing through her body was so loud it echoed in her ears.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I'll have to remember to make more noise moving around." Jasper grinned.

"Please do. I think I just had a heart attack," she laughed, panting a little as she fought to catch her breath.

Jasper took another step toward her, his grin leveling out into a polite but genuine smile. It reminded her of the moment they'd shared together in the hall of the school, which only served to make her heart patter unevenly in her chest.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, gravitating toward her in a slow flow of movement.

"I did, thank you. Your bed is comfortable."

"Your bed," he corrected her.

"I'm so not arguing," Bella sang, turning back to look at the art on the wall again. "These are beautiful."

"Esme and Carlisle have been collecting them for years. Each one of them represents somewhere they've lived."

Bella was amazed at the history that was on the wall. It wasn't just one lifetime but several, all laid out on display. For a moment, knowing what they represented made her feel like a voyeur.

"Are you hungry?" Jasper asked, leaning against the wall beside her. "I don't think I've seen you eat since I met you."

Bella thought about the last time she'd eaten. It was the morning the Cullens had arrived. She'd had one of the meals that she and Summer had managed to get from a camping store. They were supposed to survive anything and last for years, which was understandable considering they'd tasted like cardboard. She'd shared what she had with Stacey because she knew the girl needed more food than she was eating.

"Famished," Bella admitted. "But I know you guys don't eat so I can . . ."

"Esme's already taken care of it. It's nothing exciting considering the circumstances, but there were a few chickens on one of the farms close by and she was able to get some eggs. She's trying to find a book on how to cure pork as well. She's very thorough."

"Apparently so," Bella laughed again, surprised at how accommodating they were. "But she doesn't need to go to all that trouble."

"You obviously don't know Esme very well. She lives for this kind of thing," Jasper said, offering Bella his hand as he turned his head toward her.

Taking his hand, Bella smiled. His skin was cool against hers, but there was a warmth she couldn't explain that spread through her hand and traveled through her body. The ease with which the two of them seemed to share in these moments made Bella's head reel. Both she and Jasper just gravitated toward one another without much thought, and though she wasn't complaining, it did surprise her. She hadn't been around many men since this whole disaster had started.

"Then who am I to disappoint?" she said as Jasper pushed away from the wall.

Jasper's musical laughter flowed easily as he led her toward the stairs. He kept a hold on her hand on the way down and didn't release his grip on her until they neared the kitchen. She didn't think anything of it until Edward turned the corner ahead of them.

Edward said nothing to her; he simply nodded his head and continued on his way, brushing past her before she could even sidestep out of his way. She still wasn't sure what he'd meant when they'd spoken in the hall at the school. It seemed like a lifetime ago to Bella. So much had happened since then that it was hard to imagine it was probably less than twenty-four hours since they'd spoken.

His words still didn't make much sense to her and left an odd feeling inside her mind once she replayed them. He couldn't hear her thoughts, and her blood sang to him? She wasn't sure how that was her problem or even if it was something she could control. She'd had the same blood for years, she didn't see why she should be ostracized for it because he felt as though he couldn't resist it.

"Ignore him," Jasper said, leading the way to the kitchen. "He and Ange are fighting at the moment. He's having trouble seeing that he's the cause."

"I'm not gonna ask."

"Probably best," Jasper chuckled, pushing open a door ahead of him.

As the two of them pushed into the room, Bella's stomach began to lurch and growl at the smells that filled the air. Inexplicably, there were pancakes and eggs laid out, with toast and a variety of preserves. There was even milk, orange juice and coffee spread out.

She wasn't sure how they'd managed this considering the food sources had all but died out over the course of the two years, but everything looked divine, and the smell... Bella could have happily just stood there all day with her eyes closed.

"Good morning, Bella," Esme sang, cracking a couple more eggs into the steaming pan in front of her.

"Esme, how did you do this?"

Bella thought that if Esme could have blushed she would have been doing it in that moment. Instead, she offered a shy smile.

"Well, we have been maintaining a couple of the farms around here. We may not eat, but the boys down at the reservation do. We keep hoping they will take up our offer to make dinner for them, but they refuse."

"Yet you still keep up the maintenance and still produce food for them," Bella said, amazed at the kindness of the family she was surrounded by. "They're idiots, Esme. Some people are just scared of the unknown. You're different and that scares them. I can assure you I am not that stubborn."

Bella's stomach growled as if to reiterate the point. She ran her hand over it to quiet the sound and realized how underdressed she was.

"Alice and Rose are putting some things together for you and the girls to wear. For now, sit and eat."

Bella didn't need to be told twice. She parked it in a stool at the granite counter of the breakfast bar and helped herself to a plate. Trying not to be greedy, she spooned some eggs on her plate and took a slice of toast and a pancake.

"Oh darlin'," Jasper laughed, sliding into the seat next to her. "Esme had made enough to feed a stadium of people. You need to eat more than that."

Bella looked to Esme, who nodded a confirmation and backed away to show a skillet full of eggs. Taking the hint, Bella piled her plate with more food and dug in. Her palate was so used to flavorless food, the amalgamation of flavors made her head swim. The divinity almost made her hum in pleasure, and she wasn't sure she hadn't when she heard Jasper chuckle next to her.

"Am I making a pig of myself?" she asked, her cheeks warming with her blush.

"No. Not at all," Jasper laughed. "It's nice to see someone indulging."

Bella grinned at him and picked up a slice of toast, taking a big bite from it with a smile. Even the dried bread was a delicacy for her, especially with the sweet tasting butter that was sat in a small Tupperware bowl. Bella would have bet her only boots that Esme had made that, too.

"Jasper, I think I hear someone else moving around. Do you want to go and collect them and point them in the direction of breakfast?" Esme asked, flitting around the kitchen. She was focused on her task and seemed perfectly gratified that she had something to do.

Jasper nodded happily and slid from the stool, then disappeared from the room in a blur of speed. Bella almost choked on the mouthful of toast in her surprise. She didn't think she would ever get used to the speed at which they moved.

Blink and you missed them, she thought to herself.

"How is it?" Esme asked, eyeing Bella's plate.

"Divine."

"Would you like syrup for your pancakes?"

Bella looked at the woman with wide eyes. She was surprised that they'd even managed to get some. Unless, of course, they'd made that too. It was like stepping back in time, before all of this mess had started. There was a feeling of normalcy sitting at the counter and eating fresh food. Bella would have thought that this would have felt more alien after two years of living without it, but here she was.

"You have to have the Internet," Bella laughed with a shy nod. "I don't see how else you could have all of this stuff. Or even know how to do it."

"We had it for a while, but then without anyone to maintain them, the connections died down. Now we have a full library."

"You're amazing," Bella said as Esme placed a small gravy boat full of syrupy goodness in front of her.

"It's just nice to be able to do something for other people."

Bella shook her head and looked to the side as little feet slapping on the tile became louder. She almost laughed as Stacey skipped into the kitchen in front of Jasper. The shirt she was wearing like a train following her in.

"Morning, Munchkin." Bella smiled, leaning down and pulling the girl up into her lap. "How did you sleep?"

"Good," Stacey giggled as Bella showered her with little kisses. "It smells good in here."

"That's breakfast, Miss Esme cooked for us."

Stacey looked up at the woman and smiled her brightest smile. It was the kind of smile you couldn't resist if you wanted to. It was full of innocence and wonder. Esme gave her a smile back that had Stacey giggling.

"Are you hungry?" Esme asked, wiping her hands on the apron she was wearing.

Stacey nodded and shifted her weight in Bella's lap. Her shyness was beginning to wear off.

"What do you like to eat?"

Stacey pointed at Bella's plate and looked up at Esme hopefully.

"Eggs, toast and pancakes it is then," she sang happily.

. . .

The calm serenity rolling from the girls almost warmed Jasper. He eased into the corner of the room and looked down at the bowls filled with rice and boiled chicken that Esme had made for the dog, and instantly wondered where he was hiding. He'd thought he would be with Bella and Stacey. He'd been lying outside of their room when he'd gone to check on them while they slept.

He could still smell the animal, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly where it was coming from. Being in the house, surrounded by the smell of Jasper and his family, seemed to make the animal more nervous and he couldn't blame him.

"Jasper."

Jasper looked up and smiled at Esme. There was someone else stirring. He knew she wouldn't rest until they'd all eaten their fill. This was who she was and he could feel the happiness radiating from her as she worked quietly and talked with the two girls sat at the counter.

Thankfully, it only took a half hour to guide the last eleven girls and four boys into the kitchen. Fwend had appeared with Sophie and two of the small girls that had shared her room with her. He'd been nervous about entering a room with two vampires, but Stacey had taken priority, and when she'd led him to the food, he relaxed considerably.

While everyone in the house had slept, the family had taken the opportunity to hunt and gather what they needed to feed the mass of humans now inhabiting their home with them. Jasper and Esme, however, had stayed behind, determined to watch over them while they slept. He knew he should have gone hunting with the rest of the family though. His throat was already beginning to get scratchy and irritated. He'd offered to wait for Esme, and had hoped that leaving Rose with the girls would keep Edward at arm's length. His bloodlust had become worse as the girls had slept and he'd found him outside of Bella's room, his emotions a swirling vortex. Carlisle had taken him out to hunt, and Edward's yellow eyes when he returned told Jasper he'd been successful, but he wasn't willing to take any chances.

Alice was the next to arrive home. She mingled amongst the girls with a smile and a happy chatter that made some of them more relaxed, but there were still a few that were unsure of being in the folds of a home full of vampires. They stood out from the group, cloying the air with their suspicions and anxiety. Jasper stayed away from them, hoping it would ease their minds or at the very least, emotions.

"Hey, Jazzy. Could I have a word?" Alice asked as the humans began to filter from the room.

"Sure, Ally."

He followed her into the basement where lights from Emmett's electronics blinked aimlessly. He perched on the arm of the couch and watched Alice pacing. Trying not to be rude, he didn't reach out for her emotions and tried to block them from being projected.

"We have to leave soon," she finally said, her hands on her hips. "The group of vampires are closing in on the human survivors and we're running out of time. We have to leave today or we'll fail."

"Have you told Carlisle?"

"Yes, we spoke about it while we were hunting. Edward wants to stay behind and watch over the girls . . ."

"Fuck no!" Jasper almost shouted, rising from his perch on the arm of the couch.

"We said the same thing, which is why he was so pissy when he came back. He did say something interesting though. After the talk with the wolves, he said they're going to try and convince the humans to move to La Push. With Jacob knowing Bella, he thinks he can convince them."

Jasper knew there were a few girls that would jump on the chance, but he wasn't so sure with Bella. He'd been getting feelings of contentment from her all morning. She seemed to enjoy her surroundings here in the house. Unfortunately, Bella's main priority was the girls and looking after them. He wasn't sure that she couldn't be convinced to go.

As much as he was enjoying her company, he knew he would never try to stop her if it was what she decided. Bella was more than capable of making choices for her small family, and she, more than anyone, knew what was best for them. He could also attest to the fact that she wouldn't enjoy being told how to handle it. Her pride would only create a rift between the two groups.

"When?"

"After we leave. Bella disappears for a couple of hours tomorrow afternoon, which tells me that Jacob will probably show up for a bow wow around that time."

"So what do we do?"

"Asking her not to go or trying to convince her to stay will do nothing but force her hand in the opposite direction," Alice sighed. "That's an assumption not a vision. This leaves us only one choice."

"Which is?" Jasper asked, feeling stirrings in his chest where his heart once beat. The thought of losing Bella to the pack of feral dogs wasn't something he was excited about.

"We leave Rosalie and Angela, and take Bella with us."

Jasper was stunned into silence. He was gripping onto his emotions as best he could. Projecting them would do nothing but cause confusion and fights. That kind of anger did no one any good. He pushed out his feelers and found Bella amongst the myriad of emotions that was floating around the house. She was still calm and happy and he pulled that into himself hoping to overcome his own emotions.

"Absolutely not," he finally said with a calm indifference. "I will not risk her life to be selfish, and it would be manipulative. She wouldn't thank us for it."

"It's not being selfish, Jasper. We can offer these girls something the wolves can't. For crying out loud, Carlisle and Emmett are discussing cutting down a couple mile stretch of trees to make a landing strip behind the house. They want to offer more humans a place to stay. There's a whole town of houses, and the crazy thing is it may just work. With our family and the humans tending to the farms, we can have our own economy here. It just all depends on what Bella and the girls decide."

"You can't tell any of them that. They'll feel obligated to stay and obligation will turn into resentment. Especially Bella. Alice, she has a good heart. She wants to help."

"You think I don't know this?" she asked, tapping her temple. "Believe me, I don't like the idea of her facing off vampires with us either, but she was right, she'll ease the humans when she shows up with us and she will live through it. If we come back, she will still see Jacob, and she will make up her own mind. It just strikes me as underhanded for him to do it while we're not there to defend ourselves from their accusations."

"Nothing new there then. For being the defense for humans, they're damn self-righteous."

Alice nodded and looked up at him from under her long, feather like lashes. Jasper didn't like that they were playing this game. It felt wrong, but Alice was right. Jacob and his pack of wild dogs would take advantage of their absence. He turned to leave the room. The unsettling feeling in his gut was making him frustrated.

"Do you think you could talk to her?"

"Me?" Jasper asked, stopping mid stride to turn and face Alice again. "Why me?"

"She trusts you, Jasper. She feels comfortable with you."

"Because I refuse to lie to her. What you're asking me to do is mask what's going on. Manipulate her, while asking her to go against the girls' wishes. She may want to do this, Ally, but she also has those kids to think about. Have you thought about how this could sever her relationship and trust with them?"

"Then tell her the truth."

"That a pack of werewolves–"

"Shifters–"

"Whatever. Wants to whisk them away to the reservation so they'll be saved from the bloodsucking fiends in the mansion on the hill? Alice, we're in a precarious situation here."

"And you're in danger of losing her." Alice slapped her hand over her mouth and closed her eyes.

"You saw something?"

Alice shook her head, refusing to open her eyes.

"I haven't looked in that way," she said, her eyes fluttering open as she dropped her hand. "I just see the way you are with her. I'm sorry. I'm trying really hard to stay out of it all. I just like seeing you happy."

Jasper was torn. He'd been trying to keep his emotions hidden, not just around Bella, but also around his family and throughout this conversation. He didn't realize he was quite so transparent. The more he interacted with Bella, the more he wanted her, and the more he had to shut himself down. He'd promised himself that he would leave her alone to have a human life. To be who she was supposed to be. He felt as though this was tangling with her destiny.

She and the girls had already made their decision. He didn't want to be the one to plant doubt in her mind. The last thing he wanted to do was turn her family against her for their selfish needs. Yes, the situation wasn't exactly desirable, but was that a reason to risk Bella's life and relationships?

"Well?" Alice asked, her voice quiet.

"I'll talk to her, if you make me a promise."

"What's the promise?"

"If you see her relationship with the girls change with her decision, you tell me so I can stop her. They're a family Alice and I will not jeopardize that."

Alice nodded her agreement and a small smile broke over her lips. The last thought Jasper had before climbing the stairs was that she knew something, and she wasn't telling.

Authors Note: They're playing a dangerous game, but I doubt Jasper will do it as deceitfully as Alice appears to think he should. He respects Bella too much. I apologize for any errors in this chapter, I seem to be having major compatibility issues with FFn and I can't tell whether it kept the edits I or my beta made. It's putting line breaks and paragraphs breaks where there aren't any and I think I managed to catch them but I'm not sure. I am close to pulling my hair out after hours of trying to fix it lol!

Thank you so much to all of you for reading, favorites and alerting, and of course for the amazing reviews. You guys are amazing and I am always looking forward to what you have to say about the chapters. I love you all!

Hev99 and Sabi'sSookie . . . You guys are so amazing and there are no words to explain how much your love and support mean to me. You're both amazing and I love you loads!

A huge Thanks to Hev99 for betaing for me!

MWAH!