Well guess what I'm not dead! I have no excuse except that I was suffering from a major case of writers block. MAJOR! No one was talking to me. I could not get one character to speak up. Finally, finally Alice let me in on a few things and I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. To all of you who read faithfully, I apologize for taking so long to post. I am truly am sorry. I hope you enjoy this chapter and I believe things will roll along much easier from now on. So go read and enjoy Edward and Jasper's reunion.

Chapter 12 – Alice Has the Answer

JPOV

It had been five days. Five damn long days. Why was he avoiding me? What started out as a wonderful moment between the two of us, turned into a frightening experience for everyone in the room. The party, that awful party where a woman died and a hell of a lot of information was brought to the surface. James had wanted Edward and that's what this whole shit was about. At least, in my opinion that's what it was about.

James Donovan had made some pact with ancient demons which gave him the ability to possess other people's bodies and wreak havoc on anyone he chose; and he chose the Cullen family. Edward wouldn't deny that James was attracted to him; in fact Edward wasn't saying shit. It was almost as if he had disappeared off the face of the earth. If I didn't know that Alice had pretty much disappeared too, I would have been worried. They were together and they were trying to find a way to break the second part of the curse which no one would take the time to explain to me. I was pissed and that was putting it lightly. The other thing that was really strange was Evan had taken off on me too.

After the police had finally wrapped up their investigation the following day, everyone seemed to go off on their own. We were all exhausted, drained. The night had been emotionally charged to say the least and long. It had been nearly twenty four hours and no one had slept. It wasn't unusual for everyone to head off to get some shut eye but I was sure Edward would show up in my room sometime during the night. I was wrong. He didn't.

So the next morning, I went in search of him. He was nowhere to found. His bed didn't even look like it had been slept in. Where the hell was he? And who the hell was he with? Downstairs at breakfast the only person in the room was Carlisle. He still looked drained.

"Good morning Jasper," he said over his coffee. The food in front of him didn't look like it had been touched.

"Carlisle," I said grabbing a mug of coffee myself and sitting across from him.

"Where is everyone?" I asked trying to sound casual about it.

"Esme isn't feeling well and was having tea and toast in our room. Bella, Rosalie and Emmett went back to Inverness. It was just too hard to be here. I think," he said quietly. He was worried and it showed. "It worries me for us to be apart. I think we would be more at risk from another attack. But I understand why they didn't want to be here. I will never forget the awful site of watching that pour girl die that way." He stood and went to stand by the fireplace.

A chill passed through me at remembering the scene. He was right; I would never forget it either. She was in agony and there was nothing any of us could do to stop it.

"Have you seen Edward?" I had to know if he was still here on the castle grounds.

"He and Alice are working on Cil's journal. Hoping that they will find a way to stop James before anyone else is harmed," he answered turning to look at me with sadness in his eyes. "He blames himself, you know?"

I knew who he was talking about immediately and Edward would feel that way. It was just a part of who Edward Cullen was; to accept the responsibility of the lives around him. It was a part of him that on one hand, I adored and on the other, angered me. None of this was his fault. And yet, the knowledge that if he had returned James attentions, he could have saved so many lives must be eating at him right now. I understood that, I did. But did he not also understand that if he had returned James feelings, we would never have found each other? Was he not thinking about us at all? I didn't mean to sound like a whiney teenage girl but without direct conversation with him, its how I felt.

"He's not shutting you out Jasper. He's just confused about which direction to take here," Carlisle was good at reading those around him. I shrugged as if it wasn't important. He smiled sadly and shook his head.

I left the great hall and returned to my room wondering where all of this was going to lead. I'd told him I loved him and yet he hadn't wanted or needed me to be the one to help him solve this. It hurt. I wanted to be the one he turned to when he needed help. That's what partners did, relied on each other. The thought stopped me cold where I stood before my bedroom door.

Partners, when had I started thinking of us in those terms? Before I said the words or as a result of acknowledging my real feelings for him. I didn't know and it didn't matter. I did think of Edward that way as in long term. My resolve was suddenly solidified. I was not going to let James Donovan, a demon, a ghost come between Edward and I. At least that's the way I felt the first day but now it was four days later and I wasn't so sure.

I watched the sun rise in the sky and move toward sunset. At twilight, I had pretty given up hope that he would show up and I took a long hot shower but it didn't help my mood. I grabbed some sleep pants and poured myself a glass of whiskey. Slumping into the chair by the fireplace, I thought about what I could and couldn't do and where the hell he was. I was getting angry all over again.

Not one damn word from the man. Did he honestly think that I would sit here forever and just wait for him to save me like some damn princess in a castle? Enough was enough. I'd give him one more day and then I'd start my own research. I still had my ancestor's books in my office at the campus. I could start with those. Maybe there was something in there that would give us a clue as to where to begin.

"Nay, ye won't find anything in those writings," Evan said coming from out of nowhere. It had been so long since I'd heard him speak; his voice gave me a start.

"What the hell, Evan? Don't sneak up on me like that. Give a guy some warning when you're going to pop in like that," I said calming myself back down.

"Sorry, lad," he answered softly.

"Where in the hell have you been anyway?" I asked sitting back in the chair by the fireplace in my room.

"Oh, nowhere really, just thinking," he answered with a sigh.

"Okay, I'll give you that. But what were you thinking about?" I really wanted to know what seemed to be upsetting him so much.

"Edward," was his only answer.

"Yea well what about him?" I was getting pissed at having to drag it out of him.

"He's avoiding us," he said and seemed to withdraw. Maybe he knew how I would react to that statement.

"What the hell? He's not avoiding you! He's avoiding me and I don't understand it one bit," I yelled out this time. "I fucking told him I loved him and then he just disappears on me. What kind of boyfriend is that?"

"Aye, Jasper calm down. I don't think he's avoiding ye, not really. More than likely it's me, he's avoiding. That's why I've stayed away from ye. Hoping that he would come to ye and explain," he was clearly upset.

"Evan, you didn't do anything wrong. Hell, Edward didn't do anything wrong! This is all James Donovan's fault and I'm tired of everybody taking the blame when the only person that needs to blamed is that son of bitch," I stood and paced the floor now.

"Aye, Jasper it is James that needs to be blamed," he answered. "I know I'm not helping ye much and I fear my time is almost up." He was quiet for a time before he spoke again.

"I just wanted to tell ye thanks for allowing me this time of freedom again," he spoke softly. "I will miss ye, Jasper."

My heart was aching and I realized I had come to think of Evan as being a part of me. Somewhere along the line, he had become more than just a voice in my head. I would miss him too.

"Don't be too angry with him. He'll come to ye in time," his voice was stronger now, determined. "I will do what I can as long as I'm allowed, I promise ye." With that last thought I felt him retreat again.

Draining the whiskey glass, I poured myself another and drained it too. Thinking there was nothing else I could do tonight, I lay down in my bed and thought about everything that had happened over the last few days. How it made me feel and what I could possibly do about any of it? It dawned on me that there was really very little I could do. But I also realized that I was being foolish to be so angry with Edward. He couldn't help the way he felt and acted, after all he was a Chieftain. It was born and bred into him to care for his clan, be strong and right wrongs. It's what made him who he was. The man I fell in love with.

The whiskey helped and soon I was drifting off thinking about those emerald eyes and that mess of bronze on his head and the long lean muscles of his chest and abs. The way he would kiss me senseless and then stare at me for what seemed like hours, drinking me in. I knew he loved me and I knew that everything was going to be alright. I just needed to give him the time he needed and I would. I'd be here when he finally came to me. I wasn't going anywhere. I could be just as strong and willful as him when it came to those I loved.

Sometime during the night, I rolled over sensing that I was not alone. I felt the warmth coming from the fire that had been freshly lit in the hearth. I could smell the heather burning to scent the room. My mind went immediately to Edward; he loved the scent of heather burning. Then I felt the bed dip at the side. There was another scent in the room, closer. It was earth and sun and man, my man. Edward was here.

I opened my eyes to see him sitting beside me staring at the fire across the room. He sighed deeply and reached a hand over to cover one of mine. I wondered how long he had been there, just sitting. When I gripped his fingers firmly in mine, he immediately looked at me. A small sad smile crossed his face and he gently lifted my hand to his lips. They lingered over my skin for a moment, tasting me. I shivered but I wasn't cold.

"I'm sorry I stayed away," he said softly, stretching to lie beside me. I could do nothing but welcome him into my embrace.

"It doesn't matter. You're here now and that's all I care about," I whispered in the firelight of the room. "We'll figure this out Edward, I promise you. Nothing can keep us apart now, if we don't let it."

"Did ye mean what ye said?" he asked as the fingers on his right hand stretched to rub small circles on my hip through my sleeping pants.

For a moment I was lost in his touch, just feeling the emotions he could bring out in me from just a simple touch. I reveled in it, wanted it; needed more of it. The feeling started as a slow burn like a single flame, spread it's warmth through me until the blood in my veins felt like molten lava. Where his fingers still traced those simple circles, my skin was crackling with intensity and my cock was twitching with anticipation.

I opened eyes that I hadn't realized I'd closed and looked deep into an emerald forest dark as night. The way he looked at me, like he was hungry, made my desire for him reach new levels.

"I love you," I said and watched the pain and tiredness fall away from his face to be replaced by a smile full of joy.

His lips were on me before I could take another breath. My heart missed a beat and then began to beat furiously in time with his. Wet and slick; the taste that was only Edward filled my body and my mind while he bruised my lips with his desire.

EPOV

I needed him. God, I needed him. I had acted like a fool, staying away from him. Seeing him lay there in that blue ocean of velvet, his chest bare and the skin glistening, several days' worth of blond beard growing on his cheeks and chin and a halo of curls softly tumbling across the pillow where his head rested caused a blaze to grow in my stomach. A blaze that turned into an ache that spread through my limbs and into my heart where I kept the words he had spoken, "I love you".

He'd said it right there in front of everyone and as happy as that made me, the realization that it changed nothing wore on me like a lead weight around my neck.

James was still winning. He had somehow changed the curse. Now he was controlling us all and there were too many players and possibilities in the game! Someone would not make it out alive, but who?

Jasper stirred in his sleep, called my name softly and reached for me.

"I love you," he whispered.

My body responded immediately, blood rushing through my veins, breaths coming out in pants, cock firming. God what he did to me!

Our lips' touching was just the beginning of where we both knew we would go. Tasting him was like the sweetest treat a man could ever have. Stretching out beside him, he welcomes me into his embrace. It felt so good, so right. I took his lips again hungrily; desire rushing through me. So glad he had forgiven me for staying away.

His face usually soft and hairless was now covered with days' of growth. That he didn't shave let me know his mind had been troubled and probably centered on me and my absence. My only thought was I like the beard. The texture was rough against my own skin and heightened my already intense lust for him.

"Sorry for the gruff," he whispered as I kissed over his cheeks, jaw, chin and neck. The growl that escaped me caused him to chuckle. "Unless that is; you like it."

"Damn straight," was all I could manage as I continued my attack on his jaw; licking, nipping and biting it; rubbing it against my lips and face.

"Alright, then lay back and let's see how you like it touching…other things and places," I could almost hear his eyebrows wiggle, making a shiver run down my spine.

I stretched out on the bed on my back next to him and watched as he threw back the rest of the blue covers revealing his chest. His abs were tense and firm. I could just see the fine hair on his stomach which leads down to my happy place. He smirked at me when I licked my lips in anticipation of kissing him there.

He straddled my hips and grabbed a fist full of my tee shirt to pull me up slightly so he could remove the item he had grasped in his hand. I could feel his cock press ever so lightly against mine and I groaned at the sensation. He bent over at the waist and started kissing his way down my neck to my collarbone taking time to lick and suck the skin before he rubbed his beard across it just rough enough to tingle. I couldn't help but the thrust up against him and he sat up quickly.

"You have to stay still Edward or we'll have to find something to make you stay sill," he said with a slightly evil look in his eye. I gulped loudly. He laughed quietly and continued to kiss across my chest.

When he rubbed his beard across my already hard nipple, I thought I would scream from the feeling that it gave me. I know I mumbled something about Mary Mother of Jesus and Jasper giggled against my chest. He slowly licked a line across my chest to the other nipple and proceeded to give it the same treatment causing me to writhe and moan. I just couldn't help it.

"Damn it Jasper, it feels so bloody good," I tried to tell him what he was doing to me. He just kept going.

I noticed then that he had begun to slip down my hips. At the precise moment he stuck his tongue in my belly button and proceeded to fuck it, I felt him unzipping my jeans. Damn he was good. He tugged slightly letting me know he needed me to lift my hips and he had my jeans off in one swift motion. I opened my eyes to see him on his knees, straddled across my upper thighs as he wiggled his sleep pants down and his own stiff cock popped out to bounce against his flat stomach. I'm not sure how he did it but in a flash we were both completely naked and he was eyeing my length as if he hadn't eaten in days.

Ever so slowly he slid his bottom down my legs stopped at my knees and bent forward again. He began rubbing his beard in both sides of the v below my waist. Down one side and then up the other, kissing, biting and then rubbing with his beard, sometimes he switched. First he'd rub his beard and then lick or kiss where the rough hairs had caused friction.

He hadn't even touched my weeping cock and I was going to blow. This was the most intense experience I had ever had. And Jasper had given me a lot of experiences since we had begun this relationship. I felt him rise above my legs just below my knees and he motioned for me to spread my legs out for him. Of course, I obeyed.

My legs spread wide; Jasper resumed a position on his knees but between my legs this time. He started with my left foot and began the long trek up my leg to the left side of my groin. I felt him kiss, lick, and nibble every inch of my leg; stopping every few inches to rub his beard where his fucking fantastic mouth had been. I was in heaven; a slow tortuous heavenly heaven. By the time he made it up my right leg, my entire body was visibly trembling from the strain of keeping control over my spreading orgasm.

"Jasper you are driving me mad. If ye don't put yer mouth on my cock soon, I may die," I whined at him. His only response was to chuckle against my ball sack causing me to writhe even more.

He rubbed his beard roughly across the same spot he had just chuckled against and a low growl emerged from deep inside me. I thrust up sharply and nearly threw Jasper off my body.

"Enough!" I yelled and Jasper immediately jumped up only to sit down just as quickly wedging both our cocks between our bodies.

"Jasper, I want ye now," I said my voice sounding rough and low even to me. His eyes darkened and became hooded. He pointed to the bedside table where I found what we needed in the top drawer.

He took the sheath from my hand and tore open the tiny package with his teeth being careful not to tear the thin rolled material inside. I watched as he rose above me above me and rolled it over my engorged member, stroking it several times to harden it amazingly even more. Opening the lube I motioned him to get on his knees. He turned across my lap until his firm sweet arse was right in front of me.

Reaching out I grabbed each perfect globe and kneaded it gently. A smirk formed on my face that he couldn't see.

"Ye will not tease me thus again, will ye Jasper," I said as I drew back a hand and let it slap against the firm mound before me. Jasper yelped and looked back at me over his shoulder with an amazed look on his face.

"I 'er thought…you liked…the beard," he mumbled out quickly.

"Aye, I did," I said as I pulled back to give the other cheek a slap while he watched. "What I didn't like was ye teasing me thus." This time Jasper groaned and I heard his breath catch in his throat.

"I would never tease you and not please you, Edward," he said softly and I immediately felt remorse for striking him so. "But don't tease me now. Fuck me Edward. Fuck me hard and deep." His voice was gruff with need and it made me tremble with desire.

He watched as I opened the tiny bottle and tipped it over his crack letting the oil slide down to where I would soon be connected to him. One finger easily slipped into his rose colored entrance. He ground against me and begged for another.

"More, God more Edward, deeper," he thrust back against my hand.

Two fingers were snugger and the tightened for just a moment against them then relaxed and let me plunge them deep.

"Fuck, so good!" he cried out. "Need you now Edward. I want to feel you inside me."

Coming to my knees I placed the purple head of my cock against his skin, rubbed it up and down the ridge between his glorious mounds. Friction heated up the skin of both our bodies making it impossible to not touch each other more. One swift move and the head was inside the first wall of muscle. I stopped to give him time to relax and when I felt his body do so, I pushed on. Jasper pushed back against me at the same time causing me cock to fully seat in him quickly. I could feel ever ridge, every hot inch of his tunnel surrounding me, tightening, milking my cock.

"So Bloody Good! So hot and tight, Jasper it feels like nothing ever has," I whispered against his back, leaving soft kisses on his shoulders. "I love ye Jasper. I love ye more than I ever thought it was possible to love someone. Say it. Say ye love while we are joined thus." I begged to hear the words from him again.

His body shook beneath me. He panted harshly with the exertion of control he was using. This man who allowed me to join with him this was everything to me, everything I had ever dreamed of having. He pushed back against me again and his words were soft and sweet.

"I…(thrust)…love…(thrust)…you…(thrust)…Edward. Only you," he said clearly and directly to my heart.

I felt one lone tear slide down my cheek and stilled inside him for only a moment. He was mine and I was his and nothing and no one would be allowed to ever come between us. Something wild broke free inside me in that moment and my movements became strong and true. I pushed up knowing that the angle would give him the most pleasure, I heard him scream my name as a result.

It was all heat and fire and passion, groans and grunts of pure need. Each thrust of our bodies bringing us closer to where we became one being. I felt my balls tighten. I heard Jasper call my name, felt the spasm rock his body and it pushed mine over the edge into an abyss of pure ecstasy. Sometime later our hot sweaty, panting bodies collapsed together into a pile of limbs and tussled sheets and bed throws. Neither of us able to speak, neither of us wanting to leave the emotionally charged pairing we had completed. Only needing to be connected, nothing else mattered.

APOV

Edward had gone to Jasper and for the first time in days I could think; make plans. There was so much to do and I know she wouldn't leave me alone for long. I was right.

I felt her presence long before she entered the lower library where Edward and I had been holed up. My body reacted with the warning signs of danger approaching, just as it should. Cold chills washed over me along with a strong sense of foreboding. This was it. We knew she'd approach me when I was alone and make the offer. And here she was right on time.

"Hello, Jane or should I call you Victoria and save the pleasantries," I couldn't help the bitter feeling spewing from me.

She stood there smiling smugly at me. Something sweet innocent Jane would never have done. My heart broke again for her and how she was being used in James evil plot.

"Come now Alice, you've read Cil's words. You know this is the only answer to save him," she stated as she slowly walked a circle around me in the center of the room. "So tell me Alice, do you love him enough to save him…for someone else?" She laughed to herself when my eyes revealed what she assumed was pain.

"Cil thought she was so clever. Waiting until Evan's reincarnate came here. You know, she knew that there was enough of her DNA that carried down through the ages, in you, that you wouldn't be able to help yourself. You didn't have a chance in hell!" she snapped at me suddenly. "She doomed you to repeat her process. Die for the man you love. What a crock of shit!"

I could see her agitation grow as she spoke. Arms flaring, face reddening as her anger tried to break free from Jane's tiny body. Suddenly she stopped in front of me, face solidifying into an evil twisted thing.

"But you and I Alice, we can get our revenge. James and Evan and now Jasper only wanted Edward. Edward the perfect! Edward the ass! They didn't care about the women who loved them; just Edward," the last time she said his name, if felt like a filthy slime oozing over me. I couldn't help the shiver. She mistook is for compliance with what she had said.

For a moment we stood staring at each other; sizing the other up. She was waiting for me to consent or deny my help. Closing my eyes, I briefly prayed, "Let me have the strength and don't let her figure it out."

"What do you want me to do Victoria?" I asked drawing out each word for emphasis my eyes still closed slowly opened to take her in.

A smile so venomous a snake would be envious crossed her face. She placed one of Jane's slim arms around my shoulder and pulled me close to her body.

"Oh sweet, sweet Alice; it really isn't much," she hesitated before hideous laughter broke from her lips. "All you have to do is…die."

An hour later, the scene was set and she was gone. I was on my own now. Edward would not like any of it. So I wouldn't tell him. At the moment, I couldn't see any way out of what she planned. I felt resigned.

James would be destroyed. Edward and Jasper would be free to love each other, grow old together. The rest of the family would be safe. Alec would get his sister back. Victoria would have her revenge. And I would be gone. In the plan of things, my life meant little when so much would be gained.

"BULLSHIT!" sounded a female voice in my head. I jumped from the chair where I had been sitting since Victoria had left the room.

"Did you hear me, lass? I said bloody BULLSHIT," she screamed at me again.

"Cil?" I questioned. She'd never actually spoken to me.

"Who the hell else would be in your head since I made sure of your DNA? And who does that witch think she is making all those plans anyway?" she continued to rant. I couldn't help the chuckle that bubbled up inside me.

"You know, I never expected to hear you curse so much. I thought you were a lady," I laughed as I spoke out loud.

"I am a lady. I'm just a little ticked off at the moment," she huffed finally settling down.

"Everything is going to be fine Alice. I promise," the certainty in her voice warmed me. She truly cared.

"How can you say that Cil," I asked her then added in a quieter voice, "What's it like?"

"What's what like," she returned.

"Being dead," I couldn't help the sadness creeping into my voice.

"Alice, I'm not going to let that happen," she whispered. "Everyone is going to get what they deserve. I've waited a long time to see all this righted."

"How long do I…we have?" I just wanted it over with.

"A week maybe two should be enough. Will the rest of the players be here? You know she has to be here?" Cil asked.

"I haven't spoken to them yet but I'm sure they'll all agree we need a good memory to replace the one of Vicki's death," I answered Cil. "Does she even realize yet what's happening?"

"No, but it will soon become quite clear. Don't worry everything will be okay," she assured me once more.

"Now no more spoken words, going forward only speak to me in your mind. No one, not James, not Victoria or even Edward must know of my presence. And especially not Jasper," she sighed deeply. "I'm afraid; Evan would try to stop us. He can't know I'm here this time."

The rest of the conversation was unheard by anyone else, human or not. By the time I dragged myself to bed, I felt like maybe, just maybe, we stood a slim chance to pull this off.

Walking by Jasper's bedroom, I couldn't help but smile. The sounds coming from behind the closed door were clearly proof that Jasper and Edward had reconnected. My only thought was he was worth it, no matter the cost.

EPOV

Sleep over came us both quickly and it was morning before either of us stirred again. I awoke to find Jasper lying across my chest, his leg thrown over my waist while one arm draped across my shoulder. He was beautiful. I didn't care if it sounded wrong for a man to think that way about another man. He was and he loved me. My heart swelled one more time at the thought.

But as quickly as the thought warmed me, the anger at the curse left on us came just as quickly. There had to be a way to end this. I was so sure that we would find the answer in Cil's journal but nothing made any sense when Alice and I kept going over it. Every idea I came up with, Alice found fault in, every single one. Thought ran through my mind so quickly that I shot up virtually pushing Jasper off me and awakening him.

"Edward, what the hell," Jasper asked brushing his hair out of his eyes. Then adding, "What's wrong?" when he saw the look on my face.

"Alice," I said staring at him. "I think Alice knows how to break the rest of the curse."

"Well, that's good isn't it?" he asked sitting up beside me and pulling me against him.

"Somehow I don't this so," I answered.

"Let's get a shower and dress then we'll find her and talk to her," Jasper said as he began to kiss my neck below my ear.

I groaned softly at the fell of his lips pressed to my skin.

"If you keep that up, we won't be going anywhere anytime soon," I said as I captured those lips with my own. It was his turn to groan. Hesitant to break away from each other, we lingered for awhile, just touching and sharing soft sweet kisses; never letting it grow into something heated.

Pulling away finally, I placed my forehead against his and looked into that endless blue sea of Jasper's eyes.

"Ye have a way of making me forget everything but you. Shower? Food?" I asked and he nodded with a grin when his stomach let out a low growl.

"Say it again," I whispered against his lips.

"I love you, Edward Cullen, Chieftain of Cullen Manor," he whispered back. Aye, life was so good.

I hope you all enjoyed and I should be back on posting schedule now. For those of you who have read some of my other stories. I am finally working on the epilogue for Finding Myself Again! and I have had a request for a couple of outtakes from different points of view on Money Matters which I am very excited about working on. So let me know what you thought and if you want to yell at me for taking so long that's okay too. I really do understand. Thanks for reading and reviewing,