Edward's POV

I was sitting outside with the rest of our forces silently, tensely. I couldn't stop myself from hearing everyone's fretful thoughts.

Our future seer was too wrapped up in thoughts of mingled horror and fear to try find out what was going on.

So like every other coven, we could only wait and hope.

But then she screamed.

None of us were prepared for that, and I swear if I had working body system, I would have had a heart attack.

My favorite sister's heart-broken wail echoed through the trees.

Emmett panicked and raced into the house, but the rest of us understood.

I reached out for her thoughts timidly as every head turned to me.

I definitely lied earlier. I can not take this. I can't physically handle the knowledge that he's dead…

I quickly ripped myself away from her, I can't handle her agony.

Rosalie looked ready to cry, "Is he?"

My eyes must have told her yes, because she looked away and her shoulders started to tremble. I heard thoughts of panic ripple across those of us gathered and I hastily tried to calm everyone down, hugging Rosalie gently at the same time.

"Let's not jump to conclusions, everyone, I don't know what she saw. She's been wrong before, even if she did see the worst. There is a very good chance that everyone is coming home. It only takes a fraction of a second to alter a destiny."

My voice was very firm and confident, even though I didn't believe them. Alice was stronger then she looks, she would not be so mournful unless she saw him dead. I'm almost positive.

I glared defiantly at everyone until their fears started to shallow into worrying once again. We could not know for sure until our family returns home.

It took two hours, and then we heard footsteps. I snapped my head up and Rosalie gently pulled away from me. Three familiar people stepped into the yard.

My eyes completely skipped over Tanya and Carlisle, they were all for Esme. I felt my wary mind spark alive and refreshed.

She was okay! She was alive, and home, back to the family that loves her so dearly.

A darted behind Rosalie and over to her. Her thoughts entered my mind strongly as she embraced her daughter.

Oh, my Rose, my little girl! I thought I wasn't going to she her ever again. None of them.

Rosalie sniffled and stepped aside, not caring when Carlisle happily wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her shoulder.

I felt my lower lip tremble as she turned and wrapped her arms around me, clinging to me hard.

Edward, Edward, Edward…

I lost my control at the same time she did and I felt myself chocking on dry sobs as I pressed my nose against her collarbone, sucking in her soft scent.

I was just in my third year my new life when Esme joined the family. For a while, while we tested each others waters, I considered her an older sister. But she quickly changed that as she naturally took the role I missed so terribly; my mother.

She may not have birthed me, but she's the only mom I could ever want in this endless existence.

Until Alice showed up she was my best friend.

Until I had Bella, she was my favirote person in the world.

And I almost lost her!

She rubbed my back a little as she pulled her emotions into check. I absolutely refused to unwrap myself from her though, I wasn't ready to let her go again yet. She seemed to understand, and she tightened her grip on me.

Peter's quiet voice broke up the emotional greeting, "Where's Jasper?"

I snapped my head up and looked over Esme's shoulder. Jasper…

Oh god, he was gone!

Tanya mumbled, "We need to speak to Alice about that."

Oh no.

Rosalie whispered, "She was right, then."

Tanya assured us, "It isn't what you think. Please, where's Alice?"

I glanced sharply at her and she forced a smile.

They are holding him prisoner, but he's alive. Edward, where is Alice? It's important, it's what he wanted.

I nodded and forced myself to let go of Esme, "She's in her room with Bella and Emmett. Come on."

Carlisle let go of Rosalie and took Esme's hand, remaining outside with our friends. I took Tanya up the stairs and opened the door to my sister's room.

When Alice saw us she wailed, "Oh, it's true! No, Jasper! Why?"

Her head fell back into Bella's lap and she closed her eyes, gasping for air. She was screaming at herself in her mind.

Jasper I'm so sorry! I should have never asked you to go, there must have been another way! This is all my fault. I need you…

Emmett's thoughts were not much better as he pet Alice's head.

Oh man, Jasper… You were one of the best brothers I could have ever asked for. At least you went out fighting, like you always wanted.

I sprang onto the bed and lifted Alice into a hug, "Alice honey, calm down, he's alive."

My protective older-brother mentality flared inside of me, I hated seeing her like this! I'd have said anything to make her feel better.

Alice opened her eyes, looking miserable.

She clearly knew that I'd say anything, because she frowned and asked silently, Is he really? Don't give me any of that 'he's alive in spirit' nonsense, either.

I kissed her forehead and promised, laughing a little bit, "He really is. Tanya will explain."

She was stricken with such relief she couldn't even form a coherent thought at first.

Then she started praising every religion's god in their respective language.

When she finally tamed her over zealous delight she gazed at Tanya expectantly.

Our friend joined us on the bed and started off gently.

"You can't possibly imagine how well he did, Alice. I was scared out of my life, the man he was against was a monster. You looked small." She glanced at Emmett, indicating she was using him as the comparison.

Tanya continued, "There was more then once that I was afraid it was over, afraid that Jasper just wasn't enough. But then he just did it, he came through for us. That's when the female got upset."

Alice was extremely attentive, "And?"

"The one he killed was the leader's brother. They surrounded Jasper, and she made it very clear that if we wanted to get Esme back home, we had to leave Jasper."

Bella asked, with surprising sharpness, "But why would you?"

Tanya was unfazed- she was actually very understanding.

"Because it's what he wanted. He told me that if anything happened; and I assume that includes not dying but being held prisoner; to come back home and make sure Alice knows. He wants you to take charge now that he's gone."

Alice frowned, "Why not Carlisle?"

I answered her, "In that Emotional Psychology course I took with Jasper last year, we learned that people who have suffered a lot of mental distress may seem fine after a while, but it could take years for them to be the same again. Carlisle should be normal in just a few months, but he's definitely not up to par. He won't be able to make rational or complex decisions until he can get over the agony he has been in recently."

He needs time to heal, in simple terms, and we shouldn't stress him any more.

Alice's eyes blazed with such a ferocious desperation; such a fierceness; that I could almost taste it.

She sprang off of the bed and snapped, "What are we all sitting around for, then? We need to train! We need to make sure we are more prepared then necessary so we can win when we go with Marcus to spring Jazz."

Bella took Emmett's hand and laughed as she dragged him out to the others. Tanya followed more slowly, and I watching Alice disappear into her closet. She returned a second later with a little box. Opening it she extracted a gray hat. It had a flag patched onto the top and a cross-gun pin on the front.

It was Jasper's confederate officer hat. Not the original one, but it looked just like it.

Actually, he's said it isn't even a Major's hat, but it's the best he could find.

She smiled as she ran her thumb along the flag that was patched on top. "He put this here, did you know that? He said that the real hats didn't have them, but he felt this one needed it."

I smiled, "I know. I remember laughing at how frustrated he was getting because he kept doing it wrong. Esme came and helped him."

Alice laughed and sat down, putting the hat on her head and then taking out the long over-coat.

She pressed her nose against it and asked, "Do you think he's going to be alright, Edward?"

I sat down beside her and rested my head against hers, looking down at the jacket with her.

"Jasper has been through much worse then this, Alice."

Her mind started to protest, and I hissed, "Don't."

I gently tilted her head so she was looking at me, "Don't do that to yourself, Alice. Listen to me."

She swallowed hard and I promised her, "He knew what he was getting himself into. He's alive, isn't he? Jasper is… the warrior of the Cullen clan." She giggled a little bit. "He will be fine for as long as it takes us to get him back."

Alice hugged me before silently pulling away. She opened her window and forced a smile for all of the people who looked up to her.

She looked like a pirate in the bird's nest, this high up.

Straightening her hat she barked, "Alright slackers, your general is in trouble. Let's get to work!" And then she sprang right out of the window.

mad-dog-13: Do I get my cookie now? :)