A/N This was a hard chapter to write and I'm still not entirely happy with it. With that said, here it is. If you like it please review. Even better if you don't like it tell me why.

Bonus, two chapters at once!

Mrs. Meyers Characters are hers, not mine.

Special thanks to Lil-sunandstars, my great Beta Reader.

Secrets

A Darkened room

"Why didn't you just do your thing while we were in the hallway?" Charles hissed. His face was contorted as if something he wanted very badly was very close but just out of reach.

"Her bonds are strong," Chelsea retorted. "I will have to be in actual physical contact with her for my gift to be effective."

"If I were already changed, I'm certain I could alter her mood to be much more friendly towards you, Chelsea," Charles intimated, a fox like smile beginning to creep across his oddly malevolent face.

Her answer was to violently backhand him, sending him flying across the room. He landed with a loud crash upon a cheap coffee table, demolishing the flimsy bit of furniture. Charles stared at Chelsea, his eyes consumed with hatred. He wiped away the trickle of blood oozing from his lower lip. If he was alarmed to be bleeding in Chelsea's presence, his face did not show it. It occurred to him that one day soon, when he possessed the strength of a newborn, she'd pay dearly for this.

"You forget who runs this show little…human," she said, her voice dripping with undisguised contempt. "Your change depends entirely upon your delivery of the girl to me. If you succeed we shall see."

Fighting to retain control of himself, Charles answered. "I understand my job here, and I will do it Chelsea."

"Good." She smiled. "And Charles, if she requires my touch for my gift to be effective, I must be alive for my ministrations to remain in effect. Our superiors would be highly upset should this little gambit not succeed. Already nine assassins have been sacrificed. If you ever plan to be changed, you'd do well to remember that."

Charles stared at her, hatred still burning in his eyes.

"I won't forget."

BPOV

Alice sat bolt upright in bed. I'd been holding her close and this was equivalent to a bucket of ice water being flung upon me. I knew she was having a vision, but I'd never really grown accustomed to her visions, I'd rather just accepted them.

"What's wrong Alice?" My voice was strangely tremulous.

She flung herself into my arms inside the safe haven of our little cabin. I was acutely aware of how well our naked bodies fit together, but sex was far from my mind; Alice was worrying me.

"Things are going to go wrong Bella, really wrong. Something to do with you, me, and Nessie. Bella it's bad. I can't see it all, but it's bad"

I gathered her tiny frame in my arms. Everything seemed so safe and beyond question or wonder here in our little cabin. I stroked her raven hair softly, peering into her golden eyes. She was worrying me badly, but I could not show that just right now.

"Alice, please." I was not begging, but was close. "Please tell me what you saw."

She snuggled her tiny body closer. She peered into my eyes, matching honey colored eyes dancing, nearly a wrestling match.

"Bella, things are going to go badly. I mean really badly. Someone, and I can't tell who or where, is thinking bad things about Nessie. You know how badly she clouds my visions. Bel…Bella, I can't be away from you; I can't be without you. I just can't. No matter how bad things get, I can't be away. You're everything to me."

We'd never discussed this in so raw a form, and I was stunned to feel dry tears beginning to form in my eyes.

"Alice, listen," I pushed her now disheveled hair away from her incomparable face and kissed her. "I've known this a while,and I think you have to…"

I paused. I knew this would change everything. I was willing to destroy so much, but I could not help it. From the first time we met, her icy cold pixie hand had grasped my heart. I'd a feeling now she'd never let go. It made me want to cry and laugh about what I was going to say.

"You are my mate, Alice, my soulmate, and I cannot live without you. If the entire world went on without you in it, there would be no place for me, no safe harbor; yet wherever you are, if it's a mansion or a hovel, it is paradise enough. Without you, I'd be totally adrift, and I'd soon find a way to end myself. Do you understand? Without you I'm nothing..."

I drew a deep, unnecessary breath trying desperately to organize my thoughts. Alice's face was happy, sad, hopeful, and mournful all at the same time. I wanted to protect her from anything bad in this world, to love her and keep her safe. I wanted her to be MINE.

"But so long as you exist, I am happy. So long as you are with me, I will face anything and everything. Alice, I love you, and if you leave me, if you ever leave this world, I won't be far behind. I can't live without you and my feelings won't change. This feels like forever and ever to me. I want to see you every day, to kiss you everyday, to love you every day…forever." I paused, knowing I had to say one more thing.

"You must understand one thing, Alice. No matter how much I love you, no matter what happens, no matter what, Nessie will always come first. If anyone ever tries to hurt Nessie, I will kill them, just like I'd kill anyone that hurt you."

"You think I don't love Nessie just as much as you do, darling Bella?" She mock slapped my face.

"Oh gods, Bella." She began kissing me as if I might get away. "I can't stand a single day without you, ever. Oh, my sweet, Bella."

She paused and looked at me, love written large in her eyes and pixie face.

"What have we done, Bella? How many will we hurt? Where will this end?"

I had no real answer, so I kissed her in as gentle a way as I could.

"We fell in love, Alice."

Carlisle POV

I saw them coming in, holding hands. They always did, but I could tell, something had changed. We'd all seen this coming, really from the moment they met. Living hundreds of years affords what some might call wisdom, but I doubt if I live thousands of years I will ever understand the mysteries of the female heart.

Esme had been the first to see this coming, from the very start. I remember the day Alice and Bella met. Alice had said to her, "You and I are going to be great friends," then hugged her before backing away abruptly, "Oh, you do smell good."

Esme had touched me lightly then whispered, "This will hurt Edward. Those two glow so brightly together that it almost blinds me."

I'd learned long ago not to ignore my wife's intuition. Instead I'd stashed it away, hoping any potential problem might go away. Obviously it had not.

I looked at Alice and Bella, and as calmly as I could manage, asked, "Can we three go have a talk in my study while Jasper and Edward are away?"

They didn't seem surprised, and Alice nodded. I led the way into my personal space. Everyone in the household knew it was soundproof, and it was here I had private discussions with Esme or, more often, my children. I looked at Alice and Bella sitting in leather chairs on the opposite side of my desk and realized something.

I loved all my children. I would lay down my life, or perhaps afterlife as it were, for any of them, but there was something about these two. They were both immensely gifted and fiercely stubborn, both beautiful and both as caring as any being I'd ever met in my hundreds of years. Yet there was something about them, a character trait they seemed to share. It was as if there the same emotional vulnerabilities coursed through them both. These were emotional vulnerabilities that could destroy them, singly or together. Something that perhaps made them my favorites in spite of myself.

Finally, I spoke. "Shall I tell you what we all suspect, well suspect is perhaps a bit too circumspect a term. What we all think we know but none of us talk about?"

Bella peered at her shoes. It was obvious from her facial expression she was mortified to discuss this with me. I understood; Bella had been without a father much of her life, and her immediate adoption of me in that role reflected that. Alice grasped her hand in a protective manner.

"What is it everyone thinks they know?" she asked, matter of factly.

"I'll be blunt, Alice," I responded, my word measured and slow. "You two were the best of friends. Whenever you were together, it made everyone in this household happy. Frankly, Alice, something has changed, dramatically."

Bella looked up, a fire in her golden eyes I'd seen before. If Alice was fire in a bottle, then Bella was a lioness, unassuming but fiercely proud. Her nurturing and protective instincts rivaled those of my wife, which was saying something.

"Look, I think everyone here knows exactly what's going on, Carlisle, and I want to be totally honest. I am not giving Alice up, not ever, not under any circumstances."

Alice looked embarrassed and fiercely proud at the same time. I was honestly proud of Bella's courage too. Still I had to try and prevent as much damage to my family as I could, if only for Esme's sake. She'd seen this coming years ago.

"Bella, all this begs one question," I said, in as soft a tone as I could manage. "What about Jasper and Edward?" To her credit Bella did not hesitate.

"I can't speak for Alice's relationship with Jasper, and I wouldn't if I could, but with Edward," her face looked anguished, "I still love Edward, I always will, but after Nessie was born something changed. I wasn't his wife and lover anymore, Carlisle, that was going through the motions for him. I was a Mother, something I think meant different things during his upbringing 100 years ago than it does now. Alice, well, Alice has been special to me since the moment I met her. This would have happened no matter what, but Edward made it happen faster, for me at least."

Alice seemed about to speak when there was a knock on the door. Esme stuck her head through the open doorway.

"Bella, Nessie is home early, and she's crying. I think you'd better come out to her."

Everything else forgotten, Bella dashed into the living room behind Esme.

NPOV

School was different today. It was sunny, so Mom couldn't come, and while Mom's presence was like a security blanket for me at school, I had a sense of freedom and adventure. I loved my family like crazy, but sometimes I think my accelerated youth had left them still thinking that I was a little girl.

After Grandmother dropped me off, I headed towards my group of friends or "coterie," as Mom called them, when I was intercepted by a giddy Kandi.

"Okay, Nessie, spill!" She was literally hopping up and down. I was mystified and a little scared.

"I'm not sure, um, what are you talking about Kandi?"

"We all saw you talking to Stacey after the game! He never talks to anybody! And he is so totally fine," she gushed.

"He's shy, Kandi," I was surprised by my urge to defend him, "but he does seem sweet."

"Sweet? SWEET? Nessie he's the biggest thing EVER at Forks High and you are the first girl he's talked to in four years! So spill!"

"Well Kandi, he's really nice. Really shy and," I bit my lower lip, "really cute."

"Oh, I knew it!" If anything she was even more hyper than before. "You like him." She made it a statement instead of a question. Suddenly my shoes became intensely interesting so I stared at them.

"So what's your plan, Nessie? You cannot let this opportunity pass you by."

"Well," I mumbled, "we're going to eat lunch together today."

"Oh, Nessie!" she exclaimed. "You have to let me know every detail, and of course I'll do everything I can to help you. Can I do your make-up and hair when you have your first date?"

I was stunned. Of all things I'd imagined for this morning, Kandi going all BFF on me was not something I'd foreseen.

"Well, it's just lunch Kandi," I said in a low tone.

"He'll ask you out, Nessie, I just know it!" She was bouncing up and down again. "You and your sister, Roxanne are so beautiful. We all notice. Roxanne is totally shy, but I can tell she really loves you; everyone who meets you loves you. Let me fix you up when he asks you out, please?"

She was in BFF mode still, and amazingly, something about it felt really good. I softly touched her arm.

"If it goes that far, Kandi, I can't think of anyone I'd rather have help me."

She beamed at me and hugged me tight. This was totally new; it felt really nice to have a friend.

We parted ways, heading for our classes. I was on my way, when Charles sidled up beside me.

"Hey, Nessie, is Roxanne sick or something?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, between classes she's never far from you, and I don't see her around today."

"Roxanne has stomach flu." I fixed Charles with a gaze, something about him was beginning to freak me out.

"Well, maybe you can have lunch with me and Chelsea today?" He looked hopeful.

"No can do Chuckster. Stacey and I have a lunch date." I smiled at him, a mean, little smile. I'm normally not a mean person, but I was finding more and more pushy people irritated me.

"Sometime soon then Nessie, and by the way, you make a great cheerleader."

I didn't have time to thank him before he rushed off to class. I had to rush too or I'd be late.

The time before lunch passed slowly. I knew far more in all these subjects than was being taught here, so I passed my time observing other students reactions to me. There was none of the jealousy I'd have expected, at least not noticeably. Everyone seemed to genuinely like me. It was very unlike their perception of my preternaturally perfect Mom. She was largely quiet when at school and did not hide her protectiveness of me. In some ways, I was fiercely proud she felt that way about me, and in others, embarrassed she felt I needed the protection.

I did realize I was slowly becoming something other than the new girl. I'd be very interested in seeing what that turned out to be. Finally, the bell rang for lunch, and I rushed towards the dining area, butterflies in my stomach.

When I arrive, I waited just inside the door. Time crawled in a way that only someone who has watched a teapot waiting for it to boil can really relate to. The cafeteria (Or Le Café Forks as we in the sport of cheer referred to it) began to fill. I was about to seek out my friends and join them when Stacey walked in.

"Uh, hi, uh, Nessie," he said.

I decided to take the bull by the horns.

"Hi again, Stacey." I took his hand, and he blushed beet red. "Let's get some lunch."

I led him to the serving line, and across Le Café Forks I could see Kandi waving and silently applauding.

Once we'd gotten our food I led, Stacey to Kandi's and a few other cheerleaders' table. He was a gentleman, pulling my chair out for me and waiting for me to sit before he did. Oddly, this reminded me of Uncle Jasper and his old-fashioned, polite ways. He sat in the chair beside me. I'm not sure why, but once he sat down, I scooted my chair closer to his.

"Hi, Stacey," Kandi said, a sweet and friendly tone in her voice. "I see you and Nessie have met each other."

"Uh, yeah, Kandi. I, erm, met her last night."

"Isn't she just the best?" Kandi exclaimed. Stacey just blushed more. I clearly needed to bring out more of what he was on court into his real life. I smiled and said, "Nessie is sitting right here, there's no need to talk about me as if I'm not."

Kandi blushed herself now. It stood out in stark contrast to her raven hair.

"Sorry, Nessie." She extended her hand and touched mine briefly.

I smiled, and said, "So Stacey, tell us what Kentucky is like."

After he'd stammered about how pretty Kentucky is for a while, I took his hand and said, "How about a walk before lunch is over?"

I'd never seen anyone look so relieved. Kandi was beaming from across the table. We got rid of our trays and headed outside, walking aimlessly in silence across the school grounds. I was between the gym and the main building when we were confronted by four guys, guys whom I could only charitably describe as greasy. Two of them had what I'd describe as makeshift baseball bats.

"Bryant," the largest one of them said, his tone seething with anger. "Mister Basketball, Mister Kentucky."

"And now he's with the prettiest girl in school," one of the other greasy flunkies added.

"We'll see what Kentucky thinks once we finish with him," the leader said, slapping his neo-bat into his palm.

"Yeah, and little Miss Sunshine Cheerleader won't be so pretty then either." His flunky felt compelled to add.

Stacey shoved me behind him.

"Run, Nessie," he said, surprisingly calm and confident. One thought ran through my mind.

Oh, Hell no!

Before I knew it, I acted. I was whirling between the boys faster than they could react. In a matter of seconds, all were on the ground, unconscious or moaning in pain. I had no fear of them telling anyone. A cheerleader beating all four of their asses would hardly increase their street credibility, but then I noticed Stacey was looking at me strangely.

"Nessie how did you do that?" His eyes were like saucers. "Nessie, what are you?"

I looked in his confused eyes and could not bear it. Felling tears well up in my eyes, I turned and ran for home. When I got there, I went straight inside to find Grandmother. I was still crying and blubbering nonsense at her. She disengaged from me and left for a few seconds before returning, followed closely by Mom. Mom ran and knelt beside me on the carpeted floor, immediately pulling me tight to her breast. She stroked my hair and patted my back with exaggerated tenderness.

"Nessie, Nessie, what's wrong, baby girl?"

I looked at her through my tears. "Oh Momma, I've ruined everything."

A/N If you feel kind review, if you disliked it's even more important you tell me why.