Chapter 14

Alice and Jasper threw on their winter jackets and prepared to head out the house. Carlisle and Esme walked down the stairs, hand in hand, as they were about to leave.

"Where are you off to?" Esme asked.

"To take a midnight stroll," Jasper told them.

"How romantic," Emmett joked from the couch.

Alice brushed him off, "We'll be back in an hour, or so."

The two of them made their way into the night, far away from the Cullen house. Jasper waited for Alice to stop, as she set the pace for their destination. When she finally did, he looked toward her with concern. "What's going on, Alice?"

" I had a vision, Jasper."

He placed a hand on her shoulder, "Of what?"

"Aro. He's nearby," then added, "With Jane, and I'm not sure if there's anyone else."

"Where?"

" It looks like a little house, somewhere in the area." She shook her head, "He's going to come here and talk to Carlisle. Jane told him something that got his attention."

"The second he touches Carlisle's hand he'll know." Jasper seemed to let out a sigh, pondering what could be done to prevent this. "Why don't we send them to Isle Esme."

"That's just a temporary solution, Jasper." Alice said, "He's going to meet with him sooner or later. They can't just be on the run forever."

"What is Aro going to do?" Jasper asked. Alice shook her head, "I don't know. I haven't been able to see past him holding Carlisle's hand."

"The wolves," Jasper speculated. "I don't know what the right thing to do here is. If it comes down to it, we may need the wolves again as we have in the past. As much as I hate to admit it, they've helped us. But on the same note, they are messing up my visions."

"I wish we could send Edward to read Aro's thoughts without him being able to see everything in Edward's head."

"Bella could shield it, couldn't she?" Jasper asked.

"Possibly."

"Maybe we should make sure the wolves won't be around during Aro's visit. Then your vision could become complete."

"I don't know how I'm going to hide this from Edward," Alice told him. "Maybe we shouldn't be hiding it, Alice."

"I don't think we're going to be able to resolve this the someway with did with Renesme. I've been looking into it."

"I know you have." Jasper looked deep in thought, "Maybe Aro won't view this as a bad thing. It's never been done."

"There is that chance," Alice agreed, "But there's also an equal or better chance that he will go the complete opposite way."

Jasper looked at her, "We have to tell them all what you know."

Alice nodded in agreement, almost angry at herself for wanting to hide it in the first place.

"Can we keep Aro away before the birth of the child?" Jasper asked.

"I'm not sure right now." Alice told him. Disppointment crossed her face.

"What if we send them to Isle Esme if Aro gets close," Jasper suggested, "Not forever, but just until the baby is born. Carlisle is a doctor, he doesn't need any of us, as much as we'd all like to be there when he comes into the world."

She nodded again, "If it's absolutely necessary."

"We'll keep looking for better solutions," Jasper promised, "Like we did last time. You managed to save us all."

Alice replayed the vision of Jasper being ripped apart by two enemy vampires that would have occurred in their last battle with the Volturi had Aro decided to go ahead with the fight. The thought caused pain to caress her entire body and pain her mind. Jasper sensed her anxiety and used his mood altering gift to change that.

She smiled at him, "I love when you do that, but it's not fair."

"All is fair in love." He kissed her gently.

She returned the kiss but finished his sentence with a stern tone, "And war."