Control

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!

Part Twenty

Edward paced up and down in front of Alice. "You must be able to see something." He demanded.

Alice sighed in exasperation. "I think I have mentioned that I can't see past the wolves on more than one occasion."

Edward wasn't in the mood for sarcasm. He shot Alice a dark look, which she just ignored completely. He was even more affronted when she pulled out her cell phone and started to check her social media platforms. He reached out and snatched the phone from her hand.

"Hey!" She protested.

"Focus, Alice. I need you to focus." Edward seethed.

"You are being ridiculous." Alice grumbled.

"There is something going on with Bella." Edward climbed onto the plush sofa next to his sibling. "Something is not quite right and I just can't put my finger on it. The way the dog controls her...it's sickening." His fingers curled into a fist as he recalled the way Jacob Black had used his influence to suffocate Bella and break her free will.

Alice studied Edward in concern. He had been on edge ever since their return from Italy. After his initial reunion with the family, he had gone off on a tangent, immediately leaving to pester Bella as soon as he arrived back in Forks. Carlisle had counselled him to stay away from her until he was in a more composed frame of mind. It had been a close call with the Volturi. Even so, they hadn't been allowed to leave until Aro had extracted a promise from them that they would return one day with Bella in tow. The Volturi leader was very intrigued by the human girl who had captured a vampire's complete adoration and caused him to risk his very existence on her behalf.

"I couldn't read his mind, Alice." Edward continued bitterly. "I don't recall the last pack having the ability to mask their thoughts from me. It must be a new ability that has evolved over time. Which means they could have developed other talents that we don't know about-like mind control."

Alice burst out laughing at that comment. "You are definitely reaching now."

"You didn't see her, Alice. She was so different-her demeanour, her sweet scent- everything was changed."

"You seriously didn't expect her to welcome you back with open arms, surely?" Alice shook her head in disbelief. "I know Bella can be forgiving, but she deserves to see you work to earn that forgiveness. And she's going to smell hanging around with those dogs all the time." She wrinkled her nose at the memory of Jacob Black's potent stench on the one occasion she had been forced to be around him.

Edward's expression turned calculating. He put a hand on Alice's arm. "You weren't here when we negotiated the treaty with the last pack. I've seen firsthand how volatile these creatures can be. It doesn't take much to set them off. You even told me yourself that Black could barely keep a rein on his temper when you met him."

"She's been around these creatures for months and hasn't come to any harm. In fact without them there would have been nothing for you to come home to." Alice said sharply.

Edward froze, his golden eyes turning bleak with despair. "I know what a fool I've been. I will spend eternity trying to atone for my mistakes. This is my second chance, Alice. I won't waste it. I'm being serious when I say there is something mysterious going on with Black and how he controls Bella. It's like she's lost her sense of self. Several times when I spoke to her directly she would zone out and look in his direction as if awaiting permission to speak or something."

"That is concerning." Alice tapped her lips with her forefinger as she mulled over what Edward had told her. "I know that Bella has grown close to Jacob Black in your absence, but I never assumed he would be able to hold such sway over her."

"Then you understand why I am so anxious to force a separation between them. This has nothing to do with my wanting her back, this is all about her wellbeing. Black preyed on her when she was at her most vulnerable, maybe she thinks she owes him or something. I won't stand for it, Alice." Edward looked at his adopted sibling imploringly. "Will you help me?"

"It's not me who needs convincing. Carlisle made it clear we were not to interfere, and that it should be Bella's decision alone whether she wanted us back in her life or not. She has to make the first move and come to us." Alice hesitated.

"But he doesn't knew the true extent of the wolf pack's hold on her. He likes to see the good in everyone, which means he sometimes fails to see the bigger picture." Edward had planted the seed of doubt, now he just had to sit back and watch it grow. "Help me convince him otherwise." He pleaded. "I know you miss Bella nearly as much as I do and that you want the best for her."

"Okay." Alice agreed eventually. "When you speak to Carlisle, I'll join you. Together we'll have a better chance at persuading him that everything is not as it seems."

Bella was having a strange dream. She saw herself dressed in a ratty pair of old jeans teamed with an oversize grey sweatshirt. The sweatshirt enveloped her petite frame and hung to her knees. She had to roll the sleeves up several times. It took a moment before she realised the sweatshirt was one of Jacob's. Bella stood in front of an oval mirror in an unfamiliar restroom. She was actually smiling at her reflection like she was some kind of princess. All she needed was a crown.

As soon as that thought entered her head a crown did indeed miraculously appear-well a sparkly tiara anyway. It looked absurd with the old clothes she was wearing. But still her dream persona seemed to love it. She adjusted the tiara on her head until she was satisfied it was dead straight, then floated out of the room as if she had wheels attached to her feet.

Suddenly the scene abruptly changed and Bella found herself sitting in her old Chevy next to Jacob. She was still wearing the stupid tiara and the same old clothes. But now she was holding a small posy of wildflowers in her hands. Bella saw herself smiling like an idiot at Jacob. He smiled back at her from behind the wheel. She noticed that he wasn't dressed up either. He had on his usual cut off sweats. And at least he wasn't wearing a dumb tiara.

"We're nearly there." He crowed.

The dream Bella continued to grin like all her birthdays had come at once. Her eyes drifted to the desert landscape outside her window. A sign for Las Vegas flashed by. She squealed in excitement.

Then everything shifted again. This time she found herself standing next to Jacob clinging to his hand. In front of them was a line of other couples, and they all seemed as excited and nervous as she felt.

"Not long now." Jacob was bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet with excitement.

"You're such a kid." Bella giggled.

Jacob gave her a toothy grin. "It's not every day we get hitched by an Elvis impersonator-"

"Elvis, Bella? Really?"

Jacob's exasperated voice booming in her head startled Bella awake.

"Huh? What's happening?" Bella sat up abruptly, rubbing her balled fists into her bleary eyes.

"We were about to get hitched by Elvis." Jacob drawled sardonically.

Bella felt her cheeks flush with shame. She pouted and flopped back onto her pillows. "Butt out of my dream."

"Duh, its kinda hard when you're projecting it at me. And I did have a starring role."

"Very funny." Bella grouched. "At least you could have tried to make a bit of an effort with your attire. It was supposed to be a special occasion and you turned up in your usual cut off sweats. This is a wedding we're talking about, Jacob."

"Bells, you were dressed in one of my old sweatshirts and ripped jeans. Don't get me started with that weird tiara thing you had on your head." Jacob chuckled.

"I didn't put it there." Bella crossed her arms in a huff. "It just appeared. Like I would go to my own wedding dressed like that."

"So, what would you wear, then." Jacob teased lightly.

Bella rolled her eyes as a hot blush warmed her cheeks. "Why are we even talking about this?" She complained.

"Aww...is ickle Bellsy Wellsy getting embarrassed cos' mean ole Jakey Wakey caught her daydreaming about her big day?"

Bella stuck her tongue out at him, and then rolled her eyes again as she realised he couldn't see what she was doing. She laughed grudgingly. "This is crazy."

"Yep!" Jacob popped the P.

"Get some sleep, wolf boy. You've been out patrolling all night." Bella chided him gently.

"Yes, Mam. I'm just climbing into bed right now." Jacob faked a huge yawn. "G'morning, Bells."

"Night, Jake." Bella replied softly as a teasing smile played about her lips. "Oh, and, Jake-"

"Yeah." This time it was a real yawn as Jacob settled down, his eyes were on the verge of closing.

"Keep the dirty dreams to a minimum." Bella cackled. "Over and out, wolf boy."

Now it was Jacob's cheeks that grew warm.

A/N-thanks for reading! God, I suck at writing Edward, that's why I ended with some light relief with Jacob and Bella. LOL ;)