All things Twilight belong to the awesome and talented Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 21 - Goodbye

Now that everything was over we could relax, Bella was desperate to get to Jacob. We collectively ran back to the house, and as soon as we arrived Carlisle and Edward headed towards the Quileute reservation, Carlisle wanted to look at Jacob a little more closely now, he had been worried his bones would heal at the wrong angle. I took Bella inside the house with me, Edward would call as soon as Charlie had left.

The whole situation was strange to me, I knew how Bella felt about both Edward and Jacob, I also knew what she'd decided, what confused me was how torn she was, she seemed broken apart, torn. She had always been so consistent that I knew once she made a decision it was practically set in stone, but for the first time since I'd met her, she seemed thoroughly confounded.

We sat in relative silence waiting for Edward's call. Bella was frantic with worry, and I knew she blamed herself for his injuries, like she always did. I watched her as she sat on the couch, her legs pulled up to her chest. Her eyes were blank, she was far away in thought. She was dwelling on what had happened and the decision she had made, I could see the guilt written across her face. I needed to know how she was doing.

I stood up and motioned for Jasper to follow me. We headed to the back of the house, out of Bella's earshot. Jasper looked as confused as I felt. We looked at one another for a long while, understanding flowing between us as our eyes lingered, gazing in to the pure liquid gold that coated our eyes.

"How's she doing?" I asked keeping my voice low so she wouldn't hear the conversation.

"She's in pain, I wish I could describe it in words." Jasper said looking a little uncomfortable, "She's so conflicted it's almost painful."

"Can you show me?" I asked, a little nervous about how he would react. He hated obliging me when it can to showing me others emotions. I could understand his hesitance, he believed wholeheartedly in respecting others privacy.

I was surprised when he nodded and picked up my hands, he drew in a long breath and stared deeply into my eyes. I was immediately overcome with a plethora of emotions. Confusion, pain, guilt, anger, hurt, worry, the barrage of emotions were endless. I broke my contact with Jasper and shuddered. It was hard to believe someone felt all of those things at once. She'd made her decision, I knew that, but I didn't think of the residual emotions she would be left to deal with.

I looked up into Jasper's face, his eyes were full of concern, I threw my arms around his waist and let my body shake with the sobs that would never produce tears. The emotions had left me so confused and hurt, I had broken contact after such a short time but it had taken a hold of me and pulled me under the depths. Jasper rubbed my back gently and buried his face in my hair. We stood like this for a while, in silence, just holding one another.

"That was terrible," I sighed pulling myself tighter into Jasper's chest.

"That was actually pleasant compared to Edward's emotions when we left in September, and if you say Bella's emotions seemed to be similar to his, then this is just a blip on her emotion scale, if fact a different type of pain altogether."

"I should go to her," I sighed after regaining my composure.

Jasper simply nodded and planted a kiss on the top of my head. I stepped away from him giving him a thanking smile before heading to where I had left Bella on the couch. Her eyes moved to me as I entered the room. I simply shook my head. I knew what she wanted, she was waiting for the call.

I moved to the couch and sat next to her quietly, I looked in her large brown eyes that were filled will sadness and worry. Without saying a word I opened my arms to hold her and give her some of support I was sure she needed. She fell towards me, her head on my shoulder, then she cried, there were no words to say as her body shuddered with the sobs her body had released. I wrapped my arms a little tighter, conscious of my strength, and I let her cry. Her tears and sobs lasted for a while before they slowly subsided, I rubbed her arm gently trying to give her the only thing I had to give at that moment, understanding and support.

Bella and I sat together silently, I didn't feel the need to ease her with pointless words, I hoped my actions had said everything. I kept my arms around her and let her catch her breath. When my phone finally vibrated in my pocket I jumped for it, just as eager as Bella was.

"Edward,"

"Alice," his voice was somber, but I understood the context. I needed to speak with him, but I knew that now wasn't the time.

"Would you bring Bella down when you can, Charlie just left."

"Will do." I stated simply.

"Thanks, Alice."

'Okay," I flipped the phone shut and smiled weakly at Bella. "Your Dad's gone home, I can take you down there whenever you're ready."

Bella nodded and I released her from my grip stood up, she stood with me, she looked so tired and emotionally drawn I wasn't past keeping her here and putting her back to bed, but i knew I would have a fight on my hands so I motioned to the door and we headed out in silence.

The drive down to La Push was silent, my body tensed as we crossed the treaty line, I had never been past it before and it seemed to turn my stomach into odd little knots, there had always seemed like there was an invisible wall to all those of us who lived by it. Bella pointed at the corners I needed to take through the small town and I pulled to a stop outside a small red house. Some of the pack members were stood around outside looking nervous, but Bella simply jumped out of the Volvo and headed towards the house.

Edward was outside before she got to the door, he spoke with her briefly and she nodded walking past him into the house. He headed towards the Volvo. Some of the pack outside backed away cautiously. I rolled down the window as he headed towards the drivers side door.

'Hey, Alice." his face matched his somber tones.

"Edward,"

"Thanks for driving her down here."

"I don't mind, glad I could help." I said offering a weak smile.

"Do you mind sticking around, Charlie was talking about getting back before Bella. I think he's expecting her home soon."

I looked at the clock on the dash it was closing in on four o'clock.

"Sure, I bought some new things for her online and I put them into some old bags I had from my last shopping trip so she has some evidence."

Edward cracked a small, but brief smile, "You think of everything, don't you."

"I try," I said returning the smile.

"Okay, I'll send her out in a little while."

I nodded and watched as he jogged slowly towards the house. He was keeping his speed low so he wouldn't make the wolves any more nervous than they already were, they had consented to us being here, but i was sure that they weren't particularly happy about it.

I sat in the car waiting for Bella, I watched the small community as they walked around and interacted, each member looked as worried as the next. They were close and I couldn't help identifying with them a little. They were a large family, just like we were, they loved one another and cared what happened. We weren't so different, but I understood that the differences really laid where we were different from other vampires. If we drank from humans there would be no treaty, we would be the epitome of what they hated.

A small vision appeared to me, Charlie had seen Edward and Carlisle at the reservation and was beginning to get suspicious as to why Bella wasn't home sooner. He was trying to decide whether or not to drive to our house or to call. I pulled out my cell phone to call Edward. I let it ring and then hung up, he'd know what it meant, and I was sure he would have seen what I had in my vision.

I had left the window to the Volvo open, the sea air seemed to drown out the smell of wet dog. One of the younger wolves approached the car slowly, he seemed less cautious than the others, a little more willing to trust us. He stopped about two feet away from the window and grinned.

"Alice, right?" he asked, his voice was full of excitement, his pack mates were eyeing him strangely.

I simply nodded in response.

"Edward sent me, I was inside with them. He said to tell you Bella will be out in five minutes, and thank you for waiting."

"Thanks for letting me know . . ." I said before really looking at him, but then his smiling face caught my gaze, it was friendly. "Were you up on the mountain with Bella and Edward?" I asked smiling at the guys eagerness, it was infectious.

He nodded. "Yeah, that was me."

"What's your name?" I asked, I thought I knew it but I didn't want to offend him.

"Seth."

"I heard you took down one of the vampires up there." I said trying not to sound condescending. I knew that it would've been a little more difficult seeing as Riley was slightly more trained than the rest of them.

Seth's chest swelled with pride, and he simply nodded.

"Thank you," I offered sincerely, "If you hadn't of been there, Edward would of had to fight both of them, and they could have easily killed Bella. You saved her life."

Seth smiled largely, and he took a step closer. His smile faded and he looked around at the rest of the pack. They'd stopped paying attention to him now. His eyes locked with mine, they were full of curiosity. "Is it true you can see the future?"

I laughed lightly, "It's a little more complex than that, but in essence, yes I can."

"That's awesome, but you can't see mine?"

I shook my head, but held my smile. I didn't want it to seem like I was bitter about it, because I wasn't. It just became frustrating when our paths crossed.

"Why?" he asked watching me curiously, "I mean, is there a reason you can't see us, is it because we're supposed to be enemies?"

"We're not sure, but Carlisle thinks it's something to do with your phasing."

"Seth," a girls voice called from the house, she was most definitely the one wolf female, Leah.

"I have to go. It was nice talking to you, Alice." he sighed looking at the girl.

"Bye, Seth." Seth jogged towards Leah, who was stood with her hands on her hips looking upset. I watched as they appeared to argue with one another, I purposely avoided listening to them, knowing exactly what they were disagreeing about.

The door to the house opened and Bella and Edward appeared. Bella looked upset about having to leave, but she held on to Edward with such desperation I had to look away. The passenger side door opened but when I looked towards it I could only see Bella and Edward embracing.

Without a word Bella climbed into the car, Edward crouched and looked across her at me. I could see everything he wanted to ask, I nodded and averted my eyes to let them say goodbye.

"I'll see you later." Edward stated simply.

"Do you promise?" Bella asked, her voice cracking a little.

"Bella,' Edward sighed, "Stop being silly, call me when you're ready to see me, and I'll be there. I promise."

Bella nodded and hung her head to look at her hands, Edward's fingers were immediately under her chin and lifting her face. They looked at one another and then kissed briefly.

"Bye,' Edward said standing.

"Bye," Bella whispered.

Edward stepped back and pushed the door closed. I placed the car in reverse and backed out slowly. We were silent for most of the drive, Bella was lost in her thoughts. I hummed quietly to myself, this was a bad day but things were shaping up. Bella would be okay, I knew from what I had seen in my visions. I pulled into the garage and opened my door slowly.

"Alice?" Bella whispered quietly.

"Yes, Bella?"

"Thank you, for earlier."

I smiled, "You're Welcome. Come on, lets get you presentable to go home to Charlie."

Bella groaned and pushed her door open and climbed out. I waited for her by the door and I then guided her to my room.

"Put that on." I ordered throwing a dress at Bella. She sighed and headed towards the bathroom. I was surprised there was no arguing. "You're overnight bag is in there if you want to take a shower." I offered.

Bella smiled weakly at me and pulled the door closed behind her. I sat on the bed and waited for her to reappear. I started looking into her future again and I still saw what I had always seen, in fact, it was a little stronger than it had been, Bella would become a vampire, and she would marry my brother. There was no doubts about it.

She appeared from the bathroom a little while later in the dress, she still seemed preoccupied so I took her back in the bathroom and began drying her hair, once her hair was dry I just drug the brush through her hair slowly, hoping in some small way it was soothing to her.

"That's enough, Alice," she said quietly and her voice was practically monotonous. "I want to go back to La Push."

"Jacob's still unconscious," I told her quietly, I knew she was having a hard time but she needed to keep up the carefully played out charade for Charlie. "Carlisle or Edward will call when he's awake. Anyway, you need to go see Charlie. He was there at Billy's house, he saw that Carlisle and Edward are back in from their trip, and he's bound to be suspicious when you get home."

"I don't care." Bella sighed with exaggeration. "I want to be there when Jacob wakes up."

'You need to think of Charlie now. You've had a long day — sorry, I know that doesn't even begin to cover it — but that doesn't mean you can shirk your responsibilities." I said with a little bit too much reprehension, "It's more important now than ever that Charlie stays safely in the dark. Play your role first, Bella, and then you can do what you want second. Part of being a Cullen is being meticulously responsible."

Bella sat thinking quietly, her brow furrowed in her concentration.

"Go home," I ordered, "talk to Charlie. Flesh out your alibi. Keep him safe."

I knew I was using Charlie as a bargaining chip at this point, but it was all I had. Charlie was still trying to decide what had happened at the reservation earlier in the morning. The noise and Billy's actions had confused him. If he was to ever find out about any of this, he would be in danger of the Volturi finding him. At this point there wasn't a huge chance of that, but I needed Bella to go home to him first, and this was the only way to push her into doing that.

Bella stood slowly and the dress fell around her she looked beautiful.

"That dress is adorable on you," I said unable to hold back my excitement at being a fashion genius.

"Huh? Oh. Er — thanks again for the clothes." Bella mumbled.

"You need the evidence," I told her happily, trying to brighten the mood a little "what's a shopping trip without a new outfit? It's very flattering, if I do say so myself."

Bella looked completely confused again and her eyes reflected her mind in process. This was pitiful.

"Jacob is fine, Bella, there's no hurry. If you realized how much extra morphine Carlisle had to give him — what with his temperature burning it off so quickly — you would know that he's going to be out for a while."

Bella still stood there silently, I had to try something to get her to talk to me, if I sent her home like this it would only make things worse.

"Is there anything you want to talk about before you leave?" I asked "You must be more than a little traumatized."

"Will I be like that?" Bella asked her voice subdued. "Like that girl Bree in the meadow?"

Her question took me a little off guard, I hadn't been expecting it. I was sure she would want to discuss what happened on the mountain, but if this was her topic of choice, I would gladly go with it, as long as she was talking. I stoked her arm gently.

"Everyone is different. But something like that, yes."

Bella's eyes grew and her face paled slightly.

"It passes," I promised.

"How soon?" she asked bleakly.

I shrugged my shoulders a little, "A few years. It might be different for you. I've never seen anyone go through this who's chosen it beforehand. It should be interesting to see how it affects you."

"Interesting,"

"We'll keep you out of trouble," I promised, I hoped she knew that we wouldn't let her do anything that she would regret.

"I know that. I trust you." her tone was monotonous.

I frowned at her lack of, well, anything. "If you're worried about Carlisle and Edward, I'm sure they'll be fine. I believe Sam is beginning to trust us . . . well, to trust Carlisle, at least. It's a good thing, too. I imagine the atmosphere got a little tense when Carlisle had to rebreak the fractures —"

"Please, Alice."

"Sorry." I continued to forget how fragile she was. I should have realized the thought of Carlisle having to rebreak the bones that had healed wrong in the sped up process would make her uncomfortable. Bella sighed heavily and I could hear a little shakiness in the sound.

"Alice, can I ask you a question? About the future?"

"You know I don't see everything." I offered, I had no idea what she wanted to ask, but I wasn't a prophet. I couldn't give her the future she should chose, she had to go with her heart, and I would see the rest.

"It's not that, exactly. But you do see my future, sometimes. Why is that, do you think, when nothing else works on me? Not what Jane can do, or Edward, or Aro . . ." She trailed off into silence, as though she wanted to know the answer but was unsure if it would be the right answer. It was an interesting question. It was one that I had discussed at length with Carlisle and Jasper.

"Jasper, too, Bella — his talent works on your body just as well as it does on anyone else's. That's the difference, do you see it? Jasper's abilities affect the body physically. He really does calm your system down, or excite it. It's not an illusion. And I see visions of outcomes, not the reasons and thoughts behind the decisions that create them. It's outside the mind, not an illusion, either; reality, or at least one version of it. But Jane and Edward and Aro and Demetri — they work inside the mind. Jane only creates the illusion of pain. She doesn't really hurt your body, you only think you feel it. You see, Bella? You are safe inside your mind. No one can reach you there. It's no wonder that Aro was so curious about your future abilities."

Bella stared at me blankly but nodded her head, I was sure it was because she thought I wanted her to understand, so she was trying to placate me. I knew where her mind was and I had to let her go where she needed to, in order to follow her chosen path, she had to hurt someone she loved. This was the reason she wanted to go to La Push so desperately, she wanted to make sure Jacob was alright, she wanted to make sure she made the right decision, and if she had — she wanted to make everything how it should be, she would tell Jacob her decision.

I stroked her cheek gently, trying to bring her out of her thoughts. "He's going to be okay, Bella." I said meaning in health, and after she told him her decision. "I don't need a vision to know that. Are you ready to go?"

"One more thing." she asked quietly. "Can I ask you another question about the future? I don't want specifics, just an overview."

"I'll do my best," I told her.

"Can you still see me becoming a vampire?"

"Oh, that's easy. Sure, I do."

Bella nodded at the answer. It seemed like she was confirming her hearts desire. It made me a little uneasy that she hadn't known the answer in her own mind. I couldn't understand why she would ask me.

"Don't you know your own mind, Bella?"

"I do. I just wanted to be sure."

"I'm only as sure as you are, Bella. You know that. If you were to change your mind, what I see would change . . . or disappear, in your case." I offered her a small reassuring smile.

Bella sighed. "That isn't going to happen, though."

I placed my arms around her, I was sure this was a difficult thing to do. "I'm sorry. I can't really empathize. My first memory is of seeing Jasper's face in my future; I always knew that he was where my life was headed. But I can sympathize. I'm so sorry you have to choose between two good things."

Bella shrugged out of my arms and a deep sadness filled her eyes. "Don't feel sorry for me."

She blamed herself for what was happening, she blamed herself for falling in love.

"I'll go deal with Charlie." She added and headed towards my bedroom where her things were waiting. I watched her as she threw her things together and followed her downstairs with the shopping bags I'd put together for her. I placed them in the passenger side of the truck and walked to the drivers side.

"Call me if you need anything, Bella. Anything at all." I said smiling weakly.

Bella nodded and fired up her loud truck I watched her disappear down the path to the main road and turned to head back inside. Jasper greeted me as soon as I walked through the door. He wrapped his arms around my waist and nuzzled his head into my neck.

"Mmm, that's nice." I giggled.

Jasper kissed my neck and then pulled back to look at me.

"How's Bella doing?"

"Okay, I think. This is hard for her, she knows what she wants but it's hard for her to say goodbye."

"Goodbyes are always hard."

"Yes, but it still amazes me that she was able to fall in love with two people, two completely different people."

"Each of them represent a part of her, Alice. You think about what she's about to do, what she's been through. When Edward left, this guy was the one who tried to help her put it back together . . . Edward was the one who came up with that, we spoke one night. . ." Jasper said reacting to my raised eyebrows. "Anyway, there was always going to be something between them. And then after all of this she wants to become a vampire, I'm sure leaving behind her best friend, who happens to be a werewolf, her new natural enemy, has to put strain in her decision."

"Well after this is done it will become easier for her, she's made the decision to try and stay away from him. It was difficult when she didn't know how she really felt about him, but now it'll just be unfair to both Edward and Jacob, to continue to be friends. I can't say I envy her, this was probably one of the most difficult decisions she's ever had to make." I sighed, rubbing my hands up and down Jasper's sides.

"Does Edward know her decision?"

"Partially, I'm not sure he was really listening, and so much has happened since then. I want to talk to him when he comes home."

Jasper nodded and kissed my head again. "I'm going to work on my philosophy, you know where I am if you want to talk."

I nodded and watched him disappear up the stairs. I walked towards the living room to wait for Edward. I was sure he wouldn't be much longer.

After twenty minutes of waiting, I saw them as they got further from the wolves. I had been sitting still longer than I liked to when Carlisle and Edward strolled into the house, they stank of wet dog, but it was to be expected.

"Hey Carlisle, Edward." I said standing up and heading towards them.

"Hello, Alice. I'm going to go and change, I smell terrible." laughed Carlisle jogging up the stairs. Edward moved to follow him, there was no hint of humor in his face. He didn't know what was going to happen, even after I had reassured him in the clearing.

"Edward, can I have a word?" I asked.

"I'll be right down after I change." he said without looking at me.

"Okay, but I really would like to talk to you, and I have a feeling Bella will need you soon, so if you could hurry, I would appreciate it."

Edward spun on the stairs, "What do you mean Bella's going to need me? What did you see?"

"Calm down, it's nothing dangerous. Just go change."

Edward disappeared up the stairs and was back down in front of me with wet hair and clean clothes on within mere minutes.

"Okay, what did you want to talk about?" he asked, his expression ominous.

"Bella."

"What about Bella?" Edward asked, a slight hurt disappointment lacing his voice.

"I just wanted to reiterate what I told you earlier, but I want to know you hear me this time. She chose you Edward, I saw it all, nothing has changed in my visions, it's all there, the wedding, the transformation. Nothing that happened up on that mountain has changed a thing, she loves you more than she thought she was able to. She made another decision, she's telling Jacob this, today. She's planning on telling him that her love for him changes nothing because she can't and won't live without you. You need to help her through this and be understanding. She's on her way to La Push now"

Edward walked towards the couch and sat down, his head in his hands. He ran his hands up his face and through his hair.

"What if he's what's best for her? He can give her so much more than I can."

"Like what?" I asked, Bella and Edward were so perfect for one another, I couldn't imagine it working out any other way.

"Children, Alice!"

I sighed and sat next to him on the couch. "Do you honestly believe she hasn't thought about that?"

Edward closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath. "I know she has, but she's eighteen, what if in ten years she regrets all of this, and ends up resenting me."

"Edward, you have made your feelings on her transformation perfectly clear, she can never hold this against you, even if you are the one to change her. With that being said you know her better than that, she would never blame you, this has been her decision from the start. It's what she's wanted. Blaming someone else has never been her style, she thinks things through before committing to them."

"I know, Alice, but I want so much more for her."

"But you are what she wants, Edward. Why can't you accept that? You are the one thing that makes her happy, she lives for you now."

"Alice," Edward started, but I put up my hand refusing to let him once again talk himself out of being with her.

"No, Edward, you have to let her make this decision for herself, you need to support her, you need to show her you love her, she knows it already but this whole mess has been harder on her than you realize. For a while it was ripping her apart."

"What was ripping her apart?"

"For crying out loud, Edward. Am I speaking Swahili here? Saying goodbye to Jacob! She knows they can't be friends, but he is a part of her life so saying goodbye is hard for her."

Edward and I sat in companionable silence as he thought through my words, he could be so blind and I didn't want a repeat of Bella's birthday, it had almost destroyed them both and I wouldn't sit back and watch them make a mistake like that again.

Sitting in silence and thinking of Edward and Bella, seemed to open up the attuned bridge in my vision. I saw Bella driving down the road crying hard, and then pulling to the side of the road, Edward didn't have much time to get to her.

"Go, Edward." I whispered.

Edward looked up at me and raised an eyebrow.

"She said what she needed to say, but she's going to be crying on the side of the road, distraught. She needs you, so go to her." I said smiling.

Edward smiled and kissed me on the forehead. "Thanks, Alice."

"Go," was all I said in return and Edward took off through the door at top speed.

A/N: Woo hoo, My schedule is finally back to normal and I can give my writing my undivided attention, shame there not much left to this story I seemed to have condensed it down to less chapters than the others. ;0P -The connection between my email and fanfiction was out of whack this weekend so I apologize if it seemed funky or you didn't get an alert for the last chapter. Weird stuff!

Thank you for the Alert and Faves, and to the REVIEWERS . . . YOU GUYS SERIOUSLY ROCK . . . I am coming up with some ideas for my next fanfiction, and I hope you awesome people will read it ;0) . . . there are still 34 days till Breaking dawn so I need something to do.

Big Hugs to everybody, thank you for reading.