Disclaimer:

Stephenie Meyer wrote Twilight.

Morgan Locklear…..did not.

Chapter Twenty One:

Subtle Reminder

The wagon changed direction as several men took up the cheer, "Throw it over!" It then picked up speed as it raced down a grassy hill and Bella knew it was moving in the direction of the cliffs.

Edward relaxed as he listened to the minds of well over a dozen men, not including the ones that dashed away at the sight of Jacob's transformation. He knew that they had no intention of throwing the carriage over the cliff but the only reason he hadn't told Bella yet was because she was going to be sorely disappointed.

This is the best thing that could happen to us Edward, Bella thought when she heard the shouted suggestion, it should drop us into the Atlantic and we can break out once we hit bottom.

It was a sound plan. Edward was impressed at how quickly she strategized but, unfortunately, he knew that they would not escape so easily.

"They are trying to trick us into coming out," Edward whispered. "They assume that someone is in here."

Edward gathered that there were five or six men pushing the coach while another one kept it on course. These men had done this kind of thing before and it was evident that they were enjoying themselves.

Edward could not believe how this was possible given what Jacob did to their would-be cohorts. At least two men must have been killed during his capture but now the rest of them were laughing and cheering, more than certain that their charade would work yet again.

It did not.

Edward delighted as the men, most of them, merely guessed that the coach was empty.

"Last chance!" someone called. He was the leader, his name was Quint, and Edward heard several of the men thinking of how he had never had to give a second warning before.

Then again, one of them was thinking, we don't come across such fortified transport.

"Alright," Quint shouted. "Must be filled with treasure. Let's get it back to camp and pop it open with an axe." This proposal was met with loud cheers and the carriage was hitched back up to its horses. The whole party traveled along the main road for a quarter mile before turning onto a cart path that Bella knew led into a thick grove of trees.

"We might have a chance," she said. She knew she did not have to speak out loud to Edward, but wanted him to hear her voice, optimistic in his ear. "If we're going where I think we are then it will take another hour to get there."

Edward pursed his lips. "That's cutting it a bit close."

"I know," Bella agreed. "But there is a dense canopy and we might just have to let them hack away for a while to stall for time."

"Alright," Edward said. "Good plan. How do you want to go about getting Jacob back?"

They were still holding each other and Edward felt Bella stiffen. "If they killed him…Edward you won't be able to stop me."

The words hung in the black humid air that cocooned the couple. Edward knew that she was telling the truth and resigned himself to that possibility but remained optimistic. "I think he's alright. I hear a low husky breathing ahead of us…it sounds like a bear hibernating."

Bella strained to hear the sound, already Edward's hearing was much keener than her own. "Oh, Edward! That's him." The relief in her hushed voice sounded like the collapse of sorrow itself and Edward took the opportunity to suggest an alternative to murder if Jacob could be recovered.

"I think you could hypnotize them, Bella," Edward offered.

What?

"You could make them let Jacob go." It was a smart idea, Bella knew it but that did not solve a much bigger problem after they got their friend back.

"I can't make them simply forget, Edward. That's too much to ask. They will break through the suggestion eventually. We need to come up with something that could explain all this, including Jacob."

"We can't just make them think it was a dream?" Edward asked.

Bella shook her head, "I doubt it. We need something that they might actually accept in real life. Any other way would leave too many unanswered questions."

"I'll listen to them and try to exploit something that could help us," Edward said. "I really do think we could pull this off if we find the right angle to play."

Damn it, he is adorable when he's right.

Even in the dark, Edward smiled as he heard her inner monologue.

"I'll try it, Edward," Bella said in a measured voice that indicated that there was a caveat to her statement. "I think I can even test the effectiveness before we leave but, if it doesn't work, I don't want an argument from you."

Edward did not say anything.

"I mean it, Edward," she continued. "These people attacked and abducted us and may have almost killed Jacob." Her voice seethed with icy menace. "I will slaughter every last one of them if I have to."

Edward felt sorry for her. "You were a nun, Bella. Do you feel no sympathy?'

"I did," she answered flatly. "It backfired every time."

They trundled along the dirt path kicking up dust which sparkled in the orange sunlight that streamed up from behind them. The men walking in front of and behind them had time to reflect on the loss of their fallen comrades and Edward felt that some of them were profoundly affected.

It was a spontaneous attack, they were gathered together to discuss a raid on a local barony and heard the approaching carriage. Edward should have been able to catch a thought from one or two of them and could have given Jacob a warning but he was distracted by Bella's naked and slick breasts. He did not hear anything that could have served as a warning.

"Do we have an agreement?" Bella wanted to make the arrangements perfectly clear before they boarded. "We try it your way at first but if that doesn't work you will either assist me or stay out of my way."

Edward had no choice but to agree and took the opportunity to relay his utter confidence in her ability to sway them from their current course and maybe even to pursue another line of occupation. "Agreed," he said reluctantly.

As they moved away from the setting sun, Edward listened to their thoughts and found out that they had been taken by surprise at Jacob's display and many of them were planning on going back to town to attend church, if possible.

They thought Jacob was some kind of demon and those who had touched Jacob as they put him in chains were praying as they walked behind the carriage.

This was what Edward was waiting for. They were scared of Jacob already and their religious beliefs could be skewed to explain everything. Edward crafted a smile so big that it made his cheeks almost creak with the strain.

"I have a plan, Bella," Edward whispered excitedly. "And it is going to work." He paused a moment to think through a few more details. "I just hope Jacob doesn't wake up too early and ruin it all."

Rosalie had Emmett over to the house several times but nothing ever materialized. He was wise but he was impatient. He was clever but he was a brute. And worst of all, he was handsome and he knew it. She enjoyed his company and became a friend but she had all but abandoned any romantic attachments. Emmett was slower to pick up on that part.

When Rosalie beat him at chess the first day he pouted like a toddler until she booted him out of the garden with instructions not to return until he could play better or lose more graciously.

To his credit he came back the next day.

And he lost again, even worse than before if that was possible.

However, he laughed off the loss. When they parted that afternoon he complimented her skills and, although Emmett drew closer and closer to her face with each goodbye, Rosalie still had not kissed the doctor.

Carlisle spoke with his daughter about his colleague one night at the dining room table. Esme watched them and marveled, as she often did during mealtimes, at their similarities.

She preferred Jacob anyway and did not want to speak up, until she had to.

"How many times has Emmett come to call?" Carlisle asked the question just before depositing a spoonful of mashed potatoes into his mouth.

"Three times," Rosalie said. "We played chess twice."

"Did you beat him?"

"Of course."

"Do you like him?"

Rosalie paused. She did not want to be impolite but, then again, she'd heard her father speak of the ambitious oaf enough times to know that he would understand. "Not like that."

Carlisle nodded.

"Are you still in love with Jacob?"

Rosalie was surprised at how fast she cried out her answer. "Yes." It was as if she had been waiting for someone to ask the question and she surprised herself again when she answered again. "Yes, I do."

Esme was immensely pleased but remained silent.

"Well, that's settled," Carlisle said. "Are you going to tell him when he returns?"

"No!" He was surprised when both women answered.

Rosalie looked at her father and smiled. "I'll let him squirm a bit first but I'll tell him."

Carlisle looked at both of them and shook his head. "I'll never understand you, ladies." He then leveled each of them with a hard look. He was about to get serious and they both knew it was coming when he put his spoon down.

"They will all outlive us," he said quietly. Carlisle's pale blue eyes sparkled and his platinum blonde hair forfeited a few strands to gravity as they hung down in his face. "Edward, Bella and Jacob will be alive long after they have cried at our graves… and I imagine it will be much harder on them then it will be for us… but I need to know…Are either of you two at all unclear about the need to keep this to ourselves?"

Both women shook their heads.

"Good," he sounded relieved. "I have been making some discrete inquiries at the hospital and many of the doctors have spoken of vampires. Some of them are quite convinced of their existence." The Cullen women looked shocked. "They even think that there is a doctor or nurse at Val de Grace that might be a vampire."

"But isn't that good news?" Rosalie asked. "That people are seeing the truth?"

As always, Carlisle was impressed with her philosophy but shook his head. "Not in this case," he leaned forward and whispered. "There are many who would hunt down and kill a vampire. Some have even boasted that they have done just that."

"You're joking," Rosalie looked like she believed that he was.

"Not at all," Carlisle said. "Doctors are privileged and may explore all manor of private endeavors not granted to those without means." He said this matter-of-factly, not embarrassed at the luxuries he was able to afford for his family. "Several men at the hospital have told me stories of their encounters to the East. Somewhere near Italy."

"Who would do such a thing?" Rosalie demanded.

Carlisle paused a little too long.

A look of true horror slowly crept up Rosalie's face like a spider. "No," she whispered.

Carlisle nodded his head gravely. "Emmett."

When the coach came to a stop Edward had no choice but to risk a peek outside.

He was relieved to see a very gloomy grove of trees that made it appear as if it was already hours after sunset. The air seemed heavy and moist, like it was in perpetual shade. There was a dug out fire pit that was smoldering and several large rocks and downed trees had been scooted around the wisp of smoke that folded into the leaves overhead.

It was much cooler in the grove and the ground had that slightly mossy feeling, like it had not been exposed to the sun in decades. The vampire couple was quite fortunate.

"It's better than we anticipated," Edward whispered. "I didn't see a hint of sunshine."

"We were lucky they took us East," Bella said. "Even in France, an hour's travel puts a hill behind you."

"Are you ready?" Edward was naked and standing by one of the doors.

"Almost." Bella was undressing. "Are you sure you want me to fly?"

"Yes. We only get one shot at this and I need everyone to see you." Edward was quite serious. "We don't want to miss a single person. You being naked will help sell the story but, more importantly, it will help focus our captors."

"I can't believe we're doing this," Bella laughed.

"I can't believe you agreed." Edward scooted backward so that his bottom touched hers. "Good luck. We go in three…one…two…three!"

Both doors flew open and two naked people stepped out of the carriage, one started singing a hymn in a hauntingly beautiful voice while floating six feet above the leaf strewn forest floor. The other walked over to a great furry beast that was double chained and lying prone.

"I am the angel Gabriel." Edward shouted. "And this is a hell hound. Release him to us and we will take him to the netherworld from whence he came."

From whence he came?

It was Bella's turn to speak but Edward's ad-lib made her smirk and her smirk made her smile. She kept singing, barely, and used the grin to enhance the joyful song she chose for the occasion - Take My Life And Let It Be. It was popular at the moment because Bella's acquaintance, Frances R. Havergal, had written it fifteen years earlier, making it a very modern hymn. Actually, she had been the first to sing it and it had also been the last time she was in a church until she brought Edward to Notre Dame.

Bella spun in a circle giving the men a vision of beauty that could only be explained by an angelic presence. She addressed what looked like more than thirty men, all of whom were looking at her with open mouths and eyes that were as big as cannonballs.

"My children," she said. "Do as my brother Gabriel says and release the hound. We will escort him back to where he belongs."

They could both see that their act was working. The men all had that familiar dazed look in their eyes and several immediately made their way to Jacob to free him from his bonds.

Quint was just as foggy as the rest but asked the naked woman in front of him how it came that the beast was driving the coach.

"He overpowered us," she answered him, prepared for the question. "We were trapped and you saved us. You will all be rewarded in heaven…as long as you stop stealing!"

The men looked ashamed, like bad dogs. Bella did not let them off the hook just yet. "You have all sinned but since your sin has saved two archangels I forgive you all." Many of the men crossed themselves and most bowed deeply, making it the only time any of them broke eye contact with her. "You must now turn your life over completely to God and let him guide you away from the destructive path that you are on."

Many of the men now fell to their knees praying, including Quint. The men had unchained Jacob and Edward picked up the unconscious giant wolf and walked him over to the carriage.

Jacob was breathing evenly and Edward wondered briefly if he felt as heavy when Jacob carried him to the hospital, and then to the theatre. His fur was hot on Edward's shoulder but very soft. Edward indulged himself a moment to pet him as he walked.

Bella was so excited to see that it was almost over that she almost forgot the most important part. "Speak of this to no one," she ordered quickly. "You are a brotherhood now and you must protect the world from the hell hounds by never mentioning them again. For that is what brings them into your world."

Edward deposited Jacob onto one of the cushions and closed both doors. When he climbed up onto the bench the horses shuffled their feet, anticipating an order. Edward touched the lead horse on her hip with Jacob's whip as Bella drifted down and stood on top of the carriage as it sped away. Her feet were planted shoulder width apart as she raised her arms over her head and commanded them one last time.

"Go in peace to love and serve the Lord."

Edward drove the coach as far away as he dared before pulling over to check on Jacob.

"Why are you both naked?" Jacob stepped out with a big grin on his face. Ironically he was also naked, having changed back to human form in the coach.

"Edward's idea," Bella explained to him. They were now both rummaging through their bags and looking for something to wear. "He figured that we would be more believable as angels if we weren't wearing wrinkled clothes."

"Are you alright?" Edward caught the trousers Bella threw him as she happened across his bag first.

"I'm fine," he said. "Shot with an arrow in the heart which hurt like hell and distracted me enough for one of them to hit me in the head with the flat edge of his sword. I woke up when they were taking the chains off of me. When I saw you, I figured that playing dead was the best option I had."

"It was," Edward said. "Well done, I didn't even hear you thinking."

Bella laughed from inside an orange dress that she was in the process of pulling over her head. "That's not surprising."

"I liked your little act," Jacob laughed. "It was very uplifting."

Bella popped her head out just in time to roll her eyes.

"We better get going," Edward said. "I want to be away from this place."

Looking up revealed only a lush vegetation, not even a peek at the sky. Jacob took the whip and kept on the path knowing that it would come out in a vineyard nearby. Bella sat next to him on the bench and Edward sat cross legged on the roof of the carriage, one of his favorite perches by then.

"I'm very glad that we got out of there without further bloodshed," Edward said happily. "But are you sure you're quite healed Jacob?"

"I will need another day," Jacob replied. "But I feel fine… and I share your sentiment, Edward." He lowered his voice. "I didn't mean to kill those men."

"We know," Bella said, her hand finding a hard knot in his shoulder that she began kneading. "The rest were all pretty taken with me. I think they'll convert."

Both men chuckled. Bella was legitimately unaware of how beautiful she was. The bandits had indeed been taken with her. Several of them also had a hard time reconciling their strong attraction to a celestial being.

"I think we need to tell Jasper about this," Edward shared. "He will be glad to know that Bella's hypnosis worked so well."

"My money is on him being angry that we didn't kill everybody," Jacob responded humorlessly.

"Me too," Bella said.

Edward smiled down at his folded hands and listened to the leaves rub against one another. He had a feeling that Jasper would see her success for what it was, a powerful weapon that she had not fully developed.

Bella could command a whole army, Edward thought, and all she has to do is get naked.

Bella and Jacob looked back when he chuckled again.

Three days later and Paris was stretched out before the three travelers like a puddle of stars. It was a touch past midnight and Bella had flown off to start heating water for a much needed bath. Jacob and Edward sat side by side on the bench as they drove down into the shadows and became one of the sparkling movements within.

It was good to be home.

Edward stayed with Jacob while he unhitched the horses and helped him fetch fresh water. When they were finished, the two men walked into the lobby and shook hands.

"I was planning on looking in on your sister and your folks tomorrow, should I set up a dinner?" Jacob asked.

"Um…what day is it?"

"Wednesday…does it matter?"

"No," Edward laughed. "Just wondering. Dinner would be fine but I am more concerned with catching up with Jasper."

"I'm going to see him right now," Jacob said. "He should have fresh pouches of blood and you two still need to feed tonight."

"You are taking care of me just like you take care of her," Edward spoke with gratitude in his heart.

"Yes, I am," Jacob said. "And it's a good thing I do."

"Thank you for taking us to San Sebastian, Jacob. It was the best few weeks of my life."

"I wish I could say the same," Jacob said honestly, "but I think I have a good song…that I'll never work up the nerve to sing to Rosalie."

"We'll do it together remember?" Edward told Jacob. "I'll sing a light high harmony and it will sound brilliant."

Jacob began walking up the grand staircase in the lobby. "We'll talk more about it tomorrow. I'll bring whatever Jasper has collected when I return."

"See you then."

Edward made his way down to their bedroom and once again was greeted with the smell of steaming water. He thought back to the last time they took a bath in that room, the night before they left for Spain. It seemed like years ago and he was glad to wash off the travel dust.

Jacob came down the stairs an hour later with what looked like two big whiskey jugs. "I forgot," he said. "We took all the water skins with us. Jasper had to improvise."

The two vampires drank their fill and Edward ended up giving his last third to Bella. "I took the liberty of telling Jasper what you two did for me," Jacob told them. "He was impressed but alarmed and would like to speak with the two of you sometime tomorrow if possible."

"That would be fine," Bella agreed.

"I thought so," Jacob nodded his head. "I'm going to see if we can all meet at the Cullens for a late dinner."

"I'm sure my mother would adore that," Edward smiled. "She probably hasn't cooked for a group in a month."

"I'll head over there when everybody wakes up," Jacob replied. "What are you two doing tonight?"

"Not much now," Bella said, leaning back on her bed and patting her stomach. "Would you like to take a bath, Jacob?"

"Um…yeah, that would be great." Jacob ducked into the washroom and called over his shoulder. "I'll fix these curtains tomorrow."

Edward laughed. "I should be fixing them," he said to Bella as he climbed onto the bed but not before he grabbed a book he heard her thinking about and handed it to her.

Thank you.

"I like Candide as well," Edward remarked.

"Voltaire's best work," Bella replied.

"What is it you are looking for in there?"

"I'll know it when I find it," Bella said.

Edward rested his head in her lap and listened to her mind as she skimmed the first few chapters of Candide. When she reached the fourth chapter she slowed down. She was getting close, and then she read out loud. "Men... must have corrupted nature a little, for they were not born wolves, and they have become wolves. God did not give them twenty-four-pounder cannons or bayonets, and they have made bayonets and cannons to destroy each other."

Edward waited for her to comment.

"It seems to me that those men we encountered today were the real wolves," she said softly. "And when they saw Jacob, they thought he was the demon."

Edward replied with one of his favorite quotes from the same book. "If this is the best of all possible worlds, what are the others?"

Bella, who had read Candide more times than Edward had blown out birthday candles, was readying a retort when Jacob emerged from the washroom. His hair was wet and pulled together at his back and he was wrapped at the waist in a soft white towel he had laundered himself before they all left for Spain. "You know," he said with a wicked grin, "Voltaire talks about vampires too, Bella."

"Where?" Bella accepted the implied literary challenge.

"Chapter Sixteen, of course," he said then closed his eyes and recited. "If we do not exert the right of eating our neighbor, it is because we have other means of making good cheer."

They both laughed.

Alice came into the room just then, pushing the heavy wardrobe out of her way as she bounded into the room. "Welcome home, everybody!" She had big hugs for everyone and, when Edward held her a little longer than usual, she took it as a subtle reminder that he was still waiting for her to make a confession to Bella about her deceit.

Keep your pants on Edward, Alice thought. You were gone for almost a month!

They caught Alice up on their adventures and then she left to see Jasper, who was waiting for her at Notre Dame.

Jacob said good night as well and breezed up the stairs. He went to his room, dressed himself and went through the treasures Bella and Edward had collected. They amassed a fortune in Spanish galleons alone, but also brought up some interesting little gold and silver statues. Some were clearly Siamese cats and others were mythical creatures Jacob had been surprised to see were the subject of such fine craftsmanship. He would have to find out what they were later in the week. He knew a Dutch smith who might be able to help him.

When the sun stabbed through his little square window, he was working with his magnets. Jacob had developed a number of uses that had even gotten him a flurry of letters from the new world and an invitation to visit Thomas Edison at his estate in Fort Meyers, Florida.

He stood up and stretched, listening to his neck creak as he turned his head from side to side until the stiffness was gone. Then he went down to rouse his horses, Bree and Rebecca. They would have loved to rest all day but he assured them that the day's tasks would be light and that he would give each of them a bath that afternoon.

They had done well and he fully intended to treat them both to some fine cuisine in addition to a rub down. He hitched them together and then to the carriage, which he thought could also use a wash, and drove over to the pale yellow horseshoe shaped house he had not seen in more than three weeks.

It was Wednesday, September 16th and Paris already confessed an early autumn. Jacob watched as hot air steamed from his horse's nostrils like factory smoke and tiny kisses of cold air landed on his round and reddened cheeks.

Esme was in the kitchen mixing chopped fruit in a bowl with crème and sugar when Jacob pulled up around back. If Edward had been there he would have heard her first thought.

I better cook some more bacon.

Jacob's knock was interrupted by the door being flung inward and Esme leaping out to hug Jacob like he was a long lost son.

"Welcome back, Jacob," she said to him. "We've missed you."

Jacob's eyebrows shot up at the emphasis in her statement but he did not get the chance to inquire further as Carlisle strolled in just then, humming something that sounded like a nursery rhyme. He looked up and greeted Jacob warmly.

"Jacob, my boy! Nice to see you! How's Edward?"

"He and Bella are fine," Jacob answered. "Bella found these in a shipwreck and thought you might like some." Jacob handed over a small cloth sack that tied at the top. It was heavy, obviously filled with coins. Carlisle did not recognize the early Spanish galleon for what it was, but gold was gold so he knew its value was considerable.

"I can't accept these," Carlisle said, attempting to hand the bag back.

Jacob held his hands up. "They found thousands of them, Dr. Cullen. Edward feels just terrible about what he did to your piano…"

"His piano," Esme interjected.

"…and this small bag of coins is enough to buy another house."

"Well, now I really can't accept it." Carlisle said, taking a step forward. To Esme, it looked as if her husband was threatening the gigantic man with a purse…and winning.

Jacob opened his mouth to say something when they all heard footsteps above the adjacent dining room.

Esme, not wanting added tension took matters into her own hands, taking the bag out or Carlisle's hands and tucking it in her apron. "Please tell her thank you, and invite the two of them to dinner tonight would you?"

Jacob grinned. "They accept and will be here at nine o'clock."

Esme stopped mid-stride to the stove and turned back to Jacob. "You are invited as well young man."

Jacob laughed loudly at being called a young man. "I know."

Rosalie heard Jacob's laugh as she entered the parlor. Her heart did a back flip and her hand flew to her mouth. She had only heard him laugh and already she was flush and flustered and felt as dizzy as a loon. She took a step back then turned and ran upstairs.

She was not going to see Jacob without looking her best!

Rosalie came into the kitchen like a hurricane and, as she leapt into Jacob's arms, he felt like he was the one being held. She took one or two seconds to look deep into his syrup colored eyes before placing a gentle kiss on his lips.

"I want to love you for as long as I can." She said this as if they were the only two people in the room. As if they were the only two people on Earth. She hugged him fiercely and wept with joy as his warm arms encircled her.

Jacob was stunned and looked over at Carlisle who smiled, shrugged his shoulders and looked away.

Esme burst into tears. She brought both hands to her face but peeked through her fingers at the couple as they held each other.

I really need to make more bacon.

They all ate breakfast together and it was then that Carlisle told Jacob that he had something very important to discuss with, the kids, as he put it. He did not elaborate as he did not want to repeat himself and had only a few more minutes before he had to leave for Val de Grace.

Rosalie and Jacob spent the morning together in the garden, and up on the roof, and she accompanied him back to the theatre where she assisted him with the horses. She told him that Emmett had been over but that he was a mere child and held no interest for her beyond his companionship, which she admitted was preferable to solitude.

She also told him that Emmett was a vampire hunter. Jacob accepted the news stoically but knew the information would make their arrangement with Jasper at the hospital that much more dangerous for them all.

Jacob gave her several Spanish galleons of her own and told her about the amazing but modest San Sebastian. He did not mention anything about what he wrote while he was there. Jacob still was not sure if he would ever gather the gumption to sing the song for her, but he wanted to so badly that he thought he might burst with words.

Rosalie stayed with Jacob the entire afternoon at the theatre. She adored his room, which she had never seen before. She sat on the bench that surrounded the healthy fig tree and removed all of her clothes.

"I don't have a bed," Jacob said timidly but with a wry smile.

"You have a wall." Rosalie responded.

That was all she said, that was decipherable, for the rest of the hour.

When Bella woke up that evening, Rosalie was given a tour of the under chambers. She had no idea that there was such a lavish bedroom under the stage and absolutely fell in love with the bathtub.

She greeted her brother warmly and kissed him on the cheek when she first came down the spiral staircase. "Thank you for saving Jacob." She turned to hug Bella. "Both of you…thank you for bringing him back to me."

"Did he tell you what happened then?" Bella asked.

"Every detail," Rosalie said then fixed Edward with a stare, "Gabriel."

They all laughed at that and the girls visited, curled up on the bed while Jacob and Edward reattached the curtains between the washroom and the sleeping area.

Edward, can you hear me?

Jacob was working right in front of Edward but did not acknowledge that he had just mentally asked for Edward's attention. Edward bowed his head slightly.

Carlisle has some information that you and Bella will be shocked by. And I think Jasper should be in on it as well. We can't trust Dr. McCarty, Edward. He knows that there is a vampire at Val de Grace and he has killed them in the past.

Edward masked his utter shock well but that was mostly due to the fact that he was facing away from Bella and Rosalie.

"Hey, Rose?" Edward called. "Do you think Mom would mind if we invited Jasper to dinner tonight?"

"She wouldn't, but Dad might," she answered. "He has some private things to discuss with you."

"I know he does, and I think Jasper should hear them."

Understanding dawned on Rosalie's face, she looked at Bella. "He knows about you two doesn't he?"

"Yes," Bella replied.

Rosalie turned back to her brother. "As long as he's a friend of yours and knows what he knows, I think Dad will be relieved to have someone there he can really talk to."

Edward suppressed a grin. "I think Jasper might feel the same way."

Dinner that night was chicken prepared in a white wine marinade; crisp red peppers stuffed with cranberry cream cheese and sliced bread lathered in a spun honey butter that had been a Cullen family recipe for generations.

Jasper met them at the theatre and, with Rosalie's help, they pieced together what Carlisle would say. Edward wanted to be prepared and Rosalie did not see the harm in telling him what she had told Jacob as they had spooned on the sun baked roof of her house.

When they arrived, Jasper quietly took Carlisle aside and told him what they had rehearsed. It was only for his protection that Jasper did not tell Carlisle the truth - that things were far worse then even he had supposed.

"Carlisle," Jasper led him into the dining room, as everyone was still gathered in the kitchen and on the back porch. "I must tell you that I have been aware of Bella's condition and have been acting as her personal physician for the past three years. I am aware that there are other vampires in Paris as well as hunters who would drag them kicking and screaming into the sun if they only knew where to find one." He paused for a brief moment. "Rosalie told me a bit about why you called them to dinner and I had hoped that I could avail upon your hospitality to allow me to join you as I have similar concerns about the state of the hospital."

"Did you know where Edward was the night he was shot?" Carlisle asked pointedly.

Silence ate Jasper like a banana cream pie.

"Um…"

Jasper had not anticipated this line of questioning. He was so focused on keeping his own immortal condition a secret that he stumbled into admitting a past omission, if not an outright lie, to his friend. It was, however, just the sort of diversion that would all but guarantee his true motive would not be revealed. He looked directly into Carlisle's eyes.

"I had a feeling that Jacob would take him to Bella," he confirmed, "and when I got there he had already been…transformed. Vampires sleep for the first day of their life, like hibernation, and sometimes when they wake up they've gone insane. If that had happened, I would have had to put him down and I feigned ignorance to buy us some time."

Carlisle did not smile. "That's almost exactly what Jacob said." He held out his hand and Jasper took it. "I understand what you had to do, Jasper. I would have done the same. I'm glad you're here."

They went back inside and the reason for Jasper's knowledge of any of them in the first place was never investigated. Carlisle did not suspect a thing and Edward was standing by if he did. The backup plan was to come clean despite putting Carlisle further at risk, making him the only human at Val de Grace who would know about Jasper. It did not come to that and Edward could tell as soon as he walked in to the dining room with Bella on his arm.

They had to bring up an extra chair for Jasper and he sat next to Jacob and Rosalie near the window. Bella and Edward sat across from them, looking over their shoulders at the dwindling garden, now dipped in rich moonlight. Esme and Carlisle sat at either end of the table, Esme closer to the kitchen for incidental trips.

"There are a few doctors at the hospital, Emmett McCarty among them, who have hunted vampires to the East." Carlisle spoke seriously, but he was palming a sweet red pepper and eyeing it lovingly. "Furthermore, they suspect that there is a member of the hospital staff who is also a vampire."

"What do they site as evidence?" Edward asked.

"They haven't said anything concrete yet," Carlisle answered. "I think they are still sizing me up. They're quite a paranoid bunch."

"Who else?" Jasper asked.

"Dr. Renata, Dr. Santiago, and Vladimir."

"Vladimir, huh?" Jasper mused. "I liked him."

Carlisle looked at Edward. "Do you think I should play along, to get information?"

"Absolutely," Edward told him, "and you need to get Jasper into their circle as well."

"Well that shouldn't be hard," Carlisle mused. "Emmett is their leader and he looks up to me…"

"Follows you around like a puppy is what he does," Esme added.

Edward leaned forward. "Dad, I want you to make them believe that you are with them and that you will help in any way you can. You need to bring up Jasper as soon as you can and tell them he can be trusted."

Carlisle nodded his head. "Maybe I'll even invite them over here for a game of cards."

Edward heard Jasper, Bella, and Jacob all think the same thing.

NO!

"I don't know if we need to go that far, Dad," he said. "Just keep them close at the hospital and tell Jasper everything you hear. He'll bring the information to us."

Rosalie cleared her throat. Edward had already been treated to her forthcoming statement and applauded his sister's intuition. "Should I also keep close to Emmett? Maybe he will confide in me."

Everyone looked at Jacob.

"I don't want you involved," he said finally.

"Too late," Rosalie shot back.

Carlisle spoke next. "I think Rosalie actually has the best chance of learning their habits. As long as she can get him to talk about vampires in the first place."

"Don't bring it up," Edward instructed her. "He will brag. Just give him time."

Rosalie looked at Jacob. "I won't do it if you don't want me to," she assured him.

"I trust you," Jacob responded thickly, "and more importantly, I think your father is right. You are in a position to hear very sensitive things that even we won't be privy to."

"It's settled then," Rosalie stated with finality. "I'll invite him over tomorrow and get a little closer."

Jacob's eyes found his hands.

"Not that close," Rosalie whispered in his ear.

They spoke of lighter things after that. Music, Spain, and the early change of the season. Edward had been deep in thought for much of the day and wondered if it was too soon to reveal his inevitable conclusion to everyone. He had spoken to Bella, of course, and she had agreed that they had little choice but at least a little time.

And since it would take some time, and since it was, after all, inevitable, he stood up and raised his glass.

"…And no doubt it is there that everything is for the best;" he declared, "for it must be admitted that one might lament a little over the physical and moral happenings of our own world."

"What does that mean?" Rosalie could still tire easily of her brother's theatrics.

"It's Voltaire," Bella said standing up, excited as a bunny. "And it means that Edward and I are moving to New York City."

Notes:

I would like to welcome all my new readers…but they are all still on chapter four or something….boy are they in for a surprise, huh? Anyhow since I was in the mood to thank somebody I would like to thank you for reading.

I would now like to recommend two stories that I am currently reading:

"The Trackers" by Readingmama. It is set in the 1930's and is about a detective agency run by Edward and James. I like the authentic lingo used, and it's a bright and witty tale.

The next story is "Surrendered" by EvieKinz. It is a bit more abrupt in nature but nevertheless is a story that has surprised me with its pull. I think this Bella is a fascinating character study, and Edward is incorrigible. Bella is a child psychologist and Edward is taking his little sister, Alice, to see her. I warn you it's brazen but also funny.

MOG