I'M SORRY! Lol...It's been a while :3 and I'm apologizing in advance...I got carried away in this chapter alot.

...a lot.

But no worries! This story is coming to a close very soon, or I'm gunna try and stop myself as soon as possible to keep from dragging it out. I'm sure it's getting a little exasperating :/ Anyways, ON WITH THE CHAPTER!

~Selene

"Whatever you're up to Alice, I want you to stop it." Edward said sternly, glowering at me from the corner of his eyes. I smiled tauntingly but otherwise remained silent. Keeping secrets from Edward was fun.

Jackson sat in the back seat of the Volvo humming along to a song in his head, his feet swinging to the tune. His hair had gotten shaggy, I mused, sizing up the black strands that had begun to flay outwards around his face. So he really does have my hair.

"I've taken you shopping before haven't I? You have to relax Edward, I'm behaving myself, I promise." I lied right through my teeth, exaggerating the innocence of my tone just to see the frustrated lines deepen in his forehead.

Jackson stirred in the back. "Mommy, I forgot to tell you but Grandpa came to school today." He lifted his chubby hands and pushed his bangs up with both palms, forcing his slim eyebrows up to gawk at me goofily. "He talked to Mrs. Reid."

This caught my attention instantly. Daisy Reid. If there was anyone on this planet who I'd like to tear apart it would be her – I'd even burn the pieces just to be certain she was gone. I gasped at the thought, if Carlisle ever knew that had even passed my mind I can't even imagine how much trouble I'd be in.

"They talked for a really, really, really long time." Jackson pressed, nodding to emphasise each 'really'. Edward and I exchanged glances before I nodded for Jackson to finish his story. "Now I'm not in Valeria's class anymore," He frowned deeply at this, the misery that flashed across the emerald shades of his eyes made my stomach lurch.

However I was still stricken by what Jackie had said. "Wait, Grandpa had you taken out of Mrs. Reid's class? Why didn't the school call me?" I demanded answers only realizing Jack was as clueless as I was when he released his bangs to shrug dramatically.

I smirked. "So long Daisy." The satisfaction of my voice made my brother scoff. We sat for a moment, Jackson telling me about the rest of the day and how he was supposed to go to Miss. Sisson's classroom from now on.

I hadn't been formally introduced to Jessica Sisson, but from what I heard from Scott she was a very good teacher. Jackson would like her, I'm sure. Though, I still planned to run a recognisance mission when I dropped him off at school tomorrow.

"That's unlike Dad to get involved." Edward murmured, combing his fingers through his disarrayed hair, "At least, not so openly. You really hate Daisy that much?"

"Yes!" Jackson and I shouted in perfect unison, startling Edward and giggling to ourselves.

We drove for a long while, enjoying the quiet and the music that whispered from the Volvo's speakers. Jackson and I attempted to play Eye Spy but Edward was driving too fast for either of us to focus on an object.

It was so green outside. Everything was just so alive and rich, I inhaled deeply and tasted the life outside. Forks was amazing, I have to admit, I could live with the rain forever as long as I was here.

"Have you...talked to him?" Edward asked quietly, looking at me delicately, as if he was speaking to some fragile mental patient instead of his sister. I resisted the niggling urge to punch him.

I shook my head, "No. Even if he did return my calls, I'm not sure what I would say." My voice was soft, concerned. I sounded like a mental patient!

Taking a minute to glance down to the lapel of my coat, I lifted a leather gloved hand to stroke Jasper's pin with my index finger. If I couldn't have him, I could have this right? Really, I think I need some sort of proof that I hadn't dreamt Jasper Whitlock, I needed to know that he was real. That I could be Alice again.

Jackson interrupted our hushed conversation, all this time I'd thought he had fallen asleep. "Mommy, where do you think rainbows go?" I pivoted awkwardly to peer over my shoulder. He had turned all the way around and was gaping out the rear window. Through the tint I could just manage to see the fading luminosity of the rainbow he was talking about.

"I don't know honey," I sighed, wishing that, for just a minute, I could read his mind. No doubt Jackson was concocting his own destination for rainbows in the back of his mind.

Edward snorted, flashing topaz eyes over me as he shook his head. My poor big brother suffered from a lack of imagination. Edward was a realist, if something was bad he couldn't sugar coat it, if something was good he'd try to rationalize it. There were just too many thoughts swishing around in that big head of his.

Ignoring Edward I murmured hopefully, "What do you think happens to them, Jackie?" I stared out the windshield waiting for his response. Jackson buzzed his lips pensively.

The leather seats huffed as my son shuffled back to his proper sitting position. "They go back to being rain, right? Until next time? That's kind of sad." When I peered back at him again his lips were puckered out, eyebrows pressing together under his messy hair.

I nodded, twisting back to slouch in my chair. "It is sad." Edward's big hand reached out to plop on top of my head, fingers mussing my hair. A wave of high school nostalgia hit in the stomach, I could almost feel my heart sinking.

When we'd finally gotten to Port Angeles I realized I'd lost my nerve. I'd have been more useful sitting in the car watching clouds burst. I linked my arm through Edwards while we walked, Jackson sprinting ahead of us. I got this weird sense that we were in the wrong time, the three of us, like we belonged in another era.

"You're depressing me." Edward remarked, a faint smile on his lips. I rolled my eyes, his quiet chuckle irritating me a little. "Your world is a little one Alice, and you treasure the simplest of things. Any anomaly – even the slightest – worries me when it comes to you."

I grunted, leaning into the smooth grey-blue knit of Edward's overcoat. "That's funny, I'm usually the one rocking the boat." My brother nodded in agreement, letting out a breathy laugh.

Edward gazed down at me seriously, "Jasper was an anomaly." I froze at the inexpressiveness of his tone, was Edward really using his doctor voice on me? "I just want you to be happy, Alice. That's the only thing I want for you. And for Emmett."

I looked at him carefully now, searching for a sense of will deep inside myself. "Rosalie can't get pregnant." The words tumbled blithely from my mouth, and for the first time in what seemed like a long time, I was relieved.

My brother's eyebrows shot upwards, great unflattering wrinkles forming on his forehead. "That isn't something you wish on a person–"

I groaned, squeezing his bicep in both hands. "No – I mean she can't, Edward. It's a one in a million chance!" Edward looked down at me and frowned, pressing his lips together meditatively. I struggled with the pit that puckered my lips, wondering why he would have doubted me in the first place.

"He doesn't know does he?" Edward asked in all seriousness, his over-pensive, brooding expression returning. I shook my head and he sighed. "If she plans on marrying him she can't lie to him like this. And you're wrong to tell me-" I began to protest "-you know better! This whole Jasper jaunt must have you genuinely rattled, Alice. You're not one to tell secrets."

I made a face. It felt good to tell Edward, it felt right. He wouldn't tell anyone, including Bella if it meant protecting Emmett. Although...I couldn't help but feel as though I had netted Edward in the very deranged web Rosalie had knitted.

I could tell deep down behind the liquid gold of Edward's eyes there was heavy thought. Guilt wiped me clean of my voice. Because of me, Edward would be just as torn as I was, I knew how much he absolutely despised Rosalie – but Emmett wasn't just my brother. Now that he was aware of the situation, poor Edward would be bound by his confidence to me, unable to help in any way he could imagine.

"That was inconsiderate." I mumbled.

Edward chuckled humourlessly, grin teasing the corners of his lips. "It was. However, I would rather know than be oblivious, but there's nothing we can do for Emmett if she doesn't tell him the truth." I nodded in agreement but resented the idea of being helpless – after all, I am Alice Cullen!

Jackson bounded back to us, hair bouncing on his face. Unlocking an arm from Edward's, I extended my hand to intertwine my fingers with Jackie's.

"Mommy, I've got a position for you." He said, very businesslike, attempting to stay focused and ignore the pet store we strode by.

Edward cocked an eyebrow at me, "Position?"

I waved the comment of. "Its proposition baby, and what might it be?" I spoke while swinging mine and Jackson's hands back and forth, a subtle attempt to sway the solemnity of his expression. My sweet boy, a little too old for his age perhaps.

"We should flood our house." Jackson answered sternly, Edward breaking out in hushed laughter at my side. I pushed off the urge to giggle at his firm statement myself.

I shook my head at him, "Not with all my clothes in there." Jackson smiled and rolled his eyes at me. "Why would we flood our house?"

Jackson sucked in a deep breath, chuckling at his own brilliant idea. "Well, see, if we filled it all up with water then we'd get a bunch of rainbows!" He released my hand to fling his arms out to their full length to intensify his excitement. "And Mr. Jasper would come back – 'cause of all the colours, I think – and then you'd be happy again."

My grin faded, it felt like such a gruelling effort to smile again. It really was a fine idea, and I tried to sound just as enthusiastic as he did. "Why didn't I think of that?" I tussled Jackson's hair quickly as I spoke. "But I'm happy now, I have you – and my shoes." I winked.

Edward waited for Jackson to dart off again before he commented. "He's just like you." There was a hint of laughter to his tone and I tilted my head as I watched Jackson tour the mall.

"Except he doesn't have an older brother to ruin all his great ideas." I elbowed him in the ribs and Edward nodded.

As we walked I tried to set aside the secret I had spilt and the guilt that was building, concentrating on my initial mission: getting Edward's pants off. Oh, Bella was going to owe me huge when I was through with this!

We stopped in only a few stores, I made Edward try on piles of jeans, dress pants, suits, button downs, t-shirts and thermals. I focused on the more natural colours that played on his eyes and made his hair seem more red than bronze. He played my game for the first three shops, before Edward began to get grumpy, demanding to know why he needed all these clothes in the first place.

Of course, I couldn't give him a straight answer, and by the tenth stop I decided I would have no other choice than to order more suitable attire online.

I'd bought Edward several new thermals, most of which V-necked because it made Bella hilariously giddy. Making certain I strayed away from his preferences of navy blues and greys, I also tried to bring Bella up as much as possible, enjoying the flustered expression he donned when I did so.

"She'll like the beige one," I remarked on the way home, glancing over my shoulder to where Jackson lay sprawled across the back seat, in deep hibernation. Edward sighed. "It's like the sweater you wore to the meadow – in high school."

He nodded, deliberately thinking a tad too much about driving. "I remember." Edward responded stiffly. I shooed off a smug smirk and continued to prod his nerves.

To make sure he was actually listening to me I murmured, "Personally the crimson one is my favourite. I think it'll remind Bella of Italy." Edward hissed as he sucked a breath in through his teeth. I coughed over a snicker, "And the cream thermal – the other V-neck! – you can wear that one the next time you go the meadow. She'd–"

"I'm not stupid Alice." Edward abruptly snapped, the apologetic glance he shot my way making me realize he hadn't intended to be quite so angry. "I mean, I understand what you're trying to do."

I grunted, desperately trying to lessen the tension in the Volvo. "Edward you promised you wouldn't read my mind!"

He cracked the teeniest of smiles, removing his left hand from the wheel to drag his fingers through his hair. My brother exhaled, a pained look flashing over his features, "You know how I feel about this. And I assume Bella told you what happened last week." His eyes flickered to assess me in the darkness of the Volvo. The dashboard lights washed sharp, pale shadows on Edward's face, making him look angular and harsh.

I played with my hair, realizing just how short it was when I reached up to grab a few locks. Twisting and winding a black hair around my index finger. He sighed, "I never meant to make her cry, Alice. That's why I left when I did-"

Interrupting momentarily, I counted the days Edward had actually been gone. Emmett and I had thought he'd only be gone for a few hours, but Edward was gone for nearly four days! It wasn't until I went to the hospital for Carlisle to check Jackson's cast, that my Father explained to me that he'd received a rather excited call from Tanya. Edward had retreated all the way to Alaska!

Then again, I suppose he did was very, very prone to overreacting when it came to Bella. He had done it before, in high school, Carlisle and Esme were so mad that he'd actually gone – Edward had been threatening to leave Forks for two full weeks when Bella first moved from Phoenix. She had thought it was because of her, then again, I guess it was, although Edward never told me what Bella had done to make him so furious.

"Yeah," I spoke up, "Tanya didn't want you to leave, hmm?" My tone was teasing but the fleeting glare Edward flashed me openly conveyed that he did not return my humour.

Tanya was really very beautiful, I'll admit it, she's no Rosalie but she's model worthy. When we lived in Alaska I used to design all sorts of dresses for her, she had the most perfect frame for classical ball gowns. To this day the only other girl I know who can compare is Bella – though she adamantly disagrees.

Edward's left hand rose to vigorously pinch the bridge of his nose. After a moment he breathed again, placing his hand back on the wheel. It wasn't so much that Edward disliked Tanya, it was how forward about her feelings for him that irritated my brother.

He shook his head, genuinely looking as if I had shoved bamboo slivers under his nails. I'd threatened to do it when we were teenagers, but his expression now actually frightened me.

"You can't tell anyone. I mean anyone, Alice. Not Emmett, not Jasper. Especially not Bella." He didn't look at me when he told me this, which worried me even more than his statement. "I left to get away from Bella, I didn't know exactly how to face her again after what I did. She cried so much, Alice, I was such a coward that I couldn't even apologize formally."

Edward tilted his head in thought, it was the first time all day that I actually felt him driving. Usually Edward so smooth, it felt more like floating than blazing down a highway. I knew how awful he felt, Edward loves Bella more than anything, I knew this fight would affect him greatly, but not to this extent.

"Tanya kissed me Alice, it was terrible." Edward spoke quickly now, to get the confession over with as soon as possible. However, I couldn't help but giggle at the sour look on his face, like he'd tasted something haggard.

I laughed despite myself, "She's a bad kisser?" Edward nodded and I laughed harder, holding my hands over my mouth to muffle the sound. He looked at me with a severe seriousness, but grinned otherwise.

His shoulders tensed, back ramrod straight against the leather seat, Edward's hands grasping the wheel white-knuckled. But his expression betrayed the rigid ferocity of his demeanour at the moment. "I just about ripped her apart. I had been so beside myself for what I'd said to Bella, that everything came out at Tanya." Edward winced, "I am certain that they won't be calling me back for a visit any time soon."

I shook my head at him, attempting to match his sombreness. "And you're usually so collected." Edward groaned at my remark, so I composed myself a little more, struggling to remove the smirk from my face. "It's not a sin, Edward, you won't receive any flogging. Tanya had no right to kiss you, Carlisle will understand your reaction. You could tell Bella – we both know she will forgive you. But I would not recommend it."

Edward listened, but I was not certain that he was truly hearing me. I opted to not discuss this matter with him any further, which in turn meant I could not meddle in his love life as well. Perhaps I'd already done my work here, I felt as though Edward had realized something. Maybe Tanya was the kind of push he needed, which was funny in a way.

Changing the topic I started telling him about Jackson's arm, how it had started healing, Carlisle had looked it over. Anything medical intrigued Edward, he found the mechanics of such things challenging and beautiful, like me to fabric, or Emmett to...sex.

"I still find it hard to believe that Tristan would do that." I murmured, biting my lower lip and gazing at Edward through the darkness. I couldn't see his expression, but my brother's entire frame stiffened when I looked.

He exhaled tensely, "I don't." Edward admitted sharply. "And in such a public place – to a child." He scoffed angrily, sliding his hands over the wheel to distract himself. I nodded a fraction, wishing that I had done more that day, that I had been strong enough to stand up to Tristan.

Edward abruptly changed topics, "I don't understand it Alice, what is wrong with us? It's like a Cullen curse: You and Jasper, then Emmett and Rosalie too, now Bella and I...and Tanya." Edward's voice turned into something of a growl while he spoke.

For the first time I looked at our predicaments in that light. Perhaps we were cursed, doomed to an eternity of anguish. At one point I may have earnestly believed that statement but now, because of Jasper, I knew there had to be more to it than that. There must be some form of light to this. It couldn't end this way, not if I could help it.

"That isn't the way it's supposed to be, Edward." I argued, scrunching my nose disapprovingly. We didn't talk for the remainder of the ride, but I knew Edward was mulling over everything we had discussed, and would continue to do so to no end. I was curious to know if I had helped Bella's cause at all, Edward had an annoying talent of leaving me in the unknown.

At my apartment I shooed Edward off, not realizing how late it was until I looked at the clock on the stove. I carried a surprisingly grumpy Jackson upstairs, ensuring that he brushed his teeth before collapsing onto his bed with a groan.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, I brushed my fingers through his lengthy hair, combing it back from his face. Jackson unconsciously reached up to grasp my hand in his small fingers, pressing my palm to his mouth. I smiled a little, he was just so adorable.

I sat with him for so long, in the glow of his nightlight, before hunching over and kissing his forehead, managing to slip my hand out from his limp grip.

Changing out of the red dress and waistcoat I wore to the mall, I changed into a pair of track pants, digging around in my drawers for a t-shirt. It's funny how all your drawers can be completely organized – right down to underwear colour – and you still can't find what you want.

I thought about screaming, but refrained at the memory that it was almost midnight. The ringtone on my phone was enough noise, and I spun round to pluck it up off my bed. My iphone played a song Edward had written, Esme's favourite, displaying a photo of my Mother.

It was an old picture I'd downloaded from my Mac at my parent's house. With Esme in the middle, beautiful bronze hair draped over her shoulders while she wrapped her arms around a long, ink haired me, and an oversized, sixteen-year-old Emmett who had donned braces for eighteen months.

Admiring the picture for a little while, I finally answered the call. "Mom? It's late isn't it?" Esme's silvery laughter chimed on the other line.

"Alice, you know we never sleep." She teased, I could almost picture her standing outside of my Father's library. For as long as I could remember, Esme had always loved it when Carlisle read to her late at night. Then again, I guess we all did.

She cleared her throat, sending a little static over my phone. "I just wanted to let you know there's supposed to be a storm tonight. You never watch the news, so your father and I were a little concerned."

A sudden bashful wash cascaded over me, making my toes tingle a little in coyness. Biting my lip and pinching my cell between my ear and shoulder I giggled timidly. "It's boring," There was a slight whine in my tone and Esme chuckled. "You don't need to worry, we'll be okay. I can always drive over if it gets too bad."

"Okay sweetie, our cells are on just in case." Esme promised murmuring an I love you, before we exchanged goodbyes. Smiling to myself I hung up and tossed my phone onto my pillow.

My parents were awesome, but I wasn't a kid anymore, thunder and lightning didn't scare me. Glancing over my shoulder I glared at my drawers, if everything in there wasn't so pretty I swear I'd light the whole thing on fire.

So I could stubbornly sleep in a sports bra just to spite my clothes, I could totally get away with that. I thought to myself bitterly, waltzing around my bed and kicking off my slippers when something caught my eye.

I reached down to snatch up the vagrant piece of fabric, realizing it was just a part of a sleeve when I withdrew it from out and under my bed. Taking it in both hands and unfolding the clump, I held it an arms length. Definitely Calvin Klein, very refined. Narrowing my eyes suspiciously I thumbed circles into the shoulders of the large button-down blouse. Rich navy blue material, with the faintest of light blue pinstripes.

Where did I ever wear this? I tilted my head a fraction, laying the shirt on my lap and running a palm over it. Oh! I clapped my free hand over my lips – it's Jasper's. I moaned quietly in defeat, stupid cowboy was everywhere even when he wasn't really there!

Stretching my arm out I grabbed my cell phone again, grateful that I'd put Jasper in my speed-dial. It rang consistently five or six times, my stomach rising and falling as if I was on a rollercoaster.

My heart leapt at a click that cut off the ringing: "You have reached Jasper, leave a message." Hastily I fingered the End button and hung up before the beep. How many messages had I left? At least...thirty? God, that's embarrassing even to think about.

Pushing my arms into the sleeves of his shirt, I buttoned it up slowly and crawled under my duvet. Maybe Edward had a point, about Jasper being an anomaly, a very irritatingly sexy anomaly. I just needed to shake him, that's all, get rid of all the Jasper in my world. That was a very painful prospect, but...

I could do it. I'm strong enough, now. So I would delete his number, purge my entire apartment, and hunt down any of his clothes. Starting tomorrow. Midnight tomorrow. I'd have to give him time to call me back – Jasper might've just lost his phone.

Pulling my pillow over my face, I squeezed my eyes shut tightly. "I don't want to be single again," I groaned into the squishy softness of the fabric pressed against my face. Ugh...why did this have to be so hard? Boyfriends came and went, I mean, I have extremely high standards – especially with Jackson in the equation. Still, was there nobody that could be good for me? Someone who would actually stay with me? That's not a lot to ask for if I do say so myself.

Damn it! I'm going to have to explain this to Elise and Jon too! And Kourtney...who will never ever, ever let me live it down.

I tumbled into an uncomfortably shallow sleep, waking up briefly before falling asleep again. I rolled around irately before a loud noise began to ring in my ears. I tried to pinpoint it without completely waking up. It didn't sound like the alarm, or the kettle. What the hell...

Jerking upwards I glanced around the utter darkness of my bedroom, lunging out of my bed in what felt like half a second.

It was Jackson. Screaming.

Slamming into the wall in a frenzy, I felt for my bedroom door, ripping it open so hard it flew back to smack harshly against the door-jam. The entirety of the hallway was sheathed in blackness, the slap of my bare feet resounding in the shadow. I shoved Jackson's bedroom door open breathlessly, his cries rising in pitch.

"Baby it's me, it's okay, I'm here." I said to the void, watching the slim figure across the room launch itself at me. Jackson's bed creaked before he raced across the room to wrap his trembling arms around my legs. Reaching down I plucked him up in desperate hands and squeezed his body to mine. "The power just went out, it's alright."

Petting Jackson's hair I pawed my way around his room until my hand landed on the orange flash light on his dresser. Pressing the switch, the bedroom was dimly illuminated by a single round ray of inorganic light. The sudden brightness made my eyes water a little, I carried Jackson out into the eerie hallway and gradually down the stairs.

He whimpered against my ear, my breathing shallow due to Jackson's death grip on my throat. Despite the power outage there seemed to be a fair amount of noise in the hallway. I opened the door to find the other tenants of my hall waving their own flashlights around the shadowed corridor.

The door to the stairs swung open with a whoosh and both Jackson and I leapt at the sound. A tall silhouette ghosted through the hall, the lot of us anxiously shining our flashlights at the ominous figure.

Carlisle didn't so much as flinch at the abrupt lightness, merely squinting his eyes. "Dad? Daddy!" I gasped, sounding childish in my frantic state, Jackson and I clinging onto Carlisle's frame distraughtly.

Big arms wound around us, obstructing the ray of my flashlight. "How'd you know to come?" I asked, lifting my face from Carlisle's shoulder.

Another tenant, I knew as Mr. Morrison responded for him. "Miss Cullen the entire area has blacked out, not sure when the lines will be fixed."

Carlisle rubbed soothing circles between my shoulder blades. "I knew this would happen," He chuckled faintly near the end, my Father's voice was teasing, and I would have smacked him if I wasn't so relieved to have him here with us.

"Can we go home?" I asked hopefully, grateful when Carlisle nodded, guiding me towards the stairs. Thankfully the emergency lights had turned on, bathing the cement stairs in a creepy red wash. I felt like I was in some sort of lame horror movie.

Jackson's clutch was unrelenting, arms wound securely around my throat, and legs in a similar lock over my hips. I kissed him comfortingly, gently winding and unwinding my fingers in his hair.

Thunder roiled outside, forks of lightening crashing down violently. The sky itself seemed to be shrieking. The wind was hot outside, angry winds that were as warm as they were vigorously ferocious. Rain came down in heavy, thudding droplets that splattered weightily across the street.

Inside the safety of Carlisle's sleek black Jaguar, I leaned my cheek against the limo tint of the passenger window. Forks was completely black save for the few houses where generators had begun their labour. Flashlights shone out of darkened windows, and candles sat atop the sills, where families did not have such luxury.

"We still have power." Carlisle stated quietly, gazing around as he drove, palms silently sweeping over the smooth steering wheel in his grasp. I was thankful that we'd had our house built outside of town, away from the connected power lines. Ours was individual, even still, we were fortunate enough to have generators of our own.

I tilted my head, peeking over my shoulder a little. Jackson was wired in the backseat, fisting the flannel of his pyjama pants as he glanced restlessly out the windows.

"Edward and Bella are inside as well." Carlisle explained when I spotted Edward's Volvo in the enormous garage at the side of the house. Opening the door I scuttled around to the back to tear open Jackson's door as well. Carlisle drove on towards the garage while Jackie and I fled to the security of the indoors.

Esme greeted me with an affectionate hug, stooping down to gather Jackson tenderly in her arms. Jackson relayed the horror that he had experienced in his bedroom as my Mother took him down the hall. Only the end of the conversation did I truthfully catch.

"...because Grandma, all the bogeymen are back. Mr. Jasper scared them away – but now their back!"

Esme listened diligently, her eyes flickering over her shoulder at the mention of Jasper's name. I recoiled from her gaze, dropping my eyes downward to avoid the surfacing questions. It wasn't bogeymen Jasper frightened away...

I followed behind them, delicately removing my shoes in the foyer. Suddenly aware of the chills that wracked my frame, I realized my inappropriate pyjama attire and vowed never to return to my parent's house without actual pants on.

Padding barefoot down the hall, I entered the living room, pausing at the sound of laughter farther down the corridor. Bella sat, crimson faced in my brother's lap, Edward's hands atop hers as he pressed her fingers on the keys of his piano. I could tell the difference between Edward's instruction and Bella's timid attempts by the contrast in tunes. Bella was terrible, to say the least, but it was an incredibly adorable scene.

Edward heard me the minute I stepped into the doorway, turning a fraction to grin at me. Bella yammered in mortification, hastily climbing out of his lap and onto the piano bench as I entered.

"I can't believe Dad had to go get you." Edward laughed condescendingly, I glowered callously at the remark. His chin tilted up a fraction, Bella did not notice but I most certainly did. Edward continued, "Alice still afraid of the dark?"

I growled audibly, flipping the wet-dry knots of my hair out of my face. "Shut up, Edward." I had a distinct feeling that this was my brother's way of getting back at me for my persistence earlier today. Two could play that game. "Hey, how's Tanya, didn't she give you a rather stimulating phone call the other day?"

Edward's face blanked simultaneously, the vulnerability of his expression turning to rage. His eyebrows knit together tensely, Edward opening his mouth to retort when Bella interrupted.

"Tanya?" Her concerned gulp seemed to echo in the vast room. She combed her hair back behind her ears, and I could just see Bella's face paling. The Denali family had been very welcoming of Bella into our house, but my poor Bella was instantly overwhelmed by the beauty that ran in their family.

Being who he is, Edward did not miss a beat. "My cell number and Carlisle's is very similar, she dialled mine instead. Alice makes the same mistake quite frequently herself." He smiled genuinely, promisingly brushing his fingers through her long hair. Reluctantly, Bella digested the lie and leaned into his palm.

The minute her back turned and she faced the piano once again, Edward shot me a hostile glare, appearing as if he was utterly prepared to rip me limb from limb. I stuck my tongue out stubbornly, stomping gracelessly out of the room.

Carlisle shook his head at me, hands rising to press his damp blond hair back into the refined slickness it was usually in. "You shouldn't pester him like that," My Father murmured, pacing alongside me towards the kitchen. So Carlisle was already aware of Tanya's debauchery. Still I argued my defence.

"Edward started it!" Unfortunately, my foot stomping and the whine hanging onto my syllables did not support my debate. Carlisle laughed softly at me, caressing my cheek with his knuckles.

Upon entering the kitchen, I gazed at Jackson who sat on the countertop, sipping at the glass of milk in his good hand. Esme strode towards us, befuddlement on her face as she handed me a rectangular device.

I accepted the device, smiling meekly to myself as Esme grasped Carlisle's hands in her own. "You're soaked," She sighed in defeat, rising silken palms to stroke at my Father's face. Carlisle responded softly, but I'd already darted out of the kitchen before I could hear him.

My cell phone buzzed furiously, playing an annoying country tune that made me glower at the screen, before keening with excitement.

"Jasper!" I shouted into the teeny speaker, listening to the groan on the other end. "Oh! I'm sorry!" Despite myself I yelled again, and he gave another moan.

He sighed, and I could picture him running his big palm over his face in exasperation. "I wanted to tell you Alice – I tried so hard to tell you." His voice was ragged and frenzied, but furthermore, hopeful. "The morning we fought, the night you woke me from a nightmare, I could hear. I've been able to since the party, but it was vague, that morning it all came back – I had to hide it from you. I'm so sorry."

The ecstasy I felt in hearing his voice, that perfect little Southern lilt in his tone, the sheer Jasper of his every word, nearly killed me where I stood. However, beneath that jubilance, was complete and total fury.

"I can't believe you did that!" I snapped, punching the hallway wall with my free hand and wincing at the pain that consumed my fist. "And you didn't return even one of my calls! You can't just disappear like that and not say a word – I hate you! I hate you! I hate you, Jasper Whitlock!"

I was rasping rigorously into the phone, rigid with outrage and pain. "And then-" I struggled to catch my breath "-and then you tell Rosalie about it – I was so scared Jasper."

He was wordless, the silence hummed onto my end of the conversation and I worried that he had hung up on me. I held my breath in an attempt to hear something, anything on his side. Jasper exhaled shakily, swearing under his breath.

"You're not...you just can't...you can't leave me like that." My voice had dropped to a breathy whisper as I leaned my forehead against the hallway wall. I was aware of Bella and Edward standing by me, but waved away Bella's hands as they swooped in to soothe me. "It's not fair. I thought you were gone." I gasped finally.

Jasper cursed again, and yet again, creating a chain of vicious profanities. I was certain I heard something crash in the background and wondered what he was doing, had he broken something?

He breathed sharply, casting a constant rumble of static to wash through to my line. "I know. I know it's not." Jasper groaned, it was a muffled sound that I was sure had been obscured by his hand. "I have so much to explain Alice, and I'm running out of time. The power is out in my building, are you at home? Where are you?"