Disclaimer: Not mine-all characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. Thanks and kisses to Cullen818 for being my beta goddess and super friend.

Some of you will hate me for what is about to happen. (you have been warned)

Jasper's POV

"Bella, you have to slow down. I know you want to act, but you can't just go flying off to Jacksonville! There will be too many people. You'd never make it without hurting someone." I tried to reason with her, but her grief was too strong. She was terrified for her mother, unable to see the consequences. I couldn't let her go alone; I wouldn't. My words didn't even register as she flew around the room trying to get a bag packed. I walked behind her and grabbed her by the waist. She snarled and spun on me, fury in her eyes.

"Let me go. I have to go. He'll kill her, Jasper! Don't you see? I can't let him kill her!" She was fighting me and winning; before long she had wrenched herself from my grasp. She was digging in the drawer for money not even bothering to count out amounts.

"Carlisle!" I called. I needed his help. Maybe he could get her to see reason. Within a second he was standing in the doorway. He was emanating concern and fear as he watched her throw herself around the room. I looked at him and threw my hands in the air.

"Bella," he said gently, "You can't go alone. It will do more harm than good. I may have a solution, if you'll sit down long enough to hear me." Bella stopped and turned, but her expression wasn't accepting.

"You can't talk me out of this, Carlisle. I have to save her." Her tense posture was fading; I could see the longing in her eyes to run to him and be embraced like a child. For him to tell her all the answers.

"I would expect nothing less of you. But Jasper is right; it's too dangerous. If you'll sit down for just a minute, I'll explain what I'm thinking." Looking dubious, she followed Carlisle. He was thinking something, that was for sure, but he hadn't yet shared it with me. We walked down the hall towards his study; he called the rest of the family on the way in. Once we were gathered, he turned to face us. "I think something is wrong with Edward." At this statement, Emmett actually laughed.

"Carlisle. Pops. It's pretty obvious something's wrong with Edward. What's your angle?"

"I know my son. And when he left that day with Alice, he wasn't like he is today. He only became that way after going…" he trailed off. I could see where he was going with this and I didn't like it. He was trying to make excuses for Edward's behavior.

"Carlisle, you can't be serious! There is no excuse for his behavior!" He raised his hand to silence me.

"I understand your feelings on this issue, Jasper, but please-hear me out. We are on borrowed time here, and must work quickly." I took my seat again next to Bella on the couch. He turned back towards the family. Bella reached over and twined her hand with mine; the tension she was feeling was almost crippling. She wanted to act, not sit. "I only just recently began piecing this together; I'm not sure why I didn't see it before. You know I spent time with the Volturi while I was in Italy. Upon my departure, they had acquired…a new member, so to speak. A woman by the name of Lucinda. Her power was only just developed, but it was strong. And dangerous."

"What kind of power?" Rosalie asked. She was leaning forward and frowning. I had trouble understanding her emotions.

"She had a great influence over people. She could intertwine her will with the inner-workings of others minds; almost as if she took them over completely. It was the Volturi's way of tying the members of the guard to them. As I said, her powers were only just developed when I left; I imagine they're much stronger now." Realization was dawning around the room; Emmett muttering curses, Rosalie shaking her head. Esme actually placed her hand over her heart and gasped.

"Are you saying that you think this is what happened to Edward? That he's been influenced by this person? This…Lucinda?" Esme was looking up at her husband, pain etched on her face; but she couldn't hide what she was feeling. Hope. Hope that her first and best son could be saved.

"I can't be sure. If this is the case, she must have immense power-to have this effect on him so far away. But I believe this is a definite possibility." His eyes met Bella's then, and she understood.

"How can we find out? If we can get them to stop this, to let him go, then he'd leave my mother alone-right?" She was grappling with intense hope and a deep sorrow; I wished I could help her calm down. But I wouldn't manipulate her, not when she needed to feel this.

"I'm not sure. We'll have to make a call to the Volturi; I'm not sure how receptive they'll be. Aro has always coveted Edward, he'll not want to let him go easily. And that leaves us with another issue. We can't tell him the reason that we need him released, or else your mother will be in more trouble than she is now." Bella gasped.

"What do we tell them then? They'll need a valid reason." Esme chimed.

"We'll have to tell them he's breaking the rule. We'll tell them we think he'll stop if he could just see reason." Emmett was quick with his reasoning. I could feel his excitement at the prospect of getting his brother back.

"But then what? He'll have to pay for what he's done. There's got to be some other way." Rosalie reached around to pull Emmett close to her. Everybody sat in silence for an immeasurable amount of time.

"There's a way." Carlisle said at last. All eyes were on him as he strode to the middle of the room. "I don't like it, but I can see no other way around it. I'll offer them a favor." This meant more to him than it did to the rest of us; we just looked at him waiting for further explanation. "The Volturi, regardless of what you may think of them, are a very diplomatic family. They do not expect that the rest of us owe them for doing what they do. And in return, we do not expect things from them. But in cases as such, when we desperately need something from them, we offer them a favor. We offer to be called upon whenever and wherever they need. And do exactly what they ask. It's not something to be taken lightly." He ran his hands through his hair.

"Is this the only way?" Esme asked, immense worry wrapping around her like a blanket. He looked grave when he answered her.

"I think so. We can't risk telling him what Edward's done, they'll kill him. And we can't put Bella's mother in danger either. I'll make the call now."

It was Bella who stood up first. "And if it's not Lucinda? If he's really gone off the deep end?" She asked. She didn't want to believe that he was good. She didn't want to deal with that. Neither did I.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there." He walked from the room and pulled out his cell phone. I stood up and wrapped my arms around Bella, simply to have her near me. I couldn't stand the way she was feeling. The way everyone was feeling. She immediately turned to face me, burying her face in my chest.

"I don't know how to feel. If it wasn't his fault…" she couldn't finish. I didn't know what to say to her, so I let my hand trail through her hair.

"I know. Me either." I had no words for this. We could hear Carlisle talking, but I, at least, didn't bother to listen. I didn't want to. Unfortunately, it was only moments later that he walked back into the room. No one was breathing. Moving. Only watching.

"It's Lucinda's influence."

I closed my eyes and pulled Bella tighter to my body. I could feel her dry sobs. It wasn't his fault…but How could I not hate him?

"And now?" Esme whispered.

"And now it's been removed." I sank to the floor with Bella in my arms.

Edwards POV

I felt as though I was buried in a fog. Like I couldn't remember where I was or what had happened. It was like I was looking back through human memories, but I hadn't been human in a hundred years. I looked around; I was in an unfamiliar place. I took in a deep breath to try and get a feel for where I was, but suddenly I smelled a human. My head whipped to the right.

Oh, no. Renee. My life flashed before me. What have I done? I jumped up and sped across the room to where I saw my phone sitting. Renee looked at me, looking frightened.

What's he doing now? Oh, I wish Bella would hurry up…I can't fathom what reasons she would have to lie to me…to live through her death? And this boy….what was so important about her to this boy? Her thoughts were rampant, but calm. I hadn't hurt her. I had called Bella. Told her I had her mother.

I made her drink from a human. I let my hands fist in my hair as I dropped to my knees. What happened to me? How? Why?

I had to make this right. Now. I picked up the phone and walked into the bathroom. Carlisle would know. He would believe me. I dialed his number and hoped that he would answer.

"Edward. I'm not surprised to hear from you."

"Carlisle…I don't know what's happened. I…I wasn't myself. Can you believe me? I never meant….never wanted to hurt anyone. And Bella-please tell her I'm sorry. Tell her I didn't…I don't…" I couldn't finish. A choked sob escaped my lips.

"Edward. Are you in your own mind now?" What?

"Yes…do you know what happened to me?" I sucked in a deep breath.

"Lucinda had you under her influence, son. She was controlling you. I am correct to assume that she is no longer?"

"I've done things…unforgivable things. And I didn't want to. Aro wanted me to feed from humans, and I refused. He forced one in front of me. That's the last thing I truly remember doing on my own. The rest-it feels like walking through fog. I remember them, but I don't remember the reasoning. Why I did them. My thoughts weren't mine." He had to believe me. If anyone would, it had to be Carlisle.

"I know. But you don't have just me to apologize to. You've hurt the family, you've hurt Bella. I understand that things happened to you against your will, but you have to repent for your actions regardless. Is Renee safe?"

"Of course. She doesn't…I didn't tell her anything about us. But she's going to expect to see Bella. Or at least talk to her. If you can arrange that, I'll be happy to take her home." And then I would go home and make amends. Get back to Bella.

"That can be arranged. But…Edward? Can you remember everything?" What an odd question.

"Yes. It's vague, but it's there."

"Do you remember that Bella is with Jasper now? Because you took it quite badly before. I need to know, before I allow you to come home to make amends, that you will not cause her anymore grief."

"I…remember. I want to see her; apologize to her. I never wanted to hurt her. I owe her an explanation, and I hope in turn she'll share her story with me." I would pay my penance to her again. I would do it right.

"Of course. That will be up to her. Until then, please hand the phone to Renee-I'm going to put Bella on. We'll see you soon."

I carried the phone into Renee and didn't bother to mutter an explanation. My whole life. Destroyed. I was ruined, and in turn I'd ruined others.

I'd ruined Bella. Again and again I ruined her.

I'd ruined it all.

Now, I know that some of you questioned exactly what happened to Edward when he went to Italy. And I know we all love to hate him, but I had to justify his actions. To me, Edward wouldn't just switch off like that-he's too focused on being good.

There are still things to wrap up, guys, so this isn't the end!!