Title: Solstice

Fandom: Twilight

Pairing: Alice/Bella

Rating: T, may become M much later on

Disclaimer: I own nothing yeah?

Author's Note: I have removed Jasper from this story and replaced him with a female version of himself named Jaclyn. She's Edward's partner and has a similar history to Jasper. Kristen Bell will be playing Jaclyn. Ian Somerhalder will be playing Charles. At least in my head

I lay there watching Bella's chest rise and fall, the steady stream of breaths leaving her with a soft little exhale, counting each one. After all, those breaths were numbered and even if I couldn't put a date in my mind yet, the day where her heart would stop was fast approaching. In sleep, Bella looked so peaceful and out of harm's way, out of the dangers of the supernatural world that I had dragged her into. A slight frown creased over my lips as I thought about it. I had exactly dragged her, we stumbled together through this world but the point I had been trying to make was it was my world, not hers. In my heart, the heart that was so cold and still and not full of life like the one that beat to a perfect rhythm, I had known from the first day there was no way for me to be a part of Bella's world but that there would always be a way for her to be in mine.

There were too many things on my mind, blurred visions coming in and out as I changed my mind over and over. Bella was in danger and needed to be changed if I wanted to keep her safe, whole and happy but changing her now would mean depriving her of time with Charlie and Renee and after we staged her faux kidnapping later today, I doubted that either of them would although Bella out of their sight.

That was the other thing weighing heavily on me at the moment. The plan, to me at least, was incredibly illogical. No one in Forks would believe that Bella Swan had been snatched in the middle of the night without a fight, without alerting the town's sheriff who slept in the room over and then just abandoned with no trace of her 'kidnapper'. I had tried to voice my dissent on the plan earlier but Edward seemed to have an answer prepared for me beforehand, which made for an interesting little game. In the end, it was decided that as long as we staged everything the right way, made it so Bella looked worn and battered, mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted, we could have a shot at this. Carlisle had the advantage in being the man who treated her and could fake the charts if needed. I knew my family was just trying to satisfy me, to keep me focused on this problem instead of the fifteen thousand that were piling up behind it but it wasn't working. Every single one of those problems involved Bella and there was just no way for me to not worry and want to solve them.

I let out an unnecessary sigh and allowed my eyes to move from Bella's falling chest down over her face, taking in each little micro expression that flickered over her face while she slept. The amount of times I could just lie her and watch her sleep was numbered as well. The facts were pretty plain.

At some point soon, Bella would stop being human and would become a vampire. A monster like me.

That was why I had to sigh, why the battle over right and wrong raged in my head. I knew that Rosalie and Jaclyn were pacing around just below the bedroom, ready to rush up and take guard over Bella if I could no longer keep my feelings in check. Well, all those feelings sure were working in overdrive at the moment.

Prom. Perhaps prom was the place to do it, or rather the time. We could share one more night, one normal night and memory before I took her life. No. I was saving her life, not ending it. By technicality I knew otherwise but James was a threat and even the wolves could be a threat again. And those damn Volturi were always lingering around somewhere as well. All three of those things were significant dangers to the safety I had sworn to protect and there was no turning back now.

I had also made the mistake of informing Bella of what we were going to have to do and knowing my wife, she would have happily awoke from her slumber to offer me her neck and her eternal life. Was it crazy of me that I wasn't concerned with talking Bella out of becoming a vampire but rather with when the right time was. Surely if the roles were changed, if this were Edward or Rosalie with Bella they wouldn't just give in so easy to the selfish choice. They would have fought harder, created better reasons and arguments. And I, well I gave and was ready to do something neither of them probably ever would.

When.

When was the question, not the solution. With the way Bella was turned, curved slightly into me, her head tilted down into my hard, cold arm, it left her neck dangerously exposed to me. Instantly my eyes found the raised skin, the light scar of where Rosalie and I had bite her. Quick war waged in my head as I tried to decide whether or not to risk disturbing Bella. Finally though, I lifted my long slender fingers and touched the scar I had helped to leave on this flawless being.

Bella stirred slightly, a grunt falling from her lips as she shifted, leaning into me more as if that would help get her comfortable. I let out a chuckle but my middle finger continued to run back and forth against the bump, the memory coming to my mind so quickly, the taste of Bella and the sacrifice that was made to ensure we could be happy. I was happy. I recognized that when a swell of emotion rushed over me and in turn Bella, the corners of her lips tugging slightly even though I knew her to be in deep sleep.

It was a sleep I'd be ruining shortly as well but this time to deal with the only situation I could still exercise control over. Bella would go along with any plan that ensured her freedom, despite the repercussions from Charlie and Renee for what she put them though. Possibly her parents were the key to persuading Bella that she should remain human for as long as she could. Nine vampire bodyguards and a pack of dog wolves seemed like a responsible size force to keep my wife safe. Yes, that had to the elusive secret, just keep Bella alive until she realized for herself what she was going to need to give up and abandon.

Still gazing down at Bella, I stopped the tracing pattern of my finger for a moment and shut my eyes and just pretended that we were two perfectly normal teenagers who hadn't flown to another city to get married and battled against two different supernatural forces. It was quiet and peaceful and even if I could dimly hear the piano from downstairs and light conversation scattered throughout the house, this seemed normal and good and I was planning to hold onto this for as long as possible.

Reality caught up to my fantasy rather quickly however and before Rosalie was even in the bedroom to make Bella into a starved and tortured victim, I was trying to shake her awake.

"Bella." I whispered gently as my lips hovered right about her ear. "Bella baby, it's time to go home."

"'M home already." Came her muffled response as she turned and buried her into whatever crook of my body she could find, shifting so half her body was on top of me. Like it would make a difference either way.

"Home to Charlie and Renee." I explained in my quiet voice, crushing any self-doubting thoughts left in me. "You really need to go see them now if you plan on becoming a vampire before you finish high school."

I was really only half teasing her.

Bella's head tilted back, one eye prying open to look at me with her own doubts, as if she were really asking me if the offer was real and serious. I just nodded and that seemed to kick Bella into gear somehow.

"Rosalie is going to come up and do your makeup. I promise she'll be gentle." I added while I sat up, pulling Bella with me.

The sleep was still heavy in her brown eyes, her hair a little off from how she had been sleeping on me but still Bella was a gorgeous site. I watched as she tried to stifle a yawn, nodding along like she actually understood any of this. Bella was better at playing her part than I was. Every time we made some kind of plan, I had go along and mess it up somehow.

The guilt before I needed to feel guilty was a bit too much to deal with at the moment so I did the only thing I could think to do. I leaned forward, pushing my lips against Bella's, surprising her and using that to my advantage. I quickened the kiss, pushing hard and little more eagerly to which Bella responded by bringing her hand up to caress my neck.

It was easy enough for me to just go and get caught up in the kisses, forget that there was a plan in place for a good reason and just give everything to be.

"Okay. Good morning." I said with a laugh as I reluctantly pulled my head back, turning to the left a little while the smile spread onto my face.

"Good morning." Bella finally said rather gruffly and just a little too sexy for me. I let out a little chuckle and brought my hand to her cheek, the bone right there under my touch.

"Are you ready to end this chapter of our life?" I asked, shifting my tone so Bella could see how serious I was about this. All I wanted, all that she and I actually deserved was a bit of normal, despite how un-normal we were.

"As long as the rest of the story is about us as well then I'm okay with this chapter being done." Bella said, stealing a quick kiss which earned her another laugh. "Can the next one include a happy ending?"

I had to laugh again, a lightness coming over me for the first time since I had taken my post as personal watcher. That was Bella's effect on me at work already, making me so happy and light. Maybe, just by the grace of something bigger than me, the happy ending would come next.

So I updated this. I thought I had lost all muse for this fic but the reviews still come in, people follow this. I know this chapter isn't much but it's the start. Thank you to all who have stuck with this.