A/N: I want to thank all of you who read and reviewed last chapter. Thanks for sticking with this story even though it had been sooo long since the last update. But here we have another update! See, I told you guys I'd be updating this regularly now. :)

Betad by Michelle Renker Rhodes.

Most characters belong to S. Meyer. Major plot line belongs to J. Austen. The rest is me.

A&A Chapter 29 (P&P Chs. 52-54)


Bella was home alone.

Her father was working, her mother and her two cousins were visiting Sue Clearwater, and Alice and Emmett, after having invited Bella to accompany them and been given the excuse of a headache, had taken a trip into town.

No, she had no headache, but her mind was in total upheaval.

Edward Cullen had rescued her cousin.

Edward Cullen had placed himself in the last scene she had ever expected him to be.

Theories, speculations, presumptions all ran rampant through her brain, making it impossible for her to make heads or tails out of any of it. That thing called hope that had swelled in her heart just a few days ago was threatening to return with a vengeance, but she had to keep it under strict regulation because it made no sense that he would involve himself in something that would bring him both financial and mental hardship for…

..for what?!

She looked down at the copy of the application that she'd retrieved from Jessica's bedroom.

"The Rose Foundation for Exploited Young Women," she repeated to herself aloud.

Just then, she heard voices downstairs, and upon leaving her room realized that Emmett and Alice were already back.

Bella was not a woman built for suspense. She ran down the stairs and straight to her cousin. He looked up at her with a grin that soon faded when he saw the determination in her eyes.

With one hand on his chest, she pushed him backwards towards the door once more.

"Bella, what are you…" a confused Alice asked from behind them.

But Bella simply continued to guide Emmett outside.

"You're going to answer a few questions for me," she hissed.

Emmett gulped loudly, but didn't protest.

Once they were outside, she dropped her hand from his chest and put both her hands on her hips.

"I'm sure you understand how curious I am to know why someone who had nothing to do with this matter was with you when you found Jessica in Seattle and why you never told me about it!"

Emmett swallowed thickly before responding. "Fine, but it's a long story."

"Dad's at work and Mom and the girls are gossiping with Sue. We've got all the time in the world."

Emmett rolled his eyes. "Alright, so you remember the night we got here from New York?" Bella nodded that she indeed did. "Well, I received a phone call."

"I remember that too," she replied, already guessing who the call was from.

"It was Edward. He said he was already in Seattle, and he had a couple of leads as to where Mike might possibly have taken Jessica."

"He had a couple of leads?" Bella mimicked in disbelief. "Why was he searching for them?"

Emmett sighed. "He said he felt responsible for what had happened, since he could've warned the neighborhood about what kind of man Mike really was and made it impossible for him to fool any young girls. He said it had been his pride that had kept him from saying anything because he hadn't believed it to be his duty to warn anyone. It was his obligation, therefore, to find Mike and Jessica and to find a solution to a problem that he had ultimately caused." Emmett held Bella's gaze carefully. "If he had any other reason, he never gave it explicitly, and I didn't ask."

Bella felt her heart accelerating with every word Emmett spoke.

"We followed a couple of leads, but the most promising one was the fact that he knew of a good friend of Mike's now living in Seattle. There was a Ms. Cope, apparently once a nanny to Rosalie, who he once fired; though he didn't mention why. Apparently, this Ms. Cope was now running a cheap motel somewhere in Seattle. Once we found her, we found them, and then after that, it was either luck or righteousness that guided us. When we stormed into their room, Mike was in their alone. Jessica was apparently in the shower. Let me tell you something," Emmett chuckled, "I'm not exactly sure what Mike did to Edward in the past, but whatever it was, I think Mike needs to thank his lucky stars every night that he's still alive! I had a bit of a hard time convincing Edward that it would not be a good idea to beat Mike to within an inch of his life, especially after he started saying some degrading things about Jess," he sneered disgustedly. "Unfortunately for Mike, Jessica happened to overhear some of those things he was saying, and after that it took no convincing at all to get her to press charges against him."

Bella's jaw fell open more and more with every word she heard.

"Does Dad know that Edward was there?"

Emmett shook his head. "Edward accompanied us to the precinct, but left before your father arrived."

"What about…what about the application?"

Emmett shrugged. "He said his family had recently set up a foundation to help exploited young women. He said it was a matter very important to both him and his sister. He didn't expand beyond that, and again, I didn't ask."

If Bella hadn't been so shocked, she would've probably been the first one to appreciate how ridiculous she looked, standing there with her jaw on the floor, blinking like a fool.

Emmett smirked. "You know, I've heard a lot of rumors about Edward's character, but you want to know what's really wrong with that guy? It's his stubbornness. He wants to do everything himself! He wouldn't even let me be the one to give Mike a couple of well-deserved punches! And I had no choice but to go along with it. Instead of being allowed to have actually been of any use in all this craziness, I merely get to be the one to get the credit for it," he grinned wryly. "So…thanks actually, for having asked me what really went down because I was beginning to feel like a real ass for taking complete credit for something with which I had little to do."

Bella covered her mouth with one hand. "Oh, God."

Emmett frowned. "Seriously though, Bella, you can't say anything about this to your parents or anyone else for that matter. Edward feels responsible for what happened, and though I suppose in some convoluted way he may bare a drop of responsibility, he can't hold himself responsible for other people's actions, none of us can," he added directly.

Bella wasn't so stupid as to fail to understand what Emmett was saying. She dropped her gaze to the floor.

"Still, the truth is that I wouldn't have given in so easy in letting Ed take the lead on all this if I hadn't been convinced that there was another, much more involved reason motivating Edward's actions. Mike deserved a beat-down, and Jessica would've probably benefited from a good shaking from me too if it wasn't for the delicate condition in which she now finds herself," he said in a dry tone. "I tried talking to her on the way home, but you know how that one is; things go in through one ear and come out of her ass. The way she acted when she got home is exactly the way she acted the entire time over there and on the ride back. She has no shame, that one. But Edward…yeah, he's a cool guy. I wish he and I would've had time for a couple of drinks before he left, but he had to get back to his sister, and I had to get back to you guys. I'll probably catch up with him when I'm back in New York. He needs to learn how to unwind a bit, but I'm sure that's something that the right kind of girlfriend can teach him."

At this, Bella's head whipped up. Emmett was grinning down at her impishly.

"He thinks he's so slick," Emmett chuckled. "He hardly mentioned your name at all while we were in Seattle, but every time I called you, I could feel agitation rolling off of him in waves, boy! Woo-hoo!"

At this, Bella pressed her palms up against her cousin's chest and shoved him with all her might.

Emmett barely budged, but his chuckles turned into full out laughter.

"Sorry, sorry!" he chortled. "Don't get all pissed off at me now! Or at least don't get so pissed off that I won't be allowed to visit you in Ithaca. That is one bad-ass house, and you'll need to let me spend a few nights a year there, especially in the summer! Did you see that in-ground pool in the back? The laps I could take around there!"

Bella shook her head, feigning indignation. "You're an idiot," she told him, but she couldn't repress the smile at the corners of her mouth.

Emmett laughed again, and just then, Bella spotted her mom and cousins rounding the block, and all talk was over.

But even after they all went inside, even through all the commotion that her mom and cousin's gossip afforded, Bella couldn't get her mind off of the information she'd just learned from Emmett. Her mind and heart kept vacillating between joy at the pure goodness Edward had displayed and heartache over the possibility that he'd simply done it out of a sense, though admirable in and of itself, of obligation.

Edward had preceded Emmett and her father into Seattle. He had taken it upon himself to seek out information, to seek out a woman, Ms. Cope, whom he'd probably never wanted to lay eyes on again. He'd had to deal with the man who had taken advantage of and crushed his sister's heart cruelly, the man whose name was even difficult for him to utter aloud. He'd done all this for Jessica, a girl whom he neither liked nor disliked enough to go to so much trouble.

Her heart whispered to her then, among all the noise and clutter around her: "He did it for you."

Once again, hope swelled inside her.

But that hope was soon checked once more by other facts that she had to consider:

Even if Bella was able to discount the fact that Edward had already laid his heart out to her once, and had it stomped on almost as cruelly as Mike had done with Rosalie's, he could now never desire a true relationship with Bella. Proximity to her would mean proximity to Jessica and her child, Mike's child. And he would never be so cruel as to inflict that kind of constant pain and reminder upon his sister.

Yes, Edward had done a lot for her family - more than a lot, more than could ever be repaid, but he'd given reasons for his interference, and they were good and sound reasons even if he truly had no cause to blame himself for what had happened. Bella could even go so far as to let herself accept that he had done some of it for her. That he did care about her enough to want to give her some peace of mind, but it was a long road from peace of mind to eternal bliss.

To think that she, as well as her family, owed him so much and would never be able to properly thank him for it. God, how she wanted to kick herself for every evil thought and word she'd ever had for him. And though she was drowning in a sea of humbleness, for Edward she felt nothing but pride…pride because he'd proved himself to be the better person in all of this.

She thought of Emmett's words: "He's a cool guy."

While her family yelled and screamed and laughed, Bella gazed down at the floor and smiled.

No, cool didn't quite do him justice, but it had warmed her to hear him spoken of with so much respect and affection, because he deserved nothing less.

OOOOOOOOOO

To Renee, it seemed that nothing could occur that would make her happier than she was currently. Her beautiful and favorite niece was going to have a baby, and Renee soon conveniently forgot all the other events that transpired to bring about that occurrence, as well as the insignificant little issue of Jessica's age. There would soon be a new baby in the house, and to top it all off, they'd barely even have to break a sweat to support the child financially since The Rose Foundation would be taking care of that little inconvenience! What could possibly make life grander?

This question was answered a couple of days before New Year's, when news reached her that a house cleaner had been hired to get Netherfield Estate ready for the gentleman who currently held its lease, for he was expected to spend the remainder of the holiday season there.

For half a minute, Renee was as speechless as it was ever possible for her to be. She looked at Alice and grinned wickedly.

"So Jasper is coming up to Forks, is he now, Sue?" she asked (because it was Sue Clearwater who brought the news). "Well, that's interesting – not that I give a damn. What Jasper Whitlock may or may not do makes no difference in our lives, and I for one wouldn't care if we ever saw him again. Besides, didn't we agree never again to mention him around here? Are you sure he's coming?"

"Very sure," replied Sue. "I heard it from Mary Reed, who heard it from Agnes Lloyd, who heard it from Sara Douglas, who heard it from the house cleaner herself," she confirmed smugly. "He's actually due to arrive this afternoon."

By this point, Alice could barely conceal the way her cheeks flushed, and her breathing accelerated at this news. She hadn't mentioned him at all to Bella in days, but as soon as she was able to have some time alone with her sister, she had to open up.

"I saw the way you looked at me, Bella, when Sue told us the news about Jasper. I know I looked nervous, but please don't think it's because I'm still in love with him. The news simply caught me by surprise is all, and to make it worse, I suddenly felt as if every pair of eyes in the room was on me. But I promise you that the news neither causes me any pleasure nor pain."

Bella listened to her sister, quietly thinking. Had she not seen Jasper back in Ithaca, she may have supposed that he was simply coming to spend the last of the holidays in his Estate. But she had a feeling that Jasper still cared for Jane, and she wondered if he was making this trip now with his friend's approval, or without it.

And despite what Alice had just said, Bella could clearly see the continued agitation in Alice's demeanor: the flushed cheeks, the accelerated breathing, and the brightness in her eyes. Clearly, Alice was much more affected by the news than she would let on.

And so the subject that had been raised between their parents over half a year ago once again resurfaced.

"Charlie, as soon as Jasper is back in town, you've got to go pay him a visit."

"Heck, no. You nagged me into visiting him last year, promising me that if I did so he'd definitely marry one of our girls, yet nothing ever came of it! I'm not making a fool out of myself again!"

"Charlie, darn it, you have to pay him a visit! It's the neighborly thing to do!"

"It's a stupid thing to do! If he wants our company, let him go out of his way to get it. He knows where we live. I refuse to spend my time chasing down a neighbor every time he returns from somewhere!"

"But it would be rude of you not to!" She huffed. "Fine! Whatever! I'll ask him to come have dinner with us!"

Charlie ignored her and went back to reading his paper, but Renee already felt better.

"I'm actually starting to wish he wasn't coming at all," Alice said to Bella when they had a moment alone in the kitchen while they took care of the dinner dishes. "It's not so much that I care, but it's all Mom speaks of. I know she means well, but she has no idea how much she tortures me with her words. I can't wait to return to New York!"

"I wish I knew what to say to make you feel better," Bella said sympathetically. "Alice, have you ever thought that maybe-"

Bella's words were interrupted by the doorbell ringing. As they weren't expecting any visitors, and they'd already had their daily visit from Sue, Alice and Bella both looked at one another, wondering who it could possibly be.

Bella handed Alice her towel. "You finish. I'll go see who it is."

She took a few steps in the direction of the front room, from where she heard a couple of familiar voices-

And came to an immediate halt when she saw Jasper – with Edward standing next to him.

Bella made a silent and immediate about face right back into the kitchen, dropping down into a chair.

Before Alice could ask her what was the matter, Lauren and Renee ran into the kitchen.

"Jasper is here!" Renee whispered loudly, a huge grin on her face.

"Yeah," Lauren confirmed, "and he's with that friend of his, Edward What's-his-name, you know, the tall, hot and conceited dude."

Renee smirked. "Ugh! Well, I suppose as long as Jasper is here, we have to put up with that friend of his, but I've got to be honest, though he may be smokin' hot, I can't stand him!"

Alice looked at Bella, her features full of shock and concern. She didn't know much of what had happened between Bella and Edward in Ithaca, and so she could only imagine how awkward and uneasy Bella must feel at the thought of having to see him again after the things that had happened in Madrona and that disastrous letter.

Still, it wasn't just Bella who felt uncomfortable; Alice was in turmoil as well, and both felt sympathy for what the other must be feeling at that moment. Yet it was impossible for them to share one single word with each other, with the way Renee kept going on and on; about how much she disliked Edward, and how she would only allow him into her house solely as a favor to Jasper.

But Bella had more reasons to be disconcerted by Edward's visit than even Alice could ever imagine. Bella hadn't shared what she found out about Edward from Jessica and Emmett. So while to Alice, Edward was merely the man whom Bella had turned down and who she'd grossly misjudged, Bella knew him to be not only the person whom she now loved, but also the person the entire family had to thank for not only rescuing Jessica, but also for financially supporting her and her child for the foreseeable future! Her bewilderment at his return to Netherfield Estate, to Forks, and voluntarily putting himself in her path once more was equal to that which she'd felt when first bumping into him in Ithaca.

The pallor which had settled on her face over the past few days immediately vanished, and in its placed settled a rosy hue, a bright glow, and an insuppressible smile lifted the corners of her mouth, her eyes sparkling the way they used to as she allowed herself a few moments to believe that maybe, just maybe his affection for her hadn't diminished at all.

But she had to be sure. "I'll let him take the lead," she said to herself, "and see how he acts towards me before I get my hopes up."

With renewed determination, Bella lifted herself out of her chair and straightened her back, leading all the women back into the front room.

Emmett and her father were still greeting Jasper and Edward when they walked back into the room, and so Bella wasn't able to command Edward's attention immediately. Instead, she stole a quick look at Alice, who looked as flushed as Bella felt, yet appeared calm and patient, much more so than Bella was sure she seemed.

And then she felt Edward's eyes on her.

She immediately turned towards him, her breathing so shallow she was sure everyone in the room must be able to perceive it, but she waited.

"Hi, Bella."

Two simple words. She wasn't sure what else she'd expected. For him to throw himself on his knees? To rush her and take her in his arms? To declare his never-ending love for her in front of everyone?

She wasn't sure what she'd expected, but it certainly hadn't been those two innocuous, meaningless words.

"Hey, Edward."

They all finished their greetings, but Bella's heart and mind were in such disruption that she couldn't even say how Alice and Jasper had greeted each other. At some point, they all sat down together in the front room and took up conversation, though Bella said as little as was possible while still appearing friendly and animated. She only allowed herself one glance towards Edward: he looked as solemn and uncomfortable as he'd ever looked, much more as he'd appeared all those months back in Forks than he'd appeared just a few days ago at Pemberley. Perhaps he couldn't be in as much ease around her family as he'd been back at Pemberley. It was a painful thought, but not at all improbable.

She had also hazarded a quick look at Jasper. While he also looked a bit embarrassed, there was no denying how pleased he appeared as well.

"Jasper, we have missed you so much around here!" Renee said.

"Thanks, Mrs. Swan, I've missed your family as well."

"The neighborhood simply hasn't been the same without you! I sincerely hope you plan to stay for a long, long time!"

"I'm still not sure how long I'll be staying. It depends on a few things."

"On what?" Renee pleaded with desperation. "I mean, just tell us what will make your visit more enjoyable, and we'll definitely strive to do it!"

Bella was beyond embarrassed by her mother's display, especially compared to her curt and almost impolite manner with Edward.

"Mr. Cullen, I hope you've been well." But the sneer on Renee's face rather negated those false wishes.

"Thank you, Ma'am I have. And I hope you and your family have been well also."

"Why shouldn't we be? Do you think just because our family doesn't have all the advantages of being born into wealth that some obviously have, we'd have trouble staying well?"

"No, of course not, Ma'am, that's not what I think at all."

"Hmph!" Renee snorted. "Do my daughters not look perfectly healthy and happy to you? Do they appear less "tempting" than all those rich girls you must hang out with?" she taunted him.

Bella wanted to crawl into a wall and die at her mother's shameful display, especially when this woman owed the man she was currently provoking for her favorite niece's current and future well-being.

Edward let his eyes trail around the room, barely meeting Bella's gaze. "Your girls all look wonderful to me."

Again, Renee simply snorted.

Emmett soon cut in, and engaged Edward in much more pleasant conversation, while Renee continued to gush over Jasper, and Jasper tried to draw Alice into conversation more and more. Eventually, Emmett, in seeing that Bella and Edward were not getting on as he'd hoped, tried to draw both into conversation with each other, but it was awkward and stilted conversation at best, and those few times when Bella would give into her craving to look at Edward, she'd find him looking at Alice, or at Emmett, or at the wall, but never at her.

To say that she was hurt and angry would be an understatement. Yet the anger was directed completely at herself because really, what else could she have expected after what had happened?

"But then why the hell did he come?" she asked herself.

"Edward, how's Rosalie?" she dared ask.

"She'd doing well, Bella, thanks."

Renee's loud voice drew in everyone's attention.

"Jasper, we were starting to worry we'd never see you again! So many things have happened since the last time you were here with us. Leah Clearwater is engaged to our good friend, Jake, and they're off living in Madrona together. But even better than that, I'm going to be a grandmother!" she exclaimed proudly.

"Are you?" Jasper smiled graciously.

"Yes! Well, it was a bit of a funny affair," she said, waving off the particulars of the story, "but Jessica is having a baby, and a baby in any way, shape or form is always a blessing. Don't you agree?"

"I'm sure I do," Jasper replied, making his congratulations to Jessica, who received them proudly. At least, she sounded proud. Bella had no idea how she looked because she didn't dare lift her eyes from the floor, ashamed beyond words and terrified to see Edward's expression through all this.

"It's wonderful to know you're going to be a grandparent," Renee continued, "though I don't think I look old enough to be a grandparent. Do you, Jasper?"

"Not at all, Mrs. Swan. You look as young and beautiful as your daughters."

Renee blushed profusely at this compliment. "Why, thank you! And my daughters thank you too! See, I told them not to worry if some men see themselves as too high and mighty to find them attractive" – her eyes flashes angrily in Edward's direction, quickly softening before coming back to Jasper – "because there are other men just as important who can see their beauty!"

Bella could barely breathe through the mortification.

"Jasper, do you plan on staying in Forks through New Year's then?" she asked, in an effort to change the subject.

"Yes, Bella, I do."

"That's wonderful," Bella said cheerfully.

"I was hoping…" – Jasper glanced nervously at Alice – "that we could all spend some time together in the next couple of days.

The shame and mortification Bella was just feeling now took second place to the happiness she felt at the way Jasper watched Alice, and the hope she felt rekindling between the both of them. She would bear this embarrassing display if it meant Alice's ultimate happiness.

"That's a great idea," Bella smiled encouragingly.

Conversation continued, and though Bella tried to speak equally to everyone in the room, she couldn't help but notice how Jasper reserved most of his conversation for Alice. For her part, Alice tried to be as friendly as ever, but the events of the past few months had left her wary, and she wasn't as talkative as she may have once been.

After an hour or so of conversation, Jasper and Edward looked at each other, and the former, though obviously unwillingly, rose to take his leave, Edward following.

"Well, we've taken up enough of your time. It was really great to see you all again," Jasper began, but was quickly cut off by Renee.

"Jasper! Jasper! We're having a nice, quiet New Year's Eve dinner here at home tomorrow! You owe us a dinner, if you'll remember! You were supposed to come over last summer before you returned to New York. I was very disappointed that you didn't keep your word on that. Please say you'll join us? You too, Mr. Cullen," she threw in, with a quick roll of her eyes.

This time it was Jasper's turn to blush. His gaze moved to Alice apologetically, but Alice was staring at the floor.

"I want to apologize profusely for the events of last summer, Mrs. Swan. It was…very wrong of me to leave so suddenly, and I would be more than honored to join your family for New Year's Eve dinner, as would Edward, I'm sure."

Edward simply nodded once.

OOOOOOOOOO

Though it was almost midnight, the house was in an uproar when Jasper and his friend left. Renee couldn't stop talking, moving from one side of the house to the next, excited and elated, terrified yet planning.

"We have to go into Seattle early tomorrow morning and buy the best darn roast we can find! And appetizers! We need loads and loads of appetizers! Nothing but the best for Jasper! Not that I think he's coming for the food, but we don't want that uppity Mr. Cullen talking smack about what we serve for dinner!"

As for Bella, she craved the quiet and privacy of her bed to reflect on everything that had occurred that night. Edward's behavior had left her confused and heartsick.

"If he came only to be sullen and indifferent, why the hell did he come at all?" she asked herself.

In the now silence of the house, she could find no answer that pleased her.

"Why was he so friendly to Emmett, to Alice, even to my cousins, and not to me? If he doesn't care about me anymore, why did he avoid my gaze? Ugh! What a confusing man! That's it," – she banged her pillow with her fist – "I refuse to think about him anymore!"

She was actually able to keep that resolution for the next fifteen minutes or so because Alice crept into her room and sat down quietly at the edge of her bed. Bella realized that she'd been so preoccupied with Edward that she'd forgotten to speak to Alice about Jasper.

She now looked up at a grinning Alice.

"You look happy," Bella teased.

"I am," Alice responded. "With myself more than anything. I think I handled that pretty well all things considering, don't you? I mean, it could've been really awkward, more awkward than Mom made it, but I think I was perfectly indifferent to him. I didn't let him see how much he'd hurt me a few months ago. I didn't embarrass myself any further than Mom already did me the favor of doing. Now I know how strong I can be in front of him and have no reason to fear another encounter with him again. I'm actually glad Mom invited them over for dinner tomorrow. It'll give me a chance to practice my indifference to him again."

Bella snorted. "Oh yeah, you were both very indifferent to each other," she chuckled. "So much so that he could barely walk out the door tonight. Edward had to guide him out. You'd better rethink that entire speech, Alice."

Alice frowned down at her sister. "Do you really think me that weak, Bella, that I won't be able to stay strong for a couple of days more?"

"I don't think you're weak, Alice honey. I think you're still in love. And I think he's still in love with you." She sat up in bed and patted her sister's hand. "Proceed carefully, yes, but don't hold your feelings back this time, Alice. True love…" – she sighed again – "True love is something so special, and when we finally find it, we should never let go."


A/N: Thoughts?

I'm thinking there's about 3 or so chapters left to this story, give or take. :)

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