Destiny

"Esme, what kind of flower is this one?" Rosalie cut a mauve rose look-a-like flower and held it up.

"That's my personal favorite. It's called a Ranunculus. Cut several dozen of them, they'll make a beautiful arrangement."

"I think they're my favorite as well. Alice, what do you think?" Rosalie turned to Alice and held up the flowers. She had that far away look in her eyes. "Alice, what is it? What do you see?"

"We have to get back to the house, now. Do you know where Jasper went?"

"I think over to the cabin. Why? What's wrong?"

"Edward and Emmett. They're going to fight."

"What?" Rosalie threw down a hand full of flowers and ran toward the house. Esme and Alice followed behind her."

They heard the yells long before they arrived. Edward had approached Emmett as he parked his Jeep. They were faced off in the garage.

"Emmett, you idiot, I'll rip you to shreds. How dare you tell Bella our secrets? You've put her life in danger," Edward screamed and tackled Emmett. They rolled out of the garage onto the grass and slammed against a pine tree.

"No, Edward, her life was already in danger, and she's pretty much figured it out on her own. She had the right to some truth from this family. We've taken everything from her." Emmett threw Edward off his back and crouched down, prepared for the next attack.

"Carlisle, Esme and I have worked hard to keep it from her." Edward circled around waiting for Emmett's next move. "Now she has the added threat of the Volturi to worry about."

"The Volturi is nothing compared to the threat of James or yourself. I saw the big hicky you put on her neck last night." Emmett spat.

Edward roared and flew at Emmett, knocking him once again to the ground.

"Alice, call Jasper, tell him to get here ASAP," Esme yelled and ran after Rosalie who was now on Edward's back with her hands around his neck.

"Rosalie, stop," Esme yelled as she stopped about five feet away from them.

Edward grabbed Rosalie's hands to keep her from ripping his head off and yelled at Emmett, "Here, take your little monkey before I hurt her."

Emmett growled and rushed to help Rosalie.

Esme screamed, "Stop, Edward, Emmett. Stop this. You're going to hurt each other."

Edward quickly bent over and sent Rosalie flying off his back and into Emmett.

Emmett was knocked to the ground but quickly recovered. He made sure Rosalie wasn't hurt before he turned back to Edward.

"I'll kill you for that, Edward," Emmett hissed.

Esme stepped between them and put her hands on Emmett's chest. "Stop it. Someone is going to get hurt."

"Move, Esme," Edward yelled.

"No, not until you two listen to reason. Now stop."

Both Emmett and Edward glared at each other, but neither made a move, not with their beloved mother in between them.

"Now what's this about?" She asked.

"This idiot told Bella all about us. He basically answered every one of her questions," Edward answered.

"I didn't answer every question, Edward. Do you want me to tell Esme the question I didn't answer?" Emmett replied.

Edward crouched back down and snarled, "Move, Esme."

"No. You'll have to go through me to get to him. Is that what you want?"

"No, you know I would never hurt you."

"Your ridiculous behavior is hurting me. You have to stop acting like this."

"But he has put Bella in even more danger."

"I doubt it. How will the Volturi find out?" Esme replied. "I never felt comfortable lying to her. Emmett's right, she is a smart girl, and I think she deserved some answers."

"Edward, you're the only one who thinks Bella should be left in the dark. She was smart enough to figure it out on her own. Especially after your little performance the other night."

Edward roared and started again for Emmett, but he was tackled to the ground by Jasper.

"What is going on? Have you all gone crazy?" Jasper asked.

"Get off me, Jasper," Edward growled.

"Shut up and calm down, Edward. You too, Emmett. Have you two lost your minds?"

Edward, we need to take this inside the house. And talk like rational beings. James could be catching this all on his little tape and we need to show a united front.

Edwards's demeanor instantly changed. Jasper sensed his mood change and released his hold and Edward calmly stood up. "You're right, Jasper. Emmett, I'm sorry for overreacting. Let's go inside." Edward turned and walked slowly to the house.

Everyone looked at Edward with shocked looks on their faces. And then over to Jasper who just nodded his head as he took Alice's hand and followed Edward. Esme, Emmett and Rosalie followed behind them.

Edward walked to a chair in the living room and flopped down. He put his head down and ran his hands through his hair. He sat silently until everyone joined him.

"Arg, I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm so sorry. Rosalie, please forgive me."

"Edward, I know exactly what is wrong with you." Everyone turned to stare open mouthed at Jasper.

Edward looked up quickly and over toward Jasper, and for the first time with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "If you know, then tell me, please. I'm tearing this family apart."

"You're separated from your mate. And until you reunite with her, we can all expect more of this behavior out of you."

"That's encouraging," muttered Emmett.

"Hush," whispered Esme.

Edward looked back down. His hopes vanished as quickly as they came. He quietly responded, "Jasper, she can't be my mate, she's human."

"I know it doesn't make complete sense, but I can tell you from my own experience…" Jasper looked fondly over at Alice. "If you had tried to separate me from Alice when she was going through the change, I would have acted just as irrational. I wanted so badly to tear you apart that first time you came into the cabin. When Rosalie was brought to the cabin, I wanted to take Alice and run away. I felt like everyone besides myself was a threat to her. During the time she was the most vulnerable I was completely irrational. And even now I'm very anxious when we are apart."

Jasper continued, "And you remember Emmett, when Rosalie was going through the change. The only way we were able to convince him to go with you to hunt for James was to use his love and concern for Rosalie. We had to convince him that it was for her own good."

"I think you're right, Jasper," Esme interrupted. "Edward, you remember after I joined you and Carlisle, he didn't work for ten years, we couldn't stand the separation. Even now, when we are apart, I long for him to return."

Edward spoke in a low voice, "I nearly killed her last night. How can you say I have this connection with her when her life is in danger whenever I'm near?"

"One of the strongest emotions I have been getting from you these last few months is frustration, but even stronger than that is love. You don't know how to deal with this relationship, because of its difficulties. The pull between mates is second only to blood lust that a vampire will ever experience in his existence."

Emmett joined the conversation. "Edward, I know from my own experience that there was very little difference between the lust I feel for Rosalie and the lust I felt for her human blood. In my mind I couldn't separate the two."

"Well, this all make sense to me, but it doesn't solve anything. It appears my only options are to kill her or stay this crazed out of control idiot that I have become. The first option is one I will never choose." He looked every family member in the eyes before he continued. "After we kill James, I'll leave the family and go off on my own."

"No, Edward." Esme rushed to him and knelt before him. "Please."

"Esme, I won't tear this family apart. And that's what I'm doing. If my destiny is to be a walking time bomb, you'll all grow to hate me. I won't stay here and ruin your lives."

Alice walked away from Jasper's side to stand next to Esme, she put her hand on Esme's shoulder to comfort her and spoke.

"Edward, I've seen your destiny," Alice said. "I know you're opposed to Bella becoming a vampire but it's going to happen. I don't know how or when, but it will happen."

"Alice, this so called psychic power of yours is unproven as of yet…"

Rosalie stood to defend her. Emmett grabbed her arm to restrain her. "It's not unproven, she saw the fight between you and Emmett just now, and…"

Edward turned to Rosalie. "As far as I'm concerned it's still unproven. Bearing that in mind, please understand I'll do everything in my power to protect Bella from that ever happening."

"Unfortunately, Edward, it's not within your power. It will happen, I've seen it," Alice said with confidence.

Edward stood up and walked toward the staircase. He stopped and looked back. "I'll stop anyone who thinks about taking matters in their own hands. I'll be listening to each of you, if you think about changing her, I will stop you." He ran up the stairs and the next sound that was heard in the house was the loud slam of his bedroom door.