Okay, so chapter no.2 for the day!

I hope you all enjoyed the previous Alice fluff lol!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight

Chapter 36: Aftermath

(Bella POV)

It was two years ago that Edward had left me broken hearted in the Forks forest and now the situation had reversed. It wasn't my heart broken into pieces, but Edwards.

And as he ran further into the forest, stifling his troubles, I realized that I had no idea how to fix it…

"What have we done?" I uttered out hopelessly, wallowing in a pit of anguish.

"What we had do…" Jasper replied faintly, "There was no way we could have continued with a charade, keeping them in the dark like that.."

I agreed silently and pushed the issue no further. Jasper was right. As much as is it hurt now, as much as I wanted to hide my face and never return, it was better for the long run. How could we have continued to live like that? Always hiding our love from the world, kissing in the shadows, being careful to monitor our every gesture around each other.

And yet these thoughts didn't comfort me in the least.

I had broken Edward's heart… and I knew exactly how that felt.

"Did you tell Carlisle?" I asked quickly, remembering what a state the rest of the family would be in.

Jasper seemed to hesitate before answering, as if mulling something over.

"Yes…" He said slowly, drawing the word out and running his hands over my bare shoulders.

"But?" I asked skeptically, sensing the opposing proposition.

"…Well… I mean, he took it well its just.."

"Out with it Jasper!" I seethed angrily, "I'm fragile enough without you trying to covert something from me."

He cringed from the callousness of my words and I instantly felt terrible for snapping at him.

"Jasper, I'm… I'm sorry, I just-"

"Forget about it," He replied dismissively, though I noticed he completely stopped touching me.

Great! My mind applauded my sarcastically, Destroy your husbands heart and then have a go at your boyfriend! You know, the day's not over yet, you still have time to run over some kittens!

I spun my head rapidly in an effort to rid myself of the internal voice. I was moody enough as it was without the help of my sardonic inner self.

"Jasper, I really am sorry.." I whispered, turning in his lap so that I could kiss his lips.

He smiled weakly and gave me a chaste peck in return. But that wasn't what I wanted, I grabbed his face roughly and melded it to my own. He was unresponsive for a moment, before returning my kiss with eager ferocity and running his hands up my back.

This is what I wanted. I wanted to forget. Forget in the same way that Jasper has when we'd told Alice. He seemed willing enough, so I slipped my hand between his body to pull at his jeans.

"Bella…" Jasper chided softly, "Not here, and most certainly not now…"

"Why?" I whined quietly, walking my fingers over the soft skin below his abdomen.

He shut his eyes tightly and I could see him fighting with his inner turmoil, deciding between what was right and what he wanted.

Ugh, I was so selfish sometimes!

I removed myself from Jaspers lap and, in doing so, removed the temptation to take things any further.

Jasper opened his eyes and nodded, appreciating the freedom to think clearly.

"Okay," I sighed softly, combing my hair back from it's casual disarray. "You were saying that Carlisle wanted someone, or something along those lines.."

"…Right," Jasper said slowly, clueing back into the conversation. "As I said, Carlisle did take it reasonably well…But…"

I waited quietly, not wishing to create any more distractions then there had been.

"But, he'd like to talk to the both of us.." Jasper continued, looking up cautiously to meet my eyes.

Carlisle wanted to speak with us, was he angry? Was he going to ask us to leave? Oh god! What if he asked us to leave?

"I don't know what he wants…" Jasper continued, answering my unspoken question. "I think he's just trying to understand how it happened."

"Well how are we suppose to answer that?" I asked hysterically, "I mean, I don't even know the answer to that!"

Jasper chuckled softly and grabbed me back into his lap.

"I think it all started with Twister," He said laughing. His laughter sounded like an angel's song, standing out from the glum, somber mood that had set in.

"It was long before that," I replied softly, wanting nothing more than to hear his laughter again. "For me it probably started the minute I woke up from three day hell. You were staring at me like I was the second coming… And I looked at you for the first time in my life and really saw you. I saw that you were beautiful."

"You stole the words right out of my mouth," He murmured, kissing me once more on the lips and dipping me backwards.

"That was nice…" I mumbled faintly.

"The kiss or the memories?" He asked smiling and I could hear the humor return to his voice.

"Both."

He nodded mutely next to me and began to hum into my hair.

"It was nice to remember the past for a moment." He whispered simply, "to pretend that we were still in it. But we're not. And right now we have families and responsibilities that we have to attend to…"

Why did he always have to be so right about everything? It was incredibly infuriating for both my mind and my self esteem…

"Come on then, filthy beautiful," He whispered softly, kissing at my ear lobe.

"If you don't want me to live in the past, why do you keep reminding me of it?" I asked in mock horror, furrowing my eyebrow in annoyance.

"Filthy beautiful is just a subtle reminder that I have always loved you… even in your darkest hour."

I gave a watery smile, I didn't want to cry again, even if this time would be out of happiness.

"Let's go talk to Carlisle.." I said sighing and reluctantly slipping myself from Jasper's embrace.

We walked back towards the house and my thoughts drifted to Edward.

Where had he gone? Had he gone to Denali to live with the others for a while? Would he ever be back, and if so, would he be able to be in the same room as me? Look at me?

A thousand unanswered questions rang through my mind at a constant rush. But through the many questions that I had been asking, there was only one that I really wanted answered.

Would Edward ever be home?

Time had passed quicker than I expected and before I knew it, we were already outside the patio area, stepping through the sliding doors.

The family had split their separate ways, each muttering to themselves in small groups, talking below my vampire senses.

Rosalie was the first person who noticed our entrance and shuffled over slowly to give me a supportive hug.

"Where's Edward?" She asked softly, concerned for her heart broken brother.

Everyone in the room seemed to look up at her question, all eager to hear the answer.

"…He… Uh, he didn't take it too well… He just sort of.. Ran off into the forest…"

Several different gasps echoed through the room, reverberating into utter silence.

Caterina Lucetta appeared to be the most concerned, she shuffled around anxiously, rubbing her hands over her arms and abrading the skin.

"It's okay," Alice said slowly, stilling Caterina's hands and holding them in her own. "Edward just needs time."

I wished I could be so sure.

"Bella?"

I turned around to find Carlisle staring at me intently. He looked tired and worn, even more so than before.

"Bella, Jasper could you come into my study please?"

I nodded mutely and moved stiffly to follow him up the stairs. Jasper grabbed my arms with his and directed me up towards the office.

"It'll be fine… everything will be fine…"

I repeated his words over and over in my head, willing myself to believe them. But the more I tried, the more they felt like false comfort.

If everything was going to be fine, why did I feel like I was walking towards me end?

If it was all okay, Why did I feel like I was walking into the wake of war?

Two Chapters!

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