As of the time of me writing this, I have yet to write the chapter itself, but there were a few things I wanted to clear up to avoid misunderstandings. James always planned on taking Alice. Never once did I ever say that he was watching Bella, which you will notice if you go back and reread. He always was planning on Alice, for many reasons which I'm keeping to myself until later. ;)

Also - a reviewer showed concern about how Bella is handling things compared to New Moon. That really was no my intention to make it seem like their love isn't as strong as it is portrayed in the books. Honest. But the situation is rather different from NM. There, Edward convinced Bella that he didn't love her, and he did the leaving. Bella was then left with no one she could really turn to completely (her and Charlie didn't really have a talking relationship), and she was left to fall into her depression-zombie phase. In Ignorance, it was different - Bella did the actual leaving, though Edward did nothing to let her know he loved her. Bella found out about a betrayal, and that one of her close friends was "in on it". But here, Bella had people she could turn to - her grandparents. And Bella has a very open and honest relationship with her Nonno. So in contrast, she had someone she could open up to about everything. And he kept her from completely becoming a zombie by making her think things through. In NM, I don't think she really had much confidence in herself, either, but in Ignorance, I've tried to make her a little more sure of her self worth. At least a little. So I am in no way attempting to belittle their relationship, or deny they are Made For Each Other, or anything like that. Sorry if that was what came across to you. I'm simply trying to show how I think her reaction would have differed if she had someone to turn to in her time of despair.

Now that that's all taken care of! I am so glad to hear some of you express confidence in what I am doing, even if you're dubious; it makes me feel proud to be an author to such amazing readers.

Enjoy!

I took a deep breath, then let it out and knocked on the door.

Rosalie opened up, and immediately grabbed me in a hug. "Bella."

I hugged her back, and we walked backwards into the hall. I could see Emmett watching us with a slightly sad, yet also happy look on his face. Happy I was finally back to talking with people again, sad about Alice.

"How's Jaz?" I whispered lowly.

Rosalie wiped a hand under her eyes. "You remember how I was after Royce?"

I nodded, feeling a cold pit in my stomach.

"He's about ten times worse."

I winced, and followed her into the living room. For once, I understood the anger Rosalie usually felt towards her parents - they weren't even here and their son needed them. All he had was his sister and her boyfriend… because I had been gone most of the morning, and he'd had all of last night to worry over the love of his life.

I was a screw-up lately, but I planned on making things right.

"Hey, Jasper," I said quietly, walking over to where he was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace, leaning against the couch. He had a glass in one hand, a bottle of Vodka in the other, and a frighteningly blank look in his eyes.

I put my hand on his shoulder, and slowly his head flopped around to look at me. His pale blue eyes were bloodshot, a little glazed, and full of worry and pain. He didn't bother with the glass, just lifted the bottle to his lips and took a drink, looking away.

Rosalie sat down next to me, carefully folding her legs under herself. "He hasn't been talking to any of us."

Emmett walked into the room and stood behind us, but remained silent. We sat there in silence for a long while, and then Rose let out a huge sigh.

"What the hell - if Jasper's allowed to get drunk off his ass, I want to as well." Decisively, she reached over and snatched the bottle from him.

"Hey!" he snarled, head whipping around.

Rosalie shot him one of her patented kill-all glares and took a swig before passing the bottle to me. I hesitated a moment, then asked myself what the danger would be. We weren't going anywhere, and as long as we didn't get too wasted….

I swallowed, wincing at the alcoholic burn, then offered it to Em. He shook his head and cracked a smile.

"If you three are going to be getting tipsy and drunk, then I better be the responsible adult."

Rose smirked as she snatched the bottle from Jasper again, then raised it in a toast towards Emmett. "Yeah - you be the adult, we'll be the irresponsible teenagers, and things will be great."

An hour later, Rose and I were sitting on either side of a surly Jasper, our arms over his shoulders and singing an off-key and slurred round of 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall. The phone rang, and Emmett, chuckling, excused himself to answer it.

"75 bottles of beer on the wall!" Rose sang, her free hand lifting her bottle into the air.

"75 bottles of beer!" I added, grinning past Jasper at her.

She grinned back, and we both sang, "Take one down, pass it around, 75 bottles of beer on the wall!"

"No, girls, you're at 74," Emmett said, putting his hand over the mouthpiece of the phone.

I mock glared at Rosalie. "Yeah, Rose, gosh. Get it right."

She snorted, taking another drink of whatever bottle she'd grabbed. "I was following your lead."

"Whatever," I said. "74 bottles of beer on the wall,"

"74 bottles of beer!" Rose continued loudly nudging Jasper with her elbow. "Come on, Jaz sing along!" she insisted.

He grunted before tilting his bottle almost vertical. I watched in slightly amused amazement.

"It's a miracle he hasn't drowned yet," I noted.

Rosalie considered her brother, then shrugged. "Maybe he doesn't have to breathe."

I laughed and Emmett came back into the room. "What, you ladies got tired of that song?"

I paused and tilted my head. "Actually, I don't remember where we left off."

Rosalie shrugged. "Whatever. We can start over, I guess. We did promise Jasper we'd sing it until he joined in."

I nodded, but before we could start over, Emmett spoke up. "Hey, I invited a friend over." His eyes held an odd, not-quite-cautious, but definitely considering look that made me scowl at him suspiciously. "That okay?"

"Do we know him?" Rosalie asked, her head lolling to the side and her eyes all wide.

"Of course," Emmett scoffed. "I ain't inviting anyone we don't know well here to see you all drunk and or tipsy."

By the time Rose and I had reached 80 - we'd repeated a few numbers, skipped one and then gone back to put it back into the song - the doorbell rang.

Emmett went to get it, that funny smirk of amusement still on his face. Rosalie and I were pretty much ignoring Jasper, who was on the brink of passing out, and singing as loudly as we could, slumped on the couch with our feet over the back.

Emmett laughed as he came back in. "Rose, I don't think boggles is the right word for the song."

Rosalie glared at him upside down, and I did the same because it seemed like a fun idea.

Edward stood behind Emmett, looking acutely uncomfortable, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes locked on the ground.

Clearing her throat pointedly, Rose started singing again. "77 bottles of beer on the wall!"

I jumped in. "77 bottles of beer!"

"Take one down, pass it around, 76 bottles of beer on the wall!" We half-laughed, half-sang.

"This song is boring now," I declared.

Rosalie looked considering, then nodded her enthusiastic agreement. "We need a different song!"

"One without confusing numbers!"

"Yeah!" She grinned at me like I was brilliant.

"You seriously let them get drunk?" I heard Edward ask Emmett lowly.

Emmett chuckled. "They're not drunk, just tipsy. Well, Jaz is, but eh." There was a pause, then Emmett added, "They've all been through a lot in the past week; I wouldn't judge them too much, and at least they're doing it here and not out there, you know?"

Rosalie fell off the couch, her expression eager as she righted herself. "Bella! Bella, we should listen to Alice's play list! Maybe it will be good luck for her!"

I thought about it and shrugged. "Couldn't hurt," I agreed, rolling until my feet were off the back of the couch, then struggling to get to my feet. A warm, familiar hand closed around my upper arm and lifted me upright. I didn't look at him, because I was afraid I'd start getting angry or sad and that was definitely not a mood I wanted to be in. So instead I hurried up after Rosalie, tightly gripping the banister as I made my way up the stairs.

Rosalie was searching through her piles of things with a frown on her face. "I can't find it," she pouted. "I started sorting through everything so I would have all the stuff I want to take picked out, and now I can't remember where I put it."

Frowning as well, I helped her look for her iPod. We spent maybe ten minutes looking before Rose made a triumphant noise.

"Did you find it?" I asked eagerly.

"Nah," she dismissed. "But I found Emmett's jacket. I was wondering where it was…." She pulled it on over her night shirt, a simple, tight tank top.

"But it's not cold," I stated, frowning in confusion.

Rosalie shrugged. "I know. I still like wearing it."

She started out of her room and I shrugged before following after her. We reached the stairs and both looked down them dubiously.

"I don't think I'll make it without falling." I was completely serious as I said it, and Rosalie nodded as well, face considering the serious issue before us.

"We could call Emmett…."

"I got it!" I said triumphantly. "When I was little, I'd slide down the stairs on my bottom."

Rosalie's face lit up as well, and she sat down on the top step, her feet resting on the one below, her hands bracing on the edge. I sat down next to her and grinned mischievously.

"Race you!" I shouted, and started slide-bumping down the stairs.

"Cheater!" Rosalie accused, and I could hear her coming behind after me. I laughed loudly, breathlessly, and threw my hands up in the air when I won.

"Whoo!" I cheered, turning around to smirk at her. She shoved her foot into my back. "Ow!" I whined, twisting around to grab her foot and yank. She slid down the last three steps with an "oof!" and I stuck my tongue out at her.

"Okay you two, break it up," Emmett said, obviously amused by our antics. "I tossed Jasper onto the couch, Rose. He finally just passed out."

She blinked a few times, then nodded. "Good, he needs to sleep."

Standing, she started towards the kitchen, picking up the discarded empty bottles as she passed them. Emmett grinned down at me, and then followed after her. I slid around so I could lean my back against the wall, humming to myself and acutely aware that Edward was probably in the living room, just a room away, and we had yet to say anything to each other.

I didn't know what to say, and I doubted saying anything while I was tipsy was a smart idea. Or maybe it was; I wouldn't be afraid to speak my mind or fall as easily for his lies.

I banged my head backwards against the wall. This was way too complicated for me to deal with right now. Add the fact that Alice was kidnapped by James of all people and-

I sat more upright as I remembered what Nonno had asked me to do if I wouldn't mind. I hadn't made any promises, but since Edward was here anyways….

I stumbled upright, and walked into the living room, peering around the doorframe and around the room. Edward was leaning against the wall near the back patio door, staring outside with that broody Hyde expression on his face.

Ugh. Of course it would be my luck to deal with Hyde. Why not?

"Edward," I said, moving closer to him.

He turned around, looking vaguely startled that I was talking to him, but that expression quickly hid under Hyde, who raised an eyebrow in question.

I stopped a few yards away from him, propped my hands on my hips, and fixed him with my best stern look. "Don't give me that look, Edward Masen, I don't need that crap right now." He looked taken aback again, but I bulldozed on. "The only reason I'm talking to you right now is because Nonno asked me to tell you something, and I don't want to forget to say it." I eyed him with as much seriousness as I could muster while my mind wasn't exactly able to stay on a single track completely. "Nonno said to tell you to not do anything stupid. He's got it taken care of." I snorted. "Whatever the hell that means. And I don't know, so don't ask," I snapped as he opened his mouth. "Just don't do anything Hyde would do, got it?"

With that final order, I turned and decided I needed a hot bubble bath and sleep. Weren't sleep and time supposed to be the only cures for hangovers or having alcohol in your system or whatever?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I woke up the next morning feeling groggy, but not terrible. I rolled onto my back and stared upside down at Rosalie, who was sitting near the head of my bed with a cup of coffee and a run-down expression.

"It's not fair, you know," she said. "You drank as much as I did, yet you never seem to suffer like I do."

I shrugged, sat up, and stretched. "How's Jasper doing?"

She shrugged, unfolding her feet from under her as she stood. "I couldn't say - he's still asleep."

"Did Em go home last night?" I asked, wondering if Edward did.

"Nope," she said, taking a sip of her coffee and considering me over the rim. "Neither did Edward. I saw them downstairs, in the kitchen."

I nodded, and turned towards the bathroom, but Rosalie asked abruptly, "Do you want me to ignore him, give him a hard time, or what?"

I twisted back around to stare at her in surprise. "What?"

"Edward," she explained, taking another sip and keeping her eyes locked on me. "How do you-"

My hand reached up to rub my forehead. "Just… do whichever, Rose. I don't care, honestly. We… I have to talk with him about some things, but I'm not sure I'm up to it. Or that this is a good time, what with…."

Rosalie nodded, her gaze unfocused and thoughtful. When it regained its focus, she smiled at me and left the room.

By the time I had showered and changed, I felt much less groggy, though there was a small headache taking up residence at my temples. Downstairs, I first found Jasper sitting on the couch, looking extremely haggard and pale, his eyes still lost looking.

I sat next to him, leaning into his side. After a moment, he lifted his arm and wrapped it around my shoulders.

"She'll be fine." I said into the silence, because it was the only thing to say.

He sighed heavily. "We can only hope, Bella."

I looked up at him, patting his hand where it rested at the top of my arm. "If anyone can get through this unscathed, or at least, only a little scarred, it would be Alice."

He smiled sadly down at me. "I know." After a few more minutes in silence, he spoke again. "If I have to…" He spoke slowly, cautiously, but the light in his eyes was bright and determined and I knew whatever he said next, no one would be able to deter him from. "If no one can do anything to save her, I will. I'll give the bastard whatever he wants, as long as he lets her go."

My stomach twisted fearfully, but I managed to speak relatively calmly. "I suggest you wait - Nonno told me to make Edward wait, so I assume he thinks he has some plan."

"Do you think he does?"

I seriously considered the question and how to phrase my answer to it. "Nonno is a very brilliant man. I think it would be best to do as he asks, for now."

Jasper sighed, jerking his head to toss some matted hair out of his eyes. "Yeah."

I rubbed his hand, squeezed, and smiled at him. "Go take a shower - you'll feel better."

Smiling that sad smile again, Jasper rose and ambled slowly out of the room and up the stairs. I leaned back into the couch, closing my eyes and feeling sleep pull at my consciousness again. I was very nearly asleep when his voice broke into my thoughts.

"You think he has something planned or is that just something you told Jaz to calm him."

Without opening my eyes, I said simply, "I believe what I said." Now or never, Bella, I told myself, and quickly added, "But I have to learn not to believe everything you say, I think." I opened my eyes, looking over at him.

Shock quickly flew off his features to be replaced by his Hyde look. "I suppose you could say that. After everything."

I snorted. "I wasn't referring to the fact that you tend to avoid telling the truth, Edward." I sat forward, watching him intently. "Though that's part of it. I was referring to the fact that you lied to me about lying to me. Didn't you?"

He raised a brow. "That sentence made no sense, you know."

"It did too," I defended. "It made perfect sense. You told me," I continued more quietly. "That you were just enjoying it while you could, that you had no reason to stop doing jobs for James." I watched him sadly. "How much of that was true, Edward? And how much was something you said just to get rid of me?"

He looked angry now. "Bella, do we really need to hash this out again when Alice is in danger?"

My lips pressed tightly together and I leaned back in the couch. "There's nothing any of us can do for her right now, Edward, and I think she would want us to work this out. You see," I continued haughtily. "I know for a fact that you lied to me." Hey, that lie actually sounded believable! "I even can kind of see why you thought it was a good idea. But it was stupid. And I want the truth, right now Edward."

He stared at me for a long time, his green eyes cold and distant. I didn't back down, look away or relent the stern expression I'd adopted. Still not looking away, Edward spoke, softly. "The truth."

I nodded, though it hadn't been a question. "That's all I've ever wanted, Edward." I whispered.

"The truth is, Bella, that it is never going to work out between us, and I knew that first thing. And things can never be the same between us. It's not possible." His expression wasn't cold, but it wasn't warm or even slightly lukewarm. It just… was. "Now, I'm going to go help out my cousin-"

"Nonno doesn't want you to do anything-"

"Bella. I can't just sit here. I'm sorry." He sounded like he actually meant it; I watched silently as he turned and left the house.

Once I was sure he wasn't coming back, I leapt up and raced up the stairs, holding the rail to yank myself up faster. I stubbed my toe at least twice, and banged my knee on the door frame.

"Pick up, pick up," I chanted, crossing my fingers. When I heard the phone answered, I didn't wait for a response, just gasped out, "Nonno!"

"La mia dolce?"

"Nonno, Edward just left. He said he's going to get Alice back, and-"

"Breathe, dolce, calm down. I have everything taken care of now; you simply need to find a way to get him to stay away from James for the next four days."

"How?" I cried desperately, rolling my eyes to stare up at the ceiling.

Nonno chuckled. "Think, dolce. I'm sure you can think of something. Now, I have to go to the airport, I'll talk with you later."

"The airport?" I asked, but he'd hung up already. I stared at my phone screen in annoyance, then rushed back down the stairs.

"Bella, where are you-?" Rosalie began, but I shook my head and rushed past her. I jumped down the steps of the front porch, clearing all of them but skidding onto my knees in the gravel. Without pausing, I picked myself up and threw myself into my car.

Where would he go, where would he go? Straight to James, wherever he was? Or would he stop somewhere? So how to keep Edward from going to him?

I searched my mind for instances when Edward had been planning on doing something stupid and I'd had to find a way to get him not to. I couldn't call up any. A frustrated, worried groan left me, and I thought 'What would Alice do?'

The funny thing was, no one could ever predict what she would do.

A sudden, bright, devious idea popped into my head, and I snatched my phone up from where it had landed on the seat next to me. I waited as it rang, praying he'd pick up.

"What?" He sounded tired, a little exasperated, and resigned to the fate he'd chosen.

Not if I had anything to do with it.

"Edward, I swear to God, if you go to James I will go straight to Carlisle and Esme and tell them everything."

"Bella, what-"

"I'm serious Edward," I interrupted. "For some stupid reason I think I might still love you after all of this, and Nonno thinks you love me despite everything you've done and said. And Nonno also is convinced that he has this situation under control, and I trust him with my life. I trust him with Alice's life. But you," I laughed shortly. "Edward, you don't trust anybody. But right now, please, please trust me. You can't go to James. And I will go to Esme and Carlisle, and the police, and Charlie if I have to, because I'm not letting you go back to James. You promised me you quit, that you weren't going to do it anymore. Promised me, Edward. I expect you to hold that promise.

"And I understand that you just want to save Alice. I do, really. Because this waiting like Nonno said is killing me inside. But what can we do? If you go to James," I continued, seeing it all play out in my head like a sick movie. "If you go back, tell him you'll keep quiet and all if he lets her go, that you'll rejoin him, do you really think he'd not hurt her to threaten you? Edward, he trashed the Volvo, and has done who knows what else. Please," I begged, feeling the tears hit my eyes just thinking of anyone under the control of that man, but especially of Edward. "Please. Don't." He was quiet, and I felt like someone had cut off my oxygen, like a doctor had just announced my parents were dying and I couldn't stop it, like… like if Edward did go through with what he was planning, I would never be able to laugh again. "I love you," I cried quietly, simultaneously wishing it wasn't true while not wanting it any other way. "Please don't do this to me."

I had pulled over at some point, and it was quiet in the car except for my soft crying and gasping. I waited, hating the silence on his side of the phone, dreading the silence, yet hoping it meant he was thinking of listening to me.

I licked my lips, tasting the salt of my tears at the corners. My voice came out soft, just a bare breath. "Please."

Well, I think I like my little cliffhanger ending here. And don't try denying it yourselves - if you wrote the story, you'd stop it here. Now the question is - what will Hydeward do? waggles eyebrows Gosh, I love torturing you guys. A highlight of my life. ;)

Oh, and I'm so sorry for any mistakes. I know I should be a good writer and read through it for them, but I'm tired and I'd probably end up making more of them by trying to fix any there are. I will go through it later and fix it up, or send it to one of my betas-to-rent for polishing.

Anyhow, please review!!! And... if you want Edward to go get Alice from James, be sure to put "James the Evil" in your review. If you want him to do as Bella's asking, put... ponders.... oh! Put "Nonno the Wise". Yep. That should do it... thanks!