Chapter Fifty Four

Bella

It was lovely to see Megan finally relax. She'd gotten through all the hurdles at last, except for meeting Alice and I think I was probably more concerned about that visit than my daughter.

Life was good, I had a home and a beautiful little girl and by the weekend I would also have a husband. The most wonderful, handsome, and amusing man I could ever have dreamed of.

Things had been pretty hectic for the past week with all the wedding preparations but for now, there was a lull and I was enjoying the relative peace.

Megan and I had spent the day doing a little shopping. She was determined that Darius would return despite everything we had said to prepare her for the possibility that she would never see him again and this was one way of taking her mind off things.

She wanted to look her best for the wedding and had a very clear idea of what she wanted to wear. I had to chuckle, at her age I wasn't interested in anything other than jeans and sweaters, but she was looking for a particular dress and when we finally found it, about twenty minutes before the stores closed I had to admit that she had good taste. It was a simple pale green dress with a daisy print and a white belt. She looked so pretty and I was so proud of her.

Afterwards, we celebrated with a burger and cola in one of the mall cafes and as we sat down I could see she was deep in thought. I braced myself for more questions about Darius, and so was surprised when she eventually spoke.

"Aunt Alice is really angry."

"Alice? How do you know?"

She shrugged, "I just do I know we sent her an invitation to the wedding but I don't think she'll be coming."

I wasn't upset by that thought but tried not to let it show.

My phone rang a moment later, Jasper checking in on us. He sounded concerned and said that Emmett was going to meet up with us and make sure we got home safely.

"It's nothing, just one of Peter's feelings but I'd be a fool to ignore him. Just take care."

I sat up a little straighter and started to watch my surroundings a little more closely.

"That'll be Nanna Esme."

I looked around puzzled, what was Esme doing here?

Then my phone rang and I understood. I found it rather disconcerting that my daughter knew so much seemingly instinctively.

"Esme? Is everything OK?"

"Actually there's a problem, Bella and I thought I'd better give you a heads up."

Glancing at Megan things fell into place.

"Alice?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

Realizing I was getting in way too deep I tried to act casual although it seemed Esme was too disturbed to notice.

"A lucky guess."

"Oh. Well she called yesterday in a terrible state. She's gotten it into her head that no one wants her to be involved with Megan. That we are all against her."

"What? That's crazy. Didn't she get her invitation to the wedding? If she and Garrett had been in the country they could have visited any time."

"Yes, but she found out that Rose and Esmmet have already been guests at your place. I'm sorry Bella. Alice has been rather unstable since Jasper left and according to Garrett it's gotten worse since she discovered that he saved Megan."

"But that's ridiculous. She married Garrett, I thought she was happy with him."

"Quite honestly Bella I don't think anything will make her happy. Alice doesn't take rejection very well and she hates to feel second best. We are on our way to see her. I'm hoping Carlisle can reason with her, calm her down."

"It's as bad as that?"

"It could be. You know Alice was institutionalised as a human?"

"Yes, she told me her story but she said it was because of her gift."

"I guess it was partly that. She never recovered completely or from what happened to her in the asylum. Whatever, she's unstable and that can make her dangerous. Once she gets herself into a state it's impossible to predict how she will act. I don't think it would be a good idea for her to attend the wedding under the circumstances and if Carlisle can't calm her down then we may have to miss it too. I hope you understand."

"Of course, should I be worried?"

"No. Please, just go ahead and enjoy yourselves. Carlisle would never allow her to harm you or Megan."

I felt panic clog my throat and had to swallow it back before I could reply. Of course, Alice was always rabidly anti-Megan and if she fell over the edge then my daughter might well become a target for her craziness.

"Keep in touch, Esme. Let me know what happens, please."

"Of course. Give my love to Megan and Jasper."

I waited for Megan to question me about Alice as she must have heard the conversation but she didn't. Instead, she asked for ice cream and then we drove back home.

All the while I thought about Alice. I had never wanted to hurt her, we had been best friends and she had helped me a lot when Edward and I first got together but she turned once she discovered that I was pregnant and I hadn't heard from her since.

I sighed, I guess I should have known that things were too quiet and going too smoothly. I wasn't so worried about Carlisle and Esme not being able to attend the wedding, although I knew that Esme would be gutted. Rose and Emmett would be there to represent the family and Charlotte and Peter wouldn't miss it. A small intimate gathering would do me just fine.

"Don't forget Darius, mommy."

I glanced over at Megan, she'd either read my mind or guessed what I was thinking.

"Sweetheart, we've talked about this. Darius did tell you that he wouldn't be coming back. I'm afraid you'll have to accept that. I know you miss him, we all do."

She shook her head firmly, "No. I sent him an invitation and he'll be here. He has to."

I sighed, nothing was going to persuade her that she was wrong. I just hoped she wouldn't be too disappointed when he didn't arrive for the ceremony.

Jasper

I missed my two beautiful ladies when they were away, although it was great to see the two of them enjoying the mother child bond that had almost been denied them both by Edward. If only he could have seen what he was destroying, maybe he would have acted differently. As it was, I could enjoy watching them and being a part of their world.

I had just finished washing the car when my phone rang and I cursed as I wiped my soapy hands on my jeans before fishing it out of my pocket.

"Hello?"

"Major, is everything OK?"

"Peter? Yeah, sure. Why?"

"I just got that squirrely feeling like something's wrong and I wanted to check in with you. Are the girls there?"

"No, they've been in town but they're on their way back now. Bella called before they left."

"Call them. Just check everything is Ok for me. Will you?"

"Sure."

As I disconnected Peter's call Emmett who had been with me nodded.

"I'll drive into town. Meet up with them and make sure everything is OK."

I thanked him and called Bella praying that she would answer, relieved when she did so. I explained the situation and told her Emmett was on his way to meet them. She questioned me but I had no answers, I had no idea what if any dangers lurked close by but I was taking no chances.

Rose came running out of the house concerned at Emmett's sudden departure and I explained the situation to her.

"I'll call Carlisle if there is trouble perhaps he can find out."

I nodded and glanced anxiously at the end of the track, praying I would see Bella's car turn in, both my girls, safe with Emmett riding shotgun.

Rose wasn't gone long but when she returned she was looking worried.

"I spoke to Esme. It seems that Alice has had a breakdown. She called Carlisle making all kinds of accusations against you and Bella. They've flown down to meet her and sort things out."

"Alice? What's her problem?"

Rose explained what Alice had said to Carlisle and I realized that she really had lost it this time. I'd known Alice to overreact from time to time but nothing like this. It seemed that becoming a vampire had not cured her mental fragility.

Rose and I stood at the end of the track until we recognized Bella's car with Emmett right on her tail. Only then did I relax a little but I was relieved to have them back in my arms and under my protection.

Megan came running up for a hug seemingly unaware that there was anything wrong while Rose filled Emmett in on her conversation with Esme.

Emmett volunteered to take Megan for a while so we could talk and soon he and Megan were disappearing into the orchard. I guessed he'd made some modifications to the treehouse and couldn't wait to show her. It had become their hideaway since she showed it to him and it occurred to me that maybe Emmett missed the chance to be a father too.

Only when Bella and I were alone with Rosalie did we explain what Carlisle had told Rose and she in return told us of her conversation with Esme.

"Alice said that? But why? The only reason she wasn't invited earlier was that she and Garrett were away on an extended honeymoon."

"I'm afraid you never saw Alice in one of her moods, Bella. You know she was in an asylum as a human, don't you?"

"Yes. Her father had her admitted because of her gift, she told me."

"Actually she was admitted because she was convinced that her father and stepmother had killed her mother and planned on killing her next. She attacked her father but he was ready for her, he had the asylum doctor on hand and signed the papers for her incarceration. Alice hears voices sometimes."

Bella looked stricken, "She murdered her stepmother? How awful. Do you think she's a danger to us? To Megan?"

"I think she could be and that's why Carlisle went to fetch her. He's the only one who can talk her down when she gets this wound up. She's not going to listen to us and she certainly won't trust me."

Bella nodded her understanding. Of course, Alice wouldn't trust me. Her first thought would be that I was there to use my gift on her and calm her down.

"What do you think Carlisle will do? Is Alice going to be a threat to us in the long run or will this pass?"

I shrugged, "Who knows? Alice has always been unpredictable, it's one of the reasons she's so manic at times. Her brain just won't shut down and give her some rest."

Rose put a hand on Bella's arm, "I'm sorry, Bella. It means that Esme and Carlisle won't be here for the wedding. They can't leave Alice alone."

Bella looked crestfallen so I offered to postpone the ceremony but she shook her head.

"No, we can't keep putting things off because of other people. I want to get married, I want to make all this official and Megan would be terribly disappointed. Anyhow, Rose and Emmett will be here to represent the family and we can visit Esme and Carlisle as soon as it's safe."

She meant as soon as they had Alice taken care of but I wasn't sure that would be any time soon.

Deciding I should at least call and see how bad things really were I left Bella with Rose rearranging things so the wedding would run smoothly without Carlisle and Esme I went inside to make the call. There was one thing that concerned me. If Alice felt she wasn't getting the support from them that she expected and needed then what would she do?

I knew her as well as anyone and Alice had a brutal streak that was well hidden, but there none the less. If she felt cornered, and if she blamed Bella or Megan for her pain then she would strike out and hit hard. I could protect my family, I would do so against her, but if she fled to Volterra or even worse, to the Romanians we could have a real battle on our hands to stay safe.

So far Aro had been on our side but that could change quickly if he thought we might become a threat to the Volturi and all Alice would need to do was to plant the seeds of distrust in his mind. I could hear her now, 'What if the Romanians find out about Megan? Would they try to capture her to force her parents to work for them? Thank God she didn't know about Megan's gift or the game really would be over for all of us.

Emmett

I was worried about what mischief Alice might get up to although I couldn't see her being any danger, not the Alice I knew and loved. Although she had changed since the trouble over Bella's pregnancy which only went to prove that I probably knew less about her than I had always imagined.

For now though, the others could deal with the problem. I was happy to be keeping Megan company and we went straight to the treehouse where I'd fixed up a pulley system so she could take things into the house without trying to climb with them in her arms.

Once we were comfortably seated or at least she was, the interior was a little too cozy for comfort with my bulk but I didn't mind, she looked at me and smiled.

"Can I ask you some questions, Uncle Emmett?"

"Sure, fire away."

"How did you become a vampire? I mean I know Aunt Rose found you and brought you home for Carlisle to change but before that, what happened? Where were you born? Did you have brothers and sisters?"

"Oh, you want my life story? OK, but it's not very thrilling. I was born in Tennessee in 1915 and I had two brothers and a sister. I guess I was a bit wild, I worked on the railroad for a while but I preferred to drink, gamble, and chase the girls."

She giggled and I made a face, "Well, nobody's perfect."

"Anyway, I kept the family in food with hunting in the forest. I used to like hunting bears and mountain lions most of all, showing just how good I was which is really silly. A man with a rifle has all the advantages but then I got cocky and made a mistake. I found myself wrestling with a huge black bear and the bear was winning. It was a female and that saved me because she left before finishing me off to go to her cubs. Rose came along and picked me up. She carried me over a hundred miles to Carlisle so he could save me."

"Why didn't Aunt Rose save you?"

"Well, because not all of us can control ourselves and you need control to change a person without killing them."

"Aunt Rose knew you were the love of her life, she told me. Did you know?"

I was taken aback by this but couldn't help but smile.

"I don't remember much of anything, I was dying but when I woke up and saw her then I knew I'd been saved by an angel."

"So, you knew she was the one? Did you have a girlfriend before? Did you miss her? Did you think she was the one at first?"

"Whoa, slow down there girl. One question at a time. Yeah, I had girlfriends, lots of them, but I never met one I loved enough to marry if that's what you're asking."

She nodded, appearing satisfied.

"Did you miss your family?"

"Sure, but I knew I couldn't go back so I arranged for some money to keep them safe and free of hunger. I left it on their porch and then I went back to Rose and we've been together ever since."

"And you still love Rose just as much?"

"More every day."

"That's the kind of love I want to find."

I laughed, then saw I had hurt her feelings and hurried to apologize.

"I'm sorry. You will when you grow up. It's something you don't need to worry about yet."

She nodded and stared into space for a moment then changed the subject.

"Want to play a game, Uncle Em?"

"Sure why not."

And suddenly, just like that, she was a little girl once more.