Chapter Twenty-One: Disclosure

Alice (POV)

I had put Angela's life in danger, twice. So instead of volunteering to join in protecting her I decided to mope, in my room. I spent a bit of time laying on my bed, trying to conjure a vision. Maybe force my newly expanded power to do something good for a change. Instead, my thoughts kept drifting to Bella and my very confusing feelings for her. I loved her, unequivocally and unconditionally. Yet, as I dwelled on the specifics, I couldn't find any romantic feelings. I wasn't dwelling on her beauty or her mind, instead it was warmer feelings about how she made me feel important and loved. Which I had to admit were more sisterly feelings, not romantic or sexual.

So, I had to consider the possibility that my realization that I was "In love" with Bella flawed. Was it an overly emotional moment? Or, maybe just maybe, I in pain because Jasper left me so suddenly. I thought about that meeting in the future and it was obvious that Bella and Edward had gotten back together. Jasper had clearly re-committed to an instinctual lifestyle and I could remember feeling nothing when I looked at him. Not pain, or anger or even regret.

Was I over thinking it? Should I just put myself out there and perhaps find something special? Or would it ruin my relationship with Edward, and possibly Bella.

"Damn it." I said out loud sitting up in a huff. I felt like a child, and not someone who had been effectively married for nearly half a century. I started to stand, but suddenly my eyes clouded over as a vision seized my mind.

"Oh Monday mornin' you gave me no warnin' of what was to be. Oh Monday, Monday, how could you leave and not take me…"

"Sorry Angela." Rose said turning off the radio.

"No, it's okay, music doesn't bother me." Angela gave a half-hearted smile and looked back out the car window.

"You can find me crying, all of the time." The song continued as Rose turned the radio back on.

"Yeah, never mind." Rose said with a small sad chuckle. "This is supposed to be a bright day."

"I'll try, I promise." Angela said with a nod, even though her body language said she only going on this trip for us.

"I really don't think I need all this." Bella said fidgeting with the hat and scarf I had painstakingly found to make her look stylish instead of stealthy.

"You do look a bit like Carmen Sandiego." Angela said with a shrug.

"A red trench, damn." I said pouting a bit, I hadn't thought of that ensemble for Bella, with her coloring and hair she would look amazing.

"Never." Bella said crossing her arms.

"Ah… fine." I conceded. "Speaking of clothes, is that on our agenda?" I asked hopefully.

"Perhaps, but there is an actual reason we're going into the city." Rose answered as if she were in charge of the afternoon.

"I don't see why I need a new identity, it's not as if we're moving until next year anyway." Bella said shaking her head.

"Practicality, plus the marriage license will look better if you aren't legally dead." Rose answered simply and gave her a playful smirk in the rear-view mirror.

"Ugh, I haven't even said yes." Bella frowned and tightened her arms around her chest.

"Yet." I added and everyone started to laugh at Bella's frustration. In the next instant the vision changed and we were in a mall in Seattle, walking towards the food court.

"I'm really not hungry guys." Angela said for the fourth time, yet we could all hear her stomach growling.

"We can leave you alone if you don't want to eat in front of us." Bella offered.

"Please, the humans will just think we're all on diets." Rose scoffed and led Angela towards the Chinese food which we all knew was her favorite. She dithered a bit before getting her usual plate of noodles, chicken and vegetables and we all sat down away from the rest of the mortals so that our presence wouldn't bother them while they ate.

Angela got two bites into her meal when her face twisted, and she clutched her stomach. "I'm so sorry." She stood and ran towards the bathroom. We all followed and found her in one of the stalls retching. She calmed after a moment, but as she sat down next to the toilet, we could see something was wrong with her. We made our way to the car and Rose drove home like a race car driver, amidst Angela's intermittent screams.

Then the vision shifted again, and I was in Carlisle's office. A medical bed set up like before and Carlisle, Esme and Bella were surrounding Angela. Her face puffy and dark circles made her face seem drawn. She was pale, and even though she was unconscious, I could see that same sadness in her expression that she wore on the trip to the mall. It was just like the vision from before; this moment hadn't changed. The sound of the ventilator filled me with anger and fear, was this what was about to happen to her? Did I cause this by missing those two vampires showing up unexpectedly?

"No." I said to myself, which drew Carlisle's attention and he turned and walked over to me. He reached out towards my shoulder, but then gripped my upper arm for some reason.

"Alice!" My vision broke, and I found the apparition of Carlisle was all too real.

"Nothing awful this time. Except a mall trip that goes wrong." I sighed and he let go of my arm.

"I don't like how your visions are affecting you now." Carlisle looked worried.

"Me neither. I keep seeing her hurt." I winced, thinking about everything I had foreseen.

"Angela?" Carlisle guessed.

"Yes, this path she's on is dire, I've seen her in your office hooked up to a ventilator twice and nothing we've done has changed that future." I closed my eyes, trying to shove away the image of my friend in such a state.

"We'll figure something out, we always do." Carlisle squeezed my shoulder, but I stood and shook him off.

"I think I need some time to think. I'm going to take a walk." I moved past him, as he nodded at me in understanding. I started at a walk, which quickly turned into a run. Trees eventually turned into buildings and soon I found myself in front of Bella's house. I had spent hours in the tree in her back yard. It was private and had a lovely view of the forest and a touch of the small town to the East.

Without really checking, I quickly ran up the tree and found my favorite branch. As I stopped, I could see some movement in Bella's room and noticed Charlie holding one of Bella's sweaters and crying. I turned away, I still couldn't look at Charlie. Not even at the wake and the funeral, except for when he spoke. The memory came unbidden, and I closed my eyes and remembered that afternoon as if it were happening, the blessing and curse of the vampire mind, perfect recall.

A light rain fell that as we gathered by her gravestone, her father holding an urn of counterfeit ashes. The tombstone was simple, but the inscription was heart-wrenching. All it said was 'Isabella Marie Swan; Beloved daughter, died too soon.' Billy Black was sending me glares of hatred since I was the only other Cullen invited except Edward. But Edward had chosen to stay with Bella instead of attending her mock funeral, not that I blamed him for wanting to stay by her side. Still it left me alone with a bunch of mortals at a pretend ceremony that made me feel anxious and uneasy that I would give away the secret.

There were eleven of us gathered around the small opening in the ground, and we stood in silence as they placed the urn carefully in the hole. I stood next to Angela and her father who was serving as the minister. To my right was Billy and Jacob Black, Harry Clearwater and his family, and of course Charlie and Renee.

"Charlie has asked to say a few things before I carry out Bella's final rights. Charlie." Mr. Weber motioned to Charlie who stood still for a moment. Then he knelt and touched the undisturbed grass by the grave.

"I don't really have the words to explain how I feel right now. Pain I guess is the easiest, but it is so much more than that. I can't remember how many times I held back telling her how much I loved her. I can't remember how many times I didn't tell her that she was special. After the accident I wanted her to know I still cherished her, and I was so proud..." His voice broke for a moment and then he cleared his throat and continued, "so proud that she had managed to find a way to be strong with that much weight on her shoulders."

He stopped for a long second, trying to hold back his grief and gather his composure to finish. "I'll miss you terribly Bells, god I hope you know that." Then he began to cry and stepped back next to Renee. She tried to comfort him, but he shrugged her off. She looked upset at his reaction and crossed her arms over her chest and cried heavily to herself. I glanced at Angela who looked conflicted and kept shooting glances at me, as if I could give her the answers she wanted right then.

"Alice?" I opened my eyes from the memory and found myself staring at Charlie. "What on earth are you doing in my tree?" He cracked a slight smile but he didn't sound happy to see me.

"I don't know. I think I needed to get away. Charlie, could I come in for a few minutes?" He nodded and motioned towards the front door. After he was out of the window, I quickly made my way down the tree and circled around the house. After a moment I knocked softly, and a second later Charlie opened the door for me. He led me into the living room, and I sat down on the couch. He sat on the edge of his favorite chair, implying that he wanted to keep this visit short.

"What's wrong Alice?" He tried to give me his usually warm smile, but it came out all wrong. For some reason I couldn't fathom, he was very comfortable around me. It was nice to feel welcomed by someone who wasn't my family. Yet I could tell how broken he was, and that he simply wasn't capable of a genuine happy smile anymore, it made my dead heart break. It hurt so badly that I desperately felt the need to comfort him. I felt confused, and not for the first time, unsure of the future.

"I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to say right now, but I think I have to come clean about a couple of things. I can't stand the lies anymore, and not just the big ones, the little ones as well. I conceal so much, from my family, from the world. And for once I want to just spill the beans, so to speak. I know I can trust you Charlie, and if anyone deserves the truth right now it's you." He looked at me confused. So, I grinned at him, which confused him even more. "How do I put this without making it sound insane."

"Just say it. It'll sound the way it'll sound." He creased his brow and sighed slightly.

"Well, I'm a vampire." I gave him a tentative smile, and he did look at me like I was insane. "So, you can imagine why my family has always been a little reclusive. Carlisle knew that there was no other way, she was going to suffer for the rest of her life. And this way she could walk again." Anger crossed his face, and then fear. But after a moment a spark of revelation appeared on his face, and he looked at me at a loss of what to say or do.

"Wait, do you mean Bella's alive?" He whispered it, obviously afraid that I was going to contradict him.

"Yes, and except for what her death did to you and Renee, she's happy." He sat back in his chair and shut his eyes tightly. Warm tears fell down his checks and in a moment of real insanity, I thought about bringing him into my world.


Author's Note: This scene takes place almost immediately after Jacob, Esme and Bella leave Charlie's house.

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