This chapter will be in Jasper's perspective! Thank you to Erica Thrush for suggesting this - I wasn't going to write it in originally, but I think that this made a great addition to the story. Keep in mind that this chapter is occuring 36 hours BEFORE the Volturi conflict, which means that this is right after Alice tells Bella that Edward is headed to Italy. I know it's kind of confusing, but just remember that Edward hasn't gone to the Volturi yet.

"Hey, Alice. How are things?" I asked softly. She's been radiating sorrow since we heard about Bella's death - she really loved her.

"I was just about to call you...you'll never believe this."

"What?"

"Bella's alive." She says.

"What do you mean? You saw her jumping off the cliff."

"She did it recreationally, or at least that's what she says. I don't know why I didn't see her, but Jacob saved her."

"Oh my god."

"I know. It's amazing." I notice her voice doesn't radiate it's normal perkiness, and I would expect her to be as excited as ever with this news.

"What's wrong?"

She pauses for a moment. "It's Edward."

I get a sinking feeling in my chest. "Explain."

"Rosalie called him before I called back to New York to tell them the good news. She told him that she was dead, and then he hung up. We've been trying to call him ever since."

"Oh god."

"I know."

"What's he going to do?"

More silence. "...he's going to go to Volterra. He's going to ask them to kill him.'

I inhale sharply. Edward and I have had our ups and downs, but he's my best friend, and my brother when it comes down to it. Despite his constant brooding, he's one of the most compassionate people I know. Our family would be empty without him. "What...What do we do?"

"I have an idea, but you aren't going to like it."

"Wait. You aren't thinking of-"

"Yes. Jasper, I know that you don't want me to, but-"

"No! Absolutely not, Alice! I'm not going to let you go on a suicide mission to save our brother, who's been off the rails since we left Forks, by the way." I take a deep breath. "I can't live without you."

"And you won't have to! Bella and I will just go there and show him that she's alive before he does anything drastic. It will be fine."
"But for all I know, you could be lying to me and there's actually no chance that you'll save him."

"I wouldn't lie to you, Jazz."
"Normally you wouldn't, but when it comes to Edward, I'm not so sure." I go quiet. "Don't go. Stay safe, stay alive, for me. Please."
She lowers her voice to a whisper as well. "I'm so sorry."

Alice hangs up.

I stand there for a moment, processing what just happened. Alice - the one person who I would do anything to protect - is on her way to her own destruction at this very moment. I don't believe it at first, but as soon as reality sets in, I feel myself radiating my frustration into the room. How could she do this to me? To us?

I want to yell or cry or laugh or run, but all I can do is sink into the couch in my bedroom and stare at the ground numbly.

"Jasper?" Esme's voice forces me to look up, and her worried expression tells me that she must've heard our conversation.

"She's going." I say, breaking eye contact with her.

"Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry." She walks to the couch and puts her arm around me as her fear and worry wafts through the air. I lean my head against hers.

"Why is she going?"

"Because her brother is in danger. And sometimes we do too much for those we care about."

"But doesn't she care about me? Doesn't she realize that she's hurting me?"

"Of course she does. You know she loves you. But right now, she needs to save her brother."

I stand up and run out the door suddenly, leaving her there alone. I flee to the forest, where I can clear my head.

The cool air blows into my face as I sprint, but my mind still reels. My brother and my wife are both about to go to the Volturi, where they could easily be executed. My brother is going because he believes Bella is dead. My wife is going to save him.

I scoff. It isn't fair that Alice has to risk her life because Edward was ignorant enough to take the easy way out of his pain. And if she doesn't get there in time, they will both die for nothing. And they will leave me - and Bella - alone.

My hands shake and I still can't think straight, but my feet lead me back to the house before I realize it. Perhaps alone is the last thing that I want to be around.

Rose and Emmett sit on the couch, looking tense. Esme is in the kitchen stress-cooking, and Carlisle's footsteps pace in his office upstairs. Everyone is on edge, and their tension rolls off of each of them in waves. They all look towards the door when they hear my footsteps.

I try to set a calm atmosphere on the room, but it's much more difficult when I myself am anything but calm. Everyone's eyes fall on me nervously, but no one says anything.

"I'm sorry, Esme. I shouldn't have stormed off like that." I say. She's in the other room, but I know she can hear me.

"Oh don't worry about that. It was understandable." She responds and I can tell by her wavering voice that these last few days have been taking its toll on her.

Rosalie and I make eye contact, but I break it quickly. She knows that she caused all of this. She called Edward to tell him that Bella died before we had agreed on how to tell him. If we had waited just a day or two, Alice would have realized that Bella was alive and this entire mess never would have happened in the first place. She's still my sister, and I'll always love her, but I only see her as the reason why the love of my life is on a suicide mission right now. Regret and guilt fills the space around her, but I escape it by running upstairs.

Carlisle stands outside of his office with a solemn expression, but his sadness is so pungent that it makes me feel even worse. He clears his throat and says, "Hello, Jasper."

"Hello."

"I'm so sorry. This is all so...so wrong. None of this should have happened." His eyebrows crease in worry.

"I know what you mean." I walk over and stand next to him. We both look at the wall across from us. A painting hangs on it, depicting Grecian figures posed around architecture.

"Why did everything have to fall apart?"

"I don't know." I answer.

The next chapter will be back in Edward's perspective, but I might include a little piece of Jasper POV in there as well. I still want to include his reaction to learning that Alice was successful and that she's safe. Also, happy holidays everyone! Christmas is coming up, so I'll probably be taking a break to spend time with family. Luckily, my school has a nice long winter break, so I'll have plenty of time afterwards to update my stories. My Christmas gift came early, apparently - we have over 1,000 views! That is absolutely insane. I have gotten so much attention and I am very grateful for all of you. Your favorites and follows and reviews make my day. I love you all! 3