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ONE MINUTE

CHAPTER 2: PLANS.

As soon as Jasper and Bella were out of earshot, Edward joined his family in the living room. There was complete silence. Something unusual in a house with seven people. Despite his amusement at Bella's behavior, he was sad, and mostly confused. What on earth had happened in that minute they were late?

"How are you feeling?" Esme was the only one who dared asked the question.

"Confused. I don't understand what happened."

"She blocked her memories." Was Emmett's response. But he wasn't stating the obvious. He was shocked, just as everyone else, he just spoke his thoughts out loud.

Carlisle thought about his words. That was it, she had blocked them, not forgotten them.

"What if what she experienced was traumatic enough for her to block it?" This time it was Rosalie who spoke. Her thoughts taking the same direction as Carlisle's "Think about it, Alice. You don't remember anything from your human life, it might come from the trauma of being at the asylum, from all we know. I remember because I got fixated in the memory. But everyone reacts different to trauma."

Carlisle started to think about it, in depth. Rosalie had a point. The mind was a tricky thing. It could be entirely possible that Bella was suppressing memories, instead of having forgotten them. Maybe, a sort of vampire PTSD. He had read that amnesia could come after a severe hit to the head, such as a concussion. But suppressing memories due to having experienced a traumatic experience? It seemed entirely plausible. He stood up and went to retrieve his computer. He was back in seconds. "Apparently, after a very superficial look to the internet, the amnesia that Bella was presenting, is called dissociative amnesia, and it could be treated by psychotherapy or her memories can come back naturally."

They all nodded; it was what made most sense. "Are you going to do some sort of psychotherapy with her?" Emmett asked.

He shook his head. He wasn't a psychologist nor a psychiatrist. His knowledge of medicine, and his experience were on another field. He had never thought to dive in into the mind. "I don't know how to help her." He admitted.

They stayed silent for a few seconds.

"Do you think Jazz will calm her down a little?" Alice asked to no one in particular.

"He's the only one of us who could get through her right now." Edward answered. "I still can't believe that by being one minute late, such a thing happened."

"A lot can happen in one minute." Spat Rosalie, not liking how he was downplaying time.

"I didn't mean it like that." He rolled his eyes. She rolled hers. "What I meant, is that I hate that she went through that. I wish I could help her somehow."

"We'll help her, sweety. We just need to be patient." Esme said hugging Edward with one arm. He rested his head on her arm, a rare display of affection on his part. He needed the comfort.

After that, there was not much anyone could say or do. Everyone dispersed around the house. Rosalie was unusually quiet, something Emmett found odd. She always had an opinion, about everything and everyone, be it good or bad, she didn't mince words.

"You're too quiet" He finally said. She locked her eyes with his. He saw something different in them, fear. He closed the distance as fast as he could without barreling into her. "What's wrong, baby?"

"I never liked her as much as you all did, but I didn't want anything bad happening to her." She felt guilty. She was a very smart woman, but she still believed in the power of words and thought. She felt as if by being rude to her, disrespectful, she had somewhat caused this.

"We know, Rosie." He caressed her arms softly. "We're all shocked this happened." He tried to comfort her. "We all got blindsided." Specially Jasper and Alice. How could they get that blindsided by a human? He found it ridiculously crazy and funny. With their abilities combined, they must have sensed something was wrong, or off. It seems Bella is hell of a lot smarter than a psychic and an empath combined. Oh, the irony!

Rosalie nodded. She knew her mate was right. But she still felt awful. She shook her head, there was nothing she could do to remedy that. Maybe, give her an opportunity. She was family now, whether she liked it or not. Edward snorted in his head. He would have to wait and see if Rosalie would keep her word.

…

…

…

It didn't take long for Jasper and Bella to return from their hunt. Jasper had taught her how to jump the animal without scaring it. However, her human clumsiness remained in her vampire self. She made a bit of a mess with the blood. Not as much as she would have thought, given the circumstances.

"We're coming through the front door this time, right?" She asked, still unsure of this whole jump in and out of windows thing.

"Sure." He smiled sarcastically. He liked this version of Bella. She didn't hide her opinions and dislikes. It's like seeing the same version of human Bella, only a little different. It was hard to pinpoint the differences. Obviously, she was different physically. More beautiful, new curves, longer and thicker hair, but she remained the same in other things. She still spoke out when something didn't make sense, she still doubted herself, but there was like a strength lurking somewhere that made things seem off.

Regardless, they walked through the door. Alice was waiting for them with a change of clothes for Bella. She smiled politely and took the clothes. However, she didn't know where to go. "Upstairs, third floor, second door to the right" Alice answered her unspoken question.

"Thank you" With that said, Bella walked fast to the directed bedroom. She wanted to take a shower, she was covered in mud, leaves, and blood. She undressed and walked naked to the bathroom. It was magnificent. Big, white, luminous. There was a shower on one side, and a bathtub on the other side. That's all she cared about. For now, a shower would suffice.

Jasper in the meantime was a man with a plan. He didn't know what his family had talked about, but nonetheless, a plan formed in his head during his hunt with Bella. He had access to Alice's computer. While his wife concentrated on her visions, he printed some pictures that he knew she had. They could possibly help Bella.

She was about to turn the shower's handle on the wall, when three rapid knocks on the door distracted her. She grabbed the nearest towel and allowed entrance to the knocker. "I thought you might need some help." It was Alice. Why was she here?

"I think I can manage a shower alone but thank you." Wasn't she married to Jasper? That's what she had gathered from what he said, right? Yes, she was completely sure he had said she was his wife.

"I thought you might need help with the handle, not to shower yourself. I'm an only man's woman." Bella smiled timidly. Alice ignored her and turned on the shower. Hot, steaming hot. She pushed Bella towards the shower door. "Just, tap it slowly when you're done." With that, she left.

"She's so weird." Bella muttered to herself. But of course, everyone in the house heard.

She pouted comically to Jasper, who was waiting for them on their bedroom. Edward laughed out loud. Despite his nerves, his sadness and confusion he enjoyed the little joke.

...

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…

"So, I lost my memories, due to the traumatic experience with the vampire?" She corroborated with Carlisle. He had introduced himself once she walked back into the living room.

She wanted more answers, and honestly, she couldn't hide forever. Might as well face everyone at once and rip off the band-aid.

"We think so." He nodded.

"How do I get them back?" She looked around, putting names and faces together.

Jasper winked at her, with Alice on his lap. He was a nice guy. He had this big brother energy to him. Annoying, no filter, but would help you with everything you asked. Jasper felt her gratefulness towards him and felt warm inside. Rosalie was very independent and basically did everything on her own, if not, she had Emmett to help her. He didn't have a very big brother relationship with her. They were more like equals. He felt tenderness and curiosity towards Bella since the first time Edward sat with her. She needed guidance. Emmett was too scattered and crazy to take it seriously the first time, Edward was too in shock, Carlisle was too loving, so he would sugar coat everything, Alice would spook her, Rosalie would intimidate her, and Esme, well… she would do the same as Carlisle. He had to be the tough teacher. He didn't mind.

Bella's sight landed finally on Edward. Her…boyfriend? Or something according to Jasper. He seemed so serious. He had only smiled once, to make fun of her. She studied him, openly and shamelessly. He was handsome, the hair, the expression, the posture. Something in him called her, he seemed so damn familiar, but so damn unknown. A part of her recognized him but couldn't tie the knots together.

He smiled tentatively at her. Had she been human, her heart would have raced and skipped a few beats. He was way more handsome when he smiled. She smiled back. Everyone noticed how they were on their own bubble, Jasper was swimming in Edward's love for her, and her feeling of being drawn to him. These two were made for each other. A match made in heaven. If anyone could make it through memory loss, and trauma, it was them.

"We have two plans, if you're willing." Carlisle interrupted the moment, apologizing to his son in his mind.

Bella turned her head quickly to him. "You're not gonna open my brain or something like that, right?"

Edward snorted. It was the tree situation all over again. This time, Bella ignored him.

Carlisle smiled amusedly. "No, I'm not that kind of surgeon. I was thinking of two things. Either we let nature take its course and let you come to your memories on your own, which might happen as well as it might not. Or we can try and justle some of them."

"Justle them, how?"

"Jasper printed some pictures of your life. You can go through them. We can explain who everyone in each picture is."

She thought about it. It seemed a good way to reconnect her memories.

"That seems like a good idea." She agreed.

"Perfect." Alice cheered. Edward scowled at her. Her exclamation had nothing to do with the conversation. She just had a vision, which she quickly hid from him.

"I'm not telling you about it. Stay out of my mind"

Alice and Edward could do this forever. She saw he wasn't going to drop it. "I'm warning you. Stay. Out. Or you'll see something you don't want."

There wasn't a thing he could see that he hadn't seen already. Or heard for that matter. Living with three couples and going to high school had been experience enough.

He didn't stay out. She replayed her most sexy and heated sex with Jasper. All positions, hours and hours of love making, and rough sex. "Alice!" He complained, retiring from her mind.

"Told ya" She chirped.

Emmett rolled his eyes. But Bella looked at them confused. She had definitely missed something. "What?"

Instinctively they all looked at Edward. He noticed it and rolled his eyes. Fine. He would explain the hardest thing to explain, again. "Alice, Jasper and I have… gifts, powers, whatever you want to call it." He explained.

"Yeah, that doesn't explain anything."

"I can read minds, Jasper is an empath, and Alice can see the future."

"Read minds?" Oh, oh.

"Everyone's but yours. You're blocked to me, for some reason we haven't figured out yet." Ok, she could live with that, for now.

"What is an empath?"

"I can feel people's emotions, and I can manipulate them at will." Jasper simplified. "No, I don't manipulate my family's emotions, not without their consent."

"I thought he was the one to read minds." She pointed at Edward but without looking at him.

"And he is. But I could feel your discomfort, and I wanted to clarify that aspect. You're family, by the way." Bella smiled. They had all received her so well, and warm. They were so caring and loving towards each other and her. She felt lucky.

"And the future thing. How does it work?"

"She thinks she knows everything." Edward answered first. Only to rise up Alice.

"I do not!" She gasped.

"You do. And you enjoy making it known." She did at times, with small things.

"I do not." She defended half-heartedly. "I have visions depending on someone's decision. I mostly see my family, or actions/events that might affect us in any way. My visions are not bullet proof and are not set in stone. They can change, depending on the person's decision. I have visions that are clearer than others, those are the ones that will happen, no matter what triggers the event, even if the person involve changes their mind."

"Did you see my attack?"

Alice lowered her head. "You had received a call from James, he said he had your mom, but it was a ruse. You planned carefully everything, so careful that you didn't decide anything. You managed to outmaneuver me and Jasper. You were already gone when I saw what was going to happen. We rushed to get to you, but we got there one minute late. I am so sorry." In the spur of the moment Alice bolted from her place on Jasper's lap and hugged Bella tightly, if she could cry, she would be crying while asking for Bella's forgiveness.

Bella was surprised at the abrupt movement, but she relaxed quickly, hugging Alice back, and patting her back. The hug lasted a few seconds. Alice went back to Jasper.

Edward had been very upset with Jasper and Alice when they told him what happened. But Rosalie had been right. She is her own person, and she was not their prisoner. She did what any of them would have done to save the people they loved.

"You tried to stop it, right? You rushed to save me." She needed reassurance.

"I swear we ran like hell."

"Then, you don't have to apologize for anything. I mean, I was the one who ran away. I could have asked you for help. It was my decision. I was the one who fell into the trap." Her own memory loss was her own fault. If she hadn't believed this James guy, she would have her memories, her human life…right?

"Are you alright?" Rosalie asked. She had remained quiet. Bella thought she didn't like her.

"I'll be. I guess." Rosalie nodded. She knew when not to push. "So, when do we start with the memory jolt?"

The sooner the better. Especially if what Jasper said about her and Edward was right. Who doesn't want a love that can withstand anything?

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