Placing the last card on the top, Alice slowly backed away, marveling at her own creation with mild amusement.
That morning, after Ness had taken it upon herself to teach Alice how to play some card games—and after Carlisle had left the room, pointedly reminding the girl that playing poker with real wagers wasn't allowed in the house—Alice had been introduced to the mindless joy that was creating a house of cards.
Of course, just before they'd added the final tier to their creation, Jacob and Emmett had arrived home from their trip into town, and the slight gust of wind they'd let in through the front door had traveled successfully from the front to the back of the house.
The monstrous creation in the den was met with an unceremonious end, and Ness had almost tackled her 'uncle Em' out of frustration. Alice had simply laughed and laughed and laughed, watching as Emmett promised to help her recreate it, but bigger this time around, looking like a man confused by the sheer scope of the girl's frustration.
It hadn't been easy to spend time around the hybrid at first; the headaches Alice received around her were not only annoying, but confounding to the rest of the inhabitants of the house as well.
Where Alice couldn't see Jacob, his absence of a presence in her mind didn't cause pain the way Renesmee's did. It had them all wondering if it was a hybrid-specific thing, or a Renesmee-specific thing. After all, the girl's gift appeared to mirror her father's, and was even able to penetrate Bella's mental shield. Maybe it was a defensive aspect of the girl's ability. A reversal of her mother's gift, in a way.
Carlisle mused that it was worth consulting Eleazar over, the next time they were in the area, but Alice didn't care to define what it was doing. All she cared about was maneuvering around it so that she could get to know Bella and Edward's daughter a little bit more.
And she had. Thankfully, with Jacob nearby the pain behind her eyes was dulled considerably and she was able to sit down and talk with the girl, leaning all sorts of things.
When Alice discovered the girl's middle name was 'Carlie,' another mash-up of two names (Carlisle, and Charlie, Bella's late father,) she'd looked toward her brunette friend with exasperation as Ness laughed.
Jacob and Ness stayed three more days before departing that afternoon, and even though most of the Protectors had arrived home to see the duo off—Rosalie was still in New England and Esme was in Virginia—Alice still found herself feeling forlorn.
Everyone had a pretty good idea about what had transpired between Alice and her human family now. That things had gone well until they hadn't, and that sometimes prejudice knew no bounds.
The night before, Emmett had scoffed at the idea of anyone turning away Alice's company due to some nasty judgements. "Every summer the McCarty clan holds a huge reunion out in Tennessee. You're coming with me this year. Show you what southern hospitality is supposed to look like."
Alice had smiled and thanked him and accepted the invitation, but it had done little to ease the ache in her own chest. She appreciated the offer, but she wanted her own family to accept her, no matter how silly of an idea it was.
After all, she hadn't known that any of these people had existed two weeks ago.
Staring at her giant house of cards, nearly touching the ceiling of the den (she didn't know why Emmett had so many decks of playing cards, but she never questioned much when it came to Emmett) the smile slowly faded from her face, even after she took a few pictures with her phone.
Even with the shape-shifter and the hybrid already on their flight back to Washington, Alice did her best to refrain from looking into the future. She didn't want to see her family right now. And she also wanted to give Jasper and Carlisle as much privacy as she could.
They'd been holed up in Carlisle's study for a few hours now. Jasper had been given the 'ok' to finally contact the two women that were still locked up in Winnipeg's Containment Center. The two men were working out the logistics now, trying to find ways to secure a phone line that they'd be allowed to use.
As far as Alice aware, there was a chance Jasper was speaking with one of them now. Exhaling a frustrated sigh, as she tried to distract her own mind from what was happening upstairs, Alice wasn't even upset when one card went flying, and in seconds the entire ten foot, thousand-card tower was crumbling to the ground.
It would give her something else to do now at least.
By the time she'd organized all of the decks into their original piles, Alice heard the door upstairs to Carlisle's study open. As quickly as she could, she returned the playing cards to their respective boxes and was making her way toward the stairs.
"How'd it go?" Alice asked Carlisle as he walked down the stairs. "I wasn't watching, so no, I don't know." She answered his question before he could ask it.
"He's talking to the girl now," Carlisle smiled thinly, and Alice wanted to ask what the hesitance was about. "I figured I'd give him some privacy."
"He's only talking to her now?" They'd been up there for hours. "Did it take that long to sort out a secure line?"
Carlisle sighed, and Alice found herself following him back into the den. He stopped moving just feet from the giant glass doors that led to the backyard. The sun was just beginning to set. "It took a bit of coaxing from the Center to get her on the phone. We finished chatting with Victoria around," he glanced at his watch, "five-thirty."
Alice frowned. It was almost seven. "She's adamant then." It left a heavy feeling in her stomach, thinking about the young girl who was so far done with the situation that she wanted to get it over with and just die.
Carlisle sighed again, nodding. "Jasper thinks he can talk her out of it, but she doesn't seem willing to talk on the phone."
"Can't we lift probation early? It's only what? Two more weeks now? Less than that?"
Carlisle was shaking his head before she'd finished talking. "Even if I did, Jasper wouldn't abide by it. He's going to stick this through to the end."
Alice grimaced, knowing that Carlisle was right. Jasper didn't want a single soul to think he was trying to get off any easier than he claimed he had. So even if they lifted his travel restrictions and told him he could visit Winnipeg in person, Alice knew that he wouldn't do it. Not yet. Not until his probation period was officially over.
"When is Esme coming home?" Alice eventually asked in a small voice.
Carlisle smiled down at her before averting his eyes back outside, his gaze lingering on the cherry blossom tree across the yard. "Once she's not needed down there."
She felt childish for wanting the woman back home, but there was something that only Esme's presence could provide, and it had been sorely missing from the house for months and months now. Then, she felt bad for feeling so sad at the woman's absence. As far as Alice was aware, Carlisle himself hadn't seen his wife since they'd made the announcement of the war's end back in the fall.
They were well into spring now.
"Sorry," she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest. "You probably miss her the most."
"You're allowed to miss her, too," reaching out, he squeezed her shoulder tightly. "It's okay. Besides," he smiled down at her, "it's hardly the longest I've been apart from her."
Alice thought back to the almost-century that sat between their meeting and their falling in love and wondered how on Earth they'd managed to stay sane during it all.
There was an Esme-shaped hole in her chest, and all Alice wanted was to embrace the kind-hearted woman with the heart-shaped face and sweet smile.
"If she ever needs any random basic help down in DC, please let me know."
Carlisle chuckled. "I'll add you to the list of people who have already asked that."
Alice frowned, her face scrunching up as she pouted. "Let me guess, I'm behind Edward and Emmett?"
"Bingo," letting his hand fall from her shoulder, he pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Maybe if we're lucky she'll call us tonight."
Alice brightened up at that. Quickly, she shuffled through a few decisions and realized that if they all sent her a text the chances of her replying with a call went up drastically. And knowing she'd be able to hear her voice—maybe even see her face, if she FaceTimed them—calmed Alice down exponentially.
Pulling out her phone she sent a couple of quick messages.
When, barely a minute later, the door to Carlisle's study opened up again, Alice shot the older man a concerned look before they both made their way toward the foyer.
"That was fast," Carlisle remarked, voicing both of their thoughts and frowning as Alice brushed by him, meeting Jasper as he reached the bottom of the stairs. She reached out for his hand, and he wordlessly took it, a blank expression on his face.
"I didn't say much," he admitted, and Alice could see how tired he looked. "She wasn't unwilling to talk, but…"
"Getting her to change her mind is going to be another story," Alice squeezed his hand tightly, sending waves of love and worry his way.
"I don't know if I can convince her of anything over a phone call. It took nearly a minute to convince her it was really me. The quality of the call wasn't too good."
As he spoke, Carlisle replying with his own opinion of the situation, Alice felt herself drift, her mind flickering through vision after vision. There had to be a way to get the girl to actually listen. And when the idea struck her, and the visions showed her that it could work, Alice spoke up, interrupting whatever it was Jasper had been saying to the older vampire.
"Let me go," Alice blinked up at him, meeting his skeptical gaze with a serious look. "I can talk to her. In person." Then, she looked over toward Carlisle. "It's our best chance."
Alice could sense Carlisle's hesitation as if she were the empath. "I don't know." And then the man sighed, and Alice found herself waiting for him to speak, knowing that his words were going to be painfully realistic. "I don't want this girl to end her life any more than either of your do, but we need to consider that if this is what she wants, we should let her pass peacefully."
Jasper started nodding, and Alice knew that that was the conclusion he was already beginning to come to, also.
"Please," she fixed the two of them with a desperate look, "let me go and talk to her. I know, I get it. Let her make her own choice. But she hasn't even been given a fighting chance. She," Alice swallowed the emotion that was threatening to rise up, "she doesn't have anyone else fighting for her. Not except for us." Then, she squared her shoulders toward Carlisle, still holding Jasper's hand tightly within her own. "Sure, it might be pointless, but we don't have anything to lose."
The truth was, Alice couldn't just abandon this girl. Because Skye, although gifted with a terrifying ability, was just a teenage girl who hadn't asked for this life. She'd been abducted from her life, forced into immortality, and then abused at the hands of a woman whose sole mission was destruction.
It was a role that, forty years later, Alice could have very well fit the bill for.
And there was no way she'd be letting Skye give up this easily.
Alice didn't see Jasper as he half-shrugged, instead she felt it, as her own hand lifted and fell slightly, still clutching his. "I won't say it's not worth a shot, but Alice," he tugged her hand, forcing her to face him. "If this doesn't go as planned, you're going to be devastated."
"I might need you elsewhere, too," Carlisle commented. "I head back to Boston on Thursday and then to Los Angeles right after. There's still a lot of work to be done."
"You can send me wherever you need me afterward, I swear. A day or two. That's all I'm asking for." It wasn't asking for a lot, but Alice knew it would have to be enough.
She would have to make sure it was enough.
In her mind, she watched Carlisle relent and knew that within the next few days she'd be on a flight to Manitoba.
As relief flooded her, Jasper sighed, knowing that the emotion could only mean one thing. "If you can't get through to her, don't beat yourself up over it. There are still a few weeks left before her application is processed and she's allowed to expire. My probation will be up before then, so if she isn't willing to talk to you, or if she isn't responsive, I'll give it a shot."
"And if that doesn't work," Carlisle added on, "then at least we can say we tried."
Alice nodded firmly at that. She would go, and she would try, and she would pray that that would be enough.
Then, Carlisle eyed her. "If you're volunteering to return to the field after this trip, you better call Emmett up and tell him to swing Josie around here." Then, he smiled. "That way you can see her before you're gone for a bit."
"Already ahead of you," she smirked, "I texted him an hour ago. Their movie doesn't let out for another twelve minutes. They'll be here around eight."
"Leaves me with just enough time for a hunt," Carlisle seemed pleased at the information. Alice knew that the man barely had the time to go on hunts now. "Either of you willing to join me?"
Jasper nodded absently, his eyes meeting Alice's. At her responding blank stare he raised an eyebrow. "Coming?"
"Hold on." Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she stared down at the blank screen attentively. "Give it a second."
They gave it nine seconds, and then suddenly the screen was lit up brightly. And with a quick swipe of her finger, Esme was staring at the three of them.
"ESME!" Alice shouted with joy, jumping up and down. She hadn't seen the woman's face in what felt like months, and staring back at her now was a wonder. "It's so good to see you! Look!" She pointed the phone at Jasper and then turned it toward Carlisle, showing the woman who she was with quickly before beaming down at the device. "What—"
But then she registered the woman's expression.
"You're not watching the news, are you?" Esme frowned, and at the same time the sound of her voice filled Alice with both happiness and dread. "I tried calling your office, Carlisle, but the line was busy. Dial into channel five; Minneapolis."
Quickly, the three were in the den and Jasper was flicking the television on. They were fortunate enough to have access to hundreds of local news stations—it helped keep up with what was happening around the continent.
The newscaster was mid-sentence by the time they tuned in.
"—with the local authorities, but he refuses to leave anything other than vague, almost-threatening remarks. Whether or not his claims are true, they are concerning. Local Containment Centers have since been notified, but authorities have yet to trace any of the messages. Officials are advising people not to worry and to go about their days as normal, but to stay aware and keep alert. As the story progresses, rest assured that you can get full coverage news from us here at KSTP, Eyewitness News."
"There's a man making calls to new stations in a few areas around the midwest," Esme filled them in as the program went to commercial. "He claims to be unaffiliated with us or with our 'opposition'—he's not a container or a radical—but he's telling these news stations that there's a larger goal, and that he has proof that the war is nothing more than a 'Vampire Extinction' attempt."
Alice was taken aback by that. "That's bizarre." But even without her visions confirming it, Alice knew there was more.
"What gives this validity?" Jasper asked, and Alice watched in her peripheral as he and Carlisle exchanged a worried glance over the top of her head.
"He isn't just calling new stations. He called here."
"What?" Carlisle gasped.
"How?" Jasper demanded in the next instant. And Alice nearly jumped at the men's reactions.
She knew that it was virtually impossibly to get a direct line to any high-ranking offices in the Pentagon. It was one of the things that Alice had witnessed Maria interrogating Jasper over; to get a direct link to human leadership in order to (metaphorically) sink her teeth into their system. Jasper had the access codes that Maria had wanted.
With that realization, she felt a small twinge of fear pulse through her. Then, she found herself thinking back to all of those awful, horrendous visions, pulling up every face of Maria's underlings, trying to see how many of them Alice had heard speak. Because if she could get a copy or a recording of whoever it was leaving messages for these newscasters, perhaps she'd be able to place a face to the voice.
She desperately hoped she wouldn't be able to. Because that would mean high-ranking radicals were alive and still out there.
But Alice was left confused. If this was a radical, their motives made little sense. Maria's goal hadn't been 'extinction'. It had been for vampires to rise up as superior and claim their right to feed freely, on top of the 'food chain'. It had to have been someone pulling a prank. It had to be.
"Alice," Carlisle called her back out of her head, "you said you never saw Jasper give away access codes. In your visions."
Alice shook her head, dread planting itself back in her chest. She hated how easily the emotion slipped it's way inside of her, as if it belonged. When Jasper wrapped an arm around her, she leaned into his embrace, passing the phone off to Carlisle. "No, but…"
But that didn't mean he hadn't done it while under Skye's influence. While Alice couldn't see.
Everyone else acknowledged that at the same time Alice did.
"If it's someone high-ranking who somehow escaped, this suddenly becomes another priority." Carlisle nodded to the couple, before turning to look at the face of his wife on the tiny screen. "Did you get any information out of the man?"
"He was willing to set something up—a rendezvous—with a few of their operatives. But the instant someone let it slide that there was a Protector in the room, listening in on the call, he rescinded his word and hung up."
"Whoever it is is willing to conspire against us with human leadership," Jasper observed, his words hard. "It's possible it is one of Maria's people. This could have been their plan B, in case their original mission failed."
"I agree," Carlisle's frown intensified. "Something tells me this could push people's trust in us completely aside. It appears to be all about vilifying us now that Maria is dead."
"Why though? Why do this?" Why couldn't Maria have just died and left them to pick up the pieces peacefully, as they tried to put their world back together? It seemed so cruel that Alice found herself feeling devastated.
"Maria wanted control, yes," Jasper spoke, his voice low as he thought back to the dead woman. "But even before integration, Maria was always driven by revenge over anything." He swallowed thickly, before continuing. "A few years after I'd joined them, Nettie and Lucy had told me that Maria had already had a mate, and that everything she did was to avenge him. They told me that to try and sway me to their side, but," he paused, "clearly it hadn't worked."
"And then, when integration happened, she focused that anger toward us," Carlisle nodded. "Toward Esme and I. And Aro. And everyone responsible for upending her way of life."
"I don't think she planned on failing, but I do think she would have put together a back-up plan. Anything to uproot us and our place as leaders."
Carlisle shook his head. "Anything to take us down with her."
"What do we do?" Alice asked, afraid. These were her people. There was no way she could sit by while some deranged person tried to turn the media and the human's leadership further against them. They were good people. They did goodthings. They were called 'Protectors' for goodness sake!
Tim's scathing words from the other day echoed through her mind.
"You and that murderous parasite you fuck will get what's coming to you. Mark my words"
For the first time, Alice found herself wishing they weren't Protectors. That she could simply take Jasper and run somewhere and simply live a normal life.
But that had never been in the cards for them, apparently.
"We keep doing what we've been doing," and as Alice reeled on Carlisle, not willing to accept that as an answer, Jasper chimed in, too.
"He's right, Alice. We can't act on anything right now without more information. There isn't anything to be done; not here at least. Not yet."
"I'm still working on things down here," Esme informed them, reminding Alice of her presence. "But I'm going to need help."
"I can be there tonight," Carlisle didn't hesitate. "I'll switch my schedule around. Rosalie is flying back home tonight but I can have her fly back to Boston for me, and pick up where I left off."
"The poor girl needs a break, Carlisle." Esme frowned, and even Alice had to agree. Rosalie had been working non-stop since the war's end.
"Unless we get a handle on this situation, we can't provide that for her."
"When my probation is up I can get straight to work," Jasper chimed in, pulling Alice back into his arms, rubbing soothing circles against her back. "Wherever you need me."
"Wherever we end up sending you, take Alice along."
Alice blinked her attention back to the phone at that. It seemed like a strange request, but after all, Alice was still technically in training. She just didn't think any of her fellow Protectors were going to advise her to stay close with the man she was in love with on their work trips; especially with how things in the media were unfolding with them.
"You sure about that?" Jasper was also rightfully skeptical.
The three of them watched as Esme lifted her hand and lightly placed her fingertips against her temple. "I know," she spoke, and suddenly her words took on a brand new meaning. Because when Esme knew something, that was that.
It had been the first information she'd shared with them from her ability since the war's end, and the advice sat heavy in Alice.
"I can still go to Winnipeg, right?" Alice asked, quietly. "I want to try and save Skye," she almost whispered the words to Esme, feeling silly that with everything that was unfolding, she still wanted to help the girl who had almost been the downfall of all of them.
"I don't see why not. Just be careful. And when you get back, stick close to Jasper." Esme advised with a smile, and the sight of it made Alice miss her so much more.
"Always," she exhaled, pressing her face against Jasper's chest. "I miss you, Esme."
Another smile, more genuine, and wider this time. Not for the first time, Alice was struck by Esme's loveliness, and couldn't help but imagine anyone who would wish harm to someone as wonderful as her. "I miss you too, sweet girl."
"Be careful, Esme," Jasper called out, his arms tightening around Alice as he spoke. "Until we know more it's best to assume the worst, and operate under the assumption that he's a true threat."
"We already are." Esme nodded, and then when her attention wavered and she turned toward something they couldn't see, she turned back down to them. "I have to go." To Carlisle, she smiled, "I'll see you tonight, dear."
And then she was gone.
"I hate this," Alice spoke up immediately, needing to express her frustration before she let it fester. "We haven't done anything wrong. We're on the side of these people. We can't let their opinions sway just because of some random guy who claims to know things."
"We can't control anyone's opinion," Carlisle sighed, handing her back the cell phone. "All we can do is our jobs."
"That doesn't feel like enough at this point."
"I agree." And Carlisle's acceptance of the fact forced Alice's fear to hold steady. Then, the man met Jasper's gaze. "Listen, I know you want to wait, but I could really use you now."
Jasper exhaled swiftly, Alice feeling the sensation against her cheek. "I can't," he shook his head. "If I show up anywhere with the intention of working before next Monday, there goes another tiny thread of trust. We have to do this right, even if we lose a headstart on things."
"Don't leave then," Carlisle lifted a hand, gesturing toward the basement door. "I'll reinstate your credentials before I leave. You don't have to even leave the house, but your eyes on this situation will at least keep us from being blindsided." There was a pause. "The people won't know."
There was a beat of silence while Alice watched Jasper's future carefully. Then, he made a choice.
"Fine," Jasper conceded. Alice didn't realize how relieved she felt until she was slowly releasing a breath. "I'll get to work downstairs." Then, he looked down at her. "It'll at least keep me busy while I wait for you to return from Winnipeg."
"I guess I should go sooner than later than, huh?" Alice hadn't been planning on leaving for a few days. At least until Carlisle left for New England. But of course, things never exactly went as planned around here. Especially when their job was concerned.
"We can drive to the airport together," Carlisle informed her. "I'll book our flights now. You go get packed. By the time you're done I'll have your allowances restored," Carlisle nodded to Jasper.
"Wait!" That wouldn't do. Rosalie was on her way back from the airport now. And Alice had seen that she wanted to do something that she deemed vital. "I can't leave tonight. Rose wanted to do some charity thing when she got home."
Carlisle looked like he wanted to protest, but instead sighed. "Tomorrow morning then? I can still set up your flight for you."'
Alice glimpsed ahead. "Yeah, that will work."
"Okay then," smiling thinly, he made his way toward the kitchen. "So much for a hunt," he joked, trying to lighten the mood. "When Emmett gets here with Josie, send him up to my office so I can fill him in."
Jasper nodded, then turned to Alice. "We'll drive Josie home."
Too quickly, Carlisle was gone, retreating back up into his office with nothing more than a warmed canister to satiate his thirst.
"You're frightened," Jasper reached up and cradled her jaw, tilting her head upward so that she was looking him in the eye. "I know things are uncertain, but that's the nature of this job."
"I don't want anything to happen to anyone." Just because they weren't actively fighting in a war, didn't mean there weren't very real, very dangerous threats out there. Anything that could harm or unseat their current way of life petrified her.
"Things like this happen. Usually not so closely after a war with mass casualties, but," Jasper's expression turned thoughtful, "this isn't anything we can't handle." Then, he made an amused noise. "This isn't our first rodeo."
"Whatever you say, cowboy," Alice grumbled, not enjoying his dismissal of her anxiety.
"Carlisle will be with Esme tonight and they'll be keeping an eye on the situation closely down there. And you're going to go to Winnipeg and talk with Skye." He paused. "How're you going to get through to her if you're so focused on something else?"
Alice shook her head fiercely then, hating how he had a point. "I can still do it. I'll be fine." She'd shake her fear before her flight, but until then, she was going to allow herself a healthy dose of worry. "I'm happy you're getting your credentials restored."
Jasper grimaced. "I had a feeling it would be earlier than the thirteenth, no matter what I said or did."
"Carlisle's right. You'll stay here, work under the radar, keep an eye on things. You know, help out." Reaching up she smiled when he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her into the air, making it easier for her to wrap her arms around his neck. Leaning forward she pecked him on the nose. "And then when I get back, we get to stick together." The joy she felt at that development was so pure that she allowed it to engulf her, knowing that Jasper was feeling the strong emotion alongside her.
Closing his eyes, Alice watched as he soaked in the warmth of her emotion before he sighed. "One year ago today we were in Columbus," he reminded her. "I don't know if you knew that."
Alice hummed her confirmation. "Fight training and Edward's investigation after they transported a newborn in an unauthorized vehicle." She allowed herself a smirk, as she studied his calm expression, "I remember."
They hadn't been a couple then, but Edward had certainly teased them about not knowing how to keep to themselves in front of the paparazzi. Thinking back on the memory Alice felt the butterflies in her stomach stir. She didn't know how the two of them had gone so long without admitting their feelings for one another.
Of course, she did know. There'd been a war brewing, and a heartbreaking prophetic vision constantly hanging over their heads.
But as Alice thought back to when Jasper—her sweet, gentle Jasper—had cradled her head in his hands and laid her fears to rest back in Columbus, her heart felt ready to burst with all the love she felt for him.
Leaning forward she kissed him deeply, before pulling back and resting her head in the crook of his neck.
He chuckled, pressing another kiss against the side of her head. "I love you, too."
There, in Jasper arms, Alice could almost convince herself that everything was destined to be alright.
It had to be.
A/N: Happy Aries season try not to give into impulse to easily this month my little weirdos.
Don't have too much to say/share currently. I've had a productive week (excluding my newest tattoos) and I nearly forgot about this chapter in my rush to continue planning out my next few weeks. Don't get used to those bonus chapters though; I have no more for you, officially now. Hope you enjoyed this smaller chapter.
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ZileRacer: I PROMISE you that Jacob and Renesmee's relationship isn't romantic in ANY aspect. It really is what she said. Jacob helped raise her and she lives out on the reservation in Washington with the wolves. He's just her fun Uncle Jake. They have a fun family relationship. Kinda-of brother-sister like at this point. Ness' addition to the story was something that I thought up way back in the day when I was sorting out Edward and Bella's backstories for this story, and I decided to keep it in order to make things more interesting!