A little over nine months after Bella is Bitten

Alice's point of view

I am so excited Bella's agreed to come back to our place after school. I know Edward is delighted to have her back, it's the dream he never let himself dream, coming true. I am surprised he is sharing Bella tonight, I thought he would say no in the cafeteria when I asked her to come back to our place.

I was pleasantly surprised, a common feeling as of late, one that I'll probably have to get used to with Bella's shield. I thought along with Edward's incandescent happiness, some selfish tendencies might arise. Perhaps he is waiting a few days before enacting the, Bella's mine police, so we can all get a chance to visit before he throw her over his shoulder and runs away. He knows we all took thinking she was gone difficult, especially me and Esme. Edward knows better than anyone that we all want to know what she has been up to, and what happened to her. It's so frustrating that I didn't see her all these months, and that this whole time she has been all alone.

Edward was beaming at lunch, these new turn of events has completely changed our lives. The future was clear before school, now it's a murky and confusing collage of images that have to be piece together. It is great to have Bella back, I just need to find a way around her blocking me.

I can still see my family, just not any of them when they are with Bella. That is why at this very moment I can't find Edward anywhere in the future. Bella must be shielding him while there in class. I can't see us getting together after school either and I have attempted to, a lot. I can't see Carlisle and Esme's reaction to her coming over either. Esme and Carlisle are going to be so pleased Bella is safe and back in our lives, but I can't see it. The next time I can see them is early morning at sunrise, they are hunting. They discuss how happy Bella and Edward looked together.

I think whoever is shielded by Bella at a specific time, becomes a blind spot in my vision. While the person is covered I can't see them at any time, even one where they aren't being covered by Bella's shield. The passage of time for those under her shield is hidden like she is jamming the signal. This is all guesswork, but Bella and I can experiment later. We can work out her gift's limitations and strengths.

I stop my contemplating to focus on the delicate design I am engraving with my nail. I am just putting the finishing touch on the metal ring I am fashioning for Jazz in welding. It is coming along well. I take my finger and smooth out the bulging weld line created from adhering the two sides together into a cylinder. I then wipe away the metal flakes from carving out the A & J forever that I put along the band.

The class is just being dismissed by the Welding Lab supervisor. I unclasp my bracelet and loop the finished ring for Jasper onto it and clasp it back onto my wrist. Jasper joins me as I am walking over to the lockers that line the wide hall leading to the exit door. I have my school clothed folded neatly in my locked, I open it swiftly and take them out. I look down and admire my custom designed welding gear. The jumpsuit top is a dark blue denim corset that hugs my body down to my waist, then the legs flare out and look like a long layered skirt.

Jasper notices the action and says "how did you manage a designer welding jumpsuit in two weeks." I tell him "it's not too hard Jazz, all I had to do is create a few designs then send them to my designer friend who fine-tuned them. Then with some funding, I streamlined the process of having them made in my size. Lastly I scheduled our jet to pick up the finished products and bring them here, to Alaska, from Prague. They wouldn't have made it before class started flying commercial."

Jasper says somewhat sarcastically "yeah nothing too difficult." Then Earnestly says "You did a really great job, you look amazing Alice," and winks at me and unzips his basic black jumpsuit. He just has his black jeans on underneath, so I admire his sculpted chest. He folds the jumpsuit and places it in his locker, he has the one next to mine. He puts back on his dark blue collard shirt and starts buttoning it when he asks teasingly "are you going to get dressed, or just stand there and watch me."

I tell him "I'll get dressed in a minute, you can't blame a girl for getting a little distracted." Then I kiss him and take my clothes to the restroom to change. There is no room for clothes under my jumpsuit and the welding department consists of only one female, me. Given the gawking of my classmates, I thought changing in the restroom was a necessary action. I can feel Jasper's eyes on me as I go, so I turn around and wink at him before closing the restroom door.

Once changed jasper and I walk to Edward's car, he gave me the keys at lunch asking me to drive with Jasper and follow Bella's car to her place after school. I get in the drivers' side and adjust the seat to accommodate my shorter legs reaching the petals. Jasper chuckles as I do, muttering under his breathe about how adorable I am.

We drive over to the Admissions building parking lot and easily find Bella's Tesla with Bella and Edward inside waiting. Bella pulls out of the space and waves hello to us.

We drive to Bella's house and park in front of the garage she pulled into. They come out holding hands in seconds. Bella is promising Edward a tour later since he expressed curiosity in seeing her house.

I inform Bella "I would also like to see it but I think we should probably not leave the others in the dark any longer then we have."

Bella says "of course not, I'll show you all my house later. I think Esme will aseptically appreciate it. You said she was building a cottage on your land"?

I answer "Yep, but she will probably change her intentions for it. It was supposed to be a quiet place away from the house for Edward to go to."

Bella says "that was thoughtful of her" as Edward opens her door for her and she gets in. Once Edward gets in a moment later I turn the car around and drive home. We live about the same distance from campus as Bella, just in the opposite direction. It's a twenty-minute drive to get to our house. I pull into Edwards spot in the large garage.

When I get out, I ask Edward "do you have a plan"? He says, "kind of," slowly as if it's still being formulated. Bella speaks up "I think we should just hang with Esme and the others until Carlisle's shift at the hospital ends. Edward said he should get home at five in just an hour, then I will answer questions regarding my change and life so far."

She shouldn't have to tell her story twice so I say, "Good plan we can spend the time telling you what the family has been up to, and we should probably tell you about the Volturi. Carlisle can tell you more when he gets here."

All of a sudden, I get a vision.

I can see a beautiful dark-haired vampire pleadingly in the large Volturi meeting room. The women is standing in front of the throne chairs of Aro, Marcus, and Casius asking for help. she is directing he pleading towards Aro "I will get my revenge, I will find her. I smelled her scent, it mingled with the scent of Victoria's ashes in Washington, along with the stink of those werewolf mutts." Then she growls low and continues "The mutts need taking care of as well, for what they have all done they must be destroyed. I traced the vampire's sent back to a house. I think she stayed there but the coven it belonged to was long gone. There sent was well faded, she must have smelled there sent in the area and gotten curious. She was only there a few days then moved on, I lost her sent at the Seattle airport."

Aro replies "Why have you waited so long to bring this to us Anara. Did her sent tell you anything"?"

Anara shakes her head no, then continues "you know my gift well Aro and have gotten great use from it, I sense things from a person's scent. There gift, possible strengths and even weaknesses."

My gift could not pick up anything from the Mysterious Vampire. Her sent was strange, it told me nothing but her smell. I came here months ago seeking Demetri's skill as an extremely powerful tracker. He owed me a favor and agreed to travel to the town of Seatle so we could find the humans I smelled with her sent lingering around them. Probably just people she passed going through town but it should have been enough for Demetri to pick up the essence of her mind, but he could not. It infuriated Demetri when everything he tried failed, he killed both the young man I found and the women. Neither of our gifts could work on this mysterious vampier."

Aro says astonished "how is that possible, Demetri has never failed to find his target, this mysterious vampire is intriguing. she must be very powerful to have alluded both of your gifts, possibly a strong shield"

Frustratedly she says, "Yes I suspected that was the case after Demetri couldn't find her. I come to you now because I realized after that, I have no hope on my own. Especially since she is commingling with werewolves, the natural enemy of our kind." Then with a lot of anger in her voice, she continues, "To side with them over your own, it can have no excuse, no reason. The kind of vampire that would do these things should not be allowed to exist. I think she killed two of mine now, both Victoria and James, there is only Laurent left of my children, she has cut my covens number in half."

Aro says "come here and give me your hand." Anara moves to stand in front of his chair and extends her hand.

Aro grasps Anara's hand and after a moment says "This is very intriguing indeed, but we cannot rashly decide this. We will think on it." When Anara looks disappointed Aro continues "however you still have a place with the guard and we protect all of our kind, an attack against you won't stand." Caius pipes up with "the wolves need to be taken care of as well, they can not be allowed to run amuck killing our kind."

Aro tells the women "go now and rest assured we will decide on a course of action soon." Then in a louder voice spoken to Felix standing by the door across the room, "retrieve Demetri, I shall talk we him directly and find out every facet of what happened."

Then the vision is over, and I am looking into Jasper's worried eyes. He says, "Alice what's wrong, is everything of"?

All I can reply is "no," then jasper pulls me into his arms and says "it will all be ok, I'd never let anything happen to you."

I feel bad for worrying him but shocked by the vision. We just got Bella back and now there is a mysterious vampire after her and us. They have to have been talking about Bella, but I need to be sure.

I look to a worried-looking Bell currently trying to calm Edward down by stroking his cheek. I ask her over Jasper's shoulder, "Bella did you kill Victoria"?

Bella says "not exactly, but she is dead. She bit me and then was killed before she could finish me off."

I ask her "Killed by werewolves"?

Bella nods affirmably and answers "yes, I mean I think so."

Edward has also seen my vision and is clutching Bella close. He looks determined to keep Bella safe just like jasper is for me. Jasper has calmed down and assisted me in doing the same, I am now putting all my brainpower into thinking of plans and trying to scan the future.

Edward looks just as unsettled as before. Bella is quite the powerful newborn, so far, no other vampires' gift has been effective. Edwards body relaxes a bit, I think he is reassured by my thoughts. As Edward relaxes so does Jasper, he knows that if both Edward and I are reacting this way to a vision then something bad is happening.

While scanning I can no longer see the future for myself, Jasper, Edward, Bella, or Esme. Only Carlisle at work, and Emmitt and Rose hunting. I look up to Bella and tell her "you have to stop Bella, I know you are worried but I need to look ahead and scan for what will happen to us."

Bella says, "Sorry Alice, you all just made me nervous with your body language and I automatically pushed my shield out to cover you all."

Edward informs us "we should go inside, Esme herd us come home two minutes ago, she is wondering what we are doing. She is about to come looking for us." Edward walks to the garage door that connects to the house, Bella beside him, so Jazz and I follow them inside.

Esme is before us in the blink of an eye. She takes in Bella and says, "How is this possible."

Bella tells her "I didn't die back then but was turned. I couldn't find your family until now. Well, that's the short version." Esme hugs Bella tightly a look of pure happiness on her face. She tells Bella "it looks like our family has grown by one more, I am so happy you have come back into our lives." Then continues with a worried expression and confused voice, "Edward what is wrong"?

Edward finally voices what we both know, "the Volturi want Bella." he clutches Bella closer to him and continues "I won't let them have her. I also can't let them hurt the wolves, I owe them for saving Bella all those months ago. I need to warn them."

Esme is surprised, completely taken off guard. She asks, "why would they come for her, what could Bella have done to attract the Volturi. Alice, did you see something?"

I answer "There is a vampire called Anara, upset that we killed James and that the werewolves killed Victoria after changing Bella. She created them both and seeks revenge on Bella and the wolves thinking they are responsible. Anara is also on the guard and she asked Aro for help. I am not sure when she will ask, the stained glass windows were dark in the room they met, it could be as soon as tonight, I'll keep an eye out."

Esme says "Edward, we will figure something out we would never let anything happen to Bella, she is family. We need Carlisle, I'll call him and tell him there is an emergency at home, he can get off an hour early. Emmett and Rosalie will be back from there hunt soon." Esme leaves to call Carlisle.

Bella speaks up determined "I can't let you guys get hurt because of me. This Anara woman has the facts wrong, I can go to the Volturi and explain what happened. I didn't kill anyone and the wolves were protecting me."

Edward answers quickly with a "no, there's no way I can let you go, it's too dangerous."

"Edward, I love you but wasn't asking your permission." Then Bella starts walking in the direction of the living room with Edward on her heel.

Me and Jazz follow behind them and stand facing where Bella is curled up on Edward's lap on the couch.

Bella looks up at me and Jasper and says "this can be resolved so simply with just a few clarifying words to the right people. With my shield, I am the only one that can deliver that message safely and with a firsthand perspective."

Edward makes a good point in saying "you are also the only one Alice can't see, so we will have no way in knowing if your plan will succeed or if you will be ok."

Bella rebuts, "I am strong Edward, I can do this."

Edward pleads with her "please don't, for my sanity just don't go."

"Edward you can not focus on just keeping me safe and out of this fight like you did the last time. It's not going to happen, and if it did more of our family would get hurt because of it. My shield will protect me while I am there convincing them of my innocence."

Edward says "then your shield can also protect me. If you insist on going, I will go with you."

Bella argues "No Edward there is no need to put more of us in danger, it would be an unnecessary risk."

Edward claims "you said it would be safe for you, then it is safe for me, how is their unnecessary risk."

I decide to stop the volley of objections between the two of them. I say "how about we wait to argue until Carlisle is home, he may be able to figure out something. And Bella before you go busting into the Voltari we should test what your shield can do. We should know what its weaknesses are, if it has any."

Bella tells me "you are right allice we can test it out tomorrow before I go." Edward corrects her "before we go."

That's when I reply "you both are so stubborn, how about we all hold off on plans of leaving to the Volturi until we test Bella's shield, Deal." I assess them both then give them my best pleading look, after a few seconds they submit to my request. Bella first with a resigned "fine" and then Edward with a relive "ok".

Esme walks in and informs us "Carlisle will be home shortly. He is driving here now and was very happy to hear Bella is alive. He also says he remembers the vampire Anara, she joined the guard shortly before he left."

Esme sits next to Edward and Bella and asks "Bella I am happy you found us, how have you been. It must have been hard and confusing navigating this life with no one to guide you."

Bella answers "I am healthy and happy to have a family again, but truthfully feel guilty about bringing trouble with me. I love you all and want you safe, I don't want to be the cause of potential danger."

Esme slides over on the couch and hugs Bella and says "you could never hurt this family by joining it, we love you and trust you and we would never blame you for the actions of others. Whether this is all a misunderstanding or not, this Anara women's Revenge is not your fault."

Edward murmurs in her ear "Esme is of course right, Bella, no one blames you."

I can hear Carlisle's car, he is parking in the garage. I can no longer see his future; Bella must have covered him also in her shield.

Bella replies "it is not about fault, but the result and keeping you all safe from it. That is my number one priority, and I feel like I am not accomplishing it on this couch."

That is when Carlisle enters and in a caring voice says "it is so good to have you back Bella, you are as selfless as ever. You don't need to take the safety of everyone on yourself. As a human, you were very pro-self-sacrifice and it nearly got you killed by James, I can see those feelings intensified in your new life. So I will tell you this, we are all vampires, strong and able to carry some of the load, that is what family does."

Esme gets up and makes her way to him, giving him a kiss and a hug. They make there over, standing next to Jazz and me.

Emmitt and Rosalie enter thought the front door arguing about what tastes better dear or moose. Rosily asks "do we have a guest I smell someone vaguely familiar." Then Esme and Carlie stan aside to show Bella in Edward's arms on the couch.

Emmitt says, "It's so tense in here, shouldn't we be celebrating if Bella is back from the dead. Leave it to Bella, she always did have a way of keeping things interesting."

Bella replies "Yeah and unfortunately, I don't disappoint. It's good to see you again."

Rosalie just says "we all thought you were dead."

Bella answers "my heart did stop, but I have never felt more alive than in this life."

Emmitt asks "so where's the trouble coming from little sister. I am always ready for a fight." As he says that, he slams his balled fist into the open palm of his other hand, creating a thunderous intimidating noise.

Bella despite the tense situation laughs at Emmitt's antics and excitement over peril. Then tells the room "there is no need for anyone to fight, I just need to explain somethings to the Volturi and Anara."

Emmitt exclaims "wow you really do keep things interesting Bella. How did you get them after you?"

I answer Emmitt by telling the room "I will explain a vision I had of why they want Bella, then Bella will tell us all what she knows. Once we are all caught up, we can brainstorm solutions."

Later that evening after Bella is done, Edward asks, "Carlisle can you talk to your contacts with them try and get them to listen to Bella's side."

Carlisle looks serious and says "I'll try Edward, all we can do right now is hope for the best. I'll call and see if they will listen to reason." Carlisle leaves and I can hear him dialing the phone in his study.

Emmitt remarks "so how powerful is your shield, can it keep my out."

Bella informs him "I think if I wanted it too, but currently I have you all within the two most outer layers of my shield. From what I can tell the most outer layer protects the mind. The second layer protects the body from physical attacks, anything I don't want to pass, can't. I don't know how strong either layers are, they are untested by other vampires except for Alice, Edward, and Jasper."

I say "that's not true. Anara's gift and Demetris didn't work on you either. We will test it in the morning and see the extent of what you can do, I am sure Emmitt would be happy to help test your physical shield."

That's when I get another vision and afterward, I inform everyone of what happened.

"Aro has decided to try and recruit Bella by force if she proves to be a powerful shield as he expects. Either she answers for her crime or joins them is the manipulation he is going for."

Edward asks "Alice what else did you see, is he determined to have her or just curious still." Oh right, thanks to Bella Edward cant here are thoughts, or see my visions.

Before Edward's head explodes from not knowing I answer "He looked more than curious I would say he wants her as much as he wants me." Jasper hugs me to him murmuring "they won't get either of you" and then he speaks to Edward while snuggling me to his chest. "Edward do you think the Werewolves will fight with us, we can go to Forks and stand together there. We can also ask our cousins in Denali to witness, if a fight occurs, they need not fight since they have no stake in it. The Denali could however beef-up are numbers and provide more inspiration for the Volturi to listen to reason. If Aro wants Bella as much as Alice, he will choose not to believe what we say, so he can keep his leverage. I think there will be a stand, but I don't know if there needs to be a fight, Bella may be our secret weapon. Don't glare, Edward, not as a fighter but as a shield in the back protecting everybody."

Bella states "I can shield and fight, the shield is second nature."

Japer beats Edward to a reply "no you can't Bella, it's only sensible to protect your shield. If you fall we all do, I wouldn't even be suggesting a stand if I didn't already get a glimpse of your power."

I turn in jasper's arms so my back is against his chest. He shifts his arms to rest on my waist. "Bella jasper is right you are what tips the scale in our favor and the prize to be had, you cannot fight. I know you want to do more, but what you are doing already is impressive."

"I know you are all right, but I still feel like I should be doing something if the time comes to fight. I just keep picturing one of you getting hurt while I just stand there."

"I tell Bella maybe with your shield no one will get hurt."

Carlisle walks in looking upset "they won't listen to what I have to say and were surprised I knew the vampire they were searching for. They thought it odd that she stayed at our house in forks but didn't think we were connected. I told them Bella is family, not a nomad who happened upon us. I think Aro is displeased with the turn of events, that another gifted vampire has joined my family. I am worried Jasper is right, that Aro and the other decision-makers won't listen to reason"

Edward tells Carlisle " he has always coveted Alice and me, now he also wants Bella. He won't listen, Carlisle, because he thinks he has stumbled on a way to claim all his prizes. we need to go talk with the wolves, and ask our cousins in Denali if they would witness and meet us at our house in Forks."

Carlisle replies "I know Edward, I could hear your conversation from my study and agree, Forks with the wolves would be our best chance. They fear what they do not know, the wolves will give them pause. I will call Eleazar and ask for them to witness. Jasper and Alice do you mind piloting the jet and seeing to it being readied. We should leave in a few hours and can be in Forks, back at the house by sunrise."

I answer "sure, I will also scan our futures. Bella do you mind not shielding those around you until we meet back at the jet. It's important that I look ahead and can see as much as possible."

"Of course Alice, I can also bring my shield down from myself but only for short periods. I could probably give you an hour before my shield snaps back in place. Then I need to rest my shield for about a day. It is easier for me to shield others then not shield myself. The ratio is the reverse I can manage a large shield for about a day and then need to rest for an hour. Let me and Edward hunt while you and Jasper prepare the jet, then you will get your hour."

"Wow, Bella that would be very helpful. Thank you." I gab Jasper's hand and say "let's go Jazz" but before we can go Esme tells us "stay safe and call if you need anything." I nod and Jasper and I run out the door.

Hi all,

Thanks for reading, I hope you are enjoying the story. please let me know what you think.

-Byher