AN: Sorry - I got distracted thinking about our favourite little Pixie's take on a few things. This will be one of two :D

Alice Pt 1

I lay on the bed, delicately fingering Jasper's hair. He had his eyes closed, shirt off, relaxing on the bed. I sat cross legged with his head in my lap. We had been sitting like this every night since Edward had departed so abruptly to Alaska. It helped him, to be absorbed in my emotions, and it helped my emotions to have him at rest in my lap. So we sat, or lay in his case. Mediocre futures flitted across my sight, and I was relaxing in my routine. Watching teachers decide on class structures and homework assignments, or students planning ordinary events like prom, or even the hospital making Carlisle's shift schedule, was a regular and peaceful part of my evening. Sometimes I would mutter things to Jazz if I found it interesting, or let Carlisle know his shifts if the schedule had been printed. Mostly we sat in silence, ignoring the faint murmurs of the other two couples in the house. This past week everyone had been forlorn. Even Rose, who fought with Edward more than she talked with him, was morose and somber. The departing of a family member in distress was not a happy time for any of us. Jazz frowned slightly, and I went back to focusing on his hair.

"Sorry." I said, realising I had gotten caught up in my thoughts and feelings about Edward's absence. Jasper merely smiled and let a wave of reassurance tumble across me. I nodded that he stand, and I grabbed my wool pile, and the mostly-finished coat I had for Esme.

"Do you mind?" I asked shyly. I knew he'd say yes, obviously, but I loved watching him pull his 'Southern Soldier' routine.

"Anything to help a lady, ma'am," he smiled with a short bow, and put on the coat. I wound the fabric delicately with my fingers and needles, working methodically to achieve the length I wanted. I wasn't working as fast as I could be, but I also didn't want to mess anything up even once. I kept an eye on every stitch and weave I made just before I made them to make sure. It was very mentally taxing. I was nearing the first pleat at the back when suddenly a wall of white was in front of my face.

I looked around, trying to figure out where I was and Edward's head popped out of the snow bank in front of me. Tanya appeared from the opposite side of the snow bank, previously obscured. They were continuing a conversation of some kind.

"I think you will go back. No matter who, or what it is you are running from. You'll face it head on. You're the type." Tanya said, putting her hands on her hips and looking accusingly at him. Edward stood slowly, letting snow fall softly off his shoulders, he gently kissed her cheek, pulling back with an almost instantaneous swiftness when she tried to turn her head towards the kiss. She smiled ruefully and playfully at him.

"Thank you Tanya, I think I needed to hear that." Edward looked towards me, but not actually at me, as I was not here. He was looking speculatively towards – was it the south?

"If you leave before I return, then I wish you well Edward. With whatever this is you are battling." Tanya laughed, rubbing his shoulder affectionately. She began to walk away.

"Goodbye Tanya." Edward nodded. He began to walk towards me. I – for lack of a better word – fast-forwarded, to the point where I could see him in Carlisle's car, driving through Canada, and then again as he hit the Vancouver border crossing. He was coming home.

"Yay!" I squealed, dropping my handful of wool and the needle. Jasper began to take off the coat. ""No you can't take it off yet – I have to fix the hem." I scolded, and dashed away. I knew my excitement and the family's lift in spirits would more than outweigh any embarrassment Jazz felt at having to come out with Esme's coat on.

I am sure my relief and elation was doubled by Jasper's immediate sensing and his own response and "Edward has made the decision to come home." I called to the listening ears. Three happy exclamations, and one 'about time' from a certain blonde rang through the stillness.

"That's wonderful news Alice." Carlisle began. Another flash in front of my eyes showed him asking me if I knew when.

"He'll be home Saturday morning at." I decided to check my phone for the date and time of his arrival, and then watched myself do it hours from now, "1:37."

Jasper sighed slightly, no doubt in relief at the release of negativity, and I scrolled forward in Edward's future. There he was, stubborn looking as always, driving us to school in the morning. "And it seems as though he'll be in school Monday too. I'm not as sure about that possibility, but the two visions came hand-in-hand, so to speak." It was very solidified and linked to the previous one of his arrival. He must have decided to go back to school, and coming home was the first step of that decision. I would probably have to scan his future more thoroughly to see what exactly he had planned. But as I hadn't even seen the catalyst for his abrupt departure, I doubted I could make much of a difference yet. I followed my feet upstairs, mildly paying attention to the boys bickering.

Suddenly I was sitting in my room, watching myself and Jasper on our bed. I was showing him the American Sign Language alphabet, and I began to go through simple conversational signs. I suppose Jazz had chosen ASL after he'd finished with his Japanese. I put it out of my mind in the meantime, waited for my devilishly charming mannequin to reappear, and began finishing Esme's coat again.

At 1:36 I dashed downstairs, ready to argue with Edward. To me, he looked like a new man. He had a resolve on his face that I'd come to recognize. It was the reason he and Rosalie didn't get on very well; they were both stubborn. He was going to face this, whatever it was, head on. He dropped Carlisle's car keys in the glass bowl by the front entrance and put his hands in his pockets. Still shy, and probably feeling a little guilty, he waited for one of us to say something. As soon as I saw his forlorn and peaceful face I amended my decision and went for a hug instead. I headed straight towards him, watching him scrunch his nose slightly in distaste as I jumped up, wrapping my arms and legs tightly around his body, thinking fiercely at him.

You were going down some dangerous paths with that girl before you left.

"I know Alice."

I couldn't do anything, stop anything, couldn't help you, and then suddenly you leave before even letting me find you?

"Yes and I'm sorry about that too."

You scared me half out of my mind.

"Well it wasn't my intention."

You going to tell the others everything? Including what you saw of yourself in my visions?

"Yes probably."

You really wouldn't have gone through with it you know. You're too strong.

"No, I don't think I could have."

I know you. Better than you do sometimes. Now everyone else is dying for their chance to yell at you…

"Of course, you're right." He looked down at me, the prolonged contact finally too much for him and I sighed, returning to Jazz. Edward nodded to all of us, hearing private words of greeting, and probably questions. He suddenly surprised everyone, by walking over to Carlisle and Esme and gently, quickly, hugging them both. In that fleeting moment, I saw a quick glimpse of Jasper and Edward going on a hunt.

"Thank you all…. And yes Jasper, that's probably a good plan." He disappeared upstairs for a moment and returned in camping gear. Jasper followed his example, and the two boys disappeared to hunt. When I could tell they were out of range of Edward's mind, I answered what little I could for the others.

"He'll be back soon. Jasper is going to talk a little sense into him, and he's going to explain to us what's been going on. I won't share any of what I have seen yet. Again, that's his decision. Though at least right now, I can promise you that when they get back we'll all be around the dining room table and having an active family discussion.