CHAPTER 4 VISIONS
EDWARD
Edward and Jasper drove in silience for about forty five minutes. Edward spent most of the time trying to block out Jasper's thoughts of pity.
"Where are we going?" Jasper finally asked.
"As far away from werewolf territory as possible." Edward replied through clenched teeth.
"We don't even know if he did anything to her yet." Jasper replied.
"Well, I want to make sure that I'm a good distance away when I find out whether he did or not." Edward said. "I don't want to do anything stupid, even though the filthy mongrel would deserve it."
Edward could feel the wave of calmness that Jasper was sending in his direction. He appreciated the effort even if he could feel Jasper's own anger underneath it. It was nice to know he wasn't the only one struggling with this. He thanked god that he had such a good family that took care of each other. He also thnked god that Alice was as close as she was to Bella. Who knows where Bella would go if she didn't have Alice.
The ringing of his phone brought him out of his thoughts. He pulled it out to find it flashing Alice's number. He flipped it open.
"Well, did he?" Edward knew she would know what he meant.
"Yes." Alice answered sadly. "It was worse than last time but not serious. He hit her again and grabbed her wrist hard enough to leave a pretty decent bruise. I had Carlisle check to make sure that it was just a bruise. She asked me to cover them up so Charlie wouldn't ask questions."
"Where is she now?" Edward asked praying he didn't have the answer.
"She went back to Charlie's." Alice answered.
Edward breathed a sigh of relief.
"But," Alice continued. "She plans on talking it out with him, once he's had a chance to calm down."
Edward growled and felt Jasper send him another wave of calm.
"Are you planning on coming back soon?" Alice asked.
"No, I need some time to calm down before I get that close to their territory." Edward replied.
"Okay, we'll be here when you get back." Alice answered. "Please, don't do anything you'd regret?"
"That's why I brought Jasper, isn't it?" Edward said feeling slightly like a five year old needing a chaperone. "Thanks for taking care of her Alice." he added after a moment.
"She means as much to me as she does you." Alice replied. "I'm just sorry she has to go through it. And I'm sorry you have to watch her go through it."
Edward had a sudden idea. Alice had been trying for the past twenty four hours to see the outcome the situation would have. Or at least give them some alternatives to Bella potential pain. The problem was since the outcomes revolved around Bella's decisions concerning Jacob, Alice couldn't see it. Maybe if she focused on the effect the outcome would have on the other people in Bella's life would help her to see the Bella's decision.
"Can we talk when we get home?" Edward said.
"I already know what you're going to ask. I'll try but I'm not sure how well it'll work." Alice answered his unasked question.
"That's all I can ask for." Edward answered. "We'll be home in a couple hours."
Edward snapped the phone shut and rammed it back in his pocket. Jasper was sending him wave upon wave of calm but it didn't seem to be helping.
"I don't understand why she keeps going back to him." he yelled. "Has he really changed her that much?"
"I don't know, man." Jasper replied. "Maybe, She's just scared of what's going to happen if she leaves him."
"No, that can't be it! That isn't Bella!" Edward countered. "At least that's not my Bella. My Bella wasn't afraid of James, or Victoria and her army or even the Volturi. How can she possibly be afraid of a werewolf. It doesn't make sense to me."
"Maybe, she's not afraid of him." Jasper said. "Maybe she's afraid to be without him."
"She doesn't need him because she's still got me!" Edward stated. How could she forget that one crucial thing? He had promised her that he wouldn't leave her again. Did she think the promise no longer mattered because they were apart.
Jasper didn't verbally respond to him but Edward couldn't help but hear what he was thinking. "But does she know that?"
"You're right." Edward said calming a little. "I haven't really done anything to prove I'm still here for her, have I?"
"That's not your fault. It hurts you to see her hurt. Not to mention, the person hurting her is the person she chose over you. That's just as hard on you." Jasper stated.
"So what do I do?"
"Only you can answer that question when the time comes."
"You ready to go home?"
"Are you going to be okay?"
"I think so. Talking helped a bit. Thanks."
"What's family for?"
"Plus, I really want to talk to Alice."
"Yeah, what did she mean she'd try but wasn't sure it would work?"
The spent the ride home discussing Edward's theory about Alice getting around not being able to see Bella's future based off of her choice.
ALICE
Alice was sitting in her room, surfing the net on her laptop, when she heard the door open and Carlisle greet the boys. She laid the laptop gently on the couch and ran down the stairs, using her vampire speed.
"It worked! It worked! It worked!" she shouted excitedly.
"What worked?" Carlisle asked.
"I can see to possible futures for Bella, right now." Alice answered with a smile.
"But how?" Carlisle asked. "You can't see the wolves."
"No but I can see us." Alice smiled.
"And that helps how?" Carlisle asked.
"Because by focusing on how the outcome of Bella's decisions will effect us then she can see us in Bella's future. Which will inadvertantly tell us what's going to happen to Bella." Edward explained. "It was just something I thought of in the car. Alice tried it."
Carlisle smiled. "I have some pretty smart kids."
"What did you see?" Edward asked.
"Let's go to your room." Alice answered. "I want you to see before we discuss it with the family."
Edward nodded and the walked to his room. Alice had to step around the bed to get to the couch. She was glad Edward still had a little hope of getting her back. She smiled knowing she was about to give him a little more. She sat on the couch and Edward sat next to her.
"So there's a good side and a bad side. Which one do you want first?" Alice asked.
"The bad I guess." Edward answered. Alice could hear the fear in his voice. She closed her eyes and focused on what would happen, she assumed, if Bella stayed with Jacob.
The image of the cemetary came back into her had. It was raining hard. Alice saw herself with her arms wrapped around Jasper and her head in his chest. She saw herself trying to force out the tears that would never come. Jaspe was holding her as tight as he could resting his chin on her head. He had a blank expression on his face. Emmett and Rosalie were standing a little farther back holding on to eachother, both looked like they wished they could cry. Then there was Carlisle who was holding Esme's hand very tightly. Both looked like they just buried one of their daughters. Esme had her free hand on Edward's shoulder. Edward was on his knees looking at the headstone like he was completely lost. It took Alice a minute to gather the courage to pull up the image of thew headstone. It read: ISABELLA MARIE SWAN. BELOVED DAUGHTER AND FRIEND. YOU WILL BE MISSED.
Alice opened her eyes and peered at Edward. He looked like he wanted to cry. She hated seeing him in that kind of pain.
"I'm assuming that's what's going to happen if she stays with him. But if she doesn't this might happen."
She closed her eyes again and pulled forth the second vision. Bella was lying in the bed in Edward's room. Her head was buried in Edward's neck and her arms were wrapped around him. Edward had his arms around her and was resting his chin on her head. The life that had left his eyes when Bella broke his heart was back.
Alice opened her eyes and she saw a little hope mingled with the pain.
"Was she still human?" Edward asked after a minute.
"I don't know. I couldn't see her eyes." Alice answered.
"Let's hope." Edward stated.
"We will." Alice replied.
She was glad they were given something to hope for. That they weren't just watching Bella suffer for nothing.
A/N: I hope the end of this chapter turned out okay. I'm not sure if the whole looking at the the effects Bella's decisions would have on the Cullens would really trigger a vision from Alice but I thought the visions would be a nice touch. I also don't know if the visions would come in that much detail but I like setting up sentimental scenes like that so I kinda wanted the chance to do something like that. Review and let me know what you think.
