Chapter Seven, Jasper

It hurt us all, it broke us. Bella was light to us all in a world that didn't really change. Edward mayn't have been able to read her mind, but I could feel her emotions, which with Bella was like reading her mind.

Her delight was always overwhelming, in a wonderful way. Her happiness came at the smallest of things. Her love for all of us, for Edward was there from nearly the start. She was never truly afraid of any of us, at any time. She panicked a few times; when Emmett came through a wall once, when Emmett and I fought, destroying the living room furniture. She scared a few times as well, but scared for the consequences rather than us, unlike any other human. Scared for all of us in the incident with the nomads, scared for us when Edward told her of the Volturi. Scared when I tried to attack her.

Worry for Bella usually was for other people, mostly. Worry for her mother eating and paying bills, worry for her father with eating and with the nomads. Worry she offended us. Worry we were hurt. Worry when we were sad or distant or when Alice had a vision that made her startle. Worry when she injured herself it would affect us. All of this was covered with her love or happiness for the people. Worry for herself was unfortunately there in bads ways; that she wasn't good enough, that she was in the way, that she was an inconvenience.

That's why I loved to be in the house while she was there, except for the worry her emotions were a breath of fresh air. For everyone as I subtly threw them at everyone. They never knew, they still don't. I wouldn't want Bella to know. But I had to share them, as carefully as I did because Bella even without me sharing was pulling us together more.

We were a family, but over the years different things happen, as in any family. We probably would have just had a break and come back together in a few decades, but Bella refreshed us in a different way, showing us another way to connect. She would sit and read with me sometimes, or we'd talk about whatever we were reading. She was happy to be included, and delighted with the conversation. It allowed me to talk about things in a different way as none of the others were interested in the way she was.

She spoke with Esme and allowed her to do all the things she'd wanted to. Cook and care for a true child, in the sense that Bella was human, not that she was a toddler. Bella loved those times. Her love for Esme was that for a mother. Seeing Renee after Phoenix really showed this in the sense Bella's feelings for her were more equal or sisterly than anything.

Carlisle, well, I suppose they saw the least of each other, (excepting Rose), though I could tell before Edward often that Bella had been to the hospital again. He always had a.. glow? I suppose, in his emotions after speaking with her. The two of them often spoke, Carlisle often making Bella reflect. On what I didn't know, but I do know she liked speaking to Carlisle. Carlisle was often in the same situation; there was always a thoughtful look on his face and excitement and questioning in his emotions. Her love for him was also rather like a father, that was easy to tell as it was similar to what she felt for her actual father, though there was a difference in the two.

Rose and Bella didn't really talk. Rose was against everything to do with Bella. That's why it always surprised me to feel the respect Bella had for Rose and the happiness she had for Rose when her and Emmett were together. Bella seemed aware of why she didn't want Bella in the house or family.

Emmett and Bella were definitely like brother and sister. Emmett could talk to Bella about his games his pranks and random stuff and Bella would be happily pulled along in the conversation or into a game. She didn't mind his size or startle much at sudden appearances. She would play whatever game he wanted for as long as she could and in some gave him a run for his money as she got the hang of it. She allowed him to give her massive bear hugs and answered his questions about humans, though she appeared to think many of them strange. Which is true. Emmett can't have forgotten that much about being human.

She shopped, though very reluctantly, with Alice. She liked the attention, but didn't like the 'gifts.' The first time she came back and found out Alice had bought a whole bunch of things for her she was furious. She still didn't like shopping or the things Alice got for her but she enjoyed the time they spent together. As I wasn't there I don't know what they spoke about unless Alice mentioned it, but I could always feel that desperate hope that Alice wouldn't buy something for her and just allow them to spend time together.

I always felt a little bad -then positively dreadful- that I allowed Alice to throw the party with Bella so against it. Over the past few years I was sure it was my fault that Bella hated us. I hadn't been able to get a read on her emotions as I ran and didn't see her the next day. Why wouldn't I have believed Edward. He felt so guilty, upset and alone. I was sure that was for Bella. I felt truly deceived when we discovered the lie.
The lie which is the reason we are here. The lie which is the reason the family was separated. The lie that Edward told us that we have to find out the truth to.
Because Edward's not talking.

Chapter Seven-and-a-half, Alice

Jasper and I returned to Forks a week ago and it's dreadful! I mean, for starters, we can't be seen as we haven't changed a bit. That's normal, usually if we have to return somewhere for something, but when it's your human sister who appears to be dead it is an entirely different and horrible story.

Secondly: Bella is apparently dead. And it's all. Edward's. Fault.

And then, to top it all off wolves have been around. Or wolf. Whatever. It (or they) have been around Bella's house so the only scent is their awful wet dog smell. And they're stopping me from seeing Charlie so I still can't find anything out about Bella.

Ugh. Edward. How dare he.

Even though we only returned a week ago, the trouble started a month or so ago. With Rosalie and Edward of course. I swear they've argued more since Bella than their entire life, though it had good results this time, as in: it showed how much of a... a... I don't know a word enough to describe Edward. I'll just go with idiot or moron or fool or self-centered control freak... maybe that's a bit much, but, that's what he did. Controlled Bella, controlled us.

He lied.

I want to hate him, my brother took my sister away. But with everything, how hurt he's been over the last decade; even if it's not the reason we thought, I can't. Especially with Bella dead...

Which we still have to find out about! I mean - no grave, (as far as we could find), does that mean she went back to live with her mom? Moved on and died elsewhere. Maybe she just ran off, that doesn't sound like Bella, but still: I'd rather think up bad positives than imagine her dead. No matter how many times I've said it. After all, we're not sure.

Edward'd be able to check their minds. We have to go off gossip and the whispers we hear around Charlie. They don't sound good. Hence the reason I think that there may be a chance that she is dead. Jasper thinks otherwise. Slightly, that is. The emotions from those on the res and from Charlie just seem off apparently. Especially from That Jacob Black. Bella's friend. Whose emotions were weird when he caught sight of Jasper and I.

We need to talk to him, but with the treaty I don't know how. I mean Jaspers here, but... how many wolves are here too?
I wrinkled my nose, we could call him, but I doubt he'd tell us anything being a wolf and hating us. At least that's what Carlisle said (basically), Jasper and I having never met them... still. We have to figure something out, he's not exactly going to turn up to chat is he? I thought.
I went to the window as I heard a car, -what would anyone be doing out here? It's not like you can get lost in Forks. As it pulled into the driveway, I looked at it suspiciously. That was weird. Black getting out of the car was stranger, but he wasn't driving so-

Bella.

I bolted for the car.

Note 1: I hope I got Jasper and Alice in character. Jasper as reflective and Alice as bubbly

Note 2: I thought Jasper could do a reflection due to his power and Alice could show more of the situation and what was happening now. Also because pf their personalities.