A/N: Yeah, it's been awhile, but I'll save my non-excuses 'til after you've read this. As always, I own nothing, except a migraine I've had going on 24 hours now. Boo.

Chapter 5 – What the Future Holds

BPOV

So, I'm not gonna lie... I was shocked as hell when Edward chased after Alice. I understand that whatever she had seen must have been horrific to cause that sort of reaction, but he could have at least spared me a word to let me know he was okay. But, nothing...

The look on Jasper's face was one of sheer horror as he pushed himself faster towards the field. I may not have the abilities that he and Edward do, but I sure can tell when someone is anxious. I followed behind him as quickly as I could, but I was no match for his long strides.

When I burst into the clearing, I could see Edward and Alice on the far side of it and Jasper sprinting towards them. Even from across the field, I could see the looks of pure fear etched on both their faces.

I came to a stop beside Jasper, assessing the situation for a millisecond before taking a step towards Edward. The next thing I knew, Jasper had a firm grasp on my hips and was pulling me back. I fought back with all my strength. Why wouldn't he let me go to Edward?

"What is she doing to him!?" I screamed at him, still struggling. I needed to get to him; to snap him out of this trance. It was killing me to see him in such obvious torment. All because of Alice's vision."Dammit Jasper! Let me go to him!"

His arms tightened around me even more. "I can't do that Bella; she has to have her vision and he needs to see what she sees. We need to know what is going to happen."

I took a moment to let his words sink in. Alice had been acting strange and with her recent revelation about her visions, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe she was just having a particularly strong vision because she hadn't had many recently.

I eventually talked myself down enough to relax in Jasper's arms, but his grip never loosened. I kept my eyes focused on Edward's face; the pain written so plainly across his countenance caused my heart to swell with grief of its own. I could feel my heart constricting over and over... so, this is what it feels like to cry.

I felt Jasper's grip loosen infinitesimally. I couldn't imagine how he goes through this every time Alice has a vision.

I was snapped from my thoughts by a feral growl I knew to be Edward's. "Let her go." I'd never heard such venom in his voice and it left me completely weak. So, I wasn't prepared when Jasper released me and next thing I knew, the ground was rising up to meet me.

I felt Edward's arms slide around my waist right before I hit the ground. I couldn't even find it in my self to be slightly embarrassed about the fact I couldn't catch myself... vampires never lose their balance.

Edward stood me up and I turned to face him. I reached out to touch him, but he backed up a few steps.

"Edward?"

I was vaguely aware of hearing Jasper's raised voice in the background. At that moment in time, it didn't even register that I had never once heard him yell at her. I was too worried about why Edward wouldn't talk to me or let me touch him.

I took a tentative step towards him. He didn't move, but his body stayed as rigid as a stone statue. After what seemed like forever, I had traversed the few feet between us. I reached my hands up to cup his face.

"Edward, honey, what is it? What did she see?"

For a brief moment, it looked like he was going to answer me – his eyes softened and he leaned into my palm. But just as soon as the softness was there, it was gone and he was standing between Jasper and Alice, who had ran out of the meadow.

"Get out of my way." Every word Jasper spoke was punctuated with anger. He was in Edward's face and I was truly terrified. Not for Edward, but for Jasper. The look on Edward's face was murderous. The only other time I'd seen that look was in the ballet studio.

I missed Edward's response because next thing I saw, he was being thrown thirty feet away by Jasper. Before Jasper could even make it a few feet, Edward was back and had him pinned.

I was so shocked by what was going down in front of me that I barely registered the words spoken between the two. "finally admit it... mind fighting... doubting your wife..."

I was trying my hardest to process what little I'd heard with what I had seen and I couldn't come up with anything; no valid reason why Edward wouldn't not let Jasper go to Alice or why he wouldn't talk to me.

I had only turned away for a split second, but when I turned back, Edward was gone. It was me and Jasper, alone.

~*~

"What the hell was that?" I asked Jasper, as I very unceremoniously plopped down beside him.

"I have no idea, but I'm going to find out," he said, rising to leave.

I cautiously reached out and touched my fingers to his.

"Please... I... need someone to talk to. I.... well, I have no idea what I just saw. I don't know what to think of that. Is it like that all the time when she has visions? Do you always feel that your heart is tearing in two because you can't do anything to stop it?"

I heard him sigh deeply before he turned to face me. Looking down at me he spoke, "Yes Bella. It is like that every time." He sat down beside me and put a trembling arm around me. I leaned in and rested my head on his shoulder.

We sat like that, in dead silence, for hours. Jasper sending encouragement and understanding my way emotionally, but never verbally. It must be hard for him to verbalize something that none of the rest of us could understand.

~*~

The sun was rising on the horizon, signaling an unusually nice day for Forks, when I felt Jasper tense beside me, then immediately drop his arm from my shoulder. I turned to face him and saw Edward standing at the edge of the tree line.

I can only assume what he must have thought, seeing Jasper I sitting like that, but at the moment, I couldn't care less.

Jasper stood and held out a hand for me. I shook my head: if Edward wanted to talk, he could come to me. Jasper smiled a sad, forced smile and turned to walk towards Edward.

"Go to Alice." I heard Edward's strained voice float through the air. His voice resembled that of a person who had been crying for hours.

I heard Jasper running through the woods towards the house. I was expecting to hear Edward walking towards me, but it remained silent, it was as if I was alone in the field.

Some small part of me felt selfish. I had no idea what Alice had seen, so Edward's reaction could have been completely justified. At the same time, however, Edward had been around Alice for almost a quarter-of-a-century. He had experienced her visions with her before, so he had to have known what to expect.

I had no clue what it was like to see one's mate go through something like that, so forgive me if I was a little upset.

I sat there, waiting for Edward to make a move, until the sun was at its highest point. Six hours. I realized he wasn't going to make a move.

So, I raised my hand and motioned for him to come to me. "Edward," I whispered, "we have to talk."

He moved a few steps and stopped. For a brief moment I thought he was going to turn around and leave again. But then he was there, standing beside me.

"That must have been some vision," I said, immediately regretting the sarcastic tone my voice had taken on. "I'm sorry. I just... don't understand."

I chanced a glance at him out of the corner of my eye. Everything about his stance screamed discomfort. With the exception of those first few days in biology, he'd never been like this with me. I didn't know what to make of it.

"Edward, say something. Please." I reached my hand up to his, brushing my fingers along the back of his hand. His hand recoiled as if I had burned him with my touch. At that gesture, I felt a pain in my chest only comparable to when Edward left me alone in the woods years ago.

I couldn't come up with anything on my own that would justify his behavior and he quite obviously wasn't going to offer up anything. So, I did the only thing I could in that moment, I left him to his thoughts.

I stood, brushing the dirt that accumulated over the past hours. I had lost track quite some time ago of exactly how long I'd been in this field. I placed a hand on his shoulder, gripping tighter when he tried to pull away.

"Edward, I don't know what you saw. I can't imagine what could have been so traumatic that it would cause you to pull away from me like this. But I do know that when you are ready to talk, I'll be waiting."

I withdrew my hand, turning to walk away. I stopped after a few steps, realizing that I couldn't just leave him like he had left me.

I didn't turn to face him as I spoke, I didn't need to: he would hear me anyways. I dropped my shield and let him into my mind. I ran over the events earlier, focusing on the way I had felt when I saw his face twisted in terror. I let him know about the tearless sobs that had overtaken my body. The confusion, the pain, the love. He needed to know that I loved him.

"I love you Edward, so much. I'll be at home, the cabin, waiting for you. I just want to understand. Please don't make me wait too long."

With that, I put my shield back up and slowly began making my way back to the cabin, leaving Edward in my wake.

A/N: So yeah, I know this is a bit shorter than the other chapters have been, but this is just part 1 of chapter 5. I'm going to post part 2 tomorrow evening. I swear! There really is no excuse in the delay on this, things have been hectic, but I could have posted it. Sorry about the wait everyone! :) As always, thank you Megsly for being the best, most patient beta of all time :)