Chapter 13: Change

A/N: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. (In other words – I don't own it, I'm just playing). Please take the time to leave some words if you really loved it or really hated it! Thanks to my beta FE71SH for working the magic.

- BPOV -

"Carlisle, I need to see you urgently. It's an emergency."

Edward's voice broke through the darkness.

My mind whirled with the possibilities that had shifted with my change. I lay on the bed, dizzied and lost. Edward must have heard my thoughts, because he briskly said, "Never mind," before snapping his mobile shut and racing to my side.

"Bella, my love," he whispered. I felt his hands brush across my forehead tenderly, before tracing over each eyelid and down my cheek.

My eyelids fluttered open. Edward's face filled my vision, a look of relief lighting his features.

"Thank goodness," he breathed. "I've been so worried."

I sat up and took a moment to try to figure out exactly what was happening. I was still in the bedroom of Charlie's old house. I quickly grabbed at my neck, my last memory before shifting into the past was of Jasper's teeth on my neck. I ran my fingers along my neck, but Edward pulled them gently away.

"What's wrong," he asked, running his fingers along the shaft of my throat. "You can't be thirsty already."

I shook my head. "Jasper," I murmured.

Edward tensed. "The memory."

I nodded.

"Did he do something to hurt you, Bella?" Edward asked, his voice tight with stress.

I wasn't sure how to answer. I didn't want to lie to Edward, even to protect him, but I knew how he would react if he knew what Jasper had done, or was going to do but wouldn't do any more. I chose my words carefully. "He hasn't done anything to me," I answered.

"But he would have?" I should have known better than to underestimate Edward. Not only did he have the ability to pluck the truth into my thoughts because my shield was down and my thoughts were bare, but even if it were up, he would have no doubt heard the lie in my words.

"He doesn't know who I am. In his eyes, I was a threat."

Edward growled.

"He thought Alice was in danger," I said. "What would you have done?"

"What?" he asked.

"If you thought I was in danger. What would you have done?"

A tremor ran through his whole body. "I would have..." He paused. "I will do anything to make you safe."

I placed my hands on either side of his face. "Exactly. If Jasper did...had planned to do anything, it was only to keep Alice safe."

"I won't let him hurt you," Edward growled.

"Hopefully, you won't have to," I countered, assaulted by memories of the pain. "We just have to think of another plan."

He closed his eyes and exhaled a few times. "What happened before?" he asked. "It was almost as if you saw a memory-but then you collapsed. Why?" The stress in his voice was palpable.

"I... don't know," I whispered. I think it was because of what I changed. I think I was caught between the two eventualities. Time changed around me.

"But you've done that before," Edward argued. "With me in the hospital. With Alice and her memories."

I shook my head. "That was different."

"How?"

"I didn't change anything then. I simply made what needed to happen, happen."

"I don't understand how it's different."

I sighed, I knew I wouldn't explain it right, no matter how hard I tried. I didn't even know if I was right, I was just guessing based on what I felt in the pit of my stomach and the back of my mind. I closed my eyes and let my thoughts explain it better than my words ever could. I showed him what it felt like when I saved him in the hospital. Nothing shifted, the world continued on its normal course. You needed to live for me to exist. If that hadn't happened, if I hadn't saved you, I would never have been able to go back and save you.

Next, I showed him how I felt when I'd stripped Alice of her human memories right before she woke to her vampire life. If Alice had her memories, she would have woken set on vengeance and probably done more harm than good in the world. But more than that, she would never have been with our family. She wouldn't have been there for you, rooting on our side, when we were in Forks. Things might have turned out differently.

Edward frowned. "I realise that, but I still don't understand."

I wished I had some magical answer for what had happened, but I didn't. I showed Edward what I felt before shifting the last time. I could remember what had happened with his family. I could remember leaving the room and running through the forest. I could distinctly remember the pain of Jasper's venom as his teeth ripped into me. Yet none of it happened. I had stopped Edward before we left. Somehow, the past and the alternate present had collided within me.

Soft growls had rattled Edward's chest as my thoughts ran through what had happened. He pulled me into his arms and held me tightly. "I will make sure they don't hurt you, even if it means leaving them forever."

"You can't leave them, Edward," I said. "I know what your family means to you." What they mean to both of us.

He shrugged. "You mean more."

You can't say things like that, I thought. That's why Alice was so suspicious.

"I can't help how I feel."

I nodded. We just need to think about how to get them onside.

"One at a time," Edward said suddenly.

I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion.

"That's the way to do it," he said. "One at a time."

I agreed with him silently. Alice first, I thought. It will be easier for you to convince your whole family if she's on our side.

He nodded.

But it will be easier for you to convince her if I'm not here.

"No!" he exclaimed.

I saw what they think. They think I am controlling you. They might be more inclined to believe you if I'm not right beside you.

"I'm not letting you go again."

I could see the fear behind his eyes; the fear that I would leave again. That I would erase his memories again if it was in his best interest. It pained me to see that doubt, but knew it was penance for my decision. I can't do that again. I won't. I can't live without you. My thoughts spiralled around each other trying to instil in him the absolute truth-I would rather die than be without him again.

"That's part of my concern," he whispered, stroking his fingers down my cheek. "I don't want you to sacrifice yourself. I need you too."

I shook my head. I will fight with everything I have to stay with you, to stay by your side. I can't imagine being without you and I can't even begin to think about a world where you don't exist.

The thought made me feel something akin to nausea.

"What if they set up an ambush?" he asked.

I closed my eyes. That was my concern. No matter where we arranged to meet Alice, whether Edward was alone or I accompanied him, she could set up an ambush. She was the one with the gift of foresight after all. I might not know of any potential threat until it was too late.

I felt Edward's arms stiffen around me. A rumble built in his chest until he let loose a snarl. "I don't care who it is-if anyone hurts you..." he cut off.

"Jacob!" I exclaimed suddenly, an errant thought running through my mind. He would be able to protect me. Between the two of us, we would be able to match most of Edward's family-should it come to that-but it was so much more than that. He would also protect me from Alice's visions. She wouldn't know where I was if I was with Jacob, or any of the wolves for that matter.

Edward smiled. "To think it's come back full circle."

I nodded, Jacob was the one Edward had turned to to protect me when I was human. Now he was being called in for protection duty again. I just hoped he wouldn't mind. Edward smiled and pulled his phone from his pocket. He had dialled Jacob's number and had the phone at his ear seconds later.

"Jacob," he greeted.

I heard Jacob's confusion in his reply. "Edward?"

Edward met my eye. "I have someone here who would like to talk to you."

"Okay?" Jacob dragged out the word.

Edward handed the phone to me. "Jake, I need to ask you to do me a favour."

"Bella?" Jacob's confusion hit new heights. Then finally, something clicked into place. "You found Edward?"

I smiled at Edward. "Yes."

Jacob dropped his voice low, so that the phone barely registered his voice. "Does he know?"

"He knows everything."

"So everything's good again then?" I could practically hear the smile in his voice.

"Almost."

"What do you mean, almost?"

"His family doesn't know," I said.

"But how... what does... what's happening?"

"Can I spend some time with you?" I asked before he allowed his questions to carry him away. I would answer every one of them, as soon as I knew Alice wouldn't be able to watch my responses.

"Sure sure," he said. "But you will tell me what's going on, right?"

"Don't I always?" I laughed.

Jacob growled a 'no' before saying, "I'll be there in twenty," and hanging up.

I held the phone up for Edward. "I think it's time."

He nodded, not needing any confirmation of what I thought it was time for. He reached for the phone and called another number.

"It's about time," Alice snapped. "I was about to send out the search party. Especially after that call to Carlisle."

I offered Edward my hand as he spoke to her.

"Alice, look, I'm sorry for how I spoke to you earlier," Edward said. I could see how much it hurt him to hear the mistrust in his sister's voice. He raised our linked hands in response to my thoughts and dragged them along my cheek as he continued. "It's just, well something wonderful has happened, and I don't know how to explain it to you. I don't think you'll understand."

"Try me."

"I plan to," Edward told her.

"You want me to meet you at her house?" Alice asked.

"I do. I can't risk meeting you anywhere else."

Alice huffed down the phone. "What do you mean, you can't risk it?"

"I know you plan to ambush her. To pull me away from her. It won't work, and someone will get hurt." Edward squeezed my hand softly as he spoke firmly to Alice.

"How did you know..." Alice mused quietly.

"It doesn't matter. It just matters that I do and I won't allow it. Remember Alice, you were the one who told me to take this path. You said it would make me happy. You were right." Edward's eyes met mine and I felt a thrill run through me. "I've never been happier."

"I still don't trust her."

"She won't be here," Edward said. I could hear the pain in his voice at the idea of me leaving him.

"Where will she be?"

"With the wolf-pack. She's a friend of theirs as well."

"I don't like this," Alice said. "But if it means I will get some answers."

I heard a loud shout of 'No!' from Alice's side. I assumed it was Jasper making his thoughts on the plan known. Edward's jaw clenched as images of Jasper's teeth began to assault my mind involuntarily.

Remember, he hasn't done anything to me, I reminded Edward.

"Yet," Edward said.

Edward's exclamation was met with a round of confusion from Alice.

"Are we agreed?" Edward asked. "You come and meet me alone or..." he cut off and I had no idea what image of the future was running through Alice's head.

"I'll meet you," Alice said.

"Alone?" Edward clarified.

"You know Jasper won't allow it."

Edward closed his eyes. "Then bring Carlisle."

"What?"

"Bring Carlisle. Not Jasper. I don't want to see, or hear, Jasper anywhere near Bella's house. Or we will run."

I shook my head. I didn't want him to leave his family for me.

"I know what I'm doing," Edward mouthed to me.

I sighed and nodded slightly, I would trust him.

"Thank you, Alice," he said before hanging up.

He sighed and threw the phone onto my bed.

"Jacob will be here soon," he said to me, before taking my hand and leading me downstairs.

Looking around the bottom floor was a reminder of all that I had lost. The house was largely unfurnished, there was only an oversized couch Cain had left when he had moved out. Edward led me over to the couch and pulled me onto his lap.

"I remember all the times we used to sit in this living room under Charlie's watchful eye," he reminisced. "If only he had worked a little harder to convince you to stay away from me," he muttered. His voice sad.

"Don't say that," I demanded. "Don't you ever say that."

He buried his head against my chest. "I'm sorry, love. I guess some habits die hard."

"Don't you do anything you wouldn't want me to do," I whispered. "Just don't. I need you."

I couldn't help taking a journey down memory lane. The last time we had been in this room together was just before he left me. He had been at the house before I arrived, sitting in the lounge with Charlie when I came home. He was cold and distant and I had known that something was wrong. It was the same night I had taken the one photo of Charlie I had, and also when Charlie had taken the lone photo of Edward and I. The photo that had led to so much trouble in Fairfield, but which had ultimately led me back into Edward's arms, where I fully intended to stay-if only we could get through our current crises.

I watched as Edward stared at the TV, pretending to be interested in it. At the time, I had wondered what was running through his mind. I had guessed that he was stressing about the incident with Jasper at my birthday party. With my future knowledge, I realised it was probably torment. He was probably working out how to leave me. When. How he would cope. How he could make me stay.

I jumped forward to my next memory of the living room.

My past self was curled into a tight ball; almost catatonic. The only sounds escaping her lips were the chattering of her teeth and the occasional quiet utterance of 'he left me'.

I watched for as long as I could bear before shifting back. After witnessing my past torment, the feel of Edward's touch was heaven. I dropped my lips to the top of his head.

"I've said it before, but I was a fool," he said. "I was young, arrogant and naive to think that leaving was the best thing. If I had known how much pain you would have been in-how much hurt you would have to suffer over the preceding years, I could never have done it. I thought you'd forget about me."

I smiled against his hair. "How can you forget your reason for living?"

He sighed. "Easily, apparently."

I tipped his face up to mine and brushed my lips along his. "You didn't simply forget about me."

"I didn't remember you either."

I shook my head. "We've both been fools. We've both hurt each other and ourselves in the process. Let's just swear never to do it again."

"We'll make it part of our vows when we show my family what we mean to each other."

I nodded, but then panic hit me. "Just don't let them take you away from me. Please."

"I would rather die."

I shook my head. "That doesn't work for me either."

"It'll be okay," he assured me.

He pulled my lips back to his, kissing me with earnest before chuckling slightly.

I wondered what was so funny until I heard the car turn into the drive. I realised Jacob had arrived and that Edward was planning on giving him a show.

As if in response to my thoughts, Edward dipped me backwards and pressed his tongue forward. I moaned involuntarily.

"Well, I see things are back to normal here," Jake said dryly as he opened the door.

I laughed against Edward's mouth.

"If you mean that I remember my beautiful wife again then, yes, things are back to normal."

"What's happening then?" Jacob asked.

"I'll explain it all to you when we go," I said.

"Go?"

I shrugged. "Edward is entertaining a few members of his family here. It's just better if I'm not around for that."

"Why?"

I sighed. "I'll explain."

"You better," he said. "Because I'm confused."

I nodded. "Let's go." I turned to Edward. "Promise me." You won't leave me.

"I promise. No matter what I'll be here."

You'd better be. I love you.

I followed Jacob out of the house, unable to squelch my feelings of anxiety completely.