Thanks everyone for reviewing and sorry for the delay! I was really stumped for this chapter and I'm still not sure if I like it. Let me know what you think. :)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Knowing

BPOV

I had to think of an alternative. If Rosalie and Edward wouldn't change me then what? Who would be a willing volunteer? I needed Edward to survive because without him, I was nothing. Rosalie, to a certain extent, was right. Now was not the time to become a vampire; not with the looming threat hanging over our heads.

I was helpless.

"Are you alright?"

Turning around, I smiled at Jasper and nodded. Jasper was brave for being so close to me. They claimed that he had much better control now than he had ninety years ago and he had proven them correctly so far. I was, however, certain that it was an act. Jasper was still rigid like he had always been. Perhaps that was the soldier in him or the temptation of my blood. I wouldn't know for certain unless I was a telepath. Not being like Edward had its advantages.

A wave of calm engulfed me then and I relaxed. Brown stared into gold and without thinking, I threw my arms around Jasper, hugging him tightly. The stiff posture he held loosened and he wrapped his arms around me in return.

"I'm fine, Jasper," I told him before letting go. "No, wait. That would be a lie."

"You're worried," he replied and I nodded.

"I am. Edward should be here and our flight leaves soon. What if he misses it?"

"He'll be here."

"You don't know that." I was becoming frustrated and not even Jasper's gift could calm me, though he tried. "Knock it off. I said I was fine."

"It's clear that you aren't. What's going on with you?"

"I love Edward so much, it's literally killing me, Jasper," I explained. "I can't go on living my life without him but if I leave, I'll lose Jacob and Charlie. Not seeing either of them would destroy me."

"But not being with Edward would too. All of us can already see that regaining your memory has taken a toll on you. You remembered more than any of us expected. If you and Edward do not become one, the cycle will only repeat."

"Don't you think I know that?" I snapped. "I realized that after I found out Edward died in a freaking war, Jasper. Did you know that in a past life, I killed myself just like Esme had attempted to? It's no wonder we have that connection. Edward was my husband in the 1800's. he had gone off to fight in a war and at the time I was pregnant with our first child. I received a letter that he had died in battle. I continued living, for the sake of the baby. I lost her too. Her name was Anya you know. They wouldn't let me see her but I imagine that she would have had Edward's green eyes. After losing the two most important people in my life, how was I supposed to go on? It was obvious that I couldn't. unlike Esme, though, I got lucky. I didn't have anyone to save me. I didn't have to go through the pain of not being with my child."

"There's one thing you don't seem to understand, Bella."

"What's that?"

"Esme doesn't feel the pain of losing her child anymore. The last time she felt pain was when Edward left over ninety years ago. Each one of us, including you, are her children. No one can replace the son she had lost but we have healed that wound she carried around with her. The more children she gained, the less pain she felt. It's gone now. She's content and I'm pretty sure you're her favorite."

I raised an eyebrow at Jasper. I was skeptical over his claim. How could I be her favorite? I had been gone for ninety years and before that, she had only known me a short while. So how was it even possible that I was, as Jasper had said, her favorite?

"You're Edward's mate, Bella," Jasper explained. "Edward is no longer the brooding vampire he used to be. He's so happy when you're around. He does worry from time-to-time that he could be ruining your life but then he sees you and it's gone as quick as it showed up. You're his everything. Whether you chose a werewolf or a vampire, he would do whatever it took to ensure that you were safe. Your werewolf friend is like that too."

"How --?"

Jasper chuckled and gave a lopsided grin. "I had the opportunity once or twice to dive into Jacob's mind. The love those two have for you --" He shook his head. "It's something I've never felt before. No wonder they butt heads so often. They just want what's best for you."

"I love Jacob too, Jasper, but my love for Edward is just a little bit more."

"I know. I don't have to be an empath to see how much you care for my brother."

I eyed Jasper carefully. He was so insightful that you would think he was the one with the ability to read minds or see the future. I continued to stare at him and watched as his eyes narrowed. His head snapped quickly around. I followed his gaze to see what had irritated Jasper.

My eyes were clearly deceiving me.

Jacob.

I hadn't had time to say goodbye. I had been basically on lockdown and unable to see my beloved best friend. Now here he was and he was smiling at me like nothing had changed between us when it clearly had.

So I did the one thing that came to mind. I took off running through the airport. I fully expected to hurt myself by colliding with Jacob but the impact never came. Instead his big arms caught me and pulled me to him. My legs wrapped around his waist and my arms were around his neck.

"Jake," I breathed. "I missed you so much."

"Missed you too, Bells," he replied and I could clearly tell that he was smiling as he held me close to his warm body. "Next time don't stay away for so long."

"Deal."

I climbed off of Jacob and beamed up at him. Yes, I had Edward who I loved dearly but Jacob was my best friend outside of the Cullen family. He was that once in a lifetime friend that no matter how hard you tried, you could never forget that friend and you could never replace them with someone else.

Someone cleared their throat behind me and I spun around on my heels only to stumble backwards and be caught by my own personal sun.

Edward glared at the physical contact between me and Jacob. If Edward and I were going to ever be together, a few things definitely had to change.

EPOV

I couldn't stand for the mutt to have his hands on Bella but they were friends. I would have to eventually accept that no matter how much I didn't want to and if it hadn't been for Jacob, Bella would have died when I wasn't around.

He had saved her from Victoria and from herself.

Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrive! Contre nous de la tyrannie. L'etendard sangland est leve. Entendez-vous dans les campagnes. Mugir ces feroces soldats? Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras. Egorger nos fils --

I acknowledged Bella with a smile and once Jacob had placed her upright, I learned in and placed a kiss on Bella's cheek. "Excuse me," I told her. "I have to talk to my darling sister."

The French National Anthem turned in to the Canadian National Anthem when Alice heard what I was up to.

"Mary Alice," I hissed in greeting.

She spun around to face me, a big cheeky smile on her face. "Edward!" she shrieked before throwing her arms around my neck. "Bella was so worried that you were going to miss the flight."

"Mind telling me why you're singing national anthems in your head?"

She hesitated a bit, chewing on her bottom lip. It was a habit she had obviously picked up from Bella. "Because I…"

"Yes?"

"Because I… enjoy it?"

I rolled my eyes and slung an arm around Alice's shoulders. "Walk with me, baby sister." She tried to remain firmly planted to the ground but I was just a little stronger than she was. "Why don't you tell me what you're hiding from me?"

"Edward, please don't make me come forward with what I saw," she pleaded. "You're not going to like it. I know you won't."

"Does Bella know that you had a vision?"

Alice shook her head.

"Who else knows, Alice? You're evidently keeping something from me and you're just trying so hard. Your resolve will crumble eventually."

"It's between myself and my own mind, Edward," Alice seethed. Her golden eyes narrowed furiously at me. I had hit a nerve. Good.

"Alice…"

"Edward, I can't. I just can't. the future depends on it."

And that's when I saw it.

Alice had let her guard down just for a moment and visions upon visions hit me full force.

"Welcome to the family, Bella. We consider ourselves Carlisle's extended family, and I am sorry about the, er, recent incident when we did not behave as such. We should have met you sooner. Can you forgive us?"

Tanya.

"I think… well, I think that … maybe … I might be… pregnant."

No! Impossible. Bella? Pregnant?

Blood. Lots and lots of blood.

A beautiful child with porcelain skin, bronze hair and brown eyes.

Bella's change.

Vampires from all over the world allied with werewolves to fight.

The Volturi, their guard and the wives marching to battle.

I came out of Alice's mind with a jolt. She was staring at me with wide eyes.

"Edward, I'm sorry. Damn it! You distracted me!"

I ignored her and turned to glance at Bella. Was that her future that I just saw? Futures could change. Alice was never a hundred percent correct.

Or was what I saw absolutely certain?