I sat, lounging back in Eleazar's chair, my feet up on his desk. He would be upset that my feet—with shoes—were on his valuable 18th century mahogany desk. A desk that had been a gift from Carlisle to Eleazar, in fact.

Right now, I couldn't care less about the desk. I hoped I did get scuffmarks on it. Lounging in the posh leather chair was the only thing keeping me relaxed.

I heard Carlisle and Esme enter the empty house, and then go their separate ways. I hoped they enjoyed their hunting trip—it might be the last of their happiness for quiet a while. I knew, as always—even on Spring Break—Carlisle would head for the library. He was a creature of habit.

He did not disappoint me today.

The door opened soundlessly and Carlisle stopped mid-step in the doorframe as he saw me. There was a long pause as we gazed at each other. Carlisle put his foot down slowly. "This is unusual," he commented as he came in. His voice and his face were masked and unreadable. He hung his coat on a coat rack in the corner and turned back to me. His face was now touched with resignation—almost as if he had always expected this to happen. "What is this about, Jasper?" He paused and added, "And kindly take your feet off the desk."

I made no movement to move my feet. "I have a matter to discuss with you and Esme."

Carlisle nodded, "Of course." He turned towards the door and called softly, "Esme!"

Esme came thru the door in moments, "Where is everyone? The house is…" She stopped when she saw me. Her eyes widened slightly as they saw my feet on the desk.

"Jasper has a matter to discuss with us." Carlisle stated.

Esme looked at me, her eyes boring into me, try to get a feel on what would cause this sort of concern and lack of respect for others' possessions.

I gestured to the chairs in front of the desk, "Please sit down."

I studied the top of the desk while they sat. Then I slowly took my feet off the desk and sat forward in the chair. I'd thought over and over how best to tell them, but no matter what I had thought of, it never seemed right. "While you were gone," I began, raising my eyes to look at them, "Alice had a vision of Bella, jumping off a cliff. She never came up."

Esme gasped loudly. "Oh Bella." She murmured. She slumped back in her seat, her eyes closed. I suspected that she was reliving her own attempted suicide. Except, this time, there was no happy ending. I sent a wave of calm to her, and she straightened up in her chair. Her eyes were grateful.

"When did…" Carlisle began, his face heavy with concern, but I held up my hand. He stopped.

"Alice informed Rosalie, Emmett, and me of her vision and left to help Charlie," I took a deep breath. This was where things got dicey. "Rosalie called Edward and told him that Bella had committed suicide."

Carlisle inhaled sharply. His eyes locked with mine, and I suspected he knew Edwards intentions upon Bella's death.

"Alice arrived in Forks and discovered that Bella was alive, and was, in fact, not attempting suicide." I continued.

"She's okay?" Carlisle interjected.

I nodded. "Alice then had a vision of Edward," I paused again. I didn't want to tell them. Edward was a son to them. They were unhappy because he was unhappy, and desperate to help him find his way out of his depression. They would not take the blow lightly—none of us had. I started over again, steeling myself for their reactions, "Alice had a vision of Edward…going to the Volturi and asking to die."

Carlisle's head fell forward and he covered his face with his hands. "Oh, Edward." He moaned. His sudden despair hit me hard.

Esme's reaction surprised me. She simply stood up and walked out, without looking at either Carlisle or me. A few seconds later, I heard the door to the outside open and close. Then an unearthly howl sounded, a lament that only a mother can make when she loses a child.

The sound became fainter and fainter, and I knew Esme was running away from the house. I'd not even had time to try to calm or comfort her.

When the sound had completely faded, I surveyed Carlisle again. He had not moved. "Alice and Bella are on their way to Volterra to try and stop Edward."

Carlisle lifted his head slowly, his eyes hopeful. "So there is still a chance."

"A fool's errand." I replied bluntly. Harshly. "You know Edward has no desire to live without Bella. And since he thinks her dead, he will stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

Carlisle nodded somberly. "Aro would never agree to kill Edward. He wouldn't want to destroy him, with Edward's gift so like his own." He thought for a second, "It's more likely that they will offer him a place in the guard." Carlisle's eyes darkened uncharacteristically, "Which Edward would never accept."

"Which brings us to the last option," I continued, "Of Edward forcing them to destroy him."

"Oh, no." Carlisle whispered. In the sixty-odd years I had lived with Carlisle, I had never seen him so grief stricken. "But Bella could…"

"Exactly." Carlisle was beginning to understand the enormity of what was at stake. And how small the chances were. "The odds are not in their favor," I emphasized, "In fact, it is most likely that all of them will be killed."

Years of Carlisle's experience in the Emergency Room kicked in and I could see him pull his composure together. "Emmett and Rosalie?" he questioned.

"On their way back."

"From?"

"Going to Volterra." Carlisle looked at me, the confusion evident in his face. Why were they coming back? They should go—those were his thoughts. "Their presence would make Edward act quicker," I explained, "Bella is our only chance."

"Ahh."

There was a pause as Carlisle stood up, his face heavy with grief. I could almost see the names flitting across in his mind: Edward, Bella, Alice…

He turned to go, and abruptly, stopped, looking at me. "What will you do, Jasper? If Alice is dead, will you stay with us?"

"No." I shrugged my shoulders, "You know this lifestyle has never suited me. I've done it for Alice. Without her…" My voiced trailed off.

Carlisle nodded slowly, the grief deepening. He was now counting me among the dead. Edward, Bella, Alice, and Jasper. His family was disintegrating before his eyes.

"What will you do?" He questioned softly.

"I'll go to Italy."

He looked at me sharply, "What do you mean?"

"I will go to the Volturi and offer my services. I think they would enjoy my gift as part of their guard." Carlisle stared at me, disbelieving. I continued without acknowledging his shock, "And when the time is right, I will murder them and avenge Alice."

Carlisle let out a long sigh. "Let's pray it never gets to that point."

"Still Daddy's little boy," I scoffed.

Carlisle stiffened. "What do you mean, Jasper?" he asked in a flat voice.

I recognized that tone. He was very close to losing control of his emotions and lashing out at me—I had hit a nerve. I wasn't helping the situation any—like I was supposed to be doing. I felt slightly remorseful for my comment, but I was too upset by the prospect of losing Alice. "You pray all you want to, Carlisle. I'll spend my time doing something productive."