A/N: First of all, thank you everyone for your reviews on the last chapter. I really appreciate it. This chapter was supposed to be longer but it would have turned out to be about 10 or 12k words, so I divided it into three sections. Sorry, if anyone read my old authors note, it was written when I had combined all three chapters in my first rough draft (good news, most of the next two chapters are written!)

Also, a huge thanks to MissMaj. You rock my world and I was so surprised and thrilled to see the recommendation for this story on the AlteredLionsSacrificialLambs blog! If you have not checked out their site, do so at http:/ alsltwilight (dot) blogspot (dot) com/

So without further ado…

Paradigm Shift Chapter 14

"Your friends, they are in danger and it's your fault."

Bella's fingers dug into the back of Jasper's shoulder at the warning that left this woman's lips. Danger. Their fault. Her stomach instantly formed into tight knots, it was difficult not to let her unease show. Even as a vampire she was a danger magnet it seemed. Was this vampire somehow responsible for what happened to Edward?

Bella's eyes cautiously followed every move the vampire made, as she tried desperately to quell the monster inside of her that screamed to attack this creature that was now in her territory, threatening what was important to her.

Whoever this Talullah woman was, Bella did not have any reason to trust her. Talullah must have surely realized that she was treading on dangerous waters, and Bella had already been on precariously on edge these past few months. The combination of nerves and anger was not one that boded well for this woman.

Still, the warning made Bella pause; even if it was just long enough for Jasper to intercede.

Jasper's authoritative voice rang loud in the winter air, demanding to be heard. "I do not appreciate cryptic responses. Who is in trouble? Charlotte and Peter? The Cullens?"

Talullah ripped a piece of the bark off the tree, inspecting it briefly before tossing it aside, before looking pointedly at Jasper. "I did not say your friends were in trouble. It's hers."

When the woman nodded in Bella's direction, Bella let go of Jasper's shoulder, stepping away to confront this vampire directly. Whatever she wanted, it was clear that it was with Bella specifically. Jasper, without taking his eyes off the mysterious female, reached over to Bella while she was in mid-step. His fingers made contact with her forearm, wrapping around it lightly. It was enough for Bella to understand that Jasper was asking her to stay there, next to him, where he could protect her.

The protectiveness that she felt coming from him was intense; it surrounded her completely and had she not felt the same towards him, it would have startled her. Bella gave one quick nod of the head to Jasper and the vampire in her stilled for the moment, submitting to his request. She noticed that despite this, Jasper did not let go of her arm.

Bella narrowed her eyes. "My friends are his friends. We know the same vampires, are part of the same coven. Explain."

Talullah's expression clearly indicated that Bella was missing a large piece of the puzzle. It was a feeling that Bella was not comfortable with. "You should not make assumptions, young one. I never once said it was a vampire. It's your werewolves that are the ones that will be placed in danger."

Bella exchanged the briefest of glances with Jasper, her throat constricting slightly. It was certainly not the answer that Bella was expecting. The knots in the pit of her stomach tightened further. "How are they in danger? And how is it my fault exactly?"

Talullah grabbed another piece of the dead bark, turning it over in her hands. "Bella, are you telling me that you were not planning on taking a trip to Washington?"

Bella paused. She wasn't surprised that she knew her name, but exactly how was it that Talullah knew that Bella had been considering returning to Forks for the past two months? It was only this morning that she actually decided to leave and make the trip. She was going to tell Jasper of her idea after they saw the movie. It was not a decision she had made lightly, but with Elise being found, it had given Bella hope that they could prove to the Cullens of their existence.

When neither Bella nor Jasper responded, Talullah continued and sympathy lined her face. "I know about what has happened to the both of you over the past few months. I know the desperation you have been experiencing trying to restore your old families memories. It is an awful situation really; not one I would wish on very many people. I know that you, Bella, are planning to return to Washington shortly and convince the Werewolves to help prove that you and Jasper are a part of the Cullen household. Isn't that right, Bella?"

Bella closed her eyes for brief moment. "It is an idea I have been considering, yes."

"You cannot go through with it. To do so, you will kill many innocent lives."

"I am still not understanding. How I am putting them in danger?"

"When they agree to help you, the Cullens, specifically your Alice and Edward, will then travel to Italy and notify the Volturi of the werewolf's existence, not recalling any treaty with them. It will incite Caius and send him on a hunt that will destroy and kill not only the wolves, but many in that tribe."

Jasper gradually moved to a less defensive position. Bella took that as a sign that he felt that Tallulah was speaking the truth. She did not know whether to be relieved or anxious at her honesty.

At the mention of Alice's name, Jasper spoke again. "I would like to know why you would care enough to bring us this message? Did someone send you here? Obviously, your eyes let us know that you have little disregard for human life. I can't picture a vampire being a werewolf's savior."

Talullah stared hard at Bella, before she shifted to Jasper. "Why doesn't your…" she reconsidered her words. "Why don't we have Bella answer that question?"

Jasper, finally tearing his eyes away from the vampire, turned to Bella as well. It had been bothering Bella this entire time, looking at Talullah. She knew there was something strangely familiar about her, something that she could not put her finger on throughout their conversation. Then, like a switch turned on, she realized why she appeared so recognizable. The features, the proud way in which this woman carried herself; it reminded her of Jacob. Bella's voice was quiet but she could not keep the surprise out of it. "You are Quileute."

The smile that Bella was rewarded with confirmed her suspicion and help Bella finally begin to settle down around this woman. "Very good."

Talullah sat down on the ground with crossed legs and motioned for the both of them to do them same. Bella and Jasper moved over closer to her, resting on the snowy ground. The Quileute relaxed in this new position, more comfortable than before.

The scene reminded Bella of the bonfires at La Push and the Elders telling the story of their people. Talullah's voice took on that same majestic quality as she began to tell her own tale. "I was turned over two hundred years ago, long before your Cullens ever came to visit Forks. I was young, barely twenty years old. I was an imprint of a wolf, a Quileute named Cheveyo. Cheveyo and I were married not even two weeks when our lands got attacked. A vampire caught me and when it realized that I was the wife to a wolf, it ran off into the woods with me, the pack not far behind him. I waited for death. However, instead of killing me like the vampire and its friends did to several other people in the tribe, it sunk its teeth deep in me. One single bite. The pack was catching up quickly and the vampire took off, leaving me in the woods by myself. Several wolves caught up with it, and it was quickly destroyed.

"Cheveyo was the one who found me. When he realized what had been done, I begged him to kill me, destroy what I was becoming. But despite my pleas, he couldn't do it, he couldn't kill me. He left me in the woods to turn, where three days later, I was damned to this life."

Bella was quiet. The idea of an imprint getting bitten… She tried to imagine if it were Jared and Kim, or Sam and Emily. Would they have been able to kill their imprints? Bella did not think that would be possible.

Talullah looked at the ground. "I do not regret being turned. Jasper, you were right."

Jasper looked at her quizzically. "About?"

"I could care less about most humans; they are simply a food source. But despite that, I still care about my people, my tribe. I feel this compulsion to keep them safe when I can."

"Could it be that part of your imprinting stuck when you were turned?" Jasper mused.

"Perhaps."

"How do you know all of this?" There were so many questions Bella had. "About what I was thinking about doing?"

Talullah looked up at the threatening sky and no sooner as she did that, Bella felt several snowflakes land on her. "I will be more than happy to explain it to you, but first, let's go inside. The weather called for ice storms and it appears to be beginning now."

Bella and Jasper both agreed and the three of them headed inside. Bella insisted Talullah lead. While Bella could tell she was telling the truth, she still did not trust her enough to have her back to her. Talullah, on the other hand, had no issues with it whatsoever and quickly moved inside the house, taking it in the lower floor before settling in the kitchen.

"It is a nice home you have here. Not really my style, but secluded, which definitely has its perks." She plopped herself down on the kitchen chair, staring at the plates that were displayed in the glass cabinets. "Why do you have those? It's not as if you need them."

"To keep up appearances in case a human decides to drop by. Now, as you were saying?" Jasper tried to keep the agitation out of his voice, not succeeding completely.

Talullah sensed the annoyance and got down to business. "When I woke up from this existence, I was given a gift, similar in nature to your wife's." she advised.

"You see the future."

Talullah nodded. "Yes. But it's more than that. I… for lack of a better term, fall asleep. I will suddenly feel the need to close my eyes and I will lay down, the world falling away around me. Sometimes I close my eyes for minutes, other times many days. There is no way to tell how long and no way to wake me up from this slumber. When I do sleep, I dream of someone's life- their past, their present, and their future. I see what made the person who they are, why they made the decisions they did. But I also see what will happen, how it is going to impact their life.

While the visions that appear are random as to when they will occur, whom I dream about usually is not. Over the years, I have learned to hone my ability and I am able to think of someone I would like to know the past or future on, and the next time I sleep, it will be of them most times.

Once in a great while, however, my dreams will be completely unrelated, such as what happened with you Bella."

"So you know my past? All of it?"

Talullah cocked her head slightly. "I know you almost as well as you know yourself. I know the reasons you make the decisions you do, I know the conflict that you have raging inside your head, and I know the secrets that you keep."

She had to have been lying. This vampire was playing at some kind of game. The growl that came from Bella was fierce. "Prove it. Prove that you know my secrets."

Talullah smiled in response. Bella moved uncomfortably, not liking the way that Talullah looked at her knowingly, the quick glances she gave between Bella and Jasper. Bella tore her eyes away, backing down. Perhaps this was the wrong way to go about this. What if she really did know about the feelings she had for Edward and Jasper both, what she had almost done with Jasper, and the many times in the past two months she had attempted to distance herself, only to be pulled back time and time again to the man that was currently in the room with her?

Talullah's grin grew more as she observed the both of them quietly, finally tearing her eyes away from Bella. Bella, relieved, realized she was not going to talk about that secret, at least not today. "You hate most the music that Edward likes, with the exception of Debussy and Jazz. You secretly resent the fact that he rarely ever plays the music you appreciate, dismissing it simply as trite and too simple for his tastes. But mostly, you resent yourself for not sticking up for yourself because you are too afraid that his love for you will fade. You are afraid his love is not unconditional."

Jasper looked to Bella, asking to acknowledge if that was true. Bella looked down shamefully, and nodded once.

Jasper walked over to her, tilting up her head with his finger. He looked into her eyes, Bella once again overwhelmed and scared by the emotion that was staring back at her. Jasper placed a soft kiss on her forehead, and in an effort to comfort her, jokingly responded. "Everyone hates most of the music Edward plays, Darlin'. I don't know how you put up with it. Personally, I like your music just fine."

Bella wrapped her small arms around him, appreciating his attempt to make her feel better about the admission. Jasper turned their bodies to Talullah, keeping Bella close. "Now, about this future you saw."

"You must understand, I almost never get directly involved as I have here. The future is the future and who am I to change it?" Talullah's eyes shone back at them imploring them to heed her words. "But these are my people and I need to protect them. I know that you love Jacob and the rest of the pack still, despite the fact that they have broken off all ties with you. I know you would not want anything bad to happen to them. So I am here now, asking that you do not make the trip to Forks, that you leave them be."

The desperation in her voice, made Bella realize how serious Talullah was about this vision she had. A question had been nagging Bella in the back of her mind since she had first learned of this vampire's vision. "Talullah, what exactly happens when I go to make this request to the wolves?"

"When you make the request, Jacob agrees to go and convinces some of the pack to go with him."

Bella knew she was avoiding the question so she asked it more directly. "Do the Cullen's believe him?"

"You don't want the answer." Was the quiet obscure response.

Jasper released Bella, turning to their new acquaintance. Bella noticed his stance took on a slightly threatening posture. "I do believe Bella asked you a question that she deserves the answer to."

Talullah hung her head. "Carlisle and Emmett begin to question everything first, followed by the rest of the family. Slowly, you begin to integrate back into their lives and become part of the Cullen household again."

Bella could practically fell her undead heart pounding as she heard this. "And do we ever…?"

"Yes. Eventually. Bella, you and Edward would reunite. Jasper, so would Alice and yourself. But trust me when I say it is not an easy route. It will it take some time for you to get back on the path you are meant to be on."

Bella practically fell on her knees and wept from the news. She was sure that this would not be easy; there would be a lot that they would emotionally need to get through, but they could do it, she married him with promises of forever.

Jasper was quieter about the good news. His body stayed rigid. "What happens if we do not ask the wolves? Remember, I will know if you are lying."

Bella looked up hopefully. Perhaps there was a better way they could make the Cullen's see they belonged with them.

"I do not see another way where you are re-united with Edward and Alice as your husband and wife." Bella's heart sunk at that news. "But-" Talullah continued, "I cannot see all possible outcomes in my dreams nor can I look for them. My dreams, just as I am sure that Alice's visions are, are sometimes very open to interpretation as well. But if Bella asks the pack, it will kill the wolves of that much I am certain of."

Bella's mind reeled with the information that had been given to her. The possibilities- the hope, the horror, how lives would be irrevocably altered as a result of her decision no matter what she chose to do. "Can't you talk to our family? I am sure that they would believe you."

"I am forbidden from speaking to them. As it was, I should not be speaking to you."

"Why are you forbidden?"

"I cannot say. As it is, I have already been gone far too long and my absence is going to be noted. Please consider what I said and change your mind. Please."

Talullah turned to walk out the door. Bella moved to her, desperation in her voice. She needed to know more. "Wait! You can't just leave."

She smiled at Bella, worry evident in her eyes. "I must. Don't worry, I know that I will see you again no matter what you choose. I have a feeling Bella, that our lives were destined to cross regardless. You and I share a bond. We both go against nature and care for ones who should be considered our mortal enemy. When I do see you again, and if you still have questions at that time, I will be than happy to sit down and answer all of those questions for you. But now is not that time."

When Bella moved to protest, Jasper stopped her, knowing that the protests would be useless. They watched Talullah walk out the door, both standing there rather stunned at the turn of events.

Bella stood there going over the consequences of her actions and what she should choose. Her mind flashed through murky images of her as a human, hanging out at La Push, riding a bike with Jake. Her mind then moved to Edward, walking hand in hand through Prague, Edward taking her through German castles, and coming back home to their family. Each was very different, but very important to her.

She then looked at Jasper, lost in his own thoughts, feeling that pull that was becoming stronger each day. She pictured a future with him, the both of them together, giving in the desire that she denied herself.

She saw herself happy, without Edward. And it terrified her. Her decision was made. "Well, I guess I better go pack."