A/N: Hello everyone! Well, my little girl is here and she is perfect. I love her so much! I know it has been months, but life was much crazier than I thought it would be with two kids! Thank you everyone for the well wishes and the reviews on the last chapter. I hope you enjoy the next chapter.

Chapter 29

The wind and snow whirled around Bella almost as fast as her mind was racing. She was not sure what to make of their assumed point of contact. Of all people she was expecting, Tallulah was surely close to the bottom of the list. Bella was conflicted; there was some comfort to see a familiar face, but at the same time, it was disconcerting.

She stepped cautiously towards her recent acquaintance, attempting to mask any surprise at Tallulah being there in Siberia.

Tallulah, as before, was clearly expecting Bella and bowed her head gently in her direction before acknowledging Demetri and Felix. "Bella, I must admit, I am pleased to see you here."

Felix's arm shot out, stopping Bella from walking towards Tallulah any further. "Wait. State your intentions. Now."

Bella realized that there was a possibility that Felix and Demetri did not know Tallulah. Still, she was the only vampire within a hundred miles; she was sure and hence most likely their point of contract. But a part of her was glad that Felix and Demetri were taking their orders very seriously and would not trust her till she said the word that would prove she is part of this task. It meant that there was more of a chance that this would all go well and she would soon be on her way back home to Jasper.

Tallulah rolled her eyes lightly. "Caius will be pleased to you taking your orders seriously. As you are well aware Felix, I do have a direct affiliation with the Volturi. Is that enough or would you prefer that I show you my orders?"

Felix and Demetri relaxed at the use of the code word. "Tallulah, while it does please me to see you on this mission, it would not be the first time that we were double crossed by a former associate so caution must be taken."

"I understand, but really, what vampire is going to randomly be out in the middle of Siberia for any other reason? This is not exactly a vacation destination."

"Stranger things have happened." Felix retorted, relaxing his hold on Bella. He looked between Bella and the contact, his expression thoughtful. "So how is it that you know our Bella?"

"Simple." She responded, her eyes firmly planted on the other female vampire. "I had a vision of her. Aro asked me to look out for Bella a week ago. My vision showed several different outcomes. I was just pleased to see that she agreed to assist the Volturi as it was the most favorable outcome for her."

Bella was aware that Tallulah was asking her to keep quiet, but she was interested to know why Tallulah was lying. The timeframe that Tallulah gave Felix for her vision was obviously incorrect, although he appeared to be unaware of that fact. Bella made a mental note to confront the Quileute vampire about this later when there was an opportunity to be more discreet.

Felix continued with his discussion. "What did the vision entail exactly?"

"It would take far too long to go into. Time we simply do not have. The wolves will be on the move shortly; I have seen them preparing to leave, which means they will be leaving again within the next three to four days. They appear to be awaiting final orders."

Demetri, who had been eying the surrounding territory, turned to face her quickly. "The full moon just passed only a few days ago. Why would they be planning a move when they are at their weakest?"

The raven haired vampire nodded. "Yes. I won't deny that it is perplexing to me as well."

Felix shifted his stance. "Something doesn't sit right regarding this. Are they aware of your presence?"

"No. I have stayed far enough south to risk exposure. However, it will be harder with the scent of multiple vampires in the area now. The next few days will be especially difficult if we try to move north."

Demetri spoke up again. "Perhaps it would be best to set up camp here then, stay out of their way for now. We need to devise a plan and find out what else you know. Felix, are you in agreement?" Felix nodded his head once. "Good. Come with me. I would like to patrol the perimeter of these woods since I am the most familiar with the territory. Bella, Tallulah- if you would set up camp in the meantime, we can discuss specifics upon our return."

Bella agreed, glad to be getting some time alone with Tallulah. Demetri and Felix took off, northbound, and when they were finally out of ear's reach, Bella turned to the Quileute vampire. "Why did you lie?"

Tallulah grabbed one of the bags that held the tent and started dismantling it. "I did not lie."

"We met several weeks ago."

"We did. But Aro did ask me to look out for you and the other Cullens in a vision a week ago. I had just already had the visions of you. It was a mere elimination of fact."

Bella began unpacking the supplies, watching Tallulah cautiously as she set up the large tent. "So, is this what you meant when you advised that our paths would cross again?"

Tallulah swiftly began to fill the now erected tent with supplies. "It was one of the paths I had seen your existence go the direction in. I wasn't positive though that this would be the option you chose. I am pleased to see it was."

"So, you are aware then…" Bella trailed off.

"I am aware of a lot of things, child. I am aware that you choose not to expose my people. I am aware that you have again made contact with the Cullens. I am also aware that you and Jasper have finally mated. I am aware of quite a few different things."

"You knew about Jasper and I?"

"Of course I did. In every vision I had of you, no matter the path chosen, Jasper was always there, near you in some capacity, even if you both denied your feelings for the other."

Bella was amazed. "Why did you not say anything before?"

As it is, even with the path you have chosen, there are always various outcomes, always different directions that your life can go. You have not decided upon everything, so your future to me, while more concrete, is not set in stone. I think I know what will happen based on my limited exposure to you, but I cannot be one hundred percent positive."

"And the Cullens? What of them?"

"I only see them as it pertains to you. In some visions, you stay with them, integrating back into their world. In others, you go on your own."

"What causes me to go on my own? And is that own, as in by myself, or with Jasper?"

Tallulah stuck up her hand at that point. "Enough. I have told you plenty already. As I have advised you before, I cannot even see every outcome; there are just too many variables. By telling you more, I may set you on a path you were not meant to go on."

Bella thought this very hypocritical of her. Tallulah obviously had no problem getting involved to save her people and interfering with Bella's "path" several weeks back, so long as it benefited her.

Bella wanted to protest, but she could tell that the vampire was only willing to reveal what she wanted to reveal. "Fine. But let me ask you this, why are you helping the Volturi? You are fiercely protective of the werewolves. This is exposing them."

Tallulah raised an eyebrow. "Ah, you need to not make assumptions. You see, Aro and I have had an agreement for decades now."

"What sort of agreement?" Bella was truly perplexed as to why she would have come to her and Jasper if the Volturi were already aware of the existence of the werewolves.

"Aro is very much aware of the existence of my people and their abilities. What you need to understand is that Quileute are shape shifters, not truly werewolves. That is a very important distinguishment, and one that my own people do not fully comprehend. Shape shifters can change at anytime, whereas werewolves are bound by the lunar cycle.

My ability is extremely useful as you can imagine; Aro withholds certain information regarding my tribe to the other brothers, and I in turn, help him. Why else was the Quileute not exposed when you went to Italy with Alice? Edward and Alice both touched Aro, both had already exposed the tribe unwillingly via their memories and recollection, even if it wasn't what Aro was looking for initially. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"But don't you care what happens to these people?" Despite the fact they were attacking vampires and would willingly kill Bella if given the opportunity, she still felt it was wrong what they were doing.

Tallulah stared at Bella and Bella saw Tallulah for the vampire that she truly was. "No. They are nothing more than a food source and now a possible endangerment to our kind. I feel a responsibility to my people only; these… werewolves-" she said the word as if she had tasted something horrid, "hold no blood ties to me and even if they were not attacking vampires, I would not care if they lived or died."

Bella was shocked that Tallulah was truly indifferent about their lives. She thought that perhaps she was different; that perhaps the imprint would have caused her to be more tolerant towards the human race, that some level of compassion remained. It saddened her to know that this was not the case.

"Who was it that you were afraid of discovering your disappearance then at Jaspers home? You did leave in a rush."

"I was working on another mission for the Volturi, one that Caius was deeply involved in. I left everything once I had the vision of you, risking my possible exposure, but deciding that the benefit outweighed the overall risk."

"Was it?"

"Time will tell." Was the cryptic reply.

Bella put away the last few items in the tent. She decided to pry for a little more information. "And what of Jasper? Will he be okay on his mission?"

Tallulah ignored her question and sat closer to her, in a quieter voice. "Bella, you are not meant to know everything. This is a burden that people like myself, and your friend Alice, have to endure. There is the constant weighing on what to reveal, and what to keep to myself." She paused for a moment, obviously mulling something over. Bella was surprised by the softness of her voice. "Although I choose not to tell you everything, I think that I should prepare you for what lies ahead."

Bella's stomach twisted in a knot. Please not something bad about Jasper. Please.

Tallulah continued. "There is not much time I'm afraid and I should have warned you once we were alone."

"Warn me of what?" Bella was desperately trying to hold a brave face.

"If your future is the one I suspect it is, it is not just Demetri, Felix, myself, and you that is in on this mission. Very shortly we will be joined by another…" Tallulah stiffened. "He is here already it seems."

Bella turned in the direction that Tallulah was now looking in. She didn't need to however; she knew instantly whose face would be there to greet her. It filled her with excitement and trepidation. There he stood, a ways off, looking the same as always, standing on the outskirts of the forest, staring at her. "Edward?"

"Hello, my love."

Jasper walked the perimeter of the park again, his frustration mounting. It was obnoxious that they were dependent upon another to complete a mission. If Maria had operated that way, the south would have surely fallen out of her grasp much sooner than it inevitably did. However, the Volturi had been around for centuries, and while he did not like their methodologies, it appeared to work for them.

He unclenched his jaw, and lightly kicked at a branch on the ground since there was nothing else really to do. Jasper began to wonder what Bella was doing that very moment, his stomach heavy like a lead weight lodged in the belly. He reassured himself that Bella was a smart vampire, albeit that she did tend to be rash at times. Taking off at airports to go willingly to her death, jumping off insane cliffs that no normal human should survive, cutting herself open to protect those she loved.

He was not helping the situation. Jasper kicked a rock. It was more like a small boulder really, sending it hurling through the air, waiting for the gratifying loud thud to comfort him from his worrying about Bella. But to his surprise, the sound of breaking granite never reached his ears.

Jasper immediately chastised himself for not remaining vigilant and stood very still; looking for any sign that something was amiss. He scanned the trees and opened all his senses to see if he felt anything out of the ordinary. At first he felt nothing. But then a faint familiar scent wafted through the air, along with an emotional heaviness that he was not expecting. It began to press down greater on him and Jasper found himself still as stone, his eyes glued to the furthest corner of the park.

She moved at a slow pace, the rock Jasper kicked in her hands, her eyes trained on his as she stepped closer. After an agonizingly long minute, the vampire stopped, pausing to drop the boulder at Jasper's feet with a gentle thud. She looked up at him expectantly with that familiar soft smile she so often wore.

Jasper swallowed deeply as Alice walked back into his life.