A/N: sorry to those of you who reviewed and had to wait for replies to said reviews. Sometimes this site irritates me.

Now! With out further ado. Enter the effects of Edward, but not him himself sorry you'll have to wait until chapter 13. Muahahahahahahahaha! ;) but maybe if you ask super super nicely I MIIIIIIIIIIGHT be convinced to give you chapter 13 today as well. *runs off cackling in that evil maniacal villain way*

Chapter Twelve

July fourth

Two weeks later

Alice

As I saw, Edward is on his way home. He left yesterday evening so he should be here soon. He decided to run all the way here, an excuse to hunt along the way. And he's not coming alone. The others will be coming with him. Which led to another vision. Garrett and Kate being mates. I was happy as all get out, to say the least. Although it does come at a potentially disastrous time. We can't have anyone distracted from keeping Bella safe.

The night I told Jasper what was coming he called Peter and the other two to come to Bella's the next day, after she got home from her shift, so he could tell them. This almost led to him and Peter coming to blows. Peter is getting frustrated about not knowing exactly what is going on, but now they know who the danger is. Jazz tried to keep the Edward factor out of it. After all, we have no idea how he's going to react when he meets her, just that he's going to meet her. So we don't know if he's going to be able to control himself enough to keep from giving himself away or not. If he does, then we'll still need their thoughts to be free of the truth.

"So you're saying Alice here had a dream that the danger is coming by the fourth but didn't see who or what it was?"

"Yes Peter."

"I call bullshit. All I'm saying Major is there has to be something more to this. Something you're not telling us. I've been with you for a long fucking time and I can tell when you're lying. I didn't say anything the first time, but I'm saying it now. If you need us to help you with this we need to know just what the fuck is going on!"

"I've told you what I suspect Peter. I've told you what Alice saw too. What more do you want? I don't know where the danger is coming from. How could I? Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I do but, as I said, I can tell you're keeping something from us and I'm fucking tired of it! Even Garrett thinks so."

"Hey, leave me out of this Peter," Garrett says as he throws his hands up.

"Well what about you Alice? I know there's something you're not telling us. There's something about you. I can't quite put my finger on it but if someone doesn't start talking now I'm leaving. Fuck this shit. I'm not going to stay around watching some human just because you think there's danger to her Major."

"Some human Peter? Some human! That human happens to be my mate you asshole! She's not just some human and if you don't like the fact that I don't know anything more than you've been told, then fucking leave! Go on. Go! No one asked you to come. You did your duty when you called and warned me. You chose to show up here and stay! I didn't force you. So fuck off then!" Peter is about to answer when Bella stands up and steps between the two men who had been glaring at each other looking like they were ready to hit one another. Both of them stiffen the second she does so.

"Stop it! Both of you! This is ridiculous. Alice I'm sorry, but they have the right to know why they're protecting me and nothing you say is going to stop me."

"Fine Bella. Go ahead." There's no point in arguing with her. If I've learned anything in the nearly eighteen years I've been watching her, it's that she's massively stubborn.

"I AM in danger. We didn't tell you the full truth because there's a much bigger picture here than the small matter of my being in danger and it is imperative that you keep your minds shut to Edward. Because I'm his singer. He's the danger. But there's a lot more to it than that and we can't tell you right now because of Edward's mind reading ability. You have to behave as normally as possible around him so he doesn't know there's anything wrong. Right now we have no idea how he'll react to me," Peter snorts at this, but when Bella glares at him he shuts his mouth.

"As I was saying. With my being Jasper's mate and Carlisle's descendant, he could very well try to control his urges. But we don't want him suspicious of us, that we know the truth. We need him here to keep an eye on him; and again, we can't tell you why as of yet. I'm sorry it has to be this way but the more people who know the more likely he'll be able to glean it from your thoughts."

"And he can't from yours and Jasper's? Or the pixie?"

"No. You know as well as I do that he hates reading mine because my gift tells me when he's getting ready to do it and I throw up images that sicken him. And Bella has a gift. This we can tell you because he's going to figure it out when he meets her anyway. She's a mental shield. He won't be able to hear her thoughts. And Alice, well Alice is special. That's all you need to know in order to keep her safe. Have I ever steered you wrong? Ever?" Jasper looks imploringly at his friends.

"No. No you have never steered us wrong. Fine. We'll leave it but when the time comes you WILL tell us the full truth. Got it?!"

"Of course Peter." Bella steps from between them and they both visibly relax. She doesn't know it but had she gotten hurt accidentally by Peter, Jasper would have killed him. That's why they relaxed. They were both waiting for her to move so they'd feel more comfortable.

Since Bella told them that Edward is her danger, there's now the possibility that Edward will know we know he's a danger to Bella and leave- which will mean we can no longer keep an eye on him physically and I'll need to focus on him to see where he goes and what he plans whih means other visions may get shunted by the wayside and only addressed when I have them. He could also lose control of himself and react. Which will create the same dilemma because he'll probably be sent somewhere to try and learn control.

I hate not having all the answers. If it wasn't for the fact that we'll need Edward to show us the true enemy, I would never allow Bella to remain in danger. I would let Jasper kill him the second he gets home and then tell Carlisle the truth of why it happened. But my gut is still telling me we need him and when I can't rely on my gift I've learned to rely on it.

As I get ready for our day at the beach, it's going to be slightly cloudy so we can get away with jeans and long sleeve shirts since tonight it'll get a little chilly- for the humans that is- I become increasingly nervous. I hate this! This not knowing shit! We put a plan in place and we will all be hanging around Bella during the day, avoiding Edward as long as we can. That way it'll only be a few minutes of interaction between them. It'll be the length of time they're around each other during the fireworks that is the issue but we think if we surround her and make it to where he can't get through us, subtly of course, he won't try anything because he won't risk himself.

That's all we can hope for. I make my way down the stairs just in time to see Bella and Jasper coming through the door and Carlisle on the phone with his friend Alistair. Carlisle has been calling around to a few friends ever since I gave my mate a call and he confirmed that the new law was now in effect. They wanted to know if that addendum had gone through yet so I had to check. With all the calls he's made so far, they found out three days ago, he and his friends have gotten word around swiftly and now many of the vampire world know it's a sure thing; and the Cullens have relaxed on that front. They know now that there won't be any retaliation from the brothers for telling Bella what they are.

As Bella and Jasper head into the kitchen where Rose, Emmett and Esme are- packing up things they're taking for the community picnic- I make my way in the same direction. I get there just in time to hear Esme tell Bella they don't need any help. She's come to love this family so much in the short time she's been here. I can see it's helped her through the grief of losing her parents. You can always tell when she's thinking about them, but I haven't seen it as often as when she first got here, or when I was still with her in Phoenix before I came here.

Now if only Rose would get over her irritation at Bella's desire to become a vampire. Maybe then she could be Bella's friend instead of someone who just tolerates her presence.

Rose

I have to admit the human is growing on me. After hearing how she handled Paul and Leah she gained even more respect from me. She stood up to wolves. I still can't help feeling irritation though at the fact that she's still wanting to throw her life away. I get that she loves Jasper and wants to be with him, but how strong can that love be with her still human? I just wish she'd give it some more thought and maybe live her life a little longer. She probably won't ever have kids, but she can at least finish her schooling. Maybe have a career for a while.

Once she becomes a vampire it'll take at least two years for her to calm down enough to handle being around humans. That's two more years wasted. If I had had any choice in the matter I would have told Carlisle to let me die. I love Emmett, but I hate being this cold dead thing that can never have a family. That can never change and age. I miss the possibilities. As if she senses something from me, Bella's brown eyes turn to mine.

"Rose can I talk to you for a minute?"

"I suppose." I can see the concern on Jasper's face so I give him a smile, it didn't help much. I walk beside Bella into the dining room. I can't help but feel she wants the illusion of privacy since there is no way the others wouldn't still hear us.

"Can I ask you something? Why do you still seem to dislike me?" That catches me off guard. I know from experience during the past three weeks that this girl speaks her mind, but I still never expected her to come right out and ask me something like that.

"It's not that I dislike you. On the contrary, you've gained my respect with your actions since finding out what we are, I just... Well frankly, I think your wish to become a vampire is too soon and not living out your life is wrong. If I had the chance I would have told Carlisle to let me die. I don't like being a vampire. The inability to become a mother, to grow old with Emmett. It's unfair."

"Wow. I'm sorry to say this Rose, as it'll probably undo everything I've accomplished with you so far, but you're selfish. I knew it when I first met you but had no idea just how selfish until now."

"Excuse me?" Now she is just pissing me off!

"What would have happened to Emmett if you had died? It was you who saved him. So if you had died who would have been there? And do you know how many people would give everything they had, even their own souls, to be able to live forever with the one they love? Growing old isn't all it's cracked up to be. There are people who forget everything about their lives from their family to the person they love. Ever heard of Alzheimer's? But here you are, you get to not only remember pretty much every aspect of your time with Emmett because of a vampire's memory, but you also never have to lose him.

"You'll never have to watch him grow old and feeble and die. You'll never have to watch him possibly forget who you are. You'll always be able to make love to him. You can't have kids? Adopt, foster. Maybe the brothers can make an addendum about that? Or maybe there are other ways for you to be around kids. You've integrated with humans after all, but yet you hold yourself from them. Why? Because you're afraid they'll learn what you are. Have you or the others ever been caught once in all this time? No. You haven't. Despite the slips from Jasper and Emmett.

"So that's an unfounded worry. Get a job at a daycare or as a nanny or something. Work with an orphanage, help the homeless get off the streets- do you know how many kids are homeless out there? How many aged out of the foster care system to be kicked out on the streets because they had nowhere else to go? You have so many things you can give to this world from your capacity to love to your wealth that you don't really have a use for and yet you sit here and pity yourself.

"How do you think you make Emmett feel when you say you'd rather have died then found him. That's a slap in the face to the man who loves you because you're essentially saying you don't love him like you say you do or you wouldn't lament what is past but rejoice in what is here and what is coming. So how about this. Earn my respect, grow up and do something with yourself. And for the love of god stop acting like your life is horrid just because you get to live forever.

"Do you know why I don't care to go much longer before I become a vampire? Because despite being human I know Jazz is it for me. The only thing waiting would do is allow me to age further. I could never leave him and go live a normal human life because it would hurt us both and I couldn't hurt myself like that, let alone him. And how selfish would I be if I told him 'I want to find a normal human to live a life with someone else and have kids and such, I'm sorry'? How badly would that hurt him? Just because you may think that as a human I don't have the same strength of emotions towards him, that doesn't mean his emotions are any lesser than yours for Emmett or Carlisle's for Esme because I'm human. So just think about all that." With those final words she walks out of the room leaving me standing there dumbfounded.

It isn't but a second later that Em's voice calls for me.

"Rosie? Are you ok?" How hadn't I seen it before? What I do to him? Bella is right. I am ashamed of myself, of how I've treated my love. If I could cry I'm sure tears would be streaming down my cheeks but all I can do was crumble into his strong arms and sob as he runs his hands up and down my back.

"She shouldn't have said that to you! I'll have words with Jazz about this. She's gone too far."

"No. No, she's right. She's right! I'm so sorry Em. So sorry. I love you. I love you so much and I shouldn't have made you feel otherwise and don't try to deny it. Don't try to lie to make me feel better. But I will do better, I will. Let's go have fun at the celebration today. Then tomorrow will you go with me to Port Angeles and look into the orphanage there? Maybe we can drive around and look into some of the homeless shelters. Get to know some of the people there. I need to stop wallowing in my own self pity and do something with myself. Bella is right. So right."

"Ok Rosie. Ok. Tomorrow. We'll start tomorrow. Right now I just want to take my beautiful girl somewhere and make love to her."

"I'd love that Em. Take me out and make love to me. Then we can join the others later."

Tomorrow will be soon enough to start changing myself and earn not just Bella's respect, but my own.

Bella

I feel bad for making Rosalie cry, or the vampire equivalent, but I need her to understand why I've made my choice the way I have and that she has a great thing here. If the death of my parents has taught me anything it's that life is fragile and can be cut short in the blink of an eye; and when you're mate is a vampire and you're a human, danger abounds and I face the possibility of death everyday. Especially now that Edward is returning.

I need to become a vampire soon so Jazz never has to face the possibility of living without me. For now though, we need to face the immediate threat. Walking back into the kitchen I notice Peter, Charlotte and Garrett have finally joined us and we can leave- Esme and the others will be coming along after Edward and the Denali coven show up. They called yesterday to let us know they were coming.

Jasper looks so handsome in his black v-neck lo sleeve shirt and tight jeans. It's hilarious to me to see Peter in something similar. Garrett had this whole, rocker vibe going with his black leather jacket, shirt and jeans. It's all black, black, black. Charlotte is adorable in a cream longsleeve cotton and lace tunic top, black leggings and tan boots. While I opted for a pair of ripped jeans and an off the shoulder black long sleeve shirt with my black high top sneakers. Taking my mate's hand I let him lead me out to Emmett's jeep, he's letting us use it while he and Rose take her car. After helping me climb in, he gets in behind the wheel and we head towards La Push and First Beach. I'm determined to have fun today, so I push the imminent arrival of Edward from my mind and focus on the wonderful feeling of Jasper's hand in my own.