A/N: Thanks so much to all of you reading! Keep those reviews coming.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephanie Meyer.

(Previously):

EPOV

"Alright, Jacob. Why don't you come by tomorrow morning, at ten," I offered regretfully.

"I'll be there." He hesitated. "See you then," Jacob said resentfully, before hanging up.

I sighed. As difficult as it would be, I felt that it was the right thing to do. I started to make my way back to my room when Carlisle caught up to me. He told me that he had heard my conversation, and that he thought I was being very understanding of Jacob. He also said that he would get everyone to leave tomorrow for a couple of hours, for which I thanked him.

Chapter 7: Unresolved Issues

EPOV

When I returned to my room, I questioned Esme; her thoughts were vague, yet full of concern. "Any changes at all?"

She just shook her head, and quietly left my room. I settled in beside Bella, stroked her face, and whispered my love to her throughout the night. Intermittently, I hummed her lullaby, hoping to soothe her. Even though she was motionless, I couldn't suppress the fear that she might still be in pain, which disturbed me to no end. The night was long, as I stared into her beautiful porcelain face, relentlessly willing her to be alright.

The next morning, before Jacob arrived, I decided it was time to try to talk to Alice, as nothing had changed with her. Again, I didn't want to leave Bella, but she would be well looked after, and I couldn't stand the thought of my favorite sister in so much pain. Esme quickly agreed to stay with Bella again - she had been hovering around my bedroom door most of the night. She truly was the epitome of a great mother. Before I went to Alice's room, I thought it would be best if I spoke with Carlisle first, to understand what had transpired after I had left the house to find Bella.

"What exactly happened after I left?" I asked Carlisle, as we both sat in his study.

"Well, Edward, it was a bit confused, and more than a little chaotic. Alice had her vision of Bella of course, and you fled the house. After you left, the rest of us exploded into a flurry of questions, all thrown at Alice. Alice tried to explain - she managed to get out that someone, she didn't recognize him, had attacked Bella, and taken most of her blood; she was fairly certain Bella was near death. We were all fleeing towards the cars, following you, when Alice fell to the ground, screaming in protest. Everyone froze, waiting for the vision to cease, when Alice started ranting about Victoria torturing Charlie and Bella. There was so much confusion, and Alice was frantic - Jasper finally just pulled her up and carried her to the car. We were about to leave, when suddenly, Alice's head jerked upright, and she looked at us, her eyes glazed over, as she announced, 'Charlie's dead.' She didn't utter a word after that, Edward."

My heart broke for Alice as I climbed the stairs to her room. Carlisle's recount of events made it fairly clear to me that she was suffering from the burden of guilt; needless guilt, but guilt nonetheless. It wasn't her fault that any of this had happened, but convincing her of that would be difficult; when Alice loves something, or someone, it's fully and unconditionally, and her connection to Bella and Charlie was no exception.

As I neared their bedroom door, the onslaught of Jasper's emotions began to course through me. He was wrought with despair...he had no idea how to help his wife. I tried to focus on Alice's thoughts, but there was nothing solid there - it was kind of like a soft humming sound. Out of courtesy, I knocked softly on their door, waiting for a response. Jasper opened the door, his expression further revealing his distress.

"Edward, please, do what you can. I'm at a loss; she's never shut me out like this, and it's killing me," he pleaded softly. "She's everything...she's all I have," he added, dropping his gaze to the floor.

"Let me try and talk to her Jasper. Please, wait downstairs." Jasper took another heartbreaking look at his wife, and before turning to go downstairs, he softly kissed her on her cheek. His sadness was almost crippling.

"Alice." She didn't respond to me; she was sitting on the bed, with her legs drawn up to her, staring vacantly. I sat down on the edge of the bed, and reached out, placing my hand lightly on her tiny arm.

"Alice, it's alright. Bella is in my room, and we believe the change should be complete soon. Of course you're upset about Charlie - we all are. You have to understand why none of this is your fault, though." I waited for a response, but nothing happened. Instead, the buzzing sound of her blocked thoughts increased in tempo.

Perhaps I should try a different approach. "Alice...you know how much Charlie cared for you. He found so much joy and humor in your antics when you would visit Bella. He found your enthusiasm to be so catching...his thoughts were always so uplifted after you visited. Ever since Bella had that broken leg, and you helped take care of her, Charlie was grateful that you were a part of Bella's life; he truly thought of you as another daughter, a sister to Bella. You and I both know that's what you really are to her, so you should be proud that her own father recognized that kind of connection." Little fragments of distress began to seep through her wall, which only made her fight harder to block me out.

"Alice...I can hear your thoughts. Please, stop fighting to not break through. I know that you're furious, and that your fury is starting to win over your unnecessary guilt, even though you don't want it to. You have to let this take it's course. Do you have any idea what I'm feeling? I know that you do - even though you've been keeping everything to yourself, you must know the utter despair that is coursing through me. I know that you've kept all of your visions to yourself since the one of Charlie - I know this because Carlisle wasn't sure of Bella's fate until I was here. It was only then that he sensed no heartbeat and wondered what exactly was going on." I kept my gaze on Alice, as I waited patiently. Something would happen soon.

"Please, Alice...when Bella wakes, she's going to need you," I murmured. With that, I leaned over and hugged her to me, and a tiny squeak escaped her lips. Jasper was waiting outside the door, so I left her with him, not knowing what else to do.

--

Carlisle had everyone leave around nine thirty. They weren't going far, just into the park behind the house for a quick meal. I doubted Alice would bother to hunt; Jasper had to practically carry her out the door with him. After I carried Bella downstairs, I gently placed her on the couch. The less Jacob had to enter our house, the easier it would be. A trip all the way upstairs might be too much for him; aside from that, I'd rather kill him than let him anywhere near my room - our room.

At ten o'clock I heard him outside, and shortly after, there was a knock at the door. I opened it expectantly, and met Jacob's eyes. He expression matched his thoughts; he was completely distraught, and a little disgusted. At least we had that in common; I was mutually disgusted, but pushed past it, reminding myself what Bella would want, and quickly rearranged my features into the facade of cordiality.

"Come in, Jacob. Everyone else has left. Bella is just in on the couch. If you feel yourself getting upset at all, immediately remove yourself from here, or I will do it for you. I will not let anyone else harm her." I moved aside to allow him to pass.

He glared at me, as he fought back countless harsh replies, then hesitated, and slowly walked past me, staring at the floor. I walked with him over to the couch, wondering when he was going to look up. His thoughts were wary - he was horrified that he wouldn't be able to be around her anymore, and he was struggling with the fact that he'd be disgusted by her now. Trying to collect himself, he took a deep breath, and raised his eyes to look at Bella. As he took in her appearance, he gasped, catching his breath.

"She looks...dead. Why does she have all those bruises?" he leaned in closer, apparently trying to make sure that she was really breathing.

"Victoria was not very gentle with her," I said, a low growl escaping my lips. Just thinking about what Bella may have went through filled me with fury. Remembering my experience with Riley, I began to indulge my imagination with thoughts of what I'd do to Victoria when we caught her.

"Why doesn't she smell like you?" Jacob asked, snapping me out of my reverie. "I expected her to smell like you, since she's changing." His mind revealed that she smelled fine to him - even somewhat pleasant.

Confused, I studied him, reading back over his thoughts again. "What? You mean that she doesn't smell different to you at all?" How was that possible?

"Well, it smells like she's wearing some kind of perfume, something floral, but it's not sickly sweet or over the top. She actually smells... nice," he said, his brow furrowed. He was as confused as I was, his mind jumbled with the irrationality.

Unsure how to respond, I tried to reason through this new unfathomable occurrence. "Her blood has surely changed by now - there was so little of it left. Her skin and organs will take longer, but I would have expected her to already smell different to you...and not in a pleasant way."

Jacob just shrugged, tired of the exchange between us, and focused on Bella again.

He knelt down beside the couch, grabbed her hand, bringing it close to his face. His thoughts began to return to the differences he noticed about her, and continued to study the dark bruises that covered her skin. I took a deep breath - he was beginning to test my patience. True, he needed this time, but it would be far too difficult to stand here and watch this display directly.

Discreetly, I walked over to my piano, putting some distance between us. My body displayed the charade of sifting through my compositions, seemingly studying them. My mind however, continued to follow his, so that if there was even a trace of a threat there, I'd put a stop to it immediately.

He spoke to her, told her he missed her. He regrettably admitted to her that this would have to be 'goodbye' for a while, because he was not sure how he would react to her once the change was complete. Time passed, and he stared at her in silence, an air of hopelessness surrounding him; he was grieving for her. To him, this was a sort of death. Silent tears streamed down his face as he whispered memories to her - he spoke of riding motorcycles, afternoons in his garage, studying, going to the movies... he was just waiting for her to open her eyes, but she never did.

His mind began to drift back to a time when he'd been close to kissing her, when I'd been foolish and away; I fought to maintain myself, hands trembling. Just as I thought I couldn't tolerate one more second of it, he became quiet, his thoughts resolved, and stood up.

"I have to get back home. Billy is having a difficult time with all of this, and I need to check on him." He hesitated. "Will you call me as soon as there is any change? I just want to know that she's ok," Jacob added quietly. His usual anger wasn't present; he felt defeated.

"I will, Jacob. Please offer Billy our condolences again. Have you spoken to Sam yet?" I asked. He'd been concentrating on Bella and her condition, so I hadn't been able to detect the pack's feelings on the situation, and I needed an answer, to know if my family should be making alternative plans.

"Oh. The pack has decided that while we don't agree with it, it doesn't break the treaty...you bit her, but only after someone else had. She would have died - well, she kind of still did - but we understand that you were trying to save her...in your own way. We're not happy about it, but we won't take any action against you or your...family," he explained bitterly.

Nodding my head, I walked him to the door. He glanced at me once more, as he struggled with the idea of being courteous to me. "Thanks," he spat, and then he was gone. I sighed; at least he was trying to be polite.

Following his departure, I carried Bella back upstairs to the comfort of our bed. As I sat beside her, stroking her hair, I hummed her lullaby as I waited for my family to come home. They returned shortly after Jacob left - they had been anxious with him in the house, and had stayed close enough so that they could hear him leaving.

I spent the rest of the day lying next to Bella, watching for any change. Although it was only day two, and that the process typically took three days, I was feeling completely helpless. We had never experienced anything like this, and in those quiet, empty hours, I couldn't help but worry that something was wrong. Was it possible to slip into a coma while changing? If so, would she remain like this permanently? What would I do then? I couldn't allow myself to believe that was possible; it would crush me. I had to stay strong and focused for Bella's sake.

Esme and Carlisle continually checked on us, their worry never ceasing; Carlisle spent the rest of his time in his study, pouring over materials, trying to figure out what could be happening to Bella. All the other members of my family checked in at least every couple of hours - all except Alice. Alice had taken to sitting directly outside my bedroom door - she never set foot inside the room. She still wasn't talking, and her thoughts were still a faint humming, her walls still intact. When she was there, Jasper would either sit with her, or come inside to speak with me. He and Emmett were pushing to start hunting Victoria; Emmett was practically going mad with revenge. Rosalie continually convinced him that it was up to me when we start the hunt, and I wasn't going anywhere until we were sure Bella was alright.

It was about three o'clock in the morning when I heard it. Alice. She screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice full of pain, accompanied by a crashing sound. Esme was sitting with Bella and me at the time, so I ran down the hall to see what had happened, practically colliding into Emmett, Rosalie, and Carlisle. We flew into her room, only to be hit with massive waves of anxiety coming from Jasper. Alice was thrashing around on the floor, grasping her head in her hands, and Jasper was trying to hold her, as the breeze from her broken window swept through the room, which had become victim to her outburst.