All things Twilight belong to Stephanie Meyer

A/N

First of all, I apologize for how long it took me to update this time around. Unfortunately at times life gets in the way of what we'd like to actually be doing as opposed to what we have to be doing. I will try to make sure my updates don't take this long in the future. Thank you for all your patience.

Now I owe a huge thanks to my beta Georgia Dawgette. Without her, this chapter would be nowhere near finished. Whenever I am "stuck" she allows me to bounce ideas off of her comes up with phenomenal ideas of her own, which are only rivalled by her patience and ability to make me use proper punctuation hehe.

I also need to thank everyone that continues to read, review, and add to favorites/alerts. Nothing is better for a writer than knowing that what they are writing is enjoyed by others. At least for me. I know I don't often get a chance to answer all the reviews but I do read them all and appreciate every single one of them. If, however, you have a question, idea, etc I will make a point of answering. I have rattled on enough now, i'll let you get to the newest chapter.........

Previously

"Alice, what have you been hiding from me about Bella?" Edward cut to the chase immediately, either seeing through my facade or just not caring about anything but the answers he was obviously seeking.

I could only hope that Edward would eventually forgive my deception, as I began what would need to be the best acting performance of my existence.

APOV

"Why would you think I'm hiding anything from you?" I needed to find out exactly how much he knew, without divulging too much, or sparking more suspicion from him.

"Alice please......."I could almost picture him pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I know Jasper has been in some sort of contact with her, and you are with him. The mathematics of it all are quite simple." Edward snapped.

"It's not what you think Edward." I paced through Jasper's living room, out the front door to the large deck on the front of the house. Realistically, I knew I wasn't anywhere near far enough away for Jasper not to hear me, but that wasn't really my motivation for needing to get out of the house. All of this felt so......wrong to me, and the walls of the house combined with the subterfuge I was engaging in had made me feel claustrophobic. Gazing out towards the trees that bordered the property, the wide open spaces, I felt myself calm while I awaited his response.

"And what am I thinking Alice? That you both went against my wishes that we stay out of Bella's life, that she be allowed to lead a normal life free from the unique type of danger we brought to her; especially Jasper!" His voice roared through the speaker on my cell phone.

I gasped in surprise at Edward's insinuation that Jasper was a danger to Bella. Granted, he didn't know all that I did, but never had he been so harsh towards Jasper. For a long time after the night of Bella's eighteenth birthday, I had wondered just how much blame Edward put on Jasper for the decision he'd felt he had to make in regards to his relationship with Bella. Never once though had Edward said anything, never cast recriminations. Rather he'd internalized much of the blame, claiming that it was his fault for thinking he could ever have a successful relationship with a human.

"Bella is not in any danger Edward. Jasper would never hurt her" I almost whispered, knowing this was one truth I would have to assure him of, if I was going to have any chance of keeping him from making the rash decision to come here.

"You've seen her." It wasn't a question.

"I have." I sighed. I knew my admission could incite him, yet it was the only way I could think to guarantee him of her safety.

There was no response, yet I knew from his shallow breaths that he was still there. "Edward?" I asked with trepidation, after waiting several minutes for him to speak.

"H-how is she?" His voice broke; all anger seemed to have vanished from his tone.

"Bella is doing well, she's in college now." I offered, still wary of just how much information I should give away. "She.........she's happy Edward." It wasn't the complete truth, Bella was still haunted by what our family had done, but she was the happiest she'd been in a very long time because of her newfound relationship with Jasper.

"Has she moved on then?" His question shouldn't have surprised me; Edward always was somewhat of a masochist.

Again, I sighed before answering, knowing that the next words out of my mouth would have the power to break my brother's heart just that much more. "She has." I of course did not elaborate that she'd indeed moved on with his own brother. It was, however, for the best that Edward get used to the idea that Bella was no longer his.

The image of Jasper and Bella from when I'd left the kitchen flitted through my mind. Bella, wrapped up in Jasper's protective embrace while he whispered to her so quietly, not even I was able to make out much of what he was saying. There had been an intimacy between them that had never been there between her and Edward, and if I was being honest between Jasper and I. They had been the picture of two beings that, above all else belonged to each other.

"I see," was his only response. I ached for him, and what I was sure felt like losing Bella all over again.

Regardless of the heavy handed way Edward had made the decision to remove not only himself but all of us from Bella's life; I knew he truly believed himself in love with her. Edward had been certain that leaving her, allowing her to live out her human life was in her best interests. What he failed to realize was that had they truly been mated, there was no way he'd be able to leave her so easily, and for this length of time. Not to say that the last two years had been easy on my brother, the complete opposite in fact. He had not, however, experienced the all consuming despair that would have accompanied the loss of his mate.

"I'm sorry Edward." I murmured, my voice filled with sympathy.

"No, no it's what I wanted Alice. I wanted her to live, to be happy, and to find someone she could do that with." Edward's voice had returned to its normally calm, deep timbre. "But tell me, how do you and Jasper fit into all of this?"

"Jazz ran into her at a club...........and I.......well I needed to see her, to explain Edward." I purposely infused my voice with a note of pleading and downplayed Jasper's involvement in it all, needing him to believe that my only motivation had been to absolve myself of the guilt that I carried over the way we had left her.

Edward sighed, and I knew I had succeeded in calming him. Our conversation had bought Bella and Jasper time to decide how to proceed with telling Edward, as well as the rest of the family, with the exception of Carlisle, the truth. This would work, so long as Carlisle could succeed in keeping Edward out of his head and discovering the truth about who Bella had moved on and was happy with.

"I apologize Alice. I should known better than to doubt your loyalty to me." Edward sounded repentant and the guilt that had been hovering at the border of my conscience surged ahead full force. After all was said and done, I didn't know if he was ever going to be able to forgive me for my duplicity.

"Apologies are not necessary." My words were an understatement, as apologies would be necessary all around soon.

I wasn't entirely sure how I felt after hanging up with Edward, with assurances that I would be in touch soon. There was little doubt that I'd managed to prolong the inevitable, for the time being Edward was placated by the explanations I'd provided him with. At least I hoped so. There had been no new visions since hitting 'end' on my phone, but that only meant Edward had not made any decisions. He was the member of my family that was always the most difficult to pinpoint, to maintain in my visions. The major reason for this being our closeness, it was at times a double edged sword. Edward, better than anyone knew how to avoid detection in my visions. By constantly changing his mind, or merely making split second decisions, he was able to confuse my visions and at times completely fly below my radar.

As I turned to step back into the house, a shadow descended over the rambling deck as dark clouds began rolling in, blocking out the sun. A shiver went through my body as the weather seemed to mimic the situation my family was finding itself in once again. A storm was brewing on the horizon in more ways than one.

EPOV

My Bella....

I attempted to picture what a 20 year old Bella would be like. Would she still have that sense of innocence infused with her own unique kind of strength? I pictured a Bella similar to the one I'd last seen, yet different. Time erasing that klutzy young girl, and replacing her with a graceful woman. Of course she would still be brilliant, and more beautiful than she was ever fully able to embrace. I could see her in my minds eye, the thick veil of chestnut waves, her expressive dark eyes, though her face most likely had lost much of its youthful roundness. I shook my head, breaking myself of the spell that I had the tendency to fall under when thinking of her. Following this path of thoughts never led me anywhere good. If anything I was forced to realize all that I had willingly given up.

Of course, I realized that as time went on, Bella would continue to change, and age. One thing that would never feel the touch of time, however, was I how I felt about the girl that would forever be eighteen in my memories. Loving Bella had altered me, and as a vampire there was no coming back from that. Denying myself the love and affection of the only woman I had ever, could ever love was the least that I could do for her. Bella deserved more than I could ever offer her. Whenever my resolve would begin to crumble, this was what I would cling to. Besides, the absence of her from my life was a reality I would over time get used to.......perhaps.

The most important thought I needed to hang onto, is that my Bella was alive, safe, and happy. Though, she wasn't really my Bella anymore was she? As loath as I was to even consider it, she was someone else's. Some nameless, faceless human had with her now, what I never could......never would have. Things were as they should be, I had to remind myself; this was what I wanted, why I'd left. I had never been able to fathom Bella being what I was, her heart no longer beating, the blush that so adorably stained her beautiful face being no more. Alice assured me that rather than chasing death, Bella was finally embracing her humanity. Maybe not in those words, but by Alice's description that she was happy, and had moved on, it was easy to infer. Could I let her go now? Would I ever truly be able to say she was no longer mine, and mean it?

Stiffly, I sat on the black leather couch while perusing the mostly familiar decor of my bedroom. A room that, until recently, I'd spent almost no time in for nearly a decade. Esme had updated the furnishings and added the few personal belongings I never left behind. After we'd left Forks Carlisle had chosen for us to settle at the family home in Alaska, near our Denali cousins. I'd left the decision up to him. I'd had no opinion regarding where we went, only that we needed to leave. It wasn't as though I was planning on spending much time wherever we relocated, seeing as how, rather than moving with my family I had exiled myself from everyone, travelling around the world since I'd left my Bella. Esme, ever the optimist had still readied my room and awaited my return. Now, after two years of mostly aimless wandering, I was ready to return to my family. Granted the face of our family had somewhat changed over that time.

Alice and Jasper parting had not been shocking to me at all, even though everyone else had seemed caught off guard by it. Then again, they hadn't seen Alice or Jasper's thoughts the way I had. Due to my gift, I had insight into their relationship, and how they both truly perceived it. Neither Alice nor Jasper had ever entertained the notion that their relationship was meant to be forever. There was someone meant for both of them, it just didn't happen to be each other.

Thinking of Alice always provoked feelings of guilt, even though she would be the first to dismiss them as ridiculous. I, however, felt responsible for her now being so alone. Bella had been the closest thing Alice ever had to a best friend, and I'd taken that away from her. Also, the timing of Jasper and Alice's marriage dissolving was no coincidence. The events on the night of Bella's birthday party had been what finally triggered Jasper's decision to leave. I wasn't sure I could ever make it up to my sister; I knew I could never give her back what she'd lost.

I suppose that was why I hadn't gone ballistic when Alice had admitted to seeing Bella. Allowing her to put closure to that friendship was the least I could do. I couldn't shake the niggling doubt plaguing though me that things were not as cut and dry as Alice would have me believe. I could trust Alice though, couldn't I? She was the sibling I was closest to, which also meant she knew me better than almost anyone. That wasn't always entirely a positive thing. Alice and I both had worked out over time how to skirt each other's gifts, never mind the innate ability to placate the other when needed. There was definitely something more that Alice was not telling me, after all it was Jasper that Carlisle had been speaking to, not Alice. I knew Carlisle and Alice well though. If they believed that I was adequately pacified by Alice's account of the situation, they would perhaps lower their guard in my presence. Then.........if there was something to hide, I would discover what it was. I realized how underhanded and manipulative this was, but whatever they were hiding pertained explicitly to Bella and that I could not ignore.

Rising from the sofa I swiftly left my room, deciding it was time to tell Carlisle that I had spoken with Alice. Taking my time, making my way down the hallway to Carlisle's study I took in how Esme had redecorated since the last time we'd lived here. Photos set in frames adorned the walls, one in particular stopping me in my tracks. I couldn't believe that I hadn't noticed it before. I'd been home well over a week, but I suppose I hadn't yet taken the time to really take in my surroundings. There were a number of frames containing photos taken during our years in Forks, but it was just one that I focused on. Prom.......the six of us......Rosalie and Emmet, Alice and Jasper, me and Bella. Initially, after the shock of seeing the photo wore off, I was filled with a near debilitating surge of betrayal. Betrayal that Esme would go out of her way to hurt me in this manner. Quite rapidly however, those feelings were replaced with a sense of understanding. I had forced Esme to leave Bella, who she'd come to think of as another daughter. I could not however, force her to stop caring about Bella.

BPOV

Jasper..........he was back. I was safe from Alice's examination of my nearly non-existent sex life with her ex-husband. Something wasn't right though. I could tell that Jasper was extremely upset by something. His posture was tense, his face set almost in a grimace. I had gone to him immediately, stepping into his embrace and wrapping my arms around him, wanting to shield Jasper from whatever seemed to be torturing him.

Alice had spoken the words that were merely bouncing around my head, almost as if I was afraid to ask for fear of his response. Then he spoke the two words that explained it all, yet at the same time caused me to hurtle full force into shut down mode. Carlisle knew about us, and there was little doubt in my mind that only meant one thing.......Edward would soon know as well.

Jasper began relaying the phone call from Carlisle, and why he'd had to explain about our relationship. I felt as though I was in a tunnel. I could hear Jasper, yet he sounded so far away. Cursing my apparent inability to deal with any sort of crisis, I willed myself to calm down. I was fed up with feeling so.......so weak. Using Jasper's voice and his soothing words as an anchor, I concentrated on keeping my mind with my body. As tempting as it was to let myself go to the place where nothing could hurt me, I knew I had to stay with Jasper. Opening my eyes, I gripped Jasper's shirt and looked up into his worried gaze.

"Bella? Darlin' are you alright?" The concern written all over Jasper's face sent a surge of guilt through me. He had so much more to deal with than me having a nervous breakdown.

"Wh-where's Alice." Looking around the kitchen, I noticed immediately that she was no longer present nor could I hear her voice.

"She's on the phone." Jasper's flat tone gave it away easily that he wasn't happy about it either.

"With?" I asked hesitantly.

"You don't want to know sweetheart." He shook his head, and wrapped his arms more securely around my body.

"Edward." I whispered as it dawned on me what exactly that could mean. He must know something; this was more than just a coincidence.

Jasper merely nodded his head, confirming my suspicions.

Suddenly, where moments earlier I'd felt nothing I was inexplicably hit with a furious rage. My entire body began to vibrate, while I tried to squelch the emotions which were threatening to become uncontrollable. I kept repeating the mantra in my head, "Think of Jasper, think of Jasper." I could already see how my nearly uncontainable fury was beginning to affect him. Darkening eyes, his arms no longer around me but braced at his sides, and his hands clenched in tight fists. With large shuddering breaths I willed myself to calm, erecting some of the wall I generally closed up tight around myself whenever I was feeling something entirely undesirable.

"Jazz, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." I chanted, his face cradled between my hands as I placed chaste kisses along his clenched jaw.

"I'm fine Bella. I just need a moment." Jasper attempted to assure me as my apologies escalated into near sobs.

I hadn't noticed when the room had gotten darker. There was no way enough time had passed for it to be that late in the day already. From our position in the kitchen, I was able to see the source of the darkness through the window nestled between the cabinets and over the sink. Dark grey clouds were literally rolling across the sky, blocking out the sun that had peaked out for a time this morning. I shivered, a sense of foreboding settling over me. It was hard to distinguish the cause, unsure whether it was the volatile weather, or the uncertain nature of how everything with Edward would play out. All I knew with a certainty was that I felt weak.

JPOV

Bella's emotions where all over the place, I couldn't keep up. I was in an empath's nightmare. When I'd first entered the kitchen I'd felt Bella's discomfort, and only humour and curiosity radiating off of Alice. Very rapidly however, their feelings had shifted to concern. Bella had rushed to me, her warm little body pressed tightly to mine while her arms had wrapped around my waist. Almost immediately I'd felt comfort, not only from her touch, but from the feelings of love and fierce protectiveness that had seemed to flow from her to me. This was all new to me. Usually, I was the one expected to offer comfort and manipulate the emotions of whoever required it. To have Bella, without a thought, offer me the same meant more than I could even describe.

All of the warm and tender emotions I was able to draw from Bella came to a halt when I made the mistake of carelessly blurting out that Carlisle knew. Instantaneously, I'd felt absolutely nothing from Bella, who was once again encased in the emotional armour she was able to erect at will. Her body had stiffened, her eyes held a blank look; she was shutting down.

I'd rapidly explained to Alice all that had taken place over the phone with Carlisle and myself, while continuing to hold Bella gingerly in my arms, unable to let her go. I was no longer sure who was drawing comfort from whom at this point.

Not even the shrill ring of Alice's phone had been enough to break Bella from the nearly catatonic state she was on the cusp of. It had however sprung Alice into action and I couldn't help but feel her panic, followed by resignation, before settling on determination as she answered her phone to the only person that I was sure was able to make Alice react in that manner. Edward.

Even though I could only hear one half of the conversation, it was not difficult to ascertain what the topic of discussion was. Bella. If there was any comfort to be drawn from the fact that Edward had called Alice to discuss Bella, it was that it confirmed that Carlisle had not betrayed my trust. Edward did not know everything. If he had, I was sure there would not have been a courtesy call made first. He would have, without a doubt, already been on his way here.

Admittedly, even though part of my attention was on Alice's side of her conversation with Edward, the majority of my attention was on the beauty in my arms. Whispering quietly, assuring her everything was okay, including myself I kept Bella tucked close to my chest. She was already so far gone that I highly doubted she could hear all that I was saying to her. It was because of the extent of her withdrawal, that I was shocked when I felt her small hand fist the front of my shirt, only to look down to see her chocolate brown eyes staring at me, cleared of the fog that had moments ago clouded them.

Relief flooded through me, although it was short lived when she questioned where Alice was. I had no idea what to tell her. On one hand lying to her was not an option, but on the other, what would telling her that Alice was on the phone with Edward do to her?

Compromising the two options, I kept my answer vague. "She's on the phone."

I should have known Bella wouldn't leave it at that. "With?" It was apparent from her pensive tone that she had her suspicions.

"You don't want to know sweetheart." I answered, all but confirming who Alice was speaking with.

"Edward" was all Bella said, her tone flat, nearly void of emotion. I should have known this was merely the calm before the storm.

Rage.........pure, unadulterated rage filled me. The emotion was not my own though. It was Bella's. Clenching my jaw I dropped my arms from around Bella, my fists tight at my sides. I needed to get a handle on this; I couldn't allow what Bella was feeling to be the one thing to make me lose it. Controlling my own anger, my own fury was a cake walk around Bella. Her safety trumped everything. Reigning in what she was deflecting onto me was a whole other issue. I was preparing myself to flee the confines of the kitchen, to distance myself from Bella and to separate her from the danger I would be to her like this. As sudden as the rage reared it's destructive head, it was gone. In its stead was an unsettling calm. Looking at Bella I could see she was concentrating, her whole body taut.

I was awed once again at the control she could wield over her emotions. Always so insightful, of course she would have realized she was projecting onto me and she'd just stopped, like that. Amazing. All her anger replaced with remorse as her soft lips grazed over the skin of my jaw while she nearly sobbed out her apologies.

Then my world as I now knew it fell apart, and anguish I'd never before felt gripped me.

"No more. I can't do this anymore Jasper, we can't do this anymore." Bella sounded resolved, as she shook her head.

Was this it? Had she finally reached that point where she decided being with me was just not worth the effort, worth dredging up old hurts, and creating new ones? Could I let her go now that I had a taste of what a life with Bella could be like? So many questions, none that I could to bring myself to ask. Instead I could only stand stiffly in front of her, my whole body once again rigid. I prepared myself for the blow of her saying goodbye.