Disclaimer: I have no claim on any of the characters from Twilight or New Moon all rights go to Stephenie Meyer.

Summary: Edward leaves Bella alone in the woods after telling her he didn't want her any more. As she is lying on the cold forest floor; Bella remembers three important things. Edward made a promise not to leave her, and Edward never broke a promise, and third it was her body, her heart, what right did he have to decide what was good for her? All in all Bella realizes that Edward was covering up his true feeling about her. All in all Bella goes to bring Edward home.

Last Time:

Carlisle POV

"Is Bella going to be all right?"

My amber eyes locked with Jasper's bright topaz ones. A deep sigh escaped from within me when I answered him.

"She is for now, though I can not safely say for how long. Bella has been through so much. The emotional wounds that Edward must have caused, coupled with the trauma her body has been through the last months as well as the accident she was in today. Unless she finds the will within her, it's not promising."

Jasper voiced another question. I however knew where he was going and didn't let him finish.

"If the outcome looks that bleak then why not…"

"Because that is not what Edward wants for her," I answered in a resolute tone.

I relaxed a little as I felt Jasper's hand gently touched the top of my right shoulder.

"Carlisle, though Rosalie may be resentful for your choice to change her, know she holds no ill will toward you any more. Alice and I didn't choose this existence and neither did you. Who are we to tell Bella no when she is choosing it? Alice said she has never been so sure of a vision as the one she saw of Bella becoming one of us."

I shook my head as I pinched the bridge of my nose between my fingers. I couldn't make this decision for Bella. I had done that to Edward already. I needed to be sure if this was still what Bella wanted. Then there was Edward to consider. I was afraid of his reaction if I did this without his approval.

"I can not make that decision in good faith, knowing that Edward would despise me the rest of eternity."

Chapter 11: Absolution Now

Jasper POV

"Or maybe he would thank you - Carlisle, look at the alternative..."

Those had been my words a few days ago, right before we lost Bella. Only to have her returned to Edward by some strange miracle. That crisis had been averted, but now there was this alarming cryptic vision. Alice swears part of the vision was still unclear meaning there was a chance it wouldn't come to pass.

I could tell by her emotions, Alice was hiding something from me. I suspected it had to do with the second part of her vision - the unknown yet familiar faces. More pressing however was what to do about the Volturi who were looking for not only Edward, but Bella as well. Shortly after her vision, Alice got into Carlisle's car and went shopping. She came home with more than clothes and shoes for Bella. The whole back seat was stacked with wrapped boxes. I gingerly make my way down the stairs to help with Alice's bounty from her shopping spree.

"Alice, darlin, what's going on with all the boxes?"

"They're Christmas presents, silly, after all tomorrow is the 23rd. With Christmas Eve and Christmas so close, I decided this year to go to the store and shop without thinking about what I wanted to get until I got there. This way Edward has no idea what I got everyone."

"Alice."

Before I could say anything else, Alice was shoving bags and boxes into my arms.

"Here, Jazzy, would you run these upstairs to our room for me? I have a few things I still have to wrap and I need to go talk with Esme about a few things."

My wife was stalling, she always had me doing some kind of errand when she wasn't ready to share. The only thing I had been able to get from my wife was that something even more terrifying was about to befall our family. I knew her she would come to me to talk soon. So with a sigh I headed up the stairs with the boxes and bags.

Closing the door behind me after finishing the favor Alice had asked of me, I heard Bella call out to me from down the hall.

"Jasper, is that you?"

I very slowly poked my head into the doorway.

"Yes, Bella what can I do for ya?"

She seemed anxious about something. The key was right there in her eyes as well as the emotions pouring from her: Edward hadn't shared a thing with her.

"Talk to me, Jasper, tell me something, anything. No one will talk to me and I can't stand it. Alice's vision meant something; I know it did because Edward won't talk to me."

I sent a small amount of calm toward Bella.

"Jasper, stop it with the mood control thing. I don't want to be calm, I want to be treated like someone who is visible, not someone who's not!"

"If I wanted that I would have stayed dead. Edward's treating my like I'm glass or something."

At the end of Bella's last two statements, I felt a wave of guilt and hurt come from different places in the house. Everyone had heard Bella's words. She then patted the spot next to her on the bed indicating she wanted me to sit with her.

"Bella, I don't think I should."

She frowned at me.

"Oh come on, Jasper, you fed earlier today. I can tell from how gold your eyes are."

There was no denying Bella had me there, because I had. Just because Alice and Bella seemed to trust me didn't mean I could trust myself. There was no fear of me in her eyes, as she calmly waited for me to decide. Watching Bella's reaction, I made my way over to the bed to sit down. Bella was always so giving, never thinking once about herself. The least I could do was give back to her.

'She deserves to know a little about what's happening, Edward.'

A low hiss from downstairs in Carlisle's office was my only answer from Edward.

"It seems the Volturi have found out about you and Edward. As Edward has told you, there is nothing for you to worry about."

Bella seemed deep in thought for a while before she nodded her head. She then focused her attention back on me.

"I don't blame you, you know, for what happened the night of my birthday. I blamed myself for being careless. I never blamed any of you for being what you are."

I did my best to give Bella a small smile. "Thank you, Bella that means a lot coming from you, though I am still rather ashamed by my actions."

"Guess that answers the question I asked Alice earlier."

I raised an eyebrow at hearing this as I looked at Bella.

"Really and what was that?"

Bella picked at the threads in the blanket cover her as she spoke.

"I just asked Alice how you were doing. That night when Edward took me home, he said you were beside yourself. I was hoping you were doing better now."

I gave her words some thought before I answered them. It warmed me to hear and feel Bella's concern for me.

"It wasn't easy and I won't say that it is effortless to be around you. But it is easier than it was three months ago. I am impressed and slightly jealous of the control Edward has over it. Although he is more practiced than me. To see and feel what it is like for him makes me have the deepest respect for him, for all of my family."

Even as I found myself saying that to Bella, my mind drifted to the day after Bella's birthday party.

Everyone's faces were solemn; Rosalie who had just released her dislike of Edward's decision to leave got up and left the room in a blur. Seconds later, her door slammed closed. Alice, however, continued to plead with Edward.

"Edward, please, this is so unfair. It will kill Bella if we leave."

"Bella's human, she'll forget about us soon enough. She'll be safer if I'm not around."

At hearing Edward's last statement something within me snapped.

"You mean safe from us, more importantly safe from me! After, all I'm the one who is at fault here."

I had done my best to take the blame off of Edward's shoulders and place it on my own. He, however, wouldn't have it.

"No, I'm the one at fault. I knew how dangerous it was to have Bella around us being what we are and I took the risk the second I gave into the feelings I had for her."

At the word 'had', I was torn by the pain that fabricated word carried with it, allowing me to see the truth inside the lie.

"Jasper, are you all right?"

At the sound of Bella's worried-filled question, I blinked and smiled lightly at her.

"I'm fine, Bella."

I took note of how anxious Bella was. It wasn't difficult to know the source of that concern - the Volturi were very much a reason to be concerned.

"Don't worry Bella; there are ways to keep them from finding us. Edward isn't in any danger right now and neither are you."

Glancing at the clock I saw it was getting late, I was certain of it when Bella stifled a yawn.

"Get some more rest, Bella. Edward is talking to Carlisle about removing some of your stitches tomorrow. I need to speak to Edward for a moment and then I promise to return him to you."

Bella chuckled at my teasing tone as she spoke.

"What choice would I have any way?"

I smiled at her and excused myself from her room.

As I headed out of the front door, I allowed one of my thoughts to ring clear toward Edward.

'Edward, can we talk?'

It was a simple request and Edward was free to say no. He, however, granted my request, appearing outside on the porch in less than a second.

"You had no right to tell her about the Volturi looking for me." Edward fumed.

"You can't keep her in the dark for long. Bella's very perceptive, she would have figured it out soon enough."

Edward pinched the bridge of his nose as he turned away from me.

He sounded downtrodden when he spoke again, "I know she is. I also know that she would be willing to give up her humanity if she knew it would mean we would no longer be in danger from the Volturi."

I was aware what he was saying was true, but it didn't mean I agreed with his decision not to tell her.

"Alice is doing her best to stay one step ahead of them."

Before I could say anything more aloud, Edward was answering my thoughts.

'I've heard of them and seen the aftermath of what happened to the vampires who were involved in the wars of the south. I however have never come face to face with any of them. Have you, Edward?"

"No, I haven't. Carlisle is the only one who as spent time with them."

'Then it is safe to say their tracker will be looking for Carlisle then? I would say we should split up, however, there is safety in numbers.'

"I agree with you."

The two of us grew quite. I found myself musing over the events of earlier today. It wasn't one of my smarter plans, but it did give me what I wanted from Edward.

I knew that it would be kinder for me to talk with Edward directly on? How he had been behaving instead of attacking the emotions he had sealed away. However, when Bella was involved, Edward tended not to be capable of listening to reason or of seeing it.

So I worked out a strategy that Edward had no way around. Especially with me keeping some of my thoughts shielded from him. I should have known how he would respond after setting such poisonous emotions free.

I owed Edward one hell of an apology.

"I am sorry about earlier. It wasn't right of me to do that to you. I would ask for forgiveness for my actions, however, I don't really regret them. You are just so stubborn and set in your ways. Hearing our thoughts doesn't mean you understand them you know."

I waited for him to comment on what I had just said, but he didn't say anything. So I took this as a sign for me to continue.

"Do you realize how broken you were when we left Forks? Carlisle and Esme were at a loss as to what to do for you. Then you just up and left, none of us thought we would ever see you again. You were so lost, Edward, that none of us knew how to help you. Save from going and bringing Bella to you."

'Wait one more second, I'm not finished.'

"We all understand why you felt leaving would be the best course of action. But we also knew it was the wrong strategy and should have discussed your decision more. Our cowardice kept us from taking action. We all were afraid to tell you no."

In one quick action, Edward ran a hand through his unruly hair.

"I didn't really think my plan was going to work. But she believed me so fully, it took me by surprise. I had expected her to fight me on it. I had no idea she had doubts about how I felt about her."

I was soon assaulted by such deep remorse that I nearly felt to my knees from it. Edward's ocher eyes met my own. He was pleading with me for the second time today.

"I've almost lost her twice now, I can't lose her, Jazz. I won't survive if I do. I just wish I knew what it was that Victoria - and now the Volturi - were planning. We need a plan of our own if we are going to be ready for them "

I clasped my hand on Edward's shoulder and sent him a wave of reassurance.

"Everything will be fine, Edward. We won't let anything happen to Bella. She is, after all, family."

Something then occurred to me - Edward wasn't as giddy as I expected him to be. Despite the current situation, we all had been anticipating for it to happen as soon as Bella awoke.

"Have you not asked Bella yet?"

"It's not the right time," he whispered.

His words had me questioning him again.

"When would it be the right time?" I asked.

Instead of answering me, Edward remained silent.

'Edward?'

"I'm not sure but I know it's too soon. Alice may be forgiven; I however doubt she is ready to forgive me yet."

Edward might not be sure of when was the right time, but I knew however his feelings for Bella weren't going to change. Time was no longer our ally - it was our enemy.

To be given Absolution is to be unleashed from the heavy chain that binds you.

A/N: Another chapter down, only a handful or so to go.

Playlist fact: Muse was the music I used for this chapter Sing For Absolution, Ruled By Secrecy, Hysteria and Stockholm Syndrome.

I hope everyone liked this chapter a little bit better than the last. I will do my best not to repeat myself too much more. We are reaching the point where more things will be revealed and there will be a little more action coming into play. Thanks for picking Lunar Eclipse to read and review.

TaintedDarkInuShemeeko