It was Carlisle. "You don't have the worst timing, but close."
"Hey, I was being polite. You want me to throw rocks or something?"
Bella was looking at me, a question in her eyes. "Want to say hi to Carlisle?" I asked, holding the phone to her ear.
She laughed quietly. "Hello, Carlisle. Thank you, I needed a shower."
"So I heard." I tried to sense him outside, read his mood. He was slightly irritated, slightly amused. "Send that son of mine out here?"
"Of course." She closed the phone in my hand and kissed my nose. "Your Dad wants you."
I shook my head, smiling broadly. I slipped out her window. Carlisle was on the edge of the trees, jacket and tie absent. He shook his head at me; the amusement wasn't absent. "Enjoy yourself?"
"What do you think?"
He laughed at me. "I wouldn't have intruded except I saw you leave again. I didn't want to wait all of round two." Jealousy spiked before he trampled it into mere annoyance.
"Fair enough. Charlie busted us, too. Cockblocking fathers," I muttered.
Carlisle laughed again. "That must have been interesting. Where'd you hide? Closet?"
"Under the bed," I said, sheepish.
"Very classy," he said with a snicker. He sobered. "We need a plan."
I nodded. "I told her we'd take her with us."
"I heard. I agree. Not in the least because if they come for us, they'll likely take her as well." I felt his concern and affection for Bella. "They don't abide humans knowing about them."
"Eleazar said they have some in the castle," I reminded him.
"Yes, ones under watch are probably acceptable, but Bella? We aren't about to punish her if she did tell someone. She isn't, but do we want to answer those questions?"
"No." It was short and clipped. "So even if we get James and Victoria, we can't leave her?"
"If they don't come for us, they won't come for her, but do you really think she'll let us leave her? How little do you understand her, Jasper?"
He was right of course. That was why she had been so relieved to hear I planned to take her with us. She didn't want us to go. She wanted to be in our family, just as she had said. I hung my head. I really didn't want to see Bella anything other than human. Even if it would make sex with her not only possible, but insanely satisfying. My mind started racing through all the things I would do with her indestructible body.
Carlisle snapped his fingers and I blinked. "Sorry."
He shook his head. "I would ask what you were thinking about, but I'm pretty sure I know."
"Like you don't," I sneered.
He growled quietly, and I felt his anger, jealousy and shame mingled.
He really shouldn't be ashamed. "You know it doesn't bother me, right? I mean, she's sexy as sin. Of course you think about it."
"Just don't act on it," he scoffed.
"Not around me," I said with a grin.
He barked a laugh, tossing his head back. "Then take off, will you?" he teased in return. He met my eyes and his smile fell. "Not that simple, is it?"
"No. How will we know if they're coming?" I tried changing the subject.
"I don't think we can. Not until they arrive."
We both looked to her window. It was a long night. I ran home for my own shower and change while Carlisle watched.
I heard Bella's phone call to Jacob. She made plans to visit him on the reservation Saturday after work. Carlisle looked to me. I shrugged. I would follow her to the line and be waiting for her after her date. She was independent. If she wanted to smell like a wet dog, that was her prerogative.
It was still partially sunny Saturday. The clouds would obscure the sun, only to break out again later. I stayed in the trees outside Newtons' waiting for either James or Victoria. After being crazy enough to brave the light yesterday, I didn't doubt they might try again today. Of course, knowing the wolves were watching by day, probably kept them off. Indeed, Paul was behind me somewhere. I just heard the occasional padding paw and caught a whiff of him now and then, never actually seeing him. Bella came out in the afternoon and Paul and I followed her to the line. I did see him then, tongue lolling as he ran beside me. He barked once before leaving me at the line, following Bella the rest of the way onto La Push. I smiled, knowing she was probably safer there than at home. I turned for my house. I didn't run, taking the time to think along the way.
I was contemplating what had happened last night and what might happen next. How was I going to stop myself the next time she touched me? Could I have sex with her while she was human? I mean, Tanya had managed. It wasn't impossible. It probably was for me though. I hadn't been doing this as long as Tanya — lifestyle or experimentation.
I was too wrapped up in myself when I smelled an unfamiliar vampire. Not Victoria or James, completely unfamiliar. Then there was a slight weight on my back and teeth at my neck.
"Yield," I murmured, hoping whoever it was wouldn't behead me.
"Good man," the female voice murmured. The mouth closed leaving a gentle kiss on my skin. The emotions coming from her shifted, from satisfaction to something deeper, broader. It was similar to the love Bella had shown me, similar to Peter and Charlotte. When was the last time I'd thought of my brother, the one who helped me leave Maria? The weight didn't leave my back although the lips left my neck. I saw two men garbed in dark grey cloaks emerge from the trees on my right and left.
The woman on my back jumped down as they emerged. "Felix?" My arms were pinned behind my back and I got my first look at the sprite who had caught me so easily. She wasn't wearing a robe as they did. She was dressed in a frock that looked like it had just come off a runway in Europe. It was black, ruffled across the bodice and short enough to show the legs that seemed too long for her diminutive frame. She couldn't be more than five feet. Her black hair stood out in numerous directions, all short cropped, and her eyes were brilliant red. They looked past me now, right through me, and she tapped her lips with her finger. "She'll be at an old house with Carlisle. Well, he's changed his style a bit since seventeen hundred, but I'm pretty sure it's Carlisle." She giggled. "Your house?" she asked me. She looked into my eyes. "After all, you follow Cullen's way."
I didn't answer.
"Oh come now, soldier. We aren't going to hurt the girl. We just want to round up everyone involved in that incident yesterday. I imagine that includes you and Carlisle as well." A sneer marred her beautiful features. "And the eely redhead," she hissed. "Your girl disappeared on me this morning. And the whole incident, after the initial attack, was black yesterday. How did you do that?"
I arched an eyebrow. I had no idea what she was talking about. She frowned and tapped her foot when I didn't answer. She was sort of cute when she got a snit on. She wasn't really angry, just irritated, annoyed.
"Alec," she snapped again. "You can find Jane and Demitiri, yes?"
"Of course, Alice."
"Then do that. Take Felix. These aren't going to give us trouble, but Jane and Demitri are going to need your help. I'm going to meet Carlisle and this girl. I want answers. Nothing has ever blocked me before." She stalked off in a huff, in the direction of my house. I looked to the two men. The larger one shrugged and followed the other. I looked back to the girl. Did she really expect me to simply follow her?
"You will follow me, Mr. Cullen. If you don't, I'll take your head." She didn't even turn to me. She was still walking, not running.
I came to her side. "Who are you?" Her irritation had been replaced with excitement.
"I'm your mate," she said simply.
I laughed out loud. "Well of course you are. How could I not see that?"
"Why didn't you come to the diner? I was so certain you would. Did you change your mind or did I?"
She really made no sense whatsoever, so I didn't try to answer.
"I can't wait to meet her. We're going to be great friends you know." She clapped her hands and her glee almost knocked me over. This girl bounced around emotions worse than most of my classmates. "And Carlisle! I've always wanted to meet Carlisle. Ever since Aro told me about him. A vampire who never tasted a human. I didn't think it would be possible. He is so unusual, so singular. I want to understand." she was still muttering, seemingly to herself.
"What is your name, soldier?" she asked, her irritation suddenly back.
She was talking to me now? "J-Jasper," I stuttered.
"It is wonderful to meet you, Jasper, even if it is sixty years late. I still don't understand what happened there. One day I'm waiting for you and the next Eleazar is taking me to Italy. It really wasn't how I saw it." She didn't stop walking.
I hoped she wasn't expecting an answer, because she wasn't getting one. The irritation fled again in a wave of lust. What in the hell? I couldn't keep up with this girl.
"That's her isn't it?" Then I caught the scent of Bella. We were within sight of the house. Bella was sitting on the porch with Carlisle. Bella's head rested on his shoulder and she held his hand. They were both delightfully happy.
The sprite next to me ran from my side and stopped in front of the pair. She wrapped her arms around both of them. "I'm so happy to meet you!" she sang.
I was at her side in an instant, prepared to stop her going for Bella.
"Wow, you smell really good," she murmured, eyes finding Bella's.
Bella's eyes were wide and I felt her fear. The sprite was still nothing but excitement. Carlisle was curious and anxious, probably for the same reason I was.
"And you are?" Carlisle asked.
"Oh, my manners have left me entirely. I am Alice of the Volturi." She smiled.
"Vol-Volturi," Bella croaked.
"Yes. I'm afraid you all made quite a scene yesterday. We broke into the police files. Giant wolves, men made of light." She tutted. "Much too much to ignore. However, I also know that the pair of you were not the instigators. After all, that was the only part I saw. How did you hide it? I never saw a giant wolf."
I looked to Carlisle, but he was just as confused as I was. "I'm sorry, Alice. We don't understand," he told her.
She shook her head with a smile. "Of course you don't. I'm being rude again. I am a precog. I can see the future. I saw the blonde and redhead attack this girl," she indicated Bella, "but before they struck everything went black. I've never had that happen before. And then today, I looked for her, and she had disappeared. Is it you?" she asked turning to Bella. "Do you have the ability to hide from my sight?" She cocked her head for a moment. Bella's anxiety rose. "No. I see your future just fine now. We're going to be great friends," she said with a grin, lust and pleasure swelling in her again as she ran a hand over Bella's cheek and sighed. "And you're going to be one of us!" She clapped her hands. "So exciting!"
Carlisle scowled, but Bella smiled for the first time in this exchange.
"But if it isn't you..." Again her mood shifted like lightning. I hadn't felt such rapid changes since I'd left the newborn armies. Newborns had no control over their emotions either. Alice seemed to have control, she just didn't choose to use it. "Demetri," she sighed. "You'll have to excuse me, I'm afraid. The others are having no luck tracking the other two. That redhead is as slippery to them as me. You will be here when I return," she warned. "You are not in trouble, but my master will want to speak to all three of you." She met each of our eyes. Then she wrapped Bella in another hug. Bella's hands were on her back too as she looked to Carlisle who shrugged. She patted Alice's back. Alice kissed her cheek, and then her nose. "So good to meet you. All of you." She squealed in excitement. "I won't be gone long!"
So, did you see that coming? Yay! Alice! I love Alice.
Recommendations: http:/www()fanfiction()net/s/5617616/1/ The Long Road Home, A story featuring Rosalie, and therefore awesome.
http:/www()fanfiction()net/s/5884459/1/Roman_Candle And this one because it's a messed up Edward. I love putting the boots to Edward.
As always, thanks go to Sharebear for keeping up with my endless writing.