A/N: This chapter is about Alice and Michael again. In the next few chapters you will be learning more about him and his background and the rest of Alice's visions. Enjoy and review if you can.

Chapter 25 – We Meet Again

I had not seen the stranger since the day I found out his name, Michael. I knew he recognized the Cullen name and then he was gone. He didn't even say good bye. If he was one of the members of my family, I might have had to chastise him for his rude behavior.

After he left me standing in the clearing, I scanned the future trying to find some hint of what he was doing. I needed to know if this meeting would bring about another form of danger that could hurt my family. I saw nothing except another meeting and another conversation. No danger appeared in my mind. This did not mean I would relax my guard.

I knew I trusted my visions and they would lead me on the path I needed to walk. They had brought me to the here and now, but red-eyed vamps that knew the Cullen name could not fully be trusted. I needed to know more about this vampire before I could trust him.

As I sat upon the couch in the living room of my cozy house reading a book, a new vision came to me. Well it looked like Jasper would get to introduce his new love to his best friend. Bella would be safe around Peter and his mate Charlotte. It looked like the couple was showing up at just the right time since Jasper and Bella would be leaving soon to head south. They would be in Forks within a few days. I needed to be sure to get a message to Carlisle before they showed up so that the family could be prepared.

I really couldn't believe that Jasper had agreed to head to Florida. I knew he missed Texas and we had periodically visited his home state here and there, but he was going to be staying with Bella's mom and step dad. It would be hard to explain why he wasn't going to be the beach during the day or why he never went anywhere during the day. Florida wasn't called the sunshine state for nothing. I was sure he had a plan and would figure it out. I only knew that the trip showed Renee giving her approval of the union and them returning to Forks to spend her remaining days as a human with her father.

The thought of Bella turning into a vampire and being welcomed even further into the folds of the Cullen family brought a smile to my face. She would make a wonderful vampire. Where she was clumsy as a human, she would now be graceful. Bella was made to be a vampire and would fit in perfectly into their world. She already fit in and she was still human. I giggled a little at that thought. No one would be able to deny that although she didn't always fit into the human world, she would fit perfectly into the world of the supernatural. I was excited for her.

As much as it hurt that I had to leave Jasper, I was happy that things seemed to be working out for Bella and him. He deserved all of the happiness I couldn't give him. I think there was something more perfect for both of us. I know what I saw for me, but even that last vision gave me pause. Jasper was going to be even happier with Bella than he ever was with me.

All of the sudden, I heard steps out in the back. A stick just broke. Well it seems that my stranger has decided to come back and make himself known. I couldn't imagine that he would make all of that racket on purpose.

I slowly closed the book I was attempting to read and put it to the side. Stretching and taking my time, I finally stood up and made my way to the back windows. I looked out towards the forest and just beyond the tree line, there he was. He was wearing a different outfit and seemed to be looking for something as he stared at my house. I know that he was probably looking for me since I am the only one that lived here, but I am not so vain to think that someone would automatically seek me out. Maybe he was just curious and thought if he got another look, the answers would come to him.

The answers would not come without the questions being asked. I know I was a curiosity along with the rest of my family. We were the minorities of the vampire world because we chose to spare human lives and hunt animals. My family, along with some of our friends, believed that life was precious. We could survive on animal blood and that is what we would continue to do. I always cringed at the thought of taking a human life. How could I take life when I knew they could be a friend or family member I didn't remember or a descendent of one of them? I just couldn't do it. I would never do that. I have been tempted, but have been able to resist and I will continue to resist.

I opened up the back door and stepped outside. I walked slowly through the backyard, continually scanning the tree line and keeping Michael in my sites. He had not really moved from the spot he occupied when I first looked out the window. I finally made my way to the woods, giving him a wide berth for my safety as well as to prevent spooking him.

As soon as I hit the woods, I ran. I knew immediately where I needed to go. I knew that we would talk again today and that conversation would happen in the clearing that we had our first conversation. It was time to get some questions answered and to answer some of the questions that he had for me.

I stopped in the middle of the clearing and turned around. I knew he would be behind me. Not because I could smell him or heard him, but because I saw it in my head. There he was, he had just stepped out of the tree line and was keeping distance between us. I was not sure if that was to show that he did not mean to threaten me or because he was wary, but either way I was grateful for it.

"I see you have returned," I said to him after a few minutes of silence while we sized each other up.

"I have. I actually left the area for a short period of time, but found myself here again," Michael responded.

"What can I do for you?"

"You are a curiosity that I find I am captivated by."

"I see. Are you sure that it isn't just my last name?" I asked him raising an eyebrow. I watched his reflexively swallow and his mouth drop open, "I noticed you seemed surprised when I said the Cullen name."

Michael took one step towards me, but not more. I held my ground. I still saw no danger in my head. In fact soon we would be sitting in the middle of the clearing laughing together, but that is not today.

"I recognized the name because it is well known in our circles. Carlisle Cullen is somewhat of an oddity and I know that others have followed his way of life so to speak. I also know that he was once close with the Volturi. Am I wrong?" Michael asked. He seemed curious and hesitant, but not hostile.

"That is true," I responded back. That explained why the Cullen name sent a shock through him.

"Why are you not with your clan now? Why are you alone?"

"I am here because of my reasons and my reasons alone. I, however, choose not to share what my reasons are with you. I still keep in touch with them, but for reasons known to me, a separation was needed for a short period of time."

"Why do you do it?"

"Why do I do what?"

"Follow his way of life and drink from animals and not humans."

Michael seemed very curious about my way of life, "I already explained that to you. I do it because I choose to appreciate human life and not steal life away from another. I choose not to murder."

"Is that all?"

I tilted my head to look at him, to study him. I wasn't sure what he was trying to figure out, "Yes, I don't want to kill someone that could be a friend or family. Why steal someone's life away when I have other means to sustain me?"

Michael seemed to contemplate what I said and took there for a minute before he spoke again, "Is that why your eyes are not red?"

"Yes, the blood of animals will turn your eyes golden instead of red," I explained. I will still on guard, but he seemed to be very interested in my way of life. I immediately got another vision, one with Michael and golden eyes instead of red. It appeared I had a possible convert in my midst.

"Is it hard to get used to?"

I chuckled, "Well if you have been on the diet of human blood for a while, it could be difficult to change, but not impossible." I thought of Jasper and his conversion. It wasn't easy for him in the beginning and I don't think it fully clicked until he almost hurt Bella, but he had been able to live the life. If he could do it, I was sure almost any other vampire could do it. "Did you want to try?"

Michael's eyes widened minutely and then narrowed. He was studying me and the look on his face told me that he couldn't decide if I was serious or an alien. He finally spoke, "Not today, but maybe in the future."

The vision solidified, he would change. I smiled knowingly, "When you are ready, you know where to find me. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to hunt."

I took off and left him in the clearing to ponder what I said. He wasn't quite ready to take that next step, but he was close. One thing I learned about converting someone to the vegetarian way of life, it took time and patience. They had to make the decision for themselves. No one else could do it for them. I wished more would convert, but understood that everyone had their own way of life and had to live it to the best of their ability. I pushed those thoughts aside, now it was time to eat.