A/N: Thank you for all of the reviews on the last chapter! It was a fun one to write and I really wanted to include the arm wrestling between Bella and Emmett. It is one of the bit parts I really love from the story. Really happy that you enjoyed it! Here is the next chapter, let me know what you think…

Chapter 43 – Pounce

Alice POV

It was done. I knew it was coming and I knew she would be different from others of our kind. How did I know? Well, because I could see it all unfolding in my mind before it actually happened. I knew everyone would be surprised and shocked about how controlled she was going to be, but I didn't warn them. I felt it was a nice surprise for a change.

I laughed to myself as I replayed my vision in my head. I couldn't be there to see the looks on their faces when Bella finally awoke from her burning stage, but this was the next best thing. They were a little baffled by her, but by now they really should be surprised. Bella was a little different to begin with.

Bella was a conundrum. She wasn't shocked or surprised to hear about Edward's gift and thought she was the weird one when she was like a blank slate for him. She accepted all of us without question. It wasn't only the vampire part of things, but the gifts and nuances that went along with being a vampire. Granted she did feel more comfortable with vegetarian vamps than she did around the human drinkers, but I really couldn't blame her for that one. As a human, I would probably feel better in the presence of people who I knew would not try to suck me dry.

Changing Bella was one of the best things the Cullen family could have done. Bringing us all together and making our family was also a blessing, but Bella was destined to be a vampire and letting her go through the change was a good thing. I know that I am biased because of Jasper, but now that Bella is one of us, I know that he will never be alone again. He will never feel that anxiousness again. His spirit can settle down now that he has her by his side.

I knew that Jasper had a lot of questions and struggles in his life. I could feel his restlessness even when we had been together for years. He wondered if we were meant to stay with the Cullen coven forever or if there was something else out there for us. We didn't leave because he struggled with his lifestyle change, but I knew one day that paths would separate. I wasn't sure what exactly that meant at the time, but now I do. The path that Jasper and I were on would separate and we would have to continue our journey alone. My eyes wandered to Michael and I thought of Bella, well maybe not exactly alone. Jasper and I might have loved each other, but we were not the end all be all for each other. Our true mates were out there somewhere; we just had to find them.

I know that I tried to convince myself that Jasper was my true mate, but there was a pull there sometimes and I felt like something or someone was calling to me. I wasn't sure what or where it was, but eventually I started to become more aware. I still didn't want to admit anything until that fateful day when I was forced to face everything head on. Bella had broken up with Edward and she was fated to be with Jasper. The vision that had me screaming and then running. I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

I had visions prior to that, but they would come and go and I would ignore them because I kept seeing Jasper and I together, at least for now. I knew when I received that vision, this one was different. The time had come and I had to leave. It was one of the hardest decisions I had ever made in my life. I looked once more over to Michael and smiled. That decision had become the single best decision I could have ever done for myself.

Michael had come into my life when I was feeling lonely and all together a little low, and I needed someone. It turns out he was there for another low point in my life, but at the time I was human. He didn't really know anything about my life pre-vamp besides seeing me in that asylum, but that is ok. I had a connection with him that I didn't have with many, or anyone else.

When he arrived it was like a fresh breeze had blown into my life and everything was new again. My anxieties and loneliness started to dissipate and I felt free. I was cautious when I first met him because I was taught to be cautious of strangers, he was a watcher in the woods, but soon he became more. I knew who he was the first day I saw him watching my house. He was the one that my unbeating heart had been calling out to. The pull was for him. My visions told me who he was going to be in my life and I had to beat down the anticipation of what was to come.

I will admit that I thought that it was going to be harder, more difficult than it was, but everything between us seemed to come so easy once we were together. I remember struggling at times with Jasper, but with Michael everything flowed like the current. It fit into place and worked together without any kind of exertion. I found that when things did not have to be forced, it was beautiful. Just as Bella was Jasper's destined mate, Michael was mine.

I got up from my place by the computer and walked over to where Michael was on the couch reading a book. I sat down next to him and laid my head on his shoulder. His arm automatically went around my shoulders and pulled me close. This was where I belonged and I sighed with contentment.

"Are you alright?" Michael pulled his eyes away from the page he was reading and looked down at me.

I had closed my eyes as soon as his arm went around me, and found myself smiling at his words, "Yah, I was just thinking about everything that has happened. It seems like a lifetime of activity has been shoved into the last several months." I opened my eyes and looked into his, "But I don't think I would change anything. Well maybe Victoria and her little pop up surprises, but everything else has been good."

Michael leaned down and kissed my nose and then my lips, "Me too. Did you call Carlisle about the visit the Volturi are going to be making soon?"

I leaned up to kiss him again and said, "Yep. That is all taken care of."

Michael smirked, "Did you tell him that we are coming for a visit after they leave?"

"Nope, not yet. I don't want the Volturi to get wind of anything. Besides, we have to wait for the dress to be completed. I can't go to Montana without that dress. Bella really needs it."

"Needs? Isn't that kind of an exaggeration?"

I stared at him in shock. I can't believe he said that and then I giggled. Men just don't understand the concept of need and want when it comes to certain things. I pounced on him and his book flew across the room. He could always pick it up later; right now I needed some me time.

Michael POV

I lay there in bed with an angel in my arms watching as the rare sunlight streamed through the slats in the blinds and landed on her. She sparkled literally and figuratively. Alice was the reason I finally felt at peace.

Changing from a human to an animal diet had been easier than I thought, but I realized when I had made the decision to change, I would have done anything to be with her. I still would. If it meant making her happy and being with her, I would do it. She was my better half.

When I had stumbled into her life accidentally, I tried to run away, but found that I was dragged back and I couldn't leave her. She pulled me to her and in her I had found the one person I had been searching my life for. Alice Cullen was my mate. Breathing in her scent, I found myself smiling automatically.

I knew Alice was wanted by the Volturi, but I also knew that she could use her gift and we could stay a few steps ahead of them. They would not catch us and I would make sure that Alice stayed safe. I had never had such an inherent feeling to protect anyone or anything before. It surpassed anything I felt for my human family when they were still alive. She was mine and no one was going to get to her except for me.

Alice had seen the visit the Volturi were going to make and knew she had to warn her family. She might have left them physically, but she never left them behind in spirit. I had hoped that one day I would meet them and found myself saying that last statement out loud. She had turned around with a giggle pausing before she called Carlisle and told me I would in a few months. She just needed to make some preparations. Once the Volturi were gone, we would head out. Well as long as the dress was done. I am not sure why it was so essential, but she said it was and I would understand one of these days soon. I know that is her way of telling me something, but really she might need to spell it out for me.

Alice knows something about what is going to happen and I am in the dark. I chuckled, I am in the dark a lot, but that is ok, I find I don't mind at all. Pulling Alice closer to me, I kissed the top of her head. No, I don't mind at all as long as I have her by my side.