A/N: Alice is back and she is just in time for the wedding. Hmmm, you think it was planned that way? You know how Alice can be. How will everyone react? What will they think of Michael? How will this affect Jasper and Bella? Read and find out. Happy reading and let me know what you think.

Chapter 46 – Homecoming

"Alice?" Carlisle gasped. He could hear the rest of the family's sharp intakes of breath at the mention of the pixie's name.

"Hey Carlisle!" Alice beamed at seeing the patriarch of the Cullen clan. Looking behind her, she said, "Come on Michael." She turned back towards her father figure and said, "Can we come in?"

Carlisle seemed to snap out of the shock of finally seeing his runaway after almost a year, "Yes, of course. Please do. Sorry about that." He watched as Alice and a stranger walked into the house and he immediately closed the door, and was by Esme's side almost instantaneously. Alice may know this Michael character, but Carlisle didn't and his instincts told him to protect his mate from a strange vampire.

Jasper felt and sensed Bella move nearer to him, almost melding to his side when Carlisle said Alice's name. He wrapped his arms around her to pull her as close to him as humanly possible and squeezed trying to reassure her that Alice was his past and she was his future. Bella must have understood his silent message because she looked up at him with a small smile on her face and nodded. He couldn't help it, he gave her his crooked smiled and then leaned down to give her a brief kiss. They had been through so much together; they would get through this also.

When Alice walked into the living room with Michael, everyone's faces showed shock and disbelief; she had to giggle. She also saw the protective stance the men took when Michael entered behind her and knew she needed to make introductions quickly before a fight broke out. Clearing her throat, she spoke up, "Hi everyone. I missed you guys so much. This is Michael, my mate." Giggling when her words registered on everyone's faces, she looked on as their gazes left hers and went to Michael's, only to come back and rest on her.

"Mate?" Esme asked breathlessly.

"Why don't we all have a seat and we can talk," Carlisle offered. He had a feeling that this was going to be a long explanation and although they didn't have a problem with standing, being stunned may work better in a seated position.

Everyone made their way to the couches and chairs in the living room. Jasper not willing to let Bella one millimeter away from him sat in one of the oversized chairs with her on his lap. It wasn't so much afraid that Alice was going to try something; it was more than he wanted to make sure Bella knew who he belonged to. When he heard that the man with Alice was her mate, he was elated for her and a sense of relief washed over him. He knew then that he shouldn't have to worry about what Bella thought or anything else, but it was second nature to keep her close to him.

When they were all seated, Bella spoke first, "How did you two meet? What exactly happened after you left?" She knew those were the questions on everybody's minds. She will admit that she had felt a flitter of fear when Carlisle had said Alice's name, but when Jasper held her tight and kissed her, all worries disappeared. When she heard that she brought her mate with her, she was ecstatic for her best friend and knew that everything had worked out for the best; although she was not going to complain about the seating arrangements.

"Well first of all, let me introduce everyone. Michael, this is Carlisle, his mate Esme, Emmett and his mate Rosalie, and Jasper with his mate Bella. Everyone this is Michael," Alice said smiling.

"Hi Michael. Sorry if we seem a little surprised, but we didn't know and really weren't expecting a visit any time soon," Carlisle tried to explain.

Chuckling, Michael said, "I understand. Alice said that it was best to just show up. Sorry about that, but she also said that this week was the time to visit. So here we are."

All eyes turned onto Alice and she grinned at Michael. Everyone could see the love that she felt for him in her eyes. They were surprised and yet happy for the couple.

Turning to face the crowd that was staring at her, Alice finally spoke up, "Well, I guess I should start at the beginning." She saw everyone nod and she started her tale, "Well I left because Jasper and Bella were meant to be together. I had been having some visions here and there before I left but they would always change and weren't really clear. So I ignored them because after I would get that vision, I would get one of Jasper and I together." Everyone appeared to be a little uncomfortable with this line of talk and kept looking to Michael. Alice laughed and put her hand over his, "He knows everything."

"Please continue," Esme said quietly looking at the new couple in front of her. She could tell that they seemed to share a strong bond and she was curious about where Alice could have found him.

"The night that Bella broke up with Edward, the vision hit me. It was clear and I knew that it would not change again. I saw Jasper and Bella mated and married. I did what I felt was right because I also knew that danger was coming. I left that night and kept in touch with Carlisle when I would get a vision of something headed your way. I may have left in body, but I still thought about all of you. I knew that with Jasper at her side, Bella would come into her own. She would develop into her own person and be stronger than she ever was before, both emotionally and spiritually. I guess now we can throw physically into that mix. She needed Jasper more than she ever needed Edward. When I left, I bounced around a couple of places to make sure that you were not trying to track me and then I ended up in Canada. Forgive me if I don't tell you where because we plan on going back and I am not sure what the Volturi's plans are right now."

"Of course, we understand," Carlisle stated.

"Michael was running through the territory and found my scent. He followed it to my cottage and he would watch me. I knew that he was there and I knew that he fed on humans, but I also got a vision that with time he would be my mate, my true mate. With time he changed his diet and became a vegetarian, and we got closer. I could feel a bond with him the first day I saw him and he felt the same way, but it took time for everything to fall into place for us and when it did, it was like magic. Like all of the puzzle pieces fitting together perfectly. I never felt that before. No offense Jazz," Alice said looking towards Jasper.

Smirking, Jasper nodded, "I know what you mean. No offense taken." He looked down at Bella resting her head on his shoulder and kissed the top of her head.

Her smile growing, Alice continued, "I helped him change his lifestyle by hunting animals and he was there for me when I needed him. It also turns out that he was there the night I was left at the asylum. He was leaving as I was coming in."

"What?" Emmett bellowed. He was surprised, and it was more than evident in his question and on his face.

Michael gripped Alice's hand and started to explain, "I was already a vampire when I was working there. It was a place to get a meal, if you know what I mean. The people there were abandoned by their families and it was not the greatest of places. There were another couple of vampires lurking about though and I decided to get out of there before any trouble could be started. I was very much a loner and had decided that it was time to move on. I remember seeing her profile and thinking that I felt sorry for her. I didn't recognize her at first, but she turned to call Carlisle and I saw her profile. It clicked at that moment and I knew who she was. She had always seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite place why until then. She was the last face I saw in that place."

"So you didn't really know her? You only saw her as you were leaving?" Emmett asked.

"Yes, and I didn't really remember her until I saw her profile that night. I had always wondered what happened to her and how long she survived in that hell hole, but now I know," Michael stated simply smiling as he looked at his mate.

"Well it seems that some things have come full circle," Carlisle grinned.

Alice giggled again, "It does appear that way."

"Michael said that you needed to visit this week. Why?" Rosalie inquired. She was truly happy for Alice and Michael, but wanted to make sure that they were not there to mess up Bella and Jasper's big day. After everything Bella and Jasper had gone through together, they deserved to have their happiness and she would make sure no one ruined it. She didn't care who it was or how close they were to the family.

"Michael, can you get the big box that we brought?" Alice asked softly. She turned to the rest of the people in the room and declared, "We came for the wedding of course, and we brought Bella this."

Bella looked up as a large box was handed to her. She took it with a quizzical look and asked, "What is this?"

"Your dress! Now you don't want to open it down here in front of Jazz, but all of the girls can go upstairs so that you can try it on if you want," Alice answered like it should have been obvious.

"My dress? Jasper and I just decided on when today," Bella said a little confused, which produced a chorus of laughter from everyone else in the room. "Uh yah, never mind and ignore what I just said." She wanted to stay and visit with everyone a little bit more, but she was really curious about the dress. Curiosity won out when she jumped off of Jasper's lap and said, "Let's go try this on now. It isn't too fancy is it Alice?"

"Nope, it will be perfect. Trust me," Alice winked and hopped up off of the couch.

Soon enough all of the ladies were headed upstairs in order to take a look at the dress that Alice brought Bella to wear. Michael was left alone with a group of strangers, one of them happened to be his mate's ex-husband. There was no reason to feel uncomfortable at all, right?

Bella led the way to her and Jasper's room and immediately put the box on the bed lifting the lid. Raising the dress out of the box, her breath was taken away. Alice was right, it was perfect. She went to the closet to put the dress on and when she immerged, she took everyone's breath away. It was breathtaking. The bottom of the dress just skimmed the top of her feet so that it would not drag on the ground. It had an empire waist with cap sleeves, a sweetheart neckline, and a lace overlay over the entire dress. It was elegant and yet perfect for a casual backyard wedding because it had a touch of country. Looking up at Alice, she smiled and said, "Thank you. This is the dress I think I would have picked for my first wedding dress."

"Now for the shoes, I didn't want you sinking into the dirt and ruining a good pair of shoes. I also know that you detest heels, although we really need to work on that, so I got you these," Alice explained as she opened up a smaller box that she had carried up the stairs. Inside laid a new pair of white cowboy boots with silver stitching. "What do you think?" Alice asked smirking already knowing that Bella would love them.

Bella smiled and if she could have, tears would have been forming in her eyes. "I think that those would finish off this dress in the best possible way. It is all perfect just like you said," Bella gushed as she walked up to the petite woman and gave her a hug. Her best friend was back and was right on time.

Hugging her friend back, Alice whispered, "I am glad you like it all, and I am more than happy to be here for the wedding."

"So you are staying?" Rosalie asked as the two women broke apart.

"We are if it is ok with all of you," Alice explained.

Esme walked up to her missing daughter and embraced her, "You are always more than welcome to come home any time you want to. We have missed you."

"Thank you Esme!" Alice exclaimed. She was soon pulled into another hug by Rosalie. It felt good to be back with her family and amongst friends. She had really missed them and although she knew leaving was the best thing to do, it was also one of the hardest things she had ever done in her life. Meeting Michael and knowing that Jasper and Bella were happy, somehow made it all worth it though.

"How long will you be staying?" Bella asked.

"We are here for at least the week, but we may extend it to two weeks," Alice answered.

Esme smiled and declared, "I know this may be selfish of me, but I hope you stay as long as you can, the longer the better."

"Thank you," Alice smiled.

With that the girls started to talk wedding plans and deciding what needed to be done. It may have been happening in the backyard with Carlisle officiating, but it was still a special day and Alice declared that a minimum of decorating still needed to be done. It was good to have her back.

Downstairs, the atmosphere was awkward. It wasn't hostile, just slightly uncomfortable. The Cullen men didn't know what to think of Michael and Michael didn't know what to think of them. He had heard the stories of them and knew all about them, so in that sense he had a leg up on them, but that didn't mean he wasn't a little self-conscious.

Carlisle was the first one to break the strangled silence, "Is she happy?"

"Yes sir, she is. She really likes our little house and we are very happy together. Now that she is in my life, I don't know how I ever got along without her," Michael stated. He knew that he didn't need to give that long explanation, but something told him that the older man was asking more than his simple question.

"So you basically spied on her before you met her?" Emmett asked crossing his arms over his chest. He knew that he was making the other man squirm and intimidating him, but he couldn't help it. Alice was like a sister to him, but mainly he was really enjoying teasing the other man.

Michael cleared his throat, when Emmett put it like that it made him sound like a peeping tom. Clearing his throat again, he said, "I had come across another vampire's scent and was curious. When I saw her living in a house, my curiosity was piqued and I couldn't help but watch her. Then I saw her hunt animals and learned her last name. Needless to say, I was intrigued. I was pulled towards her; there is no other way to explain it. I actually tried to leave the area a couple of time, but always seemed to find myself coming back time and time again."

"I think we can all relate to that," Carlisle said and all of the men nodded their heads in agreement.

Jasper was the only one that had not said anything since the women had left. He was feeling out this new male vampire and could tell that he honestly loved and adored Alice. He could feel the need to be with her, and Jasper knew that Michael was genuine. He would do what needed to be done to protect Alice, and she needed someone like that with the Volturi after her unique gift. Speaking up for the first time, Jasper smirked, "Congratulations. I know that she is in good hands with you. Just make sure you treat her right or you will have a few people to deal with." He couldn't resist adding the little threat at the end.

"I completely understand," Michael muttered and reflexively swallowed. He knew about Jasper's reputation and had known about it long before he met Alice. Jasper was one vampire he never wanted to cross.

"Well now, since all of that is out of the way, congratulations on finding happiness with our little Alice and welcome to the family," Carlisle said and offered the man his hand to shake.

Michael felt like he just took a huge test and passed with flying colors. He knew that he would be under the microscope for a little bit while they were there, but it seemed that they accepted him and he couldn't be happier. Shaking Carlisle's hand, Michael said, "Thank you sir."

The rest of the conversation with the men swirled around Michael and his background. They were trying to get to know him, and thus trying to squeeze as much information out of him as possible. He may have been accepted by the men in the family, but they still wanted to know the man Alice had selected to be her mate. Their talk only shifted to other topics, well mainly the wedding, when the women rejoined the group.

Jasper could feel the peace, giddiness, and love radiating off of Bella when she entered the room and once more sat down in his lap. Giving her a small kiss and his crooked smile, he leaned in and whispered quietly, "I love you."

Placing her face in the crook of Jasper's neck, she whispered softly, "Me too." She felt his arms tighten around her and knew that regardless of what had happened and even if Alice had come back alone, she and Jasper belonged together and no one could come between them.