Chapter Forty Six

Bella

I felt Jazz relax eventually and I pulled back to look into his face,

"She's gone then?"

"Yes. It's over, now I have to tell Carlisle"

"I think you're too late, Peter went in there a while ago"

"That was my responsibility not his"

"I don't think he sees it that way, he's just watching your back as always. He's a good friend Jazz"

"Yes he is, even though sometimes it doesn't seem like it"

He put his arm around me and we walked out of the barn together just as Peter came out of the house Jamie whooping at the top of his voice and carrying a ball while balancing on his Uncles shoulders.

"Daddy, me and Uncle Peter are going to play football. You want to join us? I asked Uncle Emmett and he's coming out in a minute."

I pushed Jazz forward,

"Go play with Jamie and the guys. I'll find Carlisle and talk to him."

He looked at me gratefully, took a deep breath and ran over to join the others. I hoped it would take his mind off what he'd been forced to do.

Rose

I saw Bella looking round,

"Did you see Carlisle go off?"

"Yes, he went towards the river. Emmett told me he thought they were going to kill Esme. Did they?"

I wasn't sure what her response would be, after all Esme had been a mother to her for years.

"Yes they did."

"Hey no need to be defensive with me, I understand why. I just don't understand why she did it. She just seemed to lose the plot all at once."

"What you mean is she lost it when Edward and I broke up. She blamed me for everything that went wrong and Alice fed that resentment. I blame her for a lot of this Rose. I wish we could get hold of her."

"That might be difficult, don't forget she's involved with the Volturi and Aro will always protect her, he wants her in his ranks too much to let her go."

"I figured as much but it doesn't stop me wishing. Do you think its over now Rose? I guess I can answer my own question"

"Edward and Gemma have gone by the way, they left before Emmett got back with huge apologies but Aro rang, he called Edward back. I guess he wanted to know what they'd found out and by his tone he wasn't happy by the lack of information he was receiving."

Bella

I decided it was about time we were honest with everyone about what was going on, everyone knew a bit but no one had the complete picture,

"I think we need a family conference when Jamie goes to bed Rose."

"Yeah I thought you might say something like that. At least if we know what's going on we can decide what, if anything, needs doing. You can trust us Bella, none of us would do anything to harm Jamie or you and Jazz."

"I know Rose but its been so complicated. I'm just glad Edwards gone. Does anyone have any idea where Alice and this Stefan are?"

"No, no ones heard from her unless its Carlisle. I'll go find him and ask him to come back. He should be here if were going to discuss what to do"

"Yes and I need to speak to him, to say how sorry I am about Esme."

"Thank you Bella but there's really no need. I'd very much like to be involved in your family conference if that's allowed."

"Carlisle you are family, of course we want you there"

"I should speak to Jasper first. He may have other ideas."

Carlisle smiled sadly as he said this and went back into the house

"I'll go sit with him Bella"

Rose

Carlisle was busy putting away the book he'd been showing Jamie before Peter interrupted and he turned as I came in,

"You know Rose I wont be upset if they don't want me to stay any longer, it must be very difficult all round. After all I could be a spy for Aro."

"No you couldn't Carlisle. You don't like his methods any more than the rest of us and you think too much of Jamie"

He took my hand,

"Rose thank you. I just hope the rest see things the same way you do but we'll see."

We heard a shout from outside followed by the sound Jamie always made when he scored a goal, a cross between a jet aircraft taking off and a sonic boom. He certainly had a good pair of lungs on him!

"True, and soon we'll get the results of the tests I did. It will be interesting to see how much vampire DNA he has."

I'd forgotten about the tests we did, what with Edward turning up and Esmes actions. I was as curious as Carlisle because Jamie seemed almost like a human boy but we knew he was more than that by his rate of growth and intelligence, the speed with which he learned to walk and talk. I could see him out doing Carlisle in brains before he finished growing.

Bella

I watched as the guys fooled around allowing Jamie to score goal after goal without letting him see they weren't playing seriously. Peter and Emmett spent most of the time showing off their ball skills which to be honest were pretty good, but Jamie's eyes never left Jazz for long and I had to smile. The bond between father and son was getting stronger every day and Jamie seemed to live for the times he and Jazz went off together to do something alone. I think he liked the feeling of closeness they forged while I was changing, a small part of his life I had missed out on, to my regret. As the light started to fade I called him in for supper and bath time which resulted in a squabble over whose turn it was to give Jamie his bath. He ended it by grabbing Rose's hand,

"Auntie Rose and I are going to play Bomb the Boats but you can play too if you like"

As all three of them raced up the stairs with Jamie firmly clutching Roses hand I groaned. If they weren't careful the ceiling would collapse under the weight of water that would be spilling over the bath. Peter and Em could be a little over enthusiastic sometimes! Charlotte laughed to see my expression,

"Never mind Bella it will give them something to do, patching the ceiling."

Jasper

I threw the ball in the barn and put Mr Blue in his stable for the night before going in to join the others, well Bella and Char. From the shouts and screams upstairs I deduced that bath time was an all hands affair. Taking Bella in my arms I kissed her throat,

"Time alone and peace. Lets fool around"

Char coughed discreetly

"What am I then?"

"Close your eyes Char and forget we're here"

"I tell you what. You and Bella go outside for half an hour."

"Only half an hour?"

"Speed things up. Jamie will be down by then demanding a goodnight hug from Mummy and Daddy"

We looked at each other laughing, and ran out into the night, half an hour wasn't long but you took what time you could get with Jamie around the rest of the time.