Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.


19. GOODBYES

Charlie was waiting up for me, no doubt anxious since Bella came home livid. All the house lights were on save for Bella's room. From what I'd seen, the plan works, but it's not going to be pleasant.

Jasper came up slowly, pulling up in front of the house instead of in the driveway, all three of them acutely alert, ramrod straight in their seats, listening to every sound of the woods, looking through every shadow, catching every scent, searching for anything out of place. The engine cut off, and I sat, silent as possible, as they continued to listen.

"He's not here," Jasper said quietly. "Just like you said."

I only sniffed at him haughtily. "Never question me." He spared a thin smile at my brief levity before it vanished.

"Time to go." I nodded stiffly and leaned back as Jasper speedily undid the harness.

"Don't worry li'l sis," Emmett said in a low but cheerful voice, "we'll take care of things here quickly."

"You better," I said with mock severity after Jasper had set me down on the ground, having to go on my toes to reach up and muss up his hair. Emmett chuckled and allowed it, making it easier for me by leaning down a little.

"Rosalie, Emmett." Jasper's tone carried command in it. Rosalie stalked soundlessly into the darkness, Emmett getting in the driver's seat of his jeep. Jasper wrapped one arm around my waist as he led us to the porch, eyes constantly scanning our surroundings.

"Fifteen minutes," he reminded to fill the tense silence.

"Fuck all," I said shakily as my breath hitched and hinted at descending to hyperventilation. Yep, I was starting to panic under the pressure. "I'm definitely gonna need you to keep me near sedated to stop me from panicking for that amount of time," my voice slightly raised with the edge of hysteria.

Immediately, a wave of calm and affirming determination washed over me, stifling the budding vines of panic that corded and writhed uncomfortably in my chest and stomach. Trade quips with the bloodthirsty psycho vampire after my hide? No problem! Blatantly lie and cause emotional upheaval to my incredible, amazing, loving father? Not fucking okay.

My lower lip trembled when both of Jasper's arms wrapped securely around my waist, pressing his chest comfortingly to my back and taking a deep breath, nose nuzzling the back of my left ear. Automatically, I copied his action, taking a deep, fortifying breath and expelling it gently through slightly parted lips, closing my eyes to relish the feel of Jasper's cool breath ruffling my short hair and his alluring natural scent of leather, apple, and vanilla.

"You can do this," Jasper murmured in comfort. "He'd understand, he'll always love you. Doing this will keep him safe."

"Doing this will keep him safe," I repeated in the same low tone, chanting it slowly in my head. "He'll be safe," I whispered it once more, slowly, tasting the words leaving my slightly trembling lips. "Safe."

"I'm righ' here," was the only thing he said in response.

"Showtime," I said with a wry smirk before I put on my 'game face' and opened the door with an urgency I brought to the forefront. "I'm telling you, you don't have to come, Jasper!" I said loudly in exasperation, though my voice was notably stressed. Jasper, being the boss he was, caught on immediately.

"And I'm telling you that I'm not letting you go by yourself!" Jasper replied with equal exasperation, voice firm.

"It'll be hard enough to convince my dad-"

"Convince me of what exactly?" Charlie interrupted as we rushed into the living room, both of us startling quite convincingly at the 'unexpected' interruption. "Does this have anything to do with why Bella came home silently fuming and holed herself up in her room?"

"She didn't tell you anything? Accuse me of dirty lies? Convince you I'm the essence of an entitled teenager?" I asked incredulously.

"What on earth happened for you to think that?" Dad asked, completely taken aback by the questions. I shifted nervously from foot to foot, fidgeting as one would expect from an awkward teen.

"Uh, well I kind of got an emergency call from a friend in Phoenix, or rather a friend of a friend," I babbled, "telling me that said friend is seriously in a bad way and asking if I could potentially go down to support them as soon as possible. They weren't guilting me into it or anything, but-" I hastily tried to add, hoping Dad would make his own inferences.

"You being you, you agreed immediately and are all set to pack your bags and fly out now," he groaned, raising a hand to rub his scrunched temples. Surprisingly enough, or perhaps not, if the story were true, it wouldn't be the first time I'd dropped everything to reach out to a friend in need; the suicidal tendencies of hormonal teenagers was nothing to scoff at and I've been called more than once in their last ditch effort to reach out to someone before they completely threw in the towel.

I'd also had to call more than one ambulance for overdoses, allergic reactions, bursting appendixes, and general clumsiness not amazingly attributed to my sister. It was as if not being born with the same inborn clumsiness as Bella compensated by drawing all kinds of hospital worthy situations out of everyone around me, drawing them to me like flies to honey.

In any case, at least my colorful history of hospital visits helped me in this case, regardless of the distance that now separated us, both Charlie and Renée knew it wouldn't stop me from going if I had the means.

"And Bella got upset over your 'reckless spontaneity', no doubt," Dad continued with a heavy sigh, "but I didn't think she'd get that upset." His eyes narrowed when he caught my sheepish expression.

"Uh, it may have devolved into an argument that led to me possibly, maybe, may have unintentionally insulted Bella and Renée in the same sentence?" I ended with a questioning lilt.

"Seriously?" Dad choked in shock, a pinch of amusement spiking through me as he got that phrase from me; it was teen lingo after all.

"In Maddy's defense, Isabella made some...insulting inferences regarding her," Jasper spoke up hesitantly, quietly as if he was nervous about interrupting, but firm in defending my actions. Dad only sighed in exasperation.

"Yeah, that's kind of what I was expecting. It was probably the last straw in a long line of other digs and subtle insults Bella has given, intentional or not," he muttered, not the least bit angry at me, only tired and understanding. Neither Jasper or I were stupid enough to actually get him mad by mentioning Bella had slapped me in her hissy fit.

"We...should be back in a few days," I managed to get out with minimal hesitation. "Probably." I muttered as I led Jasper to my room, Dad following.

"Considering this situation managed to pop up right before a long weekend, I'm inclined to believe your unnaturally good luck will hold and you'll be back before the week's out," Dad responded dryly as he leaned against the doorway of my room and watched Jasper help me pack, raising a brow at both our lack of reactions when I handed him my delicates to pack.

"Hopefully," I replied absentmindedly, checking my shoulder bag for the basic necessities like my wallet, passport, keys.

"I'd ask you to wait a week, but I know that won't happen," he commented.

"A week?" I questioned, pausing in my hurried packing.

"Renée will be back by then. She called while you two were out. Things aren't going so well in Florida, and if Phil doesn't get signed by the end of the week, they're going back to Arizona. The assistant coach of the Sidewinders said they might have to spot for another shortstop."

I only shrugged at the information, returning to my packing. "I've still got the key to our house." Dad only sighed as I finished packing, Jasper wordlessly zipping the duffel bag* up and slinging it over his shoulder.

"As reluctant as I am to admit it, I feel better letting you go knowing Jasper'll be there with you," he grumbled, looking away, arms crossed. I could only smile warmly, biting the inside of my cheek to keep my lips from trembling and my eyes from watering as I went over to give my daddy a tight hug.

"Love ya, Daddy," I whispered, unable to muster the words any louder for fear of my voice shaking or cracking. Apparently sensing the strange urgency in my action, he returned the hug fiercely, holding me as if he could keep me in the protective circle of his arms forever.

"See you soon, baby girl," he returned, letting me go with a final kiss to the top of my head and a short hair ruffle, looking affected by my intense, silent display of emotion.

I could only give him my own wordless smile of farewell before hurrying out of my room, of the house, with Jasper not a step behind me, tears welling up in my eyes as I got into my car and sped off as soon as Jasper closed his door. I didn't realize I was fully crying until Jasper's cool fingers brushed the tears streaming down my face and I sniffled.

"Pull over, Maddy," Jasper murmured soothingly, gently placing his hand over mine on the steering wheel and steering it to the side. I sniffled again, but nodded tersely, recognizing that we were out of sight from my house and that I was in no condition to drive.

"I left him" I croaked out in self accusation. "I left him, Jasper," I repeated in horror, disgust, loathing. I knew better than most just what Renée had done when she tore Charlie's family from under him all those years ago, his ill hidden desperation and frantic enthusiasm to spend time with Bella and I those first few summers we spent with him, until I soothed the hurt wrought by Renée's selfish theft and abandonment, of both hers and Bella's rejection, the latter's constantly adding to the pain with every stubborn, callous refusal to enjoy her short time with him year after year.

How could I criticize my mother and sister then turn around and do the same-no, worse than them? How was I capable of freely loving my father after having fixed him and then shattering him all over again by leaving him now, no guarantee that I would come back to him?

"You're not your mother," Jasper's firm, assertive statement snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts, only now aware that he was driving, with me in his lap. "You're not your sister. You're doing this to protect him."

I couldn't help the small, tight smile that reluctantly pulled at my lips. Of course Jasper knew what I was thinking. I could only curl up closer to him in my gratitude. Lights flared suddenly behind, signifying that Rosalie and Emmett were following. A stab of fear pierced my chest quick and deep as my mind conjured the image of Charlie in the doorway before I remembered Edward was there, no matter that Bella was his first priority, he would keep Dad safe for her sake.

"The tracker?" I questioned softly, rubbing the half dried tears on my face, wiping the stiff feeling they gave me, away.

"He heard the tail end of our performance," Jasper said flatly. Anticipating my next question, he continued. "The tracker followed us. He's running behind us now."

The following silence became tense at the sudden reality of the situation.

"...We'll be having a very serious discussion about your decisions at the clearing when this is all over, Madeleine," Jasper ground out, voice even but tight and sharp.

I couldn't help but wince at that, knowing it was sure to be highly unpleasant, spending the rest of the ride in thick silence.

"Madeleine?" He questioned, low but commanding as they turned off onto the invisible drive. Knowing what he wanted, I gave it to him.

"He won't attack the house tonight," I murmured, not bothering to sound reassuring with Jasper so upset. Nothing would make him feel better until James was torn apart and burned, this I knew.

We drove right up to the house. The lights inside were bright, but they did little to alleviate the disquieting unknown being housed in the inky blackness of the surrounding forest. Rosalie had my door open before we even stopped; she pulled me out of my seat, cradled me in her arms like a child, and ran me through the door.

We burst into the large white room, Jasper and Emmett at our sides. All of them were there, save Edward, Carlisle and Esme already on their feet at the sound of our approach. Laurent stood in their midst and it was only Rosalie shoving me (gently) in Jasper's shocked but ready arms that kept him from doing more than growling at the nomad as Emmett was.

"He's tracking us," Jasper announced grimly, promising Laurent a slow death with his eyes.

Laurent's expression showed his upset. "I was afraid of that."

"What will he do?" Carlisle demanded from Laurent in chilling tones.

"I'm sorry," he answered. "I was afraid, when your boy there defended her, that it would set him off."

Jasper growled at not only being called a boy by someone so weak, but at the implication of his statement. "Are you saying I should have let him kill her?" Jasper hissed in outrage, the nomad saved from answering by Carlisle.

"Can you stop him?" Carlisle questioned, though he seemed to already know the answer.

Laurent shook his head. "Nothing stops James when he gets started."

"We'll stop him," Emmett promised, not an inflection of doubt in his voice.

"You can't bring him down. I've never seen anything like him in my three hundred years. He's absolutely lethal. That's why I joined his coven."

I openly scoffed at that. I highly doubted most nomadic vampires, never mind James, could actually take on Jasper of all vampires, let alone so large and gifted a coven as the Cullens.

Laurent was shaking his head. He glanced at me, perplexed, and back to Carlisle. "I realize that seers are rare and a human one more so, but are you sure it's worth it?"

Jasper's responding, lethal roar had Laurent actually reeling back in fear. I was sure if Jasper wasn't holding me, Laurent would be dead ten times over.

Carlisle looked grimly at Laurent. "I'm afraid you're going to have to make a choice."

Laurent understood. He deliberated for a moment, his eyes taking in every face, and finally sweeping the bright room.

"I'm intrigued by the life you've created here, but I won't get in the middle of this. I bear none of you any enmity, but I won't go up against James. I think I will head north - to that clan in Denali." He hesitated. "Don't underestimate James. He's got a brilliant mind and unparalleled senses. He's every bit as comfortable in the human world as you seem to be, and he won't come at you head on... I'm sorry for what's been unleashed here. Truly sorry." He bowed his head, but I saw him flicker another puzzled look at me.

"Go in peace," was Carlisle's formal, but firm answer.

Laurent took another long look around himself, and then he hurried out the door.

The silence lasted less than a second.

"And Edward?" Carlisle asked, glancing behind us as if expecting him to jump out. His only answer was an angry snarl from Jasper.

"He's with Bella," Rosalie spat out her name like it was the vilest thing she could imagine.

Carlisle frowned disapprovingly. "How close?" He asked Jasper, referring to James.

"About three miles out past the river," Jasper replied promptly.

"He's circling around to meet up with the taller female," I input helpfully.

"Tell Edward to get here," Carlisle ordered.

"Already did," Rosalie replied curtly. "Told him that if he didn't join our little planning session, the hunter's threat to his precious human would be the least of his worries," she snarled. Her comment was met with a growl that grew closer until Edward appeared before them, not a hair out of place. That soon changed when Jasper disappeared from my side only to show up in my line of sight pinning Edward to the wall by his neck with Emmett holding back Jasper's raised free arm, hand curled into a clawing motion.

"You knew, didn't you?!" Jasper snarled at Edward. "You saw what Madeleine did as soon as she had the visions and you still turned tail and ran with Isabella as soon as you got the chance!"

"Jasper, put him down!" Carlisle shouted, Esme fretting and fluttering her hands uselessly beside him.

"Oh, that's not all I saw," Edward started darkly and I couldn't help but stiffen. "Has she at least told you since it seems she didn't seem to mention it to the rest of us?" Edward taunted, obviously knowing that I hadn't.

"What the hell are you talking about, Edward?" Rosalie demanded, arms crossed, Jasper punctuating the query with a hair raising snarl and squeeze of his neck.

"Being a seer isn't the only thing different about Madeleine." Edward scowled at me. "Why not tell us that this isn't your first life when you told us about your visions. Why hide the fact that you're from some alternate world where this one is no more than a popular book series?" Edward threw the accusations at me.

"Edward, do you even know what you're saying?!" Carlisle breathed in disbelief, obviously wondering if insanity could affect vampires.

"She knew her whole life about vampires, about us, our life stories before she was even born! Or rather reborn. She could have prevented herself and Bella from going to the game since she knew, without her gift, that there would be nomads coming." He sneered, clearly looking down at me as if I were a bug. "If she hasn't even told you that, I doubt she's told you about Alice."

Nope. That was it. I wasn't going to take anymore of his shit. I was getting enough of a guilt trip from myself.

"Shut up!" I shouted, shocking all the Cullens silent. I hadn't even yelled that loudly when I argued with Bella. "What the hell do you know besides what little you managed to steal from my thoughts, you limp dick douchewad!"

Emmett actually snorted into his fist in disbelief and amusement at the insults despite the tense situation, Jasper actually letting him go in his own shock.

"Yeah, I knew that they were coming but my plan had been for you to take Bella away and convince your family that they were a threat to me that couldn't be negotiated with, that needed to be eliminated. It's not like I would have lied! I simply replaced the threat they would have made to Bella with me. I didn't-" I faltered here. "I didn't expect her of all people to show up..." my voice took on a haunted tone.

"Wait, you're tellin' me that you put yourself in danger for your sister. Again?!" Jasper seemed more angry that I put myself in danger again rather than the whole 'past life' revelation, but I'm sure he's tucking that bit of information away for later.

"Neither of them would have been in danger if she had just kept them from coming," Edward snarled petulantly.

"Fuck off, shit scum dick-for-brains," I snarled back at him. "Better the devil I know, than the devil I don't! Ever heard of that phrase?! I'd rather put myself in minimal danger than sign my death certificate now! If you want to do it now than by all means, try! But I'm not about to go down willingly!"

"Let's all calm down and be reasonable here," Carlisle interjected calmly. "We all should know by now that Madeleine wouldn't intentionally put any of us in danger unless it was completely necessary and she knew the outcome would turn out positive." He turned to Maddy. "Now, Maddy, who's this Alice that seems to have thrown off your plans?"

And that's when the gut wrenching guilt kicked back in, stronger than before without the shock and panic in the way. From the way Jasper's head snapped to me then moved to hover just a few feet away, he definitely felt it.

"If I knew Alice still existed, I would have never pursued Jasper," I whispered brokenly, the southern vampire sucking in a sharp breath at that. "I looked and looked, but never saw her until today. She...she was supposed to be with you...with Jasper. She was supposed to have a vision of meeting Jasper at some random diner sometime after she was turned, visions of you and your lifestyle. She was supposed to bring Jasper to you guys, but when I looked for her there was no Alice, but Jasper was still here," I babbled, unable to help but desperately try to explain myself.

"Why didn't you tell me when you admitted to your visions?" Jasper asked, voice pained as his expression, looking betrayed.

"Because I don't see my past life as important! What does it matter now?!"

"Not that," Jasper denied. "Why wouldn't you tell me so I could help you?" he demanded, upset at my seeming lack of trust in him. "You did the same thing at Port Angeles."

"Oh, Jasper," I rasped, barely above a whisper. "It has nothing to do with my lack of trust in you, I trust you more than I do myself," I gave a strained laugh. "I already told you, it had to happen. Some things still have to happen and as much as I trust you, I don't trust that Edward won't steal things he's not supposed to know from your thoughts and make everything worse with what I know of the poor choices he may make in the future." I shot a venemous, accusatory glare at Edward.

"We trusted Maddy before this, to be helping us keep our secret and make sure we're happy. Why not trust her now that we know she's far more knowledgeable about our past, present, and future? Just because lovesick Edward wants to pick a fight with her for keeping things from him, probably for good reason. To be honest, I wouldn't share anything regarding the future if I could help it so why should I force her to do the same?" All stared wide eyed, and in some cases gaping, at Rosalie speaking to defend me, myself among them.

"Rosalie...is right," Carlisle eventually said seriously. "This new information doesn't change our feelings for Madeleine, nor our trust in her, but that you attempted to use this private information to set us against her at such a time," Carlisle's disappointed frown at the now stricken looking Edward was more than satisfying to me though I did secretly wish his punishment were longer lasting...and more physical.

"For now, we should focus on the plan to protect Maddy," Esme eagerly continued, more than happy to move past the tense stand off.

"I'm staying and protecting Bella...and Charlie," Edward said immediately. I didn't miss the small, near unnoticeable pause between Bella and Dad's name, as if he were an afterthought. If I had the ability to growl, I would have, as it was, both Jasper and Rosalie growled in my stead, notably displeased/angry at his proclamation. Jasper's angry glare towards his youngest brother was especially vicious.

"What's the plan?" Emmett asked.

"Yes, please grace us with your wisdom, if you'd like, miss know-it-all," Edward drawled slowly, darkly, apparently sulking fromy his earlier scolding. Jasper didn't take too kindly to his words nor how he said them.

"Watch your tone with Madeleine, boy," Jasper warned, voice deep and intimidating, displaying the difference in both age and experience between the two more than I'd ever seen before.

Edward, quite wisely, chose to become silent.

"We'll lead him off, and then Carlisle and Emmett will run her south," Jasper started, in full 'Major' mode.

"And then?"

"As soon as Maddy is clear, you hunt him," Jasper spoke in a deadly tone.

"It's for the best," Carlisle agreed, face determined, sounding far more agreeable to this outcome than his canon counterpart. Jasper turned to Esme then.

"Get her upstairs and trade clothes," he commanded. Esme nodded with grim understanding.

"I'd do it, but you're closer to Esme's size," Rosalie informed with a dismissive wave as Esme swung me up easily into her arms before dashing up the stairs with me before I could get another breath in. I started to strip without a word as soon as I was put down in the dark room. She was handing me her clothes as soon as I had handed her one article of my own. Soon enough, she was taking me back downstairs where Rosalie handed me my small backpack that I'd left in the jeep even before the disastrous game started.

Everything had been settled quickly in the short time it took me to change, looking smaller than I was in the oversized clothes rolled up to fit me and being placed firmly by Jasper's tall frame.

"If you're planning on ruining my hoodie, I fully expect eight new ones when this is all over," I put in for a brief moment of levity. The others blinked at my sudden demand, Rosalie scoffing with approval in her eyes, Esme giggling, and the boys save Edward chuckling.

"You really did plan this from the beginning didn't you?" Emmett smirked. I only sniffed and gave him a superior look. "Then we're definitely not gonna fail!"

Edward and Emmett were ready to leave, Emmett carrying a heavy looking backpack over his shoulder. Carlisle handed Esme a small cell phone, turning to do the same to Jasper.

"Esme and Rosalie will be taking your car, Maddy," he informed as he passed. I only nodded stiffly in response.

"Jasper - take the Mercedes. You'll need the dark tint in the south." He nodded as well.

"We're taking the jeep." Ah, it seemed Carlisle was going with Emmett. "Maddy," he asked, "will they take the bait?" I blinked as they all looked to me, blinking again as I focused my gift to answer the question. Finally, I opened my eyes, wobbling a little as my sight returned to normal. It was always disorienting to see the changes of vision.

"He'll track you. The women will follow my car. As long as you keep changing your mind about your destination, they won't be able to get the jump on you. We should be able to leave after that."

"Let's go." Carlisle began walking toward the kitchen, Jasper remaining firmly by my side, snaking an arm firmly around my waist and pulling my back flush against his chest. A nod from the two older males and they and Edward were gone.

The others looked away politely as Jasper practically melted himself to me, going for as much contact as possible, allowing us a small moment of intimacy.

The silence dragged on, and then Esme's phone vibrated in her hand. It flashed to her ear.

"Now," she said.

Rosalie stalked out the front door, but not before patting my shoulder once and sending me a meaningful glance. Esme put a cool hand to my cheek and lovingly stroked my hair once before gliding out the front door.

"Be safe." Her whisper lingered behind her as she slipped out the door. I heard my car start smoothly, and then fade away.

Jasper waited, phone going to his ear before the first buzz could end.

"Edturd says the women are on Esme and Rosalie's trail." He announced quietly. "Don't you dare," Jasper whispered near silently, his grip around me tightening.

I only shook my head, biting the inside of my cheek to keep form saying anything.

"Don't you dare think any of this is your fault, that you're not worth all the trouble," he continued in the same tone. "No matter how upset I may ever be with you, I will always trust you, believe more than anything that you're worth more than I could ever give."

"It's time to go," I said instead of replying to his heart wrenching declaration.

Jasper wordlessly lifted me into his arms, shielding me protectively, and then we flew out the door, leaving the bright lights behind us.


AN: Ah, it's been a while, but I've managed to eke this one out! Good news for you guys is you won't have to wait long for the next chapter, a week or two at most, since I finished this and the next chapter as a late, very late (I can never do anything on schedule), birthday gift for my friend/beta along with some art and souvenirs from my short trip to Mexico in May(or was it June?) that I have yet to be able to give her.

Ah, by the by, the * note is just a pic of her duffel bag on the Madsper blog and was done out of boredom rather than necessity. In other words, unimportant and so can be ignored. It was honestly just me humoring myself and giving myself a small break so don't worry about it.

So, hope it wasn't too bad or too short. Thanks for reading and reviews are, as alwalys, very much welcome!,(=u=)/