Jasper

I set our bags by the door for the driver to fetch. I pulled her into my arms and she kept her face hidden from my view. "You ready to go see the kiddos?"

She nodded yes and I took her out to the waiting car.

She worried me. She had not spoken one word during her stay and I often found it frustrating.

I was hoping Edward could get more of a rise out of her or at least her children; she would have to talk to her kids.

The ride to the Cullen Estate in England was a short one from the airport. She smiled slightly as we drove up and Elizabeth was waiting hopeful on the front porch.

Her smile quickly changed and I could tell she was fighting back the tears that threatened to escape.

It was obvious that she missed her daughter horribly. Alice stood next to her with little Anthony in her arms waiting for me to arrive.

Bella was quickly accosted by Elizabeth but hugged her back fiercely, kissing her little cheeks. Little Elizabeth was crying openly to have Bella back. She had to do something, change something; she couldn't continue to hurt her daughter like this.

I watched her worried. She still had not spoken; just hugged, kissed and held Elizabeth tightly.

She finally was released from her daughter's grasp and reached for little Anthony. He went to her but hesitated, he didn't remember her for a moment.

She kissed his little cheeks and he finally rested his head on her shoulder, hugging her with his one little arm around her neck and the other hand fisting her sleeve.

My heart ached for her and her kids.

She couldn't leave them again. They were just babies; they needed their mother.

Elizabeth gripped Bella's free hand and pulled her into the house.

She followed hesitantly, and I followed them inside.

Elizabeth spoke rapidly about her lessons, tutors and her time with Esme and Edward. Elizabeth was leading her to the music room but stopped in the doorway.

Edward sat on the bench.

The look on Bella's face went from shame to anger. That expression clearly said she was angry with Edward for keeping her babies from her.

He said her name but she didn't look up or acknowledge him.

"Bella, please."

Edward started to beg but I stepped into the room behind her. "Edward, why don't you give them some time?" I nodded towards Bella and the children.

"Yes, of course." He followed me out of the room and collapsed on a bench in the hall. "What have I done, Jasper? Will I never get her back? She won't even look at me."

I patted his shoulder to try and comfort him. He looked completely broken, almost as broken as Bella, but at the same time I wanted to hit him.

I didn't know why Bella left; I just knew it was Edward's fault.

"How about you tell me what's going on with you two."

Edward looked at me surprised. "She hasn't told you?"

"No, Edward, as you may have noticed, she isn't talking to anyone."

"What? What do you mean? She hasn't spoken for the two weeks she's been gone?"

"Well, from what I gather and from what I've seen, she never speaks anymore. Even now as she greeted Elizabeth, she hugged and kissed her but didn't say a word. The only sounds I've heard from her this whole time has been when she cries."

"How do I fix this, Jasper?" Edward asked, roughly attacking his hair with his hands. The music from the other room filtered into the hallway. I listened to Elizabeth play for her mother. "I have to fix this."

"What happened?"

"That's just it, I don't know!" Edward's words were rushed as he spoke. "It was the night of Anthony's party; she'd overheard another dispute and me defending her, damn it. She said she didn't belong here, that she wanted to go home. I promised her we would leave. She fell asleep in my arms and then when I woke up, she was gone."

Something didn't sit right with me. I knew there was more to this story and needed Edward to spit it out if I was going to help him. "Are you sure that's all she said, that was all she was upset about?"

Edward rubbed his face roughly. "She wanted to know what I would say if she didn't have money?"

"What?"

"She belongs here, Jasper, she's just as wealthy as the next snob, and I let them know it. She wanted to know if I would still love her if she were poor. Look, it was a stupid line of questioning. It's obvious that I loved her poor; she barely had change for a cup of coffee when I met her. She was poor when I fell in love with her, Jasper. I don't give a damn if she has a penny to her name or not, I just love her and need her."

"What was your answer?" I asked and Edward looked at me confused. "When she asked what you would say to them if she had no money, what did you say?"

"I told her I would tell them to fuck off."

I laughed and patted his shoulder. "Very eloquent argument there, my friend."

"Well, she caught me off guard and that's really how I feel, anyone who doesn't love my Bella can just fuck off."

I gave him a weary smile. "That's how I feel as well." I stood up and walked to the music room door. "She isn't speaking but I'd hoped the children would get her to talk. I've never seen her in all states of emotional hell, but never this bad, Edward. I don't know if she's going to be able to hold it together without her kids. Is there any chance you would rethink keeping the children here?"

Edward's sad eyes met mine. "I don't want to keep them from her. I told Ben to let her know she could come as often as she liked. Hell, I want her to stay, Jazz. I need her to stay. I'm afraid if she takes the children, she'll up and disappear and I'll never see her or my kids again. I love them, Jasper, I love all three of them more than my own life. I need them anyway I can take them."

"She wouldn't keep them from you, Edward."

"She was trying to sneak out with them!"

"She wouldn't keep them from you. I know Bella; she just wanted to escape, to run like she always does. She wouldn't keep the children from you; she doesn't have it in her to do that to you. She still loves you."

Edward's broken eyes met mine, hoping my words were true. I knew he needed Bella like he needed air and he couldn't breathe; even now with her here, she was not acting like his and it was hurting him so much.

We watched as Bella walked out of the music room with the children. Her face held a small smile that wasn't reflected in her eyes as Elizabeth led her away.

"Just think about what I said," I spoke quietly to Edward.

He just nodded in response.