"'Cause it's me who'll lose you. And I don't choose that. I don't choose that." ~Edward Cullen, Breaking Dawn Part 1

Chapter 118 - I Don't Choose That

Charlie, George, and Harry came late Tuesday night. I sat out in the yard waiting for them, and I could hear the Portkey before I saw it. It made a small whirring sound, and then they dropped.

"Arresto Momentum!" I called before they hit the ground.

"Maybe Portkey isn't ideal with three children," Charlie muttered as he stood up.

"Maybe not," I grinned as I pulled him into a hug.

"How are you, Al?" he said, his grin stretching as wide as mine.

"I'd be a lot better if it weren't for this headache," I admitted.

"How long has it been there now?" George asked. He had Fred attached to his back. Harry had Albus in a similar fashion, and he carried James who ran straight to Jasper upon landing.

"Since they got home last Thursday," I said. "Jasper can numb it, but it doesn't go away completely. The only thing we've found that helps is sleep and distance from Bella and the fetus."

"Are you okay now?" Charlie asked.

I nodded.

"For now. Have you eaten? Kreacher can make you breakfast, or I can."

"That sounds great, Al, but I don't want to trouble you," Charlie said.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

"You know, I'm sure Kreacher is asleep by now…Come on, I'll make you some breakfast. Harry and George?"

"Sounds great," George grinned.

"Thanks, Alice," Harry smiled.

I guided them to the kitchen, and they sat at the island as I set to work. I made eggs, french toast, and sausage.

"I'll have to get Esme to get Kreacher some more sausage," I murmured to Jasper.

"I'll write it on the list," he said, before turning to the fridge.

Esme was going shopping later today and she started keeping a list so if there was something specific Kreacher wanted, he could write it.

Fred started babbling from George's lap.

"Ali!" he cried, looking to gain my attention.

"What, Freddie," I asked, grinning.

"Egg!"

"Yeah, honey, I'm going to give you some eggs."

"Ali eat?"

"No, Freddie, Ali can't eat the same food that you we do. Ali has to eat special food," George told him.

Fred cocked his head to the side, and turned to George looking for the answer of what I ate.

Edward popped into the kitchen, and gave a small smile at Charlie.
"Charlie, how are you?"

"Good," he said.

Edward turned back to me.

"Bella smelt the eggs, and she was wondering if there would be enough for her to have some."

"I can make some more," I said, "but Esme would have to get eggs when she goes out."

Edward nodded.

"Thank you, Alice. I owe you one."

"You owe her many," George said under his breath. I reached over to smack his arm gently.

"No, it's okay, Alice," Edward assured me. "He's not wrong. I owe you for a lifetime."
"Does she just want the eggs?" I asked.

"Could you spare some sausage?"

I nodded.

"Sure. I'll send it out when it's ready."

"Thank you."
Edward left and I turned to George.

"Manners," I hissed. "Where am I going to go if they kick me out before MACUSA lets me leave?"

"Sorry, Alice," George said, "it's just that you've done so much for them and—"

"I know, George," I said, interrupting him. "You just have to be as nice as possible for now."

Do you think they're only being nice so you'll help? George wrote out on the edge of a napkin.

"Maybe," I admitted. "But I made a promise I'd help save her."

"I know," George said, tucking the napkin into his pocket so nobody could find it. "But it doesn't make what happened right."

"No, it doesn't,'' I said, returning to the food on the stove. "But I have until February, so I might as well try to act like I'm over it while I'm here."

Harry watched me very carefully for a moment, and then turned to Jasper.

"How do you feel about everything?"

"I stick up for her when I can, but they don't exactly give me the chance to talk."

Charlie nudged George and George passed him the napkin and the pen they had used.

Did they really threaten to kill you?

"Not they plural. Just one."

I wrote Emmett's name on the napkin and it was hidden again.

"You can ask all the questions you want after you eat," I said. "We'll go to the field where I practice. I just have to take down the warding."

George smiled.

"How's that going?"

"Great. Dumbledore stopped by for a progress check today, he thinks I'm about seventy-five percent of the way there. We're trying to figure out how to wrangle an animal into the warding so I can work on memory charms. They think I might be able to start creating false memories."

"Ginny wants to know what they think about you being a Metamorphmagus."

"Dumbeldore thinks it's possible," I sighed. "He wants to try working on it at the next practice."

"I think Teddy would love that," Harry said. "He adores you. I think having something like that in common with you would send him over the moon."

"How is he?" I asked.

"He has a little calendar counting down the days until you move back. He was so excited when I told him you were coming earlier."

"I'll have to talk to Andromeda about taking him for a couple days," I murmured. "It'd be good to have somebody at the house with me while Jasper is at Hogwarts."

"Is he staying there for the year?" Charlie asked, looking between Jasper and myself.

I shook my head.

"When we move back he's going to stay there for a week so that he can learn more about night patrols and the schedule."

"Do you want me to talk to Andromeda for you?" Harry asked.

I shook my head.

"I'll do it. Can you give her the Cullens address?"

Harry nodded.

"Great!" I smiled. "Well your breakfast is severed."

I started making plates and setting them in front of them before I turned back to the stove to make Bella's eggs.

Jasper, who had James in his lap, seemed to have gotten a mouthful of eggs from the toddler. His nose wrinkled, but he immediately smoothed it so James wouldn't see.

"Delicious," he said, with a full mouth. "Now your turn."

James ate the contents of his plate happily as Jasper struggled to swallow the eggs.

"Is it that bad?" I asked him, frowning at George's plate.

"You try it," he said.

George held up a piece of egg to me. I took it off the fork and ate it.

Much like Jasper, my nose wrinkled, but I was careful to make sure the children didn't see it.

"Is it okay for you?" I asked Charlie, George, and Harry.

"It's fantastic, Alice," Charlie said. "I forgot how good your cooking was."

"You're not lying?" I asked.

Charlie shook his head as he shoveled in another bite of eggs.

"Definitely not," he said with his mouth full.

I finished the eggs on the stove, and set a few pieces of sausage to the side and took it out to Bella.

"Thank you, Alice," she said.

"You're welcome."
"Leave the dishes," Esme said. "I'll take care of them. It gives me something to do."

I nodded.

"Thanks."

"What happened in there?" Emmett asked. "You asked something about something being bad?"

"James wanted Jasper to try the eggs before he'd eat them. So he gave Jasper a decent amount."

"Is he a picky eater?" Esme asked.

"No, but they're still too young to understand why Jasper and I don't eat."

"Do they know?"

I shook my head.
"Bill's girls know, and Teddy knows, but they're old enough to tell. James is getting there, and he knows there's something different about us, but he's still too young. Excuse me."

I returned to the kitchen and started moving the dishes from the stove to the sink.

Albus grinned happily as he ate his french toast.

"What do you think about the food, Albus?" I asked him.
He grinned happily and waved his fork at me.

"Good!" he said.

I smiled.

"That's good."

"Do you have any juice?" Harry asked. "Usually he'll eat more if he has a drink."

"Let's see what we have here," I said, wiping off my hands on a dish towel. I opened the fridge and turned back to Harry.

"Apple or orange?"

"Apple is fine."

"And James and Fred?"

"Orange!" James told me.

"And Fred?"

"Apple."

"I don't have the cups with the lids," I told them, "but I think I can make a few."

I pulled three cups down out of the cabinet, they were plastic, and I was positive they had never been used. I waved a hand over them, and they glowed for a second and then three new cups appeared.

"There we go," I said, filling them with juice and handing them to the children. "Anything else?"

"No, Alice, this is great."

I pulled out three more cups and filled them with juice as well.

"I think I remember this right," I said. "I should probably keep some pumpkin juice on hand. Kreacher likes it, and I know it's one of Harry's favorites."

I set the cups in front of the three men, and they grinned up at me.

"Got it right," George said, before taking a drink of his apple juice.

I smiled and leaned on the island.

"What I would give to be able to have this stuff again," I sighed. "Even just once."

"If you could eat or drink again," Charlie said, between bites of sausage, "what would be the first thing you would have?"

"Coffee," I said automatically, looking towards the coffee pot that had never been used before. "I drank coffee every morning since I was fifteen."

"I remember," Charlie laughed. "Mum was the first one to give it to you when you hadn't been able to sleep."
"What about food?"

This took longer. I thought about the things I ate in my human life.

"Do you remember the corned beef sandwiches Molly packed for Ron for the Hogwarts Express?" I asked. "She always sent you guys with a few for me?"

Charlie nodded.

"One of those."

"What if there was a way we could restore your taste." George asked. "With a potion?"

"We can't digest food," I said.

"That's right," George said, deep in thought.

"What are you thinking about?"

"About how else could you get rid of food without throwing it up or digesting it. I feel like you wouldn't continue eating if you had to throw it up everytime."

"No, I don't think so."

I thought about it for a minute as well.

"Minerva taught us in Transfiguration that all things can be vanished. There isn't a limitation to that," I said. "Things can be charmed to vanish, like the Vanishing Cabinet. What if we created a potion that could vanish stomach contents?"

"Where would they go." Jasper asked.

"Into non-being. It would no longer exist."

"How could it be done?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "I'll have to write to Minerva and see where I could learn more about vanishment."

"Would vampires buy it?"

I shrugged.

"I don't know, but I can find out."

I held a finger up to them and hurried to the living room.

"Carlisle, can I steal you for a moment?"

"Is everything okay?"

"I have a question for you. Nothing bad, and it's not relating to this."

I waved my hand in Bella's direction.

Carlisle nodded, and followed me to the kitchen.

"Okay, Carlisle knows a bunch of vampires," I told George. "He has friends all over the world, so he's the best person to ask."

"Ask what?"

"Do you think vampires would buy a potion that could make them taste food again?" I asked.

"We can't digest food, Alice, you know that. What's the point in eating if we can't digest it, and if it gives us no nutritional value?"

"We're thinking of creating a potion to vanish stomach contents. The food would serve no nutritional value, sure, but we could feel more human. You guys could blend with the other humans wherever you go next. No special diets, and no throwing up everytime they do eat."

"I think people would buy it," Carlisle said. "Maggie, from the Irish coven, she was changed during a famine in the 1840's. She once told me there were tons of food she'd always wanted to try but never had the chance."

I nodded.

"Thank you."

"Is this a business idea?" Carlisle asked.

"I don't know yet," I murmured. "I've yet to decide if this is a good idea to sell it. Wizardkind knows about the existence of vampires, but not all vampires know about the existence of Wizardkind. I'd have to talk to Kingsley and see if it violates the Statute of Secrecy."

"What if vampires did know about Wizardkind?"

"Then I would try to make a deal with the Volturi about teaching all about vampires. It wouldn't be fair that one is restricted and the other isn't."

Carlisle left and I could see in his mind that he didn't think me going to the Volturi is a good idea.

I rolled my eyes and turned back to George.

"Even if it isn't a business idea, I think it's still a good idea to try it. Jasper and I could actually eat with the family instead of just watching."

I turned to Jasper.

"What are your thoughts about this?"

"I think it's a good idea. I haven't eaten in over a century, and there are things I would love to eat again myself."

"But?"

"But I worry how far you're going to take this. First you create a potion that allows vampires to sleep, now one to eat."

"You think I'm going to try and make one to turn us human?"

Jasper nodded, and he looked down to the island. I could feel the shame rolling off of him.

"Jasper, I don't want to be human again," I told him quietly. "I have been able to achieve the impossible, but that is a road I do not want to take. If I do, it'll undo the work I've done, and the work that you've done."

"I'm sorry, Alice," he whispered. "I don't doubt you, or your abilities, but I'm afraid if we were human…"

I heard the end of his thought even though it hadn't been said. He feared that I wouldn't feel the same for him as I do now, and if I did, it wouldn't be as strong.

"You needn't worry," I said, reaching out to place a hand over his. "I'm not going to take it that far. And whether I'm a human or a vampire or anything else, I'm always going to feel what I do for you. Nothing can change that."

He smiled, but in the same instance, he hid his face from me in the toddler's hair.

I turned to the other three, and they stared at their plate.

"Right then," I said, turning to George. "We'll talk it over, and I'll get back to you."

George nodded and glanced at Jasper.

Is he okay?

"I'll explain it later. Speaking of which, I do still need to talk to you, and Harry you too, but I want to do it separately."

"I'm just about finished," Harry said.

I nodded.

"Take your time. There's no rush. It's not an urgent matter."

As they finished eating, I studied Jasper and James. Jasper spoke to the boy in a low voice, and at one point, James turned and patted Jasper's face, almost as if he was comforting him.

"How very curious," I murmured to myself.

Edward came in shortly with Bella's plate and placed it gently in the sink.

"She likes your eggs better than mine," he said, leaning against the counter. "She's wondering if you could make more later."

"After Esme goes to the store. The last few eggs in there are for Kreacher. I don't want him eating just a mango and trying to go off of just that until noon."

"That's perfectly fine, Alice. They're also wondering if you'd do the spell today?"

"After Charlie leaves," I said. "I don't get to see him very often. He's too busy running with dragons."

Charlie gave a small smile, and turned to his bag.

"Speaking of the dragons, I brought you a new model."

He pulled out the new model dragon and set it on the counter.

I grinned.

"What kind is it?"

"Peruvian Vipertooth," Charlie said. "Very venomous, and it was wizards working closely alongside them that Dragon Pox developed."

I grinned as I picked up the model dragon and examined it closely.

"Am I going to get a new one everytime I see you?"

Charlie laughed.

"Eventually you're going to have one of every dragon."

"I can live with that," I said.

I set the dragon back on the counter and turned back to Edward.

"Tell her if I do the spell, I'd rather it be on an empty stomach. It's easier to see the fetus with this spell if her stomach is empty. So she can't eat for six to eight hours. I'll make the eggs for her after the ultrasound."

Edward nodded, and he returned to the living room.

"All done?" I asked Harry. Both Harry and Albus's plates were empty.

"Yes, thank you, Alice."

"Of course," I grinned and held out my hands to take Albus from him.

Albus came to me happily, and he babled to me. The words weren't clear to me, but I could see that the child was happy.

"Are you okay here with James?" Harry asked Jasper. "If not I can take him with us."

"We're just going out to the yard," I told Jasper.

"I should be fine," Jasper said. "If not, Charlie and George can help me."

Harry nodded and I led the way out of the house.

"Is everything okay?" he asked me as we sat on the bottom stair.

"Everything is fine, I just wanted to talk to you about James and Albus."

"What about them?"

"I feel like I haven't done enough for them since I've been back. I've been closer to Fred because he reminds me of Freddie. When he grows up, he's going to look just like him. I can see that and it feels like Freddie will be back."

"I understand," Harry said, taking the hand that wasn't wrapped around Albus, "but really, you've done plenty. They all adore you, and James loves Jasper more than the world. I can see them growing closer when James gets older."

I nodded.

"I've put a lot of thought into this," I said, "and I don't doubt your ability to care for them, but they are my godchildren, and I want to help."

"I don't see where you're going with this," Harry admitted.

"Severus left me everything. His house, his vaults, all of that. In his vault, there is a great deal of money. About half of what was in my vault here in America. Not to mention he was the last remaining member of the Prince family, so he had that vault too. I want to open up vaults for each of my godchildren with a certain amount of money to start with. For James and Albus, you and Ginny would have control of the vault until you saw fit, and by that point, they'd have enough to live comfortably into their early thirties."

"How much money?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "Right now, I'm trying to work that information out. I have four godchildren: James, Fred, Albus, and Scorpius. I haven't talked to Draco yet, and I'm sure he'll say no, so looking at Fred, James, and Albus, I have to make sure I divide it out evenly, and keep some for in case you and Ginny, and George and Angelina have more kids."

"I don't know, Alice," Harry said hesitantly. "You and Jasper will be here long after I'm gone, and—"

"And we still have jobs, Har. I own half of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and when George dies, his half is coming to me too. With that combined salary, that'd be enough for Jasper and I. Jasper works at the store now, but starting next month, he'll be making money at Hogwarts. The shadowing salary is pretty good. I was a shadow once too. Jasper and I will be fine, Har."

"Are you sure you can handle it?"

I nodded.

"Jasper and I are going to be completely fine, Harry. You don't need to worry about us. Your children have their whole lives ahead of them, and I just don't want them to worry about money."

Harry studied my face for a moment.

"Okay, let me talk to Ginny tonight and I'll give you an answer before the week is out."

I grinned.

"Thank you, Harry."

"It's not a yes yet," he said.

"But it is leaning towards it," I grinned.

Albus cheered happily, although I was sure he didn't understand the conversation.

I laughed as he wriggled in my arms, to face me. When I turned him, he pressed his hands to my cheeks and smiled.

"Al!" he cheered.

"Yeah, that's right," Harry grinned, tapping Albus's nose. "That's Aunt Alice."

Harry and I sat for a few moments more, and he turned to me.

"You mentioned you wanted to do this for all of your godchildren. Do you really think Draco would say no?"

I nodded.

"Lucius would never let me assist Draco in any way. He's already made it very clear to Draco he thinks I have too much say in Scorpius's upbringing."

"You haven't seen him for months," Harry frowned.

"Yes, but Lucius feels that I got into Draco's head. Draco came to me worried about how he would teach him how to be a good man when Draco was never taught. I told him that I'd help him to teach Scorpius about the world."

"How does Lucius feel about Jasper?"

"He thinks I've brought 'dishonor to the once proud Black family'," I said, making air quotations with my fingers at Lucius's words.

"Did he tell you this?"

"No, he told that to Draco, and Draco told me in a letter he wrote me a few weeks ago."

"What did Narcissa say?"

"She's trying to keep the peace, so she's suggesting that Draco and Astoria take back my title of being Scorpius's godmother. Lucius would rather die than have his grandson raised by a Muggle."

I turned and looked over my shoulder at Jasper who sat on the kitchen floor playing with James and Fred.

"What did you say?"

"I told Draco that if it was going to cause problems between him and Lucius, then he should do what Narcissa advised. Yet Draco would rather leave him with me than his parents. He thinks I'll be able to teach him the right way of life."

"And you would. So is he going to do it?"

"I don't know. He's going to talk to Astoria and see what she thinks. She doesn't have long left. Draco doesn't know for sure, but he estimates that she'll be gone before Scorpius, Fred, and Albus start Hogwarts."

"I couldn't imagine that," Harry said, shaking his head. "Losing Ginny that way…"

"That's one of the benefits to marrying a Muggle," I said, jerking my head in the direction that Jasper sat. "No chance of any pesky blood curses reappearing. Did you know Nagini was a Maledictus?"

"Was she? I never knew."

I nodded.

"I found out through Newt Scammander. He knew her when she was human. He told me he was saddened to learn of her alliance with Voldemort, but he didn't know until after the war had ended."

"Well then," Harry said, standing up, "Do you want me to send George out here?"

I nodded.

"Yeah, we'd better do this sooner rather than later. I feel bad. Charlie came to see me, and I'm not in there with him."

"He'll understand after I fill him in," Harry said, winking at me.

He held his hands out, and I passed Albus back to him.

As I waited for George, I looked to the sky. It was cloudy, and the moon was nowhere to be seen. I wondered if Mars still shined brightly, or if it had dimmed back down. The darkness was still coming because the fetus was still alive. That meant the battle Firenze saw was still coming.

"Alice," George said, snapping me back from my thoughts, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said, smiling. "Just thinking."

George had brought Fred with him, and the second we locked eyes, Fred wiggled from George's arms to come to me. I took him gladly and Fred settled into my lap.

"What are you thinking about?"

"The fetus," I sighed. "It's still alive, so the battle is still coming. Firenze predicts that in this battle, there will be casualties. I'm trying to convince Jasper to stay with you guys when and if it happens."

"What about you?"

"I'd rather it be me than him," I said, shaking my head. "Dumbledore says I'm stronger than the whole of the Volturi and I could single handedly wipe them out, but it's harder to do with other people nearby."

"What happens if the Volturi is gone?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "The Volturi have been alive for thousands of years. I assume whoever killed them would rise to power. We still need rules afterall."

"So it'd be you?"

"I don't want it to be. The Volturi offered me a spot. Carlisle predicts that I wouldn't be a part of the guard, but that I would sit alongside the three kings as a queen."

"Queen Alice," George laughed. "I could never imagine you being so power hungry."

"That's just it," I said, shaking my head. "I don't want to rule as a queen."

"What about as a minister?"

I turned to him and frowned.

"What do you mean by that?"
"Kingsley dropped by the store yesterday. He's curious how you would feel about running after his term ends."

"I don't know, Georgie. Politics has never really been my thing. Besides, I like working at the store, and there's talk about me taking Slughorn's spot after he retires. If I were to work in the Ministry, I'd want a spot on the Wizengamot."

"I gather that this isn't why you wanted to talk to me though."

"No," I said, smiling, "it isn't. So much like I told Harry, I don't doubt your ability to take care of Fred, I just want to be able to do more. This is the best thing I can think of. Severus left me everything. His house, all his possessions, and his vaults. He had two. One was his, and that one has about half of what my vault here in America had. The other, was the Prince vault. Severus was the last remaining member of the Prince family, and when Eileen died, he got control of it. They aren't one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, but they are still an old family. I wanted to start vaults for Fred, Albus, and James. All will start with the same amount, and you and Angelina will have control of it until you see fit."

"Why would you want to do that?"

"I"ve been gone for seven years, Freddie. I've been back for almost a year now, but in that year, I haven't been able to make up for the time that was lost. If I can do this for them, I would feel better about having to stay away for so long."

"Alice, you didn't have a choice."

"I did have a choice. I could have stayed and tried to take on James myself. At least that way, I would have still been there."

"But if you had done that, then you might have actually died. At least when we thought you were dead, you were still alive. Seven years is better than an eternity."

"But now I will never die. You all will age, and in time you will die. I won't. I'll still be here after you're gone. One day, Georgie, the money in your vault will run out, and I don't want Freddie to struggle after it runs out."

"Alice, I know you're never going to let that happen."

"Yes, but if I do this now, it won't ever have to happen. I'm not trying to pressure you, Georgie, but I want to do this for my godson."

"What if Angelina and I have another kid? Or Harry and Ginny?"

"I've already thought ahead," I said. "If I give each of them 21,792 Galleons, one Sickle, and sixteen knuts, I'd have enough for eight children. Ginny said she and Harry aren't having anymore than three, so that leaves you and Angelina to have five children, and quite frankly I don't see that happening."

"Neither do I," George laughed. "I can only see us having one more if that."

"What do you say, Georgie," I asked, nudging his shoulder. "Please let me do this."

"That's a lot of money, Alice," George said sucking in a deep breath. "What if you and Jasper need it someday? You and him are going to be on this earth for a long time. Longer than any of us."

"And we'll be okay," I said. "Just like I've told Harry, you've left the other half of the store to me in your will. So our combined salaries would already be enough. Jasper is starting his shadowing at Hogwarts at the first of the month, and as you remember, I made pretty good money there. That salary doubles when you become a teacher. Also, there is talk about me being Slughorn's successor. So if you add on two Hogwarts teacher salaries, plus both of our salaries, and the money that I have in my vaults, Jasper and I will be set for the next thousand years or so. And if all else fails, I'll go back to helping Carlisle with the business. When I mentioned giving it up a few days ago, he said he'd still pay me to stay on."

"Are you sure that you'll be okay?"

I nodded.

"We will be."

"Okay," George said. "If you're sure about this, then do it."
"Aren't you going to talk to Angelina?"

"You and I both know she'd say no. If you put your name on the account, she can't close it after it's made."

"That's very true," I said in a low voice. I reached over and gently hit his shoulder. "You shouldn't help me conspire against your wife."

"You say conspire like you're going to kill her."

"I might after she finds out how much money I'm setting aside for Fred."

"So what happens if we don't make the eight kid mark?"

"I'm going to put some money in Teddy's vault, and I'll probably sneak some into Draco's." I winked as the two of us stood up."I'll probably owl him in the next day or so to see what he thinks, but like I said, I'm sure I already know the answer to that one."

George laughed as we opened the door.

Jasper looked up at me.

"That sounds like a good sign."
"George said yes, Harry is a maybe," I muttered low enough to where only Jasper could hear me. "George didn't want to talk to Angelina because he knew she'd say no. So I'm going to be listed as the supervisor of the account, but George will have the key."

"Smart," Jasper said at a normal volume.

"It's sneaky," I said, glancing at George. "But it's better than nothing."

Jasper laughed as George turned away sheepishly.

"Are we ready to go?" I asked.
"Ready when you are."

The five of us headed off. Jasper held onto James's hand, and Harry and I held to two smaller ones. Charlie and George walked on the ends of us.

"How far is it?" George asked.

"About a quarter of a mile or so," I said. "When Jasper and I walk, it only takes about five minutes to get there."

"So not far?"

I shook my head.

"Just far enough to be out of hearing distance," I said. "Freddie was worried that they might be listening in after Edward sat outside the wards a few nights ago, so I had to put up a silencing charm around the field. That's one charm I'm not taking down."

"Do you really think they'd listen in?" Charlie asked, looking between Jasper and I.

Jasper shrugged.

"Rosalie believes Alice is plotting against the family. I overheard her when Alice was at practice earlier. She and Bella are convinced that Alice is going to kill the fetus the second it is removed so that she'll remain the most powerful thing in the world."

I rolled my eyes.
"That's no secret," I told George. "Rosalie isn't a quiet thinker. She wants to be heard. Bella, she tried to hide it, but now she doesn't see the point. All I have to do is take one glance and I'll know all that I want to know."

"So why are you helping them if they think so poorly of you?"

"I'm not helping them. I'm helping Edward. I made a promise, and I don't plan on going back on it."

"No, you would never do that."

"How's Edward holding up?"

"He blames himself. He's sure Bella isn't going to survive without my help, and he's scared I'm going to go back on my word. He's thinking of going to Jacob Black, and asking Jacob to kill him should Bella die. Jacob would willingly do it. I think he's running on the belief that I can save her life, and that's why he hasn't done it yet."

"I'd like to believe that you can," Charlie said.

"I'm sure I'll be able to," I said. "The problem is getting Rosalie to back off long enough for me to do what needs to be done."

"Destroying the fetus?"

"Saving her life. Rosalie is hoping Bella will die. Then she gets what she's always wanted. To be a mother. Having Emmett was never enough. She needed a child to be satisfied."

"And you?"

"Jasper is enough for me," I said with a smile. "Teddy feels enough like my child when he's around. And when Fred, Albus, or James is around, they feel like my children too. That's enough for me."

Jasper grinned at me and took my free hand.

"So George tells me that you can do an astral project now," Charlie said, steering away from the topic of Bella.

"Yes," I said. "I had been doing a form of localized astral projection for years without knowing it."

"Can you show me?"

"Sure," I grinned. "Just as soon as we get to the field."

It wasn't much further of a walk. Once we got there, George took Fred back so I could take down the wardings. I didn't need my wand. I had been practicing wandless magic, and it had been paying off.

Once we were inside, I reset the sound barriers, and I set up a shield towards the top to protect us from the weather.

"Alrighty then," I said, as I sat down between George and Jasper. We all seemed to sit in a large circle, and the three kids were playing in the center of the circle. "That's taken care of, so we won't have to worry about anybody sticking their nose in."

"Can you show us anything other than astral projection?"

I nodded as I laid my palms out on my knees. As I focused, jets of water shot into the sky. Before the water rained back down on us, with my other hand I held a gust of wind, and with that, I guided the water to the barrier. After pushing it through, it continued to rise up into the sky. With another wave of my hand, the water turned into a cloud. The cloud grew darker, and with a flick of my wrist, it shot out of the way.

"Where did you send it?" Charlie asked, standing up to get a better look of the sky.

"The house," I said, with a small grin. "There was a lot of water, and it's going to create a decent storm."

"So it's not just the elements you can control?"

I shook my head.

"After I kept practicing, it kept growing. It still falls into line with the elements though. For example, I can turn the rain into snow or sleet or hail, and I can take the rain away altogether, or bring it."

I held my hands up to the sky, and set to work. The moon came into view as well as a few stars surrounding it.

"I've never heard of a witch or wizard with the ability to do that," Charlie said shaking his head. He was grinning, and the feeling of amazement was so strong that it was radiating off of Jasper.

"The only person I've ever heard of with this ability is a vampire named Benjamin," I said. "He's a part of the Egyptian coven."

"According to Carlisle he hasn't gained full control of his powers yet. Amun, the leader, is training him, but there is only so little that Amun can teach him. Carlisle tried talking to Alice a few nights ago about going to Egypt to help train Benjamin," Jasper said. "Imagine what the two of them can do together."

"Do you think he's more powerful than Alice?" George asked.

Jasper shook his head.

"According to Carlisle, there has never been anybody like Alice, and there probably never will be. She was a powerful witch in her lifetime, and her powers as a vampire amplified that. She's the most powerful thing in your world and in the Muggle world," Jasper said.

"And that's why Aro wants her?"

Jasper nodded.

"He's even thinking about offering me a place in the guard to try and get her to join."

"But I don't want to join," I reassured Charlie. "Like I told George earlier, if I joined, I most likely wouldn't be brought in as a member of the guard. I'm more powerful than the three kings combined, and if they believe it's power that I seek, they'll offer me a spot as a queen. I'd be ruling alongside them."

"How do you know?" Charlie asked, wide eyed.

"Carlisle. He's known Aro for a long time. Many centuries. Aro's moves have become predictable to Carlisle."

Charlie, Harry, and George sat quietly for a moment, and as they did so, I took my opportunity to focus on my own present. I grounded myself, and then I was on the astral plane, and my body dropped to the ground.

"Alice!" Harry exclaimed wide eyed. He went to stand, but Jasper took his arm.

"Wait," he said, "watch or you're going to miss it."

As Harry sat back down hesitantly, I decided to allow myself to be seen.

"Alice! A little warning would have been nice you know!"
"Sorry," I grinned, as I sat down a touch behind my body. "But the theatrical entrance seemed to be the best way to go."

"How long did it take you to be able to do that?" Charlie asked, reaching out to touch my shoulder.

"About twenty minutes," I laughed. "Some things took longer, but this one came naturally. When I looked into your presents, I was astral projecting, I just didn't know it. I was tied to your souls, so it was only localized to wherever you were."

"What's it like?"

"It's like being on the physical plane except you are a lot lighter. Going back into your body makes it feel heavy for the first few times."

"What about now?"

"Now it feels fine."

I hid myself again and I stepped back into my body and a few seconds later, I was back on the physical plane.

"That's incredible, Alice," Charlie grinned. "I'm so proud of you."

I grinned as Fred climbed into my lap.

"Ali, gone?"

"Sorta," I laughed.

"Where go?"

"I'll explain when you're older," George told him, tapping his nose.

"Does it hurt?" Charlie asked.

I shook my head.

"No. When I go, it kinda feels like going to sleep. Coming back feels like waking up."

"And while you're there?"

"Depends on what I'm doing and who I see," I grinned. "When I first did it, Fred was there waiting. He came to watch. I could feel everything he, Severus, and I felt. It was very...euphoric I think is the word I'm looking for."

Jasper grinned.

"So you get to do what I do?"

"Kinda," I said. "I don't know if I felt it as strongly as you do."

"It's not always strong," he said. "Sometimes, it's subtle, but the stronger the feeling is, the stronger I feel it. For example, the love you feel for me, and our family," he paused and pointed at Charlie, Harry, George, and the kids, "that I feel very strongly. But say the feeling of love that you still have for the Cullens, it's smaller. Less strong."

I watched him for a minute, not blinking or breathing.

"The love is still there, and it's not a bad thing," Jasper said, taking my hand, "but with every decision made, it's fading, and it's making it harder and harder for you to stay."

I hadn't realized I still had love for the Cullens. I thought it was gone, but the way Jasper talked, it sounded like there wasn't much love left.

I smoothed out my face, and sucked in a deep breath.
"We'll talk about this later," I told him. "I have a few questions."

Jasper nodded, and kissed the back of my hand.

I turned back to Harry.

"How are things in the Auror department? I don't suppose there are too many dark wizards running around these days."

Harry shook his head.

"No, but Mundungus Fletcher filed for an appeal yesterday. He wants his case reheard. I was going to talk to you about being a character witness."

"I can do that," I said.

"What is she supposed to say?" Jasper asked. "Who is Mundungus Fletcher? I've heard you mention him, but you've never talked about him."
"A bloody thief," I said. "He's in Azkaban now, but I've never had the desire to go see him."

"He broke into Grimmauld Place when Sirius died," Harry said, "then he broke into Alice's home before we could even bury her."

"Did you ever meet him?" Jasper asked.

"On a few occasions. He was with Mad-Eye when we relocated Harry. He was one of the seven Harrys in the sky that night. That was the first night I had met him. The second time wasn't too long after that. While Harry was hunting for Horcruxes, he broke into my house while Severus and I were eating dinner. It was before school had started. I think he nearly died of fright when he walked in and I held my wand to his throat."

"And after that?"
"Never saw him again. I was too busy."

I began fidgeting slightly as a green light flashed behind my eyes.

Jasper caught my hand and offered me a small smile.

"When's the trial?" I asked.

"Starts at the first of the month."

I nodded.

"I'll be there. Front and center."

"For a thief," Jasper said slowly, "he's been in jail a long time."

"My house wasn't the only house he broke into," I said. "He won't be in there much longer, but there is no way in hell I'm helping him get out early. Not before I can get home and put up charms."
"You think he'd be stupid enough to try and break into the same house for a third time?"

"Trust me, Jasper," George said. "Having 'Dung locked up is for the better. But nobody in Azkaban knows that Alice is returning. So the first place he's going to hit is there. Alice comes from a very rich family, and 'Dung knows it. Everyone knows it."

"And he'll be met with a wand to the throat," I said.

Is that the best idea? Jasper thought to me. I'd hate to see you wind up in the cell he just left.

"He'd be trespassing," I said. "I own the house and the land around it. Much like in the Muggle world, you are allowed to protect your land. I'm not going to hurt him. Just stun him."

I winked and turned back to Harry.
"Owl me the details, and I'll clear my schedule."

Harry smiled and nodded.

"Thanks."

"Charlie, how's the dragons?" Jasper asked.

"They're doing excellent," he grinned before launching into a story about the baby dragons learning how to fly.

Jasper and I listened intently and when he finished, he asked us questions about the confrontation a week prior.

We talked back and forth, but before we knew it, the night turned to day, and it was time for them to go.

We walked with them to their portkey, which left from the backyard. Once they were gone, we headed for the house. It was quiet inside.

As soon as I stepped inside, Kreacher came running towards me.

"Little Miss, Misters Edward and Carlisle require your presence upstairs in the hospital wing."

"Hospital wing?" I asked, looking up to Esme.

"His office," Esme said, not looking up from her book. "He fixed it up while you were gone."

"And Rosalie?"
"She's up there too," Emmett said.

His eyes were sad, and when I made eye contact with him, he quickly looked to the ground.

I nodded and squeezed Jasper's hand before I headed up there.

The door was cracked, and I could see Rosalie standing at the far corner of the room. She gave me a warning glance and I stayed outside the room and listened.

"Okay," Carlisle said, "maybe we won't need Alice afterall. It's not broken, but it is cracked. Luckily you haven't punctured anything."

"Yet," Edward said under his breath.

"Edward," Carlisle warned.

"It's breaking her bones, Carlisle. Without Alice here, it'll crush her from the inside out, and Alice isn't always goigng to be here. Carlisle, tell her what you told me."

Carlisle was silent for a moment, and when he didn't speak, Edward spoke up again.

"Tell her," he growled.

"Carlisle, tell me. It's alright."

"Alice was right," Carlisle said. "About the fetus. It isn't compatible with your body. It's too strong. It won't allow you to get the nutrition you need. It's starving you by the hour. I can't stop it, and I can't slow it down. At this rate, your heart will give out before you can deliver."

"Then I'll hold out for as long as I can then—"

"Bella," Carlisle interrupted in a gentle voice. "There are some things that even venom can't overcome."

"But Alice can figure something out," she said. "Alice is the most powerful witch to ever exist. She said she had ideas and—"

"Those ideas are not a guarantee," Carlisle said, shaking his head. "Alice is trying to come up with as best a solution as she can, but she says that magic isn't a cure all either. She has little time to work with, and she's going to do everything she can, but there is no guarantee that she can fix it either. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Bella whispered.

"I'm sorry," Carlisle said, although I wasn't entirely sure which one it was directed at. "Rosalie, come on. Let's let them have a moment."

Rosalie didn't move. She stood as still as a statue watching over them.

"Go, Rose," Bella said in a quiet voice. "I'll be okay."

"Okay," Rosalie said. "Call for me when you're ready to move."

Carlisle pulled the door open, and he and Rosalie stepped out.

"Sorry to worry you," Carlisle murmured to me. "We thought it was a rib."

"So I heard."

"Are you coming?" Rosalie asked, as she headed towards the stairs.

"No," I said, shaking my head. "I'm going to head to my room here in a minute, but I need to talk to Edward."

"He might be a minute," Carlisle said.

"It's okay," I said. "I'll wait."

I slid down the wall as Carlisle and Rosalie left. The room was silent for a moment then everything seemed to happen all at once.

"Edward, I'm sorry," Bella said with her voice breaking.

"I can't live without you," he whispered.

"You won't. Even if Alice can't figure this out, you'll have a part of me. He's going to need you."

"Do you honestly think that I could love it or even tolerate it if it killed you?"

"It's not his fault. You have to accept what is."

"Because you've given me no choice!" Edward yelled, causing me to flinch back slightly. "Bella, we're supposed to be partners, remember? But no. You decided this one on your own. I had no say. You decided to leave me."

"Don't see it that way," Bella begged.

"I have no other way to see it," Edward said. His voice quivered slightly. "Because it'll be me that loses you. Not it. And I don't choose that."

I jumped to my feet as I heard quick footsteps coming towards me. It was Edward. He turned the corner and saw me and he let out a deep breath.

"Alice," he said, with a quivering voice, throwing his arms around me.

"Shh," I murmured as a sob escaped from his throat. "Come with me. I need to talk to you."

I pulled him with me to mine and Jasper's room as Bella's cries escaped from the room he had just left.

As soon as we got in, I shut the door behind me.

"Kreacher!" I called.

There was a small pop as he entered the room.

"Yes, Little Miss?"

"Can you tell Jasper that I'll be back down in a little while? I need to talk to Edward. Tell him I'll explain as soon as I'm done."

"Of course, Little Miss."

"Thank you."

Kreacher popped away, and I gently pushed Edward's shoulders so he'd sit on the edge of the bed.

I unlocked my cabinet and pulled out a calming draught. I poured it into a cup and then pressed the cup against Edward's lips.

"Drink," I told him. "You'll feel better."

"I don't want to feel better," he told me.

"I know, but I need you to drink this so I can talk to you. Please? For me?"

Edward looked up and me and as we locked eyes, he took the potion and drank.

"Thank you," I said, pulling the desk chair to the bed.

"Alice, I'm sorry," he whispered as he gave me the cup back.

"Sorry for what?"

"Everything," he whispered. "I've treated you horribly in the last year and a half, and I wish I hadn't. If I hadn't you wouldn't be leaving now."

I gave a small chuckle that held no humor.

"Edward, it's not just you. It's everyone."

"I tried, Alice," he whispered. "I wanted to be a good brother. I wanted you to hold me in the same respect that you did Harry."

"Once upon a time I did. Then you met Bella and you changed."

"I'm sorry," he whispered again.
"Don't be sorry," I told him. "Jasper told me something today, and I think it makes sense to me now. More than it did earlier."

"What's that?"

"He was explaining the way he feels things with his gift. The stronger the emotion, the stronger he feels it. My love for him and Harry, and the rest of my human family is strong. My love for the Cullens is there, but it's not as strong. It's weak, and it's fading by the day."
"I don't understand," he whispered.

"My love that remains is for my favorite brother in the Muggle world," I said. "You. Who you were. Not who you are. Carlisle, Esme, and Rosalie they've blamed me for a lot of things that have gone wrong in this family, and my love for them has faded. Emmett… while he's too nice to say it, he agrees with them. But the love that Jasper senses is for you. That love is why I agreed to help Bella. She thinks horribly of me, but she means the world to you, and for you, just like for Jasper and my human family, I'd move the mountains for you if I could."

"Can you save my wife?"
"Severus and I are making a plan," I told him. "I can't tell all the details. Not yet. Things are still working out. But what I can tell you is that I am going to do everything in my power to help save her."

"Do you think you can?"

"I think that things are aligning in our favor. More so now that I'm expanding my magic, and much quicker than we anticipated. Dumbeldore says that my magic will grow, and that magic may not align with the typical laws."

I could see the wheels turning in Edward's head. I had told him the plan without ever actually telling him. The answer was sealed away in a corner of my mind that he can't reach.

"I don't understand," he said after a moment. He looked up at me, and I could see the tears that would never fall welling in his eyes.

"You don't understand yet," I said, pressing a hand to his cheek. "But soon, you will. As soon as I can tell you, you'll be the first to know."

"I can't lose her, Al."

"And if this plan works, you won't. You and her will live for an eternity together."

"But the child—"

"We can worry about the child after we save her."

"If we can't save her—"

"Edward, you can't think like that."
"Listen to me, Alice," he pleaded. "If we can't save her, I'm not going to live without her. We've always known I've never planned on outliving her. But you have to know that I am so sorry for everything, and in time I hope you can forgive me for everything I've done."

I nodded.

"If she doesn't survive, then I'll see you again. You'll find me in the astral plane or somewhere similar. But for now, let's worry about saving your wife."

Edward nodded, and he stood, pulling me with him. He pulled me into a tight hug.

"Thank you."

I nodded.

"Come on. My husband is waiting for me downstairs, and I don't doubt he's uncomfortable down there alone."
"Have things really gotten that bad?" he asked.

I showed him what I had seen in Bella's mind. Her views about me. The agreement from Rosalie and from Esme. The thoughts that Emmett had of killing me, and Carlisle who's only focus was using me to help save Bella so he wouldn't lose his son again no matter if he lost a son and a daughter in the process.

"Alice—"

"No, don't," I said with a small smile. "I'm okay. Really. I'm just ready to go home."

Edward and I made our way back downstairs. Bella looked worse than she had when I left. Her cheeks were sunken in, and her stomach was bigger now.

"All that happened in just a few hours?" I whispered to Edward.

"Jasper told Carlisle about your time theory. He thinks you're right."

"Alice," Bella said, "can we still do the spell?"

"Yeah," I said. "You still want eggs after?"

Bella shook her head.

"I can't keep them down. We've tried. Crackers, orange slices, more eggs. Everything, it all comes back up."

"You've eaten since I left?"

"When I threw up, Rosalie got some crackers."

"They came up right as they went down," Carlisle said. "Everything we tried did. Her stomach is empty."

I nodded, and sat on the coffee table in front of her.

"May I?" I asked, reaching out my hand. "I need to get an estimate of where it—"

"He," Bella corrected.

"—is," I finished.

Bella nodded, and I lifted her shirt slightly.

"Strong little bugger," I murmured, tracing the deep bruises on her stomach.

"He's very strong," Bella commented. "We can just use more paste and—"

"Bella, the paste isn't going to do much good if the fetus is going to keep rebruising you. I think we should stop the paste for now, and since you can't keep anything down, I will make some nutrient potions for you."

"Will that increase her chances?" Rosalie asked.

"Of survival?"

Rosalie nodded.

"If the fetus doesn't suck all of the nutrients out first. If I can strengthen her heart, then that will increase her chances of survival."

I felt around her stomach. It was very hard. Upon first touch, a normal doctor might have assumed that it was a tumor. Although in a way, it was. Malignant tumors sucked the life out of you, just like this creature did.

As I pressed against her stomach, I felt a sharp kick that made her flinch. The kick caused my finger to make a small cracking sound.

"Sorry, Bella," I said. "I think I have an idea but I have to be sure or the spell won't work right."

"You're fine," she breathed. "Do what you have to do."

I pressed lower down on her stomach, and this time the fetus kicked much harder. The cracking sound came from my hand this time.

"What is the hybrid child doing to Little Miss?" Kreacher asked, tugging on Edward's arm.

"It's trying to keep her from touching Bella," Edward said.

As I tried to get the exact location, I heard a small voice coming from somewhere.

Stop it! the voice commanded.

"Bella, can you at least try to quiet your thoughts," I asked. "I'm doing you a favor."

"What are you talking about?"

"I can't stop doing what I'm doing. If I don't get the exact location of the child—"

"I know this," Bella said. "I never said to stop."

I shook my head.

"I'm sorry," I said, shaking my head. "I must just be hearing things."

I pressed again, assuring the child hasn't moved, and as I went to pull out my wand.

Power hungry witch! The voice hissed at me. Going to kill to stay powerful

I pulled my hand back like I had been burned, and I snapped my wand back into place.

"Last time I do a favor for you," I snapped jumping to my feet.

"Alice?" Edward asked.

Jasper ran towards me.

"Alice, what happened?"

I ignored Jasper and rounded on Edward.

"I will help you save her but that is all. I will not be doing any more favors."

"Alice, what was that voice?"

"It was your wife," I hissed. "She couldn't conceal her thoughts long enough to let me do the favor she asked me to do!"

"Alice, the baby could have problems," Rosalie said. "We need to know now if he's healthy."

"See what I care," I snapped. "She should have considered that before! Whether the thing is healthy or not doesn't phase me any. Kreacher, go to the Burrow. Tell George that Jasper and I are coming in today so I can take inventory. Tell him I'll be there in an hour."

"Of course, Little Miss," Kreacher said, quickly disappearing.

Jasper followed me quickly, and as soon as I got into the room, I broke down.

Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I had every intention of having the chapter posted last night, however I ended up getting food poisoning and that kind of complicated some things. However, I'm feeling better now, and I was so glad to be able to get this chapter up roughly 26 hours after the original upload plan.

SO I want to clarify something before I go. A guest left a review saying that a promise is not a vow or an oath. This is true, however, Alice is not the type of person to go against her word. The Alice that I created makes a promise and will see that promise to the end.

Now I always hated how Alice was treated by Edward, Bella, and the rest of the Cullens, HOWEVER I think that Alice and Edward have a unique relationship, and I don't think she'd be able to turn her back on him as easily. So things are patchy, but things will not always be absolute.

Also to clarify, the amount that each child would be getting to start with would roughly be around $368,750 and some change in USD. So it'd definitely be enough to get them through school and into a starter home. I just want to put that in so you'd have an idea about how much money Alice is giving each of them.

Finally, I did make a new cover photo. All art work/writing was done by me in the app Procreate. I figured that the story could use a new look so I put something together, and I'm actually proud of the result, so I hope you all enjoy that too!

I hope you enjoyed, and I am going to try everything in my power to have the next chapter up soon.

See you in the next one!
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