Time Will Tell

A/N: I know, I shouldn't be starting yet another fanfic when my others are not complete, but when an idea comes into my head it nags at me until I actually sit down and write it. Yes, I always seem to fit myself into these stories, but it just gives me a bit of satisfaction ;) Hehehe! Have fun duckies, seeing as this is slightly different from my other fanfics... It actually features the Cullens :O

1667, London

The dark clouds loomed over the smog-filled streets of London. The general hubbub of commuters and markets filled the choking air as the putrid stench of the Thames wafted throughout the backalleys. Fishing boats and merchant ships pushed their ways through the blackened waters that turned up more dead bodies than it did edible supplies. The main markets sat upon London Bride, it's noise and colour filling every sense for the towns people. Amongst the croud walked a young man, his hair a shining gold, his eyes seemed to be made of pure ice. He was tall, 6ft 2" and of a young age, only 25 summers. The well dressed individual carried himself well, his stride was long yet slow as if he were taking his time to get to a certain business. Amongst the women he was the talk of gossip, a young bachellor who had no intention of taking a bride, one that did not gamble his money on drink or the whore houses that plagued the streets of London.

He was a distant man, like his father before him, he kept to himself. But unlike his father, he was quiet when going about his business and, many said, he was a lot smarter than his late father. Carlisle Cullen was a man that no one could fault, for his silence meant he did not draw unwanted attention, he was a cleanly man and when in a situation to socialise was a gentle, caring character. Like his late father, he was a hunter of the mythical. He followed in his fathers footsteps by trying to clean the world from the Devil's children; witches, vampires, werewolves and demons. However, he was a lot smarter, and bid his time when actually searching. He did not falsely accuse young women of witchcraft, or bring a sickly old man to justice for being pale and not liking sunlight.

On this particular day, however, the young Mr Cullen was not on business, he was allowing himself the pleasure of an afternoon stroll around the town of his birth and upbringing. It didn't take much to please him, for he was not a complacent man like so many around him. He was a man of simple pleasures. The humid air and the heat of the crowded bridge was stifling, causing an uncomfortable air to run throughout the people as they slowly became agitated. The young man, seemingly undisturbed by the heat, continued on his journey, slowly searching with those intelligent grey eyes.

A loose sewer cover rattled under the foot falls of the Londoners, going unnoticed by most but catching the eye of the young hunter. It wasn't unusual for things in London to fall apart, but the protective covers to lock the sewers stench in usually were high priority to be kept upgraded. Moving away from the thrum of the crowd Carlisle slowly made his way to the grate, pressing his hand to the top of it and shoving slightly. It moved easily away, and from the small opening came the most foul odour, of putrifying flesh or rotting meat. The young man backed away quickly, a hand covering his mouth and nose to ward off the horrendous stench. The smell was not normal, nor was it unfamiliar to him. It wasn't the first time that Carlisle had come across a lair of vampires, but this was the first time he had come across this type of smell and Carlisle automatically knew that this, was not just a single nomadic vampire. But a coven. Jerking backwards quickly, he did not think of the consequences of the action until he felt his entire body connect with another and both fell to the floor.

Carlisle landed on his back, with the other ontop of him. Pain clouded his thoughts as he groaned slightly. His back felt bruised and his neck rang with sharp pain. Above him he heard an echoing groan of pain, followed shortly by a gasp of shock.

"I am so sorry," the voice whispered, as if to mortified to speak any louder, "here let me help you up." Carlisle opened his eyes slowly, as if testing them for any abnormalities before spotting a hand pointed towards him. He took it and allowed himself to be hauled up by the person. Rubbing the back of his neck to ward off the pain Carlisle found himself looking into a pair of doe like eyes, they were a delicious form of brown and they seemed to latch onto his own grey ones.

"Thank you, but the fault is entirely mine." He responded, not allowing himself to break contact with those eyes. After what seemed like hours to them both, but what could have only been a few seconds, they stepped back and Carlisle was offered a better look at the one who had both aided and injured him. Skin as pale as porcelain, hair that ran over her shoulders in deep, luscious waves the same colour as the eyes, a grass green dress with golden hemmings that clung to her upper body and fell from her hips. She was a beauty indeed.

"Excuse me, I seem to have forgotten my manners," the woman seemed to chide herself as she shook her head, causing her hair to fall infront of her face momentarily. "I am Isabella, Isabella Carrow. And you are?" She smiled, the simple action brightening her entire face.

"Carlisle Cullen, madame. If it's not to bold to say, ma'am, your name suits you aptly." He smiled in return, as he watched a furious blush spread itself onto her cheeks. It was a radiant site, and never had Carlisle felt himself drawn to another human being before. His father had always told him that mindless lust was the Devil trying to draw him to a path of sin, but looking at this girl Carlisle couldn't help but think that she was an angel from God, pulling him to a path of righteousness. In a moment of pure adrenaline filled foolishness Carlisle took Bella's hand and looked into her eyes again. "Miss Carrow, would you do me the honour of taking a walk with me along the riveside?"

Another smile appeared on her face as she looked at their now joined hands. "I would be honoured, sir." She announced, as she looked up into his face. She had never seen such beauty before, he was something new and enchanting to her not like any of the men that she had seen before. Obviously she had heard of him through the idle gossip of the other maidens around her. He was a great item of gossip according to her sisters, Bella had not seen the man before this moment, and knew almost immediatley the reason for the gossip.

The couple walked through the crowds of onlookers, those who witnessed the unlikely pair set about a fire of whispers and comments. Women glared enviously at the young Carrow girl, and the men outwardly bristled at the young Cullens luck. They walked beside the darkened waters, idly passing the time with small talk but generally contented with just eachothers company. As the sky slowly darkened, the sun sinking beneath the high townhouses of London. Looking down at the woman on his arm, Carlisle smiled contentedly and stopped walking.

"Please allow me to escort you home, my dear?" He asked gently, her eyes found his and she nodded.

"I would be honoured to have you escort me, Carlisle." She smiled as she quickly gave him directions to her home. He nodded, knowing the area well enough from his frequent trips to his fathers friends houses. Fellow hunters lived around the area, one's that James Cullen would call upon when going to find out his monsters. It was a short walk to Isabella's house, and that saddened Carlisle as it meant he would have to let go of her. When they reached her door Isabella turned to look at him.

"Thank you, Carlisle, for a lovely afternoon." She offered, stepping up onto the first of the steps leading up to her door. On instinct Carlisle reached out and gripped her hand.

"Might I see you again?" He asked, almost urgently for fear of never seeing her face again. She laughed at this, heat flushing through Carlisle's face at the sound.

"Of course you may, Carlisle. Why not tomorrow?" He nodded eagerly, for fear of not being able to use his voice. Clearing his throat he stepped up to meet her eyes.

"I'll call for you here. Until then." He searched her face, his hand coming to rest on her cheek as he slowly leant in. He was giving her room to move away if she so wished, but he hoped that she wouldn't. Her breathing slowed as she watched him, it wasn't proper to do this but she was damned already for the feelings towards this man. She leant up slowly until their lips met. The kiss was fleeting, but full of a passionate promise that sent sparks of electricity through them both. Pulling back Carlisle smiled down at the flushed Isabella, he took her hand and kissed her knuckles just as the door to her house opened.

"Carlisle?" A confused male voice asked, causing both the youths attentions to turn to him. Isabella looked down and slowly stepped away from Carlisle, muttering a final farewell before slipping in past the man, and disappearing into her home.

"Hello, Samuel. How are you?" Carlisle greeted his fathers oldest friend, and most frequent hunter. Looking into Sam's now red face Carlisle knew that he was not happy.

"What, may I ask, where you doing with my daughter?" Sam's voice was shaking slightly with anger. Carlisle inwardly recoiled and reprimanded himself silently for not recognising the last name. Samuel Carrow was not a man to be trifled with. He was good with a sword, and even better with a shot.

"We walked together this afternoon, and I escorted her home." Carlisle coughed uncomfortably, leaving out the part about the kiss for fear of never being able to Isabella again if he did say anything. To prevent anymore questions, Carlisle decided to change the topic onto another journey. "Sam, I need your help tonight. Gather your finest Hunter's and meet me on the bridge at ten. I have found a coven of vampires, and they must be exterminated as soon as possible." At the mention of vampires, Sam's eyes lit up and his colouring became slightly more normal.

"Very well. The bridge at ten. We'll be there." Sam agreed and slowly closed the door on Carlisle's face.

A few hours later

Sam entered his home, his once clean shirt now bloodied and torn. His face was red and sweaty, his hair ruffled from running. Never before had he faced a force as great as this one tonight. Shock was coursing through his still adrenaline filled veins, as he slowly made his way into the living room. There on the sofa sat his three daughters and wife. They all looked up as he entered and immediatley all of their faces whitened in fear.

"What happened?" Jane, his wife, asked as she rose up and placed her sewing down, she made her way over to him. She had never in thirty years of marriage seen her husband in this state. She called her eldest daughter, Mary, to aid her in helping her husband.

"We found a lair... Of vampires." Sam spoke slowly, as if still in a daze. "One came out, he saw us and called to the others in Latin. We made after the first while the other men took out the lair. The thing was weak, it appeared, and it turned on us. It killed John outright... He then turned on Carlisle." At this Isabella stood up, her eyes wide with shock and she ran to her fathers side.

"Carlisle! Father is he alright? Please tell me he is fine!" She begged, dropping to her knees whilst her father stared at her in shock.

"He's... We couldn't find him afterwards... He's as good as dead though, Isabella." Sam looked down, tears filled his eyes as he recalled the bloody state they had last seen Carlisle in. Isabella's sobs filled the room as she rose from beside her father and ran. She ran up to her room where she slammed the door and lay upon her bed.

"No! Carlisle... Please..." She sobbed into her pillow, feeling her heart slowly breaking as she realised that she would never see the man she loved again.

1864, Texas

The fields were golden, wind blew through the crops as the sun slowly beat down on them. Small wooden fences kept in farm animals, the pigs were sleeping in the muddy paddocks, sheep and cows were grazing contentedly in the grass. Young children ran through the crops, playing amongst the long grass, hiding in the trees that surrounded the little farm. To this little patch of heaven on Earth, the war was a far off dream, one that could never reach or destroy it.

On the horizon two riders sat upon their horses, riding beside a small stream that flowed through the property. Upon the first, a bay gelding, sat a tall young man of the age of 18, his curly golden hair fell just above his sky blue eyes, his build was lean but had slight muscle from manual labour. He wore a newly pressed army uniform, this put him out of place amongst the agriculture, but suited his frame well. The other horse, a palomino mare, held a slightly shorter young woman, her furious brunette curls falling straight down her back, pinned slightly to keep off her face, her body was clad in a simple white, cotton dress with a red sash around the middle, she was curvy and by no means skinny, but not fat either.

The pair road in comfortable silence, the male keeping a watchful eye around him but seemingly aware of the females limp posture beside him. After a few more steps the female pulled her horse up to halt, causing the man to do the same with a deep sigh.

"Georgia, we've been through this before. I have to go!" The male whispered, as if exhausted from having this conversation before. As if these words were the greatest blow she could have faced, Georgia's bright green eyes filled with tears.

"Why, Jasper? Why do you have to go? What if you get hurt? You know there's a possibility that you won't come back if you go. You'll leave me here alone.." She whispered, turning her face from him as if to hide her tears. The male, Jasper, bridled a bit at these words, his own emotions flashed through his face, anger, guilt then finally sadness. Reaching out he took Georgia's hand and squeezed it gently until she finally looked at him.

"Georgia, I promise you that I will come back for you. Nothing will keep me from you. Darlin', you're the reason I'm going to fight. I want to be the reason that you're safe. I can do that by fighting." A low whimper left the girls lips as she spurred her heels into her horses sides. The palomino gave a snort of discomfort before launching into a gallop, sending a cloud of dust at Jaspers feet. The palomino and Georgia were both out of site before Jasper could say much more. With a sigh he rubbed his forehead. He knew Georgia's worries, and her pain, but he wanted to fight. To make a better future for her.

He kicked his horse into a canter and slowly made his way to the large barn that was situated just behind a small cottage. As he entered he watched as Georgia untacked her horse slowly. She placed her bridle and saddle onto a free rack before turning and burying her face into the horses flaxen mane. She tensed as she heard Jasper's bay enter the barn, the male dismounted and untacked his horse before taking him out to the paddock. When he returned she was in the same place that he had left her. Shaking his head he reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. Without warning she turned and launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him tightly. His own arms moved to wrap around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

Their history had been a tough one, meeting when they were only twelve and both of them as stubborn as eachother neither and liked the other. Georgia had moved into Jaspers home due to the tragic death of both her parents. Her father had been out in the fields after a period of extreme drought and heat, when a storm hit and a fork of lightening hit the crops causing them to start burning. Her father along with them. Her mother was found the next week hanging from the barn roof beams. Micheal Whitlock was a good friend of Ryan Brown so was more than happy to take in his orphaned daughter. Jasper, however wasn't very happy about it. Only at the age of sixteen did they start to like eachother.

Flashback

"Get out of here, orphan! No one here likes ya, darlin'." Jasper's best friend, Christian taunted as Georgia tried to get into the barn. She'd never liked Christian, he was always meaner than Jasper and took things too far. With a shake of her head she continued about her work gathering hay in a bucket to take to the horses when the bucket was thrown from her hand and onto the floor. She turned to find Christian standing over her, a scowl on his face from being ignored. "Why didn't you just go meet the good lord with them, huh, little girl? You're just a bother to the Whitlocks you know?" This caused a small flinch from the smaller female, causing a wide smirk to cross the boys features. A sign of weakness was just what he wanted.

"Just leave me alone, Christian. Please?" She asked, trying to keep her voice steady as she could moving to pick up the bucket again, a hand wrapped around her writs preventing her from moving any further and yanked her up to her feet.

"I'll leave you alone when you're siz feet under." He sneered, glaring down at the weakening female.

"Christian." A deadly voice sent a chill throughout them both and two sets of eyes fell upon Jasper's darkened form at the barn door. Within a second Georgia had dropped to the floor and the two boys were scrabbling on the floor taking and throwing punches at eachother. Georgia backed up, covering her mouth to prevent a scream of shock to exit it. Finally, Jasper hauled Christian up and threw him toward the door. "Get out of here. Don't come back." He snarled at the younger male. With a scoff Christian left the barn and took off over the gate. Saphire eyes met emerald ones, shining with concern. "You ok?" Jasper extended his hand to Georgia and she took it gratefully, allowing herself to be pulled up.

"Thank you.." She whispered, looking down in embarrasment.

"You're welcome. He was a bastard for saying that to you, and it's not true. We want you here... I'm sorry for not standing up for you before.." He whispered as he pulled her against him in a tight embrace. She buried her face into his neck and sniffed gently. "I'll always protect you Georgia... Always."

End Flashback

They'd been inseperable ever since that day, growing from steady friends to sweethearts easily. As they stood in the same spot of their first hug, holding each other tightly both silently remembering their first true moments together. Georgia moved her face from his neck and looked up at him, her cheeks tear stained and her lower lip shaking slightly, she almost brought him to tears with the site of her. His hand moved to brush a strand of stray hair from her face and leant down to rest his forehead against hers. Her eyes slowly slid shut as they stood in their embrace.

"Jasper.." She whispered, as he searched her now calmed face.

"Yes, darlin'?" He asked, watching as her brow furrowed slightly.

"Kiss me..." She stated simply, her eyes opening to look into his. He let out a breath and smiled down at her, his hand resting on her cheek as he slowly leant down. His lips hovered mere millimetres from hers, waiting for her to respond. Eagerly she reached up and closed the distance, pressing her lips feverishly to his, their lips stayed joined, his hand slowly wrapped around the back of her neck keeping her still as he deepened the kiss. Heat eveloped them both as the kiss became more desperate, all their pent up angst and anger was released into the kiss. After a few minutes Jasper pulled back, earning a small whimper from Georgia which made him smile. He kissed her nose and looked at her.

"Georgia... My love. I have to go now.." He whispered causing her eyes to fill with tears again. "I vow to you, that I will be back for you. When I come back, I swear that you and I will be married, we'll find our own new farm elsewhere where we can raise the children that we will have. We will be together again. I promise you. You will be my wife, Mrs Whitlock." A small smile flashed onto her face and she nodded.

"I love you, Mr Whitlock."

"As I love you, Mrs Whitlock."

With another fleeting kiss Jasper left her embrace to meet his father who would take him into town to the barracks.

A few months later

"I have a message for Mr Micheal Whitlock?" An older gentleman dressed in a cadets uniform stood at the door of the farm house and Georgia wiped her hands on her apron as she looked behind her.

"Micheal, there's someone here for you." The older man walked out from his study and, as he spotted the uniformed soldier, frowned.

"Georgia, could you wait upstairs please?" He asked quietly, confusing Georgia by the request but she complied silently. As she left he turned to the soldier and narrowed his eyes. "What is it?" He asked, but deep inside of him he already knew the answer.

"I'm sorry to inform you that your son, Major Jasper Whitlock, is missing in action, presumed dead in the battle fields. I am very sorry." With that the soldier turned to leave, Micheal numbly closed the door and turned leaning back on it in a daze. After a few minutes of just standing there he looked up to see Georgia at the top of the stairs.

"Micheal...? What's happened?" She asked, her voice uncertain as she slowly made her way down the steps.

"He's... He's gone Georgia. He's gone.." He whispered in reply, averting his eyes from her face. The shallowing out of her breathing was the only indication that she had heard him.

"No..." She only whispered and stepped back, her hand wrapping around the banister of the stairs. Shaking her head she just stared off at nothing in particular until the moment that Micheal reached out for her. With a cry of a wounded animal she ran out of the house, making her way to the barn that she and Jasper had spent so many warm days talking and laughing. She leant against the heavy wooden doors and dropped to her knees crying out wordlessly as she felt her heart, the last part of it that she had saved for Jasper, break into a million pieces. She had no one left.

2011, Forks

CarlislePOV

I was in my study, reading through a particularly interesting medical journal from the American Civil War when I heard the news. From downstairs I heard Alice squeal and clap her hands happily causing a murmer of annoyance to sound throughout the rest of my family. With a laugh I placed my journal down and stood up to see what was happening. I exited my study and walked downstairs to see Alice, standing in the middle of the living room and clapping.

"What did you see, Alice?" I ask, knowing the only one that could actually see beside her was Edward and he didn't seem too happy to share as he was to busy trying to calm his mate down. From behind her I could see Emmett watching with wide eyes, awaiting the news from the vision, his wife Rosalie sat beside him filing her nails seemingly undisturbed by the noise. From the kitchen I could see Jasper looking up from his book, annoyed at the disruption.

"They're coming! Finally, I mean they took their time over it." Alice gushed, her seemingly happy nature disturbed by the slightest annoyance of 'their' lateness.

"Who are they?" I ask again, calm despite my anxiousness as to who was coming that could get Alice this excited.

"Isabella and Georgia Swan of course! The chief's daughters are finally coming home." At the first name I stopped dead. Shock coursing through me as it did everytime I heard the name. From behind me I heard Jasper stand and move to stand beside me.

"Alice... What do they look like?" He asked quietly, his voice clearly lined with caution. Jasper and I both had the same kind of past, or so he had told me. He had lost his love when he had been turned, the same as I.

"Isabella is beautiful, slim with long brown hair, she has chocolate brown eyes, she and I are going to be best friends! Georgia is stunning, she's not slim but exceedingly curvy, long really curly brown hair, she has almost emerald eyes and she and Rosalie are going to be so close!" Alice described them and I could feel my breathing stop along with Jaspers. It was them... After so many years it was them.

Rosalie lifted her golden eyes and shook her head, causing her blonde hair to fall into her face. "There is no way I'm going to be 'besties' with a human." She insisted haughtily, earning her a growl from Jasper.

"She's not just some human, Rose. If it's who we think it is... It's my mate." Jasper whispered, loud enough for everyone in the house to hear.

"And it would seem that Isabella is mine..." I say, running my hand anxiously through my hair.

"Brilliant!" Alice clapped excitedly. "They come into town next week." She grins and nods happily. "Get ready for like to get interesting."