Dark Paradise

Chapter Two

Alice

"Well that should make it easier." Rosalie sighed, turning around and leaning back in her seat. You would almost still buy that she didn't give a damn about Bella. She always has, though. She just cared more about protecting her family than protecting a human. Now she considers her family, so she just has to get over her shit about humans being turned willingly. Jasper continued driving, as if nothing had interrupted him to begin with. I maneuvered around in the back seat so that Bella was laying down with her head in my lap. Running my hand through her hair while Jasper drove.

I knew Jasper was trying not to think so intently on what he was planning on doing. He wanted to give me a chance to get out of range. He didn't realize that I was in this too. For the long haul. Bella was the key to our happiness, and I had told him I would lead him there to his future. I just never mentioned that after, the two of them would lead me to mine. The very thought of our collective happy endings was enough to fill me with confidence and resolve, and a smidgen of happiness I'm sure Jasper still noticed.

"Jasper, it's alright. Just don't think so quickly so I have a chance to catch them." He reached back with his hand so I put mine in his, grasping him tightly before letting go.

"I appreciate it Alice." He didn't even need to send me the love, admiration, respect, gratitude and pride. I would have done it for him regardless. Though Jasper and I haven't been together since Bella came into our lives, we didn't end on bad terms. It was a mutual decision fo-

We pull up to the Cullen Mansion, Esme rushing outside to see Bella. Disbelief in her eyes, a disappointing glare sent towards me and Jasper. There were sounds of a struggle in the house, and we could hear Emmett clear as day,

"What the fuck, Edward?!" There were sounds of plaster cracking and glass breaking. Esme scowled towards the house and hissed,

"Emmett! Language!"

"I don't give a fuck. He bit me, Esme! That shit stings like a mother!" She turned back towards me and Jasper then. We had all gotten out of the car and were standing between it and her. Bella was still resting inside the vehicle. Rosalie had zipped inside the house to help control Edward, and possibly rip an arm off for hurting Emmett. She was one fierce Mama when someone messed with her family.

"This is all you. This is all your fault. I knew you were going to be trouble ever since you and that little bitch came into our lives. Carlisle said you just needed a loving enviro-" My vision panned forward to the distant future. The Volturi would come, and it wouldn't go well for anyone. Bella, the least of all.

I shook myself out of that vision, I didn't need to see any more to know that the outcome sucked. I had always assumed I was Esme's favorite. She treated me how I imagined a loving Mother would have. Even if nothing like that ever happened, I would never look at her the same again. I had this strange feeling that my time as a Cullen had come to an end. I guess that was one of the downsides to being a seer. One of many, I've come to realize.

"Do not go back to the house. Edward will bite Emmett, Esme will call the Volturi on Jasper and I. They will take me and Edward, and the rest will die." I left out the part where they try to take Rosalie, and Emmett is ripped apart trying to stop it from happening. Which ends with Rosalie trying to get revenge on the Volturi... "He's already there, telling Esme whatever story he's concocted to make us look absolutely awful. Emmett will be able to fill us in later. It's safer for him if we don't show up." I didn't bother letting Jasper know that the mother figure he adored actually cared very little for him in the scheme of things, especially when it came to Edward.

"That mother fucker!" Rosalie seethed. "I will kick the shit out of that little prick!" I wanted to laugh, because Emmett hadn't actually gotten bitten in the time line we were on now. I would wait and enjoy the scene of Rosalie outwardly caring about someone other than herself. She could be so loving when she wanted to be. I suppose Jasper couldn't stop himself, because he did chuckle a tiny bit under his breath earning a glare from Rose. You could tell that they did love each other, just as if they were really the twins they portrayed. Even though Rosalie liked to joke and call Jasper a dirty southerner. He always got her back by calling her an uptight Yankee bitch. Then she'd laugh, because she was.

We arrive at Forks General, just in time to catch Carlisle before he leaves. Edward had called him on the phone already. Carlisle knew Edward was prone to great exaggeration when it came to Bella so he's more than willing to talk to us and get our side of the story.

"Edward called Carlisle already, but we can catch him before he leaves the hospital and he will be willing to speak to you about all of this." It was the best outcome we could hope for, honestly. Jasper relaxed and turned the car around, heading to the Hospital instead of Port Angeles.

A black truck with tinted windows is driving down a bumpy dirt road. It arrives at a house, where two vampires emerge into the sunlight. Shimmering in the bright sunshine. The truck slows to a stop and out jumps Bella, still human. She runs full force into the man and woman, enveloping them in a group hug which Jasper joins in on when he exits the vehicle, at a much slower pace than Bella. I have never seen him so happy before.

I could only assume it was Peter and Charlotte. Jasper knew a lot of vampires, far more than the Cullen family combined. I couldn't think of any he'd mention knowing that he'd be as happy to see as Peter and Charlotte. My excitement was practically bubbling over. I couldn't wait until we were through this mess, and all happy and healthy with the loves of our lives!

"Christ, Alice. Tone that shit down." Jasper grinned at me in the rear view mirror. Even Rose was beaming. I shrugged, not sorry at all. That's how Carlisle saw us when we pulled into the hospital. All smiles. We looked like three happy kids skipping school to visit their Dad at work. Minus you know, the subdued Bella in the back seat, which he raised an eyebrow at. He met us at the car, waiting patiently for us to disembark.

"Jasper, this is your rodeo." I explained, letting him know that it was all up to him now. Our infectious smiles were wearing off and the seriousness of the situation was settling over us like a cloud.

"Carlisle," Jasper paused, trying to figure out how he was going to spit out what we've known for weeks. Well, okay. I've known for a bit longer than that. He glanced at me again, and I smiled and nodding. Not having had any visions that this would be disastrous. Not really having any at all, actually. Which was good!

"I know in more civilized covens there is a certain way of doin thangs, and I must admit I'm a bit ignorant when it comes to situations like this." Jasper sighed and ran his hands through his hair in a very nervous gesture. "I lack tact, Carlisle. Bella is my mate, and I know Edward has claimed 'er, but he hasn't done so officially. Which is lucky for him, because if he had I would destroy him." To say Carlisle was a tad shocked would be an understatement. His mouth was hanging open. He prided himself on keeping an open mind, so most things didn't catch him unaware. He composed himself quickly.

"I am surprised it took you this long to come to me with this, Jasper." Wow, I should really leave reading people's emotions to Jasper. I am terrible at reading people. "I was slightly disappointed that you didn't run away with Bella and Alice when you went to Arizona. When we all came back I noticed Bella wasn't even paying attention to Edward anymore, only you. You should have tried to visit her at the hospital. She pissed off Edward on more than one occasion with her sleep talking." He grinned, as if he were so proud that he had kept this all a secret from all of us. Hell, I was impressed.

"So you won't protest?" Jasper clarified.

"No, Son. You know what they say, Fate loves a rebel. If there ever was a man who fit that bill, it would be you. Have you talked to Bella about all of this?" Jasper's eyes flickered to the car and that was answer enough for Carlisle. "I think being forthright is in your best interests, Jasper. She can't stand it when Edward dictates her life. She wants a say. She deserves it, more so than anyone else. Especially about this, the very essence of her life. To live or die."