The next day Emily felt stronger but she was surprised to find that Jasper refused to leave her side. There was guilt in his eyes every time he looked at her and the witch understood that what he had witnessed had stirred something inside of him. The vampire was extremely attentive to her every need including prepping all her meals, he insisted she stay in bed and rest even though she felt well enough to do it herself.

"You really don't have to keep doing this," Emily said taking the offered cup of coffee.

"I want to."

"At this point you must have my father in a panic, let me go downstairs and at least see him for a minute so he knows I haven't died up here."

"He left for the reservation while you were resting in the bath, he didn't want to disturb you but Billy Black invited him on a two day fishing trip."

"And my brother? I haven't seen Nym or Harry in a few hours."

"Tagged along. Harry thought it would be good for Nym to see what he liked to do in the muggle world as a child." Jasper joined Emily on the bed and carefully pulled her into his side so she wouldn't spill her drink. "Something fun for them to share."

Emily looked up at the vampire as if he were crazy, "Fun? Has he lost his mind, Nym on a boat sounds like a terrible idea to me."

"Oh I'm betting she falls overboard," Jasper smirked clearly imagining the same sight as the witch.

"Five galleons she falls out at least three times."

"I think she'll learn her lesson after two."

Emily pictured the many times the metamorph had tripped over the troll leg at Grimmauld in the entryway and smiled, "I doubt it."

"You're on," Jasper said sealing the deal with a kiss to the witch's head. "You know it's surprising what a good fighter she is."

"I think her poor balance has something to do with her constant morphing. She is always playing with her appearance and I think her body just never has time to adjust and steady itself properly. When she fights, if you watch her long enough you'll notice she always uses the same form."

"Like a base form?"

"I don't know but I guess I could look it up, I now have full access to the Black family library and the ability is considered a Black family trait."

"Even if it doesn't tell you much it would be an interesting read."

Nodding Emily took a sip of her coffee, she hadn't really taken the time to go through the family library yet. She had always been eager to read the tombs that were forbidden to her at a younger age however here she was with full access and she hadn't even touched them.

The sound of a door slamming distracted the witch from her thoughts, "I guess that's Bella making her escape from being stuck alone in the house with me."

"I'm pretty sure she's the one that set all of this up, your father's fishing trip and her weekend away from the house."

Emily sent a wave of curiosity to the vampire as she took another sip of her coffee. Why would Bella need to send her father away when she didn't even plan on staying in the house herself?

Before Jasper could answer the witch his phone started to ring. Checking the name he decided he needed to take the call, giving Emily an apologetic look he answered. "Is everything okay?"

Emily shook her head at the vampire and Jasper watched as she grabbed her book before disappearing out into the hall. He was tempted to follow her but it only took a second for the high twinkling voice to call his attention back, "Jazz?"

"I'm here."

"Okay good, I just wanted to make sure you weren't planning on going back to the house tonight."

"I hadn't planned on it."

There was a sigh of relief from the other end of the line, "I had to check, I barely can see you anymore. I just get odd glimpses here and there."

"I'm surprised you're looking for me."

"You're my mate," Alice said simply and perhaps for her that was enough reason to watch out for him.

"Well I'm fine and I promise I have no plans to go back to the house."

"Good, Bella's going to try to seduce Edward tonight…"

Stopping the other vampire before she could get into more detail on whatever vision she had of the pair Jasper quickly cut in, "I really don't need to know Alice."

"It's not going to work anyway, he gets all awkward and refuses her."

"Eddie's a prude, of course he's going to turn her down!" Emmett's voice came booming through in the background. "If he can turn down Tanya, he can turn down a human! Ouch, Rosie what was that for?"

Jasper laughed as he heard his brother and sister start to bicker in the background before Alice cut them off, "Would you two go hunt, I'm trying to have a conversation with my husband!"

Husband, the word hung in Jasper's mind for a second. He didn't really feel like Alice's husband nor had he ever wanted to marry her but she had insisted. Her insistence turned into three weddings over the years that had no legal weight in any world be it muggle or magical. He never referred to Alice as his wife yet she never missed an opportunity to call him her husband.

"Jazz?"

"I'm still here," he answered running a hand through his hair.

"Good, I know you don't care but I thought I should also warn you, Edward is going to propose tonight."

"He's proposed before Alice and she never agrees to it."

"She will this time."

"Wonderful."

Alice sighed and the vampire imagined she was probably shaking her head as usual when he didn't give the answer she wanted. "Jazzy…" Jasper cringed as he always did when the woman used that name. He could live with Jazz it was a name his little sister had used when he was human but he had once been the God of War, the name Jazzy did not fit him at all. "You should be happy for Edward, he's finally found his mate."

"I'll be sure to congratulate him the next time I see him," the vampire added sarcastically but as usual his tone was lost on his 'mate'.

"Yay! Thank you! We're all going hunting tonight to power up for tomorrow, you could join us…"

"I'm good."

"Are you sure?" Jasper could tell he had disappointed the woman once again but he couldn't be bothered to care.

"I'm fine, I'll meet you all tomorrow. Have Emmett text me when you are heading to the field."

Without allowing Alice a chance to keep talking he hung up the phone and ran a hand over his face.

"What's tomorrow?" Emily had returned and was leaning against the doorframe. Her emotions seemed dulled and Jasper had a feeling she was doing it on purpose.

"The newborn army is coming."

"Has anyone contacted Aro?"

"No, Edward is far too paranoid about the Volturi. He worries that if Carlisle calls it will put added pressure on Bella's change."

Emily laughed, "Is he truly considering changing her?"

"He wavers but as of right now if she agrees to marry him then he will change her himself."

"He wants to marry her?"

"He's been asking since they returned from Italy."

"Well good luck to him I guess, Bella detests the idea of marriage."

"According to Alice tonight is the night she says yes."

Emily felt a pang of emotion run through her before she pushed it down. Why should she feel anything? She hated everything Edward stood for, hunting animals instead of humans, denying his true self to be more human… Disgust welled in her as she thought of those damn amber eyes. If the man wanted to continue to delude himself that humans and vampires could mate he was free to do so.

"Darlin'?" Jasper gave the witch an odd look as he felt the slight shifting of her emotions though he couldn't pin down exactly what was going on. "Are you okay? Do you need to lay back down?"

"I'm fine," she waved him off as she moved to stand in front of her fireplace. "You wouldn't happen to know how I could contact Aro, would you?"

"I personally no longer have his number but Peter or Garrett might, it has changed over the years."

"Can you ask them please?"

Moving to join Emily, Jasper wrapped his arms around her waist, "If that's what you want Darlin'."

"It is, I think it's time I speak with the brothers."

The next morning Jasper pulled his shirt over his head as Emily watched from the bed. It was something the witch often did when she procrastinated on their many journeys over the last year but this time she was staying behind. It felt odd preparing to fight without her coming along.

"Are you sure you don't want to join me?"

"And deny the Cullens their chance to play vampire?"

Jasper shook his head at the smirk that he saw cross Emily's face in the mirror. "I'm sure Emmett would be the only one disappointed and if you gave him a good show he would forgive you."

The witch laid back on the bed, her arms stretching over her head. Jasper had a strong urge to rip off his clothes and crawl back in with her but he held himself back. "You'll be fine without me," she yawned. "Me being there will only open a jar of flobberworms for you."

The vampire wished he could tell her that her presence would do no such thing but they both knew he would be lying. Shrugging he moved and kissed the witch's head, "I'll come back as soon as I can."

Emily nodded as she waited for the vampire to take his leave. Once he had jumped from her window she reached for the paper he had left on the nightstand. Sighing as her feet touch the cold floor she summoned some slippers before making her way down to the living room. Picking up the phone she dialed the number written on the scrap piece of paper.

"Ciao, thank you for calling the Volterra Museo. How may I direct your call?"

"I need to speak to Aro."

"There is no…"

Emily cut off the other voice before the woman could finish her lie, "Tell him Death is calling and she is rather annoyed."

"Right away."

Emily lounged high up in a tree overlooking the clearing where the Cullens were preparing with the wolves to fight the newborns. The seer had told the group that the 'army' planned to attack from both sides of the field so Jasper had split them up to prepare to counter and catch the newborns off guard.

It wasn't long before the newborns came rushing towards the clearing likely driven mad by Bella's scent, they were completely erratic and had little skill, the fight wouldn't last long. Carlisle and Esme seemed to stick together while the others shifted through the chaos finding a target on their own. It was no surprise to the witch that Jasper appeared to be doing the majority of the work, protecting the others from their inability to use their true senses to fight.

"How did they get the wolves to help them?" a male voice caught Emily's attention from below.

Looking down she noticed a small group of vampires in varying shades of grey cloaks and she couldn't help the smirk that crossed her face. Allowing her body to take on the form of mist she vanished from her place in the tree and reappeared leaning against its trunk. "I think you'll find the shifters are also rather attached to the human."

The five Volturi guards turned instantly prepared to attack the newcomer but the smallest one froze upon noticing the witch. Emily wore a black silk dress with long sleeves and her hair fell in waves down the left side of her face, her eyes sparkled with mirth at the idea of the possible attempt to attack her.

Jane raised her hand as she dropped to a knee and pulled back her hood looking back at the others with a promise of pain if they didn't follow suit. "Mistress, it is an honor. Caius sends his regards and asked me to wish you well."

"You have spoken to your Kings recently?"

"We have, just before coming to the field to wait as we were instructed until the fighting had ended."

"Good and the human?"

"Is not to be harmed, though I can't understand why you would wish to save such a pathetic being." The small vampire ducked her head as she realized what she had said aloud and to whom she had said it. The woman was deadly and had no aversion to killing. It was said during the war she had wiped out several magical covens in England without getting as much as a scratch. Usually the small vampire would see this more as a challenge but the kings had assured her even they couldn't protect her if she provoked the witch. "I apologize, I should not have said that."

Emily laughed as she motioned for the group to stand, "No harm done, all is well. If the circumstances were different I would gladly let you end the human now but unfortunately I cannot do that. But rest assured becoming a vampire is Bella's deepest desire, by changing her sentence and allowing her to remain human the Cullens will likely reconsider turning her at all which will be a punishment that will guarantee her unhappiness."

Jane nodded as a yelp drew the group's attention to the clearing. A wolf was injured as what appeared to be the last newborn was taken down. It hadn't taken them long and Jasper looked rather annoyed as he glared at the wolves who huddled around the hurt member of their tribe.

"They've missed one," one of the men announced shifting everyone's focus to the young girl shaking at Emmett's feet.

Jane looked to Emily as if asking for her instruction on how to proceed. "So they have, do what you feel is in your Kings' best interest. As long as the human remains alive I care for little else."

Smirking Jane bowed her head and made to move toward the field.

"I would wait," Emily instructed halting the movements of the vampires. "Once the shifters have gone and Edward has returned with his prize then I would show yourselves. I wouldn't want Bella to miss out on learning she no longer must be turned."

"Of course you are right Mistress," Jane nodded once again. "I am hasty and the guards are restless having missed a chance to fight, it is better to wait."

"There will certainly be plenty of battles to come, men and vampires alike are always finding reasons to spill each other's blood," Emily offered as she took one last look at the clearing. "And ones far more difficult than what we have witnessed today."

The vampires stood momentarily stunned as the witch before them turned to a black mist and vanished from their sight.

Emily was lying on the couch, the TV playing in the background when her family finally came home. She had once again attempted to find something to amuse her on the muggle contraption and had landed on a cooking channel which to her surprise wasn't as bad as she expected.

"I could have helped him," Harry pleaded as the front door closed.

"And I said no," Charlie's voice was stern. "Carlisle was there and he is an amazing doctor, Jake will be just fine."

"But I have ways that could heal him faster, the entire right side of his body is broken."

"And I get that but what were you going to do, tell them you're a wizard and then hand them a magical potion? Do you know how crazy you would sound?"

"I know!" Harry sounded frustrated but Emily kept her eyes shut not yet wishing to join in on the discussion. "But at least I could have tried something. There has to be some Skelegrow around here somewhere."

"I think your Dad is right," Nym spoke for the first time. "You can't help everyone and you don't know how they would react. There was something weird going on with those boys."

There was a sigh followed by loud footsteps and a door slamming. Opening her eyes Emily watched as Nym smiled at Charlie before running towards the backdoor where Harry had likely taken his leave from.

"Good trip?" Emily asked causing her father to turn, his hand covering his heart.

"I didn't see you there," the man moved towards the witch and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "You look better."

"I was never unwell," Emily countered moving to sit up. Her father gave her a disbelieving look but he didn't voice his thoughts instead he moved to sit in his favorite chair. "How was your trip?"

"It was fun, though did you know Dora is almost as clumsy as Bells. I swear, we couldn't even let her move on the boat because every time she stood she fell overboard."

Laughing the witch nodded, "She certainly is good at tripping over air."

Charlie started to chuckle as the front door was thrown open. Bella was in tears as she made her way towards the stairs. "Bells?"

"I'm not staying," the girl yelled as she tripped trying to get up the staircase. Emily looked over at her father who quickly followed his daughter and stood next to the railing. "Jake's been hurt I want to go see him."

"How did you know?"

"Edward called me," Bella lied.

She disappeared into her room as Charlie looked back at Emily. "The boy had a motorcycle accident."

"I'm sure he did," but Emily's tone only earned an eye roll from her father as he turned back towards the stairs.

"Did you at least have a good time with Alice?"

"It was okay," the girl yelled emerging from her room having changed her jacket. "But I really hate shopping."

"We've noticed," Emily said looking the girl up and down as she came rushing back down the stairs. Bella was wearing a pair of ripped jeans that she had likely torn taking a fall at some point and a plain blue t-shirt under her oversized green raincoat.

"Jake will be fine Bells," Charlie tried to appease the girl as she stopped next to him. "Carlisle is there now and I doubt he'll be in much state to see people for a while."

"I really need to see him though, I'll be back later tonight."

The human rushed out of the house and Charlie turned back to Emily who tossed him the controller as she stood. "Well I'm going up to my bed. I have a feeling you are about to watch some game and if I'm going to fall asleep I might as well do it from the comfort of my own bed."

"Ha ha, you could try and learn something about it for once. You might end up liking it."

"Can anyone fall off a broom a few hundred feet?" The look Charlie gave Emily was one of exasperation and she couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her. "Then I doubt it."

Making her way upstairs Emily opened the door to her room to find a rather distraught looking vampire standing by her fire.

"I hear congratulations are in order," she greeted the man.

He looked towards the witch and waved off her words, "My fight was rather simple, the congratulations lay with my family. Though I'm told Jasper did most of the work."

"I was speaking of your engagement."

"Oh," Edward answered turning to look at the fire. Emily gave him a moment as she moved to sit on her bed more comfortably. "I'm not sure if there is an engagement."

Emily was slightly shocked at the announcement, a giddiness ran through her at the idea that she quickly pushed down. Why did she keep having strong reactions to this man, she shouldn't feel anything for such a weak being who couldn't even accept his own fate in life. "And why is that?"

Edward merely shook his head as he continued to stare into the flames before him. "Did you know she wants to get married in Vegas at one of those drive-thru things in sweats?"

"I'm not surprised, Bella was not raised the same way you or I were. Whether you like it or not the morals and values of your time no longer hold true in the muggle world. To her marriage is likely no more than a piece of paper."

"But it means something to me. I thought I would be happy when she finally agreed but it was fleeting."

"And so you hide out in my room?"

"I didn't know where else to go. So many things have happened today, I'm not sure what to do."

The silence stretched on as Edward kept his back to the witch. Lying down on her back Emily allowed the vampire a few minutes to his own thoughts but as time dragged on she couldn't help herself from speaking, "Are you going to tell me what happened or should I ready for bed and allow you to stand there all night."

For a moment he didn't answer and so Emily pushed herself up and began readying herself for bed.

"She kissed him," Edward said catching Emily's attention as she climbed into her bed.

"Who?"

"Jacob Black."

"I didn't realize they were that close." Her father would be pleased to hear the news.

"He somewhat tricked her into it but I guess what surprises me is she fell for it. He overheard us talking and I mentioned that she agreed to marry me, when he confronted us she ran after him livid at me for bringing it up when I knew he was close enough to hear us."

"Why agree to get married if no one knows?"

"She says she wanted to wait until the fight was over but I think she's not okay with the idea just yet herself."

"I hate to break this to you…"

"No you don't."

"Fair enough I don't, but Bella may never be okay with the idea of marriage. The world she lives in and the examples she has are not going to endear her to a union."

"But you've had the same examples."

"In a way yes. I have always known my father's position on marriage, especially when one is young but my world is completely different. Marriage is expected and often contracted, I've seen many loving relationships and I'm not fearful of the idea."

The vampire sighed as he finally moved to sit on the trunk at the end of Emily's bed. "It may not matter anyway I don't know if I can keep my end of the 'compromise' in good faith anymore."

"Why?" Emily prompted but she thought she might have an idea.

"The Volturi had decreed that Bella was to be changed." Edward glanced at Emily nervously, he seemed worried at what her reaction would be but she merely appeared bored so he continued, "She wanted me to be the one to turn her. I have never wanted that life for her but I agreed that if she would marry me I would change her myself."

"Go on," Emily pressed as the vampire fell silent once more.

"Today some of the guard came to Forks, they were here to supposedly help get rid of the newborns. Though they conveniently showed up after it was all over."

Emily smirked the vampire had no idea that the guard would have loved to join the fight though one could barely call it that but it was her idea that they should wait. "I'm sure seeing Bella human didn't help," the witch said playing stupid.

"That's the thing, they seemed glad she was still human and told us the Kings no longer desired her to be changed."

"How odd."

"Yes how odd," a deep southern drawl added. Emily turned and smiled as she saw Jasper standing in her doorway. "The brother's aren't often known for showing such mercy to a human."

"Perhaps they no longer view her as a threat," Emily countered.

"Aro wanted her though," Edward said looking back towards the fire and ignoring his brother's entrance. "In Italy I could read how curious he was about her."

"I don't think the Volturi are something you need to worry about right now Edward."

"I agree, I thought you would be celebrating brother," Jasper said moving into the room. Kicking off his shoes he climbed on the bed next to the witch and kissed her head.

"How do you know?"

"Alice."

Shaking his head Edward leaned forward and ran a hand through his hair, "Does the rest of the family know yet?"

"No but I'm sure they will shortly, when I left she was already planning out the wedding. It's on August 13th by the way. I may be out of the country at the time but I promise to send a gift for the charade."

"Out of the country?" Emily asked looking up at the man next to her.

"Draco's wedding is in August, I thought you might like some company."

"When did you decide this?"

"I've been thinking about it for a few days now."

"Have you?"

The vampire nodded before looking towards Edward, "Why does he look like that?"

"Human troubles."

"When haven't you had human troubles lately?" Jasper addressed the sullen looking vampire. "I thought you two would at least be together tonight after she finally said yes."

"The engagement is a sore point," Emily said closing her eyes, why must everyone be discussing the human in her room tonight.

"What's sore?" Nym drew everyone's attention as she entered the room and threw herself onto her bed.

"What are you doing?" Emily asked as she watched the metamorph roll over and cover her eyes with one of her arms.

"I'm going to bed."

"You're fully dressed."

The witch pulled out her wand and dragged it down her body, instantly her clothes morphed into a bright pink t-shirt and pajama pants. "Now I'm ready."

"Didn't want to sleep with Harry tonight?"

"Is Bella gone?"

"For now."

The metamorph shrugged, "He's down watching some random baseball game on TV with your Dad. I never understood why muggles love that sport so much."

"So he calmed down?"

"Yeah, his fit didn't last that long. He's getting better but you know how he gets with his saving people complex."

"True, do you want me to put up a silencing ward for you?"

The only answer the witch received was a thumbs up. Smirking at the girl's behavior Emily took out her wand and pointed it at the other bed in the room, after a few seconds a thin dome seemed to appear around the object before disappearing.

"Saving people, who is there for him to save in Forks?" Jasper asked his hand coming up to play with the ends of Emily's hair.

"He saw Jacob Black being brought home, Harry thinks he was in a bad motorcycle accident and was mad my father stopped him from offering to help."

"He probably could do more than Carlisle."

"I doubt it, Harry has never been good at medical spells. The best he could offer is a potion someone else prepared."

Jasper conceded the point having on several occasions witnessed the boy panic at seeing an injury and unable to aid the victim had acted rashly, lashing out at others or running off to start a fight in supposed revenge.

"He has a short fuse," Edward commented likely reading Jasper's thoughts.

Emily nodded, "He's a Gryffindor, what else can you expect?"

"A Gryffindor?"

"It's the House he was in at school. There are four Houses, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin."

"Which House were you in?"

"Slytherin," Emily smirked opening her mind enough to show Edward the wonder of her green lit common room and the splendor of her hand carved ebony bed in the dorms. She missed the castle at times especially the earlier years when she spent the majority of her time in the dungeons with Draco brewing potions or playing chess. Closing her mind off once again she leaned into Jasper who instantly wrapped his arm around her.

Edward was in awe of what he was shown but noticing the way his brother's thoughts were turning as his hand trailed up and down the witch's arm he supposed it was time to leave. He could already feel the jealousy and anger growing and with how confused he already was about his current relationship it was better to leave them be, for now. "I should go."

"You don't have to leave brother," Jasper offered but his thoughts read quite differently, he was already focused on a very naked Emily.

"I think I need some time alone," Edward countered rising and moving to the door. As he was about to grab the handle a silver bracelet sitting on the nightstand grabbed his attention. Turning to the witch the vampire almost wanted to laugh as Jasper was urging him to hurry up. "Do you remember a bracelet you gave Bella?"

"Of course I do," Emily answered moving her body more onto Jasper's so she could see the vampire.

"It's just the strangest thing happened the other day, it came off when Carlisle had to examine her hand and I swore I heard her thoughts."

"You did."

"I see, so her mind is silent to me due to the bracelet?"

"With the life Harry and I lead we couldn't have Bella divulging our secrets whether she realized it or not. Wizards trained in Legilimency can read minds so she needed to be protected. My Uncle Remus used to use charms but they can only do so much for so long. When I was twelve I met a man who worked in the tombs of Egypt, he and I both had a love for runes so we naturally struck a 'friendship'. The bracelet was his idea, a find from one of his many job sites."

"Does she know what it does? She refuses to take it off."

"To an extent. There's a compulsion that William and I added to it, the drawn in rune makes it longer lasting and keeps her from wanting to remove the bracelet."

"Makes more sense, I was surprised when she told me you gave it to her because she always has it on."

"I may have had to use a spell to compel her to put it on at first but once on she never will want to remove it, it's for the best."

"Could it stop her from telling people your secret?"

"No, it merely effects the mind. I could add compulsion spells I guess to stop her from sharing information but that's very complex, I'd need multiple bands. If I was worried though I would save the energy and obliviate her."

Jasper raised an eyebrow at the witch, "Your father would be okay with you doing that?"

"He has always known it was a possibility, if she gets upset and we think she might break the secrecy act I will have no other choice."

"I'm sorry, what does obliviate mean?" Edward interjected his hand still hovering over the door handle.

"It means I could erase her memory of what I am from her mind, she would never again remember or know about my world and all she has witnessed of it would be removed."

"Oh," Edward nodded his head, thoughts started flying through his brain at what he had just heard. He needed to go home and think about everything. Looking toward the couple he gave a short bow of the head, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Edward."