When Choice Meets Fate

Okay, this is a fresh idea that came to mind while I was writing the new chapter to my first story, After the Fact. It may turn into a one shot but I definitely hope it unfurls into more.

A/N: I do not own Twilight, its characters or its theme. Yup, Stephenie Meyer owns it all and I'm so jelly.

Chapter One: Fore thought

Alice POV:

Ugh, I hate cars. Sighing heavily I shifted for the millionth time, although not out of discomfort. I was utterly bored. Jasper sat across the back seat from me, his back completely straight as a board; no doubt from his military training. He looked over at me, and his stone cold expression melted. "Did you need something, ma'am?" I turned, laying my legs across his lap, "I'm bored, Jazz. Let's play a game, or sing a song, something! Are we there yet?" Edward rolled his eyes from the front seat, "Fine, let's speed it up a little, then. We mustn't bore Alice." He really put his foot into the gas and the car kicked it into gear. We were gliding at well over 110 mph, which definitely made Edward happy so no one complained. Suddenly spots appeared in front of my eyes and I got the familiar dizzy sensation that preceded each one of my visions.

I saw a face I didn't recognize, a female with very fair skin and deep red eyes, a blood drinker? She stood in a group with my family and me, laughing. We were in the living room of our home in Forks. This unfamiliar girl sat on the couch cuddled up with Edward, when he leaned over and kissed her neck below the ear. She smiled coyly at him, and then all at once the scene dissolved.

When I came to, three pairs of eyes watched me carefully. Jasper leaned over, "So babe, what'd you see?" I replayed the images in my mind, watching Edward's expression in the rear view mirror. A smile grew on his lips and he jammed his foot even harder against the floor board, "Thank you, Alice." Emmett groaned, he hated when Edward and I did this, "Okay, can anyone aside from the mind readers in the car explain what just happened?" I felt giddy myself as I proudly announced, "It appears that Edward will finally meet his mate in Forks." Emmett whooped and hollered while Jasper leaned forward to clap a hand on Edward's shoulder. "Good show." In light of the news, we were all in a hurry to reach our destination. I caught his eyes in the rear view mirror again and behind the obvious joy, they showed the same question as mine but the answer was unclear. Neither of us felt the need to mention the girl's blood red eyes.

Meanwhile, at Bella's house in Forks…

Bella POV:

"Stop, Jake, you're getting paint everywhere!" I couldn't stifle my giggles watching Jacob's huge form clambered around my room, tiptoeing around paint pans and buckets. Even with the furniture cleared out into the hallway, he still stumbled about, like a bull in a china shop. Luckily, we had covered the floor in old sheets before we started, because in the two hours since we started we had gotten more paint on ourselves and everywhere other than the walls. I was so excited to see a new color on the walls, as they had been pale yellow since I was very young. Mom always said she liked the surprise of not knowing so she had to plan for a unisex nursery theme, and since then it remained the same shade; although somewhat dingier now. Well I was in high school now and with my electives at school centering on interior design, I decided it was high time for a change from nursery hues to a more grown up palette. To start with, the primer and paint in one base paint, lavender; to be accented later of course. I was able to stifle my giggles and paused to really look at Jacob.

It really blew my mind how much our relationship had changed. We had known each other our entire lives, our moms met in Lamaze class, and our dads had been fishing buddies since not so long after that. We spent every moment together as childhood friends, he taught me how to swim near the beach at La Push, then later, as teenagers, how to cliff dive which we were sure to omit mention of to our parents. Well, mine at least. Jake's dad really didn't interfere a whole lot, essentially he had kind of checked out since his wife's death just two summers ago. It was heart wrenching for both of us when she died, obviously I can't compare the severity of his loss to my own but Grace Black was like my mother too. Renee' didn't know what to do with herself and eventually Jake's dad, Billy could no longer withstand her condolences and stopped accepting her casseroles, then her calls. Aside from when they cross paths in relation to time he spends with Charlie, he doesn't speak more than a few words to her. I tried to soften the blow by telling her that it was likely her cooking that turned him off to her, but even that couldn't ease the pain. Looking at him now, I was so grateful to see the joy returning. Although he still has his moments, it's nothing compared to the depression he carried with him for about a year after. I blinked and realized he was standing in front of me, shirtless. Apparently through my trek down memory lane I hadn't noticed him walk over to me. Placing a finger under my chin he lifted my face to where I was able to look up into his eyes, which needless to say left my head leaning backward. "You okay?" With a half cocked smile I put my arms around his waist, "Yup I'm good." I surprised him by dipping my fingers into the paint bucket that rested on the floor next to me and swiping it across his cheek, "I'm great, even!"

I leapt from my place and scrambled out of his reach, laughing hysterically as a new paint fight ensued. After about ten minutes we lay in the middle of the floor, half covered in paint ourselves. Smiling up at the ceiling, I elbowed him, "You know, painting one bedroom is sure turning out to be a bigger proposition than I thought." We allowed the lavender to dry and I was even able to get started on my hand painted scrollwork in deep purple. He glanced at his watch and was on his feet almost instantly. Damn it, I hate how agile he is. "I had no idea this had taken so long, I've got to go. I promised my dad I'd be home by two." With a quick kiss to my forehead he stepped out of the room just as Charlie was walking in.

With a quick glance around the room he grinned at me, "Purple, huh?" I nodded. With a chuckle, he walked away, shaking his head.