I think maybe we should have a talk" Jazz said looking to Bella "The 3 of us"

"Okay" Bella nodded

"We'll go up to Alice's room seeing as you're familiar with that" Jazz replied

We made our way up to my room where I shut the door behind us for good measure.

They could all hear us but I at least wanted to try and give off the illusion of privacy

"Did Alice tell you how I was changed?" Jazz asked

"She told me the basics" Bella said as she sat on my bed

"Well if it's okay with you, I'd like to tell you my story" Jazz said patiently "You really mean a lot to Alice and you mean a lot to this family as a whole but I think you should know what each of us has faced before you judge our reactions"

"I'm not judging any of you" Bella replied quickly

"My wording was incorrect there, I apologize. What I meant to say was you should hear our stories before you beat yourself up about certain people's reactions. We all see how much joy you have brought to Alice and we can't be mad at you for that. In fact I owe you so much for bringing this love that I feel radiating from Alice to you. There are just different reasons why people don't want you to be like this. It isn't that we don't like you, we do. Some of us have different opinions but all of us just want what is best for you" Jazz explained patiently

"What's best for me is being with Alice" Bella said looking towards me

I wasn't sure whether it was possible for me to continue to fall deeper in love with that girl but she was proving it could be true every day.

I sent her a small smile back before her eyes moved back to my sister

"Rosalie and Edward just can't understand why you would want this when they were so fond of their human lives" Jazz said and she frowned "And my husband doesn't believe we have souls"

"Why do you think you do have souls?" Bella asked

"Your soul can't be stripped from you Bella. As long as you are on this earth, you have a soul and I know that Edward doesn't believe me but this is what I have to believe" Jazz shrugged "Because if I don't than what hope do I have for anything else?"

"I think you have souls" Bella said confidently "You are the good guys, how can you not have souls?"

"Thank you" Jazz said with a warm smile "I knew I liked you for other reasons than my sister"

"Hey" I responded as I walked to my desk

"We know the difference of wrong from right and we have a conscience so therefore I believe we still have a soul" Jazz said triumphantly

"Did you believe this as soon as you were changed?" Bella asked

"I didn't know what to believe as soon as I was changed" My sister replied as she moved to sit next to Bella on my bed. I looked down to my desk while I heard her continue "I was training to be a nurse during the civil war. I was pretty lucky to have the opportunity to do that because not many women received opportunities then, as you would imagine. I was riding with a few soldiers when we were stopped by 2 handsome males. They didn't have weapons, nor did they have any signs of being a part of any army so we stopped to see if they needed help. They were mesmerizing and they spoke so politely. I was wondering what they were doing out in the middle of nowhere as they were dressed so nicely. They approached me and asked me my name and what I did. I told them everything they wanted to know and before I knew what was happening one of the men had bitten me on the neck"

"What...what does it feel like?" Bella asked quietly

"The one good thing in life that Alice got because of being in that dark room for so long was not being able to remember the pain of what it feels like. I won't sugar coat it, Bella you want to die every moment you are experiencing. It burns, it aches and stings. It feels like you are being ripped apart and stabbed all over your body" Jazz explained and I saw Bella flinch slightly

"Jazz" I warned weakly, there was no real threat intended with my tone of voice, just concern for Bella's reaction

"It's okay" Bella reassured me nodding

"I woke up and everything just rushed at me. I was anxious, I was angry, I was confused and I was alive which I never expected to be. I had no idea what was going on with me when I was changed but I thought I wasn't ever going to wake from it. I needed blood so badly, my teeth were aching and my throat felt like it was on fire. When I woke the men were with me; their names were Victor and Peter"

"The Southern gentleman was what they used to think of themselves as. They taught me how to hunt, and how to kill. They also learnt of my ability very quickly so they put me to use. Originally they just planned to use me as another newborn until they realized what I could do" Jazz said and she paused to look to me "Did you explain to Bella what the southern vampire wars were about?"

"Very briefly" I said shaking my head

"It was the war within the war basically. Vampires are very territorial so they tend to want to defend their land with somewhat of a primal instinct. That very instinct adds to the protectiveness over you by my family, because you're on our land so we feel the need to defend you. Vampires sometimes live in covens and covens take ownership of the town they are living in. Back then things were a little out of control so vampires were building armies of newborns to help them win wars. The vampires in charge didn't care about their army, they just wanted to win as much land and territory as they could manage"

"They made newborns because they were so strong and they were at the peak of their vampire lives as far as their abilities go. Victor and Peter learnt that I could control emotions so they used me to train their army. I was in charge of making them better fighters and helping them to be so full of rage and hate during the battles and feeling that all the time made me quite bitter for a while" Jazz said before she stopped to close her eyes "I was so useful because I could control all of their emotions so our army stayed pretty much intact due to the fact that I could keep all of them calm around each other"

"Alice had her power when she was a human, did you have it then?" Bella asked

"No. Though I was a very empathetic person and that is where we all guess I got it from. I was 3rd in command of the army, besides Victor and Peter. We were very good at what we did as well. There was never a fight that we didn't win" Jazz said as she leaned over to Bella, rolling the sleeve up of her cardigan to show Bella all the bite marks on her arms "That's from other vampires, from all of the fights I have been in"

"That's terrible" Bella replied quietly as she looked at my sister's arms in shock

"The bad thing about my powers though is my ability to feel emotions as well as control them. When the newborns began to weaken, Victor had made it my job to kill the weakest while they made stronger vampires. I killed them away from the group because I didn't want to cause a commotion and I didn't want anyone to see who didn't need too" Jazz replied bitterly "I could feel everything that they did right before they died"

"I could feel the pain, the anger, even the relief. For a long time I continued to do what they told me because Peter manipulated me. Peter and I were in a relationship for the first few years of my vampire life, he always told me he loved me and how much I meant to him but he was using me. He was using me just to win battles and I realized that a little too late because I had already killed so many at that stage. I realized this only because he slipped up one time and I could just feel that what we had was simply being projected to keep me. So one night while we were waiting for instructions from Peter and Victor, I manipulated their emotions into so they fought and killed each other"

There was silence in the room and I looked to Bella who was clearly thinking of something to say but she wasn't sure what.

She bit her lip adorably and I sighed very quietly

"Once they were both dead I just ran away. I knew the newborns would either die very quickly or some of them would live to be very old but I really didn't care" Jazz said honestly, it was uncharacteristic of Jazz to not be warm and endearing but I didn't blame her for being like that when she spoke about her past

"How did you find your family?" Bella asked "How did you find Edward?"

"I wish I had Alice's ability in that instance so I could have been ready for him. Alice saw you coming and she waited a decade for you, getting ready just to find you. It was all she pretty much did. For me though it just kind of happened. It was a few years later, I had been on my own but I was still drinking human blood. I was sitting in a truck stop, late at night just waiting for someone to come in who was so depressed, who didn't want to live anymore so I could kill them. I had a conscience but at that point I didn't listen to all of it. I felt a change in the room as soon as I saw Edward walk into the room" Jazz said as she paused with a smile

"He noticed me straight away because he knew I was a vampire. He stayed by the door and I wasn't sure what exactly I was doing but I got up and walked out with him. I followed him out to a spot where no humans could hear us and he asked what I was doing in town and if I had been hunting. I noticed his eyes were golden so I knew he wasn't like me in the hunting sense but I didn't care because I just felt something for him. Edward of course could hear my thoughts so he took my hand in his and he just kissed me. I could tell he was my mate just from that, just from the emotion that he felt when our lips touched"

"That's really sweet" Bella mumbled "I never picked Edward for being so..."

"Spontaneous?" Jazz asked and Bella simply nodded "He's different when it's just the two of us though. With Alice, what you see is what you get and she doesn't really mind what people see of her but Edward does. It was a bit of a struggle at the start because I lived with the Cullen's, who welcomed me with open arms but it was difficult because I had to live by their diet. It took me a few years to correct my diet but I did it simply because I wanted Edward more than I wanted blood"

"Alice here used to always tell me that no matter what, blood was always first priority but now she knows what I felt like when I found Edward. She knows that blood comes second and that you come first, and that is a huge thing for a vampire to admit Bella. You might not have known this but I'm the newest to this whole animal blood thing but I think I've got a handle on it now anyway"

"I can't believe all that happened to you" Bella said quietly and she looked to me with sad eyes "I can't believe that you both went through so much"

"Edward made up for anything I went through and I know that Alice thinks that you made up for whatever happened to her" Jazz replied looking to me. I didn't respond besides simply nodding "We were surprised when Alice found us but we just instantly clicked. She was the sister I never had and I was the sister Alice never got to experience so she fit in very well in the family immediately. It took me a little while to completely trust Alice because that's just how I lived in the early parts of my vampire life but I'm getting used to that now. I'm undoing the damage that Peter and Victor caused me"

"Thank you for telling me that" Bella nodded

"It's okay. I figure that you're going to be a part of this family one way or another so I best get used to having you around" Jazz said with a small smile "I'm going to go calm down my husband but if you need anything Alice just come and get me"

"Thanks Jazz" I replied as Jazz stood quickly before she leaned down to give Bella a quick hug and left the room

We sat in silence for a moment; I wanted Bella to be the first one to speak because I just wanted to know how she was feeling about everything.

The first time I heard Jazz's story I was a little shocked as well so I knew what she was experiencing

"It's not fair what you guys had to go through" Bella mumbled "Do you really think that I made up for what you went through?"

"You made up for everything and more" I said with a small smile "You're my life now Bella and nothing is ever going to change that. Vampire or human, I'll love you forever"

"I'll love you for longer" Bella said with a cheesy grin

"You're a dork" I said jokingly before I sighed "I should return you home I suppose"

"You're going to stay over though right?" Bella asked raising her eyebrows

"Where else would I rather be?" I winked before I stood from my desk "Besides, I have to sweet talk Charlie into letting you play baseball with us"

"Do you think the plan is going to work?" Bella questioned quietly

"Are you not comfortable with doing it?" I asked shaking my head "Because if you aren't then we won't do it. But I promise you that I'll keep you safe, I won't let him get to you. He won't get close enough before I rip his head off"

"I know you'll protect me" Bella nodded seriously

"We should go"

We returned downstairs to find Esme sitting with Carlisle and they were having a quiet word to Edward.

I paused with Bella behind me, looking to my brother.

"I'm taking Bella home. Edward, I know you were on watch tonight with me but I'll handle it myself" I said quietly

"Is that such a good idea?" Edward asked

"Bella deserves some privacy in her own home"

"But is privacy worth risking her safety?" Edward asked

"I can defend her" I furrowed my eyebrows

"What Edward is saying is that it would be easier if maybe he was there, just in case" Esme said calmly

"I don't mind Alice" Bella shrugged as she squeezed my hand gently

"Okay" I replied looking back to my brother "Thank you Edward"

Without another word I took Bella out to the car, who said goodbye to my family as we walked.

I opened the door for her and then I began driving to her house

"You okay?" Bella asked

"I guess I'm just realizing how unfair this is on you. You can't even have privacy in your own home" I whispered "And that's my fault"

"Alice how is this your fault?" Bella asked furrowing her eyebrows "How is any of this your fault?"

"I just...I just think it is. James wouldn't be after you if it weren't for me" I confessed

"It's not your fault" Bella said firmly "You're defending me and keeping me safe. You didn't ask for James to come after you when you were human and you didn't ask for you to find you now"

We arrived at Bella's house, Charlie was home and the lights were on. To my relief I couldn't sense James around anywhere and I looked to the side of the house to see Edward standing in the darkness of the trees, simply watching.

"Hey dad" Bella announced that she was home as we walked through the door

"Hey Bells, hi Alice" Charlie greeted happily as he looked away from the T.V "How was school?"

"Good thanks" Bella shrugged "Did you get my message? To tell you I was having dinner with Alice?"

"I did" Charlie nodded "How was it?"

"Great" I replied with a grin

"Alice and I are going to Port Angeles tomorrow night with Jess, Angela and Alice's sister Jazz" Bella said "So I won't be home again"

"You girls will be careful won't you?" Charlie asked

"Yes dad" Bella said with a small smile

"Actually Charlie, my family and I are going to play baseball on Saturday and I was wondering if it would be okay for Bella to come with us" I said as sweetly as I could manage "That is only if it's okay with you"

"Bella? Playing baseball?" He asked with an amused look

"Yes sir. We play it all the time" I smiled "And we thought it would be nice if she came with"

"Well why not" Charlie said "Though you'll have to keep the ball away from her head"

"I swear" I replied cheerfully

"Sounds like you've got a busy weekend going on" Charlie said looking to his daughter "Which is probably a good thing because now I don't have to feel so bad about spending all of Saturday fishing down in La Push. Billy thinks the fish are going to be biting this weekend and I'd hate to say it but he's usually right"

"Well that sounds fun" I encouraged, it would be better if he were away, safe in wolf territory "Maybe if you're going to be away for the day, Bella could just have a sleep over at my house so she isn't home alone Saturday night. We'll set up the spare room for her so she can have some company for the night at least"

"That sounds like a good idea Alice" Charlie said with a small smile "That would make me feel better anyway"

"Great" I beamed as I looked to Bella who had a smirk on her lips "Well Bells, I should get going. I'll pick you up in the morning"

"Sure" Bella nodded

"I'll see you later Charlie. Have a great weekend" I said politely

"Thank you, if I catch some fish then maybe you can come by for dinner" Charlie suggested

"I told you dad, she's on a special diet" Bella mumbled

"I would love to come over though" I shrugged

"Sure" Charlie smiled

I turned to Bella who had her gaze set on me; a sweet smile graced her lips as she shoved her hands in her pockets

"Walk me out?" I asked meekly

"Yeah" Bella nodded and she turned to her dad "I'll be back in a minute"

"Bye Alice" Charlie said

I backed away slowly, giving him a smile and a wave

Bella and I walked out to the front; she closed the door behind us before taking a hand from her pocket and placing it on my hip

"I'll go and wait in your room for you" I whispered

"If you need to do something at home Al, like talk to Carlisle or something you can go" Bella said shaking her head "I'm sure I'll be fine with Edward"

"Something going on between you and Edward huh?" I asked jokingly

"Edward would be my last choice of your siblings" Bella admitted before she paused and I giggled "He would have heard that, huh?"

"Yes he would have" I replied nodding with a broad grin "But don't worry, his bruised ego will recover and I will be in your room. Besides the fact that I'm on duty tonight, I want to just lay with you"

"I'm not going to argue" Bella replied quietly

"Charlie's watching so I'll make it quick. I'll return my car home and I'll be back"

I pecked her on the cheek quickly before I made my way back to my car, driving at a sensible pace down the street.

I returned my car into the garage and without delay I made my way back to Bella's house.

Edward stood in the shadows still and I could hear Bella was in the shower so I quickly walked to my brother

"He seems to be staying away for now" Edward said as I approached

"That'll change soon" I said "His decisions are made quickly so I can't see him"

"Alice, I'm sorry for how I acted earlier" Edward replied quietly "I can sympathize with your situation but I cannot empathize. If my mate was human I would not be willing to change her into a vampire simply because that is what she wants. She doesn't know what she wants"

"I get it Edward but it's not as easy as it sounds. You have your morals and I share the same values but until you're placed in this situation, you have no idea what this feels like" I said with a sad smile "But I accept your apology Ed. Thank you"

"Alice" I heard a quiet hiss from the window