Bella's POV

"Just tell me what's got everyone on edge, Edward," I demanded.

The supernatural creatures scattered around the den all turned to my boyfriend. His topaz eyes bore into me, willing me to drop the subject. I could do no such thing. For weeks, the Cullens have been behaving so strangely. The atmosphere was charged with a tension that I could gag on if I breathed too deeply. Individually, their actions had little to no cause for concern, but eventually it was difficult to believe that everything was just coincidence.

After a year, I could immediately recognize when the psychic pixie was accessing her ability. I asked if there was a new threat looming on our weekly girl's night, but she giggled in her wind chime-like fashion and told me that I worried too much. I let it go for a while, but as her distracted mood peaked more and more often so did my suspicions.

When Carlisle came in from the hospital, he made a beeline for his office and seldom came out before I left for home. This wasn't incredibly out of character for Carlisle; his office was his sanctuary but considering everything else, it was significant enough. And Esme may be a vampire, but she was a mother first and try as she might, she could not hide the worry she felt.

Jasper was the next clue. The leonine Texan had graduated from Forks High last summer, but seeing as Alice had another year he stayed behind. With all his free time, he was slowly warming up to me. I first noticed the change when he stopped edging out of a room that I had entered. Then, he engaged me in conversation. Mostly we spoke about my history assignments, but it was an improvement from the total silence we used to share. And then, his presence in the house went from nearly constant to almost nonexistent. It was a rare day that I caught more than a glimpse of him. Edward told me that he was having problems with his control and needed to hunt more often, but I doubted that. It was Edward himself that had jumpstarted my curiosity.

I knew him too well to not see the differences. His smile was emptier. His touch lingered in the way it did only when he was nervous or upset. He never made phone calls anymore. All of his communication with the others was nonverbal, either through texting or his telepathy. At least it was that way when he was around me. It hurt that he was going to such lengths to keep me in the dark. I thought we had gotten past all the secrets.

"I'll only assume the worst if you don't tell me," I said when the quiet glances had gone on long enough. In truth, I didn't know where to start with my assumptions. Since my vampire family joined with the Denalis this past summer to track down and kill Victoria, the only possibility was if the Volturi had gone back on their decision to let me be turned after our wedding.

"You know what happens when you assume, Belly-bean," Emmett jested, earning a glare from Rosalie. It was their return that had solidified my fears. They were supposed to be somewhere in the Sahara right now, celebrating their tenth or eleventh honeymoon in a buffet of bountiful sex and wildlife. Imagine my surprise and wariness when they showed up two months early. I couldn't pretend it was mere coincidence anymore.

"She's a part of this family now, son." Count on Carlisle to be the voice of reason.

"But why worry her if we're not sure of anything yet?"

Before I could open my mouth to remind him that I was in the room, Jasper voiced his opinion. "We may not have all the details, but to keep shielding her as you are when she has so obviously caught on is inconsiderate, Edward."

After tonight, it would be more than inconsiderate. It would be belittling. I may not be as strong or as fast as them, but if we were in danger he couldn't continue locking me away in an ivory tower. Edward swiped his fingers through his copper hair as a low rumble filled the air. That gentle growl was the one he gave when he knew he was fighting a losing battle.

"Fine. Sit down, Bella," he prompted and I moved onto the loveseat with Esme. She wrapped her arm around my shoulders in a one-armed embrace. I glanced at Alice in the corner. She was easy to miss, her body completely motionless. Jasper held onto her limp hand reassuringly. How bad could this be that after attempting for days, Alice still hadn't seized a proper vision?

"Do you know the couple that moved in down the lane from you?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest and resting his hip on the couch.

"Yeah. The Gibsons, I think?" Charlie dropped by their house before work to introduce himself as the chief of police and their new neighbor. He thought that even though they were young ("Too young to be married in my opinion," he had exclaimed), they didn't seem to want to cause any trouble. He said they spoke with a strange accent.

"Gideons," Rosalie hissed. I don't know if she's upset with my blunder or with the Gideons themselves. With Rose it was either or.

"Oh. Well, how is this about them?"

"They're not human, sweetheart," Esme stated gently as if the answer would knock me off my rocker. It was hard to be shocked when you practically lived with vampires and were best friends with a werewolf. What was it about Forks and nonhuman beings?

"What are they then?"

"They're not vampires or shifters. Or werewolves, for that matter. We're not sure what they are or what their intentions could be," Carlisle said, his frustration evident.

"Have they hurt someone? Are they dangerous?" As I asked the question, I knew it was unlikely. If there was the slightest sign that they would harm me, Edward would have tried to whisk me away by now. They were just three houses down. Though lately, he didn't even wait for Charlie to fall asleep before he climbed through my window at night. I thought nothing of it. I didn't question what gave me more time in his arms.

"No, but I've been tracking their scents. It's tricky to follow because it fades so quickly, but we know they've been moving in a grid over the whole town," Jasper reported. So that's what he's been doing lately? Gathering intel?

"And are you being overly cautious or do you think there's a reason they moved into our neighborhood?" Don't let them be after me. Don't let them be after me.

"It's probable that they chose that vicinity for a specific purpose. It holds some importance to them because one always remains in the area. Most often the female stays while the male does the wider patrolling."

"Couldn't they be protecting what they consider their new territory?"

"It's a possibility."

Edward scoffed and threw up his hands. "The girl has been in Bella's backyard!"

"The girl has been in every backyard on the street. Don't jump to conclusions," the blonde vampire warned calmly. I've never heard Jasper raise his voice, but that reprimanding tone made his words just as impacting. There was an unmistakable authority that would not be ignored. In those moments, we were served a peek of the soldier so easily overlooked in his normally soft-spoken nature.

"How should the conclusions be reached then, Major? Should we sit back and study more? I can't read their minds, Alice can't predict their future, and you said yourself that their emotions are so muted, your empathy can't decipher them. We know absolutely nothing about them and they live down the damn street from my mate!" Edward angrily stalked towards Jasper and Jasper moved forward and bared his teeth.

"Come on guys! You know Esme doesn't allow dick measuring in the house!" Emmett joked as he and Carlisle stepped between them. Rosalie stood with her hands at her sides and waited to pounce if needed.

"Emmett!" Esme scolded as she kept me locked in my seat with one thin arm.

"I know this is no easy feat for you, boy but you should calm yourself down before I get fed up with your shit and decide to do it for you," Jasper growled. Alice blinked and came out of her stupor, taking her place next to her mate and laying a hand on his arm.

This was a first. Edward and Emmett butt heads all the time. Typically as a result of Emmett's pranks and general impropriety. He bickered with Alice and Rosalie in a conventional brother-sister manner, but never had I been witness to him arguing with Jasper. In fact, I hadn't seen anyone argue with Jasper ever.

"Enough!" Carlisle bellowed. Edward's snarls ceased and the room was totally quiet. "I apologize Bella, but I think it would be best if you left for home. It's getting late and there's not much else to share about the Gideons. Alice, if you would." The miniature vampire nodded, flitted away, and rematerialized by my side with my bag in hand. Edward opened his mouth to speak, but Carlisle cut off his attempt. "Don't. I need to speak with you both privately. In my office."

Jasper nodded minutely and headed for the stairs. Edward sped over to me, placed a chaste kiss on my lips and said, "I'm sorry for all of this," before following Jasper up to the second floor. The sound of the main door opening and closing alerted me to Emmett and Rosalie's departure. The only way Carlisle was going to get a private chat with his sons was if everyone cleared out.

"Come on, Bella. Charlie's going to call if you're not home in ten minutes," Alice uttered, grabbing my arm and tugging me towards the door. I looked at my watch and saw that I was indeed about to break my curfew. It was 10:55.

"Good night, Esme."

"Good night, dear. Be careful," she called after me.

When I turned onto my road, I couldn't help but stare at the Gideon's house. There wasn't a single light visible and that only made the situation infinitely more eerie. I was living three doors down from God only knows what and although Jasper was right about not jumping to conclusions, someone had been lurking in my backyard! It was cause for some concern.

"Don't worry. I'm sure if they were going to do anyone harm, they wouldn't have bought a house. Not with this market," Alice reassured me.

I hummed. I was halfway into a memory of the single time I had seen them. I was driving home from a movie with Jessica and though the sun had set, they were still unloading their moving truck. They were a handsome couple, both of them dark-haired, tall, and fit. The supernatural beings I knew had telltale attributes. The vampires had their odd-colored eyes, their radiant skin, their simple perfection. The wolves were huge, bulking masses that moved far too gracefully. The Gideons looked so…normal. It provoked so many doubts. How many other people have I met and they were something else entirely?

"What was that all about at the house? With Jasper and Edward?" I asked while I could. Maybe Alice would be straight with me now.

"Jasper and Edward disagree on how to handle the…them. Jasper said we should observe them cautiously because we don't what they're capable of and we don't need any enemies. Edward thinks we should confront them. In the end, Carlisle sided with Jasper's approach and Edward didn't take that too well. I think being the golden child has spoiled him a little."

I pulled into my driveway and cut off the engine. Shortly after, I saw the curtains flutter and knew Charlie had been waiting up for me.

"Maybe everyone's going about this too seriously. Ever think about calling them up? 'Hello. Welcome to the neighborhood! We're vampires and you are…?' I mean, what are the odds that they don't know you're vampires? Or that you've been following them?" I was babbling now. I was more uncomfortable with the entire ordeal than I initially thought.

"Good thinking, Bella. Perhaps we'll invite them over for a flask of deer blood and cookies," she teased, lighting up the compartment with her smile.

"You know what I meant. Just because you're big, bad creatures that hide from the human race, it doesn't mean you have to tiptoe around each other."

She laughed and hopped out of the truck. "Don't let your dreams get too wild tonight, Bella." And she was off, disappearing into the trees behind the house.

Charlie was on the couch in the flannel pajamas Alice bought him for his birthday when I made it inside. His shotgun was laid out on the cushion next to him.

Uh-oh.

"Hey, Dad. What's up with the hardware?"

"I thought I saw someone or something in the yard earlier when I was locking up. Better safe than sorry, I guess. By the way, you're late, kiddo," he replied, gripping the gun by the barrel with one hand and pushing off the sofa with the other.

"I know. I'm sorry. I lost track of time." There was no way I could come up with an excuse. My mind was too busy wondering what Charlie might have seen.

"Oh, it's only twenty minutes. I guess I can let it slide this once." He stretched his arms and I flinched when I heard his back make that horrible succession of pops, but his subsequent yawn gave no indication of pain. "Well, I'm gonna hit the sack. Don't forget to lock the deadbolt." His weaponless hand ruffled my hair and I swiped at it playfully.

"Get some sleep, old man."

"Ha-ha-ha, kid," he countered sarcastically before he disappeared up the staircase.

I peeped out of the window and when I saw not one flurry of movement, I decided it would do no good to worry. One of my vampire protectors was bound to be on watch and I needed to get some sleep.

Ugh…Charlie is going to burn the house down if the smell is any warning. Every once in a while, he would attempt a small breakfast before work and almost never failed to burn the bacon. If not the cruelty towards bacon, he over-salted the eggs.

I turn over and squint at the clock. That can't be right. 3:46? I rub my eyes and look again. 3:46. Charlie didn't have to go in that early. Where was that smell-?

I shoot up so quickly my head swam. Or maybe it was the smoke billowing into the room from under my door. I leap out of bed. My foot gets caught in the bed sheet and I fall to my knees. Hard. The pain races up my legs and it increases when I try to crawl towards…Where do I go? The smoke is pouring into my room far too rapidly. The fire is in the hallway.

Charlie?

Charlie! No. No, no, please no. Not like this. Please!

I want to scream, but when I open my mouth the smoke soars in and down my throat. I'm coughing violently and it hurts so badly, but I can't stop. Where's Edward? Why isn't he here? I don't realize that I've closed my eyes until I try to open them and it burns.

I can't see.

I can't breath.

I'm going to die. Why? Why me?

Is Charlie gone? Maybe he got out. Maybe someone saved him. Both of us can't die. We can't die.

There's a loud noise and something hits my back. A lot of little somethings. A few bigger somethings. I can't move to see what has hit me. All of a sudden, I'm not on the floor anymore. I'm not laying on anything. Someone has me. Edward? It has to be Edward. Oh, please, go get my dad.

...

It's not hot where I am now, but I still can't breathe right. I'm still coughing and it still hurts. Something wet is pressed to my face and the liquid goes up my nose, but it is welcome. It feels so nice. I can open my eyes. It's not easy, but I can do it.

Wait.

You're not Edward.

I don't even know you.

Wait. Yes, I do.

You're that male. Who's married to that female. You two did this to me…

What the fuck are you…?

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. I am not Stephenie Meyer. I do feel like I'm filling in for the King of Stating Obvious Shit though.

Edward and Bella are together for now. No worries. That will change in time! Mwah-ha-ha-*cough*... Moving on!

Although getting this story posted is an epic accomplishment in and of itself, reviews would make it unparalleled in divinity! So please, please, PLEASE REVIEW, lovelies! I don't know if you guys would be interested in a preview, but I have plenty 'round back. ;)