AN- Kim: Howdy every body. Welcome back to this amazing fic, I'm glad everyone is liking this fic, we've spent a lot of time planning it. This is chapter two, I hope this pleases all of you...uh...yeah so, enough of this long AN. Go read and enjoy!
Rosealyn: Clearly, she forgot I have to add in my two cents, otherwise she wouldn't have told you to read yet. I'm glad people actually like this, that's exciting. And, in advance, I'm just letting you all know that I totally disapprove of the "tow-truck" line (it doesn't even make any sense), but Kim won't let up... Oh, well. Enjoy. :)
Edward arrived outside the Cullen home, with the child sitting comfortably in his arms, but his body tensed with thirst. With a fleeting glance behind him, he entered. Esme was the first one he encountered. She took one look at the bundle in his arms and gasped.
''I did nothing.'' he explained quickly as her thoughts flashed quickly in his own mind. ''I found her in the woods. James attacked her parents.''
Esme looked closer at the baby. ''It can't be.''
''Esme?''
''That's Isabella. Her mother, Renee, showed me pictures just last week.''
''Her home was destroyed. Blood everywhere. She can't go back to that mess.''
''Of course not." Carlisle agreed, appearing quietly from his study.
''We can bring her to the hospital. Drop her off.'' Esme suggested.
By now, Bella had woken up and was peaking out from Edward's shirt. When she saw Esme staring at her, she blushed and hid her face again. Her warm head pressed against his chest made the monster inside him growl in hunger. Edward clentched his teeth and closed his eyes, trying to ignore the scent.
''No.''
''Edward-''
''James' scent was everywhere. If he discovered where she went. If he found her unprotected...'' Edward left off there, knowing the picture he'd been painting. They understood.
''But Edward, it will be all over the news. Surely people will wonder where the child has gone off to. If we kept her...it could mean being discovered.''
''You really want to let this poor, helpless child fall victim to him?'' Edward demanded. ''He mutilated her parents, killed with no remorse. Do you really think her innocent eyes will stop him!''
''Edward enough.'' Carlisle never got angry, but his firm and quiet voice had Edward swallowing the words he'd been dying to use.
''I'm not saying I don't care about the child, Edward. I just fear for us...Our family.''
Edward looked away from her peaceful gaze. He hated himself for snapping at his mother, but the idea of the child being in danger...
''What should we do?'' Edward asked.
''We need ask the others. See how they feel.'' Carlisle mused softly.
Carlisle assembled the rest of the Cullen clan into the unused kitchen, while Edward quickly ran upstairs and placed Isabella in his room. Her bright eyes watched as he ran to find a blanket and returned to her.
''It's alright. Go back to sleep, Isabella.''
She lay down on his long black couch and he drapped the blanket over her. Then, he waitied until she fell asleep before jetting downstairs. The second he was out of the room with her, he breathed in fresh air. He'd been holding his breath for so long, her scent was driving him crazy. The only thing that kept him in place were her eyes...So innocent as they looked at him, as if pleading with him to take care of her.
Alice seemed too eager for the meeting to begin. A quick look into her mind told Edward she knew exactly the reasons behind this meeting. They shared a look and he heard her thoughts.
"You won't kill her Edward, none of us will. You will fight it.''
''How can you tell?'' he asked, quietly. Esme looked at him curiously, but saw his gaze directed at Alice.
''Jasper can feel your thirst...And I know this is what you fear. It's obvious, the way you keep glancing up towards your room.'' Alice had a small smile on her lips.
Once everyone was sitting, Carlisle nodded to Edward to begin.
''I was out hunting eariler. I came accross a small child in the woods. Futher discovery led me to her home, where her parents lay dead. Killed by James.''
Emmett snarled at his name, while the rest of the Cullens experienced a brief moment of pure rage.
''I brought her here, for safety.'' Edward said. ''I think she should live with us.''
''What?!'' Rosalie demanded.
''James could come back for her. We need to leave.''
''No. We just moved here. I was getting comfortable. I'm not giving it up for some...human.'' Rosalie snarled.
Edward growled softly at her, and Emmett took a protective stance in front of her, growling back at him.
''Enough. We need to decide what we're going to do.'' Carlisle said.
''She can't stay here!'' Rosalie exclaimed. ''Japser can barely handle being around humans at school, let alone live with one.''
Jasper ducked his head in shame, while Alice lay a comforting hand on his shoulder. ''It's going to be ok, Jasper. You won't hurt her.''
''Are you sure?'' he asked quietly.
"Yes.'' Alice nodded. No one said anything, they wouldn't bet against her. "I say we vote on it.''
Carlisle nodded, and looked over at Edward, who also nodded in agreement.
''I vote she stays.'' Esme murmured.
''Stays.'' Alice chirped.
''Goes.'' Rosalie said, glaring at Edward.
''Goes.'' Emmett said quietly, avoiding Edward's eyes.
''Stays.'' Carlisle said.
''Goes.'' Jasper said, looking apologetically towards Alice.
''I vote she stays.'' Edward said. ''Majority rule.''
After the meeting, Edward went back upstairs to check on Isabella. The second he walked into the room, her scent hit him like a tow-truck. He clenched his teeth and his fist as the desire to drink her blood rose inside him. No, he told the monster, I will not kill her. He walked slowly and cautiously towards the couch, glancing down at her. She was still fast asleep under the blanket, her arms clutching her stuffed bunny tightly to her small body.
''Is she ok?''
''Wouldn't your visions tell you?'' Edward asked.
Alice's laugh sounded like wind chimes as she walked into the room. ''What's her name?''
''Isabella Swan. The Chief's daughter.'' Edward sighed. ''James needed one last hooray.''
''Rose is fixing her car. She's really angry. Emmett is trying to calm her down.''
''I don't care. How can she let this poor defenseless child go? Especially with James still out there.''
''Protecting her is best.'' Alice agreed. ''Which is why Jasper and I must leave.''
''What?''
''He's afraid, Edward. Her blood smells good and he doesn't want to slip up. Unlike you, he can't control it. We're leaving tonight.''
Edward's head fell into his hand and he groaned. Alice lay a hand on his shoulder. ''It's not your fault. You're not choosing her over us. We're choosing her life over her death. We'll be back, of course.''
''We should probably move too.''
''Carlisle and Esme are going over plans. Jasper and I are going ahead of time. We'll find a couple homes near each other.''
''I'll miss you.''
''We won't be gone forever, Edward. Just until Jasper can handle it.'' Alice said. ''I must say, I'm very proud of you.''
Edward glanced at her, confused.
''You've been able to handle her scent so well. I mean, if this was years ago...''
''She'd be dead.'' Edward, finished for her.
''But she isn't.'' Alice reminded him cheerfully.
They heard Jasper call for her and Alice smiled at Edward before darting towards her love. Edward sighed and turned back to Isabella, who was now awake.
''Hello, Isabella. How are you?''
She blinked a couple times and held the bunny closer. He sighed.
''You must still be tired. Go back to sleep.''
She blinked again, but refused to close her eyes. Undaunted, Edward traveled over to his music collection. He looked for something quiet, peaceful, reassuring. He picked one CD and placed it in his player.
Isabella's eyes widenend and she even smiled as Clair de Lune began to play. Her mother's favorite song. She closed her eyes softly and layed back down, falling asleep quickly.
Jasper was busily packing their bags when Alice walked in the room.
''In a hurry?'' she asked.
''I...I want to leave as soon as possible.''
''You won't hurt her Jasper. I didn't see it.''
''Because I decided to leave.'' he pointed out.
She sighed, knowing that arguing was pointless. Instead, she decided to help him pack. They were done quickly.
''What did you see?'' he asked quietly.
''I saw her. I knew she'd be here. I knew Edward would find her.'' she explained.
He nodded softly, running a hand through his blonde hair. ''So, where is it we're going?''
"Carlisle and Esme are finding a place. We'll leave as soon as they do.''
''So...we have time?'' he was suddenly grinning.
''Time to...oh.'' She giggled as the new emotion glazed over her. ''Jasper, there's a child in the home.''
''So?'' he asked, concentrating harder.
Alice shuddered and leaned over to kiss him passionatetly. ''You need to stop doing that.''
He just chuckled.
Rosalie angrily worked on her car, her thoughts ranging between beating Edward to a bloody pulp and wondering what she should wear tomorrow. She heard heavy footsteps behind her.
''Rose? Are you ok?''
''No, Emmett. I'm not.'' she sighed and threw down the wrench she'd been clutching in her hand. ''It's like he's choosing a human over us.''
''No, he's not. He just wants to make sure she's protected. Rosalie, she's an innocent child.''
''We've established this.'' she snapped.
''Are you sure that's the only reason you're angry? That it's not something else?''
''Like what?''
''Like Edward found a baby...and you feel like she should be yours?''
Rosalie snarled loudly and snapped her teeth in his direction. ''Rose...I know how badly you want a child. It's ok to want one. Why would you want her to leave?''
''Because, James finding out we're hiding the child he tried to kill is not on the top of my list.''
''Rose, we're leaving. She'll be safe. We will all be safe.''
''It doesn't matter! Edward is choosing that pathetic human child over his own family. The ones who stood behind him when he tried to leave the family! When he returned, we welcomed him back with open arms. Now we're all in danger of James.'' Rosalie snarled.
Emmett cautiously took her into his arms. ''We need to protect her. She has no family Rose, she needs us.''
''Fine.'' Rosalie snapped. ''But just because she's here doesn't mean I need to be nice to her. Edward can take care of her.''
Carlisle called the family down again. Rose arrived looking a little less angry, Emmett's arms wrapped around her. Edward looked calmer. Alice and Jasper arrived last, looking a bit flustered.
''We've decided on New York.'' Carlisle annoucned.
Alice squealed. New York was a great shopping city. The others merely nodded.
''Jasper and Alice will leave first. The rest of us will follow in a couple days. Ok?''
Jasper nodded and hurried upstairs to grab their bags. Alice gave everyone a short goodbye.
''I'll see you all again.'' she assured Esme as they hugged. ''This is for the best.''
As she went to hug Edward, her thoughts turned to him.
''Care for her. She will be very important to all of us someday. And please, don't hate yourself for our departure.''
''Of course.'' he murmured softly.
Jasper came back down and then he too bid his goodbyes. They left quickly.
Later on in that morning, the Cullen family, minus Jasper and Alice, were watching T.V. Isabella was situated on Edward's lap, watching the screen with interest. Edward may have seemed completely oblivious to this...except for the fact that his chest was not rising and falling.
''A couple of us should go to the Swan home. See if we can't find any hints to where James went.'' Carlisle said.
''Good idea. Make Edward go.'' Rose offered.
Edward hissed softly at her and Emmett sent a growl his way.
''Boys.'' Esme warned.
''What do you say, Edward. Up for a trip?'' Carlisle asked.
He glanced down at Isabella and Carlisle chuckled.
''We'll take care of her Edward.'' Esme offered, holding out her arms.
Edward sighed and passed her over to Esme. She seemed to whimper softly as Esme hands wrapped around her.
''Let's go.''
Before father and son could leave, they all heard a small, distinctly human voice.
''Edward.''
All eyes snapped towards Isabella as her arms reached out for him, her eyes pleading.
''Edward no go!''
As if reacting instintively, Edward reached for her. Her soft whimper of protest ended as soon as his arms held her comfortably.
''Carlisle, I can't.'' he whispered.
''I'll go.'' Emmett offered, standing up.
Carlisle nodded and kissed Esme goodbye, while Emmett did the same to Rosalie.
''Try not to kill him while we're gone.'' Emmett whispered.
Rosalie smiled softly and gently pushed him. Esme placed her hand on Carlisle's cheek and the two locked eyes, foreheads pressed together, silently communicating.
''Let's go.'' Carlisle said.
Emmett nodded and the two set off into the night.
AN- So yeah, that was chapter 2. I hope that you all...OMG, what is that?! (looks closer) It's a magical blue button. ''Submit Review?'' What does that mean? Hmm...it sounds like a good idea. Hey, you should all hit that button and let me know what it does. Thanks, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
