Untimely or Not

Bella's POV

All I could think about Alison and her safety when her familiar crimson eyes appeared in the distance, I got up bringing her with me and stared long and hard into the face of the end of my life. I knew my time had come.

"And so the circle of life continues" I knew what that implied, birth and into a lifetime then you die. Untimely or not. Victoria crouched on the other side of the meadow - poised to kill. Her eyes searched behind my back where I had put Alison in a vain attempt at protecting her from this ferocious killer's gaze. "Isn't she sweet?" I could think of nothing to say, I didn't want to provoke an early attack. Victoria stood up straight and came to a stop a little ways away from us, I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my body and I bet the vampire could smell it too. "Both human, so...Edward got bored of you finally?" I felt myself tear inside, close enough. I mentally retorted, all that mattered was Alison now though.

"Run" I told her, or so help me... Much to my relief she retreated into the trees and I heard the leaves rustle as her legs carried her petite body away from death. My eyes were still focussed on Victoria, I was determined to make sure I didn't miss any single movement she made. I was what she wanted, and she could have me. Jacob could care for Alison as she grew into a fantastic, intelligent, beautiful woman, found love and had children. I hoped so anyway.

"Your daughter?" Victoria inquired. Her brow rose in surprise.

"Yes" I smiled whole-heartedly, proud of her, I found myself thinking of Alison's last birthday. She had complained that she was too old for a birthday cake.

I sat the chocolate cake in front of her after dinner on the 31st of May, it was sunny - for once.

"Oh no, Mum. I'm too old for birthday cakes now" she laughed at the cake with 16 practically hammered into it. She looked up at me with a big smile plastered on her face.

"Silly Alison, you're never too old for birthday cake!" I playfully punched her shoulder.

"What would my friends think?" she questioned me, still laughing.

"That their friend has a super cool Mum, who gives you chocolate cake for lunch when you go to school for a week" I winked.

Victoria returned my smile and came to stand just a few feet away from me. "Don't harm her, or any of the pack"

"I have no quarrel with her, mistakes happen though" she replied, smirking slightly.

"You wouldn't dare" my voice deepened, hopefully sounding threatening. Victoria's eyes snapped open at the tone of my voice.

"Be careful Bella" she warned.

"I've never been one for safety" I reminded her. She suddenly appeared behind me, making me spin around.

"Oh, I know" she chuckled, her laugh was much like Alice's had been although Victoria's possessed some kind of hysteria.

"How's life?" I asked, bored of talking about me. Also provoking her...

"Shit, the hunt for you over the years has been the only thing keeping me going without James" she turned away from me.

"What will happen when I die at your hands? How will you continue?" I asked, she was defeating the object here...killing me when I was the only thing keeping her sane. She flashed in the blink of an eye to front of me, horror in her eyes. "You hadn't thought of that, had you?" I taunted.

"No" she breathed, "I guess I'd go to Volterra, provoke the Volturi"

"Anyway, you don't irritate the Volturi" Edward went on, interrupting my reverie. "Not unless you want to die - or whatever we do."

I winced at the memory, a new hole was torn in my chest. I wore my poker face once more.

"Kill yourself?" I scoffed. "How weak of you" I muttered, but of course she heard me.

"What would you do if you ever found out Edward had died?!" Victoria almost in my ear and my head rung for several minutes afterwards.

"Jesus, you know how to deafen a girl!"

"You avoided my question" Victoria urged.

"Okay, I guess I see your point, it doesn't bare thinking about" I replied.

"Why am I talking to you?! We're having a rational conversation, it's not right-" at that moment Jacob in wolf form leapt out of the forest and ran straight for Victoria. Her eyes widened, but before she could even move Jacob had ripped her apart. I gasped and screamed, for some reason I was upset about her savage death. Maybe it was because she was the only connection I had to Edward or because I had just begun to understand her reasoning. Either way, I had been looking forward to death since the day Edward left. But I never once regretted Alison's birth.

A/N: New chapter! Yay! I'm in just the right mood for it today. Hehe, please review! I know at least two people like it...

Chapter Song: Funnyman by KT Tunstall