Chapter 1

Where was I driving? Was I driving? I woke up in Edward's fast moving Volvo. Edward was intently staring at the barren road before us. It was almost three in the morning. Finally Edward tore his eyes away and looked at me. This look wasn't Edward. It was a young child afraid of the monsters in his closet. He was the monster afraid of horrors far worse than he. I didn't like this look. Edward shaken very deeply by what I was afraid to ask about. Now his eyes were back on the road.

"What's going on? Where are we going?"

"I can't say yet, I can't make up my mind. They'll see." His tone frightened me so much now.

"Who will see, Edward?"

"Bella, don't think about anything, don't draw conclusions, please," his knuckles were even whiter than his pale skin, his hands clenched so tightly around the steering wheel. Was this a bad dream? Suddenly Edward grabbed my hand so gently, yet so firmly.

"Edward…" I stopped. Why hadn't I'd seen it? It suddenly clicked much quicker than possible for how early it was, "Alice. What happened to Alice? What's wrong? Is she alright? Are we going to help? Who will…?"

"Bella, please, just don't ask right now. Go back to sleep, please. You're alright." It wasn't me who I was worried about.

"No, Edward, Where are we going? Why can't I know? What's wrong?"

He sighed; I could tell he was struggling to find the right words, "You know how badly the Volturi wanted Alice and I to join them," Edward had a pained expression on his face, "I guess they aren't as trustworthy as we thought…"

I tried to comprehend, tried to understand. I decided it was best not to ask. I need to wait. I needed to be as patient with Edward as he always is with me. I needed to support him like I would be for the rest of my life. Trust.

Edward began to hum his lullaby while I rested against his cold arm and was fast asleep in a matter of minutes.

In the morning I was laying alone in a standard, yet fluffy, hotel bed. "Edward? Where are we?"

He was looking out the window, at what I didn't know. Before I knew it he was lying next to me stroking my hair. This Edward was better than the one last night. This Edward's amber eyes didn't have fear in them, but I could sense he was trying to fool me into feeling a sense of tranquility.

I opened my mouth to speak, but his stone lips crashed into mine, knocking the wind out of me. We stayed like that for a minute or two before he finally let go, rolled on his back, and sighed, "You are so amazing, Bella. I wish you could see just how much I don't deserve you."

"Okay, I'm out of here, drive me back to Forks so I can find a better boy than you," I got up and Edward pulled me back onto the bed.

"I never said that was a reason for me to let you go," finally a smirk flickered across his face. We were kissing again. Where was the passion coming from? Was he afraid about just how much time we had?

I remembered what I'd wanted to ask before, "What's happening? Was I dreaming last night? Because, now, I'm here and not at home, so maybe I dreamed the words? Is something going on with Alice?" He tensed at the mention of her name. It wasn't a dream.

"The Volturi wanted us to join them so badly that they came to get Alice and me. Jane said that I could turn you when we got to Italy and that you could join if you wished, or just live in Venice with me," I tried to ask another question, but he touched his icy finger to my lips, "Alice didn't see them coming because they didn't make up their minds until they were right outside our door. I ran, I didn't know what else to do, I panicked and left her. I could tell the Volturi were going to use force, I could see their thoughts. They were lying about you; they wanted to kill you when we got there. Then, I'd have a vengeance. I was scared at what I saw, Jasper was trying to calm the room, but I was gone, I had to move, I had to get you out of the house. Out of Forks. Now Alice is with them, probably being forced to tell them everything she sees us doing, so we're not going anywhere, just away," I had to think about his words for a moment.

"Shouldn't we go help Alice?"

"No, Bella, I am not taking you back to Forks. Alice can take care of herself. Jasper and Emmett and Carlisle and Emse are there, too. The Volturi won't find you," the phone rang just then. Edward was hesitant to answer, "Hello?" I couldn't even hear a faint mumble of what the caller was saying. Edward made sounds of acknowledgement, but nothing. Then, he hung up without a goodbye. Edward looked into my eyes, he looked pained. It was hard to not jump on him and kiss away the fear, "They're not gone yet. That was Sam. I knew no one in the house would be able to call, so I summoned a watch dog. He said that Jane swept Forks, looking for us and found our scent. He said they could be planning to follow us. I'm going to go back. You're going to Florida."

I must have shaken my head all the way to the airport. I couldn't leave Edward. I couldn't leave the Cullens. I had to help somehow, "Please, Edward, let me come with you. Please? I'll stay in the car while you go in. Surely the Volturi aren't that bad," at this Edward snickered, "Come on, Edward, they wouldn't do anything to me while all of you are there." This was more of an attempt to convince myself than anything.

"No, Bella, you can't. If the Volturi hurt you, what would I do? And I will not change you, yet. It's the same as before when the newborns attacked," I shuddered.

"But you know how badly I want it, Edward," Did I? I did, I couldn't live like a helpless human much longer. "Can't we wait for them to leave? You could come with me to Florida and wait," I knew he wouldn't stand for that. He had an obligation to his family, he had to help them, "But, if you're getting rid of them when you get there, why waste a trip to Florida, I'd be able to come back tomorrow."

"Don't be so sure about that, Bella. We'll try and talk some sense into them. You can't be there. I won't risk it."

"But if you go with them, I'll never see you again. That's not happening. Maybe the thought you saw was only someone planning that on their own. The Volturi wouldn't go back on a deal would they?"

"I never thought they'd do this, Bella, who knows what they're capable of."

"I'm going with you, Edward, turn around. Go save Alice," we were already at the airport.

Edward kissed me urgently and then pulled me out of the car. He told me to buy a ticket to anywhere and handed me my cell phone. I couldn't leave him. He walked me to the door and kissed me for a good 5 minutes before apologizing and leaving in a rush.