Chapter 29: Rio

Our guests left quickly and quietly.

We said our goodbyes to Maggie and Liam, who held Siobhan's ashes tightly to him. Vladimir informed us that he was headed back to the field to spread Stefan's ashes, "He would have been proud of all of this, he will be happy out there. I will miss him always, and regret that I cannot reminisce with him about the burning of our enemies." He let out the smallest of smiles at the end of his statement and looked down at the remains of his old friend as he turned to leave.

Ben and Tia hugged Edward and I goodbye. "It was so nice to be here and meet you all. We will come back to visit, I hope you don't mind, I truly enjoyed being here, so did Tia." Tia smiled at me. "I'm sure Amun and…"

Edward placed his hand on his arm and stopped Benjamin before he could continue, "No need to apologize Benjamin, thank you so much for your help. We are forever grateful."

The Amazon's patiently waited. They were asked by Jasper to stay with him. The Denali Clan, stayed also with Kate's new mate, Garrett.

Carlisle and Esme went with Jared and Paul to bring Sam's body to Emily. La Push was in mourning after losing not only an Alpha but a son, a friend and a fiancé. There were many arrangements to be made.

After Carlisle and Esme returned I stared at Jasper who sat nervously on the white couch, "Where is Alice?" I blurted unable to control my worry.

"I'm not sure Bella, she wouldn't tell me." Jasper sighed as he turned to face me.

"What do you mean, how will we find her." I was beginning to panic, Alice was more than a sister to me, and I was worried about her, she was so small and petite why would Jasper leave her? I wrapped my arms around my ribs and began to pace in quick small circles. I passed by Jasper and he put his hand up to my elbow.

"Maybe you should sit Bella, nerves are no good at a time like this." I obeyed and sat next to Jasper and a rush of serenity flushed through me.

I breathed with relief, "Thank you, it is still hard for me to see being calm as such a benefit."

Jasper looked at me and continued, "She told me to ask you Bella. She insisted you would know where to begin searching." His hands shot up to his forehead as he began to think.

"What? Why me?" I was stumped, my voice was shaky. Jasper put his hand to my arm again as a fresh new wave of serenity overcame me. Seems his touch makes his gift stronger than his presence.

"She said I couldn't know, I can only assume that it's because you have a mind reader as a husband, and Aro couldn't know where she was heading to meet you."

The memory came flooding back to me, thank goodness for Jasper, the answer had been here all along. "Rio" I breathed.

"Rio, but why?" Esme called.

"That's where I sent Jacob and Renesmee, she is going to find them." I jumped up and stated proudly. A wave of relief flooded the Cullen residence. "Jasper what else did she say?"

"She told me I had to get back, that you needed me Bella." I nodded my head, grabbing Jasper's hand and squeezing it, that was correct, if he hadn't calmed me down I would have never gotten control of myself, how many more would have died if Jasper didn't return? "Alice said I was needed here and she was searching for something that she couldn't leave. It was so difficult to say goodbye to her, I had no idea where she was headed but she promised we would both be fine." He looked up and around at all of us, "I'm sorry for leaving you all…"

"Don't apologize," Edward interrupted, puzzled as he came towards us with an urgent look in his eyes. "Thank you for coming back to help Bella, but what were you just thinking about. That image in the forest, that's what Alice saw before she left what, was that?"

"Your right, Alice saw something before we left you all, that's why we rushed away, she couldn't have you see her thoughts. She doesn't know what it was that she saw because it was a blind spot, like how she can't see Nessie or Jacob. She doesn't think Nessie is one of a kind, I left her with Kachiri," we all looked toward Zafrina and Senna. They look relieved. "Kachiri knows her way around the rainforest and was helping Alice and I. We almost found the blind spot, but then Alice had a vision of the fight and said that Bella would need me, I had to go home. We tried hard to find what Alice couldn't see; quick enough to stop the fight from ever ensuing but it was so difficult for her."

"That's how it will be for her in Rio, looking for Jacob and Renesmee," I breathed alarmed.

Edward came to sit on the arm of the chair, next to me. He rubbed my back, "We will go to Rio to find her, to find them all." He reached down to turn my chin to him so that I was forced to look him in the eyes, "We will find them Bella."

The rest of the night we worked out a plan. Zafrina and Senna left in a hurry, promising to let us know immediately if they found Alice, Jacob or Renesmee. The Denali's decided to stay at our place, while we were away in case Jacob or Alice returned home. Seth and Embry insisted on coming to Rio. Edward told me that Leah had thought about coming for a moment but decided against it, since she was the Beta, Leah was leading the entire pack, both of them now combined, in Jacob's absence. She was still mourning Sam and has yet to phase back from her wolf form.

Edward, Carlisle and Emmett mapped out routes of the Amazon to search for Alice, and of Rio to search for Jacob and Renesmee. Jasper tried desperately to call Alice's phone but there was no service in a rainforest.

I sat on the couch, searching through information on Edward's laptop for hotels and sights in Rio. Along with the Cullen's warp-speed internet service, no doubt fit for the CIA, and my new ability to read at an alarmingly fast rate, I was able to filter through most tourist attractions in all of South America. If Jacob took Renesmee there, would she want to see the attractions, would she want to sit and sulk, would they hide out in a hotel? I jotted down names and places that caught my attention. If it weren't for the sound of the cushion being pushed down ever so slightly I wouldn't have noticed Tanya sit beside me. I looked at her, surprised not only by the closeness that her positioning brought us, but also by her beauty. Tanya and I are cordial but in the few times we have met we have not had any actual conversations. I remembered a foggier time, when I was human and jealous of Tanya, almost mad even that she wanted my husband at some point. As happy as I was that he turned her down, I couldn't help but feel even now, self conscious around her. Seems being self-conscious will follow you everywhere.

"Do you have any idea how incredibly lucky you are Bella?" She whispered as the tips of her fingers touched me knee for a moment.

I looked down and then up into her inhumanly perfect face, "Um… yes of course I do, thank you for helping us Tanya, you and your family." Of course I knew how lucky I was; I thanked them more times than I could count.

"No, no Bella, I know you are thankful for our presence I just mean about your family. You and Edward, he just…" She hesitated, "Has Edward ever told you about him and I?" A small chuckle came through her pout.

Oh great, here it comes, "Uh, sort of?" It came out as a question instead of an answer.

"I have known Edward for a long time. It's safe to say now that we are family, the entire Cullen family is a part of my own, you included," she said with a grin, "but there was a time where I thought Edward and I could be more."

Do I want to hear this? I gulped. If vampires could sweat, I would be drowning.

"It was when he came to visit me, after he had met you for the first time, that I realized finally, we would never be" I smiled at the memories and nodded. "I tried to get Edward to talk to me, I have known him for many years and never have I seen him so distraught. I knew something had been bothering him, or someone, you actually, but he wouldn't even look at me. He might have been polite, like he always was and talked in my direction but he was always staring blankly at me, and he would do that to anyone who tried speaking to him, like he was always looking past us, at something else. The one night when Edward and I were alone, I tried talking to him, trying to stay as neutral as possible, but you know it's so hard to do since he can read my thoughts. I couldn't help it I wanted more than just friendship from him." She laughed, "he was the perfect gentleman, what girl wouldn't."

My answering giggle was awkward and nervous. "When I tried talking to Edward, I realized he was not even there anymore, his mind was made up and he was going home, I know now that it was to see you."

"Bella before you ever spoke to him he was in love with you, a simple human," she shook her head. "The love you both share is extraordinary. Never in all my years have I seen something so powerful. And you're both so strong, he has proven it time and time again by staying with you as a human, and you have proven it by loving him no matter what he was, not to mention the strength you had by carrying Renesmee. You deserve more credit than you were given, keeping yourself alive for her and for Edward.

"I guess I'm jealous of you, you're just so lucky. I would give up almost anything to be in your place, to be loved by someone as incredible and true as Edward, to be a mother to a little girl as brilliant and striking as Renesmee, to be surrounded by such a tight family and to be the most incredible, and beautiful newborn I have ever met." She ended her speech by looking me directly in the eyes, as if this was the truest thing she had ever stated.

My mouth fell open in shock, I tried to protest, she was much prettier. "Tanya I. . ."

"Please. We will never turn our backs on you all and I hope you come to Alaska to see us sometime, and maybe spend a holiday with us. I will miss my sister Irina so much Bella," as she said this she looked down to her lap, "but this has brought me closer to Kate, Eleazar and Carmen, along with my extended family." She put her arm around on my shoulder. "It was good, in a way to fight alongside of you and to find out for myself that Edward has found someone as remarkable as you. Good luck finding Renesmee, Alice and Jacob, but I don't think you will need it. You seem to have luck on your side." She squeezed my arm with her hand and then stood, looking down at me. "It's so good to know you Bella." Tanya smiled and then turned to walk outside where Kate and Carmen were standing.

I sat for a moment, shocked, more confident than before, maybe even a bit smug. I hoped that luck would be on my side, I hoped Tanya was right. I looked out to her, she looked up at me from beyond the glass door and smiled, I smiled back. I felt Edward wrap his arms around my neck, kissing my cheek as he slipped over the couch to snuggle in next to me.

I looked at him, Tanya was right I am so lucky. I kissed him on the lips and pulled back ever so slightly. "What are you smiling at love?" he asked, curiously.

"I'm just relieved Edward, I'm relieved and happy and lucky and in love."

"I love you," he kissed the tip of my nose. "You were incredible today, just amazing."

Still today, it seemed like the longest day of my life. I looked at the clock, 12:01. "Hey, Happy New Year."

I pushed against him, stretching my neck to reach his lips, and kissing him deeply and passionately. He pulled my face closer to his, caressing my lips with his own. He moved his hands to my neck, slipping his fingers through my hair. Edward lifted me from the couch and to the floor, reaching for my hand we danced out the back door, running through the forest, stopping every few feet so that we could kiss, again and again. For a moment we were normal, a happy couple who had everything to live for.

We had not yet made it to our front door when I whipped around, throwing my arms over his head. Edward pushed my back against the wood layers of the outside of our cottage. I could feel the splinters trying to work their way into my vampire skin, this would be painful for a human. His passion was furious, as he ran his palm abruptly down my side to the small of my back, pulling me closer still. I wondered if it were possible for volts of electricity to be pulsing through us. He started to lift me slightly, as I knowing what he wanted jumped eagerly to wrap my legs around his waist as he carried me into our home. He thrust the door open with one arm, almost tearing it lose from the hinges. I pushed myself against his body as he ripped off my shirt and laid me gently on our bed. He kissed my lips, softly at first and then his urgency was fervent again, kissing my cheeks, my forehead and my nose. He took the time to unbutton my jeans instead of tearing them lose, as he moved his lips tenderly to my neck and collar bone, down my stomach, kissing my belly button sending intense tingles of pleasure coursing through my veins. He pushed his muscular arms forward and hovered above me looking into my eyes.

I placed my hands on either side of his face, searching for any sign of relief or liberation from this on-going battle that gives our lives no amount of peace. "I love you," he said, bending slightly and kissing the tip of my nose.

"As I love you," I said. As our lips met again, the electricity could not be denied. His grasp upon my arms caused me to arch my back as he laid his delicious, torturous touch upon me...

The rest of the night there were no worries, no outside life but Edward and I. My world was at ease knowing my daughter was with the one person who would never allow any harm to come to her. It was nice, for the moment to have that tiny ounce of peace dominate our minds and erupt like fireworks through each other. I could feel guilty in finding solace at such a solemn time, but with all of our lives filled with such unknowing – this moment might be all we have. Any moment could be our last. I have yet to grasp the concept of immortality because our lives have yet to feel like a sure thing.

The sun had not yet risen when I decided to get things together for the day that was coming. I kissed Edward's cheek as I slid off the bed, hurrying to the closet I dressed quickly. At least I tried. The closet was still awfully confusing to me. I attempted Edward's way of finding clothing. I searched for the scent of silk or satin. After the third dress, I finally found what I was looking for. A simple black silk dress. Although I would much rather have on jeans, I knew they were far from appropriate for where I was headed this morning. I've learned that sometimes I sould sacrifice my comfy clothes in exchange for Alice doing all of my shopping, which she has taken great pride in as of lately, and I was glad I could do something so little to make her happy. I threw on the black dress, and then I took a pair of black pants, white button down shirt and thin black tie from Edward's side of the closet and laid them out on the bed next to him.

Walking back into our closet I pulled out a large duffel bag, the one Alice used to pack our belongings in for our Honeymoon. I let my mind drift back to those days on the beach and in the ocean. The memories were blurry when I first thought of them several months ago, but I had Edward go through them with me, leaving no details unturned. I wanted to remember every bit, every second of our time together when I was human. Those happy days seemed so far away, and completely out of my grasp.

I tossed several t-shirts, long and short sleeved as well as a few sweatshirts and jeans for the both of us into the duffel bag. Reaching down to the almost packed bag, I picked it up with ease and brought it across the hall.

I searched around Renesmee's room, pulling several outfits from her closet and stuffed them into our bag. As my eyes searched the small space that was her bedroom a sense of nausea swept over me. I sat back on the rocking chair in the corner of her room, the very same rocking chair Edward used to sit in at Charlie's, while he watched me sleep. We now used the rocker to watch Renesmee sleep. Edward stood at the door way, watching my face. He walked slowly into our daughter's room; pulling me off the chair so he could sit down, then lifting me back to his lap. I curled up placing my feet on the arm of the chair. "I just realized, last night was the first night we spent without our daughter. I just, I wish I was smarter about this, I wish I packed a cell phone, something."

He rocked us back and forth stroking my hair as if I was a scared child, "you've done enough. Everything will work out love, I promise." He kissed my cheek, "she is in good hands, you know that better than anyone else."

"I know", I said as I leaned my head against his shoulder, touching the silk tie that hung from his collar. "It's just… well…", I looked up into his eyes with my non-existent tears ready to spill, "what if we can't find them Edward? What if he thinks were dead, I planned this trip thinking we were going to so why would he assume differently." The words flowed out of my mouth like gibberish, but there was no doubt in my mind, I knew that Edward would have understood every word. "Jacob may be the best babysitter out there but what if he never checks home? And is too afraid to go to Rio or what if the others in the Volturi Guard like Felix could hunt, just not as good as Demetri, what if…"

Edward silenced me with his lips. "Try not to worry," he kissed me again "we are leaving after the memorial service and we will find them."

I leaned back, placing my head on his shoulder, looking at him with only my eyes "Edward why aren't you as worried as I am." I wrapped my arms around him.

"Bella love, I am terrified, truly, but I know she is safe with Jacob and I also know that the others are not hunters, I would have heard it sometime in their thoughts, or at least Eleazar would know if the Volturi Guard had secret powers that we did not know of, but he didn't. Not one of them thought about Renesmee after the fight began, they didn't even see her and Jacob leave. For all they know Renesmee is lying asleep in her bed. She was not a concern to them, just an excuse." He looked at her pink comforter that was tucked neatly into her bed. "I want her back here just as much as you do, but I am hoping for the best. I know she is safe, I just hope we find her and soon."

"Your right," I said standing with new found confidence then reaching back for his hand, "let's go."

Edward threw the duffle bag over his shoulder as we raced back to see our family. As we approached their house I noticed Carlisle and Esme sitting on the back steps. Edward slowed his pace and sighed with relief. I yanked at his arm; how I wished I was a mind reader like him. I gave him a look and he knew to tell me what they had been discussing without asking, "Jasper finally reached Alice, she found what she was looking for and now they are in Rio waiting for us. Jacob has not shown up yet, but not to worry he couldn't have possibly made it there this fast anyway."

I sighed, I was relieved that they spoke to Alice but of course concerned that she has yet to find my baby.

Edward and I attended the funeral with our family and the Denali coven early in the morning. We had just two hours before our flight left. I walked in to see Emily sobbing in the corner, my stomach tightened. Would she scream and yell at me? I could understand if she did, it was my fault. Emily looked up at me, wiping the tears from her eyes and smiled; only the smile of her lips did not reach the sadness in her eyes. Oh please, do not smile at me, I deserve no comfort.

She stood, walking toward me and then taking my hand, "Emily, I can't even begin to apolo…"

"Bella, I don't want you to blame yourself for this." She was stern as she spoke, "I know Sam better than his own pack, and I know how proud he was to protect people, his own pack and you all, especially Renesmee", she reached down and cradled her belly. "When we found out we were expecting, Sam's mind was made up." Her voice was cracking with the lack of sleep she was surely facing, she continued slowly. "After feeling the bond with his own baby, he knew that he could never let you and Edward or anyone suffer through the loss of a child. He would go to any length to protect her. Sam wanted to tell everyone after the fight was over, he tried so hard to keep his thoughts away from the subject. He was so proud that he was going to be a father and now Sam will live through his child." She looked down at her belly and spoke to the baby. "It will be okay, I will be okay, I think," she looked back at me. "Thank you for coming, Seth told me you were all going to search for Jacob, you should get going."

I tried to steady myself as the world swirled around me. I cannot even begin to understand how she must feel, to lose the one you have imprinted with. How could she go on? I looked down, the answer was in her swelling belly, knowing full and well that Renesmee would have been my one and only reason to live without Edward. I was pulled slowly back to reason by the warmth of her hands that cradled mine before her.

"Okay, Emily." I was lost for words. "Congratulations about the baby, Sam would have been an excellent father. I will visit as soon as I get back and bring Jacob home." She nodded, reaching her arms around me, pulling me close, we hugged for a long time.

She whispered in my ear, "Bring Nessie, I need the practice," she paused and pulled back from our embrace, "I don't think my baby will be quite . . . normal" she said smiling sadly and waving as we turned to leave.

"Of course," I said and waved goodbye in return.

We arrived back to our home within an hour, piles of luggage filled the front hall as Emmett and Garrett tried cramming them all in as few cars as possible. We said our goodbye's to the Denali's and were off to Rio to find our family.