CHAPTER FOUR

My little angel looked at absolute peace as I held her in my arms. Her stuffed animal duck, Quackers, held firmly in her tiny hands. She had no idea the horrors that were going on all around her and I was envious of that ignorance. I wanted to go back to a time when the only images that had been put in my head recently would have been the product of movies or television. It's funny really, with all the death that surrounds me, I had never seen a person die before. To actually see as the last bit of life was taken, and to know that it was all just so final. But I had a job to do, my daughter was priority number one, and I couldn't be helpless any longer. I wasn't allowed to think on the horrors that I had witnessed and allow myself to become caught up in them. I had to remain strong for her.

Special Agent Black needed to brief Edward on our upcoming travel arrangements, so they had been stuck in the outer room for nearly a half hour. I was weary thinking about where in the world this Jacob Black was planning on sending us. I couldn't imagine having to leave New York. I loved New York and this had always been my home. What about my studio? Without me there, it would surely close now. All my life's work, up and gone in the course of one night.

I turn my gaze back to my baby and have a moment of clarity. I see her soft golden brown curls and her perfect little pout of the lips that she does when she is zonked out, and I know that it doesn't matter where we are to be exiled. It doesn't matter that the studio is gone. Wherever we are going, as long as she is safe, none of it matters.

"Are you ready?" Edward approached.

I looked over to the television screen that played the credits to Snow White and sighed. My eyes once again found Edward's face and I nodded. I started to get up with Maisey in my arms, and Edward reached out for her.

"No. I have her." I stated protectively.

"You're going to have to learn to trust me." Edward replied.

"Before we go, let me make something very clear to you. I don't like you, but I will trust you as much as I am capable. However, if anything happens to her…" I looked down at my sleeping angel. "You won't have to worry about what the Italians will do to you, because I will do far worse."

I walked past him and out of the cold dark room we had been sitting in towards Special Agent Black.

"I sense the tension between you two, and I don't want you trying to kill Edward for my decision, so I think it's best if I tell you that the best way for you all to remain off the radar is to go in as…a family." He asked me.

"I am not going to be his…wife or something." I protested.

"I already knew that wouldn't work. It's hard to have a child be expected to keep up a role and bringing in someone to play daddy wouldn't be easy for her to comprehend. You will be brother and sister. You both can figure out a good back story on your flight but, whatever it is, under absolutely no circumstance should you at any time try to contact anyone you know. Stay there. Don't draw attention. Blend in."

I nodded, "I understand."

"Let's get going." He turned abruptly to walk out in front of me, and Edward followed behind. Outside was a SUV parked on the street for us.

I watched as the New York City lights past us by and wondered if I would ever see this place again. Every memory I had invaded my mind, and it was the only thing able to block the death I had witnessed just over an hour ago. I wiped a tear away quickly and then turned my gaze away from the city.

"I think you'll get a kick out of the name of the town we're going to. Might find it a bit ironic."

I looked over to Edward and shook my head.

"How can you be so calm? How do you…just turn your back on everything you know and leave it all so easily?" I asked desperately. "I look out that window and I don't even see the city that I was born and raised in, I see the city that I will no longer have a future in…we will no longer have a future in. I just lost nearly everything. My life. My business. My home. It's all gone now."

Edward sighed and turned his gaze away from me to stare out the window. "It's easy…when you've already lost everything."

It was the first time I could look at Edward and think of him as a human being. We had only known each other a couple of hours and I think it was safe to say that we blended together about as well as oil and water. However, maybe I wasn't the only one in pain in this car.

We arrived at a tiny air space in New Jersey and I was completely exhausted. Edward had lost the spaghetti stained suit coat, and Michael hadn't brought me much to choose from out of my closet, but it was still better than the cat sweater.

"Is there anything I can get for you from your home? Anything that you don't want to lose?" Special Agent Black asked me just before I was about to board the small plane.

"Pictures…if it's possible. I…don't have much, but my photo albums are really important to me." I replied, "Thank you. I know that I may seem hostile and ungrateful, but I'm just…really losing my mind here, so I apologize for my behavior."

He gave me a small smile and nodded his head, "It's okay. You have every right to lose your mind a little. Just not too much. Be smart. Be strong. And…" He paused coming closer to me, "Edward has always been a jerk to all of us…that's how we know he likes us."

I furrowed my brow, confused, and Special Agent Black pulled back, giving me a wink.

"All right, everything on board?" He yelled back to Edward.

"Yes sir." Edward replied.

"Good luck." The special agent smirked, "I have a feeling you'll both need it."

I rolled my eyes and continued boarding the pint-sized plane. I found a seat, laid Maisey down upon it, and then took the seat next to her. Edward said a few words to our pilot and then proceeded toward the liquor cabinet. I watched his every move, because the effort he put into making his drink looked like a dance.

"Did you want some?" He asked, "Oh wait, I forgot, recovering alcoholic."

"No. I'm…not an alcoholic. It was…just one of the many lies I told you." I sighed.

He smiled and shook his head, "So…do you want some?"

"Do you have any wine? I could really use a glass."

"Wine it is." He opened up the mini fridge and popped open a bottle of wine, abandoning his scotch. He poured two glasses and walked over to take the seat directly across from me. He was just about to hand me my glass when he pulled back his hand and asked, "So…was there anything you told me on our date that was actually truthful?"

"Maybe." I replied coyly. "And I don't plan on telling you which is which."

I snatched the glass of wine out of his hands and leaned back in my chair, savoring the flavor as I took the first sip.

"You are an odd one, Isabella Swan."

"I try." I replied dryly. "So what about you? Any actual truth to anything you told me on the date?"

"My name." he smirked. "I'm an open book, Bella. You can ask me anything."

"You seem to know more about me then me of you. Looks like Michael was better at prepping you then Jessica was of me."

"I doubt that. Other than your name and the tricks you have played in the past, I still know very little about you."

"What is your name?" I wondered, "Jessica just kept calling you Edward the…well, some word I would never repeat."

"Cullen. Edward Cullen. But, by all means, you are always free to call me…whatever Jessica called me. Coming from off your lips, it would be hot."

I rolled my eyes and tried to not be creeped out. "So, you really are a…"

"Manwhore? You know how it is. Some frightfully traumatic experience or childhood issue unresolved that drives a man to place all his focus into fucking rather than finding something meaningful, because of some fear I must possess."

I quickly covered Maisey's ears, "Do you mind? I would like to keep her vocabulary as clean as possible."

"She's asleep." He exclaimed. "And by the way, who names their child Maisey? Sounds like the name of a cow, not a little girl."

"I don't care what you think and, even though she's asleep, she could still hear us. I can't imagine that you've been around many children before, so if you would please try to keep your fifthly mouth respectable for the time being, it would be greatly appreciated."

"My god, Bella. You…it must be exhausting living in your world. No cursing. No sex. No fun. How do you even manage to go on with your life?"

"You don't have to have sex or cursing to have fun, Edward."

"Well thank you for the powerful lesson, as always, PBS, but I think I will stick to my sinful ways."

He snatched up his drink and stormed off toward the cockpit, finding his abandoned scotch from before and taking that with him as well.

What a jerk! I couldn't believe he would get his undies into a bunch because I asked him to respect my daughter's innocence. I swallowed the last of my wine and lowered the back on my chair. I stared up at the ceiling of the plane and wiped a few tears away. I refused to believe that my tears were the result of Edward's outburst. I felt incredibly confused, lost, and scared. How in the world was I going to live with this man? Wasn't there some way they could have reassigned him? Anyone would be better than Edward.

I finally was able to find sleep, even though it was terribly nosey on the plane. However, I don't believe it was much sleep since Maisey had awoken from a nightmare.

"Mommy. Mommy, where are we?"

I practically jumped out my seat to find Maisey looking around frightened.

"It's okay, baby. We went on a plane trip. Everything is fine." I lied, because everything was so not fine. I took ahold of her and brought her to my lap.

She looked around and then cautiously pushed off of me to go and look out the window.

"I've never been on an airplane before."

"I know. Isn't it exciting?"

"You should've woken me up. I missed the whole thing." She scolded me.

"It was very late and you should be sleeping."

"Where are we going?"

I didn't know what to tell her, because I didn't know. Edward tried telling me before, but I didn't even care at the time to listen. I stared at her questioning eyes, trying to figure out just what I was going to tell her. Edward walked back in from the cockpit and saw that Maisey was up.

"Who's he, mommy?"

"Uh…" I shook my head, unable to find a way to tell her that we had to move during the night to a place that even I didn't know of with a man I can't stand.

"I'm your Uncle Edward. Hasn't your mommy ever told you about me?" Edward took over, sensing my hesitation.

"No. I didn't know I had an Uncle Edward. Does this mean you're going to bring me presents like Kristen's uncle?" She asked.

"Yea…of course it does. I have a lot of time to make up for, right?"

"Do you know where we are going to?" she asked him.

"I do, but it's a secret. Can you keep a secret?" Edward asked playfully.

"I'm the best at secrets."

Edward motioned her to come over, and then whispered in her ear.

Maisey's face lit up and, even though Edward was still a jerk in my book, I couldn't help but smile at how he managed to make her happy when everything was going wrong in our world. Of course, she didn't need to know that. I had never spoken much to her about my family, and I guess she was at an age where she didn't think to ask too many questions on the subject. Not that she didn't ask questions but, in her world, it had always been just the two of us since she couldn't even remember her own father. I sometimes wondered if that was a blessing or a disservice toward her.

"Is that where Disneyland is?" She asked.

"No…but you are in for a real treat. You'll be able to breathe deeply and not be exposed to the toxic fumes of city buses and taxi cars. You can run for miles and not run into a building."

"It sounds funny. Why are we going?"

"We are just going…for a little while. Um…uh…"I was completely useless. My mind was all jumbled and I hated lying to her.

"We are going…" Edward took over once again, "because I wanted to get to know you. I have missed seeing my sister, and I wanted to meet you so I asked your mom if it would be okay to have you guys move in with me for a little while so we can get to know one another. Would that be okay?"

She looked confused and I'm sure she must have been. I had never taken her out of New York before. Mostly, I couldn't afford to take her on any special trips or vacations. I still wasn't sure where we were headed to, but I have a feeling that both Maisey and I were about to be in for a real culture shock.

"What about school? I'm going into the first grade and I already met my teacher, Miss Hass."

Of course this would be my daughter's first concern. She was like me, she loved school and was anticipating summer being over so she could return.

"You're going to go to a new school, baby. I'm sure your teacher there will be wonderful and kind." I tried to assure her.

"And my friends?" She asked longingly.

"You'll make new friends. That way, you can have friends everywhere." I replied.

"But, I like my friends." She started to cry.

"I know. I know." I picked her back up and settled her on my lap while she continued to cry on my shoulder. "I know this is really hard, and you're probably scared because everything is going to be so new but, I promise you, I will always be with you. I love you and we are going to learn all this new stuff together."

I looked up to Edward and I could tell that he was struggling to find something to say that would make it better but, that was the thing about children, sometimes there wasn't anything you could do or say, sometimes you just had to hope that, in the end, everything would be all right.

There was still so much I wanted to know, I needed to know, and yet every time Edward and I would speak to one another it would turn into a fight. I needed to find a way to bite my tongue so we could get through a simple conversation. Unfortunately, now that Maisey was up, I would need to wait for a time when she fell back asleep or found a distraction.

Finally, after about four hours, I could feel the plane make its decent. It was dark, but I could see the lights of the city as we came closer to the ground.

"Where are we?" I whispered, seeing that Maisey had finally tired herself back to sleep.

"Not our final destination. I have to go and speak to the pilot, but buckle up and we'll be on the ground soon."

I sighed and watched as he left. I could feel my own exhaustion taking over, and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. I watched as the lights on the ground became closer and closer until I felt the plane land with a gentle bump.

Edward walked back in and opened the door before coming back to me. Once again, he held out his arms for me to give him my daughter and, once again, I pulled her back.

"Bella, you're exhausted. Would you please just let me help you?"

I stared up at him for a minute and could feel myself fighting the fatigue, but I was failing.

"Okay."

Edward leaned down and picked Maisey up under her arms and secured her to his body. I pulled myself from out of the chair and stretched for the first time in hours, following behind him. There was a car waiting for us on the tarmac, and I was surprised that it was already outfitted with a child seat.

Edward set Maisey in the child seat and I climbed in the other side to help secure her. She was small for her age so, unfortunately, it would probably be another year before she was allowed to ride with the basic restraint. I know how much she hated these child seats, but it was rare for us to ever use a car in the past so it hadn't been much of an issue.

"So will you tell me where we are now?" I asked again when Edward sat down in the driver's seat.

"We're in Denver, but we're not staying here. Everything we are doing is to erase where we are going. We are going to dump the car and then drive for a couple more hours to our final destination."

"What's wrong with the car?" I asked.

"First of all, it is way too conspicuous. Secondly, even though I don't think the pilot will try to rat us out, I can't take that chance so I don't want anyone knowing any kind of description of what we are driving. We are going to head out of the city and dump the car. I already know of a place that sells some used trucks and the guy I am meeting with already has something set up."

"So…you've done this before?"

"Of course. That's why I'm the best."

"And…nobody that you have protected…have ended up dead, correct?"

Edward stopped the car and looked back at me, "You do what I say and you both will be safe, but I can already tell that you and I…we are like fireworks. I can't have you in a moment of anger running off your mouth, or worse, trying to contact someone because you're pissed off at me. You could jeopardize everything and if you care at all about her life, then you will do as I say."

"Of course I care about her life. That's why we're even here. Why I am putting my trust into some guy who…" I started to get angry at the implication but then I stopped myself, realizing that this was exactly what I needed to work on. "Like I said before, I will do whatever it takes. I will trust you as much as I am capable. But I am scared. I am willing to admit that to you. I don't care if you are the most irritating person on the planet, if you can get us through this, then I will thankful and in your debt."

Edward stared at me and then nodded slowly, "I promise…I will do everything in my power. I know you're scared…so am I."

He turned back to the wheel and put the car back into drive. I settled myself back into the seat and allowed my eyes to close for a few minutes. I must have fallen fast and deep. I could see the man named Bobby as he begged for his life. I watched as he was shot and then the two murderers looked up and, as clear as day, told me I was next. I wanted to run, but my feet wouldn't move. I stood there, paralyzed, with the barrel of the gun pointed directly at my face. With absolute detail, the trigger was pulled back and then bam!

I snapped up out of my nightmare and looked around frantically. Edward had just exited the car and I had hoped that was the bam I had heard in my dream, him slamming the car door. I clutched my chest and heard Maisey begin to stir.

"What happened?"

"It…was just the car door. Go back to sleep, honey." I brushed her curls out of her face and continued to look around to see if I could tell where we were, but we looked to be in the middle of nowhere. Edward had walked off a fair distance and I faintly could hear him speak to another person. It was a very long five minutes before Edward finally came back to the car.

"Oh, you're awake."

"Car door. How long was I out for?" I asked.

"About an hour, but we're here now so let me move the bags over before you get out. It's a bit cold. You'll need to get a jacket soon."

Edward closed his door once again, but I quickly unbuckled my seat belt and stumbled to get out of the car.

"Uh…is that what we're taking?" I looked over at this old truck that was parked near us.

"Yep."

"Do…you think that it's sturdy enough to handle getting us to wherever we're going?" I asked skeptically.

"It will do the job."

The truck looked to be over forty years old. It was one of those old Ford trucks that were built to last…and to rust. It wasn't that I was expecting a Mercedes, but I wanted to know we wouldn't be stranded either.

"Will the child seat fit in that?"

"Nope. They don't require those. She'll be fine sitting between you and I."

I stood there, staring at the truck, while Edward packed all his stuff from the car trunk. After a few seconds past he stopped what he was doing and looked over at me.

"Would you please not freak out on me. This truck is safe. Maisey will be safe."

"It's just…"

"God, I've only known you a couple of hours and, already, I can read you like a book." Edward laughed.

"Isn't that part of your job description, Mr. F.B.I.?" I snapped. "If you knew I would react this way, why wouldn't you have opted for something safer?"

"Well, excuse me for not having the time to go down Carmax and pick something family friendly out. We're on a bit of a time crunch if you haven't noticed. We don't have the luxury of being picky, so stop your complaining and get Maisey situated."

I stood there obstinate and offended with my arms crossed.

"Bella, either you go and get her or I will. Then I will wrangle your stubborn ass into this truck, even if I have to hogtie you to do it." He threatened.

"You wouldn't dare."

"At this point, it would be the highlight of my day. Don't tempt me."

I put my head in my hands and tried to breathe deeply to keep me from going off on him. After a couple of breaths I went over to Maisey's side and unstrapped her from the car seat. I put her on my shoulder and carried her over to the waiting rust bucket Edward had found. I had a bit of trouble climbing into the seat, especially since Maisey was weighing me down.

"Give her to me."

I gave Edward a look so lethal I was surprised his face didn't melt off, but he took it and then ordered, "Now."

I handed Maisey off once again and climbed into the truck, waiting for Edward to give her back to me. I set Maisey down beside me and held her close to me. Edward climbed into the truck and started up the heater.

We drove along the highway for quite a while, neither of us speaking to one another until, apparently, Edward finally had enough.

"You and I can't turn everything into an argument. It's not healthy for Maisey. I know what's it like to be in a house with two screaming adults and, trust me, it fucks…screws you up." He stopped himself, and I could tell he was berating himself for the crass language he used.

"I will work on the language thing, but you have to work on being less stubborn. So for the time being can we call a truce? Can you not turn every single thing into an argument?"

I bit my lip and waited for a few seconds before replying.

"Can you try to understand that I am just being a parent? I am not fighting with you because it's…you. I just don't think you know how to see things the way I see them. I am responsible for another human being and…"

"I am responsible for two human beings for the time being. I think I get what you're going through. However, what is the worst thing that will happen if you fail Maisey in some way? If I fail you two…you'll end up dead. I have a hell of a lot more pressure than you do at the moment."

I wanted to fight back, but then I stopped myself and looked him over. I had two naps, albeit small, but it was something. He hadn't slept since god knows when and had been doing all the work. I could see him struggling with the fatigue and I'm sure our arguments weren't doing anything to help.

"I'm sorry." I sighed, "I think you and I really need to get some sleep before we begin discussing this arrangement. How far away are we from our final destination, which you still haven't told me?"

"Only an hour. There's this farm house out in the middle of nowhere. The town nearby has a population of three hundred and sixty-eight."

"Small town America, eh?"

"More like the small ass of America. We'll be so bored that fighting with one another will be a godsend." He replied.

"So…you really will miss New York."

"Of course I will. It's the greatest city on the planet. Nothing ever closes. The food is prime and the people…so many people, and now I am to be exiled to a place where literally everyone will know your name. One big ass Cheers bar."

"Are we still in Colorado?"

"No. We're in Nebraska. We are headed to Dix, Nebraska."

He couldn't suppress the urge to laugh.

"Dix." He repeated.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes, "You're such a child."

"Awe come on, I'm sure you wouldn't mind a few more Dix in your life." He teased.

I looked out the window so he wouldn't see the smile I was fighting. He kept making up different puns the rest of the hour toward our destination. I tried to cover Maisey's ears with my arm, hoping she wouldn't hear him.

We finally pulled off of the road and travelled down the dirt path to a shadow far off in the distance. The shadow became bigger the closer we got and, with the full moon, I was able to finally make out the details of our new home. It was a quaint two-story old wooden house with a broad porch. I could see trees surround the property and then nothing for miles around. Edward pulled right up in front of the house and we both exited the car.

"Let me take her. I don't even know how you're standing on your feet." Edward said, taking Maisey for me.

"What about you? I've at least got a couple of cat naps. You haven't slept a wink."

"I'm used to it. All part of the job description." He pulled out a key and jogged up the porch to the front door.

"So does the FBI have many houses like this just sitting around?"

"No, they try to move residents often so that it doesn't become known. I'm sure after this whole ordeal is over, this house will be decommissioned and go on the market."

He turned on lights entering, and I could see the whole house laid out in this beautiful wood. Wood floors. Wooden walls. It was actually kind of cute and rustic.

"There's two rooms upstairs and a shared bathroom, and I will take the bedroom downstairs. Tomorrow we will go to the market and then we have to find a clothing shop of some kind." He continued on up the stairs to the smallest room and I watched as he set Maisey down on the twin bed.

"I'll let you two get some sleep."

He started to walk out and I don't know what compelled me but I stopped him, "I'm really sorry for being…stubborn before and somewhat argumentative. Thank you…for this."

He looked into my eyes for a moment and sighed, "One hell of a first date. I don't think you'll ever be able to top this one."

I laughed shortly, "I think now would be a good time to retire the Bella Special. Definitely no way to top this."

"Goodnight, Bella."

"Goodnight, Edward."

He finally left and I walked over to the small little room that was to be mine. A twin sized bed with a blue quilt rested under a window and tiny closet was all I had. I had no nightgown to change into so I took my shoes off and placed them under the bed and then laid down, staring up out the window at the star filled sky.

It didn't take me long to find sleep and I was thankful that I was at the very least blessed with a nightmareless sleep. It wasn't the sun that awoke me the next morning, but my bladder. I felt groggy and out of sorts as I pushed my lifeless body up and out to search out the bathroom.

I sat on the toilet wondering why it seemed so quiet. I was used to hearing busses and car horns, but out here the silence was deafening. Since Maisey had slept quite a bit last night, I found it odd that she hadn't awaken me. I quickly finished my business and set off towards her room but she wasn't there. I started to feel a panic rising so I rushed down the old wooden stairs and shouted out for her but there was no reply.

I looked around through the small house and called for Edward and nothing so I flew out the front door now feeling my panic full on.

"Maisey!" I shouted. My feet came to a halt when I saw that the truck was missing.

"Oh god." I trembled, "Oh god."

I ran out and down the path that we had come up just hours before.

"Edward!"

"Maisey!"

I collapsed to the hot dirt ground in a fit of tears and couldn't hold back my panic attack.

My baby was missing and there was only one explanation. We had been found and she was gone.

AN: Thank you taking the time to read and review! I am going on vacay next week so I am not sure when I will be able to post the next chapter. Hopefully I can get some wifi and get the chapter to you all soon.

Thanks to my wonderful beta, Robstenvampgirl for taking the time to help me out with all my stories.

Character credit to Stephanie Meyer. Story is mine.