Chapter: Plans

#A/N. Here's chapter 7! I managed to get in a second chapter for the week. RRemember to review and comment! Enjoy!

*Edward's POV*

Renesmee fell asleep in my arms; exhausted from all the crying she did. I continued to hold her close to me, letting her scent and her warmth calm me; I placed a kiss on her forehead. Gathering her up in my arms, I stood up from the couch. I took her upstairs to my room and placed her in the bed I once purchased for her mother. I pulled the covers over her small shoulders, making sure to tuck her in securely. Her mind was full of images of Bella. Moments they've spent together were racing through her mind. Her every thought revolved around her mother. A few tears escaped from the corners of her eyes. I wiped them away gently and then sighed.

How was I going to do this? Suffering from my own pain was bad enough without the added pain of seeing Renesmee so full of sorrow. I knew I had to be strong for her, for Bella too, but I was on a rollercoaster ride with my emotions. But what father and husband would I be if I let my emotions get to me and not protect what was most precious to me? Certainly not worthy of the love Bella and Renesmee give me, even though I am not even close to being worthy of them now. I had to try – try with everything I had. I couldn't let them down.

I wonder what Nessie is doing. I wish I hadn't had to leave her so suddenly like I did this morning; it's like I never see her anymore. I heard Jacob's thoughts coming in from the driveway. I hurried down the stairs, wanting a chance to explain what was going on to him. I reached the door before he had a chance to knock.

"Oh, hey Edward." Jacob said, looking surprised to see me. "Bella said you were away on a three day trip."

"The trip got cut short." I said, letting him inside.

"Hmm" he said. "So, where's Nessie?" he looked around as he walked into the living room. "Did Bells take her back to the cottage?"

"No she's here. She's upstairs sleeping."

"Oh". He said, his face falling just a little.

"Jacob." I said, "There's something I need to discuss with you. It's very important."

His face turned serious quickly. "What is it?" he asked.

"Something happened this morning. It's what caused Emmett, Jasper, and I to come home early. Now, please listen to everything I have to say before you respond."

"I will. Just spit it out, Edward."

I took a deep breath. "This morning, Bella was taken –

"What?!" Jacob yelled, his face twisting with anger and his hands balling into fists.

"You promised that you would let me finish."

He nodded, though he still had on a murderous expression.

"We don't know who took her. We have a few theories, of course, but none of which have any supporting facts. Alice didn't see this happen, so whoever took Bella has to be someone who knows of us. Sadly, we can't place anything into action yet."

"What do you mean you can't place anything into action yet?" he hissed at me. "You have to do something."

"Believe me, Jacob, I want to. There's nothing I want more than to hunt down whoever took her. But we just can't yet. Not without anything to go off of, it would put us all in danger if we were to be hasty." I said.

"Do you think the Volturi took her?"

"I have a very strong feeling that they're behind all this." I said darkly. I was almost certain that this was the Volturi's doing. We've been on their hit list for the longest time. What better way to get back at us than to take the one member of our family we could thwart them on her own?

"I agree with you there." He muttered. "So what happens now?"

"We have to wait until Alice can provide us with any leads." I sighed.

"And she won't be able to do that with me here." He said. "Which probably means that I have to go."
"No Jacob." I said. "At least, not right now."

"No I should, Nessie is sleeping anyway. I want you to do whatever it takes to find Bella. Just, call me when you get something – ideas, a vision from Alice, anything." He said.

"I will."

He left out the living room, his hands still balled into fists at his sides. The door slammed as he left out of the house. I could hear the fabric of his clothes ripping as he phased.

"Edward!" Alice yelled, racing down the stairs with Jasper right behind her.

"Edward, as soon as Jacob left, I had vision - it was Bella."

The rest of the family came into the room then.

"Show me." I said. I closed my eyes as Alice showed me the vision of Bella.

"Dearest Isabella, it would seem that we have some important matters to discuss." Aro said.

Caius smiled menacingly behind him.

"What would like to discuss?" Bella said, her fear showing on her face.

"The possibility of you staying here with us, Bella." He said. "Having you as a member of our guard is a great appeal to us. You would make a great asset."

I growled as the vision faded.

"What is it?" Emmett asked impatiently.

"It's the Volturi." I said. "They took Bella."

Growls sounded around the room.

"So, let's go get her." Emmett growled, his muscles flexing as his hands balled into fists.

"We can't yet." Carlisle sighed. "Ambushing the Volturi will lead us into nothing but danger."

"So what do we do?" Rosalie said.

"We need a plan." Jasper said, his expression calculating. His military background giving him insight that the rest of us didn't have. "Carlisle's right, ambushing won't help us. We need to find a way in – and we need as much help as we can get.

"Do we call in our friends again?" Esme asked, turning to look at Carlisle.

He sighed. "I really don't want to. We asked so much of them last time. Would they even be willing to face the Volturi again?"

"This may be the only way."Jasper said. We all looked at Carlisle as he contemplated calling in his friends. After a few minutes, he nodded.

"You're right, Jasper. This just may be the only way to bring Bella back. It will be the same as before, they can say no if they want to – I will not hold it against them." Carlisle said, looking around at each of us. "I suppose Allistar will be one friend we don't have to call. We all know his feelings on confrontation with the Volturi."

"Shall we take the same regions we took before?" Esme asked.

"Yes, that will be fine."

"When do we start?" I asked, I was full of hope that this plan would work. The sooner we finished this, the sooner I could have my Bella safe in my arms again.

"Well, there's no time like the present." Carlisle answered. We all nodded. I stayed downstairs as the others dispersed around the house to get ready for their upcoming trip. I suspected I would stay behind again to be with Renesmee and entertain whoever was sent back to the house. As I stood in the middle of the living room, alone for the first time since Bella went missing, everything finally weighed down on me.

Excruciating pain filled my body, making me fall to my knees. I put my head in my hands.

"Bella." I whispered, my voice full of the agony I was feeling. This was my fault. If I never left, Bella would still be here. I would've been here to protect her from the Volturi. I should've been there. Some husband I was. The moment she needed me the most, I wasn't there for her. I have failed her once again. I truly didn't deserve her.

My Bella. I didn't feel whole without her. My heart was missing – it was with her in Italy. She is everything to me. I had to get her back. Determination mixed with the pain and guilt I was feeling. I will get my Bella back. I will do whatever it takes.

"Edward." Jasper said, suddenly standing in front of me. He gently pulled my hands away from my head. "You're emotions. I feel so much guilt coming off of you."

"This is all my fault, Jazz. I wasn't there to protect her."

"No." he said. "It is not your fault. You get that into your head. If you want someone to blame, then blame the Volturi. They are the only ones who are at fault."

I knew what he was saying was true, but I just couldn't help feeling like this was my fault somehow. I promised her that I would always take care of her. I promised that I would always ensure her safety – no matter what.

"But, I –" I began, only to be cut off by Jasper.

"No." he said once again. "You have to stop blaming yourself for everything that happens to Bella. Some things just can't be helped – no matter how hard we try. Stop focusing on the past. Focus on the future. Focus on bringing Bella back home."

"You're right." I said, standing up to my full height.

He smiled at me. "That's it. Better?"

"A little."

"Good." He said. "Now, I have to get back to helping Alice pack." He clapped me on the back as he passed me.

Needing a distraction, I decided it was time to call Jacob and update him on our plans.

"Hello." Jacob said after the first two rings.

"It's Edward."

"Got anything new?" he asked immediately.

"Yes."I said. "As soon as you left, Alice had a vision of Bella. The Volturi took her." I growled, feeling intense hatred for the Volturi.

"Filthy bloodsuckers." He hissed from the other side of the phone.

"We have come up with a plan."

"What is it?"

"We are going to ask for the aid of our friends again - everyone who helped us the last time. We figured we had a better chance with some help. After everyone is gathered, we're going to make our pursuit on the Volturi."

"The pack is in." he said.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Of course I'm sure. I love Bella too, she's my best friend."

"Alright." I said. "The rest of the family is going out to gather everyone up."

"You're staying behind again?" Jacob asked

"Yes. I have to stay with Renesmee. Plus, I'm going to address the ones my family sends back."

"Ok." He said. "I'm going to go talk to Sam. I'll be there in two hours." He hung up then.

My family came downstairs a few moments later. They were all dressed casually with backpacks slung over their shoulders.

"We'll be back as quickly as we can." Carlisle said.

I nodded. "Good luck." I said to them all.

"Good luck to you too, Edward." Esme said, coming to place her hands on either side of my face.

"We will send back who we can."

"I know you will." I said. Esme gave me a warm hug and a kiss on the forehead. After giving our goodbyes, they soon left to send back whoever was willing to help us. Afraid that I would fall apart again, I went back upstairs to Renesmee. I lay down next to her, pulling her into my arms. I would stay with her until Jacob came. I concentrated on all the love I had for my daughter – willing the pain, caused by Bella's absence, away. I tried to squash it down; to make it bearable for the time being. I concentrated harder on Renesmee. She was the only thing that could keep me calm and collected. I held on tighter to Renesmee – my other reason for existing.

I let my eyes drift close. I wished that I could sleep. Only then would I be able to escape my worries for a few hours. This was yet another time that I wished I could dream. My dreams would be all about Bella. In my dreams, she would be safe with me – like nothing had ever happened.

How I longed to escape from reality at this moment. Even if only for a few minutes; I would gladly take anything over this nightmare I was living now.

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