Author: Here's the next chapter! Hope it meets with approval.

Disclaimer: Anything that sounds like Twilight stuff is Stephenie Meyer's stuff, okay? okay!


A Brotherly Greeting


Edward passed the time until sundown watching Leave it to Beaver reruns and I Love Lucy marathons. Normally he wouldn't have bothered with the last show, but when Bella started chuckling underneath the covers to the jokes, he'd decided to leave it on. He could tell she didn't want him to know she was also listening, so he didn't acknowledge Bella's involvement. He smiled to himself, amused at her attempt to hide her true feelings. Bella was proving herself to be a very reserved sort of person.

Which was a bit frustrating; if he couldn't be privy to her thoughts, then didn't he have the right to be acknowledged of some verbal information? Okay, he realized, he probably didn't have the right to her business. But he really wanted to know anyway.

6 hours into their encampment from the sun, Bella emerged from the blanket, sitting up. She and Edward shared a locking of eyes, a silent greeting being shared. Wordlessly, Edward scooted over a bit for her, as she lifted the pillow and once again clutched it in front of her. They continued watching the black and white sitcoms together in compatible silence.

9 hours in, only an hour before sunset, Edward felt it. As the sitcom episode ended, and another one started, the calm atmosphere around Bella suddenly tensed. Like a bowstring suddenly pulled.

Frowning, he looked over to her. Bella head was tilted towards the window, to the dark heavily drawn curtains. The last of the sunlight filtered in around the edges, like a glowing halo. Bella's eyes were riveted on that little sun strip. She began to breathe in staccato time, through her nose.

Edward let out a breath of annoyance, and flipped the TV off. Bella didn't even seem to notice the sudden silence.

"Bella…" Edward said simply. When she didn't respond, he nudged her arm. "Bella, I thought you agreed to relax."

Grimacing, she tilted her head back towards him, but kept her eyes trained on the window. "I agreed to relax in here, during the day. Once the suns gone…" She drew in a shaky breath. "…at night, I'm in danger again."

"I'm here, too, don't forget," He reminded her.

Her eyes snapped to him at that, her lips quirking up in a sarcastic smile. "And you're a very dangerous vampire, Edward," She drawled.

He had to grin. She sounded like she doubted his abilities. "In the best of sense," He agreed. "Only your enemies need fear running into me."

She shook her head, setting the pillow aside so she could comb her hands through her now clean hair. She had dark tresses, with just the barest hint of red highlights in it. As it had dried, her hair had naturally curled around her face.

He'd had found himself analyzing Bella's face quite keenly in the last few hours, making a study of her. He'd already catalogued much of her bone structure and skin texture before they'd reached the hotel, but Phil's opinion of her appearance had forced him to acknowledge that which he hadn't thought to assess on his own.

Bella was very beautiful.

The thought was like a nagging bug, dropped inside his brain to buzz around. It was unwanted, unexpected. Phil had brought the fact to his attention in his thoughts, and Edward had had to turn around and see if that was indeed true. Yes, her pale complection was beautiful. Yes, he could see what Phil meant by her hair. Yes, he could see how Bella's way of merely walking through space like it wasn't there was angelic and hypnotic. But looks, he knew personally, didn't matter for much. Rosalie was a fine example of that fact.

But that didn't seem to stop him from looking. While her eyes were no longer her own original hue, Edward could guess at what they would have once looked like as a human. A deep, mysterious brown, to match her hair. They would have been expressive, perhaps being the only hint at the silent nymph in her mind. The same, dangerously appealing thing her red eyes were doing to him now.

As Bella suddenly moved without his knowing she would, Edward was once again keenly aware of how preferable it would be if he could just listen in on her. He could sense she was obviously worrying herself silly over the whole issue at stake.

Bella began to pace the length of the room, in an agitated manner. She kept glancing at the window, then at random objects around the room. Her fingers she would either run through her hair or twiddle together in front of her chin. Edward's head followed her movement with puzzlement. "Can you tell me something?" He blurted abruptly.

She continued pacing, but looked at him scant wise. "Maybe."

"Why do you move around so much?" Edward frowned. "Even agitated, I've never seen or known a vampire to be so fidgety."

Bella paused, coming to a halt in front of the tv. She turned her worried look onto him in her own display of frustration. "I don't know. I've always been like that. I don't have a watch, so I'm kind of counting the seconds in my head." She looked down at her clasped hands, frowning. "Except, I don't even know how much time is left until we leave, so I'm really just driving myself crazy." She took a breath, then straightened. "So, what time is it?"

Edward could have told Bella to turn around and look at the clock built into the TV that was blaring 7:36 in angry red letters behind her, but decided it would be more prudent and polite to lift his left wrist and study his own watch. "We have 5 more minutes until we can open our door."

She gulped nervously. "5 minutes…okay." She breathed deeply again, then let it out. "Okay." Bella sat with a huff on the edge of the bed. She rested her elbows on her knees, and stared straight ahead. Her eyes landed straight on the clock, and she wanted to groan as the humiliation sank in. She was such an idiot, she couldn't even find a damn clock in a hotel room!

Edward cleared his throat, and sat up on the edge of the bed. He stretched his arms out in front of him, and rolled his shoulders around some. Then, in a very slow manner, he tied up his shoes and slipped his arms into his jacket tossed over the dresser. When he was ready he stood, looking over at Bella.

Her face was turned to him, her chin resting on her joined fists. She regarded him with a curious smile, yet with eyes that looked slightly annoyed.

He raised a brow, wondering why she now studied him so carefully. "What?"

The left corner of her mouth quirked up. "Despite the fact you also were running around in the Alaskan woods, and despite the fact there are dirt stains all over your jacket and shirt, you look like you're ready to film the next James Bond movie or something."

Edward rolled his eyes, trying not to wince at the suggested comparison.

"Where as I, on the other hand," she continued mournfully, "Look like something you'd take out in a black bag at the end of the day."

Edward tired not to scoff out loud, but he didn't quite manage it. "Bella, the day you look like yesterday's garbage will be the day Aro plays monopoly with Elvis Presley and loses." Wanting to get rid of the frown on her face, he leaned over and lifted her chin with his finger. "Hey."

Edward slid his finger up her cheek to slip a strand of hair back behind her ear. Bella froze at the movement, her eyes flickering back and forth from his hand and his gaze. She seemed hesitant at his closeness. Those serious eyes of her were intensely blazing. Edward found it very satisfying. "You look beautiful, vampire. Don't worry about anything. My family will be happy to meet you no matter what you look like."

She glanced sideways, hiding her expression from his gaze. When he'd looked at her like that, and touched her so casually, it shouldn't have done anything more than reassure her as a friend. But the feelings coursing through Bella were hardly comforting; they made her uneasy. She was still confused about what boundaries she was required and should put up against Edward. So far, he'd been able to break through all of her defenses she'd set up to keep herself safe from vampires in general. Vampires like Felix, Aro, Jane…

But Edward was no ordinary vampire. The rules didn't seem to count when he was there, with her. Bella found herself relaxing, just as he wanted her to be. That was dangerous.

But he was so calm himself. Whenever she began to tense up or to doubt every move he made, Edward would pierce her with that bemused look. And she'd instantly feel foolish. Her feelings forced her to put her barriers down, and to let him walk around her defenses to do things that made feelings course through her. Like when he'd touched her chin, or tucked her hair back.

It wasn't right, she knew. But Bella had no idea what was the right thing to do instead. "Is it time to go yet?" She asked, changing the subject at hand. Whatever it was.

Edward glanced at the time, and nodded. "Its time. Do you want to wait here, while I turn in the room key?"

Bella hesitated, then squared her shoulders. "No. I'll go with you." She'd watch his back. As a team, they would be stronger.

Edward smiled. "Good. After all the stress we've put him through, Phil deserves a last look anyway." At her confused frown, he shook his head. "Nothing. Lets check out."


They were once again driving through a creepy forest in the dark of night. Bella missed the city and its tall buildings and bright, revealing lights the deeper they went. "How much further?" She asked Edward, looking at him.

The green car lights illuminated his intensely focused expression. He drove quickly on the dirt road, kicking up much dust behind them. She'd complained about the noise his vehicle was making, pointing out it could signal the Volturi to their whereabouts; he'd only sighed and told her to relax again. She swore, if he said that one more time to her, she would…do something. And he would not like it!

"The road ends just ahead. From there, we're walking." He informed her. As he turned the corner, he suddenly put on the brakes to avoid crashing into a fallen tree across the road. Bella fell forward, the seatbelt catching her weight. Her hands caught against the door and dash, stopping herself from shooting backward again as the car lurched.

Edward pulled the key from the ignition. He sent one boyish grin at her still shocked expression and exited the Volvo. Bella took her sweet time unwinding herself from her seat belt and chair. After THAT ride from hell, she deserved a little cruise control, thank you very much.

Outside the car, she barely had time to get her bearings before Edward took her arm and began marching her off into the woods. Bella sputtered for a moment, then found her ability to speak past the irritation. "Stop dragging me around like an imbecile!" When he didn't comply right away, she used an ounce of her additional vampire strength to wrench her way out of his grasp.

When she did and came to a stop, Edward turned to frown at her. "I was under the impression you disliked the dark woods. I thought you'd want to get out of here as soon as possible. I'm merely showing you the way, if you'll bother to keep up."

Oh, that was a challenge laid plain. Bella straightened to her full short height, arching one thin brow. "Oh, if I'll keep up, eh? What direction?"

Edward pointed, not looking away from her. A mischievous glint was beginning to enter his eyes. "A wager then? First one to reach the cliff in that direction gets to change and get cleaned up first. The other, gets to remain in their dirty attire until the end of the evening." He lifted a hand, as if pledging. "And may I point out, the bunker has a wonderful modern shower. I'd kill for it right about now."

She snorted. "I'm sure. Fine, Cullen." Bella strode up to him, and grinned up into his face coyly. "You've got yourself a wager. Ladies first?"

Before he could blink, she was gone. Less then a second after that, Edward was off and running in pursuit. While it gave him some pain to leave his Volvo out in the middle of nowhere, he really wanted that shower.

And, having a little chase with Bella wasn't so bad either. Since he couldn't hear her thoughts, it made the game more interesting, he had to admit. Gave the odds more chance. Not that they were that great for her. He was very fast.

He caught up to her in now time flat, but she took to trying to block him out, or to get in his path. She was nimble, and intelligent. Several times she managed to keep barely ahead of him. But as they came upon two large trees growing side by side, Edward was able to elbow her out to slip between. He whooped in triumphant, picking up speed.

Then, he felt her arms wind around his neck. She leaped onto his back, holding on tightly as he ran. Edward began to laugh, in amusement. Oddly enough, he wasn't annoyed in the least. "You're SO cheating!" He accused her.

She chuckled, stretching her neck to yell in his ear, "You didn't specify any rules!"

He thought of several ways to discard her from his back, but ignored them as soon as he did. Carrying her wasn't so bad.

When they reached the cliff face, Edward came to a halt. He gripped her hands under his chin in his own and allowed her to slip off his back. When her feet touched the ground, he turned, keeping her hands firmly tucked in his. He looked down into her amused face with excited eyes. "You're tricky, Bella. But you know what?"

Before she could move or open her mouth to protest, he reached over and touched the cliff face. "I win."

Bella let out a huff. "So you did. But I won't apologize." She tilted her head respectfully to him. "I would have never kept up with you otherwise. You, Edward Cullen, are amazingly fast."

Edward regarded her, letting her compliment seep in. Carefully, he reached out and pulled the twig that had gotten caught during their race out of her hair. "Fast is no good against smart thinking. That, you have taught me today."

Bella shrugged, uncomfortable. Her gaze drifted to the cliff face. "So, now where do we go?"

Edward tilted his head to look up the steep cliff wall. "Now, we find a rock with a button underneath it, somewhere on the ground here."

Bella looked down at her feet, at the hundreds of small rocks buried and stacked in the soil. "Hm. That's going to be easy. It's a good thing we have eternity to look for it, I guess."

Edward shot one of his bemused looks at her. "Every time you say something radical and all pessimistic like that, you force me to be the optimistic one."

She looked at him, lowering both brows in over curious red eyes. "Well, are you?"

"Optimistic?" Edward shook his head. "No." He bent, flipping over rocks one at a time.

Bella stooped and began to help him, trying to take what they were doing seriously. "How is it you don't know this? I mean, didn't you build this secret bunker?"

"I did," he told her. "But Alice and Jasper did all the wiring. I left before any of the entrance was built."

"Why?" She asked, scrutinizing a black rock critically before throwing it over her shoulder.

"The Volturi interrupted my plans." He said simply. Edward rolled a boulder over, not finding a button but a colony of rolly pollies instead. "Besides, I don't think my family ever thought we'd have to use it. It was just one of Carlisle's precautions, and one of Alice's visions."

Bella slid over several boulders, moving for a rock she hadn't checked yet. "It's a good thing you listened to each other. I for one am grateful there's a Cullen safehouse." She coughed. "So to speak."

Edward bent to turn a rock over, then suddenly straightened. His gaze turned inward, more pensive, and Bella knew he was listening to whatever voices had just come into his head.

He heard someone, she realized, her body seeming to go colder. She dropped the rock in her hand and rushed to his side. "Edward? Who is it?" She questioned, concerned.

Edward held up a hand, imploring her to wait. Slowly, a relieved smile spread on his face. "Its alright. There's two vampires racing straight toward us. But don't worry. It's my brothers. They've been waiting for us…to let us in."

"Your brothers?" Bella brought the Cullen family picture to mind, picking out the vampire's Jasper and Emmett's individual images. Even though Edward was relaxed, Bella couldn't find it in her to loosen her muscles.

She knew Edward. She didn't know his brothers. Despite his loyalty, they could still be potential problems for her. Bella stepped in front of Edward, not exactly realizing why. All she knew was that she wanted to protect him from whatever could be coming from the woods. Edward was her friend now. She'd protect him, if need be.

From ahead, Bella suddenly picked up the sound of tree limbs breaking, the sound of two objects breaking through the air like bullets as they ran to them. And they didn't sound like they were stopping...

Edward's smile slid off his face, to be replaced by a dark frown. "Oh, DAMN it—!"

Edward shoved Bella away from him with all his strength to the side. A second after she hit the ground, rolling to her knees, something slammed into Edward. Both he and the object went flying back into the trees.

Bella sprang up, one low snarl gathering in her throat, before the second object to emerge from the trees stepped in front of her. She took in the serious, probing gaze of the tall vampire first, before taking in the gruesome scars marring his skin. Amazement and fear colored her judgement for one brief moment.

This was Jasper, and Edward had chosen to leave out a few crucial details. Like the fact he was a deadly warrior! Only a vampire could have given him those scars. Yet he'd lived, survived?

Her assessment took 2 seconds, but it was enough. She didn't care if Edward had trusted them; obviously he'd been mistaken! The Volturi…the Cullen's must have become too afraid and decided to hand their own brother over to them. It had been done before. She would not let that happen to Edward.

Bella dove into the dark vegetation, and ran behind the tree. The Jasper vampire moved after her. But she didn't run straight, she twisted around the trees, keeping just out of his reach, yet still angling for Edward. When she came upon Edward, he was locked tight in a headlock with a big, bearlike muscled vampire. Emmett, she realized.

Emmett hooted in triumph, locking his arm around Edward's windpipe. Edward twisted in his grasp, but it was clear Emmett was the stronger of the two. Emmett growled in his face. "'Bought time you let me wrestle you, bro! And I even WON!"

Bella pushed off the tree, moving in a deadly blur. Her fist collided with Emmett's wide jaw with both her vampiric strength and her newborn strength. A grunt of pain and shock slipped past his lips before he went sailing into the nearest tree.

Bella slid to Edward's side. "You alright?!" She demanded, grabbing onto his wrists to help him up.

Edward sprang up aggressively. Bella gasped as he wrenched her arms up and pulled her into his body. His grip became vice-like when she tried to pull back. "Stay!" He growled at her. The command in his voice was so violent, it stopped Bella cold. Edward's gaze traveled behind her. He held up a flat palm in that direction, his tone growling and commanding. "Jasper, STOP!"

Bella couldn't see, but she sensed the vampire Jasper who'd been pursuing her come out of the croutch he'd just gone into. He'd been about to spring on Bella, but Jasper stopped at Edward's request. Jasper frowned darkly. "She attacked Emmett, Edward," he pointed out, careful because he could sense Edward's aggression.

"Well, He attacked Edward," Bella hissed, twisting her head to glare at the warrior vampire out of the corner of her eye. She pushed against Edward's chest. "Quick, lets get out of here, before the big one gets up!"

Edward sighed. "Bella, just hold still a sec." He raised his voice, looking over to where Emmett had disappeared. "Are you going to behave in front of our guest, Emmett?"

The big vampire rolled out of the bush he'd gone sailing into, spitting out a leaf before springing up. "Aw, Edward, don't be pissed. Did you honestly think I was going to let this one chance to fight you, when you were vulnerable, go to waste? You never fight me! And for once I WON!"

"You won? Who was the one who went sprawling into the bushes? You did," Edward pointed out, lifting one of his arms to motion at the mangled mess Emmett had made of the tree he'd been pumbled into.

Emmett stabbed his finger at Bella. "Ah, Ha! But that was only because the little Volturi girl cheated for you! Its not my fault you need backup in a fight."

Edward frowned at his brothers. "I don't really care about how the fight went. It should never have happened in the first place! We've been on the run from the Volturi for two days. Bella here is worried sick enough about looking over her shoulder everywhere we go without you two pouncing on her as well!"

Emmett's big goofy smile melted off his face. He cleared his throat, looking slightly chagrined. "Oh. Sorry, bro. I was just looking for a little fun, after not seeing you for so many months." He looked like a thoroughly disciplined puppy as he cleared his throat. "Sorry, Volturi girl. Didn't mean to alarm you."

"Bella, not Volturi girl, Emmett," Edward corrected him, eyes narrowing. He glanced to Jasper, expectant for an apology as well.

Jasper raised his hands in protest. "Hey, I didn't pounce on anyone. It was all Emmett's idea."

Edward sighed, then looked down at Bella. "See?" He loosened his arms. "Its okay. It was just my brothers being imbeciles. They're quite good at it."

She didn't pull away from him instantly. She studied his brothers one last time very carefully for any signs of aggression. "They weren't attacking us?" She clarified.

Edward smiled reassuringly. "Nope."

Her frown deepened. "And this was all just a big, ridiculous, manly display of macho-ism?"

Edward had to grin. Hearing her say it was priceless. "Pretty much."

Bella smartly pushed away from him. She closed her eyes and pulled her fingers through her hair once in annoyance. "Your family," she muttered between pursed lips, "Is going to drive me insane, I just know it."

The Cullen boys all grinned, even Jasper. It wasn't a bad prediction really. Everyone thought the Cullens' were crazy. Especially for living the lifestyle they lived.

Emmett strode forward, stopping in front of Bella. He held out an eager palm to greet her. "Sorry about the welcome." His voice was teasing and friendly. "My names Emmett Cullen."

Bella eyed his hand dubiously before grasping it to shake once. When she grabbed ahold, Emmett squeezed it with all his might. Bella barely felt anything, but she pulled away fast, jumping behind Edward. Emmett laughed. "Sorry! Had to try it! Wow, you're strong for a girl! Newborn, right? Rematch!"

Edward glared at his brother, gently taking a hold of Bella's left hand to give her support when she trembled. "Emmett, behave! She doesn't deserve this, she's our guest!"

"Oh, I think she's a little more involved then that," Jasper interjected coolly. "Alice has been seeing things."

Edward's gaze narrowed on his brother, and on Jasper's inner thoughts. "What has she been seeing?"

Jasper shrugged, but his gaze slid to Bella, contemplating. "Only that she's involved in what's to come, involved in getting our family out of this mess. I suspect she's seen more about Bella, but that is all she has shared with us." Jasper raised his brows suggestively at Edward. "Perhaps she will share the rest with you."

Edward frowned, wondering at what secrets Alice was keeping, but figured he'd learn them soon enough. He pulled Bella to his side, keeping his hand on her to reassure her to her safety. "Bella, this is Jasper Hale."

Jasper inclined his head to Bella. Bella met his gaze, perfectly understanding Japser's attitude toward her. It matched her own. Neither trusted the other yet. The caution bred into them by their painful histories would see to it both had one eye on the other for the rest of the evening.

Feeling her tension under his hand, Edward cleared his throat. "Jasper, while you show us the way into the bunker, perhaps you could calm things down a little?"

Understanding clouded Jasper's eyes, and he smiled suddenly. A strange, peaceful calm settled over the 4 vampires present. Bella blinked, confused as to why she suddenly felt so limp and normal without her muscles tensed.

Emmett sighed deeply, exaggerating the moment. "Man, you guys always have to ruin the mood around here, don't you?" He turned, motioning for Bella and Edward to follow. "Come one, one bunker coming right up!"

Bella followed close at Edward's side, thoroughly aware of Jasper's watchful and calming presence behind them. And she'd noticed something about Edward. He was much more relaxed himself now that his brothers were around. Very commandeering, actually. He was happy to see them, she realized. Knowing it made him happy, Bella tried to loosen up about her approach to the two new Cullen vampires.

Emmett, while being violently inclined, seemed pleasing enough. A total jock-softie is she ever saw one. Jasper was indeed a threat, but he was a cool one. He was all into protecting his family. Bella could understand that. So she quit trying to battle the forced calm emotion emanating from Jasper, and just let her mood sail on it. She felt instantly better.

Emmett led them straight to where they'd been shuffling around in the rocks. He lifted one they'd managed to miss, displaying its hollow interior and the nice shiny red button hidden there.

Edward chuckled. "Well, we almost found it, didn't we, Bella?"

She smiled conspiratorilly. "In another 20 years, we might have."

Emmett chuckled at her comment, then pounded his fist into the button. The rock wall in front of them sudden trembled, and a section of the rock face suddenly opened to reveal an entrance.

Bella let out a surprised breath. "Very cool," she acknowledged.

As Emmett disappeared inside, Edward motioned for her. "Ladies first again?" He inquired.

Bella was relieved, and grateful, that he understood her sensitivity enough to place himself between Jasper and her. "Thanks," she breathed. She glanced into the darkness for a second. She hated dark places. This entrance reminded her too much of the Volterra Palace entrance. But she forced herself to shove the memory aside, and, still holding onto Edward's hand tightly, descended into the darkness of the entrance.


bnthridiot: Hey, finally Emmett's on the scene! And Jasper. Now, Bella gets to meet the rest of the family in the next chapter. Can she survive Alice's enthusiasm? And will Edward be understanding of the visions Alice is having about Bella's role in their clan's future? All next!

Review if you liked it! Thanks.