a lot happens in this chapter, I hope you enjoy it!

The wind gently shook the trees, as Edward and Bella watched the forest.

"Be ready, Bella" whispered Edward "I can hear their thoughts, they are getting ready to fight us"

Only to the human ears would the scene appear silent. The birds did not even stir, but to the sharp ears of a vampire they could hear the pattering of quickly moving feet and the slightest change in the wind.

"Now!" shouted Bella, they both leapt forward and over the three people charging towards them. They darted out of their way, avoiding them until Edward git the chance to shout out.

"We're not here to fight, or harm you…we come with a proposition!"

The three figures froze.

"Good to see you again, Liam, Siobhan, Maggie." Bella said, smiling at them. They did not return the smile; they all remained in defensive stances.

"The Volturi have made it perfectly clear that you are too dangerous, and we will be killed for being involved with you." Liam growled threateningly. Bella cast an anxious glance at Edward, who gave her a reassuring smile.

"If you hear our side of the story, you may think differently." Edward told them, he then cast a glance at Maggie "and if we are lying, you will know."
Liam eased himself in front of both Maggie and Siobhan. Edward slowly raised his hands to show he wasn't going to attack.

"Liam, this is a whole lot bigger than us and the Volturi." Bella said, advancing towards him "It could kill you either way; you just have a choice of which way to bet. A little risk we must all take. But you know, I am sure, what is morally right and not."

Liam hissed at Bella, who immediately stopped moving.

"Wait Liam," said Maggie "they're not lying. She speaks the truth. We should hear what they have to say, it may be important."

"I have a feeling it will," said Siobhan "tell us everything you can, Edward, Bella."


Caitlin was staring at Ludo with wide eyes, next to her sat Jeannie and Alice. They were watching him carefully.

"Caitlin…" he began.

"What is it?" she asked, her tone stung Ludo. He could feel the anger in them "The secret?"
He was silent. How could he tell her? How could he even begin to pull at that memory? For three years he'd kept it hidden, he'd forgotten about it. He'd kept Caitlin safe. He'd done everything right.

"There's nothing to tell." He lied.

Caitlin hissed, she rose from her seat and would have advanced for him had Alice not caught her attention. Her eyes had gone wide and out of focus as she froze in her seat. Another vision.

"He's coming now." Was all Alice said and all she had to say. For the time being, Caitlin's attention was diverted from Ludo as she started running with Alice and Jasper, they needed to keep their priorities clear and Caitlin knew that this stranger was the current threat.

Ludo ran after them, following them into the forest. Jeannie desperately tried to follow them, of course they were too quick for her and she was left behind, much to Caitlin's relief.

The sun shone down upon the clearing at which they stood, waiting. The forest was still, not even a bird whistled. The gentle breeze ruffled their hair.

"Know." Whispered Alice. They quickly took a defensive stance as the stranger walked into the forest. As his silhouette came into view they saw he had his hands up high above his head, in a sign of surrender.

"Wait…" he said, the stranger advanced forward and out of the trees into the sunlight, where his skin began to shine as brightly as the others. As he came into view Caitlin dropped her defensive position, Alice followed suit but Ludo and jasper stood still, expecting an attack.

"Bonjour, Percival." Caitlin said, darting over to him. She stood in front of him and they French kissed, a peck on both cheeks. Percival was smiling "I am very much interested as to why you are here."

"I will explain all, but firstly I owe you a very over-due thank you, mademoiselle." He said, bowing to her as he spoke. "And I also feel that I should be introduced to your companions before we proceed in exchanging our tales." He cast a glance at Ludo and Jasper who were standing, still, ready to attack. Alice took Jasper's hand in her own and whispered in his ear, but everyone could still hear her

"It's alright, Jazz."

They then made their way across the clearing towards Caitlin and Percival.

"Of course!" Percival said "it is 'ze petite fee, Alice Cullen." He French kissed Alice also; Jasper's arm came up and around Alice as she stepped back from Percival.

"This is Jasper," Alice introduced him "Jasper…this is Percival. He was taken by the Volturi also."
"A pleasure, Jasper. You shall 'ave to forgive my unpredicted appearance. I was uncertain of my actions until a few days ago!"

"Not very unpredicted, Alice here knew." Jasper said a small smile passing across his lips as he wrapped his arms tighter around Alice, who turned into Jasper's hug and kissed his cheek lightly.

"Really?" asked Percival.

"I have visions of the future." Alice stated, she cast a glance at Ludo and indicated for him to come forward, as he still stood stiff in his stance.

"Incredible! 'ow magnificent!" Percival exclaimed, looking excited and interested.

"This is Ludo…" Alice began.

"Oh my, this cannot be? 'ze Ludovic Dunnavant?" Percival seemed to know as much about Ludo Dunnavant and his fighting skills as the others.

"Pleasure," Ludo said as they shook hands.

"You can come back with us, Percival. It isn't safe in the open." Caitlin said, cutting in before Ludo could say anything else. The others all agreed and began heading home. The uncomfortable feeling that settled in their stomachs made them very unwilling to stay out in the open for too long a time.


The silence that fell across the forest left an uneasy feeling in Edward's stomach. He pushed onwards, not wanting to stay still for too long, taking Bella's arm he steered her into the shadows.

"Edward, we can't keep stopping!" she whispered, Edward said nothing. He kept close to the shadows watching and listening intently. After a few moments Bell asked "do you think they'll come?"

Edward relaxed slightly and came out of the shadows. He looked thoughtfully at Bella, and then said "we've done all we can. They know we were telling the truth. I think they will come, when the time comes. But for now they live in fear, like many of us."

They carried on pressing onwards, heading back to France. As the trees flew past them, they became thinner and thinner. After many days of being enclosed in the forest Edward and Bella were reaching the edge of it. As the trees disappeared and the ground became flatter they slowed, they were more likely to meet people here, even if the paths was rather remote. The sandy path they followed lead to a deserted area of the beach.

"We'll have to swim, we don't have any money for plane tickets." Bella said, dipping her feet in the water. The beach was completely empty.

"Let's go then," said Edward who darted forward into the water, followed by Bella.


Percival had been accepted warmly into the house, he spoke French to the others, leaving Jasper, Jacob, Alice and Renesmee out of the conversation.

Nessie sat by Alice, reading Alice in Wonderland when she realised something was wrong. Looking up she saw Alice frozen and staring blankly at the cream walls of the living room.

"Alice?" she said, when Alice didn't reply she called for Jasper. Jasper darted into the room; he saw Alice and came to her side. "She's having a vision" Nessie stated, kneeling up and watching Alice intently. Alice's eyes snapped back into focus.

"What was it?" asked Jasper straight away. All Alice said was,

"Ed and Bella are coming home." Nessie grinned happily at this and squealed, she jumped over to Jacob and sat by him. In her excitement a flow of words came bubbling out of her "I can't wait t see them, do you think they missed me? How long will they take? I've missed them so much. It's been so long since I've spent time with them. I've missed them…"
"I'm sure they've missed you," Jacob said laughing, gently stroking her hair. Nessie grinned at him.

During the distraction Nessie had caused Alice had left the room, she needed to speak to Ludo.


The library was empty besides Ludo when Alice entered. Perfect. Alice stood in-front of Ludo, getting ready to confront him.

"Hi, Alice." He said smiling gently; the smile disappeared when he saw her face.

"Tell me. Edward's on his way home, so if you want to wait for him to start digging then be my guest, but I'd rather know what you did to Caitlin." She said, leaving Ludo stunned "I saw you. I saw you fighting her!" she spat. Ludo looked confused for a moment, until it became clear to him. Alice had had a vision.

"Alice, you have to understand. Was in a bad place…I wasn't myself. I hadn't meant for it to happen, I did all I could to help her. I always have, I kept her safe as well as I could." He began explaining, a look of sadness and hurt crossing his face.

"Just spit it out Ludo!" she spat at him.

"How much do you know about Caitlin's family?" he asked, quietly.

"I know they're dead…why?" asked Alice, becoming extremely suspicious. Ludo hung his head; he looked at his feet "Oh my god…" Alice said "please tell me you weren't involved with it?"
Ludo was silent.

Neither Ludo nor Alice noticed Caitlin. Caitlin was standing in the door way, watching and listening.

"Ludo?" she whispered, her eyes wide with horror.

"Cat…" he pleaded, moving towards her.

"What did you do?" she screamed, losing any control she had. She lunged for Ludo, seizing the front of his shirt and flinging him in other books which fell down around him. Ludo seized her wrists and pulled her off him, Caitlin kicked his stomach, causing him to release her wrists. She would have killed him then had Alice not caught her from behind, Alice wrapped her arms around Caitlin and pulled her back.

"Let's hear what he has to say before we kill him, Cait." Alice said soothingly, putting an arm around Caitlin firmly. The commotion led to the entire house flooding into the room, much to Alice's surprise Edward and Bella had arrived back…and Edward looked furious. He pushed his way past everyone.

"You tell her, you son of a bitch!" he spat. Caitlin looked at Ludo desperately.

"I'm sorry, Caitlin. It was never meant to happen. I made a mistake; I got involved with the Volturi. It was a bit of a joke at first, just us pissing around. Hunting and having a laugh and the Caius…he needed me on a mission. So I went with him…to your house. He told me to search for anyone inside. Well…I went in and found all of you and your family, looking happy and peaceful. I skipped that room, after seeing no one I went back to Caius and told him. He then proceeded to take me with him when he…when he attacked. I watched in shock, I couldn't move from horror as they did it. Then…then when he turned to you I saw you. I found you. Then when it was all other and you were gone, I left. I left the Volturi and came looking for you."

Caitlin was staring at him in horror.

"You were there…" her eyes were wide "you could have saved them!" she screamed, lunging forward, Ludo darted to the side, dodging Caitlin. "Do you know what it's like to be alone? To know you have no family left to help you? To not have anyone?" she screamed "NO! You don't. You had your perfect family, then when you got changed you had your little coven…I lost my family and had no one. YOU COULD HAVE SAVED THEM! Do you know what happened to me, do you?" her voice filled the room, Ludo murmured a yes "no! You don't…you don't know what Caius did to me. He destroyed me, he took everything from me. He..he…" Caitlin let out a cry of rage as she leapt at him. She caught his throat and slammed him against the wall. Her grip got tighter and tighter. She felt the anger filling her, yet she couldn't do it. Releasing his throat she backed away from him.

"Leave. Go back to them." Was all Caitlin said, Ludo looked at her with pleading eyes.

"Caitlin, please…"

"Get out of our house." Nicole demanded, she stood strong and firm, looking down on him with disgust.

Jeannie stood by Caitlin, Alice was on the other side.

"If you don't leave, I swear I will make sure you feel more pain than you have ever felt." Jeannie threatened, her arm coming around Caitlin's shoulder.

Ludo looked at them; he backed away to the open window, and said "I never meant to hurt you, Caitlin. I never meant to hurt anyone."

"You have until the count of three…" Caitlin said "One…two…" she growled at him "thr-"

Ludo was gone; he had jumped out the window and disappeared. Caitlin was shaking. Silence had filled the room as they all watched Caitlin's reaction nervously.

Her head was spinning. She was alone. Again. No one had ever under stood her, until Ludo and now she found out that the bastard could have saved them…saved her. The feelings were crushing her, shutting her eyes Caitlin let out a tremendous scream, she turned and ran. Pushing her way through the crowd whose faces blurred to her. Out of the door and into the night. Caitlin heard a weak cry from Jeannie,

"Caitlin!" she called, having tried to run after her.

She ignored her.

Running.

Running.

That was all she could do. Her feet pounded the ground, carrying her further and further into the forest, away from the horror that lay behind her. Away from the truth. The thoughts that swirled around and around her head were hurting Caitlin. Each time she thought of him a pain shot through her, a terrible pain that would not leave. If it would not leave then she would. In the midst of her thoughts, Caitlin did not notice the large rock that stood in-front of her until she was only a few paces away she skidded to a stop, her hands pressed against the rock to stop herself from slamming into it.

"Arghh!" she cried into the night, slamming her fists against the rock causing part of it to crumble beneath her hand, she struck it again. Feeling the power she had against the rock, feeling her strength. Yet, it only made her worse. What was their left for her to fight for now?

"Caitlin…" Alice said, she had been behind her all the way, and now as she saw her destroy the rock, she realised her much pain she was feeling "come back, Caitlin."

"I can't, Alice." Caitlin said simply, hitting the rock again "Too. Many. Memories." With each word she struck a blow the rock "I need to get away. I need to be alone."
"You don't have to face this alone…" Alice began, only to be stopped when Caitlin, to Alice's surprised, sprang on her and slammed her against the towering oak behind her.

"Alone is exactly what I need. No one to hurt me. No one to lie to me." Caitlin growled "No one."

Caitlin stepped back from Alice releasing her; she looked at the demolished rock, her eyes glazing out of focus. "Alice, tell the others I am sorry. Tell Jeannie I'll be okay. Tell them if I see Bernard, I'll send him home. And…talk to Edward, Alice, tell him I said for you to speak to him."

Caitlin leapt in one smooth jump other the rock and ran into the darkness. Alice watched her leave, standing still until she couldn't hear the light sound of Caitlin's feet. The journey back to the house was travelled at human pace, by Alice, she wanted to think. Not run. The pain Caitlin had felt was unfathomable for Alice, Jasper was her everything. She could never stand it if he was a shadow lurking from her past.


The silence that filled the house was awful. It haunted Leah, there usually loud and busy home was silent. She lay in her bed, after being discharged from the hospital and returning home the house had been still and silent. Leah needed time to recover and she hated every minute of it.

"Mum!" Leah shouted, the reply was the sound of feet pounding down the stairs. Sue entered the room quickly.

"What is it, honey?" she asked, moving to her daughter's side.

"I want to visit Billy." Leah demanded, she was not asking for permission.

"Leah, we should wait for you to recover…"
"Mum. This is most likely permanent, the sooner we accept that the better. Now, please help me." Leah said stubbornly, reaching across the bed Leah began pulling the wheelchair closer to her. Sue quickly unfolded it and set it by Leah's bed, with Sue slipping an arm around Leah and Seth being called to manoeuvre her legs they managed to get her in to the wheelchair. Leah began wheeling herself out before her mother could take control. She pushed herself out the front door and down the ramp, heading for the car.

When they had reached Billy's house he smiled warmly at them Leah felt most comfortable around Billy at the moment, he knew how hard it was to be labelled as 'incapable'. When they were all inside, Leah didn't bother with the small talk, she got straight to the point.

"Billy, will I be able to shift after this?" she asked, her mother's lip quivered and Seth moaned into his hands. Billy, however, looked back at Leah without even a flinch.

"If your condition stays the same then no…I doubt it, you won't shift again."

please review, more soon :)