A/N: From here on out, the perspective of this story is going to be first person. Third person is just too difficult to write from. It will still be from Bella's POV for the most part though.

Chapter Nine: Dreams and Visions


I was not sure how much time had passed since the visions started. Though I was slightly panicked that they may never stop, I had a feeling that I would not be in their grasp for much longer. Any visions truly relevant to my immediate family or friends had long past. I was now only seeing visions relating to the world in general – stock market trends, fashion changes, presidential elections, and so forth.

The biggest fear that gripped me though was the growing exhaustion that was beginning to weigh on me. The struggle to gain control over the new power mixed with the numerous visions themselves was really starting to tire me. If this kept up much longer, I would collapse into a deep sleep the moment the visions stopped. My father and the Cullens were likely worried about me enough already without me passing out entirely. I wish I would have been better prepared for this absorption.

Just as I feared when the visions finally did stop several moments later, my body slumped from the rigid pose enforced by the visions into an unconsciousness heap against my father's cold shoulder. Just before my mind slipped into the land of dreams, I heard the frantic and worried voices of the vampires around me.

I knew at once that I was in a dream, but it did not stop the situation from feeling any less real – or any less frightening. I was standing in a clearing in the woods, with an unfamiliar assortment of people. I easily recognized Edward who stood protectively by my left side, but while the others near me felt like family in my dream, it was very confusing. Clutched protectively in my arms was a small girl, appearing to be about five years of age. She was a beautiful child – pale, but her cheeks were flushed in anger and concentration, with long bronze curls and deep chocolate brown eyes. More disconcerting was who – or should I say what – was standing to my right. A horse-sized russet-brown werewolf stood protectively next to us, his shoulder only a foot or two from my head.

The three of us were watching the tree line warily. The moment the group of cloaked figures stepped from the trees, the wolf growled and Edward and I hissed loudly in warning. It was clear our intentions were the same, protect the child. The procession did not slow though and I felt the fear grip me. There were too many. There were only three of us, and I was incapacitated with the child in my arms, there was no way we would ever win against seven well trained vampires, even with my gifts.

As Edward became aware they were not going to stop, he snarled, "Bella, run!" and launched himself at the advancing line in an attempt to stall them.

"No!" I screamed as Edward was immediately grabbed by two vampires and ripped apart before I could even attempt to move.

I watched in agony as he was set to burn before our very eyes, the child in my arms wailing with such fury and grief that the wolf beside me whimpered. One of the cloaked figures stepped forward and lowered his hood. His blood red eyes were falsely apologetic as he appraised me greedily, "Bella, my dear. I am sorry that had to happen. I had no choice once Edward attacked. Such a waste," he shook his head and I could almost taste the disappointment as it rolled off his tongue. "It does not have to be like this. Join us and your daughter shall live. Your mate's fate does not have to be your own."

I grimaced in agony and hatred, but knew there was really only once choice in order to save the child in my arms, "If you will let me send my daughter with Jacob, and swear to never touch them or even think of them again, I will do as you ask, Aro."

The smile that graced his features made me cringe and I sighed in defeat. Of course he would agree to my terms, he would do anything to collect the most powerful vampire on earth. I had no choice but to join the Volturi Guard.

"No!" I screamed as I jolted awake. In seconds, I was in a crouched position, growling fiercely at my imagined enemy.

"Bella," Charlie breathed cautiously, "there is no danger here. You are with family and friends."

I relaxed as I slowly became more aware of my surroundings. It did not hurt that Jasper was now filling the room with calming waves. The moment I noticed Edward's concerned face a few feet away, tears began streaming down my face, "Oh, Edward."

Without thinking about fact that my father was in the room, or that we were surrounded by Edward's family, or even the fact that we had yet to define ourselves as more than friends, I launched myself into Edward's arms. I was just much too relieved that he was alive. He pulled me close to him and rubbed my back soothingly, "It's okay," he murmured. "I'm here. We're all here. Can you tell us what's wrong? Was it a dream or a vision?"

As reality became clearer around me and I realized the awkward position I was in, I blushed and pulled away rather reluctantly. I imagined that I felt Edward hesitate to let me go as well, but I brushed it off in an attempt to avoid getting my hopes up. I gave him a shy smile and mumbled, "Sorry," before making my way back to my seat on the couch.

I knew I would not be able to avoid this conversation, so I decided to give them a few answers at least. "Well, I am not exactly sure, really. I know it was a dream. There might have been a few elements from the visions I experienced beforehand, but the visions were coming so fast that it is all still kind of a jumble at the moment, so I am unsure. It seems improbable though and appears to be based more on my own fears I have had over the years."

"Could you tell us about it?" Charlie asked gently. I noticed how curious Edward and Carlisle appeared as well, so I decided to give them the basics of the dream.

"Well, I was standing in a clearing with Edward, a werewolf, and a young girl that appeared to be about five years old. After a moment, seven members of the Volturi appeared in the clearing and advanced towards us. When it was clear they would not stop, Edward," I winced at the reminder and felt the tears as they started once more, "charged in an attempt to stall them and yelled for me to run. Before I could even move, they had already destroyed him." I was sobbing now, struggling to control my breath so I could finish my story.

Edward crouched in front of me and held my hand in encouragement. I gave him a small watery smile before continuing. "Aro stepped forward and said that my…" I paused unsure if I wanted to reveal this, but knew they would not understand my choice if they did not know, "…my daughter and I did not have to share in…" I blushed, "…my mate's fate if I joined the Guard." I scowled, "I told him if he would allow me to send her with Jacob, and if he swore to never even think of them again, then I would do as he asked. That is when I woke up."

Everyone was slightly stunned by all of this. I was afraid I had given too much information. Edward spoke after a moment, "Who is Jacob?"

I frowned, "I am not exactly sure. I do not know a Jacob, but I believe he was the werewolf."

Edward scowled, "Send our daughter with a werewolf?" he growled slightly. "That can not be any more than just a dream. Not only would we never be caught off guard like that with Alice and now you having visions, but I would never allow any daughter of mine to be that close to a werewolf."

I felt my heart flutter at the fact that he was not disputing the impossibility of him being my mate and us having a daughter. Of course, that did not stop my next thought, "What I do not understand is how there was a werewolf there in the first place. It was the middle of the day."

Carlisle was thoughtful, "It must have been a Quileute wolf, they transform at will. We actually have a treaty with them, though I do not believe there are any wolves alive at the moment. That reminds me, I need to show you two the boundary line as soon as possible." He paused in contemplation, "What I do not understand is how you dreamed about them when you had no idea they even existed."

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, "You think that parts of the dream may have come from my visions?" My breath caught at the idea that Edward could die, "Oh, God, I…" My words halted, I could only gasp for air.

"Bella," Edward exclaimed in concern. I could also see he was a little hurt, probably wondering if I was upset about the idea of us being together. I decided I would open my shield so he would understand my fears. There was no way I could explain with words right now.

'Oh, God, I can't lose him.' I thought, 'Not Edward, please no.'

Edward pulled me to his chest, "Bella, I am right here. I am not going anywhere. There is no way they would ever catch us off guard like that."

'Please, Edward,' I asked him in my mind. "Swear to me. Swear that if something like that happens you won't sacrifice yourself like that. If I have to join them to save our child, join with me. I would not want that life for you, but I could not bear it if you…'

"Do not even think it, Bella. I swear it, Bella. I will stay by your side, no matter what." Edward whispered in my ear even though the others could hear anyway. I heard my father's sharp intake of breath. I wished more than anything that I could hear what he was thinking at that moment – blasted shield.

I sighed in relief, 'God, I love him. Oh shit, the shield…' I promptly dropped the shield, blocking my thoughts. I heard Edward chuckle and I blushed in embarrassment.

"Oh, Bella," Edward sighed, "do not be embarrassed. Listen to my thoughts."

I did as he asked and tuned in to his mind, it was hard at first since I heard everyone else's inside his as well, but once I located his I blushed again, 'She loves me…she loves me…Oh, Bella, I love you too…so much.' He kept repeating that over and over.

I smiled widely and opened my shield for him again, 'I love you more.'

Edward chuckled, 'Hardly. That is impossible.' With that he gently pressed his lips to mine.

It was as if the world itself had burst into flames. Electricity, heat, cold – all at once, blazed through my veins. Our minds were still linked and that made the experience all the more intense. He was feeling the same thing I was, but we were both experiencing it not just for ourselves, but for each other too. I heard Jasper gasp and suddenly the feeling was doubled once again. I was unsure if he had just lost control of his gift or whether he wanted the others to feel the intensity of what we were, but either way, everyone else knew now.

Edward and I slowly pulled away from each other. We smiled shyly at each other and I blushed. I let my shield drop and pulled away from his mind, which caused him to pout. I just smirked at him in amusement. We gazed into each other's eyes for a moment until I was pulled into another vision. I heard Edward gasp and was sure he was seeing the same vision playing in Alice's head.

I was standing at the top of the stairs here in the Cullen mansion in a gorgeous white gown. My right arm was linked in Charlie's and a large bouquet in my left hand. Suddenly the wedding march began and we made our way down the stairs. My eyes swept the room in awe of the decorations until they landed on the Adonis standing in front of the priest and beside Carlisle – Edward.