DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to us, although we would love to have Edward. They all belong to Stephenie Meyer, but we are willing to purchase them if she ever decides to sell.
Author's Note: Thank you all for your supportive feedback! We know some of you have been taken aback by some of the events and changes with the characters but remember, we are enhancing a few details about our beloved Cullen clan. We are enjoying the journey this story is taking us on and are thrilled that you all are with us for the ride! Enjoy! VBR & My Bella
I held Bella tightly to my side as we came back into the house. Now more than ever, I felt I needed her close. I could tell that she was taken aback by my breakdown earlier on the deck—even I was surprised by my behavior. But if anything in the world could cause that reaction in me, it was the thought of losing the woman I loved and my family. Bella and Esme were right about me carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, yet I couldn't help but feel responsible for their overall well-being—they were my family. And my feelings were made all the more poignant by what had happened in Italy.
Carlisle and Esme were the parental figures that had cared and nurtured me unconditionally for decades. Rose was my sister, even if she wasn't always my favorite person in the world. Although she was as lethal as the rest us, Rose was a mess emotionally and I had always felt the need to protect her from herself; that was until she met Emmett. I smiled thinking of my brother. Emmett and Jasper were my wing men--we would do anything for each other. Of course we could get on each others nerves, but that's what brothers did. The two of them were closer only because I often preferred to be alone. And Alice…Alice was the only person that understood me, at least before Bella had come along. Alice was my little sister in all ways—completely annoying, overly intrusive, and full of love and acceptance.
During our years together as a family, I had spent most of my days apart from everyone else. I would lock myself up in my room and play the piano for hours. It was only recently that I consented to having the piano in the music room. Those were dark days, when I rarely left my room, except to feed or go for walks. Sometimes, I would go off on my own for days at a time. I had longed for something I couldn't quite grasp, leaving me with an empty feeling inside, and I often blamed my despair on my being a vampire. But it wasn't until I met Bella that I realized what I had been wanting so desperately…It was love.
I needed someone to wake me up. I needed to feel the warmth of being in love and loving someone in return. No matter how long I stood out in the sun, nothing could warm me as thoroughly as Bella's love. She was my personal sun, and now that we were truly together, I would never allow anything to get in the way of our happiness, much less, the happiness of my family. I had put them all in danger with my rash behavior in Italy and I would have to make this right. I would give up my life if it meant protecting them.
All of those thoughts flew threw my mind as Bella and I descended the stairs and entered the living room, joining our family. I led her over to the couch under the anxious and concerned stares of our loved ones. Alice appeared more at ease, but was still visibly shaken. Jasper was sitting next to her, holding her securely. Emmett and Carlisle stood behind Rose and Esme, who were seated on the loveseat. Both men had their arms crossed with a look of severe concern on their faces.
Bella sat on the couch as I walked over to Alice. I knelt in front of her and rested my hands on either side of her legs, giving her the best smile I could manage.
She leaned forward, wrapping her little arms around my neck. "Oh, Edward! I am so sorry! Are you okay?" her thoughts cried out. "They want to know what happened, but I can't tell them what I saw. I just can't!"
I attempted to reassure her and calm her with my own thoughts. "I know, Alice. I will handle it, and you have no need to apologize to me. I only want to know if you are okay."
"I'm much better now. Although, I don't know what would have happened if you weren't there, Eddie," she whispered too low for anyone else to hear.
I normally hated that nickname, but Alice was the only one who could ever get away with it. She was truly my little sister in every way. The thought of her in this much pain and fear made me insane with rage—no one had a right to hurt my sister this way. I kissed her forehead softly and stood up, facing my family.
"Edward, I can't take this anymore! What did Alice see?" Esme demanded. "What was it that scared and hurt my daughter so deeply?" she cried, as Carlisle placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
I glanced at Emmett, noting how tense his shoulders were. I tried to gauge what level his fury would escalate to once the words left my mouth. Once again, my family's "voices" filled my head. I closed my eyes and let out a deep sigh, trying to block them out enough to keep my concentration.
"If you want Edward to tell you, then you all have to calm down," Bella ordered, her voice cutting through the tension in the room. "You all have to stop screaming at him with your thoughts."
My family apologized as I opened my eyes and gave Bella a grateful smile. Once they all calmed down, I gave them the answer they had been after. I spoke slowly, trying to keep the visions from rushing my memory as they had earlier. "Alice had a vision…that our family was… slaughtered…barbarically."
They all looked at me as if they were waiting for a punch-line to a joke.
"She what?" Jasper asked, holding onto Alice more intensely now.
"In her vision, our family was attacked…out by the baseball field," I continued. I didn't need Jasper's gift to feel the rage pouring off of Emmett as he took in my words.
"Who?" Emmett growled. His voice was deeper and fiercer than I had ever heard it. Our eyes locked as he stared me down, his muscles rippling and his eyes…coal black and filled with pure fury. His entire stance was a promise that if I was messing with him, I would pay for it dearly.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, attempting to contain the rage that her name invoked. "It was Victoria…and the Volturi," I replied curtly.
Everyone, except Alice and Bella, was in an immediate uproar at my words. I put my hands over my ears in a useless attempt to stop the voices, both the spoken and thought ones. Emmett stalked over to the window, looking as if he wanted to burst right through it to hunt them all down. His breathing was heavy and a steady growl emanated from his chest. Esme immediately went to Alice's side, wanting to protect her daughter. She was promising Alice safety and peace over and over again. Jasper was already strategizing ways to protect the family. Carlisle was trying to understand why I would think the Volturi would get involved. Rose had moved to Bella's side and the two of them were holding hands, trying to comfort the other. Bella was crest-fallen as she looked over at Alice, still guilt-ridden that this was somehow her fault.
"Calm yourselves!" I shouted, trying to stop the flow of words and thoughts. Silence took over the living room once again and I breathed a sigh of relief as I lowered my hands. "I know you are all upset, but I can't take all of you shouting in my head at the same time any longer."
After another round of apologies, Carlisle spoke up. "The Volturi joining forces with a nomad vampire with her own agenda is unheard of!" He was pacing furiously, his face and thoughts giving away just how baffled he was by this turn of events.
"I thought the same thing, Carlisle," I told him. "But the Volturi are corrupt and I have made many enemies there. If Victoria has somehow joined forces with rogue vampires within Volterra, than anything is game."
Alice and Bella were the only ones not looking at me as if I had gone insane. Then again, they had both seen the same horrific images that I had.
"He's right," Alice said, speaking aloud for the first time and causing everyone to focus on her. "When we were in Italy, I could sense that there were many in Volterra who disliked Edward intensely. They can't understand why Aro didn't just…dispose of us. We are unlike any other coven, and they hate and fear us for that. Most of all, they fear Edward. He is the one Aro has always favored."
"No offense, but Edward is a pip-squeak of a vampire. What about him scares the Volturi enough for them to come looking for a fight?" Emmett asked.
Alice smiled humorlessly. "They know that if Edward were to join the Volturi, life as they know it would end. They would be at Edward's mercy, living in fear of him reporting their thoughts to Aro. Not only that, but they expect Bella to be turned and just as powerful as Aro expected her to be. They know how corrupt they are and they believe Edward and Bella will be the same, getting rid of all who stand in their way," she finished, her voice growing weaker at the end. Jasper held her as she dug her face into his chest.
"What do we do?" Esme asked Carlisle imploringly.
"We will be ready for them if and when the time comes," he replied, placing a hand on her face. "I agree with you, Alice, now that you put it that way. Besides, you have never had a vision this strong, affecting Edward and you so severely. We will have to treat this as if it will absolutely come to pass. Our main focus should be training and gathering information. The more we know, the more prepared we will be. We need to watch Victoria and key members of the Volturi family on a constant basis. We must also scout our land more frequently and trust no one. The Denali coven must not be told—we can't be certain of where their loyalty lies, and they would not dare go up against the Volturi should it come to that," he said as his eyes scanned each of us in the room.
"You're right, Carlisle. We trust no one," Emmett agreed as he struggled to keep his cool.
"Since we have no way of knowing when this will occur yet, we must start our training and plan of attack immediately," I said, sitting down next to Bella. She put her arm around me and rested her body against my side, calming me with her presence. "As early as tomorrow we should get Bella on regular training sessions. Especially, since we have to go back to school next week," I added.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"One thing is for certain…" I continued, my voice now darker and angrier, "Victoria's days are numbered. Even if she never teams up with the Volturi, or comes here, her life is over. I won't rest until I rip her throat out. I am done with threats looming over my family. I am done with threats to Bella. I will rip Victoria apart before she steps foot in Forks." I finished with a growl, remembering her bloody grin from the vision.
"We are with you, Edward," Jasper declared. "We will begin training in the morning."
"I think it would be for the best if we rested until then. We need to take in this new information and come together tomorrow," Carlisle suggested.
"Yes, we need to refocus," Esme agreed. She stood now, more confident, and once again seeming regal. "No harm will come to any of you," she promised as she walked past Alice and towards Rose and Bella.
The girls extended their hands out to Esme and she took them, smiling warmly at her daughters. Esme looked up and caught Emmett's eye. She made her way to him, seeming tiny as she took his big paws into her pale hands. He looked down at her, immediately calmer, and his face softened.
"I love you, my son," Esme told him, giving him a beautiful smile. "You and your brothers are no doubt a force to be reckoned with, but believe me when I tell you that I will stop at nothing to keep you all safe." She lifted Emmett's giant hand and placed a small kiss there.
Emmett pulled her into his chest, nearly making her disappear in his massive arms. Jasper and I immediately went to them, embracing Esme as she sobbed into Emmett's chest. I glanced at the rest of my family, finding Carlisle rubbing the palm of his hands over his face as he thought about how his entire family had been shaken to its core. Rose and Bella were with Alice, holding her and rubbing her back in a reassuring manner. In this moment, we were all closer than ever before.
Esme managed to compose herself first. "Get some rest everyone," she announced.
Emmett kissed her cheek before going over to Rose and holding his hand out to her. She took it without a word, and the two of them silently made their way upstairs.
Carlisle took Esme's hand and gave her a soft kiss on the lips as they went up to their room.
"C'mon, sweetheart. Let's go back upstairs," Jasper said lovingly to Alice. She only nodded and took his hand, allowing him to lead her back to their room.
I stood there, staring at Bella as she made her way to me. "I love you," I said, wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing her lips.
"And I adore you, Edward," she replied in thought.
I smiled softly, momentarily forgetting what this whole night had been about. I kissed her cheeks, and nose, and each of her eyes. My own eyes were closed the entire time, taking in her sweet scent. "What is it, my love?" I asked her, not even having to look at her to know that she was conflicted.
"I just can't help but feel like this is my fault somehow. I feel like my presence in your life has brought all of this on," she admitted.
My eyes opened and I cupped her face with my hands. "Bella, listen to me. The Volturi have always had it in for us on some level or another. They have never understood our way of life. Over the years, I have made enemies within that family because as Alice mentioned, Aro favors me. He thinks I would be an asset to his empire—even more than Jane is—which is why she hates me so fervently. As for James and Victoria, they have brought this on themselves. You can't help it if James took interest in you. It could have very well been any one of us instead. He, of course, paid the price for his decision as will Victoria." I paused and kissed Bella's lips again. "We will be fine, sweetheart. We just need to be ready."
She nodded in agreement, letting the conversation go for now.
"Let's get back upstairs," I said softly, holding her closely and heading up the stairs.
The house was eerily quiet now. From the silence in my head, I knew that the only one whose mind was as uneasy as my own was Alice's. The others were focused on their loved one, readying themselves for the morning—they were all much calmer now.
As we passed Alice's door, I sent a thought out to her, knowing Bella would hear it as well. "I love you, Ally. Everything is going to be okay."
I could hear the smile in Alice's thoughts as she attempted to relax. "Thank you and I love you too, big brother."
"You guys are so cute," Bella said softly as she kissed my upper arm. "It means so much to everyone that you are being so open with your feelings, Edward. I know it has been hard for you."
I closed the door to our room and turned to face her. "Bella, I've wasted decades being an idiot. Instead of cherishing everyday with the people who loved me, I pushed them away and took them for granted." I pulled her into my arms, craving her closeness. "You have been the only person ever able to make me see all this," I whispered, kissing her lips. "You are what I have been missing for over one hundred years. My existence is nothing without you. I know that first hand and—"
She cut me off by kissing me passionately. Her arms wrapped around my neck and I gave in to her, picking her up and taking her to the couch—I really needed to get a bed for us. Bella deserved all the comforts she was used to.
I sat her on my lap and cradled her in my arms as she continued her assault on my lips, gripping the back of my hair to force us even closer. She finally released me and relaxed in my arms, laying her head on my shoulder. We held one another as the rain started its beating down on the windows, making the shadows of the trees outside dance all over the walls. Every so often, lightening would light up the whole room.
I moved us so that Bella and I were lying down on the couch and snuggling close. I wrapped my arms around her back as she placed her chin on my chest, looking up at me.
"Is Alice going to be ok?" she asked softly.
"She will be fine. She just needs to get over the initial shock of what she saw. Alice is a fighter and quite frankly, whoever comes for us is who should be afraid. That little pixie is deadly." I smiled, trying to ease Bella's concern.
She kissed my neck and left her face burrowed there. It was amazing to me that even with everything that was going on, Bella could make my mind at ease—she was my peace.
We lay there in silence for a time, listening to the rain, while the landslide of events rolled through my head. I know understood what humans meant by the phrase "emotional rollercoaster".
First, Bella had smelled something strange in the forest. Then, there was my unease as I watched the woods from the window. And now, Alice's vision. When I put all three things together, it sent a chill down my spine…Victoria was already closer than we thought. She was scouting us out!
Bella had been able to smell her out because her senses were better honed in her newborn status. When I had been transfixed by the woods, Victoria must have been much closer, allowing me to sense her, but not pick up her thoughts to confirm her presence. And when Victoria decided on her course of action, the vision came to Alice.
I was suddenly very agitated and Bella, of course, picked up on all of my thoughts.
"You are probably right, Edward," she whispered. "It all makes too much sense. If I am as 'unique' as you guys seem to think I am, then when we train, I want to focus on making those senses stronger. I have a feeling there isn't much time for me to take a beginner's course."
My jaw clenched in rage. I was being forced to teach this angel how to embrace the monster within herself just days after her change. This was almost too much. This was not what I wanted Bella's eternal life with me to be. But if we wanted any chance at the life I envisioned, we had no choice but to train her hard and fast.
I tried to calm myself and caressed her face. "Bella, as much as I would love to protect you from all of this, there is no doubt we will need your help. You have the makings of a tracker. Your skills will get better every day and if you train properly, you could be our most valued weapon. As much as I hate the thought of you putting yourself in danger, I can't deny what I have witnessed you do already. Although you are right in that we probably don't have much time to prepare, I don't want you to over do it either. You have been through a lot this week." I couldn't hide the concern in my voice.
Bella sat up and stared down at me sternly. "You aren't the only one who is tired of having their life and happiness threatened, Edward. Watching what Alice just went through made me realize that if I have been born into this family with gifts that can help us, than I am more than willing to do whatever it takes."
I cupped her face and kissed her softly. "Bella, don't misunderstand me. I am very proud of you, but I will never stop trying to keep you safe. We will handle this problem together and everything will be ok. I promise," I said, my face serious now.
She relaxed and put her head back against my chest.
The rain outside had stopped and the sun was rising through the clouds. I knew that soon we would have to join the others to strategize. My mind was a scattered mess; I had so much going through it that I found it hard to focus on any one thing for too long.
After a time, Bella got up and walked towards the closet. I watched her change with her back to me, almost too drunk with the sight of perfect body to move.
She slipped her top over her head and glanced over her shoulder at me with a soft smile. "I love you, too," she said.
I smiled at her, knowing that for the rest of our lives this woman would know what I was thinking and what I needed, and I would be able to do the same for her. She walked over and stood directly in front of me, so I sat up and hugged her around her hips, resting my face on her stomach.
She ran her fingers through my hair getting me to sigh as I looked up at her. She surveyed my face and eyes closely. "Edward, are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm better," I lied, not wanting to upset her. "It's just a lot to take in."
"Understandably so. You've been distraught since the vision. But it's more than that—like something in you has shifted. Edward, I just want to make sure that you are okay." She kissed my forehead and I knew that she had seen right through my lie.
"I just want to make sure that we do everything possible to prepare. That, coupled with the fact that all of these emotions are surging through me, makes me a little…no a lot, out of sorts," I replied. I stood and embraced her, running a hand through her hair as I looked down into her beautiful eyes—so much love and understanding there and it was just for me.
"Edward, why don't you take some time for yourself this morning? I'm safe here with the family."
I opened my mouth to protest, but she placed a finger on my lips.
"Shhh. I know you need it, Edward. Just get yourself sorted out before this gets any worse," she whispered. "We need you to be able to focus."
"Bella, I can't leave you right now," I replied.
"You aren't leaving me. You are going for a walk to clear your head," she retorted, kissing me chastely.
I knew she was right, and I needed to get past my rage. In this kind of situation, it could make me careless. "I will only be gone for an hour," I relented.
"Take as long as you need. I will hang out with the girls. I'm sure Alice needs some girl time anyway." She kissed me again, but much more passionately this time. When she broke away from my lips, she smiled warmly at me. "Be careful, my love." Before I could reply, she disappeared from our room, leaving me speechless and amazed.
I quickly grabbed dark jeans and a white tee shirt and changed my clothes. I found my black hunting boots and tied them on, knowing that the forest would be muddy after the rain. I was going in deep this time, heading to the one place where I could go to clear my head. I went down the hall and to the balcony.
The air outside was cool and the sun was actually out with only a few clouds, rolling swiftly by. I breathed in the smell of wet earth as I leapt from the railing, landing on my feet without even marking the damp ground.
A cluster of birds scattered to the sky as I entered the forest, sensing the predator within me. I ignored them, thinking nothing but moving forward. I picked up the pace, running at high speed as I darted trees and leapt over logs. The rays of sunlight broke through the canopy overhead, causing my skin to glimmer as I rushed through the forest.
I was deep within the forest, where the trees were dense and looming. There was no path to my secret place and no one else in the family had ever been there with me—it had never been shared with anyone. I came to the clearing at the waterfall and smiled briefly. This place, my sanctuary, was untouched. The river roared at the base of the falls and flowed into a lake a few miles ahead. The water streamed over large rocks while lush green grass kissed the shore. There was no tree coverage here, allowing the sun to shine down in all its glory. It even seemed to shine brighter as the clouds parted above me. I was feeling better already just standing here, enjoying the beauty of this oasis. I removed my shirt, letting my skin sparkle in the sunshine. It caused little shimmering reflections of light to dance on the surface of the water as I walked along the shore.
My thoughts touched on the events of last night and I shook my head not wanting to revisit them just yet. I made my way to the lake, squatting at the edge and letting the cool, inviting water rush over my hand. I quieted my mind as much as I could and sat there in silence, appreciating having my mind to myself for the moment. There was nothing around me, except for the occasional deer that went the other way when they sensed me.
Once I was feeling calmer, I untied my boots and undressed, wanting to swim through the chilly water in the hopes that it would bring me fully back to myself and help me to focus. I came here whenever I needed to do just that; the last time I sat here was right before I told Bella we were leaving Forks all those months ago. It was the only place I knew I would never be followed and I could be alone with my thoughts. Although, during that particular time, my thoughts had been flawed. I was not going to repeat those mistakes, ever.
I stood there momentarily, letting the sun set my skin off. I turned my wrist, watching my hand glimmer and shimmer, much like tiny diamond fragments. The warmth felt good on my cold skin, but I was ready to take the water up on its invite. I dove into the lake, reaching the bottom in seconds. I kicked off from the sandy floor and swam to the other end of the lake. As I sped through the water, I closed my mind off completely, not thinking about anything, only focusing on my movements. My body cut through the water like a knife as I picked up speed, pushing myself to reach the opposite shore sooner.
As I broke to the surface, I closed my eyes and turned, so that I was floating on my back, heading in the direction from which I had come. I scanned the area with my mind, making sure I was still alone, and was pleased to find nothing but my own thoughts.
I turned again and dove back under the water, swimming slowly just under the surface. I observed the murky world beneath me, watching the few fish scatter away from me.
My head broke the surface and the smell of freesia hit me, causing my head to snap towards the shore. I smiled, knowing she would be the only one capable of finding me.
Bella stood at the edge of the water, her nude skin shining like a thousand little stars. She gracefully slipped into the water, disappearing beneath it with hardly any ripples touching the surface. Within seconds, her face appeared just inches from mine as I felt her legs wrap around my hips.
"Bella," I sighed, wrapping my arms around her back.
"I had to take a look for myself once I picked up where you were," she said, kissing me softly. "I wouldn't want you to be all alone out here and catch a cold or anything," she giggled, sliding her hand down the front of my naked body.
"You are so silly, my love," I replied, already feeling completely whole again. I was amazed at how quickly she could make me feel at ease. But I was also upset that she had been in the woods without protection.
"Are you upset that I came looking for you?" she asked concerned.
"Of course not," I assured her, kissing her lips quickly. "I want you with me, Bella, but I am not thrilled that you came alone," I added in a more serious tone.
"I knew there was no one here, Edward," she said, combing her fingers through my hair. "I do have to hand it to you, this place is amazing," she marveled.
"I come here when I need to think or just be in silence for a while," I replied.
"Is this where you came before?" she asked, staring right into my eyes, seemingly unafraid of the answer.
"Yes," I answered, once again feeling guilty for leaving her and hurting her as I had done.
"It's okay, Edward. I know you struggled with leaving and that you thought you about it a lot. And I also know you will never again take it upon yourself to decide our future all by yourself."
"Never," I promised, kissing her cheek.
She smiled at me and I couldn't help but return it. Her love was more precious than anything in the world and she so freely showered me with it. I owed her so much, and I would make absolute sure that Alice's vision of a lifeless Bella would never come true.
"So I came to tell you that vampire boot camp starts first thing Saturday morning for me. Carlisle's orders," Bella informed me, drawing my attention back to her beautiful face. "He wants Alice and you to have a little more time to clear your heads, especially since she's still a bit out of it."
My lips brushed her ear as we spun slowly in the water. "Is that all you came to tell me, Bella?" I asked, my voice lower now. Bella shivered in my arms and I smiled wickedly, enjoying the way she reacted to every little thing I did to her. I licked her lower lip, not really waiting for an answer, and then pulled away from her.
She let out a soft growl and pulled me back toward her, pointing us toward the shore. We swam side by side, reaching the soft, green grass in seconds. Bella exited the water first and stretched out on the grass, lying on her side.
I laid down beside her in the tall grass, noticing that the clouds were overhead now, blocking the sun. She gave me a coy smile, taking away the last of my self control. I locked her lips in a passionate kiss as my hands gripped her thighs tightly, pulling her body closer to me. The clouds parted to let the sun through and I opened my eyes, taking in the glorious sight of Bella glowing in the rays of light.
She arched her back to me as I entered her, making her moan in pleasure. She whispered my name and it carried all of her love and lust for me. Nothing was going to take this woman from me—she was my equal…my love…my soul.
We made love under the warmth of the sun, continuing to pleasure each other until we were both completely spent. I held her in my arms and watched the sun dance on the surface of the water, both of us content and happy in that moment. Strange that we could manage to be so blissful after everything that had happened in such a short time.
The warm sun on our naked bodies was amazing and we felt no need to move or dress. There wasn't a creature in sight, and being that two predators lurked on the shore, I wasn't worried about company. I just let my mind wander, not needing to say a word aloud to Bella. She knew what I was thinking, but chose to leave me to my thoughts rather than comment on them. I was immensely thankful that we could stay here like this instead of spending Bella's last day here in training. She would never truly leave my side, but we had to keep up appearances for a short time for the sake of her family.
"Thank you for coming here, Bella," I whispered as my hands caressed her back.
"I had to come once I saw this place in your mind. You were at peace almost instantly when you arrived." Her voice was barely a whisper and the truth in it made me smile.
"Yes, I needed to be here for awhile and you arrived just as I was starting to ache for you," I replied. "So now, this place is perfect."
We lay there for a short while longer before getting dressed and walking along the shore, heading home to our family once again.
"It was sort of exciting to track your scent through the forest, Edward," Bella said, smiling as we made our way down the mountain. "I could have found you with my eyes closed."
"You have to promise me you won't go off on your own again, though, love," I replied.
"Okay. Next time, I will make sure to bring Alice along when her brother decides to go skinny dipping and I can't help myself," she taunted, a wicked grin on her face.
I stared at her, surprised at her words, and she used my shock to her advantage. She took off running, leaving me standing beneath the trees. I smiled and gave chase, determined to catch her. But there was no need to really try. Bella was being playful and let me catch her easily.
"Very funny, Bella," I said, kissing her cheek. "But you know what I meant. None of us should go off alone under the circumstances, especially you," I added, my tone more serious as I held her hand.
"I won't do it again, Edward. I promise. But that goes for you, too," she replied, kissing my cheek.
I nodded in agreement as we made our way back home.
We entered the backyard and Emmett's thoughts reached me seconds before he stepped out from behind the trees on the opposite end of the yard.
"Hey, Emmett!" Bella waved.
He smiled and walked over to us. "Hey, guys," he replied, his voice almost back to its normal playful tone. "You ok?" he asked me in his rarely used serious voice.
"Yeah, I'm better thanks," I told him.
Bella looked at me, her face showing she knew Emmett wanted to speak to me alone. "I'll meet you guys out front," she said. "I can hear Carlisle and Jasper sparring and I want to watch."
Emmett and I watched Bella as she went around to the front of the house to join the rest of our family.
"Did she mention Carlisle wants to focus on her homecoming prep?" Emmett asked.
"Yeah, she did. That's probably a good idea. We need to take this one step at a time," I replied.
Emmett walked passed me, went to the large fountain in the center of the backyard, and sat at the edge of it. His hands rubbed the tops of his legs and his face began to contort in anger again as he sighed heavily.
I knew he was a ticking time bomb—his barely contained rage was evident in his tense posture and the way his mouth tugged down into a scowl. I watched him for a few moments, knowing he needed time before he could express himself.
I crossed the yard and joined him by the fountain. "Emmett, we are all upset about what Alice saw. And you and I seem to be the resident hot heads," I said, half smiling. "But the family needs us to keep our heads cool. Maybe we can do something to blow off some steam."
"Yeah, I definitely need to calm down," he agreed, nodding his head. "I really want to rip something apart right now, Edward."
"We want to be less hostile, Emmett, not more," I teased, nudging his arm with mine. "Alice suggested earlier that we take Bella around humans to test her before she goes home. What do you think about taking the girls out tonight? We could have a good time as a family, and we certainly need a few laughs right about now."
"Yeah, that sounds good to me," he replied, seemingly calmer. "I just hope Alice is up for it. She hasn't left her room since last night."
"You just worry about getting Rose to agree," I told him. "I'll have a chat with our little fairy and get her back to her usual commanding self." I stood up and headed toward the backdoor.
"Hey, Edward?" Emmett called out.
I stopped in mid-step, turning to look at him. "Yeah?"
"I'm glad your back, man. Although, I would have loved going to Italy to kick some Volturi ass. No one messes with my family and lives to take another breath," he said, his voice stern.
I could only smile at him, knowing this was how Emmett dealt with things—making jokes and threats. "Thanks, Em, but it looks like you may still get your chance."
I entered the house, finding it quiet inside. As I passed the living room on my way to Alice, I glanced out of the window and saw Bella having a pouncing lesson with Rose, while Jasper looked on. I watched as Bella tackled Rosalie and Esme and Carlisle cheered and laughed from the bench they were sitting on together.
"Strange that they can be so happy right now," Alice mused, appearing beside me. "Then again, they didn't see what we saw," she sighed, her voice filled with dread.
I took her shoulders in my hands and turned her to face me. "Little sister, I think we need to talk."
