Disclaimer: Shroud is a Twilight fan fiction, intended solely for the enjoyment of the readers. No copyright infringements are intended. Any original story directions and plot lines herein are the property of the author.

A/N: Thank you to my beta, ForksPixie.


Chapter 9 – Allegiance

Can I come in, Edward? I have something for Bella.

My sister stood outside my bedroom door, hoping I would respond to her thoughts. But Bella was sleeping and I didn't want to wake her. I held her, wrapped in the duvet, breathing the strawberry scent of her hair as it tickled my nose. I was not leaving her, ever – not unless she asked me too and at that moment, she seemed as content to be sleeping in my arms as I was to hold her there.

The sun had begun to rise and stream through the window-wall that looked out over the Solduc River. At that moment, I was in Heaven and I didn't want Alice to interrupt.

Seconds later there was a tap, tap, tap at the door. I guess Alice didn't think I heard her. Bella began to stir and reached her arms, wrapping them around my neck, pulling me down to kiss her. I pressed my lips to hers and let my fingers run up her spine, pressing her to me.

"Good morning," I whispered, ignoring the knock at the door. A smile formed across Bella's lips and her eyes slowly opened, like a newborn kitten.

"Good morning," she smiled, kissing me again as she ran her fingers up my neck and into my hair. "That was the best night's rest I have ever had."

"I can't imagine spending another night without you in my arms," I admitted. "You give me such peace."

"I hear you," the pixie chirped from outside the door.

"Come in Alice," Bella called to her, propping herself up into a sitting position in the bed. I followed suit and propped pillows up behind our backs and reclined next to her as Alice danced into the room with a breakfast tray she sat across Bella's lap.

"There's fresh fruit, a Danish, a bagel and oatmeal," Alice pointed out each item as she announced them. "And orange juice and milk. Oh…Do you want coffee?"

Bella laughed. "This is great, Alice. Everything is great. There is so much. I can't possibly eat it all, but this is enough. I don't need anything else."

As Bella began to pick at the Danish, we all fell silent, not knowing exactly what to say or do. Bella had never spent the night with me before, and in my bed nonetheless. Alice was beside herself with excitement, but was trying to contain it.

"Have a seat Alice," I grinned, patting the bed.

"Yay!" She clapped, bouncing onto the bed. She forgot her own strength and I had to quickly grab a hold of Bella's breakfast tray before it was bounced off the bed. "Sorry, Bella."

"It's okay, Alice," Bella said after washing down a bite with some orange juice. "I really need to head home soon. You know Charlie will miss me." She then looked at me and smiled. "Besides, you will be over at the house soon, arriving back from your 'hunting trip'."

"You two are so cute," Alice gushed. "I can't wait until Bella becomes part of the family. I can plan the wedding and do your hair," she smiled, pulling Bella's hair up and dropping it again.

"Um…," Bella hesitated. "Alice, it's all good. The change will be soon, but no big wedding or anything. That's just not my thing."

My heart sank. I wished it were her thing. It was my thing. For 109 years I had been alone and although I had grown as a man and as a vampire over the past century there were still parts of my human life that never disappeared and one of those things was wanting an old-fashioned traditional wedding. I wanted to put on a tuxedo and be surprised to see Bella as she walked down the aisle to take my hand as her husband, seeing her in her beautiful, flowing, white wedding gown for the first time. I wanted that first kiss in front of everyone we loved as we began our lives as husband and wife. I wanted the fairytale and she just wanted to leap blindly into the nightmare that was immortality.

"Okay," Alice said dejectedly and my heart was with hers at that moment.

Maybe she will change her mind, Edward. I'll work on her.

"Well, Alice, let Bella have a human moment, then get her home so Charlie doesn't worry," I said, climbing off the bed so I could leave the room and let Bella change her clothes.

Alice extended her hand to me and I took it as she slipped off the bed as well. She then turned and took Bella's tray.

"Thank you, Alice," Bella said with a hint of sadness. She knew how much marriage and a wedding meant to Alice and to me, but she was a tough cookie to break.

"I'll be waiting downstairs," Alice said as she stepped into the hallway.

I stood at the doorway and turned to look at Bella. I could never get enough of her and I wanted to imagine her, there in my bed, for the rest of eternity.

"You can stay," Bella teased.

"I would love to," I smiled. "But I monopolize enough of your time. Enjoy your human moment. I will see you in a little while."

As I turned to step into the hall and pull the door closed behind me she whispered. "I'm sorry, Edward."

"I love you, Bella, no matter what," I whispered, knowing she couldn't hear me.

While Alice took Bella home I showered and conjured up a new hunting trip story in my head in case Charlie asked for details. The truth was I knew he wouldn't. I was not Charlie's favorite person and the less he had to interact with me the better.

"Home, safe and sound," Alice announced, bounding through the front door where Jasper greeted her with a passionate kiss and embrace.

"Now we can have a little one on one time darlin'," Jasper smirked to my sister. "I missed you while I was away."

"Me too," she whispered in his ear before they headed up the stairs hand in hand, never taking their eyes off of one another. That was the kind of eternal love I wanted.

I headed out the front door and ran through the woods back towards Forks and Bella's house. When I got within two blocks of her house I smelled something disturbing. It smelled like the scent of another vampire. I had committed Victoria's scent to memory throughout the entire time I was hunting her and I was certain the scent did not belong to her and it wasn't the scent of one of my family. I sped up, worried that in the brief period of time from when Alice dropped Bella off to now that something terrible had happened.

If Charlie hadn't been home I would have stormed right through the front door. I had to see her. I had to know she was safe and I had to know what the source of the scent was.

"Door!" Charlie yelled from inside the house as I rang the doorbell, pacing back and forth, waiting on Bella to open it.

"Don't strain yourself, Dad," Bella said cheerfully from inside. She was safe. I could breathe a sigh of relief, for now. But something was still off and I was certain Bella was in danger.

She pulled the door open and greeted me with wide smile, one that was clueless as to the danger she was in. To Bella, all that was on her mind was the memory of having just left my bed. To me, that memory was ages ago.

I couldn't hide my terror. The venom was flowing in my mouth and my lips strained against my teeth as I took in deep breaths, trying to pinpoint the scent.

"Edward?" Bella asked, knowing something was amiss. I hadn't been able to hide my fear for her. The truth was Bella needed a good dose of fear. She needed to understand the parts of our lives that were wrought with danger. It wasn't only being discovered by humans that we feared. There were vampires that wished us ill will and we always had to stay sharp. "What-?"

I stepped across the threshold of the doorway and tuned in all of my senses, focusing in on where the intruder had been. I knew right away they had been in the house.

Bella opened her mouth to say something and I pressed my finger to her lips to quiet her. "Give me two seconds," I whispered so Charlie couldn't hear. "Don't move." With that I took off through the house, following the scent past Charlie and up the stairs to Bella's room before I returned to Bella. I was so quick, Bella didn't have time to protest and Charlie never noticed my brief absence.

I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her in to my chest, placing the other hand on the back of her head, protectively shielding her while I decided what I needed to do. I had to get her out of the house, fast and I wasn't sure when or how she could return. After the debacle in Phoenix I knew she would put up a fight. Charlie would be her first thought, her priority and I had to think how to protect him as well. Although, the intruder wasn't interested in Charlie and that perplexed me. If it were a nomad that stumbled upon the house, having smelled my scent, they would have killed Charlie and moved on. This vampire has other motives, namely the one I was holding in my arms.

"Someone's been here," I murmured in her ear after I pulled her into the kitchen, safely out of Charlie's earshot.

"I swear no werewolves –," she began before I cut her off. I knew werewolves had nothing to do with this. It was far worse.

"Not one of them," I interrupted her. "One of us." I could feel the venom pooling in my mouth as I acknowledged another vampire had been here, in our territory.

Bella grabbed my hand with both of hers, clutching it tightly, looking at me with fearful eyes. "Victoria?"

"No," I said. "I know her scent. It's not one I recognize."

"One of the Volturi," she guessed. To Bella, that was all she knew - James' coven and the Italians. Little did she know there were many, many more; more than she could ever fathom.

"Probably," I answered. Who else would it be? They said they would come to check on Bella's 'progress'. If it was them, it was far sooner than I had anticipated, but that should not have surprised me. They would show up when least expected. Regardless, whoever was here was not coming for a friendly visit or they would have made themselves known to us. They would have known there was a coven nearby.

"When?" Bella asked.

"That's why I think it must have been them – it wasn't long ago, early this morning while Charlie was sleeping. And whoever it was didn't touch him, so there must have been another purpose."

Bella was silent for several seconds, looking towards the ground, before slowly raising her eyes to mine in revelation. "Looking for me."

I didn't answer her. I stood frozen, in fear that was precisely the case. I had no idea what to do. I had not anticipated having to deal with this so soon. And Alice, she hadn't mentioned seeing anything. How did they get past her visions?

"What are you two whispering about?" Charlie asked, rounding the corner into the kitchen with an empty bowl of popcorn. There was a game on the t.v. so he must have just heard us as he took a commercial break.

Bella swallowed hard, the pink that was in her cheeks when I arrived has disappeared. She was as white as me and her lips quivered. She was scared and she was looking at me in terror. There was nothing I could do or say to comfort or reassure her at that moment. Uselessly I stood there, silent.

Ahh, a lover's spat.

Charlie grinned and looked back and forth between the two of us. There was nothing he would like more than for us to have a disagreement. He was still clearly Team Jacob.

"If you two are having a fight…well, don't let me interrupt."

Neither of us responded. Charlie was merely a distraction. At that moment, we both were focused on who had come into the house and only saw each other. She looked to me for answers. And I looked to her in guilt, having failed to keep the dangers of our world at bay, yet again. He dropped his bowl loudly into the sink and walked back to the living room before the commercials had ended.

I grabbed tightly onto her waist and pulled her towards the hallway. "Let's go," I said sternly. I had to get her out of the house while I came up with a game plan.

"But Charlie!" he voice cracked in panic as she tried to keep her fearful plea to a whisper.

She was right. What about Charlie? Bella was my primary concern, but Charlie was hers and he was her father. As much as I was committed to Bella, I was committed to her family as well. I couldn't leave him unprotected and I couldn't leave her in the house, ripe for the picking. I pulled my phone from my pocket and hit speed dial.

"Emmett," I muttered into the phone so Charlie couldn't hear me. "There's been an intruder in Bella's house, sometime in the last twenty-four hours, while she was at our house. Charlie was unharmed and has no idea but she has things missing. It isn't Victoria. I don't recognize the scent. It could be the Volturi. We have to make her safe, and Charlie too." I spoke in such a frenzy I knew Bella didn't have an idea of anything I had said.

"Get her out of there, Jasper and I are on our way. We will keep an eye on the house and Charlie, until you talk to Alice and Carlisle and we figure out what the hell is going on," Emmett responded. We both snapped our phones shut at the same time and I pulled Bella towards the front door. She drug her feet, not having the answers I knew she wanted. I could force her to go, go caveman on her and throw her over my shoulder, but I understood her concern for her father and respected it.

"Emmett and Jasper are on their way," I whispered near her ear, to appease her, still tugging her towards the front door. "They'll sweep the woods and keep an eye on Charlie. He will be safe."

That answer was enough to suffice for her and she quit dragging her feet. I pulled her along, past Charlie and out the front door before he had time to ask where we were going.

I quickly opened the passenger door of the Volvo and helped her in before climbing in and speeding off towards our family home. It was all happening so fast I don't think Bella had time to process it all.

"Where are we going?" she asked softly.

"We're going to talk to Alice," I answered. I was frightened because I had no answers, no clue what to do or where to go. I liked control and this was a surprise I was not prepared for that caught me off guard. I tried to hide my fear but I sensed that Bella knew.

"You think maybe she saw something?" she asked hopefully. The truth was I hoped she had, so we would know how to act, but I knew there was a strong possibility she saw nothing. If Alice saw anything, she would have told me at once and if she saw it while I was hunting, she would have called me there.

"Maybe," I answered flatly, never turning my eyes to hers. If she saw my eyes she would not just question my fear, she would know it for certain.

Seconds later we were at the house. I hurriedly helped Bella from the car, scanning the area around me as I drug her up the front steps and through the door into the living room, where every member of my family was waiting anxiously.

As soon as I saw Alice, I clinched my fists in anger. How did she miss this? She was supposed to be keeping an eye on Victoria and on the Volturi. She was making so many careless mistakes lately.

"What happened?" I demanded of my little sister.

She had her arms crossed defiantly across her chest. She might have been tiny, but she didn't take shit from anyone, not even me.

"I have no idea," she answered. "I didn't see anything." Her eyes twinkled, but with fear, the same fear in my eyes and in the eyes of every other vampire in the room.

"How is that possible?" I hissed at her. I counted on Alice more than any other and she had failed me and failed Bella.

"Edward," Bella chided me quietly, grabbing onto my arm before taking my hand in hers.

I was fearful which made me angry and at that moment, Alice was the only person I could blame – fairly or unfairly.

"It's not an exact science, Edward," Carlisle said calmly, stepping between Alice and me to diffuse the situation.

This is precisely what I feared. Now we are at risk.

Rosalie was not doing me or anyone else favors by adding fuel to the fire.

"He was in her room, Alice," I growled, peeking over my father's shoulder at her. "He could have still been there – waiting for her."

"I would have seen that," Alice retorted.

I jerked my hand out of Bella's and threw my arms up in the air in total frustration. Really? She was using that as her defense. She had missed so much lately. "Really? You're sure?"

"You've already got me watching the Volturis' decisions, watching for Victoria's return, watching Bella's every step. You want to add another? Do I just have to watch Charlie, or Bella's room, or the house, or the whole street, too? Edward, if I try to do too much, things are going to start slipping through the cracks."

Alice was cold and biting with her words. I could tell her patience with me was running out. But someone had to take the blame for what happened and Alice was the only one who could have seen whoever it was and she missed it.

"It looks like they already are," I snapped.

If Jasper were there, he would have worked his magic and calmed us down, but I was scared, Alice was scared, Rosalie was smug and Carlisle and Esme looked heartbroken that Alice and I were going at each other.

"She was never in any danger. There was nothing to see," Alice said.

"If you're watching Italy, why didn't you see them send -?"

"I don't think it's them," Alice insisted. "I would have seen that."

"Who else would leave Charlie alive?" That was the most perplexing point of it all to me. Whoever it was didn't touch Charlie. Victoria would have killed him. I was certain of that. Only the Volturi would leave him unharmed because they wanted me and they wanted Alice and killing Charlie would not help them achieve that goal.

"I don't know," Alice answered.

"Helpful."

"Stop it, Edward," Bella whispered.

Anger was eating me alive. It didn't matter who spoke, whoever it was, was going to be the victim of my rage. I quickly turned to Bella with my teeth clenched, jaw taught, glaring at her. Then I quickly remembered it was Bella. None of this was her fault. None of this was any of our faults. It was true. I had asked Alice to do too much. Bella was my responsibility, not hers. When I saw the fear in Bella's face, I instantly relaxed.

"Edward, you are scaring Bella," Esme said, moving to wrap her arm around Bella's shoulders.

"You're right, Esme. I'm sorry," I apologized to my mother. Then I turned to Bella. "I'm sorry, Bella. I didn't mean to frighten you. It will be okay."

Then I turned to my sister, the target of my rage. "Forgive me, Alice. I shouldn't be taking this out on you. That was inexcusable."

"I understand," my sweet sister said, no longer on guard against my barbs. "I'm not happy about it, either."

Instantly the mood in the room changed to one of quiet determination instead of blind rage.

I took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of my nose. I needed to focus. I knew if I focused on the why, the who would become clear to me. "Okay, let's look at this logically. What are the possibilities?"

Esme moved to the sofa in front of Alice and Carlisle. Rosalie didn't move. She stared out the window, her back to us. I took Bella's hand and led her to the couch where she sat next to Esme. Esme put her arm around Bella's shoulders and I held her hand. Now we needed to come up with a plan, and to comfort Bella and make her feel safe in the process.

"Victoria?" my father asked.

I shook my head. That had crossed my mind several times and as much as I wanted it to be her, so I had yet another reason to kill her, I knew it wasn't her. "No. I didn't know the scent. He might have been from the Volturi, someone I've never met…"

Alice shook her head. That was an avenue she had given much thought to. "Aro hasn't asked anyone to look for her yet. I will see that. I'm waiting for it."

That's when it occurred to me who they could have gotten past her visions. "You're watching for an official command."

Everyone turned their eyes to me for an answer, for insight into what I was thinking.

"Caius's idea," I said, clenching my teeth. It would be like Caius to go around Aro without disobeying him. He wanted us dead that day in Volterra and he reminded me they did not give second chances.

"Or Jane's…," Alice suggested. "They both have the resources to send an unfamiliar face."

She had a very good point and the thought of one of them sending someone after Bella so soon disturbed me. Why did they let us leave if they had no intent of giving us time to change her? "And the motivation."

"It doesn't make sense, though," Esme said. "If whoever it was meant to wait for Bella, Alice would have seen that. He – or she—had no intention of hurting Bella. Or Charlie, for that matter."

A shudder went through Bella when my mother mentioned Charlie. Bella had been tricked by James because she thought her mother was in danger and now she believed her father was. I didn't need her taking unnecessary risks.

"It's going to be fine, Bella," Esme reassured her, smoothing her hair. It was a shame she lost her only child. She would have been a great mother. She was a great mother. To her, Bella was no different than Rosalie or Alice – she was hers. And Rosalie and Alice, and Jasper, Emmett and I were no different than the son she lost. She loved us all as though she had given birth to us. I was grateful for her calming presence.

Carlisle brought his hand to his chin and pondered the suggestion of the Volturi. "But what is the point then?"

"Checking to see if I'm still human?" Bella asked.

"Possible," Carlisle said. But I could tell by the tone and the hesitation in his voice that he did not think that was a likely answer.

I wanted to go away. I wanted to get away with Emmett, away from all this madness. But, no. Now we are on babysitting duty and there is no way Em will leave if he thinks there is a fight to be had. Besides, I can't leave my family when they need me most. Damnit. Why doesn't Edward just turn her and get it over with so we can all go on with our lives? Rosalie let out an audible sigh and walked towards the kitchen.

Just then, Emmett and Jasper burst through the kitchen door, making their way quickly to the living room.

"Long gone, hours ago," Emmett announced with disappointment. I knew Emmett was hoping for a fight, for a confrontation. "The trail went East, then South, and disappeared on a side road. Had a car waiting."

"That's bad luck." I muttered thinking of the good Jacob's pack actually could have done. "If he'd gone west…well, it would be nice for those dogs to make themselves useful."

Bella winced at the thought. I could not understand why she still cared so much what happened to Jacob. Esme rubbed her shoulders and comforted her.

Jasper directed his observations at Carlisle. "Neither of us recognized him. But here." He held out a crumpled, green object for Carlisle to investigate. My father took it and held it to his face. It was a broken fern frond. Jasper must have detected the scent on it. "Maybe you know the scent."

"No," Carlisle answered. "Not familiar. No one I've ever met."

That meant it wasn't one of the Volturi. Carlisle had met them all. For that matter, Carlisle had met covens all over the world. This vampire had to be new… a newborn.

"Perhaps we're looking at this the wrong way. Maybe it's a coincidence…," Esme began, suddenly stopping when she saw the disbelief on everyone's faces. "I don't mean a coincidence that a stranger happened to pick Bella's house to visit at random. I meant that maybe someone was just curious. Our scent is all around her. Was he wondering what draws us there?"

"Why wouldn't he just come here then? If he was curious?" Emmett demanded.

"You would," Esme said with a sudden, fond smile. "The rest of us aren't always so direct. Our family is very large – he or she might be frightened. But Charlie wasn't harmed. This doesn't have to be an enemy."

I was not convinced, in the least, that it was anyone other than an enemy. James, Laurent and Victoria had been curious and were of course, enemies. Anyone that threatened our way of life or our existence were enemies in our book. We needed to find out who it was and why they were here. Then they needed to be dealt with, swiftly.

My sister seemed to share my doubt of Esme's theory. "I don't think so. The timing of it was too perfect… This visitor was so careful to make no contact. Almost like he or she knew that I would see…"

"He could have other reasons for not making contact," Esme reminded Alice.

"Does it really matter who it was?" Bella asked in a panic. "Just the chance that someone was looking for me… isn't that reason enough? We shouldn't wait for graduation."

Definitely. Come on, Edward. Do it already. Emmett was practically lunging at her to make it all happen right then.

This is such a load of crap. This never ends. It is always about Bella. All. The. Time. Rosalie was, no surprise, more worried about herself than the situation at hand.

More fuel for Bella's fire. Panic set in for me. I knew she had a valid argument, but it didn't matter to me. There were ways around that. There were always ways around that. I was just fearful that the point she just made would resonate with one of my siblings that was all too anxious for her to become one of us. I had to nip it in the bud.

"No, Bella," I said quickly, before anyone else had a chance to give their input. "It's not that bad. If you're really in danger we'll know."

"Think of Charlie," Carlisle interjected. "Think of how it would hurt him if you disappeared."

Thank goodness. My father was a voice of reason for me.

"I am thinking of Charlie! He's the one I'm worried about! What if my little guest had happened to be thirsty last night? As long as I'm around Charlie, he's a target, too. If anything happened to him, it would be all my fault!"

Bella was frantic. Charlie was her priority and she was mine. How many options had I tried to protect her and make her life easy without changing her? I was running out of options and that was making me frantic.

Darling Bella. Edward, this is so hard on her. We have to do something. My mother's concern for Bella hung thick in the air even though she didn't express her concerns out loud. Knowing it was hurting her was almost too much to bear and nearly enough to convince me to just give in to Bella's wish. Nearly.

"Hardly, Bella," my mother said, patting Bella's head again to comfort her. "And nothing will happen to Charlie. We're just going to have to be more careful."

"More careful?" Bella asked in disbelief. She had no idea how much more could be done. If she thought I was over-protective already she hadn't seen anything yet.

Alice shot me a glance. It was quick, but there was no doubt in my mind it was to chastise me.

"It's all going to be fine, Bella," Alice promised her. I squeezed Bella's hand as though that gesture would offer her any of the reassurances my family had. I was grateful they were there. I may have been good at many things, but certainly not creating a safe world for Bella. That was my greatest failure.

Edward, we respect your wishes and understand why you are not changing her yet, but we are running out of options and soon we may have to act accordingly. In the meantime, we will make her safe and find a way to solve this problem. Carlisle was even running out of patience with me. It seemed as though I was fighting a losing battle and needed to come up with a new battle plan.

The discussion had gone on long enough and I needed to get her back home. She needed to see Charlie and know he was safe and I needed to be there, to protect them both.

"Bella, don't you worry about a thing," my mother reassured her, hugging her as I opened the door of the Volvo for her. "You go home and rest and know that you don't have to fear a thing."

It will be okay, Edward. Take her home and take care of her and we will come up with a plan. I could always count on Jasper to stay on task. This was something in his control. He could devise the battle plan I needed.

"Bella, there is nothing to worry about," I said softly as I reached over to squeeze her hand. "Someone will always be there. Emmett, Alice, Jasper…"

She was looking out the window, fighting back tears. I hated seeing her in pain. She had taken on James and Laurent and did it fearlessly, but now she was worried about her father and she felt helpless. So did I. I wanted to be everything she needed in this world and couldn't be. I had no idea how to be just a boyfriend. When it came down to it, I was a vampire first and foremost and that negating nearly everything else I was trying to be.

She sighed in frustration and anger. "This is ridiculous. They'll get so bored; they'll have to kill me themselves, just for something to do."

"Hilarious, Bella," I said sarcastically. It constantly amazed me that despite the most dire or happy of circumstances, Bella always managed to work her mortality into the discussion.

She was angry and upset and worried and it showed on her face. As much as I tried to act as though everything was fine, I was unable to hide my concern and Charlie picked up on it like a tick on a dog.

Ah, the quarrel continues, he thought as I followed Bella into the kitchen where she commenced to fix him dinner, without so much as a word to either of us. I sat at the kitchen table, watching her, wishing more than anything I could read her thoughts. I would much rather hear her's than Charlie's although I was certain she was still plotting her change.

As she put their meals together I walked over to her, squeezing her shoulder as I whispered in her ear.

"I am going to do a quick sweep of the house and the woods outside. Don't you worry about a thing. I won't be far and I won't be gone long."

She continued to push the stroganoff from the skillet on to the plates and shrugged her shoulders in understanding. She didn't say a word, but her body language spoke volumes. She was angry with me.

"I love you," I whispered, kissing her neck as I turned to walk out.

"You leaving, Edward?" Charlie asked almost hopefully as I walked past his recliner.

"No sir," I replied. "I just need to go out to the car for a few minutes."

"Oh, okay then," he said dejectedly.

"Dinner's ready, Dad," Bella called from the kitchen, setting the plates on the table a little louder than usual.

I returned just as Bella was setting down another plateful in front of Charlie. Her Stroganoff was his favorite meal and he always had extra helpings. I was certain Bella was a wonderful cook, but to me, all human food was utterly repulsive and I did my best to hold my breath.

"Jacob called again," Charlie said to Bella, raising his eyes just enough to make sure I was there to hear it.

"Is that a fact?" Bella asked, plopping down in a seat at the table across from her father. The sarcasm in her voice was clear and that made me happy. I hated that she missed Jacob, and she did. She could pretend all she wanted, but his words hurt her deeply. She was torn, torn between three worlds - her human world and the two worlds of fairy tales and horror stories.

"Don't be petty, Bella. He sounded really low," Charlie said in his defense.

"Is Jacob paying you for all the P.R., or are you a volunteer?"

It wouldn't hurt to call him. He was here for you when Edward wasn't, Charlie thought as he grumbled and dug back in to dinner. His thoughts cut me deep. He was right. I hated Jacob, but I respected him. He was successful at the one thing I had failed miserably at, protecting Bella.

Charlie finished off dinner and went back to the living room to watch whatever game was on the television. There was always a game on t.v. I stayed with Bella and helped her wash the dishes, in silence. I knew she had a lot on her mind. Truth was, so did I. I didn't know how to comfort her. Nothing seemed to be the right thing to say.

When it was time for me to officially leave for the evening, Bella walked out to the front porch with me to say our brief goodbyes. I would be back in her room, holding her safely in my arms within an hour. In the meantime, Rosalie and Esme were on watch in the woods.

Go home, Edward. Talk to the boys. Jasper has some ideas. The sooner this is taken care of, the better.

We won't take our eyes off the house, sweetheart. No need to worry.

I reached up and lay my hand on the back of her neck, pulling her close to me so I could kiss the top of her head.

"I love you, Bella. I promise, I will make you safe. I never want you to fear anything," I admitted.

"I love you too," she said, wrapping her arms around my waist. "I'm not worried about me, Edward. I'm worried about Charlie. This is too much to put on your family. I just want to be able to help."

"I know you do, darling, but the answer is not to change you right now," I said. "As a newborn, there are too many chances of something going wrong to make it worth the risk."

"I'll see you in a little while," she muttered, reaching for the doorknob. "Take your time. I know someone is watching over me."

I returned home where Alice was deep in thought, trying to see something, anything that would give us a clue as to whom the intruder was. Jasper, Carlisle and Emmett were discussing various plans of action, not convinced one was more right than another. I couldn't stay and talk. I had to leave strategy up to my family. My mind was with Bella and that is where I needed to be, with her. Besides, I felt guilty leaving the girls to protective duty.

"Thanks Esme, Rosalie," I said, hugging each of them from their position in the woods across the street from Bella's house. "I've got it for tonight and tomorrow. I'll call when I need to be spelled."

"Well, it's someone else's turn next," Rosalie said snidely before turning to run back to the house.

Esme shook her head and rubbed her hand up and down my back. The look of frustration on my face must have given me away.

"She loves you, Edward and she loves Bella. Rosalie just expresses things differently," my mother tried to reassure me.

"Well, thank you for looking after Bella. I don't know what I would do if something happened to her."

Esme turned to follow Rosalie and paused, turning to speak to me again. "I do and that is why we will not let anything happen to her. I won't lose you again."

XXX

I climbed in through the window and Bella was already settled in bed, turned to face her door, with her back to me. She was going to play hard ball.

I took my place beside her, carefully tucking the comforter around her to keep her warm. I then wrapped my arm over her waist and pulled her into me, placing kisses on her hair and neck.

"I missed you," I admitted.

"Edward, can we just do this already and get it over with?" she asked, still not making eye contact with me.

I reached for her chin and turned her face towards me.

"Bella, I will not have this discussion with you now," I said sternly. "Right now we all need to focus on finding the intruder and keeping you, Charlie and the city of Forks safe. I cannot be side-tracked with having to deal with your change. Regardless of what you think, it is not the prudent choice and you just have to trust me on that. Can you just focus on your safety and listening to me, for once?"

A soft frown formed on her lips and she turned her face away from me again.

"Fine," was all she said.

I resumed holding her close and sang her lullaby softly in her ear until she fell peacefully asleep. Regardless of how incompetent I felt, I must have made her feel safe because she slept nightmare free.

Charlie got up before sunrise to head out on a fishing trip with one of his deputies. I hid in the closet when he came in to check on Bella, who was still fast asleep.

Once he saw she was sleeping peacefully in her bed, he crept down the stairs, gathered his fishing gear and headed off to the lake.

I climbed back in to bed with Bella and she continued to sleep until just after the sun came up, turning to face me.

"Good morning, my love," I said, taking her face in my hands, softly kissing her forehead and lips.

"Good morning," she smiled. "I need a human moment. Will you meet me downstairs?"

"I will be outside the bathroom door until you are done and then I will go downstairs with you," I grinned. "You are not leaving my sight."

Bella was in and out of the shower in record time. I could smell the scent of her strawberry shampoo as I was sure she was lathering her hair. I leaned against the wall in the hallway, breathing it in. I just couldn't get enough of Bella.

She came out of the bathroom with her wet hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, bounding past me down the stairs where she made herself a bowl of warm oatmeal, sitting down on the couch to eat as she watched the latest news on CNN. I followed her everywhere, like a puppy dog, but still said very little. She was sticking to her guns and I still couldn't think of something safe to say.

"I'm going to let Jacob off the hook," she said matter-of-factly as she rinsed her bowl in the sink.

I grinned. I knew her. I knew how she felt about Jacob. He was important to her. My Bella would never walk away from someone she loved, and like it or not, she loved him. I smiled, knowing I had been right about her.

"I knew you'd forgive him," I teased.

"Did you now?" she grinned, rolling her eyes. She sat her cup of coffee down and made her way to the phone on the wall.

Maybe if she talked to Jake, it would distract her from the things I needed to worry about.

I let her and Jake make small talk and I wasn't too concerned because I could hear Jake.

"I'm not mad. You're forgiven," she said casually. It was too casual. She was making an effort to be blasé for me.

Then Jake asked Bella to come down and see him, promising to do anything she wanted, even cliff diving. I cringed at the thought.

"I'll keep you safe," he promised. "No matter what you want to do."

His words cut more harshly than Charlie's had the night before. Despite all the warning I gave to Bella about how unstable werewolves were, Jacob had never hurt her or posed a danger to her. I knew he would do everything in his power to keep her safe. If he hadn't been there when she dove off the cliff in March, we wouldn't be here today.

It was time I cut Jacob some slack too, and let him do what he wanted to do, protect Bella. I could use the help.

I held my hand out for the phone and Bella looked at me in surprise. She didn't speak and Jacob was confused by her silence. I reached closer yet again, sighing.

"Do you mind speaking to Edward?" she asked him with trepidation. "He wants to talk to you."

Silence.

More silence.

"Okay," Jacob finally answered. "This should be interesting."

Bella raised her eyebrows and glared at me as if to warn me to behave, like I wouldn't.

"Hello, Jacob," I said in a most respectable tone.

"Umm…hello, Edward. What can I do for you?" he asked.

"Someone was here – not a scent I know," I began to explain. "Has your pack come across anything new?"

"No, just the same old vampire stink as usual, but we haven't been expecting anything new. Should we be concerned?" Jacob asked.

"Here's the crux, Jacob. I won't be letting Bella out of my sight till I get this taken care of. It's nothing personal –."

Jacob cut me off.

"Listen, Edward. Whatever this scent is, it's another vampire, not a werewolf. We have never posed a risk to Bella and you know it. The only time she has been in danger, has been from your kind. The safest place for her right now is not with you. It's with me and the pack. No vampire will dare come onto our land without paying for it with their, well, life isn't the right word, but you get the gist." He was excitable. This was an opportunity he had been looking for, to get closer to Bella and to get me to relent on allowing her to spend time with him.

"You might be right -." I began to agree when Jacob cut me off, still continuing on his defense tactic.

"You know I'm right. We took care of that Laurent character without one of your kind assisting us. We can handle ourselves and keep her safe while you focus on the intruder. Of course, there are enough of us that we can also help track the scent. I need to familiarize myself with it though."

"That's an interesting suggestion. We're quite willing to renegotiate. If Sam is amenable."

"I'll see what I can do, but no matter what, I am in," Jacob promised. "I can't promise what Sam or the pack will say, but I will keep Bella safe."

"Thank you," I said and I meant it. It was difficult asking for and accepting help from Jacob, but the most important thing was Bella's safety, not my ego.

"Well, while you track this bloodsucker, why don't you let Bella come to the res, with me. She will be safe and you and your family can focus on finding out who this is."

"I'd planned to go alone, actually," I said, surprised by the fact that his idea wasn't half bad. "And leave her with the others."

"You know you stand a better chance of tracking this vampire with several of you going at once. Trust me, Edward."

"I'll try to consider it objectively," I promised, and I would. I was. "As objectively as I'm capable of."

"Okay, well how about you let me come up there and try to catch on to the scent of this intruder so I can keep a nose to the ground, if you will. That way, if whoever it is comes close while she is with me, I will know."

"That's not a half-bad idea. When?"

"No time like the present. Does that work for you or did you two have plans?" Jake laughed.

"No, that's fine. I'd like a chance to follow the trail personally, anyway. Ten minutes."

"Of course, I need you to be out of the house, so I don't get the vampire scents confused," he added. It was possible, but I knew he was just trying to get more time with Bella.

"Certainly." I then held the phone out for Bella, who was standing in front of me with her mouth agape, wondering what had transpired between the two of us. "Bella?"

She took the phone and Jacob filled her in on what was happening. She seemed surprised, but happily so.

"Umm…thank you," she said, hugging me after she hung up the phone.

"I would do anything to protect you," I replied, holding her close.