Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

a/n: You might get bored here . . . Mostly from the book. Thank you, for all your reviews! Please tell me what you think. XD

Bella woke up to see a pair of amber eyes staring at her. She smiled. Edward was propped up, gazing down at her.

"You're awake," he murmured. "I hope you are."

"You hope?" she questioned, confused.

"You've been restless," he shrugged. "It's been a long night. You needed sleep."

There was a troubled expression on his face. She got up and stretched her arms. He was by her side in an instant then his cellphone buzzed.

"Alice," he did not need to look at the caller ID.

"Yes, I guessed that. She was talking in her sleep," he stared at her eyes, scowling disapprovingly.

She flushed. How much did I say? She thought worriedly. She remembered that she dreamt that she was following Jasper to find Edward. She figured he heard all about that in her sleep. She realized that Edward had just put his cellphone away and was waiting for her to talk.

"I like Jasper's idea," she confessed, not meeting his gaze.

He sighed heavily. "Bella, I know you want to do something but being in danger just wouldn't help."

"But Jasper thinks it would," she reasoned. "Besides, you can't keep me away. I'm not going to hide out in the forest while you're risking . . ."

"Bella," he interrupted, fighting a smile. "Alice didn't see you in the clearing. She saw you stumbling around lost in the woods."

"That's because Alice didn't factor Seth. He wants to be there as much as I do. It wouldn't be hard to persuade him to show me the way," she retorted coolly.

"That might have worked if you haven't told me," he said. "Now, I'd have to tell Sam to give Seth certain orders."

She smiled pleasantly. "But why would he if my being there would help? I bet he'd rather do me a favour than you."

"You're right but Jacob would be only too eager to give you the same orders."

He smiled. He knew she got her.

"Jacob is second in command. Did he ever tell you that? His orders have to be followed, too."

Jacob never told me that, she thought, a bit annoyed.

"Do you remember the smaller gray wolf last night?" he abruptly changed the topic.

She nodded reluctantly.

"Guess who she is."

"She?" her eyes widened.

He nodded. "Leah Clearwater."

"Leah Clearwater? Are you sure?" her tone was disbelieving.

"Positive. The pack's mind is mesmerizing."

"The pack is fascinating," she agreed dryly. "But I still want to go to the clearing, Edward."

He scowled down at her.

"It's either I go to the clearing or you'll stay with me."

She wanted to keep him safe with her. Is it too much to ask? She thought. Apparently, to Edward, it was.

"You ask me to let them fight without my help?" he said quietly.

"Or to let me be there. . . As long as we're together," she could see the defeat in his eyes.

He looked at her straight in the eyes. I should, he thought. I've given her too much pain already. He took his cellphone from his pocket. "Alice, could you come babysit Bella for a while? I need to speak to Jasper."

Bella could feel her stomach tighten. There was a great deal of sacrifice weighting his voice.

"I'm here," Alice's high voice broke the quiet atmosphere. She danced across Bella's bedroom.

"Bel-laaaaaa! Your hair's a mess!" she wagged her finger in mock chastisement.

She touched her brown hair idly. She just realized that she just got out of the bed.

"Where's Charlie?" she asked.

"In the airport to fetch Lilia," she said. Lilia, she felt the blood drain from her face.

Alice squeezed Bella's arm gently.

"I know you're worried about her, Bella, but be reasonable. Do you honestly believe that Lilia of all people would have been one of those tourists we've seen in Italy?"

She hesitated. "But she does study in Italy . . ."

"Which proves nothing," she gazed at her seriously. "It's too much of a coincidence. We didn't see her there, did we?"

Bella frowned. We were too preoccupied to notice them . . .

Alice seemed to know what she was thinking. She rolled her eyes and sighed in defeat. "You're useless. Absolutely useless."

She let go of her arm and walked a few steps away.

"I'll be back. Jasper would be there by now. He was off hunting with Emmett. I'll just pass the message, Edward."

Bella stepped forward to where Alice had been and groaned. "She'll be here in a few minutes."

Edward was by her side instantly.

"Alice is right, love. You shouldn't worry about your aunt."

"You, too?" She sighed as she turned to face him. "You're right. I guess I am overreacting."

He held her closer, very carefully placing his chin above her head lest he break her. She closed her eyes and inhaled his scent as if to pacify the ache and forget the trauma.

"It's going to be alright," he murmured, his eyes averted to the window. His internal demise being that he could not fight alongside his family. His choice was either Bella or no Bella, his pain or hers. Definitely Bella, he thought for the first one. Then, for the second: Obviously, I would rather that I would have to suffer than her.

They were in this still embrace when red and blue lights flashed on the window: Chief Swan and his younger sister were home.