A/N: I know I know, I SUCK. I'm sorry. It's tough starting college and moving and shit...But I'm back and I'm gonna be better about updating. Promise :] Now go read!

Disclaimer: I never have and never will own the amazing characters of Twilight...Though who doesn't dream about owning Edward? MMMM.....

Chapter 10:

Bella

"Have you bought everything you need for the trip?" Edward asked me at lunch two days before we were supposed to leave for South America.

"Yeah. I'm all packed except for the few things I need between now and then," I told him happily.

"Are you excited?" Alice asked from across the table.

"I might be more excited if I knew where exactly we were going." I said stubbornly. Since I had realized that the Cullens' couldn't go out in broad daylight without being noticed by everyone, I asked them where we were going in South America. They had decided to just tell me it was a remote area and keep it a secret. Needless to say, this was annoying me greatly.

"Yeah, not happening." Alice said, and went back to picking at her lunch.

I felt Edward slip his hand over mine and whisper in my ear, "You'll have fun. Don't worry."

All I could do was nod. This act ignited all sorts of daydreams that if spoken would certainly set him over the edge, but I spent the rest of lunch on a deserted beach in South America with Edward…..

The bell rang too soon, breaking my reverie and forced Edward and I to go to math.

After school Edward drove Alice, Jasper, and I to his house. Edward helped me study for the three tests I'd have to take tomorrow before school ended for Spring Break. We studied until it was twilight, when he decided to take me home.

We bade good night to his family and walked out into the forest with my books. He had recently showed me how he always got to my house so quickly. It wasn't my favorite way to travel, but I was getting used to it. I climbed onto his back and secured my arms around his neck. Then we were flying through the trees. Everything turned to a blur; I never could understand how he saw well enough to not hit the trees. And as quickly as it began, it was over and we were standing in my backyard. We went inside and up to my room. My dad wasn't home yet, but I knew he would be soon.

"So do you think you're ready for the tests tomorrow?" Edward asked.

"Yeah I think so. Biology will be the hardest, but thanks to you, I should do well." I smiled and sat down on my bed.

He came over and bent down to kiss my forehead, but instead of letting him like I usually did, I quickly leaned my head back and kissed him on the lips instead. As usual, he quickly responded and backed away from me and said, "Bella!"

I folded my arms and pouted. "Come on Edward, I know you are strong enough."

"No, I don't think I am."

"You kissed me once and it was fine! How come you can't just try again?"

"I won't talk about this Bella."

Tears welled up in my eyes and though I tried to blink them back, I couldn't; I hid my face in a pillow.

"Bella, please don't cry…" he said softly.

Just then I heard my dad's car turn onto the driveway. So I got up and said, "I'll be back up later."

I turned and went down the stairs before he could say anything else.

I wiped the tears away and put on a cheerful face and greeted my father at the door. "Hey Dad, How was your day?"

"Hey Bells," He said, hanging up his gun and going into the kitchen. "It was good, how was yours?"

"It was good."

"You leave Saturday morning right? You all packed?" He asked, getting out some steaks to grill.

"Yep. I'm all set."

"You be sure to thank Carlisle and Esme for bringing you on this trip. That was very nice of them."

"I have, many times and I will continue to."

"That's my girl."

We chatted about our days and my upcoming trip over dinner and it cheered me up. I had actually forgotten about the disagreement I'd had with Edward earlier by the time I went back upstairs. I showered and blow dried my hair quickly before returning to my room. When I opened the door, Edward was sitting on my bed waiting for me.

"Hi," I said shyly.

"Hi," He replied.

I sat next to him on my bed and said, "I'm sorry. I know it's for my own good."

"It is, but it's understandable. It's hard for me not to give in sometimes."

"Here's a secret," I whispered. "I want you to give in."

He smiled. "You should go to sleep; you have a very long day tomorrow."

I nodded and slipped under the covers. And before I could process what was happening, Edward was hovering over me and his face was just inches away from mine. "Good night." He whispered. Then he kissed me. It was just as magical as I remembered and more; Fire and Ice coexisting to create one perfect harmonious moment. Our lips moved together perfectly.

And too soon, it was over. He pulled away and laid down on the bed next to me. I looked over at him, confused. He never laid next to me while I slept.

"I'm giving in a little." He replied.

I smiled and rolled over and snuggled into his stone-cold chest. He turned rigged for a moment, testing himself. Then deciding it was okay, wrapped an arm around me, hugging me closer.

"Good night, Edward."

"Good night, my love."

* * *

Edward

"I am so glad this day is over!" Bella exclaimed after the final bell had rung.

"Yeah so am I! Two days from now we'll be on a beach in South America!" Alice agreed.

I watched the two of them as they skipped their way to the car. Jasper hung back with me, laughing.

"Those two are way too excited about this trip." He commented.

"Yeah Alice is for someone who's been there so many times, but I can see why Bella's so excited."

"I think Alice is just excited Bella will be there."

We all climbed into my Volvo and I headed home. I could see why Alice and Bella were excited to leave; I was too. I was looking forward to spending an entire uninterrupted week with Bella. I couldn't wait to be able to sit out in the sun with her and go swimming at the beach. I let my mind wander as I drove the familiar drive home. I daydreamed about the upcoming trip and before I knew it we were home.

"Come on Jasper let's finish packing," Alice said, taking Jasper into the house and disappearing.

"What do you want to do?" I asked Bella.

"I don't care. Watch a movie?"

"Sounds good."

We went upstairs to the third floor and popped in Almost Famous.

About halfway through the movie Bella asked, "Were the seventies really like that?"

"For the most part. It wasn't like that everywhere, but it was certainly a very 'free' time." I responded. I hadn't really been paying attention to the movie. I'd been daydreaming again.

Then around five, the movie ended so I decided I should take Bella home. We told Alice we'd see her around seven and went out the back door and into the woods.
"Can we just walk normal for once?" Bella asked.

I laughed. "Normal?"

"You know what I mean."

"Sure, why not." I said.

We walked together in silence, taking in the beauty of the forest. It was nice walking with her. I heard no voices inside my head which was very rare. But I still wished I could know what she was thinking. I stole a glance at her, admiring her beauty. And then I heard something that ruined everything.

Oh her smell is just as tasty as before….

"BELLA, GET ON MY BACK NOW!" I yelled. Without a second's hesitation, she obeyed and I ran, as fast as I could back home.

Wrong way, Edward.

He knew I could hear him…and he was blocking my way home. I had to take her home….

I turned and ran the other direction.

Then I heard a new voice, a woman's, laughing internally and say, Wrong again, little Edward.

He hadn't given up, he'd enlisted help. I ran toward the outskirts of the forest and just as I was close enough to see the clearing I heard Alice and Jasper's thoughts, I just saw it Edward. I came as fast as I could!

But we weren't alone. They were running towards us and this was far from over.

We have the car. Alice thinks we can get away with the car, Jasper thought. We should go to the hospital. Find Carlisle and stay in the public eye. They can't attack her in a place so public.

Jasper's plan seemed best at the moment and I gave it all I had to reach them before the other vampires could.

I could see in their mind they were close, but I was just too fast for them. I broke the clearing and was in the backseat of the car with Bella before they could reach us.

You won't get so lucky next time. The man thought as he watched us speed away.

* * *

"How could he know about our abilities?" Jasper asked.

We were sitting in Carlisle's office an hour later going over what had just happened.

"I don't know." I said. I couldn't figure it out. How did he know I could read minds?

"Well does he know Alice's?" Carlisle asked.

"I think so. I normally would have caught that much sooner. He must have played with the loopholes in my visions."

"Are you okay Bella?" I asked. She hadn't spoken since we'd explained what had happened. She was pale as a ghost and staring off into space while we all sat around trying to deduce how this had happened.

She just weakly shook her head.

"Bella," I said taking her hand. "You're going to be okay. He won't harm a hair on your head."

"It's not that!" She said finally breaking her trance. "This is ridiculous all of you have to take such extraordinary risks trying to keep me safe! Why is he coming after me?! Why am I such a target for him?"

I sighed and exchanged a wary glance with Carlisle. He nodded slightly and I geared myself up to explain, "He's a tracker, Bella. He picks a target and hunts it down until he wins. It's a game for him and he won't stop until we stop him."

Her face turned even paler and said, "You have to kill him?"

I nodded.

She seemed to process that nodded. "So what do we do?"

"We take him down." Jasper said before I could answer.

"Is there any other way?" Carlisle asked.

"There doesn't seem to be. From what I got from his mind today, he won't give up. He's enlisted help—he knows he can't win alone against all seven of us."

Carlisle nodded gravely.

"What terrible timing." Alice said, annoyed.

"Indeed." I agreed.

"Maybe not," Jasper disagreed. "Are they nearby?"

I strained to hear every thought around me. I did not hear either the new woman or the man anywhere close by. "No."

"Okay, I think you should take Bella to South America still. Take a roundabout way of getting there so it makes it difficult to determine where you're going. He won't know where you're going. Carlisle and Esme can protect her father. The rest of us will stay and hunt them. We will wait for them to follow you and follow them."

I considered this. It seemed this would be the best way to go about it. Alice could predict their path and Emmett and Jasper could take them out when they caught up with them.

"I like it." I said.

"I think this will work…" Alice said ominously.

"Regretable…" Carlisle muttered.

"No." Bella said.

"You don't get a vote." I said sternly.

"They're gonna get hurt!" She exclaimed.

"Oh please Bella, there are two of them and six of us. We'll be fine." Jasper said.

"One of you could get hurt! I can't allow this to happen… I won't be able to live with myself if anything happens to any of you."

"Bella, nothing will happen to us. We're strong. And with Alice on our side nothing can even get close to us." Jasper said.

She still didn't look convinced.

"Bella, be good. Listen to Jasper and go with Edward. It's not going to help any of us for you to sacrifice yourself." Alice said.

I saw what her vision had shown her: Bella stumbling around in the forest by herself. I bit back a shudder.

"Bella," I said, holding out my hand.

She looked at me and her eyes softened a bit. She took my hand and said, "Fine. But if anything happens to any of you I'm holding you accountable Alice."

Alice laughed. "Okay Bella."

We hugged Alice, Jasper, and Carlisle.

"Be careful," she told them.

Jasper shrugged her off, smiled and said, "Get outta here already."