A/N: Thanks again for reading! So good to have you here again. Thanks for bearing with me in these expansive spaces between updates. Here is the next chapter! :)

Also, in this chapter, there is a direct quote from Twilight, marked between [...]. Stephanie Meyer gets full credit. I just like to play with her characters.

Hope you enjoy it! See you at the end! :)

Chapter 10: Chip Away at my Resolve

Carlisle's POV

It was a mellow day at the house. Jasper and Emmett were playing an uneventful racing game on the Xbox and Alice was once again immersed in the dangerous world of online shopping. Rosalie was lounging back on the sectional in the game room, splitting her attention between watching the race and sifting through a stack of French fashion magazines. To any observer, we would just appear to be a normal family.

But to us, there was a missing piece, a void which left a silent gaping hole in our coven.

Our family missed Esme's company. As much as we had drifted apart as husband and wife, I still considered her to be a friend. Her presence as a mother figure well rounded the balance in the house and I know the others have missed her as well.

And Edward.

My relationship with my oldest son was suffering and I longed to fix it, which was proving difficult given his absence. The others had tracked him into northern Montana and he had willingly returned, although his efforts to avoid me have doubled. He was now hiding silently in his room. Years ago, on a day like today, Edward would have been filling the house with music, either sounding from his bedroom or tinkling from the piano. Esme loved Edward's compositions and would hum along, matching her paint swatches as she planned the designs for her newest home renovation. She adored the hobby and throughout the years I had indulged her, buying her houses that were neglected or abandoned but still had an irreplaceable charm. She would remodel and restore them, bringing them back to life. We kept the favorites and because of it, we had houses hidden around the world.

Money had stopped being an issue a long time ago.

I had built up a decent savings as a doctor, but our finances took the greatest leap when Alice and Jasper joined the family. With her abilities to predict the future, we played the stock market like a well oiled machine, investing and selling as trends rose and fell. We used several names and brokers so our rapidly increasing wealth would go unnoticed. And now we had more money than we could ever need, which gave us the ability to indulge with luxuries and give sizable contributions to charities and organizations that needed them.

Emmett, always a jokester, gave a yearly donation to Red Cross, and Esme sponsored an orphanage in her hometown. Alice and Jasper changed their donations yearly, depending on what Alice saw needed help the most. Rosalie gave to various organizations to help women who have escaped an abusive spouse, and Edward had several college scholarships he would award yearly to several worthy students who would have been otherwise unable to attend. I myself generally stayed in the world of medicine, donating sizable funds to aid in research to curing diseases. I'm not usually one to brag, but without my influence in the past, polio would have been able to claim populations more than it already had.

I flipped through the pages of yet another medical journal, but the words stared back at me blankly.

Why can I not focus?

"Text her back, Carlisle." Alice had abandoned her laptop and had come over to my side, speaking in a voice so quiet, no other ears could hear over the revving engines in Jasper and Emmett's game. "I know you have been avoiding her and it's torturing you. Stop punishing yourself for falling in love."

I sighed at looked up at her. She had hit the nail on the head.

"She's been worrying about you, wondering what she did wrong to lose your connection. You're not only punishing yourself, but her as well."

I felt my heart lurch. "I don't mean to punish her. I just... I haven't meant to..."

"I thought you weren't going to fight yourself anymore, that you had given into the beautiful future in store for you and Bella."

"I am.. it's just. Perhaps I should wait."

"Wait for what?"

"For Bella to be of age? For the legalized divorce papers from Esme? So many factors in our equation stand on eroding moral ground. And being around her is definitely testing my control."

"You're not going to hurt her, I promise." Alice said softly. "But don't cut her off from your life while you wait. Don't make her think she isn't important to you. Otherwise, she may not be yours by the time you are finally ready to accept her."

My mind flashed with images of Bella wrapped around another man, living out the rest of her mortal days and getting old with someone else by her side. I was shocked at the sudden surge of jealousy that tore through me. The arm of the chair I was sitting in crumpled under my grasp as I forgot my own strength.

Mine.

"See?" Alice pouted."That's not what anyone wants. Now I have to find a new chair." She flounced back to her computer and started clicking away rapidly.

The rest of the week crawled by. I had started to type a note to Bella, but deleted it, frustrated by the how desperate I sounded. She was my anchor and without her holding me to port I was lost, tossed by wave after wave of internal struggle. I complete around her; without her I was a mess.

The house phone rang on Saturday, the sharp tone cutting through the silence of the house. Not many people had this number and I raised my eyebrow as it rang again. Alice and Edward were also home while Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett had left to go hunting. It rang a third time; no one was answering the phone. I ran over to it and picked it up apprehensively.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Carlisle." she breathed.

"Esme?"

"Why do you sound so surprised to hear from me?" she laughed. I haven't heard her laugh like that in awhile and I smiled in spite of myself.

"How have you been?" I asked.

"Better." She stated softly, but the meaning in her tone spoke volumes. She was better, she was happy now without us. "How about you, dear?"

Agonizingly, unquenchably, desperately in love- with someone else.

"Fine."

"I don't believe you. 80 years with me and you still can't lie." She chuckled lightly and I clenched my fist.

"It's been a rough transition for the family. Everybody misses you." I skirted around the real reasons.

"I've missed you guys too, but I've needed this time away." she sighed. "Did Alice tell you?" She sounded guilty.

"About what?"

"That I'm no longer... a vegetarian?"

"Yes. She did."

"I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for." I sighed.

"I... I don't... it's never anyone important . Never anyone who has a family." She tried to reason.

"Everybody has a family, Esme." I said sharply. She was silent. "But you don't have to justify your actions to me. It is your decision to make."

"I know." She was quiet for awhile. "I regret disappointing you."

"Don't let me be any sort of regret for you, Esme. Live your life. The sun rises and the sun sets and we remain unchanged. Don't let regret cloud your future."

"Thanks, Carlisle." There was a silence and my brain fumbled awkwardly and unsuccessfully for something to say. "Is Edward there?" she asked after awhile.

"Edward?" I called out to the house. He was at my side in an instant, holding his hand out for the phone and deliberately avoiding my gaze. I handed him the headset.

"Hey Mom." He mumbled, turning away from me. I left them their privacy, thankful that they have continued to maintain their close relationship, and went to find Alice. She was outside, reclining halfway up a large pine tree, texting furiously away on her new phone.

"Hey, Carlisle." she said. "C'mon up."

I scaled the tree and sat on a branch a few feet away.

"Esme called?" she asked.

"Yes."

"You ok?" She finished her text and looked up at me. I nodded.

"Talking to Esme again just kind of confirms what I have already realized." I fiddled with the needles in the tree, trying to avoid getting sap on my sweater.

"Confirms what? That you are wholly and irreversibly in love with Bella?"

I stared out at the forest, a lush green carpet blanketing the horizon. "Yes." I said it to myself as much as I answered her. And I only hope that Bella feels a sliver of the way I do for her; if so, I could walk this eternity a happy man. "Alice?"

"Mmm?"

"Can you tell me one thing? Just one thing about my future with Bella?"

She paused and thought for awhile, her eyelids flickering as she scanned the future. Suddenly she whipped her head at me, her eyes blazing with fear. If Alice, who could see the future and walked each step with an all knowing confidence, was afraid, then something was horribly wrong.

"She's gone."

"What?"

"I checked on her this morning. She had decided to go to see a friend and was leaving the house. And now, there's nothing. Her future is gone... That has only happened before when..."

When someone has died.

The front door to the house slammed open as Edward flew out and streaked through the trees.

"Oh God." Alice hid her mouth behind her hands. "He saw. He saw it in my head and now he's assumed the worst. He's tracking her and he's furious at you. Between the call with Esme, and now this- he's blaming you for everything. And... I still can't see her!" She wailed.

Bella. Oh, my beautiful Bella. What has happened?

Alice was still stammering behind me, but I couldn't focus on what she was saying. All I could hear was the forest, beating with the trill of hundreds of animals and the whoosh of the trees as Edward sped through them. I launched myself from the branch and followed him. I picked up Bella's scent almost immediately, the recent trail freshest along the road. Edward was the fastest of all of us and I knew my physical limitations would prevent me from catching him. But I had to try.

We were nearing the treaty line, a line forged the last time we inhabited Forks, making a bargin with a group of Native American shape shifters. It was a line that protected our secret and allowed us to hunt and it was a line we were definitely not allowed to cross. Bella's scent grew stronger and I groaned, urging my body to go faster.

If something has happened to her... if she has been taken away from me.

I growled and willed my feet to hit the ground at a faster pace. I ran faster than I had ever pushed myself before. I could see him now, a few miles ahead of me, angrily pacing the road right beside the treaty line. I burst through the trees and landed beside him on the street.

"Edward, I-" I started. Then I noticed the familiar rapid beat of a heart several feet away and I turned.

There she was.

Alive and safe.

"Bella." I breathed in relief. I felt all the tension in my body, everything that had winded, twisted up inside me leave as I took her in, all five feet, four inches of perfection. Her eyes were blazing with confusion and irritation and I took a stop to head towards her.

Edward growled, lower than what her ears could register, but it was enough to stop me. I looked back over at the fiery girl. I longed to gather her up in my arms and thank every deity that she is still with me. "Bella. Thank the heavens you are ok."

"What is going on? Why are you all so worried about me? What am I missing here?" She bit her lip as she anxiously glanced between us for answers.

"Carlisle." Edward was addressing me in a volume too soft for her to hear. "I don't want to start with you right now. Better leave before anyone gets hurt. "

She started to walk towards me and he growled again. "Stop, Edward." I hushed back at him. "If you hurt her..."

"Bella." He hissed at her, ignoring me. "Get away from him." I tried not wince. This was not going to end well.

"Why do you think you can always tell me what to do?" She had whirled around and addressed him directly. "You have no right to try to control me. You don't even know me!" She headed back to me, each step full of determination and I couldn't help but be filled with joy as she joined me. It was bittersweet, having her by my side. Now Edward knows where we really stand, now he knows of my complete betrayal. I looked into her mahogany eyes and sighed in surrender. I no longer belonged to myself. I was hers, entirely.

I smiled at her softly and she seemed to melt.

Now only her rejection would be my end.

Bella's POV

It was Friday and there was still no response back from Carlisle. I didn't want to harass him, but I was worried. It wasn't like him to not reply back to me.

And of course, the illogical side of my female brain assumed the blame for his lack of communication. The 'was is something I did? Did I say something wrong?' thoughts haunted the back of my mind. It was time to go to the Quileute res and talk with Jacob. Maybe he will have more answers. I knew Charlie was trying to play matchmaker as I told him I was leaving to hang with Jacob. No curfew and no rules applies when it came to someone Daddy approved of. I wonder what he would think of Carlisle holding my heart?

I drove to the reservation on the weekend; the drive was peaceful as I wove through the trees. Phoenix had the heat, but Forks had the dewy lush green I had come to adore.

And Carlisle.

I followed Jacob's directions and parked in front of a small weathered red house. The truck's engine turned off with a shudder and the chilly salty air from the sea drifted in as I rolled down my window. Jake came bounding out the front door and he grinned at me.

"Hey, Bella! Glad you could make it!"

"Yea, no problem. It was good to get away for a bit. I needed to get my mind off things."

He came over to the side of my truck and opened the door. "Budge over. We're going to the beach." He tossed a basket on the floor and the truck whinnied to a start again.

The beach was kissed by the morning sun but the warmth was devoured by the sting of the icy sting of the sea breeze. Jacob dropped a wool blanket around my shoulders and set off down the sand.

"C'mon. There's a great tide pool over here!" He called back from over his shoulder.

I took off my shoes, smiling at the feeling of the grains of sand shifting around my toes and followed him down the beach. The tide pool was full of orange and purple starfish, squiggly sea anemones , small racing fish, a few shellfish, and even a few crustaceans. Jacob pried a starfish from the rocks and handed it to me. I stroked the bottom of it, watching hundreds of little feet wiggle back at me.

Weirdly awesome.

After amusing ourselves with the sea creatures, Jacob spread another blanket out a few paces away and opened the basket he brought.

"You hungry?"

"A beach picnic? Are you hitting on me?" I laughed and sat on the blanket, wrapping the other one tighter against me, a shield from the bitter salty air.

Jacob fished out a couple of sandwiches and handed one to me. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I caught a whiff of the smoked bacon that was poking out from under the bread. I took a wolfish bite and Jacob watched me in amusement.

"I guess you were hungry. No reason to insult my picnic." He snickered.

"Yesh, I warsh. Sherry. Dis id fumdestid!" I warbled from around a mouthful of food.

Jacob laughed. "That's gross, Bella."

I swallowed loudly and tried again. "Yes, I was. Sorry. This is fantastic!" I grinned back at him and took another bite. We ate in companionable silence, watching the waves roll in. The tide was pushing closer to the shore and would soon reclaim the pool and creatures that had sought refuge there.

I should take advantage of the lull in conversation. After all, as much fun as the beach is, I did come here with a goal in mind.

How should I start? Should I just be blunt? Might as well.

"So," I started, "How well do you know your Quileute legends?"

Jacob paused mid bite and gave me a curious glance. "Why? You gonna quiz me?" He laughed and finished his bite. "Quileute legends are our history, our bedtime stories, our traditions. I know them like I know my own family."

"So what can you tell me about the 'cold ones'?"

Jacob turned at stared at me incredulously. "How did you hear about them?"

"Just been studying through some Forks history books. There was one on Quileute legends and I thought the 'cold ones' sounded... interesting."

He snorted. "Interesting? Only you, Bella. The cold ones are our monsters under the bed, our villains in stories of heroes and war."

"From what I understand, the Quileute's spirit animal is a wolf, right?" I asked. Jacob nodded and I continued. "And the cold ones are described to be their supernatural enemies. So they are kind of like vampires then?

He chuckled and ran his hands through his hair. "Yea. Kind of exactly like vampires. I can't wait till the tribe hears a Forks newbie has uncovered the tribal secrets." He started in on his second sandwich.

"Is that way you don't like the Cullens? Do the remind you of your mortal enemies?" I joked, nudging him slightly with my shoulder and trying not to seem too anxious for information.

His gaze darkened and he stared out towards the sea. "There's this story I have always been told, over and over so it was memorized before I would even read or write. [The cold ones are traditionally our enemies. But this pack that came to our territory during my great grandfather's time was different. They didn't hunt the way others of their kind did. They weren't supposed to be dangerous to the tribe. So my great grandfather made a truce with them. If they would promise to stay off our lands, we wouldn't expose them."

I tried to keep my tone casual. "So how does it fit with the Cullens? Are they like the cold ones your great grandfather met?"

"No." He paused dramatically. "They are the same ones."]

I froze as my brain flew a million miles a minute. I couldn't fool myself any longer. This world wasn't the same one as the one I grew up in. In the world I knew, vampires stayed in stories, safely stored behind paper and ink but I was wrong; now they lived and breathed among us. What other things have we convinced ourselves are myth? The Loch Ness Monster? Bigfoot?

Holy shit. Anything is possible now.

But a small part of me clung to disbelief. It was time to confront a Cullen. Maybe Alice or Carlisle. I would hope they would be honest.

"Bella, you ok?" Jacob waved his hand in front of my face and I blinked.

"Yea. Sorry. Just thinking."

"Don't worry, Bella. They are just stories." He sounded unconvincing.

"I'm not worried. trust me. I like the Cullens, believe it or not."

He stood up as the waves were now threatening our peaceful encampment. He offered his hand in a gesture to help me up and I took it, standing and brushing the sand from my pants.

"We'd better head back. " he said gruffly, ignoring my earlier comment. "The tide is coming in and it's getting too cold for you."

I let him drive back to his house; it was originally his truck after all.

"I know you like the Cullens. Just be careful, ok?"

"I always am. I kinda have to be with how much I lose my battle with gravity."

He smirked. "You know what I mean."We pulled into the drive in front of his house."Do you want to stay for awhile longer?" He asked. "We are having a bonfire tonight and it would be awesome if you came."

"Maybe another time." I smiled. I was grateful for the offer, but I needed to try to contact Carlisle. I had too many questions buzzing in my head.

Hopefully he will talk to me this time.

"No problem. Anytime, Bella. Just give me a call, ok? Can you make it back alright?" He hopped out of the truck and I slid over on the bench seat.

"I'll be fine. Thanks Jake."

"Like I said Bella, call me sometime. It was fun hanging out today." He waved at me as I drove off.

My mind was whirling with the information that had accumulated this past week. Images of wolves and vampires, fangs and blood, and a familiar pair of gentle ochre eyes.

I drove back to Forks in a daze. My mind was so far away from me, I almost didn't see the figure pacing back and forth in the middle of the road. I slammed on my brakes and winced as they squealed to a stop. The figure whirled around.

Edward? What the fuck?

I jumped out of the cab of the truck and cautiously approached him. He looked upset and ready to trample something.

"Edward? What the hell are you doing in the middle of the street? Is everything ok?"

"Where were you?" He snapped.

I huffed in disbelief. "What's it to you?"

He stared at me blankly. "Alice... Alice had thought that..."

"Thought that what? How did you know I was here?"

Before he could reply, the trees rustled from the forest beside is and I watched in astonishment as Carlisle burst out of the brush, leaping to a stop.

"Edward, I-" He started before turning to notice me beside him. His face melted into relief and he took a step towards me then stopped, glancing over at Edward. "Bella .Thank the heavens you are ok."

"What is going on? Why are you all so worried about me? What am I missing here?" I urged.

I started to move towards Carlisle, but stopped when I saw his eyes darken and his body tense.

"Bella." Edward hissed. "Get away from him." Pain flashed through Carlisle's eyes.

"Why do you think you can always tell me what to do?" I spun around and yelled at him. "You have no right to try to control me. You don't even know me!" I marched over to Carlisle and looked up him. His eyes were clouded, full of a haunted ache I didn't quite understand, but he pulled his lips unto a small smile and I softened.

Vampire or not, he still means everything to me.

"Carlisle, is everything ok? I haven't heard from you in awhile." I addressed him directly, deliberately ignoring the sounds of protest coming from behind me.

"Bella..." He said gently. "We were worried about you. But you're here. And you're ok... so now, everything is fine."

"Why wouldn't I be ok? And why did you come leaping from the trees like a monkey with an ass on fire?"

Carlisle looked over my head to Edward, who glared back at him.

"Carlisle, you can't."

"She will find out eventually." He reasoned.

"Stop."

Carlisle took my hand in his and ran his fingers over my knuckles. Edward snorted in disgust.

"Bella, we were worried about you because Alice-"

"Don't do this, Carlisle!" Edward bellowed. He was rigid, his fists clenched. "You know the rules. What about the Volturi? We can't risk the exposure. "

Carlisle lowered my hand, but didn't release it. "I don't care about them."

"Obviously."

"Edward-" Carlisle started.

"No!" Edward snapped. "There is no need to do this. Bella is clearly in one piece. We can leave and be done with this. Forks is no longer an option for us."

I instinctually stepped closer to Carlisle, closing the gap between us and bringing our side close together. His body was a welcome cool and he gently squeezed my hand in response.

"Don't go." I whispered.

Edward glanced at our joined hands. "Well don't you two make a pretty portrait. I'm sure Chief Swan would love to hear about your recent dabble in statutory rape."

Carlisle's hand twitched but he still didn't let go of mine. His throat rumbled like a jungle cat.

Holy shit, he's literally growling.

"Nothing has happened, Edward." Carlisle's voice was low, his normal tenor deepened with anger.

"I told you before, don't fucking LIE to me." Edward protested. "You're forgetting that I can see the things in your head. Your thoughts disgust me." He turned to point at me."And you, do you have any idea how old he really is?"

Carlisle winced and moved between me and Edward, his grip tightening on my hand.

"Edward." He rumbled. "Calm down." His eyes were focused on Edward, never letting him a pace out of his sight as he stormed in a half circle around us.

"How dare you tell me to calm down?! This is all your fault! You knew what she was to me!" Edward was losing control, his hands tightened into fists and his eyes were dark with steely rage.

"Whoa!" I interrupted. "I'm not your anything, Edward." I tried to step around my golden eyed bodyguard to confront him properly, but Carlisle mirrored my movements exactly, effectively keeping me behind his protective stance.

Damn he's fast.

"For fucks sake, I'm not going to hurt her." Edward sneered. "You don't have to think the worst of me."

They stared at each other, the silence mounting in tension.

A snarl ripped from Edward's throat and it went straight through to my bones. It was an inhuman sound, a warning to other creatures to retreat and find shelter from the beast it belonged to. Carlisle's growl intensified and he tracked Edward's pacing. He was now practically circling us, his movements growing more and more exaggerated.

"Bella." Carlisle pleaded, his voice broken. "Leave. Now. Get in that blasted truck of yours and go. Please."

"I'm not leaving you." I whispered. I held his hand with both of mine. Edward's eyes were nearly black as he looked at me, the intensity of his fury nearly wilting me in its wake.

"You'd better listen to him, Bella." He hissed. "Go home."

"No." My voice was more confident than I felt.

Carlisle's solid frame took a step in reverse and pressed against me, his arms reaching back to wrap around me and he pulled me closer to him.

"You beautiful, stubborn girl." He whispered.

And then the ground was flying beneath me feet as I was lifted and braced against his back. I clung to him as he ran, watching the world disappear into a smeared, streaky blur. He was far faster than I imagined and I closed my eyes in an attempt to keep myself centered.

"He's faster than me." I heard him say. "He's going to catch up soon."

Faster? How could he be faster than this?

The trees rushed around me like snow in a windstorm and I wrapped my arms and legs around Carlisle, hanging onto him in desperation. I nuzzled my face into his shoulders, his warm scent instantly easing my motion sickness. We were slowing now and Carlisle tilted his head towards me.

"He's coming. Stay out of the way."

Just as quick as he had grabbed me, he released and I found myself falling roughly onto a large fern bush.

Oooph.

I scrambled out of the bush and spotted Carlisle about 20 yards away. He was crouched and focused on the forest around him. He tensed, his muscles flexing under the snug fabric of his grey sweater and he braced himself as a blur from the right struck him with a thud. They flew backwards into a tree, the air peppering with little pops and cracks as the tree succumbed to their force and fell.

A scream echoed through the woods. It may have been me.

They moved fast, too fast for my eyes to see everything. But by their movements I could tell that Edward was on the offense and Carlisle was trying his best to avoid his attacks. They struggled against another tree which collapsed immediately, dominoing a smaller tree beside it. I heard them shouting at each other, but was I too far away to make out any words. Edward lunged at Carlisle again, who quickly leapt over him and away, but Edward was a step faster and whirled around, grabbing Carlisle out of the air and slamming him into the ground. He was on him in an instant, pummeling blow after blow at his head.

I shouted at him to stop, but the wind carried away my desperate plea and, despite Carlisle's warning, I crept closer.

They had created a clearing. Trees, bushes, and underbrush were demolished and Carlisle's cheek was pressed against the earthen floor as Edward held him down. He was pinning him with a knee in the back, a hand on his head, and the other twisting his arm and shoulder back at a strained angle.

It was the position of a hunter before snapping the neck of his prey.

"Damn it, Carlisle! I know you're making this easy on me. Fight back!" Edward shouted.

"No!" I screamed, and ran forward, tripping against the fallen branches.

Carlisle's gaze met mine as I approached and I gasped.

His face looked broken.

Literally, his face had cracked in several places, splitting across the bridge of his nose, up into his forehead, then wrapping around her cheek and jaw. Edward pressed him harder into the forest floor and I watched in horror as his face chipped even more. Carlisle saw me shudder and his eyes fluttered closed.

"Edward, stop!" I yelled. I stood about seven feet from them now, my heart aching to continue forward, to save him, but my brain had rooted my feet to the ground in terror.

Edward ignored me and pulled back further on Carlisle's arm. Carlisle groaned in pain.

"Fight! Fight back!" Edward roared.

Why wasn't he defending himself?

I glanced anxiously at him and my heart broke, shattering like the cracks on his face. His eyes were tightly closed and a few chips rolled away like unclaimed tears.

"I don't want to fight you, Edward. It was never my intention to hurt you. I have no reason to now." He murmured.

"Shut the fuck up and fight me!"

"Please. Please, Carlisle. I can't lose you." I pleaded. I could feel the tears burning hot against my eyes and I blinked them away angrily.

Why had he given up?

"Please. I love you." I whispered.

His eyes snapped open and bore into mine, an endless pool of liquid gold. I felt like I was drowning again and I let out a sob. There was a loud chunking noise, like rocks crumbling against each other and a reverberating snap as Carlisle wrenched himself up and away from Edward's grasp, throwing him backwards into the trees and leaving him clutching a clenched, twitching arm.

What. The. Fuck.

Carlisle's arm had broken clean off at the bicep and he was wincing in pain, although no blood spilled from the wound. He snatched his arm from Edward's surprised grasp and snarled, a sound that ripped through the forest, sending dozens of birds fleeing from the surrounding trees. Edward's earlier grumble was a puppy whimper in comparison and it raced through my core, sending me shivering from both fear and pleasure. This man, who is the definition of kindness, saving lives every day with his gentle hands, had a hidden streak of raw animalistic power.

And he was mine.

Carlisle suddenly swung his broken arm with the grace of a profession baseball player and it collided soundly with the square of Edward's jaw, twisting him up into the air. A quick whipping motion had it crashing back down onto Edward's chest, slamming him firmly downwards.

Edward landed flat on his back with a hard thud, sinking slightly into the ground. A billow of dirt followed him and he let out a muffled moan. The dismembered arm was dropped to the forest floor and landed with a heavy stone thud. Carlisle sank to his knees and brought the fist of his working arm up to his mouth, his inner anguish evident on his face as he stared at Edward. He glanced over at me and I tripped over myself again in a scramble to get to his side.

"Bella." He rasped. "I-"

"Everybody stop!" A shriek sounded out from around us and I watched as Alice appeared in a streaky flash, Jasper only a step behind her. She quickly zipped to stand between Carlisle and Edward, who was starting to sit up, glaring at the rest of us.

Emmett and Rosalie sped in from the right and Emmett let out a low whistle as he surveyed the damage.

"Damn, Alice. You weren't joking. Looks like we got here just in time." He noted.

"We should have gotten here sooner." Rosalie said softly, looking straight at me. "Bella looks terrified."

"She's ok." Jasper assured. "Just in a little bit of shock."

"Carlisle? Do you need help with your arm?" Alice gestured towards his arm, which he had picked up and was it flexing in his hand.

"If you wouldn't mind."

I glanced up at him, noting the defeat in his voice. She stepped up to him, pulling some wrap bandages out of her pocket.

Man, she is prepared.

Carlisle stood and brought the broken end of his arm up to his mouth, biting it in a few places and then handing it to Alice. She ripped the sleeve from his sweater and pressed his arm gently against its other half. Alice slid it into place and Carlisle hissed as the two pieces joined together. She wrapped the arm in the bandages and turned to me.

"He will heal fast. Don't worry, Bella. These bandages will be pointless after about an hour."

Edward stood up, brushing the dirt from his shirt. His gaze was black as he crossed his arms. "I can hear all the cursing about me. I know how angry you guys are right now. No need to say anything." He looked over to me. "Especially in front of her."

"Too bad, bro." Emmett barked. "We're not through with you yet."

Rosalie smirked. "The things in my head are nice compared to the things I have to say to you."

"But," Alice interrupted, "we will spare Bella from your whining. Carlisle, can you take Bella away from here? She looks like she may need some questions answered. We'll finish up here and head back to the house. We can have our family meeting later."

Carlisle nodded gratefully and turned to me, holding out his hand. I took it eagerly and Edward snorted.

"Just because we are saving the meeting for later doesn't' mean you are off the hook now, Edward. We still have a bone to pick with you." Jasper drawled.

Carlisle frowned and bit his lower lip nervously. "No need to go overboard on him. I'm sure we can work it out."

"Don't worry. We're not going to hurt him." Rosalie said sweetly. Edward winced and rubbed his brow, looking back at Rosalie sharply. "At least not physically."

"Now babe, be nice."Emmett chuckled.

They launched into a loud conversation and Edward stood there, solemnly taking their verbal abuse.

I felt almost bad for him. But not quite considering the state he had put Carlisle in.

And then I had to go and tell him I loved him. There goes the cat, right out of its bag.

"Are you ok?" I turned to Carlisle, my voice quiet.

He looked at me, his face pulled into complete bewilderment. I squeaked as he swooped me under the knees with his good arm and held me tight with his bandaged one. I closed my eyes and pressed my face against his chest. And then we were running again, leaving the raised voices of the arguing vampires behind us.

A/N: Soo? What did you think? I'm most nervous with the way Edward may be coming across. He's not evil, just extremely selfish and surly. AND now Bella knows the biggest secret. How will the talk between Carlisle and Bella go? Well, that will be next. :)