A/N: So, for some reason, this little short chapter got done pretty quick, and I thought... Hmm... I'll go ahead and post it now, rather than carry it on and make everyone wait. Maybe I'll have another one up by next weekend. Two in one week? Now, that would be cool.

Please leave a review, guys. It really makes my day and keeps the muse happy!

Also, don't forget, there is still a thread at the forum over at Twilighted . Net I had a sneak preview of this, earlier and I plan to continue posting sneak peaks throughout the story, so if you ever get to wondering what's up, before a chapter is out, that's the place to check.

Thanks again, guys! You've been great!


Bella

Have you ever noticed that whenever you go out, the trip back always feels like it takes much longer than the initial trip out?

That's exactly how I felt while making my way out of the woods and back to the house that I had begun to call home.

I felt panicked. I didn't want to see Edward, or talk to him at all. I was beyond furious with him and still hurt beyond words. So, how was I going to avoid him, and still manage to collect some of my belongings?

I stopped for a moment to lean against a big oak tree and catch my breath while I tried to think of what I was going to do.

Just because Edward was there didn't mean that I would have to talk to him, did it? I'm a big girl. I could just march right through that house, throw on some clothes, stuff a bag and walk right back out. How hard could it be? Ha, right! More likely, I would fall through the door, burst into tears and make a big ol' blubbering fool of myself. No, Bella, you'd do better to stick to the idea of avoiding him, altogether. Oh! But, wait!

I was beginning to get an idea.

Emmett's room was on the other side of the house. Perhaps, if I could get his attention, he would help me. After all, he was the one who said that I ought to stop letting Edward control my life. He was sure to be on my side! Of course, if Rosalie was with him, I could probably forget about getting away unnoticed, but maybe, just maybe she would be preoccupied with something else…

My plan of action decided, I was just about to continue my trek home when I was overcome with a strong feeling that I was being watched. Sweeping my hair back from my face, I scanned the woods around me and saw nothing, but the feeling remained.

I should have been frightened. Most people in their right minds, especially people with a highly reliable ability to attract badness to themselves, would be. But I wasn't. If anything, I had an overpowering urge to walk out into the woods in search of what was out there. Perhaps, it was only because anything seemed less terrifying than what I was already preparing to do.

I hesitated a moment longer, still staring out into the darkness, nearly certain that someone or something was out there, looking right back at me, and halfheartedly wishing that whatever it was would just come out after me and be done with it, before I turned and forced myself to run back towards the house.

My legs felt like lead, and I forced myself to run faster. I resisted the irrational urge to turn and dash straight back into the darkness to whatever awaited me, there. As I broke through the trees, and into the clearing, the silence of the night was broken by the wailing cries of wolves.

I cut a wide path around the front of the house, hoping that I would not be seen and headed toward the back.

"You took longer than I expected you to," Alice's voice called to me, from the balcony just outside Emmett's window.

"Alice!" I whispered, "I need your help… I can't stay here-"

"You don't have to tell me," Alice cut me off mid-sentence. "Bella, I need you to know that I had no idea! I should have. I should have seen it, but I didn't! I am so sorry, Bella. I never would have believed Edward would do something like this."

"I know," I said. And, truthfully, I did. As far as I was concerned, Alice had been a sister to me long before Edward and I had taken our vows.

"Where's Edward?" I asked, I don't want him to know that I'm here."

"He's out looking for you," another voice that I knew to be Rosalie's came from behind Alice. I hadn't noticed her sitting on the patio chair, off to the side of her sliding door. "As usual, he's off and running to save his precious Bella from herself."

"Oh, give it a rest, Babe!" Emmett groaned, as he also stepped out onto the balcony. This was turning into quite the family affair.

"Hey, Bella!" Emmett leaned over the railing and beamed at me. So, it looks like old Eddie finally dug himself a hole he couldn't dig himself out of, huh? So, do I get to break his arm now, or what?"

I winced. Even after what Edward had done, I couldn't ever imagine wanting to see him hurt, even if he would heal immediately. Besides, a broken arm would do nothing to ease the pain he had caused my heart.

"Emmett," Alice scolded, "Cut it out. This isn't funny, at all. Edward's really hurt her."

"You think I don't know that?" He asked, his head turning toward her sharply, "I saw it coming, you know. Yeah! That's right, me. You aren't the only one in this family who sees stuff. I'm a guy. I know how we think. And, it isn't always with the head on our shoulders, sis!"

I could hear Rosalie make a gagging sound, from behind them. "Emmett, that's just gross," she complained.

"Yeah, well, you don't think it's so gross, when it's just you and me, Rose," he retorted.

Ew!

I squinted my eyes and waved my arms, hoping to get their attention, "Okay, okay! T M I! That's more than I need to know!"

"Look," I said, " I just need to get some things. Do you think Edward is going to be back soon?"

I jumped in surprise as another figure stepped out from around the side of the house.

"No," Carlisle said, sadly. "I don't believe he will be back for several hours. He thinks that you are on your way to Charlie's. I expect him to wait outside with the car for some time.

"Oh, Carlisle," I started, "I… I can't go back to Charlie's. Not yet and especially if Edward is looking for me, there. I don't want to talk to him, right now."

I could feel myself starting to shake, again. I blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over. I was so tired of crying!

"And, I can't stay here, either," I finished, in a whisper. "And, I'm so sorry about all of this. I didn't mean to stir up so much drama. Ever since I've come into your lives, it's been one thing after another-"

"Nonsense," he replied. "You always blame yourself. You were not the cause of anything."

Carlisle stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me in a fatherly embrace.

"It is I who am sorry. I cannot undo what Edward has done, but I can and will do whatever I can to help you, Bella. I love Edward as if he truly was my very own child, but that doesn't mean that I cannot recognize when he has made an irreparable mistake. I can only hope that we have not lost you, as the result of it."

"No," I sniffled and clung to him, tightly. "I love you all, too much. And, I love Edward too… I just don't know if we can come back from this. I thought he trusted me…" I stopped trying to explain. Words just didn't exist to describe what I was feeling.

I heard a car start, and looked up to see the soft glow of headlights cutting a path across the lawn. I looked up at Carlisle who smiled at me, softly, despite the sadness in his warm golden eyes.

"Esme is starting the car and getting it warm for you," he said, "If it is time you need, then you can take all the time that you want. We are your family, Bella. And, we will love and support you, no matter what decisions you should choose."

"There's a hotel that we know of, on the edge of town," Alice chimed in, from the balcony. "The rooms are to die for! We could have the coolest sleep-overs!"

"But, I still need to get my things together," I said, and was surprised as Emmett strolled up to me carrying my backpack and a couple of large duffel bags.

"Already on it," he said, with a wink, "Although, you might have to go inside long enough to get dressed… Alice made me leave one outfit in your closet."

"Yes, please do," Rosalie's voice called down to us, "I, for one, have seen enough of your barely-there body, standing around in a practically see-through nightgown, for one evening."

See through?

For the first time since I left the house, I took a really good look at the gown I had been wearing. To my horror, she was right. The damp night air had caused the thin fabric to stick to me in ways that did nothing to conceal my figure.

I felt the flush start at my scalp and scald its way down to my toes as I practically flew around the house to get inside.

Even running up the stairs to my room, I felt as if I would burst into flames from embarrassment as I could hear Emmett trying, unsuccessfully, to suppress a chuckle, at my expense, followed by a comment to Rosalie.

"Oh, Babe… That wasn't nice!"