Hi All

This chapter is pretty... good? I dunno. Funny. Weird. Angry. All that.

Hope u like. Pay attention to the bolded, in brackets message. That is semi-important.

As I packed, I couldn't help but wonder about when Dad got home. How was I going to tell him that I needed to go to Phoenix? How the hell was he going to take the fact that Mum had been hurt? It had been obvious when I'd first come here to live permanently with him that he had never fully gotten over Mum and that he blamed himself for our leaving.

I was overtaken by those memories of that day.

I hadn't wanted to leave, and it hurt to see Dad lose everything he'd ever really needed. I wanted to stay, but needed my mother; someone who was a freak, like me... Who would understand me and how I was feeling... What I was going through.

I had screamed for my 'daddy' the whole way to Phoenix and didn't sleep well for weeks… months even.

I shuddered, but I was snatched from my thoughts when the phone rang.

I jumped at the shrill, demanding tone, but quickly recovered and raced down the stairs to the kitchen.

"Hello?" I said breathlessly.

"Bella," dad said; shit.

"Hi Dad," I tucked my hair behind my ear nervously and swallowed. "Is something wrong?"

"Well, I heard about your Mum, Bella. Obviously you're going, but I don't want you going alone."

The worry in his tone was forefront. "It's ok Dad, actually, um… the Cullens are coming with me… and Tommy came by today."

There was a moment of silence before "the Cullens?"

I gulped; my father could be very scary when he wanted to be. I forced my training out on me and regained my nonchalance before I said "yes; that's right. I am dating Edward Cullen and I met his family today and Carlisle is a doctor and well… they want to come with me for moral support and I want Carlisle as my doctor and he wants to help my mum."

To my extreme surprise, Dad didn't argue. He must really like the Cullens, I thought with a smile. "Alright, if you trust them Bella…"

"I do," I answered, hoping he could hear it in my voice if not my words.

He grunted a little, "wait for me to come home before you leave, please Bella."

That was to be expected. "Alright, I don't mind."

He sighed; it sounded like a sigh of relief. "Goodbye Bells, I'll see you soon. I'm leaving now."

"See ya soon, Dad," I said and the cut dead.

"Dad's leaving work now, guys," I breathed out.

I knew they heard.

I went back upstairs to see Edward packing my back.

I smiled at his helpfulness. "Thanks, sweetheart; you didn't have to do that, you know."

Edward smiled too. "I know."

"I love you," I said and went over to help him with my bag.

"I love you too," he said and pecked me on the lips when I looked at him distractedly.

I suddenly realized something. "Shouldn't you all be at yours… packing too?"

He smiled at me, "Alice went already; she buys for us and doesn't really trust the men enough to let them pack their own bags."

I nodded, thinking, "where are the others?"

"They are downstairs with Tommy; he's like a magnet. They want to make sure that he is alright." He looked back at me, stopping our packing.

I frowned, "our condition is probably going to get worse; we'll get weaker and may eventually be sick."

Edward frowned too, not liking that. "Thank you for warning me.. I don't think I would like to only figure that out whilst witnessing it."

I ran the tips of my fingers over his forehead, getting rid of the frown instantly. "I know, but you are still not going to like it; I know that much."

"Hm," Edward said curtly, obviously thinking about what might happen rather than being mad at me.

The door opened and shut then and I took Edward down the stairs to meet Dad.

"Bells?" Dad said as I came into view. I went to him and he grabbed me in a tight, comforting hug. "How are you going?"

I merely nodded my head, not trusting my voice. I closed my eyes and squeezed Dad tighter.

"Bella.. too.. tight," Dad wheezed out and I let go of him instantly.

"Shit," I cussed under my breath before apologizing louder.

Dad smiled his eye-crinkling smile, "that's alright Bells. You're just too strong, is all."

I smiled at him too before remembering the rest of the Cullens were in the room too. "Dad, the Cullens are here. You wanna meet them or something?"

He nodded, walking into the living room. He paused when he saw the broken vase.

"My powers are out of control because of Mums condition… you know what I mean."

Dad nodded too, "no need to explain, I saw it happen to your mother once."

I nodded stiffly. "Anyway, uh… these are the Cullens." I looked at Carlisle and Esme, who had already come to stand in front of Dad. "Carlisle and Esme.. this is my Dad, Charlie. Dad this is Carlisle and Esme."

They shook hands and retreated.

The 'kids' stayed where they were. I decided to go across the room, ending with Edward. I pointed vaguely at the people as I said their names, "Rosalie and Emmett," they smiled. "Alice and Jasper," Alice bounced excitedly, waving at a startled Charlie until Jasper wrapped an arm around Alice's waist. She calmed immediately and I nearly laughed. I turned to Edward who also almost laughed. "This is Edward, Dad."

Edward was the only one who came forward, but he did so with a confidence that mad my qualms wash away.

"Hello, sir," Edward held his hand out and Charlie shook it, assessing Edward.

I groaned, "Dad, stop assessing Edward. Please."

They all chuckled but Dad and Edward otherwise ignored my outburst.

"Edward, you're my daughter's boyfriend… call me Charlie," my father said with a laugh. Edward joined him.

I checked the time. We had around two hours to kill… "Dad, your dinner-" I broke off, suddenly remembering that I'd never gotten it out. "Shit! I never got it out."

I was about to race to the kitchen, when suddenly I grew weak again. "Oh," I gasped out, falling to my knees.

"Bella," Edward gasped at the same time and came to me, lifting me in his arms with ease.

"Edward," I murmured. "Too.. weak.."

My head lolled to the side; I had no energy.

My eyes closed as I felt myself be put down on something comfy.

20 minutes later…

I heard the voices around me faintly. They grew steadily louder.

I heard Edward's pacing, Charlie's concern and Carlisle and Esme's comfort. Alice's silent reassurances to Edward, Jasper's panicking at the frenzy of the situation. Rosalie and Emmett were nowhere, I heard.

I opened my eyes. No one really noticed. I thought about clearing my throat, but realized that I still had very little energy.

"Edward," I whispered and was joined a few seconds later.

Edward stared intently into my eyes. "Are you alright? You had me so worried. You've been out twenty minutes."

Fucking he-.. Twenty minutes?

I sighed softly and tried to raise my hand to caress Edward's still-concerned face.

I frowned and mumbled a cuss.

Edward's concern only deepened as he asked, "what, love?"

He bent down to hear me, though I knew it was only a show. "Can't lift my arms.. no fudging energy."

I couldn't even cuss right.

Edward chuckled at my terminology. He looked at our parents. "Carlisle, sorry to interrupt, but Bella's awake and she's having trouble moving; she says she has no energy."

Carlisle came into view then as did Charlie and Esme.

"Alright," Carlisle said, frowning in concentration. "Is this a normal reaction, Bella?"

"Yeah.." I whispered; Carlisle nodded.

"I'd say that this was what Bella had warned us about, son," Carlisle looked at Edward, communicating silently with his adopted son.

I saw Edward nod then turn back to me, taking my hand. I felt myself get stronger with the touch, subtle as it was. "Bella, did you know it would be this serious?"

I shook my head, really slowly.

Bad fucking idea; I was instantly hit with a sickening nausea.

Tommy came into view with a bucket. He didn't look so good either.

"Tommy.." I whispered. He handed me the bucket. "You don't look too good y'self. Y'need to rest.."

Tommy nodded and climbed onto the couch, huddling into me. I smiled weakly in response.

"Bella," Carlisle said. "Tommy is obviously handling this better than you. Does it have to do with you being the chosen one?"

I shrugged my shoulders, faintly.

"Do you think you will be able to communicate with Tommy in your mind or are you too weak?"

I shook my head. "Tommy's… on… lockdown."

They looked to Tommy for answers this time and I closed my eyes, leaning into Edward's body numbly.

"Means I can't use my powers… that wat Bewa did wen she stop me fwom going to mum earlia."

I heard grunts of understanding.

"Bella," Edward whispered, too low for the others to hear. I kept my eyes closed, but let my lips twitch, telling him I had heard him. "We need to know how to get you better; is there anything we can do?"

I frowned slightly, a small change in my mouth, telling him there wasn't.

"How do you do it?" He whispered, but this time it was louder so Tommy could hear as well. "How do you stop all this?"

"Connection ceremony," Tommy said, his reply muffled as he burrowed into my shirt. I could tell that he was starting to get affected by the whole ordeal.

I rubbed Tommy's back as Edward contemplated this, still holding my hand comfortingly.

"We need to be reunited with them and go through the connection ceremony. But no one really knows off by heart what you have to do," I whispered then sighed deeply, calming down again.

Edward looked up and asked for Carlisle to come here.

He did and Edward told him, "Carlisle, the only way to end this is to get the two of them together and for them to perform the 'connection ceremony'."

Carlisle thought this over. "Well, what does such a ceremony entail?"

Edward shook his head, "that's just the thing; none of their kind actually remember it."

Carlisle frowned, concentrating. "How would we find information about it?"

Everyone thought for a moment. Edward answered "it may be in The Book."

"Probs," I said and they laughed at my slang. I just shrugged it off, too weak to do anything else. "Time?"

Tommy answered immediately, "half an hour to go before we need to leave."

I nodded weakly. "Tommy, go to sleep."

Tommy was usually stubborn, but even he knew that that was for the best. He curled up the way he had before and was asleep not thirty seconds later.

I stroked his hair and closed my eyes…. Drifting…

A little while later...

I woke up in a car, rested against a cold chest. My mouth seemed… wet?

I opened my eyes, lifting my arms to rub my eyes with the back of my hands.

"Shh," Edward cooed. I smiled; Edward could be so sweet. "We're nearly at the port. We are running on time, so don't worry." He paused and I felt movement; he was looking at my face. He examined it and when I was about to ask a question, he continued, "Tommy is in the other car with Rosalie, Emmett and Esme. Your father stayed at home… it was our idea. He knew that you wouldn't exactly feel like saying a proper goodbye when you had just woken up."

I smiled and tilted my head to kiss his jaw in a way of thanks.

I tried to turn my head to the head of the car, but it wouldn't turn. I whimpered; anyone who truly knew me knew that I hated feeling vulnerable and out of control of anything.

Edward's fingers brushed up and down my arm "it's ok, love. Tommy is reacting the same way… though, not as badly it seems." I whimpered again and he quickly backtracked. "Pretty badly though and he's taking it worse than you are… Please don't worry love. Everything will be ok soon. I won't let anything happen to you, I swear."

"Mm-hmm," I whimpered; it was all I could do really, besides speak, and I didn't really want to at that moment. "Who's in the car with us?"

Edward didn't take his eyes off me, "Carlisle, Alice and Jasper."

I smiled again. These were all people that I felt most comfortable with. Actually, I felt comfortable with all except Rosalie.

"Bella," Carlisle's voice broke through the silence with a calm, soft but yet louder voice than Edward's. "We're just arriving in front of the jet. Will you be able to walk or do you need Edward to carry you?"

My eyes flashed to my legs and I tried to move them. They were heavy, but they did move. Edward caught the movement and whispered "I'll carry you, love; you're too weak. Please, let me take care of you."

My eyes were wet; whether it was necessarily because of his caring words – which were foreign to me – or the whole bloody situation, I had no idea. I tilted my head to kiss his jaw again.

Edward kissed my forehead just as the car stopped. Alice, Jasper and Carlisle got out and in a few seconds Alice was at the other side, opening the door for us.

She took me gently into her arms and I closed my eyes, deciding it was better than anything else I could do. In a few more seconds, I was back in Edward's arms as heading off to the pilot of the jet.

I opened my eyes when we stopped and saw a sweet-looking man. He was of average height and build. His hair, a jet black was full of product and his eyebrows overly tinted. You could see the hint of the face moisturiser just at his forehead. Then there was the clearly visible underwear from a very decisive brand.

"Gay," I muttered under my breath. I felt Edward shake with laughter and the rest of the Cullens merely chuckle under their breath.

Edward nodded once and that was all the confirmation I needed.

"Miss. Swan?" The nervous pilot called softly, swallowing back saliva.

"Yes," I said as loudly as I could. "I am she."

He swallowed; it was so cute when someone was nervous around their superior. "Ma'am, we are ready for take-off. Your Grandmother, Ms. Dwyer, said that I answer to you."

I smiled warmly at him, "yeah, I guess you do. Don't worry, though, I'm pretty fair when I want to be."

He smiled hesitantly at me and with that went up the stairs and disappeared into the plane.

"Edward," I said and he looked down at me. "The interior is a lot nicer than most private jets. When we get in there, can you please just put me on the couch and lie down with me? Hold me?"

He nodded and wordlessly led me into the plane, the Cullens following suit wordlessly.

4 hrs and counting later...

The plane ride was annoying at best, though as we crept slowly to my mother, I got steadily better. Not enough to make me what I was earlier today, but I most definitely was able to move my body parts without the heaviness and everything that went on. I was also able to stay awake the whole time, which - considering how weak I had been before – was a big improvement. Tommy and I hadn't 'seen' anything more when it came to our mother, which was a huge relief; the pain that came along with those 'visions' really was too much to bear at best.

So here I sat, anxiously waiting for the moment when I could get out of this god forsaken private jet and into the black Mercedes that would be waiting at the end of the line. Being a spy, this is what you get. The fucking attention; I suppressed a shudder.

I got up from my seat, Edward coming with me, our electric connection absolutely thriving between us.

"Love, who's picking us up when we land?" His voice was a soothing background noise. He wrapped his arms around my waist as we looked out the slightly-larger-than-normal window. It had taken over four hours to get to Phoenix and we were going to arrive at ten at night (Phoenix time zone).

"Amun Cheney… He's my trainer and a close family friend. He trained Abby as well…" I bit my lip; this was going to be an interesting reunion. My beeper had gone of a lot of times, my whole workplace knew this, but I didn't really care at the time.

He was going to fucking take my head when he found out.

"What has you worried?" Edward asked softly, nuzzling his face in my hair.

I sighed; Edward would freak when I told him. "I'll tell you later; it isn't important."

Not important, my ass, I thought snidely.

Edward just nodded, breathing in as I hummed with contentment.

We got back in our seats shortly after that. Despite my telling him that I was as stronger and unbreakable than he thought me to be, Edward was convinced that I needed to sit down during the landing.

Overprotective, overreacting vampire.

As soon as we had landed, I got out of the seat. I loved standing when we landed, but since that wasn't allowed… Well, I made sure I stood for this part; the long, droning drive in.

We stopped and the Gay pilot came out to bid us farewell; he really was quite a cute marshmallow. I smiled warmly, cordially saying goodbye and stepped out of the plane.

I hesitated… Breathing in Phoenix; my former home. I hadn't really missed this place, just the people and memories that came along with it. The heat and sun I could have done without easily.

I spotted the Midnight Mercedes and the Asian man leaning against it, facing us.

I smiled to myself. Amun Cheney looked exactly the same as he did the day I left.

Cheney wasn't really the emotional type. He knew how to keep the personal shit personal and business… Well, business. He was my mentor and whilst I stayed in this hellhole of a climate, he was my father. I hardly saw my real one, so he was everything that a biological father was to their child.

I walked down the steps slowly, taking everything in. Remembering…

I walked up to the man I had missed since the day I left, both of us sharing smiles, grim as they were to the situation.

"BB," he said, wrapping me up in an embrace. "How was the plane ride?"

"Fine; the pilot was gay." I stated, pulling back to an arm's length, facing his head on.

He raised an eyebrow. "How do you know?"

I snorted "oh please. The underwear, remnants of moisturising cream on his forehead, the black eyebrows overly tinted… oh, and there is the product in his hair. A foul load of it, too."

He laughed sardonically, "I put product in my hair."

I snorted again, sarcastically. "No, you wash your hair; there's a difference."

Amun shook his head, before looking over my head to the Cullens. I turned around to introduce them.

"Guys, this Amun Cheney.. my mentor and a really close family friend." Amun smiled at them. "Amun, these are the Cullens. That's Edward my boyfriend, Rosalie and Emmett, Carlisle and Esme and Alice and Jasper."

Tommy was running up to us by then, having left Rosalie's arms. "And you of course know Tommy…"

Tommy jumped into Amun's arms and he caught him, hugging the toddler to him. "Hello, my little rascal."

"Hello Mun-Mun."

We all laughed; Tommy was just too cute sometimes.

"What's the situation?" I asked, looking at Amun seriously. His whole expression changed. Business man Amun.

"You mean your mother or work?" He asked and I flinched at his words and tone. Boy, was he angry. "I'm not impressed Bella. We gave you that beeper so that – when you were in danger – you could be prepared and we could be prepared. Don't think we don't know when it goes off. It goes to our system, and since you moved away from the base and you're second in charge, we keep tabs on you very carefully. When you get paged or beeped you fucking well notify us regardless of the fact that it ends up in our system. Have you been hit yet?"

"No," I said. "I was prepared for it, but most of the time I was in school. I-"

He cut me off, blaringly. "Tell me you have your gun with you."

"I do. I was just about to fucking telling you that." We were really getting pissed now. Nice fucking reunion, eh? "I prepared myself, I waited and nothing fucking happened! So, I let it go and got on with school work and social affairs."

Amun sighed; he saw that I was right and decided to leave it. Good. "Alright, alright. We need to get going, unfortunately some people are waiting for you when we arrive that the hospital."

I didn't need to hear anymore. "The Paps? Are you fucking kidding me?"

"I'm sorry Bella. But given the fight between you and your Grandmother… and the fact that you're back in town… because your mother is in hospital.. what did you expect?"

I snorted. "Well, I was kinda hoping for some piece and fucking quiet." I thundered in the middle of the abandoned airport. "I was certainly not thinking that the fucking paparazzi might be waiting for me." I paused, thinking. "Hold up; how did they hear about this anyway? Are they following my family again?"

If they thought their job was dangerous. Well, I'd give them something to really fear. I smiled evilly in spite of myself.

"Bella," Edward said and I turned to see the Cullens examining me… Trying to see my worth; or at least that's what it felt like to me. "Paparazzi follow you because of your job?"

I nodded, "my job and the fact that one of my greatest enemies – both in work and outside of work – is my own Grandmother. That's not exactly something you see every day."

They all nodded. Edward came up to me and whispered "you never cease to amaze me, love."

I smiled and pecked him on the lips before turning back to Amun. "Well," I said gruffly, shoving my hands in my pockets. "Let's get going then."

I was uptight; I wanted to see my mother, but I also needed to get through the paparazzi.

Amun appraised me, carefully. "Don't you think you should change?"

I had been one point away from snapping. His words made me lose it.

"No," I practically shouted at him. "I am sorry if what I wear isn't fucking good enough for you, but what you see is what you bloody well get!" He looked at me, not daring to say anything. "What? Do you not like this? Ok… so let's change it to something like this." I snapped my fingers, and I was instantly standing in a midnight blue, slightly heart-shaped top cocktail dress. (ALL DRESSES ON MY PROFILE, EASILY FOUND.. IF LINKS DON'T WORK, PLEASE PM me) I left it for a few seconds, before shouting again, "too dressy? How about this?" I snapped my fingers again. I was now sitting in a dressy black top that cut down the valley of my breasts stopping just at the line of my black bra. It was a little tight and was accompanied by light blue skinny jeans. They stared at me in disbelief of my little outburst. I laughed bitterly at the possibility that they didn't like whatever they were seeing. "No, no, I think that I will, in fact, wear this!"

I flashed into what I had originally been wearing, effectively ending my rant with a smirk on my face. I turned to fully face the Cullens.

They stared at me for a few seconds before-

"Just thought I would tell you, Bella," Alice said, clapping her hands bouncing as always next to Jasper, who obviously knew what she was going to say. "You looked amazing in both those outfits. Please tell me you'll be able to find them later."

I just nodded, staring at Edward, eyebrows raised.

He blew out a breath and came over to me, his eyes wild with love and pride. He kissed me hard enough that I had to fight the urge to moan.

"You really did," his breath blew into my face, stunning and dazzling me at the same time.

This guy was mine. Seriously, irrevocably and unconditionally mine.

I smiled at the thought and wrapped my arms around him.

Amun cleared his throat, kinda smirking at my loss of control.

What-the-fuck-ever.

"We had better get going now, I believe." He said and we all climbed into the two cars.

So... the Cullens are officially in Phoenix, eh?

Thank GOD it was 10 pm when they got there.

Any questions?

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Thanks

bexie25