Hello, remember where we left off with Billy two chapters ago? If you don't then go to the end of chapter eight to find out, because this chapter won't make sense if you don't know.

Disclaimer: Woah, woah, woah. Don't even go there folks. You know the drill. I own nothing Twilight or Twilightish. I no owny.

EDWARD CULLEN

For the fifth time this night, I heard Alice's high pitched voice, screeching a list of profanities at Jasper, her words slurred together as if she was drunk because of how much calm Jasper was giving her. I couldn't imagine how bad it would be if Jasper wasn't here.

She really didn't handle not being able to see the Volturi very well, and, worse, Bella had disappeared too, about 30 minutes ago.

When I really thought about it, I didn't handle it well either… the only reason all three of them would be invisible was because both the Volturi and Bella were very close to Nadia. I would wait until the time Bella said she would check in until I freaked out. Bella and Nadia were probably trying to shake them. Nadia could be with the Volturi, and then on the other side of the country within an hour. I wasn't going to worry.

Until I glanced at the clock.

Bella was supposed to be with her an hour ago.

I inhaled, as if about to yell, but then stopped. She had called me earlier today. She had her cell phone with her. I would call her. Surely, she'd answer and say that they were a bit off-schedule, or that they were still shaking the Volturi off their tail. Nothing to worry about, right?

Even still, this all felt very wrong.

Jake walked in with Nessie on his arm; they were whispering "I love you"s in each other's ears, as if I couldn't hear them. It had become a normal thing for them to do this.

Ness's eyes widened as she caught sight of me, and she gasped a little, before looking absolutely furious.

Dad! Dad! Are you okay? What's wrong? Did mom call? Is she in trouble? If they hurt her I swear I'm going to go over there and rip their throats out and then…

"I'm fine! I haven't heard anything definite, I'm just freaking out for no reason, and I'm going to call her now," I cut her off in the middle of her sentence. I didn't want to see what my daughter had in mind for the Volturi. I was fine with anyone else fantasizing about torturing them, heck, I might even join in, but Nessie? No way. Thinking about them and my daughter anywhere near each other again made my head spin.

Dang, Ness! You have a good grip! Jacob thought as he peeled Nessie's clenched hand off his forearm. Man, that hurt!

I opened my cell phone and punched in Bella's number quickly as they watched me, listening to the ringing on the line. One, two, three times. Why doesn't she pick up already? Bella always picked up her phone on the first ring, especially when she knew it was me.

The ringing stopped halfway through ring number four, and I started babbling gratefully into the phone.

"Oh, I'm so glad you picked up, love. I was so worried that something bad happened to you. Alice can't see the Volturi and… Bella?" I said, confusedly, because I was pretty sure she would have said something by now, if not an "I'm fine," at least a "Hi Edward".

"Hello Edward."

I froze.

Oh. No. Oh no. OH NO. OH NO!!!! No, no, no, no, no. Say something Edward, say something.

"Hello," I said. Genius, Edward. That's definitely going to get us out of this mess.

"Since you're not speaking to Bella right now, I assume you know what's happened."

This is not good. This is not good. Bella! No!

"Did you hear me, Edward?"

"Yes, Aro."

All of a sudden six sets of eyes were staring furiously at the phone in my hands. Carlisle and Esme were out right now, but the rest of the family was in, and not pleased at all.

Crap, Emmett thought.

"You must understand, Edward, that Bella's interference in this situation leaves my hands tied."

I did not have the willpower to answer. Nothing I could say could stop this. Oh Bella, I can't let them do this to you!

"I would suggest that you and your family come to Volterra in the next forty-eight hours if you wish to have any chance at influencing the consequences Bella must face."

"No. We need more time, Aro." My voice sounded small and choked, like the voice of a frightened child. I was frozen, only using the few muscles in my face it took to speak.

"I'll have a hard enough time explaining the forty-eight hours that I gave you. As I said, my hands are tied."

"Rosalie, can you call the airport for me?" I asked lifelessly, not bothering to pull the phone away from my face. I couldn't feel my hands.

"Very good... And Edward, bring Alice," he said, the words sounding very menacing, almost like a threat. I was about to respond, when the line went dead.

Click.

"Rose, you talking to the airlines yet?" I asked, my face frozen.

She nodded to me, her look full of pity.

Rosalie pitied me.

I really wasn't that bad was I?

I looked up to meet the concerned gazes of my family, and a wave of serenity.

It didn't affect me at all. Yes. Yes I was that bad. I needed guidance. I could think of only one person who could provide that for me right now.

"I'm calling Carlisle."

*~*~*~*~*

CARLISLE CULLEN

"Are you hungry, Billy?" Esme asked as she smoothed Billy's blankets. She'd grown fond of the man in the two days we'd been taking care of him, always trying to cook for him or clean his house. She felt useless when she wasn't helping someone, and she enjoyed his compliments, and how eager he was to devour her meals. He explained that he hadn't really had a good homemade meal since his wife died.

"Esme, I think if you cook me one more thing, I'll burst. What would that do for my recovery?" he teased with a small smile.

When Esme had first cooked for him he was very hesitant, probably wondering how someone who hadn't eaten food in decades could cook. He had stared suspiciously at the food for a few minutes, sniffing it and poking it experimentally with his fork.

"What's in it?" he asked Esme, his voice coated in distrust.

"Vegetable oil, flour, celery, onions, green pepper, garlic, okra, chicken broth, water, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, bacon, bay leaf, thyme, pepper flakes, shrimp, crabmeat, oysters, and rice," Esme said, reciting the ingredients easily without missing a beat.

"Where'd you get it from?" He wasn't as suspicious after hearing what was in it.

"Southern Living," she admitted sheepishly, ducking her head.

He just laughed.

Billy was still cautious around me, though. His movements were always slow and minute, his breaths strictly controlled, and his words careful. I still had to earn his trust, I could see that, but Esme had opened a door that I couldn't even find by fussing over him like this, and I thought that would make it easier to get him to open up to me.

"Carlisle," Billy said, bringing me back to the present time. "you and Esme shouldn't be here all the time trying to take care of me. I'm sure you miss your family, why don't you go see them?"

I tried to focus on his heart monitor, realizing that I was causing him to worry. I was relieved that he didn't know I was worried about him, though. I had a feeling he wouldn't like that.

"Carlisle."

"Yes, Billy?"

"I want you to hold on to this for me," he said, handing me a small envelope. It was very thick, holding many sheets of paper.

"What's this?"

"My last wishes, it's to the council. I want you to hold on to it for safe keeping."

"I don't understand," I said, my voice shocked. Why did Billy want me to have this? "Why don't you give it to one of the council members? Why me?"

"Because I trust you." He placed a hand over top of mine on the envelope. The gesture took me by suprise, but I felt the smile overtake the look of confusion on my face.

"I still don't understand why you wouldn't give it to one of the council members..."

Billy smiled, and opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by my phone ringing. I pulled it from my pocket, looking at the caller I.D.

Edward.

I flipped open the phone. "Hello?"

"Carlisle." Edward's voice sounded panicked. The smile left my face immediately. "The Volturi have Bella."

"What? How do you know?"

"I called Bella's phone and Aro answered. You have to come home. We have to go! We have to go get her now, Carlisle! What if..."

"Edward," I interrupted. I could tell he was losing it. I needed to calm him down before he snapped. "Bella's a very resourceful girl. Have some faith in your wife."

*~*~*~*~*

BELLA CULLEN

"Crap, Edward must be freaking out!" I yelled, exasperated. Nadia nodded once again, waiting for my angry rant to be over with.

"We had lost them! We were standing there and they couldn't find us until I butterfingered my stupid phone and dropped it out of our shield! Wasn't immortality supposed to take away my clumsiness! Ugh! And now ARO is in possession of my phone! Who knows what he could be telling them! Poor Edward doesn't know any better than to overreact! And then…. Ugh!"

Nadia looked at me, exasperated. "You know what Bella…. Put your hand on my shoulder."

I gave her a confused look, but did as she asked.

She walked over to a woman in the used car lot we were standing in, completely invisible to her because of our powers combined, reached in her purse, and took her cell phone.

Raising her eyebrow at me, she held the cell phone flat on her hand, offering it to me. "Call him."

My mouth hung open in an "oh," as I slowly took the phone from her hand.

Duh!

"Thanks," I whispered, dialing Edward's number carefully, trying not to break the cell phone in my eager grip.

"Don't mention it."

Edward's phone rang only once before his distressed voice spat out a hello, confirming all my suspicions about what Aro would do with my cell phone.

"Edward, are you okay?"

"Bella?" he asked incredulously. "How did you get to a phone? We're coming to get you, just stay out of trouble, you have to get back there now!"

"Edward, I don't know what Aro told you, but Nadia and I are both safe, and far away from the Volturi. We're stealing a car, we just got back from swimming the English Channel, and we're headed to Heathrow."

"How did he get your phone?" Oh, Edward, I'd rather you not ask that question.

"That's a long story that I don't have time to tell right now, Edward. Nadia and I are kind of busy picking a car from the used car lot."

"You're renting a car?"

"No! Of course not silly! We're stealing one!"

Edward's chuckle could barely be heard under Emmett's booming laugh.

"Bella stealing a car? Now that's something I've got to see." I could hear Emmett's remark easily, even though he was probably on the other side of the room.

"Shut up," I said.

"Shutting," was Emmett's amused reaction. I rarely acted in charge, so when I did it was hilarious to him.

"Anyways, we have the car right in front of us, I'd better go. I want to save the battery for emergency calls."

"Be safe," he said, his voice dropping. I wanted to touch him, my hand grasping at the air in front of me before I could think about it. I dropped my hand, and immediately felt lonely.

"I miss you," I said.

"I miss you, too. But you have to get going. I'll see you tomorrow night, okay?"

"I'll see you then."

"I love you Bella," he said, the worry returning to his voice.

"I love you too, Edward. I'll be fine. See you tomorrow." I needed to hear him happy, or hopeful, or anything but distressed, before I hung up. The note he left me on would govern my mood, and I didn't think I could make it if I was sad, dealing with Nadia's depression, and running from the Volturi at the same time. That's a lot to deal with

"See you then."

Click.

I sighed.

I turned around, slipping the phone into my pocket and looked up.

"Bella..." Nadia said nervously, her forehead creased and her eyes full of pain.

*~*~*~*~*

NADIA

"Bella..." I started. How was I supposed to say this? Bella, when you fell in love with Edward, was it sudden, and had you only said two words to him? Yeah, right. How could I broach the subject that had been controlling my every thought for months? I didn't know why I couldn't forget this one boy. Was I going insane? I could feel something tugging me toward him. He looked perfect to me. I didn't know him, yet nothing mattered anymore but him. I would face all of the Volturi, standing alone, if it meant it would keep him safe. How could that be?

I was dangerously close to walking out of Bella's shield, just to draw the Volturi near, so we could settle this once and for all. If I went to La Push, I might be able to find him, I'd be able to touch him. He would be right there, in my reach, so close. My heart burned with the thought of how my cold touch would make him flinch away, how my smell would burn his nose, how my unnaturally hard skin would appall him, and how my thirst for blood would drive him away from me. And the worst part; that if he didn't shy away from me, I could kill him. I wasn't safe for him. My control wouldn't ever be good enough to comfort me, because he was too perfect to risk.

And it didn't matter that I was putting them all in danger, it didn't matter that a clan of royal vampires insisted on owning me, it didn't matter that I was thirsty, and it didn't matter that they had killed my mom. My eyes pricked strangely, and I found that my small, useless life was flashing before my eyes. How depressing. An end wasn't coming anytime soon. I had no such luck.

I was in love with the most perfect, sweet, innocent person alive... I could see it in his eyes... and I wasn't a person.

"What, Nadia?" she asked, darting to me in worry.

"How exactly are we going to steal the car?" I chickened out. Great, Nadia. So now you're a monster, and a wimp. Nice.

Bella wasn't convinced, that was easy enough to see, but she didn't pry, she walked over to the box where the paperwork and the keys were held, and flicked it open with one easy movement of her pointer finger. She reached in and grabbed the keys, hopping into the car, and starting it as we closed our doors.

"That's how," she said, before she stepped on the gas and sped off, navigating easily through the light traffic.

*~*~*~*~*

"Thank you," I said to Bella as she pulled me through the crowd. Edward was supposed to meet us here, so this was probably the last moment alone we'd have.

"For what?"

"For helping me. You didn't have to do that, you know. You risked so much." She had a family, she'd found love, she was happy, and she was willing to put that all at risk to save some girl she didn't even know? Bella was amazing.

"No problem, I'm just glad to help. It's relieving after spending your entire life with people saving you, to have a break and get to save someone else. And I'm happy I came, you're a great person, Nadia, no matter how awful you think you are. Man, you and Edward with your low self esteem issues. Seriously! You two need to talk. Maybe when you see how ridiculous it is for yourself, you'll come to your senses."

I felt a gust of air hit me before an eerily familiar figure was standing right in front of me.

He looked the same as he had in Sam's head; crazy bronze hair, long limbs, perfectly shaped face, all of it, but he looked different in a weird way. As I figured out what he must've been thinking, I realized that his eyes were wide with shock.

"I had the same reaction," Bella said, walking up to take his hand. "But you get over it. She'll explain on the way to the house."

"Okay..." he said, processing that for a minute. "Hi," he said, holding out his hand for me to shake. "I'm Edward."

"Nadia," I said, though he already knew my name. What else was I supposed to do? I shook his hand briefly, trying to keep my grip light. I wasn't sure if I had the newborn strength the Volturi had explained to me, but it was best not to try it out on my friend's husband. My friend. How strange. I'd only known Bella for a few days, but we'd bonded extremely fast. Still, I never had friends, and I never expected my first friend to be a vampire. Not in my wildest dreams.

"We'd better get going," Edward said, guiding Bella by her hand, through the airport, giving her a loving look. I felt a wave of nausea crash through me as I thought about Seth once again. How would he react to what I was? I only hoped he wouldn't attack me, because I would surely die then. I wouldn't defend myself against him, and I would kill anyone who laid so much as a finger on him. Dying at the hands of the man I was in love with was a low blow. It was even worse than having him ignore me altogether. But then, dying, in and of itself wasn't really a bad idea right now. I had nothing to live for anyways. Seth would hate me now. I would turn myself in to the Volturi if I knew they would kill me, but they had other plans. Being a slave for eternity and all that crap. Aro had one of the most twisted minds I'd ever known.

I just hoped that Seth would come to visit me, so I could see his face at least one more time.

*~*~*~*~*

BELLA CULLEN

I opened the front door of the big house, Nadia hidden behind my back, not anticipating the welcoming committee.

All our family, all the wolves, they were all standing in our front room.

I heard Nadia's small gasp, as she saw the people waiting for her.

I allowed Nadia to recover from the shock, then slowly stepped out from in front of her.

The simultaneous gasp that ricocheted off the walls was followed with silence. Everyone in the room froze, with the exact same look of shock on their face, aside from Seth, who looked more like brokenhearted.

They all stood there for a while, trying to understand what they were seeing.

Emmett was the one to break the silence, as always.

"What? How? This isn't possible. What's going on?" he asked Nadia, looking extremely deadly. Her eyes grew huge, and she shrank back from him involuntarily. I didn't blame her. Dopey Emmett, you could swear you wouldn't be scared of in a hundred years, but when he pulled out the scary Emmett act, he could be terrifying.

"Emmett, honey, let's not scare the poor girl," Rosalie said, pulling Emmett back a foot by his ear.

"Sorry," Emmett replied, accompanied by a sheepish grin. "I'm Emmett," he said, holding his hand out to her.

She backed away from it, stepping around him. "I'm Nadia. Nice to meet you?" she said, giving him a small smile, obviously wondering if he had multiple personality disorder or something.

"Come here, Emmett," Esme said, with a scolding look on her face.

"Okay." He looked like a child being punished as he walked to stand by Esme.

The silence began again, as they waited for someone to speak.

Nadia sighed, preparing herself to tell her story for the third time.

*~*~*~*~*

JACOB BLACK

I was furious. They were furious. We were all furious.

How could they? How COULD THEY!!!!! Doing this to Nadia was the worst kind of torture imaginable. Changing and being poisoned at the same time, being enslaved by the very monsters you swore to kill!!!! HOW. COULD. THEY. She was Nadia. Sweet Nadia. Brave Nadia. She had just lost her father, and this is what she gets? MORE pain? I don't think there is a single person in the pack not shaking, not to mention Seth. They didn't just do this to Nadia. They did this to Seth too. She was his imprint. He was left without a clue to drown in his own misery. Who in the world did they think they were?

How could they.

Nadia had just finished telling her story, and was barely holding it together. She kept glancing behind the Cullens, as if she was trying to see us, throughout her entire explanation. Now, as she waited for someone to speak, she walked to us weaving her way through the crowd, finally stopping when she came upon what she was looking for.

Seth.

She stopped five feet away from him, hesitating, her lip quivering as she looked into his eyes.

In a flash, he was right in front of her, holding both her hands. They just stared into each others' eyes for a moment, but the moment was so intimate, so sickly sweet, that I felt intrusive watching them. Yet, at the same time, the moment was so perfect, so right, that I couldn't look away. No one was mad anymore, they just stared at Seth and Nadia, just like I did.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice tender and gentle.

"Of course I'm not okay! Look at me! Can't you see it! What are you asking for!" she said, her words coming out sounding like a broken cry for help.

"No. That's not what I meant. I know that. Are you okay?" He put her hand over her quiet heart as he repeated his question, and her expression softened as she saw the real meaning.

"I am now."

Those words should've sounded cheesy to me, but I found myself tugging Nessie into my chest, touched by the love shared between them.

As I scanned the room, I saw everyone's touched Even Emmett looked choked up. It was a two way imprint. They were perfect.

Seth cupped her face in his hands, pulling her towards him.

I threw my head back, as did the rest of the wolves, and as Seth and Nadia shared their first kiss, a howl of bittersweet victory echoed in the night.

Awwww!!!!! Reviews are better than cheesy Nadia/Seth moments! Please review!!!