CHAPTER 12

Edward POV

The weak rays of sunlight that streamed through the partially open shade glinted mutedly off Bella's face. In the early morning sky, the clouds still obscured most of the sun, promising an overcast day. I had always enjoyed the window seat when flying anywhere; the empty sky looked so peaceful and quiet to me. I felt all the more content as I tightened my fingers around Bella's hand, which had been encased in mine since takeoff.

The Cullens' plane was nothing short of luxurious. Bella and Carlisle snickered with amusement at my slack-jawed appreciation of the aircraft, while Jasper was asking Alice all sorts of questions about it and trying to talk her into letting him fly the plane, just for a little bit.

"Jasper, you can barely steer a shopping cart. How about you crash a plane after we're indestructible?" I suggested. Jasper has always had a thing for planes—he was always that annoying little kid on the plane that wouldn't shut the hell up until the pilot let him take a peek inside the cockpit—but that didn't mean he could fly one.

He sulked up the steps onto the plane, and Alice sidled up next to me, whispering, "Don't worry, I'll lock the instruments before I let him take the seat for a bit. And Carlisle will be the one actually flying the plane." She held a finger to her lips and winked, then skipped after Jasper. It must be a mate thing, being unable to deny the other anything. If Jasper wanted to fly a plane, she was going to let him, even if it was just pretend. I could understand the impulse to do whatever it took to make your beloved happy. I knew there was nothing I wouldn't do to put a smile on Bella's face.

The three-hour flight was uneventful, and we landed in Anchorage by mid-morning. Two black Land Rover SUVs fitted with wide snow tires awaited inside the hangar. Esme and Carlisle settled into the first one, while Bella, Alice, Jasper and I took the second one. I was having a little trouble figuring out where to put the acoustic guitars Jasper and I brought. We only had one duffel bag each apart from the instruments, but a set of seven matching suitcases occupied most of the space, squishing a lone, smaller suitcase beneath their weight.

Bella walked around the back of the SUV to see what was taking me so long. She took one look at the overflowing trunk, shaking her head in dismay, and grabbed both guitars to stow in the other SUV.

"Alice, you had mother bring you three more suitcases from the Fork's house? Why would you need seven suitcases of clothes? For goodness sake, we're not moving here!" Bella snapped at Alice, who was already settled in the backseat with Jasper.

"I'll have you know, they're all basic necessities, Bella," Alice countered indignantly.

"Sneaky little imp," Bella muttered under her breath as she took the seat at the wheel. I settled in the front, next to her.

"How long a drive are we looking at?" I asked.

"About three hours," she replied as she started the engine and pulled out of the hangar.

For most of the drive, Alice and Jasper chatted animatedly in the back seat. As much as I wanted to appreciate the beauty of the snow-covered sights around us, it was impossible to ignore the anxiety that Bella was trying very hard to hide. I knew this visit from the vampire version of the mafia was weighing heavily on her, even though she acted as though it was of no consequence.

I reached for her hand, giving it a brief squeeze. "It'll be okay." I wanted to say more to reassure her, but I was really out of my depth here, so I settled for a generic 'it'll be okay.' Edward Masen, lameness incarnate, at your service.

Bella rewarded me with a small smile, and her shoulders relaxed a little. It struck me how odd it was that I'd be the one reassuring Bella. I should be more nervous about the upcoming event; it was all pretty much still unknown to me, and the uncertainty of the situation should have me afraid. Maybe that was the very reason why I wasn't afraid, I didn't even know exactly what to be afraid of. In the end, it didn't really matter. Whatever happened, Bella and I would make it through.

We went off the road and drove on a winding path through the Alaskan wilderness for over an hour before arriving at a sprawling wooden cabin. It stood in stark contrast against the pristine, glistening snow that covered everything around it.

Three vampires stood on the porch, way underdressed for the weather. I was almost frozen to the bone despite wearing full body thermal underwear underneath two sweaters and a heavy jacket, but the cold air that most likely seeped through their thin shirts didn't seem to bother them. Two of them had straight, white-blonde hair and the pale complexion I'd come to expect from vampires. The third one, however, looked startlingly different. Long, black curls framed her face, and there was an olive sheen to her skin beneath the pallor; it softened her expression.

Bella cut the engine and shot out of the car, Alice right behind her. Jasper and I looked at each other, not sure whether we should wait in the car or follow them. I watched Bella wrap her arms around one of the two blondes, hugging her tight and swaying in place.

Carlisle and Esme were already at their side, greeting the dark-haired woman. Only then did Bella seem to realize Jasper and I were still in the car because she turned around as if looking for us. She waved at us in invitation to join them, so we did.

Bella took my hand when I came to stand beside her, and made the introductions.

"Edward, meet Kate," she said, indicating the blonde she had hugged first, "Irina, and Carmen." I shook their hands as Bella waved a hand towards me, "Cousins, this is my Edward."

Were all vampires this unnaturally beautiful? Of course I thought Bella was the most beautiful woman to ever walk to earth, but I might be a little biased. Her cousins, though, I could evaluate without the cloud of overpowering, all-consuming attraction, and they're all knock-outs. I was suddenly reminded of Emmett, and how much he'd love to meet them; Emmett loved blondes.

"It's great to finally meet you, Edward," Kate was saying. Turning to Bella, she whispered, "Came over to the dark side, did you?" She shot Bella a knowing look, and Bella looked as though she wished for the ground to open under her feet and swallow her whole.

Irina and Carmen had shaken hands with Jasper and now stood in front of me. Irina shook my hand, but Carmen surprised me by pulling me into a hug. There was something about her that reminded me of my mother, a gentle demeanor and a subdued sadness in every gesture. It made me homesick. As it seemed like no one was in any great hurry to get inside, she grasped my hand and pulled me behind her, reaching for Jasper as she towed us towards the house.

"Let's get you boys out of the cold," she said with a smile.

The large living room felt warm and inviting. A roaring fire danced in the fireplace, and Jasper and I ran to stand in front of it, holding our hands out towards the heat. I was used to cold weather, but this was fucking ridiculous.

While Jasper and I stood as close to the fire as it was possible without catching on fire ourselves, everyone else had settled on the couches scattered in a circle facing the mantel. Feeling warm enough, I went to sit by Bella. Grasping my hand, she kissed me lightly, but I was too self-conscious to return it. I glanced around the room to find the three Alaskan vampires openly staring, their eyes darting between Jasper and me.

Bella POV

"So, when are we to expect our guests to arrive?" Carmen asked.

I silently thanked her for breaking the ice; Kate and Irina were looking at Edward as if they had never seen a human before, and he was uncomfortable under their scrutinizing gaze. It was very rich of them to be acting so surprised to meet my human mate, considering the immensely long list of human lovers they'd amassed over the centuries. It was in fact their predilection for human partners that led them to abstain from their blood.

Alice was the one to address Carmen's query. "The day after tomorrow, early morning," Alice said, a mischievous glint in her eye. It was too subtle for anyone else to notice, but I did. Something was up.

Kate and Carmen nodded, but Irina's face turned to cold steel. I had anticipated she wouldn't be all too amenable to standing with us during the Volturi's visit, and she didn't disappoint.

"Remind me why we're getting ourselves in trouble with the Volturi over a couple of humans." While Kate and Carmen had immediately agreed to be with us for the Volturi's visit when Alice called requesting their aid, Irina was not so sanguine.

"No one is getting in trouble," Carlisle answered. "And it's not simply 'over a couple of humans,'" he corrected her. "They are coming to try to convince Bella and Alice to join them, yet again. They will decline, as they have before, but we have no plans to defy the Volturi."

"You've broken the rules. You've told humans about us, what we are. Do you think the Volturi will overlook that?" Irina was clearly afraid of how our perceived breach would affect her family. While I understood it, I had little patience for it. They had no part in our rule-breaking, as she put it, and therefore would not be liable. But, more importantly, my family would have supported hers through a similar situation without batting an eye, and she knew that.

Before I could tell her exactly what I thought of her selfishness, Kate intervened. "Irina, there isn't any danger. They will be changed soon enough, won't they, Bella?"

"Yes, they will. But not before we settle the matter of the Volturi's relentless pursuit," I said. Kate looked apologetic for her sister's behavior, but Irina did not seem convinced.

"And what about…" Irina began, but Kate abruptly cut her off.

"Enough, Irina. They are our family, and we will stand by them, as they have stood by us before. You'd do well to remember that." Kate's tone left no room for questioning. It was not often that she asserted her position as the leader of her coven, but she was certainly speaking as such now.

A tense, uncomfortable silence followed. Irina stood and, with a disgruntled huff, headed outside at a sprint.

Carmen was untroubled by Irina's outburst; she was used to her sister's difficult personality. "Come, let's get the luggage upstairs. Bella, Alice, we'll put your things in your usual rooms," she said, waving at mother and Carlisle to help her.

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Alice and I sat with Jasper and Edward in the kitchen as they ate the food mother had the foresight to bring along. Irina was still out sulking, and the others had gone looking for her in the hopes of assuaging her fears, leaving the four of us in the house. Edward was unusually quiet as he ate; never a good sign.

Jasper finished his meal, and Alice led him upstairs to unpack. She knew I wanted to speak to Edward, and it would be easier without an open audience.

As I struggled to find the right way to start this conversation, Edward spoke first. "Should we have come here?" He tried to sound casual, but his face betrayed his unease.

Irina's less than warm reception had made him feel unwelcome, as if he were imposing. It was lucky that she had left and not yet returned. Lucky for her, that is. I had half a mind to relieve her of a limb or two for making Edward feel this way.

"Never mind her, Edward. Irina has always been…difficult. It has nothing to do with you." I hoped he would see the sincerity of my words and feel better for it. It was true that Irina has always been the less agreeable of the Denali sisters; under normal circumstances, she'd be batting her eyelashes at Edward, but her fear rendered her intractable.

He swallowed thickly and nodded, his eyes downcast. It broke my heart to see him this upset. There was a helplessness in the way his shoulders slumped that tore at me. I hurried to his side, wrapping my arms around him, and rested my chin on his shoulder.

"Kate and Carmen were very happy to finally meet you, especially Kate. I might have talked to her about you once or twice," I said, hoping to distract him.

It seemed to partially work. Edward still looked forlorn, but the ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Is that right? And what did you say?"

Brushing my lips against his ear, I whispered, "I told her I had found the love of my existence."

His skin erupted in goose bumps, eliciting a shiver of my own. Edward's response was silent, yet eloquent; his mouth on mine told me agreed with my statement, and when his tongue ran over my bottom lip, I could have sworn I almost felt my heart beat.

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"Dammit, Jasper, you're going to make us lose!" Edward huffed as he thumped Jasper's shoulder with his fist.

From my perch on the couch nearest the fireplace, I quietly observed my family as they enjoyed the evening.

Edward and Jasper were tag-teaming Carlisle on a game of chess. From what I could see, Edward would be doing better on his own; for some reason, he had the uncanny ability to predict almost every move Carlisle made. Jasper had little patience for the slow-paced game, and it showed in the reckless play he had made, which cost them a knight.

Esme, Alice, and Carmen were deep in discussion over Christmas planning. They were in talks of flying to New York for their shopping, and my mind went into overdrive with excuses to get out of it. As I plotted my way out of this shopping expedition, Alice turned around and stuck her tongue out at me. I grinned.

I allowed myself a small measure of peace as I watched my family. Listening to their quiet talk and laughter, it further cemented my conviction that this is where I belonged, not in Italy, and I was right in turning down the Volturi again and again. My contentment was short lived as an image of dark cloaks and crimson irises invaded my mind. It seemed the more I wanted nothing to do with them, the more determined they were to have me.

A faint knock on the window caught my eye. Kate stood outside, waving at me to join her. It was an invitation to hunt, but more than that, I knew she wanted to talk to me away from everyone else.

I walked over to Edward and leaned in to whisper in his ear. "I'm going for a quick hunt with Kate, I won't be long." He grunted a response to let me know he heard me without taking his eyes off the board. Given the way his brow was furrowed in intense concentration, Edward was taking this game very seriously. Who knew he could be so fiercely competitive? I planted a soft kiss on the side of his neck and went outside.

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"Kate, are you sure you want to go hunting in that dress?" She was wearing a filmy, flowy sundress that was sure to get snagged and torn during a run through the dense forests around her home. Not even Alice would go hunting in such garments, and she was the epitome of "style-over-practicality."

Kate simply shrugged, unconcerned by the fate of her clothes. "Shall we?" And with a quick grin, she was off running.

I had always enjoyed spending time here. The air was crisp and pure, and the snow was soothing on my skin. What I liked the most about this place was the silence. It was the kind of quiet that pressed down on your eardrums, a silence you could almost touch if you reached out your hand. It felt easier to simply exist in this near-absence of sound.

Kate tracked a herd of bull moose to the east and took off after the scent; I followed at a slower pace. When I reached her, she was already draining the second one. The herd had scattered in terror, but I easily caught up with a large buck and took it down effortlessly.

We fed in companionable silence until we were both sated, then headed for our favorite spot, a steep, eroded mountainside that humans could never climb. It was high enough that the snow never melted up there, and tonight was no different. We did not need to speak to agree on our destination; this was something we did together every time I visited.

Apart from Alice, and of course, my mother, Kate was my closest friend. I was very fond of Irina and Carmen as well, but Kate and I shared a deeper bond, a bond that I felt had been strengthened now that we had yet one more thing in common.

My situation was not quite the same as hers. I had not gone looking for a random human for a casual relationship; I had found my mate, the missing part of myself, and he just happened to be a human. But still, Kate would understand the complications of such a relationship.

As we climbed the side of the mountain, she looked pensive, and I was certain she was going to ask me about Edward.

I was right.

We had been sitting in silence for a few minutes, admiring the dark blue vastness of the scenery. The moon was not visible tonight, the thick cloud cover turning the ground into a mirror of the midnight sky. I had been tracing patterns on the snow at my feet when Kate turned to me with an impish grin.

"So, aren't they fabulous?" Kate decided it was time to break the silence.

"They?"

"Human men," she clarified.

"I wouldn't know, Kate. Edward is the first one. And the last."

She raised an incredulous eyebrow at me.

"Edward means something different to me than what your human companions mean to you." My tone was thick with implications.

"Oh, I know. The way you look at him, it's nauseating," she laughed. "And the way he looks at you. Almost…protective. It's endearing, really," Kate sighed. "I have to admit, I'm a bit jealous."

I looked at her in confusion. "Jealous of what?"

She sighed again, a wistful look in her eyes. "I've been around for over a thousand years, and I have yet to find my mate. But I'm happy for you, Bella. I truly am." She grasped my hand and squeezed it softly, smiling at me in reassurance.

I returned the smile, unable to keep the glowing warmth from spreading through my body every time I thought of Edward. "Thank you, Kate. And, on that note, what's going on with Irina? I didn't think she would be thrilled to have us here, but she was outright antagonistic. It made Edward feel unwelcome, and it upset him." The last few words came out in a snarl as I remembered how uncomfortable he looked at her frigid reception.

"You know how she is, Bella. It has been over four hundred years, but what happened to our mother at the hands of the Volturi is still very fresh in her mind. She lashed out because she's afraid." I knew that had probably been the reason why Irina had acted that way, but my priorities were permanently and forever changed, with Edward sitting at the very top. His peace of mind eclipsed everything else, and so it took me great effort to sympathize with Irina when she had been a source of discomfort for Edward.

Kate went on. "And so are we, for that matter, but that is irrelevant. You are our family, and we protect one another. Besides, it's not like this will turn into a confrontation. They're just coming to talk, right?" She looked to me with the barest hint of apprehension in her eyes, as if seeking confirmation that she truly had nothing to worry about.

"As far as we know, yes. We have no reason to believe they won't be peaceful. We wanted to have our families together for their visit not for our own protection, but perhaps to deter them from getting any ideas of harming Jasper and Edward," I elaborated. "You know their opinion of humans; while they would never seek to harm one of our kind without provocation, the same courtesy is not extended to them. To the Volturi, humans are little more than food. But, in this case, it's a little more complicated. Eleazar came close enough to Edward when he was in Seattle last time to speak to Alice and me, and now the Volturi want him."

Kate nodded in understanding. She knew of Eleazar's ability and his place in the Volturi hierarchy. He was their diplomatic envoy and talent scout, so to speak. "Did he say what Edward's gift might be?"

I shook my head. "I have no idea. But it must be powerful enough, if he can sense it while Edward is still human."

"Speaking of gifts…" Kate began.

I stiffened. I had a feeling I was not going to like the direction she was steering the conversation. Kate noticed my distress, but she was not one to be deterred by it. Skirting an issue was simply not in her nature; if she had something to say about it, she would.

"Carlisle told me you have been unwilling to develop yours. Care to tell me why?" She asked bluntly.

"You already know why," I snapped in irritation.

"Yes, I do. But don't you think that things have changed, and perhaps you should learn to control it? Imagine if you could extend your shield, what that would mean for protection. Not to mention its offensive properties. Being able to do what you do from a distance?" She prodded.

I could extend my shield, but it required that I touch the subject I wanted to envelop. If the contact broke, the shield would snap back. It seemed it refused to extend beyond me, but it would allow me to stretch it to encase whomever I touched, as if the target of my protection became an extension of myself, though that was not all that my shield was capable of. If I so chose, there was something else that I could use to affect whoever came under my cover, but that was not meant for those I wanted to protect. No, that particular property of my shield had only one result… The thought of being able to do such damage from a distance terrified me, not only for the damage itself, but also because my command of it was haphazard at best. I still didn't fully understood how it worked, and that made it harder for me to entirely control its use.

"It scares me, Kate." It was easy to voice this in her presence; it was nothing she had never heard before. We discussed it a long time ago when she was telling me about her gift, and how she learned to project it. Kate could run an electric current over her skin with full control over its intensity; it had the power to put a vampire out of commission for several seconds. I've heard it's quite unpleasant, but I wouldn't personally know; she could never affect me with her gift, much to her chagrin.

"Bella, it's time you stop hiding from yourself and take responsibility for your gift and for that human you ended up putting in the path of the Volturi. Enough is enough," Kate ranted. "Your abilities aren't going anywhere, and pretending they don't exist will serve no good purpose. Stop being a coward."

My eyes snapped to Kate's face. No one has ever admonished me so openly about the course of action—or lack thereof—I chose to take in regards to my gift. I continued to glare at her, and she stared back, completely unfazed.

"Your family coddles you too much. You need a good kick in the pants every now and then," she added.

"It's my business, Kate." The growl was pronounced in my tone as I spat my retort. Everyone kept pushing me towards embracing my gift in all its destructive glory, but Kate was certainly the most freely outspoken of them all.

"And you also think that if you never develop it, the Volturi will lose interest?" Kate asked with a snort.

Though I had never said that part out loud, it had definitely crossed my mind. I shrugged.

"If you're hoping for that to happen, you should give up here and now. They won't let you go off skipping into the sunset, much less with an equally talented mate at your side." Apparently, Kate was set on not allowing me the comfort of my denial.

"I didn't really believe that would be a possibility. But I did hope," I admitted.

"You know I'll help you, right? All you need to do is ask."

I smiled at her serious expression. "I know, Kate. Thank you." I turned my gaze back to the blanket of snow below us before I continued. "I'll make a decision after this visit, once I know for certain what I am dealing with."

Kate fell silent after that, and it seemed she would let it go for now, but I knew I hadn't heard the last of it.

"Perhaps we should head back?" I suggested.

"Missing your lover boy?" She asked in a lascivious tone.

I didn't need to say anything; the longing I knew to be stamped on my face was answer enough.

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It was very late by the time Kate and I returned to the cabin, and our human guests were fast asleep. I went directly upstairs and silently crept into the room Edward and I shared; I didn't want to disturb him, but I just had to see him, if only for a minute. My heart swelled in contentment as I watched him dream for a few moments. His face was relaxed in slumber, and his lips curled in a faint smile when I grazed his forehead with my fingertips. I tucked the blankets tighter around him and went over to the fireplace to add another log. I'd learned my lesson after Edward spent the night in the Forks house for the first time; humans were very sensitive to the cold.

Alice was waiting for me in the living room. "Where are mother and Carlisle?" I asked as I sat down next to her.

"They went for a nighttime stroll," Alice said, wiggling her eyebrows.

I knew precisely what those "strolls" involved. "Say no more."

We sat quietly for a moment, but the mischief on her face as she told me where mother and Carlisle went reminded me of something I saw in her expression earlier.

"Alice, when Carmen asked you when to expect the Volturi, did you see something?" Earlier when we arrived and Carmen inquired about the Volturi's impending arrival, Alice had that look of someone who just got the news that there would be two Christmases that year.

She pulled a disgruntled face before sticking her tongue out at me and smiling. "Yes, I might have."

So we're playing that game. It's the one where I try to get something out of Alice and she evades me for eight hours straight until she gets fed up with my questioning and gives up.

"What did you see?" And here we go.

She grinned widely at me, the same kind of ecstatic grin that graces her face whenever she finds an article of clothing that she "simply can't live without." I was immediately suspicious.

"And you can stop right now, Bella. I don't want to ruin the surprise!" She leaned over to kiss my cheek and skipped upstairs to watch her Jasper sleep.

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The sun rose to find my mother christening the Denalis' kitchen. They had no utensils or food, since they didn't interact with humans enough to need to keep up appearances, but mother had prepared for that scenario and brought whatever she needed with us. She hummed happily as she prepared breakfast, and too much of it, as usual. Having more 'children' to look after was her idea of heaven, especially ones that required such level of care. I hadn't needed the daily tending a mother provided in a long time, and the days when Alice required extra attention in her first year as a newborn were long behind us. Two humans that needed such careful nurturing were the answer to my mother's prayers, and she stopped at nothing to pamper them.

"Esme, I'm finished with the oranges." Carmen tossed a nearly disintegrated half of an orange into the trashcan and turned to my mother, making a disgusted face at the frying bacon. She probably hated the smell of it as much as we all did, though you'd never think mother had a problem with it; the smile on her face was wide and genuine.

"Lovely. Thank you, Carmen. Just leave it on the table."

"Good morning, mother, Carmen," I said, taking a seat.

"Good morning, sweetheart. Would you be a dear and start buttering the toast?" Mother didn't look away from the stove as she issued her orders. "Carmen, please pass me that carton of eggs."

Carmen threw me a martyred look before passing mother the eggs, and it was all I could do not to laugh.

I began working through the tall stack of toast when I realized someone was missing. "Has Alice come down yet?"

Carmen answered me, thoughtful for a moment. "No, she came down earlier saying she had to run an errand before the boys were done with breakfast. She didn't say where she was going."

Edward and Jasper appeared just as the eggs were being plated, and wasted no time digging in. They made some very indecent noises as they ate, and we paid them no mind, except for Carmen. We were used to their moans of pleasure every time they ate my mother's cooking, but Carmen was staring at them with a confused expression.

The kitchen was quiet while they devoured their breakfast, save for their appreciative groaning; too quiet for Jasper's taste.

"Esme, if you keep feeding me like this, I think I'll just choose to stay human," Jasper said as he stuffed his mouth again to the point of exploding.

Edward choked on the sip of orange juice he'd just taken, spluttering the yellowish liquid all over the table. Jasper smacked him in the back as Edward coughed, trying to reopen his airways.

"Dude, what the hell?" Edward glared as Jasper shrugged at him, completely clueless. I could see why he was such a perfect match for Alice; they both operated somewhat outside the boundaries of normal.

Turning to mother and Carmen, who had their hands covering what I knew to be big, amused grins, Edward said, "I'm sorry, Esme. Jasper was raised in a barn, he doesn't know any better."

Carmen lost it, the laughter bursting out of her. "I see what you mean, Esme."

Mother didn't reply; she just smiled fondly at her newest children.

When they were done eating, Jasper went looking for Alice, and I took Edward's hand, leading him out of the kitchen.

"What would you like to do today?" There wasn't much to do around here, or many places to go, perhaps the hot springs. I'd love to show Edward my favorite mountaintop, but I feared it would be unbearably cold for him up there.

He thought it over. "How about a walk? I need to work off some of that breakfast. Besides, I wouldn't mind being alone with you."

I had been ready to protest against this outing, but the last thing he said convinced me. "Whatever you wish. Go get dressed, and don't forget your thermals. I'll be waiting outside."

"I'll be right back, beautiful." He brought his lips to mine softly, barely touching, before he turned and ran upstairs. The ghost of his kiss remained with me, making me forget what I was supposed to be doing.

I regained my composure and walked through the living room towards the porch. Spotting a thick black scarf—I recognized it to be Alice's—draped over the back of an armchair, I picked it up, wrapped it wound my neck and made my way outside.

Edward joined me a minute later, and we set off on our walk. The plains around the house were covered in a thick blanket of snow, so I steered us towards the woods, where the thick-canopied trees would have protected the ground from getting buried too deeply.

We walked in silence for a few minutes at a leisurely human pace. I enjoyed running through these woods, but I was in no rush today. There was more joy in the feel of Edward's hand intertwined with mine than any amount of speed could ever bring.

"How are you feeling, Bella?" Edward must have noticed that I'd been tense and on edge since we left for Alaska. I scolded myself for not hiding it better and for worrying him unnecessarily.

I halted our progress and turned to face him. "I'm well, love. As well as can be expected, that is. I worry for your safety, and there's no amount of reassurance that can change that. Once they're on their way back to the dungeon they live in and we're left alone in each other's arms, then I'll relax." I lifted my hands to his hair, pulling down the woolen beanie hat he wore more snugly on his head. "But there is nothing for you to be worried about, do you hear me? I will see you through this." The words burned with the intensity of my commitment as they passed my lips.

"I know, Bella. But I do worry about you." His eyes were soft and melancholy as he spoke. I guess we were stuck like this until the situation was resolved. I'd worry for him, and he for me. Under the circumstances, not fretting would be an impossibility. We can do no more than to accept it.

I grasped his hands and continued to walk at his pace. But now I was wound up and antsy, thinking about the things to come, and I really needed a run to blow off some steam. That idea was quashed in the same moment as I realized the speed would whip the wind much too cold on Edward's face.

As I dropped my hands in defeat, they grazed something warm and fuzzy hanging down my front. The scarf! I thought triumphantly. I could wrap it around Edward's face, which should protect him from the wind.

With renewed spirits, I proposed my plan. "How would you feel about going for a run?"

Dismay colored his face. "Run? Um… I'm not wearing running shoes, Bella," he said, picking up one booted foot for my inspection.

I sighed in amused frustration. He was always thinking I was going to make him run. "You won't be running, Edward."

The grin that appeared on his face was instantaneous, having finally understood what I meant.

Disentangling the scarf from around my neck, I stepped towards him. "Come here," I said, throwing the wool over his head and wrapping it securely around his nose and mouth. Now only his eyes were visible.

"Do I look like a ninja?" His voice was muffled through the fabric, but he squinted his eyes and began doing a very awkward impression of Bruce Lee, down to the battle cries.

"Hi-yah!"

"Oh, yes," I managed to say through the hysterics. "You look a perfect samurai."

I couldn't see his delicious mouth, but his eyes crinkled as they did when he smiled widely, a true, happy smile.

I turned my back to him, and patted my right flank. "Come on up, ye mighty warrior."

Once he was secured in place, he looked around us before wrapping his arms over my shoulders.

"Everything all right?" I asked.

"Yeah, just checking if I still look like a complete tool riding piggyback with you."

"Your conclusions?" I asked with a chuckle.

"I look just as stupid as the last time, possibly even more so, considering all the bulk I'm wearing. I feel like that kid from A Christmas Story. But as long as Jasper doesn't get to see me like this, I don't care. I love running like this with you, but the little twit would never let me live it down."

I supposed we did look a little odd in this position, but who cared? I loved running with my Edward draped over my body, and by the howls of laughter and the gleeful expression on his face the entire duration of a run, I had a feeling he enjoyed it, too.

I twined his legs more securely around my waist and took off at full speed, running through the trees for a little while before I used them for leverage and bounced from one to the next. I knew that to be Edward's favorite part of a run, the jumping around. His laughter always increased tenfold every time I played pinball with the forest.

After twenty minutes of running, we came upon a clearing that immediately drew my attention. Everywhere else around us was covered in a thick layer of snow, but not this particularly small place. It was round, and almost an exact circle, as if someone had cleared the snow here on purpose. A smattering of yellowish shrubs was scattered around the open space, interspersed with tiny blue and orange flowers. The mix of yellow and orange shining in the sun cast a lovely golden glow around the clearing. I must remember to bring mother here so she can identify the species; she'll be delighted to see flowers blooming in such harsh conditions.

Edward stepped down from my back and grasped my hand, towing me with him to the center of the clearing. I was suddenly reminded of the last time we were in a similar situation, when I took him to my—our—meadow. This time, there would be no hiding in the shadows for me. I marched to the middle right by his side, confident in my belief that I belonged there with him.

I pulled Edward to my arms, burying my face in his chest. His heartbeat rang clear as day to me, despite it being hidden behind all the layers that kept my love warm. I'd dreaded being so close to a beating human heart; what if it became too much? What if I slipped? Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. This was my favorite sound in the world, the sound of Edward's life, the sound that assured me that he is, indeed, here.

He pushed me away from his chest just an inch so he could remove the scarf around his face. As soon as his mouth came into view, it collided with mine. Edward kissed me hungrily, with an abandon that felt as though he was kissing me for the last time. Needing him just as much, I returned it with feeling, tangling my fingers in his unruly hair.

I was lost in contentment, here in Edward's arms, his lips feathering kisses on my face, his warm, sweet breath washing over me. My eyes slid shut to better enjoy the exquisite sensations.

At the same time that my phone vibrated in my pocket, I picked up the scent. Without a thought, I straightened and stiffened, bringing the phone to my ear. I knew who was on the other end of the line; there was no need to glance at the caller ID.

I flipped it open and spoke at once. "Alice, I smell them."

"Bella, they changed their plans, I didn't see—" Alice was frantic.

I quickly interrupted her apologies. "Never mind that now, what else do you see? Focus!"

"They were in Canada, set to visit us tomorrow, but on a whim they started heading down with no particular destination in mind. They crossed a trail of your scent leading away from the house this morning, and decided to follow it. I didn't see it until they smelled you…and Edward. Can you run with him? How close are they to you?" Alice's voice had dwindled to a repentant whisper.

"No, they're too close, I won't be fast enough, not carrying… Are the others there with you?" Panic was beginning to rise up in my stomach, but I pushed it back down.

"Yes, we're heading out the door now, we're coming to you. Stay put and don't say much until we get there. We'll follow your scent. We're coming, Bella!" Alice all but shouted the last words. I wasn't the only one panicking.

I shut off the phone and pocketed it. Edward was staring at me, silent and alarmed.

"Bella, what's going on?" He was terrified, I could see it in his eyes, but he was trying hard to cover it up.

At that moment, three black figures appeared in the distance. They were much too far for Edward to make out who they were, or even see them, but their expressionless visages, though partially concealed by the hooded cloaks they wore, were crystal clear to me.

My answer was a barely contained snarl. "They're here."

I quickly turned to Edward, grasping his face with both my hands. "Hold on to my hand tight, and no matter what happens, do not let go!"


AN: Evil cliffie, I know, but the chapter was becoming a monster. Next chapter is already half done, so you won't have to wait long. ;)

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