Chapter 12: Reunion Bliss Ruined

Bella held onto Edward's hand when they arrived home. They suddenly saw the door swing open and then Emmett was suddenly on his back with Rosalie right on top of him. Edward chuckled softly, shaking his head slowly. "I think these two should be left alone," he commented.

"I will have to agree," Bella answered as they walked away from the couple.

Bella looked over to see Charlie talking with a young woman. "Edward…" she started.

"She's another hybrid, Charlie rescued her from the camp," he told her.

Letting out an unneeded breath, she moved her hands over her husband's arms. "Bella, there's someone behind this. Someone who is not Alejandro, he's just a pawn. At least that's what this Danielle told us," he explained.

"Then who is?" she asked.

"I don't know," he replied.

He glanced over at his children, letting out a heavy sigh. "Come, you must be thirsty," he told her.

"No, but I want to get rid of this red tint to my eyes," she replied.

Nodding his head slowly, Edward looked over at his children again. "Dad, go, we'll be fine," Renesmee insisted. Both chuckling, the couple disappeared into the forest to hunt.

After their hunt, they were in the middle of their meadow lying on their backs, staring at each other. Bella reached out, stroking her husband's jaw. Letting out a shaky breath, he leaned his cheek into her hand as he moved his hand along her arm. "I have missed you my love, two years is far too long to be without you," he said softly as he moved on top of her.

"Was I gone that long?" she asked.

There was silence between them. "Yes," he replied. Biting her lower lip, she moved her hand along his arm.

"I have missed out on so much with the twins. I can't believe how big they are already," she said softly.

"I know, it is incredible," he answered.

Resting his forehead against hers, he moved his fingers along her jaw. "I never gave up on finding you, my love. I thought of you all the time, night and day. After you disappeared, I returned to Vancouver for a year," he told her softly. She gave him a quizzical look.

"Why?" she asked.

He nuzzled her jaw gently. "Oh my love, I felt nothing but emptiness when you were taken away. I wanted nothing more than just to disappear into the earth when you were gone. I can't live in a world you don't exist, Bella. It's like telling me I have to give up life all over again. Why give up life when I was finally living it?" he asked.

"Edward…" she said softly.

She moved her hand over her husband's side with a sigh. "I'm here, I'm home," she said softly.

"Thanks to our children's stubbornness," he commented chuckling, making her laugh.

"They get that from you," she answered.

"On the contrary, they get it from you," he told her.

Bella shook her head slowly with a sigh. "I never want to be without you again," he said softly.

"You won't have to," she answered.

She sat up a little, leaning back on her hands. "Not anymore," she added. Moving up on her knees, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "We'll defeat whoever is behind all this. We won't have to worry about this again," she said softly.

"That'll be a great day when this is all over," he murmured.

Nodding her head slowly, she smiled as Edward leaned forward kissing her deeply. Kissing him back, she buried her fingers into his hair as he moved her back onto the ground, holding her close.

After the couple's little reunion, they had to go back to the house to find out what was going to go on now that they knew that Alejandro wasn't the mastermind behind the plan.

Walking in, Edward had his arm around his wife's waist. "Charlie just filled us in on Danielle's story," Carlisle informed.

"Good…where is she?" Bella asked.

"She's upstairs resting. She hasn't slept since she was taken from her father," Charlie replied.

Bella smiled a little as she pulled Charlie close, kissing his forehead softly. "I'm happy you're home mom," Charlie told her.

"I'm happy to finally be home," she answered.

Renesmee stood on her other side, hugging her mother around the waist. "So what's the plan?" Emmett asked, his arms wrapped tightly around Rosalie's waist.

"We're going to need more information from the girl first," Marcus replied.

"Come on, she doesn't know anything else. She told you everything she knew grandfather," Charlie insisted.

Marcus looked at the boy with a raised eyebrow while Bella moved her hand up and down her son's back as she tried to comfort him. "What else is there besides pumping her for information?" the boy asked irritated.

"We need to find out who is behind this," Marcus replied.

Carlisle was rubbing his chin, nodding his head slowly. "We might have to get another spy from there. One that Alejandro would trust," he informed.

"The problem is, he apparently trusted Bella and me with everything, but since getting the other memories back it like erased the new memories," Emmett answered.

Bella rubbed her forehead with a sigh. "This just seems to get worse each day," she muttered. Edward kissed the top of his wife's head with a sigh.

"We'll figure something out," he answered.

She nodded her head slowly, closing her eyes as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Where is this camp?" Marcus asked as he stared at a map of Washington.

"Here," Renesmee replied pointing to the spot.

Carlisle stared at the spot. "It's near the ferry site," he commented.

"That's not surprising, easier to hunt for whatever they are looking for that way," Marcus answered.

"But what are they after besides my children?" Bella demanded.

"Whoever this leader is, he goes after hybrid children," Danielle replied.

Walking in, she took out another map that was there. "I was taken from papa here," she told them, pointing to Houston.

"Your father is a vampire as well?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes, he's taken care of me since my mother's death," she replied.

Bella stood next to the girl as she stared at the spot. "Were there others?" Esme asked.

"Many more from what I saw. Hybrid children of all age physicality's and mentalities. Whoever this is, he's going after them all. Except from what I hear, he's after Renesmee and Charlie the most," she explained.

"Why?" Edward asked.

She pushed a lock of hair over her shoulder. "Word about how when your wife was only a human and was able to stop a Volturi guard reached every vampire known in this world," she replied. She tapped her fingers on the table. "Papa told me the story many times," she added.

"What does that have to do with my children?" Bella asked.

"Your twins are the most powerful hybrids in the world," Danielle replied.

She looked at Charlie and Renesmee. "This vampire is wanting them to lead his army of hybrids," she informed.

"Why does he want an army of hybrids? What is he planning?" Marcus asked.

"I don't know, I just know he wants an army and that he wants these two to lead it," she replied.

Carlisle shook his head slowly. "Then they're going to have to continue with their training," he informed.

"Wait, you're not saying that you're going to let them fight," Edward commented.

"What other choice do we have?" Marcus asked.

"How about hiding them?" Edward answered frustrated.

Bella looked at her children with a sigh, putting her head in her hands. Jacob rested his hand on her shoulder while looking at the two older vampires. "So you're going to risk their lives?" he asked.

"They should learn how to defend themselves. We can't be there all the time. From the way it sounds, this vampire has been planning a war of his own. He's been waiting for Marcus to declare war, now that he has, he's setting his plans into motion. If we are to stop him, everyone needs to learn how to defend themselves," Carlisle explained.

The twins stayed beside their mother, who now had her arms wrapped protectively around her children. "Uncle Jasper?" Renesmee asked softly. Jasper looked at them.

"I will train you as much as I know," he answered.

"NO!" Edward roared slamming his hand on the table, the wood breaking under his hand.

He looked at his family with flaming eyes. "I am not about to risk my children's lives in this war! I am not going to let them get themselves killed over this!" he snapped.

"They have been fighting before they were born, Edward. Their lives have been in danger before and since their existence," Marcus answered.

"They would've been safe if Demetri would've just let us live our lives in the first place!" Edward snapped.

Bella grabbed onto her husband's arm. "Edward…" she said softly.

"I'm not about to lose my wife and my children all at once. No, I won't let it happen!" he snapped.

Alice bit her lower lip. "You have to let Jasper train them, Edward. If you don't…the outcome isn't to your liking," she said softly. Edward blocked her visions, instead he stormed out of the house. Biting her lower lip, Bella followed her husband out of the house.

Edward was staring out at the forest when she walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I don't like this anymore than you do Edward," she said softly. She stood in front of him, holding his hands. "Edward look at me," she insisted.

"I am not going to lose you or our children over this," he answered.

She shook her head slowly. "You won't, we're strong. Individually we are strong, but together we are almost invincible," she said softly. Resting his forehead against hers, he let out a shaky breath. She wrapped her arms around his back. "Edward, I'm just as terrified at the idea of losing you and the kids," she said softly.

Edward closed his eyes as he pulled her closer to him. Renesmee walked out and they pulled her into their embrace. Renesmee looked at her brother and gestured for him to come over. With a small sigh, the girl's twin walked over and joined the embrace. Bella clung to her family, closing her eyes tight as she just prayed that her family would survive this.