Outlaws

Damien:

Having to run from our home in Forks, Washington, Leah secured the few of us some log cabins where a few of the pack used to reside. Also, having Jacob as a prisoner, I knew I'd never let Bella's and my daughter see this place. For now, it would have to do as our temp quarters. Also, we knew that the Volturi could not send anyone into wolf territory. Jane had let us know that we'd be unreachable here. She told us as we were driving away as Bree Tanner watched us speed away.

Bella looked over at me, asking me, "You think she'll understand?"

I looked over at her, "She will, babe. I'm pretty sure she knows you're doing the best for everyone back there."

Alice leaned on my shoulder then, much to Bella's displeasure, "We're lucky to have you, too." Then she sat up, and put her arm around Bella, "I'd say things worked out pretty well, wouldn't you?"

Bella shot her a look, "Well, considering you would've screwed us over if I hadn't offered you anything, I'm still trying to figure you out."

I waved over at them, "Come on, girls. Let's just get ourselves to safety, shall we?" I looked back to Jane, and asked Bella, "Is that who I think it is?"

The newcomer looked over at me, and smiled, "I am Jane of the Volturi. I am Alec's sister. He is very enamored with your daughter, and will not allow any harm to come to her."

I turned back to drive, "Bella, Really?"

She touched my shoulder as she reached over Alice, "Easy, baby. She's cool, and she helped me out of my tight situation."

Alice seemed like she was looking away for a moment, "Excellent choice of words, darling. Damien did the same for me."

I shook my head, "Vice versa, Alice. Anyways, Leah told me that as long as I'd stay off the main roads, we'd find the cabins."

Jane asked me, "Are we really going towards those woods? They reek of wolf stench. Not that this backseat is any better. Has someone been consummating back here repeatedly?"

My hands tensed on the wheel as Alice turned back to face her, "They're our allies for the moment. You'll like Leah, though. She's very much the leader of her pack, I'd say. Took charge after the previous leader killed her father."

Jane didn't really have a reaction to that, "I try not to think of my parents. All I can remember is fear with which I was regarded."

Alice looked back at her, "Damien and I…we feel your pain."

Bella again seemed to scowl at her, "You know, you don't really speak for him. I mean, I'm glad that he rescued you and all that, but I'm getting kind of annoyed now."

Alice turned to her, "What? It's not ok to sympathize with the man I love?"

I waved at them again, "Could we not argue about this, please?"

We managed to reach the log cabins after 15 minutes of driving. By then, Leah was flagging us over, and she almost freaked when she saw Jane get out of the backseat, and to Bella she demanded, "What is she doing here?"

Bella put her hand on Leah's shoulder, "It's ok. She's with us, and she helped us make a run."

Leah did a double-take, "Not the girl in black. I mean the future girl. I thought she was going to screw us over."

Alice rolled her eyes as she got out of the car, "I've got better things to screw. So, I am here to help…Hmm, that didn't come out right. Sorry."

I got out of my car, "Alright, let's just go in. Leah, who's here?"

"Everyone but you guys. Where the hell have you been?"

Bella looked down, "We got held up by someone. Former student."

Leah hugged Bella, "I know how much she meant to you, but she'd be in bigger trouble with us, and she's pregnant, so being here wouldn't be good for her."

Bella just sighed, "I know, I know. I just wish I had more time to explain things to her."

Leah walked her in, "Hey, at least this way, if they ask her anything, she's got plausible deniability. She'll be fine, and Adam is with her. She's as safe as can be."

We all went into the log cabin that Emily used to live in with Sam. Now it would be our headquarters. Who would've thought?

When we got in, Riley and Victoria, Jess, Angela and Mike, and a lot of Carlisle's contacts were waiting for us. Heidi and Jasper were also there. Victoria went over to Bella and pulled her into an embrace, "We're so glad you're ok. We feared the worst."

As it turned out, I was able to pull some documentation away from the base before we had to abandon it. It was a massive box with how many hundreds of Identities, and citizenships from several different countries. I suppose I was meant to go to each of these countries to gather intelligence.

In US, Canada, and Britain, I was known as Damien Curtis Summers; In China, I was known as Lee Mu Tzu; In Japan, I was known as Hikaru Masaki; In Spain I was known as Ricardo Spano; In Russia, I was Gavriil Romanov; In Germany, I was Sieghard Stauffenberg. Each identity was actually viable. Seth was able to look up each Identity, and found that I was an upstanding citizen in each with several bank accounts. When I checked the banks, I was able to access several accounts, each having up to a combined 7 billion dollars to my name.

Alistair walked in as I was looking at my Japanese passport, and commented, "I know a fellow over there, Toshiro Takashi. He'd definitely be willing to help us, but he's with the Yakuza. He's got lots of connections, and would be able to get us plenty of access to travel routes that don't require us to expose ourselves. If you like, I can tell him you're coming."

Alice walked in, "I think I should go with you on this."

Bella came in and sat down next to me, "I think I should, too."

I shook my head to both of them, telling them, "I have to meet him by myself. If he sees I come in with two other people, he'll take it as a sign of hostility."

Bella crossed her arms, "Well, I'm not letting you go alone. No way."

Alice hugged my from behind, again making me uncomfortable as she said, "I don't know how to feel about letting you go out there to meet some thug."

I slinked out of her arms slowly, saying, "You think I'm a thug."

Alistair looked over at all of us, a little impatiently, "Women are not regarded as having a high status. He may just take them as being your concubines, and that may give him reason to show you some amount of respect."

I was shaking my head, "That's not helping. Besides, it would be insulting to Bella and Alice if I introduce them as my-"

"Bitches?" I heard Leah finish, making me wince, and give her an uncomfortable look.

"That's not quite what I meant."

Alice crossed her arms, "Well, it's settled. I'll go with you. Besides, they need Bella here."

Victoria spoke up, "This is Bella's army. She has to be the one to recruit."

Riley spoke up, "Maybe Alice should stay here with us, while you go with Bella."

I looked over at her, "He's right. Shouldn't you stay here to patch things up with Jasper?"

Alice protested, "He's not interested. Besides, I'm not letting you go anywhere without me. Also Riley, they'll need me to see how to handle negotiations."

Bella took my hand, and said, "Let's just go, already. How's your Japanese, baby?"

I inclined my head, "As well as yours, I guess."

She smiled leaning in close, "Well, we did always want to travel."

Alice put her arms around both of us, "This will be so much fun."

I turned to Alice, "I need you to stay here. Keep an eye on things, in case we have an emergency here."

Victoria countered, "We have Jessica with us. So,"

I looked over at her, and she quieted, as I told Alice, "When we talk to Toshiro, he needs to know who's really in charge. I hope you understand that."

Alice pursed her lips, demanding, "Are you saying you don't want me to go with you?"

I gave her a hard look, telling her, "It's not a matter of desire, or wishes. I'm ordering you to stay here, Alice. Understand?"

She stepped away and looked down, "Understood. I'm sorry for insisting so much. It's just that you have to understand that I've spent all this time having to watch you from afar. My feelings don't change."

I took her into my hands, holding her shoulders, "I got it. I need you to understand why I'm ordering you to stay here. It's because I know your feelings don't change that I need you to hang back. I don't want you to lose your objectivity. I think once you start thinking more with your head, and combined with your heart, you'll be a hell of an advisor. You're not there yet, though. If you come out with us, you might end up getting us captured or killed. I won't risk Bella just because I'm trying to take your feelings into consideration. This is a command decision. I'm ordering you to stay here, Alice. If you can't even listen to one of my orders, then maybe it was mistake to bring you."

She looked into my eyes, even as I saw her tears well up, she spat, "Alright, damn it. Fine. I get it !" Then she kissed me, deep and hard. "You're right, anyway. It doesn't mean I have to like it. Just remember how much I love you while you're out there."

With that, she walked away, wiping her eyes. Victoria stepped up to me, and gave me a crisp salute, "We'll keep and eye on her. You and the commander- Strike that, you two commanders get out there, recruit, and come back, at any cost."

I inclined my head, "Thank you, Victoria."

She shook her head, "Thank you, Commander."

I turned to see Bella look at me, and she simply nodded as I walked over to her and she took me into her arms, "Well done, sir."

I held her, muttering, "Shaddup."

She pulled back, and told me with a firm tone, "Seriously, though. You took that situation and really handled it, even with the way Alice felt about you, you pushed that aside, and told her what she needed to hear. She didn't like it, but I guess you knew what command is really about way before I started it."

I kissed her then, and looked at her, "Maybe I get it from watching you do it."

She smirked, "Smartass."

I stroked my hand through her hair, "You know you love me."

She leaned against me, "Yeah. How do you think Renesmee's doing?"

I stroked her back, "I'm sure she's fine, Bella. Alec is with her."

Renesmee:

As far as Aro was concerned, the threat was still out there. He had Alec confined to quarters, and I stayed with him, even though I wasn't officially a prisoner. Caius had ordered that Alec be confined for letting my parents get away. Also, since Felix had been destroyed, Santiago was ordered to guard him.

I leaned against him as we sat on his cot, with our backs to the wall, he stroked his hand over my arm, and I almost gasped when I saw his own with some bruises. Those were healing already, but it didn't keep me from asking him, "What did they do to you?"

He soothed me, squeezing my arm, "It's fine. There's nothing they can do anymore that would hurt me, except take you away."

I turned my head to him, kissing him, and told him, "No fair. I want you to be mad, especially right now."

"Your father's right about keeping one's temper. Getting angry doesn't help at a time like this. It only makes the situation more unbearable. Besides, as long as you're with me, I'm ok."

"It's funny, you know? A year ago, I wouldn't have ever thought you two would actually agree on something."

He sighed heavily.

I looked at him, and asked, "What is it, Alec?"

"I have a confession to make, Ren. You're not going to like it."

I turned in his arms, and crossed my arms, "Well, go ahead."

He took a deep breath, and told me, "When the Volturi first met your father, he was almost killed."

I laughed at that, and leaned on him, "I know that, silly. I've seen all of his memories, you know?"

He seemed a little confused, and then he nodded, "Right, right. I'm sorry, babe. I almost forgot about that."

I playfully shoved at him, "How could you forget? We've been together now, what? A couple of months?"

He laughed with me now, somewhat embarrassed, "Yeah, about there. I guess I lost my head there, a bit."

I leaned on him now, "Do you feel it?"

"Feel what, babe?"

"You're becoming human, baby."

He could feel him relax now, wrapping his arms around me, and taking in my scent deeply, "Yeah, I am. I love you, Ren."

"I love you, too." I whispered, sitting with him in a makeshift cell as we listened outside for the sounds of the Volturi marching through the town.

I knew that Adam and Bree were laying low, and staying with the Cullens. I suppose they were doing well enough, but I couldn't tell from here, anyway. I wished there was something I could do for her, but she wasn't talking to me when she came back from trying to talk to my mom.

Bree:

I lay in bed with Adam, as he leaned on the backboard. He stroked his hand through my hair, and asked, "Are you feeling ok?"

I sat up, straddling him, my legs on either side of him as I lowered myself onto him, and moaned, "Oh, god, baby."

He reached down for my rear, and held me firmly as he moved my hips up and down onto him, and groaned with me, "Oh, Bree…You're so beautiful...hmm."

I started to move on him faster and faster, and cried, "Oh, god, Adam!" I found myself breathing faster and harder as I fell onto him with such force we felt our hips literally crashing against each other until we both climaxed.

Once we calmed down, I leaned against him again, and sighed, "That was wonderful, baby."

"Are you sure you're ok?"

I sat up, my breasts seemingly shaking because he looked down at them. I reached over and pulled his chin so his eyes were on my face, "Hey, up here."

"Sorry, babe. I do need to ask, though."

"Why the hell do you have to keep asking, though?"

He looked at me seriously, "You haven't talked about Bella since we got back here. I need to know how you're feeling with all that."

"I'm fine, ok? If anyone ask me that again, I'm going to start breaking things."

"She was like a mom and a sister to you. Don't think I don't know how it feels to lose that, because I have too."

"Don't go there, baby. I don't want to talk about her."

"She didn't betray us, Bree. You have to know that. If she had stayed…"

I finally just yelled at him, "I KNOW! OK?! God, Shut up! I got it, already! I know she left for her own reasons, but I don't have to like it! I just wish she had let me in on it."

He pulled me close, and whispered, "What about our kids, Bree? She wanted to keep them safe. How're they doing?"

I sighed, "They're ok. Not old enough to kick yet. I thought they'd be noticeable by now, but nothing so much as a peep. I guess it's going to be a normal birth."

He kissed the top of my head, "I love you, Bree. You know that?"

I looked up at him, "I know. I'm sorry for yelling like that. It was bitchy."

He chuckled, "Don't even worry about it. I know it's been rough."

I looked out to make sure no one was listening, and whispered, "I think Edward might turn them in."

He rolled his eyes, "Well, that wouldn't surprise me."

I slapped his chest lightly, "I'm serious. I don't think he's playing with a full deck, and I think he lost it when Bella left with Damien and left him back here."

He shook his head, "They had to leave the Cullens behind, or the Volturi would've known something was up."

I turned my face to his, "They took Alice with them, and she was the one who started a lot of the mess, herself. Ugh." I did hit the night table then, almost breaking it with just a light slap.

He took that hand into his, and kissed it, "You can't get so upset. It's bad for the baby. We'll figure out what to do, alright?"

I still felt pissed as hell, "How can you be so calm about all this?"

He shrugged, "I learned from the best."

I nodded, "Right, Bella. I still wish we could've gone with her."

He kissed my forehead, "Maybe, she'll have us join the fight later. Let's just wait until then. For the moment, we've got to keep our eyes and ears open for her. She's got enough telepaths that she can do that from her end. We just have to be ready for it."

Renesmee:

Since all of them were present at the hearing, except Alice, who was no longer around. Aro had ordered her to be destroyed if she ever resurfaced, and had asked Edward to keep him updated on all her movements. So far, he had kept his mouth shut, but I could tell that he was only doing it because Becca was keeping him in line.

Finally, after looking over at me every so often, he came up to me, and point-blank asked me, "Where are your parents?"

I turned away, "I'm not telling you."

He grabbed me suddenly, demanding, "You have to! Do you see what's going on around here? Right now, they're just content to stay around the base, and have mostly stayed away from Forks. I know what Aro's thinking though. He is thinking of turning the entire town, just to get back at your father. So, if he wants to save those people, he needs to give himself up."

I finally did try hitting him, "You bastard!"

He caught my arm, though, squeezing it, "You have to stop doing that with me. I see a lot of Bella in you, and that was one of the things I didn't like in your mom."

I glared at him, "What is that?"

"You're being a total bitch to me, Renesmee, and I don't deserve it because I was left behind. Now I have to make the hard decisions because your parents wouldn't turn themselves in."

I pulled my arm away from him, as I spat, "They're in this situation because you told the Volturi about my mom. You did this, Edward. You made all this necessary because you wanted my mom to yourself, and it didn't turn out that way. Well, sorry, but the world doesn't go the way you want it. Doesn't mean you have to act like a spoiled teenager with a raging hard-on!"

He did slap me, then, "Enough, you little bitch!"

Carlisle walked in swiftly, taking Edward's arm, and pulling him away, "Are you out of your mind, Edward?"

"She was getting very rude with me. I had to find a way to make her respect me."

Esme stepped up to him, and shook him by the shoulders, "You don't EVER strike a woman in this house like that, Edward! Do you hear me?"

"Esme-"

"Don't! Just be quiet!" She walked over to me, and rubbed her hand gently over my cheek. "Let's have a look at you, dear. Come this way."

Just then, Becca arrived, asking, "What's going on here?"

Edward walked over to her, pulling her away as he dismissed what had just happened, "It's nothing. Renesmee was just getting hysterical, and I had to calm her down. She's fine now."

Becca walked over to me, asking, "What's wrong, honey?"

I shook my head, and went with Esme, as she followed. Edward was about to follow along with her, and I couldn't keep myself from reacting, "Keep him away from me!"

Becca looked between us uncomfortably, demanding, "What's going on here, Edward?"

He was pulling her away now, trying to cajole her, "It's fine. She's just having one of those feminine moments, right?"

She twisted out of his grip, and put her hand to his chest, "What's going on? I'm not going to ask again. You better tell me too, or-"

"Or what? You'll leave me? So, go!"

She slapped him then, "I have nowhere to go back to! My parents were killed, remember?"

He was about to strike her too, but she caught his hand, squeezing his wrist, "That is the last time you ever touch me. Do you understand?"

He drew back, looking away, muttering, "Becca, I'm sorry. It's just that when she struck me, I couldn't handle it anymore. I just had to set her straight."

"So, you hit her? What the hell is that? She's not even your blood, Edward."

He grabbed her by the shoulders then, furious as he spat, "She was supposed to be my blood! All of this was taken from me, Becca! Don't you get that?"

"What the hell am I to you, then, Edward? Huh? Just some Bella substitute?"

"YES!" He shouted at her.

She closed her eyes, swiped his hands away from her, and went to stand by me, "I am going to stay here, Edward, but not for you. This is my family now. If you touch this girl again, you'll have to answer to me." She then wrapped her arms around me, and told me, "Let's get you looked at, shall we?"

Edward:

How I've thought of seeing Renesmee walking around, and how much she reminds me of her mother every time I see her. She is a beauty I've started to regard, even as I walked hand-in-hand with Becca. It only makes me wonder what she must think of me. She doesn't even refer to me as an uncle anymore, even before I struck her. I find myself in a very awkward situation with her.

I see myself approaching her, and asking her why she feels she no longer owes me any respect. Why is she so much like her mother in her disregard of me. It makes me sad, and angry at the same time for all that Damien has taken from me. According to Alice, had he never been, Renesmee would've been my daughter with Bella, and not his. Instead, she's now enamored with Alec of the Volturi, of all people.

She sits in a chair outside on the balcony that over looks the forest out yonder, and I sit next to her. I hold her forearm before she can get up, and her eyes turn on me, defiantly, hateful.

"I just want to talk, Renesmee. I just want to know when I became your most unfavorite person in the world."

"It was in Italy, when you suggested giving up my father."

I shook my head at her, squeezing her arm, seething, "That man is not your father."

She pulled away from me, trying to stand up, and spat at me, "Let me go! Don't touch me! Don't you remember what Aunt Esme said?"

In a moment, I stood up, and took her into the house, as she was in adult form. I knew she wouldn't be able to phase into another age, so I kept hold of her arm. I spoke to her, my tone quiet, "Now, listen to me you little bitch. In another world, you were my daughter with Bella."

She rolled her eyes, "Oh, right. That must've been a wonderful world."

I grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her to listen to me, seething, "It was! You and Bella were my family, and you were happy. We didn't have to deal with any of this war crap, and your mother loved me very much. You did, too."

She tried to pull away from me, but I held her fast, as she looked away, "So? What do you want?"

I pulled her into an embrace, "I just want you and your mother back. If you only knew what you meant to me."

She tried to pull away again, and I shook her hard, making her moan, "Stop hurting me! You're hurting me! Let me go, already!"

Knowing that there were no more bonds of blood with her, I pulled her into an embrace, and kissed her hard as she struggled against me, crying into the kiss. She felt like Bella, smelled like Bella, and even tasted like Bella. Still, even with all that, I surely knew this was not my daughter. I held her as I sped with her to my room, and threw her on my bed.

"No, Edward! Don't do this! You wouldn't do this! This isn't you!"

"How the hell would you know that anymore? You don't even want to know me, anymore!"

She kept protesting now, even begging me, "Please! Don't do this! This isn't you! Not you!"

This girl that was no longer my daughter, and I felt her accept me, even though her voice was screaming loudly into my ear, "Oh god, no! Please Let me go!"

She wasn't my daughter with Bella, anymore. This girl was physically 16, before she should have been, already with a boyfriend. I wouldn't have allowed my daughter to get that far. I was showing Damien just how he had ruined Renesmee's life by coming in between me and Bella. This was right! I was taking away someone important to Damien, and found taking her, knowing how much it would hurt him that in some way, I got Bella after all.

"No!"

"Bella! I love you so much!" I looked over her, ravenously, "Ah! You do want more, don't you?"

She was shaking her head now, crying and hitting at me, "God! You're hurting me!"

"This is how you respect me!"

I felt myself sitting up, screaming my daughter's name, crying miserably for what I had just seen. I looked around, finding myself drowning in a cold sweat. I got up, and I knew what I had to do. I had to leave, right now. The nightmare seemed to fill every moment I was idle, and I could only see Ren struggling beneath me. I went to the bathroom to wash my face, but that didn't seem to help. I started packing, getting myself organized, and trying to carry only what I needed. I threw my bag into my car, got in, and drove away from my home of so many years. This was the only thing I could think of to keep my daughter safe. I found it hard to correct myself, because I was able to dismiss those memories from the other world to justify what I had just done in that dream. Still, I hated myself for having those thoughts even coming to my mind. I realized now just how hostile I was with Damien, with Bella, and with Renesmee, especially, letting her anger at me be the catalyst for my frustration. I knew now that I did not want to become the man in that dream. I wanted to be just Edward Cullen, again. If I had to do it without Bella, so be it. I could not become a monster.

Before I left, I went to ask for Becca at the mansion, and she finally agreed to see me after much argument. She didn't even want to face me at first, which I totally understood.

She had her back to me, and regarded me over her shoulder, "So, what do you want?"

"I'm leaving Forks. I don't know when I'll come back, either. Before then, I needed to tell you that I'm sorry for everything. I would go in there and talk to Ren, but I doubt she would want to see me right now."

"You're right about that. She's really mad at you now."

"She should be. I want her to be mad at me. Also, I don't think it's a good idea to see her right now, all things considered."

She turned to face me then, "What exactly are you talking about, Edward?"

I looked down, and told her, "I've been having bad dreams about doing something to her."

She ran to me, taking me by the shoulders, and shaking me, "What do you mean?"

I covered my face with my hands, "I dreamt I did something so terrible to her, and I haven't been able to shake them since."

She pulled my hands away from my face, "Edward, just talk to me. When did all this start?"

I looked at her, "It started with Bella. I wanted her so much, that I was willing to do anything to get her. I became so hateful to everyone around me that I couldn't stay around her when she chose Damien. It's not his fault, either. I feel like someone's been trying to set me off, and maybe that's why I say all these stupid things."

She shook her head as she reached up to my face, "No, that's just you being a total ass."

I sighed, "I'm serious. I know I was being an ass, but I feel like part of me was being controlled, or manipulated into it."

"What do you want to do, then?"

"That's why I have to go, Becca. There's something I have to do before I can come back. I won't deserve you, if I ever did. I'm sorry about what happened to your parents."

Just then I saw Ren come out, and she was slowly stepping towards me, but I pulled away, and held my hands out, "No, Ren, don't."

She hugged me then, "Go find out what the deal is with your dreams. Then, come back and be my uncle, ok?"

I held her tight, like I would Rose, or Alice, "I love you, Ren. Don't ever change, ok? You are your parents' daughter, and that's a good thing."

"I love you, Uncle Edward."

As I walked away, I heard Becca follow me, "Hey, wait up."

I held my hand out for her, and she took it, as I asked her, "You sure?"

"Didn't think you'd get rid of me that easily, did you?"

I smirked, "It was worth a shot."

She nudged me hard, "You're such a jackass."

I chuckled at that, "I know."

We drove on for hours, a whole 2 days, literally. We spent 48 hours on the road, not caring which direction we were going. We went to Chicago, finding my house just the way it was when I left it. We found the front door under a pile of snow, but were able to dig through well enough to go in. We walked in, taking in the emptiness of the house I grew up in. Still, when we went to sleep, all I could think of was Renesmee. All I could think of was taking her, and feeling righteous for it, and waking up screaming...

She would shake me to wake up, and tell me, "It's going to be ok. Here, just rest on me."

As I put my head on her lap, looking up at her, I told her, "I really don't deserve you, you know that?"

She smiled, "Yeah, I know. Still here, though."

I laughed weakly, "Smartass."

She shushed me, holding my head, "Go back to sleep, now."

Billy Black:

It didn't take me long to gather what I needed for the ritual. It required only strands of the enemy's hair, a few strings weaved into a net, and black beads interwoven into the web-worked weave. I had learned this ritual from an old Shaman that drove away his enemies without having to fight. One needed only to pollute an enemy's dreams until you drove them to the point of madness. When they finally could not handle anymore, they would either destroy themselves, or drive themselves into battle with such disregard for life, becoming a force for death itself, until they themselves were struck down with a righteous axe. My tribe and I would be those righteous axes, and I knew the faces of my enemies.

They were all of the hated Cullens; Charlie Swan, and his daughter; Damien Summers and his daughter with the whore, Bella Swan; most of all, once I had them go mad, I would take all the knowledge from each of these enemies, and would give my son the means to strike them all down. This is nothing less than what they all deserve. I knew Edward Cullen would be the weakest to succumb. I could only hope I drove him to such madness that he would destroy everyone around him. I made him see a dream of raping the daughter of the interloper, and his whore. Should he take her, it would drive the father to destroy him, and the cold ones would turn on him, leaving him worn and unable to fight anymore. Then, my son would take those left of the pack, and rip him to shreds. I chanted, even as I was told to go to bed by the hated orderlies. I would give them terrible dreams too, so terrible, they would also want to destroy themselves from the things I would show them. I may not have been a werewolf, but at least, as a Shaman, I could do so much destruction...Strike down my enemies without even lifting a finger.

Bella:

We found ourselves running through the streets of Tokyo, only we were doing it with such stealth and speed that no one, without the trained eye of a vampire would've been able to notice we were even there. We had gone to a local restaurant and received the bill with a note, saying that we were to meet Toshiro in his private car on the J-rail line. . At the same time, the game was simple: we'd have to keep ahead of two of his agents without being seen, even as they made a rather obvious display of power, crashing through buildings, and injuring at least a few dozen people. It took Damien all his strength not to go back and check on the injured. When we finally arrived on Toshiro's train car, we found ourselves surrounded by his men.

Damien spoke to them first, "Mou, Yose. Boku ga Masaki Hikaru. Kono onna ga boku no-"

Toshiro laughed, "I know who you are, Damien Summers. You think I don't have people everywhere? Even in the government? This must be your lovely wife. You two have done well to have come this far, but this game is over."

I decided to join the conversation, "Hikyou mono da. Konna no Omae no game janai ka?"

He walked over to me, "Well said, Ms. Swan. Did your husband actually need your help to get here? Doesn't make him much of a man, does it?"

I seethed, "He's more of a man than you'll ever be."

Toshiro laughed again, "I like her spirit…Throw her off the train."

Damien broke away from the vampires holding him, pulling a sword from one of them, and placing it to Toshiro's neck, "You're going to let her go now."

"If I don't?"

He looked over to me, as I nodded, "I think the two of us would probably end up destroying your coven right now, but that's not our intent."

He narrowed his eyes at Damien, "You would threaten me like this?"

"I don't make threats. I make promises."

At that, I drove myself to the ground, headfirst, pulling the two vampires with me, and made them hit each other. When the others charged me, I was ready, and punched them both in the gut, bringing them down simultaneously. One more came at me, trying to grab my shoulders to hold me down, and I pushed myself upward, head-butting him hard enough to almost crack his neck. I finally stopped when I heard applause, and rose as I looked over at Toshiro.

"I like you, Bella-sama. It's no wonder you two have lasted this long with the Volturi at your heels. Hikaru-sama is also quite the man. I will join your fight. Nataku, bring forth the gifts."

A tall, lanky-fellow with short white hair came forward with two swords. Toshiro took the medium-sized ones and handed it to me, "This is a double-edged blade sword, and is very sharp. When you unsheath it, know that many will die at your hands."

Toshiro then took the long sword from his assistant's other hand. I would say it was a good 5 foot blade, with the handle making the final foot. He handed that one to Damien, "This is a masamune blade. Retempered and set. It will cut through anything once pulled from its sheath. Do not pull it out unless you mean to use it. Again, you will bring blood with this. Now, my assistant is instructed to take you back to the states by yacht. This will at least keep you from having to travel by public chartered transport. It is imperative you get to your group without anyone noticing. Aro is very vindictive and will try to stop the union of any distant clans. Be safe, and I will join you when you decide you will fight."

We both bowed, and he placed his hands on our shoulders, bring us back to his eye level, "You don't need to do that. I'm in your army, so I'll give you both a salute when I next see you. Farewell for now."

As we traveled back, Nataku was watching television while we talked on the deck, and I was wondering why Alistair had sent us if he knew Toshiro might want to pull us into his game.

Damien shrugged, "I'm guessing he wanted to make sure we were on the level. It would be a natural precaution I think."

I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, "I know, I know. I'm not as paranoid as I seem. I just wish Alistair prepared us for all this."

He looked at me over his shoulder, "If he had told you we needed to go through all this, would you have bothered?"

"I don't know. I guess I'd try to go for someone more upfront about things."

He smiled, "For someone like Toshiro, this is upfront. He's got a bunch of people under him. You think he's going to risk all that for a bunch of newcomers?"

I kissed his neck, "I suppose you're right. Are you ready for love?"

He turned in my arms, kissing me deeply now, "Always ready. You know that, don't you?"

I smirked, "Race you."

The moment we got back to Washington, I could already feel the air thickening with fog as we approached. Fortunately there were no storms while we were out on the ocean, even though the winter winds had chilled the whole yacht. We were fine, though, always finding one way or another to keep warm. When we finally got back to the cabins, I saw Alistair and pulled him aside to talk.

"What the hell was that all about?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Bella."

"The whole game your friend made of our search. We don't have time for any of that with all that's been going on."

"It would appear to me that you have plenty of time, actually. Besides, he wouldn't have responded very well if you just went over there with a whole army and surrounded him."

I nodded, "Ok, that much is true. Still, you could've warned me, you know?"

He was shaking his head, "Everyone has a different trial before meeting him. At the time of my introduction to him, my task was to be able to track him in a hospital trauma ward. Very much not my cup of tea, if you ask me. Now, did you get him on our side, or not?"

"Yeah, we did."

As he walked away, he asked, "So, why the complaint?"

I threw my hands in the air as he walked away.

Damien:

I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised to come back to the main cabin, and have Alice nearly jump into my arms. Her hands were literally caressing the back of my head as she pulled me into a kiss. Victoria walked by, rolling her eyes, and chuckling a little. When I finally pulled away, I gave her an awkward smile. She took this as a sign to let go of me.

I shrugged, "Great to see you too, Alice. Really. A lot less affection, if you don't mind. It really would be awkward if Bella walked in and saw that."

I realized too late what I shouldn't have said as she wrapped her arms around my neck, "What's wrong with that? I love you, you know? I mean, the cat's out of the bag, so why not flaunt it when I've got you right here?"

"I'm not really used to your affection. If you could tone it down some, that'd be great."

She pulled away now, crossing her arms and pouting, "Do you know how long I've had to tone it down?"

I was shaking my head as she said this, "Alice…"

"50 years, I've had to lock my feelings away, and just watch you as you went through hell. 50 years of loving you and not being able to do or say a thing about it. 50 years of having to stay away from you while you went through it all alone. Over a year of watching you make love and have a life with another girl. What do you think that does to a person?"

"Well, then you know I'm not really an emotional person. I'm actually the opposite, so you'll just have to understand if I don't go all super huggy bear when I see you. Even Bella has trouble getting me to open up. Alice, I understand how you feel, really I do, but you just have to understand that I'm not going to be able to give you the same…enthusiastic affection you're looking for. You can't be disappointed at my reaction, or lack thereof. That's what I grew up with, as you should well know by now."

She gave me a stricken look now, taking me by the shoulders, "Don't tell me about what you've gone through. I was watched as you suffered. I saw everything that was done to you. You don't have to tell me, I was there! I saw it happen!"

I finally did snap, "Well, I'm the one who went through it!"

She screamed, "Well, I would've taken that burden for you, if I could! Then I wouldn't have to watch you take everything in silence!"

She turned away, tears brimming now, making me sigh heavily and taking her into my arms to hold her, "Come on. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have said that. That was crappy. Still, no one's going to blame you for getting mad at me for being like this, like some sort of wall. I'm not an emotional guy, really. It's just that…Alice, you can't be disappointed at it either, especially when you know what's up with me."

She put her arms around my neck, whispering, "I want to know everything that's on your mind right now, at this second. I want to know you every moment of the day, because it's all I can think of to get close to you, and tell you it'll be all right. I will know I listened to you, and hope to god that's enough. "

She tried to kiss me then, but I just pulled her closer for a hug, whispering, "Look, I'll take your feelings into consideration when I'm with Bella, and you happen to be around, but I'm not going to stop our life for you. Addressing those feelings, though, will be really hard. Besides, you know how much I love her. Hell, I'm going to marry that girl, and when this is over, I'm going to move away from Forks with her. Hell, in a lot of ways, we're already married, by natural law, as Victoria said. You've got to know that she takes priority."

She sighed as she pulled away, "I know. Sometimes I wish you had met me at the right time instead of Bella, knowing how loyal you are. A girl can only wish for that kind of thing, you know? Especially having that from…Well, look, I love you. I just want you to know how important you are to me."

I tried to think of what to tell her then, but she just walked away then, sighing and wiping her eyes.

I heard Bella behind me, "Now what was that all about?"

I looked back at her, and I was totally just confused, "You know, I don't get Alice's sudden change of heart. One moment she's all gung-ho Bella/Edward fan that hates me, and the next she's all over me and telling me she loves me."

"Those two are related, you know?"

"My point is, that the kind of change we saw in her is actually worrisome. I mean a total shift from night to day. This is the old Alice, from how she used to be when I first met the Cullens. She's actually happy, except for just now, of course."

Bella wrapped her arms around me, "Maybe that's from getting what she wants, baby."

I gave her a sour look, "How's that? I was a total punk to her."

She shook her head, and whispered, "You were being a punk, without being a dick. Besides, she was happy because you were talking to her the way you would to me if the situation were reverse. You were actually really gentle with her, despite it all. She just wants you to be nice to her, and to take her in."

I reached up, taking her hands into my own, "Ok, so what happens when she wants more?"

She loosened her arms so she could come around to face me, and kissed me. We held each other for a good long time, and she breathed deeply as she pulled away, and leaned her head on my shoulder.

I stroked her back, and asked, "Did you just shush me with a kiss, Bella?"

She pulled back, smirking, "Well, what if I did?"

I still looked at her for an answer, "Bella, what will we do when she wants more?"

She pulled me close, saying, "We'll build that bridge when we come to it. For now, just be glad with what you have. Two awesome girls that are totally nuts about you, and a daughter waiting for us when we get home."

I was simply content just holding her, and then I looked up to see Alice as she watched us, with a twinge of jealousy, but also a bit of sadness, and some sort of relief for seeing me happy. I guess if she could be happy with that, maybe she wasn't a bad girl after all.

Continued…

Alright, ya'll that's it for chapter 14. It looks like it's going to take a little longer than 15 chapters to get the chars where I need them to be. At least, for the moment, I'm keeping them in a sort of status. Gosh, I hope none of ya'll thought of this as Filler. In the meantime, I would like comments, crits, and such on characters, relationships, and such, especially the Alice situation. Most of all, Damien and Bella and their evolution as a couple and as individual characters in general. I do have a published novel out. If you want the details, email me. It's my first published work, so go easy on me once you read it. Also, remember, it's my first published novel. I have some of the info for it on the last chapter of Summers in Forks. Already, with this, I feel like I've improved a LOT.

Later,

Me