This chapter's really short compared to everything else, and I apologize for that. However, Stratan and I wanted to get something out to you guys because our real lives are kicking our fic lives' asses. Chapter 15 will be out ASAP, though. We have it brainstormed, and I have some time to get it written this next week. So it won't be long before you get what was intended to be the rest of 14.

Thanks to Stratan for telling me my idea here did not suck, and for his idea of posting it early. Thanks to Claireoth for prereading this. Love you both :)

Chapter 14

Bella

The fire jumped and crackled at the edge of our campsite, sending bright orange embers up into the black night sky. The moon was nowhere in sight; stars were just as well hidden beneath the dense cloud cover above us. Snow would start falling soon, initiating the countdown to Victoria and her newborns' arrival.

Although, if I was being completely honest with myself, I'd been counting down for days now.

Cal's laughter rang out in the air, and I let my eyes travel back downward where he sat with Jacob. He raptly watched his uncle pull the marshmallow out of the flame and let it burn for just a moment before blowing the fire out and placing it on the partially set up s'more he had waiting for Cal.

Once it had cooled, Jacob broke off a small piece and gave it to Cal, watching for his approval with a smile twitching at his lips. After all, what kid didn't love sugar?

Caleb's dark green eyes widened, and he grinned widely up at Jacob just before reaching out for the s'more, which was quickly jerked away from him.

"Ah, just a little at a time," Jacob said when Cal's face fell. "Can't have you choking. Your mom… and your dad would kick my ass."

I cleared my throat to make him aware of his blunder.

"I mean butt." He somehow managed to scrub at his face without dropping the baby or the s'more. "God, that's hard."

"If you didn't have such a foul mouth, it wouldn't be," I shot back with a grin.

"Maybe."

"I hear from Emmett all the time, Mama," Caleb chimed in.

I blinked. "What? Emmett says bad words in front of you?"

He nodded innocently.

Looked like I was kicking Emmett's ass as soon as we got back home instead…

I focused on Caleb again. "Well, he shouldn't," I replied vaguely.

"Daddy told him."

That had me smiling again. "I'm sure he did."

Jacob handed Caleb another piece of the s'more, causing him to quiet down immediately. I watched the two of them together from my spot next to the tent, thinking how unbelievably lucky I was. And that if anything happened to either of them or Edward, who was currently circling the camp to make sure nothing unwanted was near… I wasn't sure how I'd be able to navigate through that kind of pain.

Suddenly, "dying" for someone didn't seem so dramatic to me. I'd do anything to keep them—and maybe even the rest of the Cullens and the pack—safe. They were my family, my life. The thought of not hearing any one of their voices or laughter stole my breath. They had to exist, every last one of them.

Including Rosalie.

It was strange to think of it that way, given how I felt about her, but it made it no less true. She was an integral part of the Cullen family, even when she was in Alaska. And I would never be able to bear watching Emmett suffer through the loss if something were to happen to her.

I suddenly had to urge to do something; to keep everyone safe, if I could. If I were to sneak down to the battle site, I could help, rather than sit on this mountain feeling totally useless. But I'd need to figure out how to get past both Edward and Jacob, which was near impossible. Though, maybe it wasn't. Something as simple as a bathroom break could work; I was fast enough that neither Edward nor Jacob could catch up with me until it was too late…

"Stop whatever it is you're planning," Edward whispered in my ear.

I leaned back against his hard body and sighed heavily, a little annoyed that I'd been caught so soon. "I thought you couldn't read my mind."

"But I've gotten very good at reading your expressions, your eyes. Besides," he continued, pulling me tighter against him, "I know you."

"So I guess everything's all clear?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.

He didn't take the bait. "I'm not kidding, Bella. Nothing you can do will make this situation any better. In fact, it might make it worse. You showing up unannounced like that and surprising everyone? It's just what Victoria and her newborns need to gain the advantage. You heard Jasper. Staying here to keep Cal safe is the best thing you can do for everyone else. Especially me."

I groaned but nodded my acquiescence. "I just feel so…"

"Helpless," he finished for me. "I know."

I twisted around to face him. "Yeah?"

He bent down to brush his lips against mine. The contact was brief and light, but the emotion it caused to well in my chest was strong and heavy. Grief, I finally realized. And fear. I was terrified of losing this life I'd finally grown to love.

"I want nothing more than to kill them all for threatening you and Caleb. But realistically? I'd be so wrapped up in wondering if you two were still safe or if our line had been breached, that I'd be the one hurt. Or worse."

I couldn't stand the thought of that—or any of this, really—so I threaded my fingers through his hair and kissed him again. His hands gripped onto my shirt at the small of my back, rending the fabric slightly, and a low groan rumbled in his chest as my body slowly inched closer to his. I could feel him tense and tighten underneath me as he struggled to hold perfectly still.

Abruptly, he pulled away, panting heavily as he stared back at me. His face was barely visible in the light of the fire, but I was all too familiar with the strain of control in his jaw… his muscles.

"When do you think this is actually… feasible?"

"Whenever," I replied almost flippantly. "I feel fine."

He moaned but managed to work his body even further away from mine. Not that being a wolf really gave me any advantage when we were like this. I was stronger, yes, but I was still no match for him in my human form.

I instantly deflated. There would be no sneaking off into the woods for some much needed time alone.

"There are still a few logistics we need to work through before we can…" He trailed off and waited for me to decipher his meaning.

It didn't take long. "Cal."

"Exactly. With everything else going on, we've not really had the time to find out if it could happen again. And as much as I love having him, we should still be responsible, don't you think?"

"Well, crap."

He laughed loudly and let me work my way back into his arms again. "I hate that I'm right."

"So do I," I muttered, making him laugh a little more.

"He's asleep," Jacob announced from behind me.

Edward started to push me off of him. "I'll get him."

"Nah," Jacob said, waving Edward off. "I got it. You two just keep making out over there. Don't mind me."

"Jealous?" I teased.

"A little," he admitted as he scooped Cal up in his arms. "It'd be nice to have what you two do. But I… No one in the tribe interests me."

"Jake, I'm sure you just haven't met her yet."

I could barely make out the roll of his dark eyes from where I sat. "Save the pity, Bells. It's cool. I have plenty to distract me right now."

"But I-"

"Bella," he laughed. "Enough. I'll make sure Cal's settled before I phase. I'll be just past that line of trees if you need anything."

"You don't have to sleep outside," I protested.

"Yes, I do. Pack orders." When met with my dumbfounded expression he continued, "Just in case."

"Oh. Right." Where was my brain these days? It was like every neuron had stopped firing lately.

Jacob slipped inside the tent to lay Caleb down and came out just a few seconds later. He silently headed into the forest and left me alone with Edward.

Which was both a good thing… and a bad thing, all at once.

"Would you like a distraction?" Edward finally murmured, tracing the base of my neck with his fingers.

I gave him a puzzled look. "A distraction?"

He nodded, his eyes heavy. "You remember what happens when we're alone in the woods."

How could I not?

He leaned down and pressed a kiss against my neck, directly over my now leaping pulse. "So we should have some sort of distraction, don't you think?"

"Which would be?" I asked shakily.

"I've spoken to Carlisle about what Cal's story should be."

My brows shot up, and my eyes darted over to the tent. "He's really asleep?"

"He's asleep. But even so, he'll need to know this eventually, love," he said as he straightened up.

"What'd Carlisle say?"

"Well, he came up with a great idea… as always," he answered with a crooked smile. "He wants to expand the story of my adoption. Something along the lines of me having a brother who was sent to another family; one I knew nothing about. Of course, the separation and not knowing his whereabouts, not to mention memories of our parent's deaths, would be hard for me, so I'd never want to speak of it."

I giggled at how good he was at this. The faux distress on his face was completely believable. "It'd explain why no one knew until now."

"Precisely. Some awful car accident or equally tragic event happened, and we suddenly found my little brother on our doorstep. And neither of us could, or would, turn him away."

"It's definitely plausible. He looks enough like you that no one would really question it. Especially since you and your family haven't been back long enough for me to get pregnant and have a baby already." I paused for a beat. "So they think."

"So they think. Would Charlie go along with this?"

"I'm sure he would."

"Well, now you have something to tell Renee."

"And anyone else who asks…. Once Cal's stopped growing enough to go out in public, that is. Which probably won't take long," I finished unhappily.

"He's slowing down," he reminded me with a smile. "Every day-"

"Yeah, yeah. Every day he grows a little less than the day before. I got it. Doesn't mean I like it, though."

"I know. For lack of a better description, it sucks."

"That it does."

"Think you could sleep?" he asked quietly.

"Probably not."

"Neither could I," he said wryly.

I laughed and gave him a playful slap to his shoulder, ignoring the sting of my palm as I pulled it away. "How can you make such stupid jokes right now?"

"Because it makes you smile. I'd do anything to make you smile. Always, Bella."

I exhaled loudly and buried my face into the crook of his neck. "Thank you," I whispered.

"For what?"

"For just…" I had no idea how to reiterate what I was feeling. "I don't know. For being you," I finally finished lamely.

He chuckled. "You're welcome."

After a few seconds went by, he felt me yawn against his skin and patted my hip. "Come on. Let's get you to bed. You can at least try to sleep."

"Try being the operative word?" I responded as I got up off of his lap.

"You know it. I'll enjoy watching you toss and turn all night. You might even fall asleep and say a few-"

I shot him a look, instantly cutting off the rest of that sentence.

"Or not. You'd never say anything entertaining in your sleep. Ever," he amended dutifully as he led me into the tent.

I started to laugh to myself, but stopped short as I caught sight of Cal sleeping soundly on the floor of the tent. He was so tiny inside that sleeping bag, so peaceful. My hand came up to rest over my heart, rubbing at the pain that was suddenly so deeply rooted there.

"We have to keep her away from him," I said to Edward urgently. "She'll do anything to make you feel like she does. She'll torture him and make both of us watch. She'll-"

He had me in his arms in an instant. "She's not coming near him, Bella," he said adamantly. Somehow the ferocity of his voice, the snarl that accompanied it, was more soothing than anything else he could have possibly said. "I promise you."

I nodded as Edward gently wiped my face, unaware that I'd been crying. "I'm sorry. I'm on repeat tonight, aren't I? I just keep thinking and saying the same things over and over again."

"There's nothing to be sorry for," he replied simply.

I reluctantly extricated myself from him and laid down on the sleeping bag next to Cal, unconcerned with covering up. It was just superfluous at this point, anyway; I no longer felt the chill of the air around us like I once did.

The wind picked up as Edward lay behind me, screaming between the trees outside.

"It's snowing now, isn't it?" I asked quietly.

Edward stretched his arm out so that he was holding onto both Cal and me. "Yeah."

That one little word nearly brought me to tears again, but I quickly compartmentalized everything in order to get through tonight. I needed to keep all those emotions and niggling fears boxed up and in the corner so that I could get some sleep. I needed to be well rested and ready to defend myself and my boys tomorrow.

Just in case.