Many apologies to anyone reading in Scotland, of course it is a separate and entirely different country from England and thanks to loonietune for reminding me. Jules x

Chapter Fourteen

Cade

I heard the end of Lisa's conversation with Crystal after reassuring mum that it was all really a story written by Lisa with Bella's help.

"I didn't know our Lisa was writing a novel."

"It was going to be a surprise, she was hoping to get it published first."

Mum seemed happy enough and went off muttering that she wasn't too keen on snoops, so Crystal wasn't so high in her favour any longer. I wasn't entirely convinced by Crystal's story though. If the girl who had spoken to her was Alice things could be serious so I grabbed Lisa as she came back in from the garden,

"Come with me. We need to let Bella know what's going on."

"Do you think she's really in danger Cade?"

"If its who I think it might be then yes. Alice Cullen is still out there with her friend Alec and they are more than capable of killing or kidnapping Bella and the twins to achieve their goal. I'm just hoping Peter and Charlotte are close on her tail, we'll need all the help we can get."

"Shouldn't we follow Crystal and see who she makes contact with? It might have nothing to do with this Alice."

"I can't take a chance and if it is Alice she'll already know the outcome of the conversation and be way ahead of us in any case."

"How?"

"Alice sees things."

"Sees things? Not another Crystal please!"

"No, Alice really does see things. She had visions of the future so she'll have seen Crystal find your diary, why the hell did you keep one in any case? Have you any idea how dangerous that could be to all of us?"

"I had it locked up Cade, she broke in to get it."

"Well we don't have time to discuss it now."

"Why don't you ring and warn them?"

"You do it while I drive."

Lisa rang the house but the phone line was dead,

"Try her cell phone or Emmett's, Rose's, one of them must answer surely."

Lisa got an answer from Emmett but it wasn't good news. He'd been out to hunt leaving the girls alone and as soon as he heard the news he started back.

"I'm only a mile away, I didn't go far. I'll let you know when I get there."

Emmett

I hadn't wanted to leave the girls but I had to hunt, I was getting weak with thirst especially smelling the blood I had to keep supplying for Caden, boy that kid could drink! They seemed to be growing daily and I was sure by the time Jazz got back he'd hardly recognise them. Lily Rose was a beautiful baby, sweet and placid, the direct opposite to her brother who was loud and demanding, mainly for more blood! I reached the house and crashed through the door only to startle Rose and Bella who were on the floor rolling a ball between them with the babies on their laps. Lily Rose gurgled and smiled as the ball came to her then tried to pat it before Rose rolled it back to Bella. They both looked up confused and I tried to make light of my entrance.

"Sorry, tripped over my own feet."

"Yeah sure Emmett, what's wrong?"

"We aren't sure. Cade just rang to say he thinks Alice is close by. Someone's been asking Crystal questions about you."

Bella got to her feet and put Caden into the playpen Garrett and I had built for the kids then took Lily Rose from Rose and put her beside her brother.

"Is Cade coming?"

"Yes with Lisa. They'll be here soon but I think we should prepare for the worst."

"Em if the worst happens we wont know anything about it, remember Alice has Alec with her."

"Shit I forgot about him so what do we do?"

"Ring Peter, see if he knows anything while I make sure the doors and windows are all locked, It wont keep them out but it makes me feel like I'm doing something."

"Are you going to ring Jazz?"

"What can he do? He's too far away Em and it'll only worry him no, not until we know for sure."

Cade

We reached the house twenty minutes later to find it shut up tight although we all knew it wouldn't help against Alec or Alice.

"I've spoken to Peter, he says his radar is pinging so he's not far from Alice or trouble but he agrees they are closer than comfortable."

"Why didn't he ring earlier? He could have warned us."

"He tried Rose but the land line is down, then he lost his signal. Besides he doesn't know where we are and Charlotte is busy on their trail in another car, she thinks Alec is in Mexico or at least he was."

"Mexico? Why would he go there?"

"Maria?"

I shook my head at Bella's suggestion.

"If there was anything going on in Mexico the watchers would know and we'd be warned. I asked them to keep a look out, maybe he's tried enlisting some help of his own. I'm going to speak to Darius see if he can throw some light in what's happening."

"If you do that Cade Jasper will know there's trouble down here and I don't want him worried, not now. This meeting is too important to the vampire world. Is there anyone else you could try?"

I thought about this for a few seconds,

"Let me speak to the watchers perhaps they've heard or seen something. But if I get no joy I'm ringing Darius sorry Bella."

Emmett

The girls took up station by the windows looking for the first sign of trouble while I waited frustrated and helpless wondering what would happen if Alice had Alec with her. They'd be after the children to use as bargaining chips, if they knew of their existence. If they didn't then they might try to destroy us and kill the children as well. I had no idea what I could do to prevent any deaths but I would fight to the bitter end. Bella was concentrating and I knew she was trying to shield us all but since the birth of the twins she had been very weak herself, only regaining her strength slowly and I wasn't sure she could be as successful as she had been. From the look on her face she was thinking the same thing herself. Cade had got through to his friends and was listening intently without speaking. Although I wasn't far away I didn't understand what was being said, the language was unknown to me so I had to wait until he put the phone down to find out what he'd learned.

"The watchers say Alec Volturi had friends in Guatemala and he was trying to get help from them."

"Was he successful?"

"No thank goodness. They'd already heard of the fall of the Volturi and who had taken over in their place and they wanted no truck with The Major and his friends so he's on his way back, presumably to meet up with Alice. I don't know where she is, I'm afraid that's all I could find out"

"Do you think Alice will come?"

"Don't you? Now is the ideal time and if she can see anything she'll know Bella is still weak and she stands a good chance of pulling something off."

"So what do we do?"

"Hope Alec isn't with her Emmett and try our best to keep Bella and the kids safe."

"Do you think Bella is right to keep this from Jazz?"

"It's her decision and she's right, he's too far away to do anything, it will only worry the life out of him."

Bella

I could hear Cade's conversation with Emmett and was relieved to hear that Alec appeared to be separated from Alice, it meant we had a chance and a good one, especially with Cade and Emmett here. I was sure I could help but I would be the first to admit I wasn't as strong as I would have liked, it was taking me a long while to get my strength back after the birth of the twins. They were precious and I would protect them to the very end, Jasper would expect that of me. I knew he would be furious that I hadn't rung him with the news of Alice's arrival but I would cross that bridge when I came to it, for now I focused in on the job at hand, keeping Lily Rose and Caden safe. I saw Rose stiffen from the corner of my eye and joined her gazing out the window to the woods at the back of the house.

"What did you see Rose?"

"I'm not sure but something moved. Maybe it was just an animal, I guess I'm just jumpy."

"I doubt that Rose."

She took my hand in hers,

"I wont let Alice or Alec harm the twins Bella, if it kills me."

"Thank you Rose but no one is going to be killed. We'll be OK."

Then I saw the movement, the undergrowth shook then a figure walked out into the sunshine, Alice Cullen and she wasn't alone, somehow Alec had met up with her and they stood together looking at the house both smiling and I knew they were aware they were being watched.