Disclaimer: All characters are owned and copyrighted by Stephenie Meyer, except for Eli and Sarah.

Chapter 21

The Leader of the Pack

(Vrooom)

Looking up at Carlisle's face, I found myself wondering about the almost constant color of a vampire's skin. So far, the only change I'd noticed is a purple bruising under the eyes when hungry, but other than that, it seemed to always be the same shade of pale. A Whiter Shade of Pale, I thought to myself. It took some effort to keep from humming the tune.

I was thinking all this because, based on the harsh tone of Carlisle's voice, the deepening of the lines in his face, the narrowing of his eyes, and his absolutely unnecessary rapid breathing, he should be as red as a beet. But he wasn't, and I found it distracting. Without the visual cues I'd grown up with, I couldn't bring myself to quake in front him the way I would if he'd been blazing red with steam coming out of his ears.

In fact, the only word that kept coming to mind was, 'oops.' But my survival instincts were strong enough to know that was the last thing I should say. It didn't help that I couldn't come up with anything else.

Carlisle looked from my blank stare over to Edward, who was regarding him coolly — the newspaper still in his hand. He glanced down at it on occasion, as if he could glean more from the typewritten words than what was already indelibly imprinted on our brains. I looked back at Carlisle. Why was he so angry? Okay, I had been seen. This was not good, a broken rule. But I was seen by vagrants, and it was obvious that no one was taking it seriously. Not the reporter, and, most assuredly, not the police.

So what was the big deal?

Maybe I shouldn't have used precisely those words when I finally spoke aloud.

Carlisle sputtered, "Bella, I know you're new to this life, but I've mentioned the Volturi before, and have told you there are rules." I watched him try to get his temper under control, regain the calm, stoic image he always maintained. I just couldn't take his anger seriously, and wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because, when you got down to it, that although he tried to project this paternal demeanor, he wasn't my father. Actually, I barely knew him at all. It seemed to be a good opportunity to remind him.

"Carlisle, I'd like to thank you for all you've done for me — for us, but the truth is, I'm an adult, even if I'm a newborn adult." I was proud of how well I'd manage to suppress my giggles over the oxymoron. "And even more, Carlisle, I wouldn't allow my father to talk to me this way, let alone you." He glared at me, and I glared right back at him. "The truth is, before all this mess, I'd only met you a couple of times." His eyes got wide and I watched the muscles working in his jaw, grinding his teeth as he broke eye contact and looked away from me, into the distance, appearing deep in thought. 'Hah,' I thought, 'I won!' And then I chastised myself. I shouldn't read more into this than what it was, and that it really wasn't cowardice that made him blink first. Maybe I really was being a bit... irrational?

Nah. Although, perhaps it was a good time to lay on some charm.

"So," I smiled sweetly, "I'd appreciate it if we could discuss this as adults. Sound good?"

I was surprised at my own reaction, I was never this confrontational, this confident, this at ease in the face of someone else's anger. I did have enough presence of mind to wonder if I was growing up, or just caught up in out-of-control newborn emotions. Whatever. I decided to flow with it, and have fun where I could find it. Peeking behind him, I realized I had completely forgotten Alice.

She was standing there, that far-away look in her eyes. Watching the future, I supposed. I worked really hard to keep from rolling my eyes as I looked back at Carlisle, and tried to look contrite. I don't think he bought it.

Poor Edward. He wasn't finding any amusement in this at all, too busy frowning at Carlisle. I had to work with him on his sense of humor. He was taking this all far too seriously.

"Carlisle, I agree with Isabella, and I'd rather you not address her as if she were a wayward child. Neither one of us took that encounter lightly. As a matter of fact, she was injured." I put my arm around Edward's waist and smiled up at him. Strike that 'finding humor in it' idea. I rather liked the idea of someone sticking up for me this way, no one ever had before. It was something I could get used to.

Edward dropped his eyes, and grinned at me, his fingers stroking my waist, pulling me into his side. The man was multitasking, and I knew where part of his brain was. I slid my finger under the edge of his shirt and ran it against the smooth skin, wondering if we could cut this conversation short for a quick sprint in the woods. It took some effort to stop myself from rubbing against him, suppressing the overwhelming need to purr. Glancing up at the still angry Carlisle, and the preoccupied seer, even my lust-clouded brain knew it was the wrong time. I could wait... oh, five minutes or so.

Edward cleared his throat. "Look, Isabella is right. No one in Port Angeles took it seriously. As for the Volturi, they may be vampires, but we are, too. What makes them more powerful, other than the threat of their name?"

Carlisle ran his hand over his face, and lowered himself onto the porch swing. He leaned back, rocking gently, and closed his eyes. "It's my fault. I told you some of it, but not all. I should have explained it more fully." He stopped rocking, opened his eyes, and glanced from Edward to me. "Edward, you have the ability to read minds, and you know Alice can see the future." He furrowed his brow and looked at me. "Bella, you have a talent, although I'm not certain of the extent of it yet. And Jasper, Jasper can both feel and influence emotions." He sighed. "The Volturi brothers gather talents, reinforcing their power base by acquiring the most useful ones they can find. What neither of you understand is, not all talents are benign. Some are very aggressive." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his hands clasped in front of him, knuckles white. "If we were caught violating their laws, they could, and would, destroy us. And if that was their intent, there would be nothing we could do to stop them."

Could this be true? Looking up at Edward, I could see from his expression that he was probing Carlisle's mind. I waited and watched, and then he nodded his head, confirming it. Holy shit, what other surprises were in store for me? I swallowed thickly, and looked over at Carlisle. Were we in real trouble? I mean, I hadn't...

Carlisle stood and walked over to the porch railing. "I hadn't wanted to frighten you too much, but exposing yourself as something other than human, in a city such as Port Angeles, would be the equivalent of a death sentence if they found out about it." He stared at me, his eyes pained. "Not just for you, Bella, but for Edward, too. In fact, all of us who know you — regardless of how tight the bond — would be subject to execution." Edward pulled me tighter against him, and I started to tremble.

"Carlisle, I..," I stuttered, and watched him shake his head sadly.

"I'm not saying it's right, I'm just telling you it's the law."

Dear god, I've put all of us in danger! Would they be looking for us? I moved closer to Edward and looked up into his amber eyes. In my stupidity I might be responsible for his death. Just the thought stabbed at me, like a knife twisting through me. My chest was tight, it was hard to breathe.

"Edward, I don't know what to say…"

"Shhh," he whispered, rubbing my back. "I won't let anything happen to either of us."

I was scared, more frightened than I'd been in a very long time. I wrapped both arms around him and buried my head in his chest, breathing him in, trying to calm down. That's when I heard the engines, and if my heart was beating it would have stopped. No, it couldn't be, please god, no.

We all turned towards the driveway, listening to the cars turning off the main road, heading towards us, the breeze carrying a smell that was both enticing and revolting. We all turned to Alice, whose eyes were wide, and focused, and utterly surprised.

We all knew what that scent was — humans... and werewolves. I breathed a sigh of relief. At least this was a danger I knew.

The sound echoed off the trees as the cars wound down the drive, growing louder as the scent got stronger. We stood silently, eyes riveted, the only sound was the front door opening, the hinges groaning as Jasper walked onto the porch to stand with Alice, immediately followed by a flurry of fabric as Esme joined Carlisle. The normal sounds of the forest had stopped. In the silence, the only things I heard was the soft breathing of the vampires around me, the rhythmic dripping of the ever-present moisture falling from the trees, the whine of engines and the rattling of gravel caught and tossed away by the tread of the tires.

Then we saw them — two SUVs. I wasn't surprised when I saw who was sitting in the lead vehicle; it was Jacob and his father, Billy. But I was startled when I recognized Harry Clearwater in the back seat. Four young men were in the other car. They all looked vaguely familiar, but it had been thirteen years. They were children the last time I was in Forks.

"Get Bella inside," broke the silence, and I looked up and into Jasper's determined face. Yes, I could feel the burn in my throat; I'd encountered it on my way to Port Angeles. But the rancid odor of so many werewolves was enough to kill my appetite.

"Jasper, I'm fine," I said, wrapping my arm tighter around Edward's waist. I looked at the cars stopped in front of the house, and shrugged. "It's already too late. If I was going to attack them, it would have already happened." I arched an eyebrow.

Jasper started to say something, but stopped, confused. It was one of those times I wished I had Edward's ability, so I turned him, my eyes questioning.

Edward shrugged, and grinned. "You're not acting the way he expects a newborn to act. You're too calm."

"I'm supposed to act like an idiot? Feel an uncontrollable desire to drain these humans? Maybe under normal circumstances, but," I said, pointing at them, "do any of you seriously think I'd have any interest? This whole damned place smells like skunk."

Edward looked like he was about to say something, but instead pulled me closer at the sound of the car doors opening. We watched Jacob pull a wheelchair out of the backseat, and picking up his father, seated him. Jacob didn't hurt him, but he wasn't particularly tender. Billy had a stoic expression on his face, as if this was a regular routine that he'd grown accustomed to, frowning as he adjusted himself in the chair. He looked around at all of us, chin high, but I would bet he hated being in that chair in front of vampires. With a grunt, he tried to wheel himself over the loose gravel, but it was too rough a surface for a wheelchair. Jacob sighed in disgust and pushed him to the bottom of the porch stairs, walking away to lean against the car as soon as he got his father situated.

Guess I wasn't the only one Jacob treated with disdain.

"Isabella Swan," Billy said, inclining his head to me. "I'm relieved your father doesn't have to see you this way."

Now that plain pissed me off. "Good to see you too, Billy. I guess by your thinking, my father is better off thinking I'm dead, right?"

He drew his brows together. "Yes, that's what I think. I'm also thinking I'd rather you really be dead than," he nodded towards the others on the porch, "one of them."

My jaw dropped, astonished Billy would say something so hurtful. I glanced over at Jacob and, for the first time, wondered if Jacob's attitude was as much nature as nurture.

Billy turned to Carlisle. "If you had anything to do with this, the treaty is dead. You know that."

Carlisle slowly walked down the steps,and sat at the precise step that would have his eyes level with Billy's. It was the move of a diplomat. I was momentarily impressed.

"We signed a treaty with your tribe in good faith, and we have not broken it. Neither I, nor any member of my family, had anything to do with what happened to Bella." He stared at the man in front of him, hoping he'd see his sincerity. "She was changed by a nomad, in another state. I found her after she was infected, but, the truth is, had they not done this, they'd have certainly killed her."

"She'd have been better off."

"Hold your judgment Mr. Black." I saw Carlisle's nostrils flare, the only outward sign of his annoyance. "You don't understand how we live our lives. Bella has chosen to emulate us. Her mate," he nodded at Edward, "already came to this same conclusion by himself, over ninety years ago, and has never tasted human blood.

Billy looked up at the porch, at Edward. "And who are you?"

"Edward Masen, Sir." Edward's eyes narrowed slightly, and I wondered what he was hearing. Ah shit, of course. I pulled my attention away from Billy and looked at Jacob, standing behind his father, and smirking.

"Do you have a problem, Jacob?" I said, my voice syrupy sweet.

"The bunch of you can't even be proper vampires," he said with a sneer. "And this one," he said, looking directly at Edward, "didn't even have to be cajoled into staying away from human blood for the sake of a treaty. The wimp started off that way."

The bastard. I clenched my fists as I took a step towards him, but Edward grabbed my arm. I looked up at him, my eyes blazing, but Edward just shook his head, tapped his temple, and grinned. I glanced over at Jacob, hoping he didn't see our exchange. He had already dismissed us, busy with a pen knife, cleaning dirt from under his fingernails. The man had the manners of a pig, and that was an insult to pigs.

"Jacob," Carlisle said, with a tone he might use with a difficult child. "We don't refrain from human blood because of the treaty, it was already our lifestyle. The treaty was simply our word to continue it as long as we chose to live near your lands." He stood up, walking down the rest of the stairs. "And when we live elsewhere our choice is no different. We live with honor, can you say the same?"

Jacob's black eyes got wide, and then narrowed. His growl vibrated the air as he stomped over to Carlisle, breathing heavily, his huge biceps bulging as his clenched and unclenched his fists.

"Stop this now!"

We all turned to the new voice, and I couldn't help but smile. "Hi, Harry," I grinned.

"Hey, Bells," he smiled back, ignoring the frowns from Jacob and Billy, and the low gasps from the others milling around by their car.

"How are Charlie and Renee doing?" I asked. I didn't want to know too much, just enough to know they're okay.

Harry nodded, understanding. "They're managing, don't worry about them, just focus on yourself." He walked over to Edward and held out his hand. "I'm Harry Clearwater. This young lady used to spend almost as much time with me as she did her father." The two of them grasped hands, cold to hot, pale white to russet brown. Harry turned towards me, and then dropped his eyes, examining the engagement ring on my finger. He smiled broadly, and turned back to Edward. "I'm glad to see she's settling in, just take good care of her, hear?"

Edward nodded and smiled, placing his other hand on top of their joined hands. "She means everything to me, Mr. Clearwater. You have my promise."

Harry smiled at Edward, and I couldn't help it. I ran over and carefully threw my arms around him, reminding myself to be gentle so I didn't crush him. Searing pain hit my throat, but I just stopped breathing and held him. Harry was a part of my old life, one of the happier parts, and he accepted me for who I now was. It was the last thing I expected, and I couldn't control the sob when he put his hot arms around me and hugged me back. I'd always treasure this moment.

I could feel his hot breath on my neck, his tears hitting my cold skin. "Never thought I'd hug a vampire, Bells." I could feel his grin against my neck. "You aren't going to eat me, are you?" I laughed, and hugged him just a little tighter.

"Harry, that was disgusting." We broke apart, and both of us looked over at Jacob, leaning against the car with his massive arms crossed in front of his chest.

"Jacob, I've come pretty close to having had enough of you," Harry warned, his voice low, meeting Jacob's eyes. "Just because I don't carry the damned gene doesn't mean I have no authority in this tribe." Harry looked over at Billy, who was glaring at him, just like his son. "This out-of-control moron is your fault. We should have taken the responsibility for him out of your hands, years ago."

Billy looked like he was going to have a stroke. "What the hell are you saying, Harry? He's done just fine, and by the time he's done this tribe will be stronger than it's ever been. We'll have both money and honor among the other tribes. Jacob is the strongest thing we've had in generations."

Honor? Honor? I looked at Edward, monitoring more than just the conversation. His eyes met mine, and he nodded.

I turned to Billy, sitting there puffing with anger. He had been a good friend over the years, but it really was time he knew some truths, and I didn't plan to varnish them with flowery words.

"I need to speak with Billy in private."

"Over my dead body," Jacob shouted.

"I can arrange that," I said, smiling. "But if it makes you feel better, you can join us." I pointed to the others. "Ask them to give us some space." I looked at Harry, and gave him an apologetic smile. He nodded, and strolled over to the others, whispering to them. They gave me a threatening glance, but followed him.

"Billy," I said softly, walking over and kneeling in front of him, Edward at my side. "When Jacob and I were fifteen years old he told me he loved me, and then he convinced me to sleep with him." I watched Billy carefully. He needed to know the truth, but he didn't need a heart attack, either. "Afterwards, I realized I was young and confused – too young for things like that. I told Jacob..." I looked up at Jacob. His arms had dropped and he was frozen, jaw open, eyes wide, clearly not believing I was telling his father about this.

"Anyway, I told Jacob I wanted to hold off, I didn't want to do it again until I was ready. He wasn't happy with that answer. Within a week he'd told all his friends," I peered over at the guys standing with Harry, doing anything they could not to look at me, "and before I knew it, word was all over town that I was the easy, fifteen-year-old slut daughter of the Chief of Police." I swallowed, feeling all the pain rushing back, but I continued. "Within another week, Jacob had a new girlfriend from our school, someone who was willing to put out for him." I took a deep breath. "Billy, he was my best friend for as long as I could remember, and it only took one week for him to decide to cut me out of his life."

I continued to watch Billy closely, at the throbbing vein at his temple. I felt a small urge, a rush of something like adrenaline, but I ignored it. Good thing I was stuffed on all those deer.

"I never told my parents about it, and as soon as I was able to, I left Forks, and never returned."

Billy lowered his eyes, and nodded. "I wondered why... you had always seemed so happy..."

"What happened yesterday... I didn't mean to hurt anyone, or put treaties at risk, or expose anyone." I glanced over at Carlisle. "I simply wanted to find Jacob and ask him why he did that to me." I sighed. "Maybe I should have asked him years ago, or maybe this was the right time. Maybe I was finally strong enough to hear his answer."

"And that was?" Billy reached out, and placed his hand on my shoulder. I looked down and shook my head.

"I don't think I have the strength to repeat it."

"But I do," Edward said, putting his arm around my waist. He looked at Jake. "Should I tell them, Jacob? Should I tell them how you used her because you felt it was your right? Should I tell them how you lied to her to convince her to bed you? Should I tell them how long you laughed at her humiliation?"

"Jacob?" Billy looked at his son. "You did that to Bella? The daughter of my best friend? The girl who had been your best friend for years?"

Jacob pushed himself off the car, "And you, old man, are going to believe these bloodsuckers instead of your own son?"

Billy turned red, and glared at him. "I haven't decided who I believe, because I haven't heard you deny it. Are you? Are you saying this isn't true?"

"What the hell difference does it make if it's true? I'll be joining the elders soon enough, and I'm pack alpha now." He pointed at the young men standing with Harry. "They do what I say." He turned back to his father. "And the same goes for the elders. I can promise you, you and the rest of your bunch of old men don't want to take me on."

"That's what it's always been about, isn't that true, Jacob?" Edward asked softly. "It's always been about you, and how great you are, and how strong you are. Am I wrong?"

"What the hell would you know, leach. I'm the one, the only one, who will drag this tribe out of obscurity."

"And doing it on the back of the tribe, aren't you? Tell them Jacob. Tell him what you do with the money they give you for casino licenses. Tell him the truth — that it has nothing to do with filing fees, or attorney fees." Edward's arm was getting tense around my waist. "Tell him how you skim a sizeable percentage off the top and use the rest to bribe your friends on the state boards. Then tell him how you get a kickback when construction starts, a kickback from the developers you send the business to." Jacob was starting to tremble. "Tell him how you take a percentage of the profits from the casinos once they start operation. Tell him how they give you that percentage to keep your mouth shut about how you got the licenses through." Edward stopped, and glared at Jacob.

"And don't let yourself explode before you tell him how you shifted into wolf form in the middle of Port Angeles, and how you attacked Isabella when she asked you why you were so horrible to her."

The gasp from all of them stopped Edward, even the boys stopped milling and turned, glaring at Jacob, but Billy was the first to speak.

"You phased in Port Angeles? You attacked Bella?"

"The bitch slapped me, what did you expect me to do, thank the bloodsucker and walk away?"

Billy turned to Edward, his face red, his hands trembling. "How do you know this?"

"I can read his mind, Sir." Billy looked unconvinced, but Carlisle moved up to Edward's side, and nodded.

"He really can, Billy. Trust me on this."

"Bullshit." Jacob was shaking, barely in control. I was cringing, praying he wouldn't phase. "Go on, Mr. Magnificent, tell me what I'm thinking right now."

Edward growled, shocking me. Had I ever heard him growl before? "I won't repeat what you're thinking about Isabella right now," Edward turned to Billy, "but I'd suggest you ask your friend Harry to check the bolts on the back of your chair. Seems someone has loosened them." He looked back at Jacob. "For sport? Is that what you think it is? Sure you're not trying to hurry things along?"

Before Jacob could react, and faster than any of us could have imagined, Billy spun his chair around and faced Jacob. Lifting his body by pushing on the arm rest of the chair, he levered himself up and slapped Jacob across the face.

"You dishonor us, boy. You dishonor us all." He lowered himself, and turned the chair to face me.

"How did you escape?"

I looked into Billy's eyes. I couldn't be angry with him, but I wasn't going to gloss over this truth either.

"Billy," I glanced over at Jacob, "I let him live."

Suddenly, I was just tired. Tired of thirteen years of anger and hatred, tired of seeing Jacob's face. Tired of the fighting, tired of the discord, the tension, the worry, the fear. I turned and walked away, Edward walking with me, his arm still around me. I walked up the porch steps and into the house. I'd had enough.

Edward and I sat in the Cullens' living room while they continued to talk outside. I thought my catharsis would come when I fought with Jacob, but this confrontation — with the support of both Billy and Harry — this was what I really needed. But the release left me drained, emotionally exhausted, and I just couldn't bring myself to care enough to listen to the rest of what they were discussing. I leaned into Edward's side, while he ran his hand through my hair, soothing me. I wished I could have the release sleep could offer. Maybe if I could turn off my mind for long enough, I could find a way to mimic it.

The footsteps on the porch, and then the squeak of the door, alerted me to their return. I watched Carlisle enter the living room, Esme hanging back, while Jasper and Alice walked through the house, and out the back door. Carlisle approached, and kneeled down in front of me. He stared at the floor, no expression on his face, and then looked up and patted my knee.

"I had no idea, Bella." He shook his head. "I didn't know what the history was, and I'm sorry. I have to be honest, had it been me, I'd have done the same thing you did." Movement caught my eyes, and I saw Esme nodding, smiling at the back of Carlisle's head.

"For now, let's not worry about who saw the newspaper article. It's a small newspaper in a small corner of the world, and it's a long way from Italy." He stood up, slowly, and for a moment I saw his age, the 350 or so years he's lived, and I knew he was feeling them, too. "But I want you to know, that if they do find out, I pledge I will do everything I can to defend both you and Edward. It may not seem that way to you, but we really are family. We take care of our own."

"You would do that for us?" I asked, my voice small. Carlisle would defend me, defend Edward?

He nodded, and took a deep breath. I looked at him in awe, realizing how much I had misjudged him. I would not make that mistake again.

Carlisle cleared his throat. "But I'd like to ask both you and Edward, if you're willing, to accept my hospitality for a little longer. I keep forgetting how much Edward doesn't know about our world, so it's a good opportunity to teach you both." He gave us a small smile. "I promise to try to make it entertaining."

I smiled and turned to Edward. He looked at me and shrugged. "Were we rushing off anywhere else? I think if we have nothing else in this life, we have time."

Esme started hopping around, waving her hand, trying to get our attention. I giggled at her, and she grinned. "There's an unused bedroom on the third floor, you're welcome to it, for as long as you like."

"Was it Eli's?" She shook her head no, and I breathed a sigh of relief. It was good he wasn't here now, he wouldn't be masked by that delectable skunk scent. But I also didn't want to move into what had been his bedroom… with Edward.

Edward shifted on the couch, looking a little uncomfortable. "Why don't I just buy us a house?" Good idea, privacy would be nice.

Esme looked at Carlisle, and he smiled at her, nodding his head.

"We own quite a lot of the land around here," she said, "and some distance away is an old stone cottage. It needs work – a new roof, cleaning, painting, windows...some furniture..." Her eyes were hopeful as she looked at us.

Edward turned to me, his eyes dancing, a soft smile on his face. "Only if you allow me to buy it, and then Isabella and I can repair it." Carlisle started to object, but Esme stopped him. She understood why we wanted something of our own.

I grinned at him. "I wish I could contribute money to this but..., well, I guess I'll be willing to help you spend your money as long as it's for both of us."

Carlisle smiled. "Let me know when you'd like to take a walk, I'll show it to you." He looked directly at me. "And after all that exposure, I imagine you'd like to hunt?"

"Not all that hungry, to be honest. But it might help to get the stink of dog out of my mouth."

**

A month later Edward and I stood in the doorway of our own home, both of us breathing a sigh of relief. It was nice spending time with the Cullens, but I hated the lack of privacy. Not only could they hear what we were up to, but we could hear what they were up to as well — and they were all very... er... active, and none of them were shy about it, including Carlisle.

And living with others, aside from me, was too much for Edward. He was getting better around people as he developed some blocking techniques, but it was far from perfect. He and I spent as much time away from them as we could, either relaxing in the woods or working on the house. After the first week, we started doing everything in the woods.

I didn't care if the animals watched.

But we did spend time with Carlisle. Edward and I both agreed there was much we needed to learn, and so we talked about the Volturi, the Romanian vampires, the US Southern wars that Jasper was an integral part of. We talked about our physiology, and how much research Carlisle had done into how we transformed into what we were. Although biology had never been my field of interest, I found it fascinating. We weren't some vague monsters, we were sentient beings that evolved alongside humans. On the evolutionary ladder, we appeared to be above them — additional chromosomes in addition to the obvious. Although we didn't reproduce in the standard way, we most assuredly reproduced our species by infecting a human with our venom. I'd even come to the conclusion we fit into the Darwinian model, as only the best and strongest had the willpower to bite and inject venom, without completely draining the human of all blood.

We were not "undead." In fact, we had to be alive in order to be changed, and our hearts had to be beating strongly for the venom to move through our bloodstream. Vampires were not the stuff of legend – we didn't die only to be reanimated when the sun went down.

What Victoria did to me, according to Carlisle, was extremely rare. She didn't even consider biting me, instead taking some kind of insane satisfaction in drooling venom into my wounds. He also told me it was rare to find that level of insanity among vampires. Granted, there were heinously bloodthirsty vampires all over the world, but after I described Victoria's bipolar behavior, he was shocked. It seemed insane vampires rarely survived, their insanity making them a risk to all of our kind. The Volturi weren't the only ones who didn't want our existence to be discovered — none of us did. And I found I agreed. As strong as we were, I could imagine what would happen if the US military found out about us. I shuddered to think of the type of experimentation we'd be subjected to, regardless of our strength.

And to my delight, Harry and I stayed in touch, via email. At first I laughed at the idea of traditional, old Harry on a computer, but I soon put those thoughts aside because, well, he was a tie to my past that would not only keep my secret, but who accepted me. It added more joy to my life.

And, of course, I got to hear what happened between Jacob and the tribe. The last I'd heard, they'd brought in an independent auditor. The auditor would report to the elders only — they still didn't want the Feds involved. Preliminary reports were confirming everything Edward had plucked out of Jacob's head. The tribe may not have been able to do anything about his alpha status with the wolves, but it was beginning to look like it would be a cold day in hell before he sat on the tribal council.

The evening after I got that news, I asked Edward to teach me how to dance. It was a glorious night.

I couldn't ask for more in life. When we weren't busy building our house, or learning and debating with Carlisle and Jasper, Edward and I continued to grow closer, although I wouldn't have thought it possible.

It was a lovely and sunny day. He and I were hunting, enjoying the woods and the cool dampness of the Olympic peninsula forests. We'd just finished off a doe each, and were sitting in the woods, on a carpet of old pine needles. Edward had his back against a moss-covered tree, and I was sitting between his legs, resting my back against his chest, playing with his fingers. It was one of our favorite things to do — sitting amongst the ancient trees, listening to the birds, enjoying the scents that were both primeval and new. The more I knew Edward, the more I loved the man, not the draw or the mate, or even the amazing sensuality between us. It was the brilliance of his mind, the tenderness of his soul. Using my talent, we'd spent a great deal of time examining his youth, helping him regain his memories. His parents were lovely people, especially his mother. I could see how much he took after her, her quiet but quick wit, her perceptiveness. And we both wept at his memories of all those lives cut so short, so heartbreakingly young, as the men returned from Europe, carrying the seeds of the pandemic.

I was lost in thought, comforted by his steady breathing, feeling myself melt into him, just sitting there. Two people yet one.

"Sometimes it's hard to believe I spent so many years alone," he whispered, speaking to me, and speaking to himself. "It was almost as if I was catatonic, waiting, taking each day as it came, keeping myself apart from everyone else." He pulled his hand from mine and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close. "It was worth every decade, every misstep, to find myself here, today."

I couldn't imagine living like that, closed off from everyone else, year after year... and that's when it hit me. I turned my head and looked up, catching his eyes, his soft smile.

"Edward, although it wasn't nearly as many years," I said softly, "I just realized it hadn't been much different for me." I turned around, and sat on his lap, straddling him, running my finger along his chest while I thought. "After you left Forks, when I could no longer feel your presence..., well, it coincided with so many awful events in my life." I shook my head, thinking of those times. "I lived in society, but I separated myself, too." I looked up at him. "Do you understand? Those thirteen years... I wasn't really living." I took a deep breath, and looked over his shoulder. Honesty between us was critical, he needed to know this. "When I met Eli, what I felt, the return of that background shimmer in my life, I thought it was him. But it was you, watching. It's the first time in all those years I felt alive again." I gazed into his eyes, hoping he'd understand what I was trying to say. I didn't want to make him jealous, I just wanted him to know I felt him before I saw him. That he brought me to life again.

His eyes were soft, and he leaned over and gave me a gentle kiss. "The years are irrelevant. Waiting is waiting, and hurts the same if it's ninety years, or thirteen." I lowered my head to his chest, my arms around his waist, his arms around mine. I didn't know if I believed in god, but each and every day I was thankful this man came into my life.

Comfortable, in a haze of contentment, just the two of us in the ancient green forest, in our bubble, it felt like a dream come to life. I felt him shift, lower his lips to my head, heard the rustle of my hair as his lips touched me, like butterfly wings. I was lost in him, thinking of all the ways to describe my love when I felt him freeze. His head flew up and I felt his chest expand as he took a deep breath.

"Why is she here?" I heard him whisper, his head turning, gulping in more air, trying to pinpoint the direction of the scent.

"Edward?" I pulled back, still sitting on his lap, trying to catch his eyes. "What is it?"

"The woman, the woman who watched Eli years ago when he was at university, the one who is guarding him again..." His voice trailed off and I saw that inward stare on Edward's face, knowing he was scanning, trying to pick up thoughts.

His eyes grew wide and he gasped. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he lunged to his feet, grabbed my hand and started pulling towards the house.

"Oh my god, Isabella, now...quickly, we have to get there!" His voice was shaking but I didn't ask him to stop, I just leaped after him and ran by his side.

"What is it, Edward?" I whispered, staring at his profile, his jaw set, his eyes narrowed and pained. He just shook his head and put on another burst of speed, and I had to struggle to keep up with him.

We came out of the trees and into their yard, and we both dug in our heels, sliding through the dirt to a sudden stop, sod flying on both sides of our feet as our momentum dug our feet through the wet grass. Grabbing each others' hands we stared at the scene in front of us.

Carlisle and Esme stood next to each other, Jasper and Alice off to the side, forming a semi-circle around the three standing in front of them.

James and Victoria were motionless, on each side of the third person, hands grasping his arms as he struggled. He was blindfolded, duct tape plastered across his mouth. His hands were bound behind him with stranded cable, wrapped so tightly I could see the cable digging into his skin. His chest was heaving, his clothes were muddy and torn. I squeezed Edward's hand tighter, because I could feel the uncontrollable tremble rattling him. I didn't know what I could do, but I had to keep both of us grounded.

"I won't repeat myself." I heard James' voice, deep and threatening as he faced the four vampires standing in front of him. Victoria giggled, and although her hand was like a vise on his arm, even though I could see him wince in pain as she tightened her grasp, she took her free hand and ran it through his hair, like a lover might. I shuddered, wanting to run forward and rip her head off.

I felt Edward squeeze my hand tighter, and looked up. He was looking down at me, his eyes stricken, but he shook his head 'no.' I understood... any attempt to free him might result in his immediate death. As fast as we all were, we'd never be able to get there before they could kill him.

We were all momentarily distracted by the sound of a car racing down the winding driveway. Unlike the last time, when the tribal members were here, this engine was roaring, geared down, sliding across the gravel at a speed beyond what the car and the slippery surface of the road could handle. A bright red mustang came into view, and before it even stopped Emmett was out and running towards the group, followed closely by Rosalie. I gasped when I saw her, her face was dirty, her perfect hair tangled and matted with leaves, and her clothes were filthy and ripped. They both came to a stop as they took in the situation, positioning themselves behind Carlisle. Rosalie looked up and caught my eyes, and with a grimace lowered her head, shaking it back and forth slowly.

"One last time... Carlisle, is it?" James growled when Carlisle took a step forward, stopping him cold. "You contact your Italian friends, and you tell them to call off their trackers." James pushed Victoria's hands away and grabbed the soft bronze hair in his fist, and pushed Eli to his knees. "Do it, or this hybrid dies."

I felt it before I heard it, the growl forming deep in Edward's chest, the air around him shimmering from the vibration, the start of movement felt before movement could be seen, when we both froze as Alice gasped, and spun to face Carlisle.

"Aro!"

A/N

And that, my friends, is a double cliffie. *wide evil grin*

I'd like to again thank my two betas, Booksgalore/Bookishqua and Alicedances, both of whom put up with my whining about needing to write other stuff and putting this on the back burner, while I was wracked with guilt and just a general, mess.

And I'd like to again take this opportunity to thank you wonderful reviewers for all of your kind words, even the not so kind words. Just words. Words are good.

Come join us on the Twilighted thread, under Alternate Universe. Judy Collins is the talk of the day. What can I say, I'm an old fart. At least she's an older fart.