Bella POV

Saying goodbye to Charlie was hard. I did my best to put on a good act for him, which he seemed to buy.

"I'm proud of you Bells. It's very selfless of you to be there for your friends. You call me if you need anything." He said before we left. I tried not to tear up.

"I will. I love you Dad."

"Love you too sweetheart." He said gruffly and hugged me. "See you tomorrow or Monday."

I couldn't do more than nod, hoping he was right. I'd certainly do everything to make sure that happened.

I kept my brave face on in the car. Even though I was determined, I was still feeling some unease. Edward was running back to the house after explaining Emmett was guarding Charlie with Rosalie until Esme could return. This was the first time I had been alone with Esme as she drove Edward's car quickly to their house.

"You're incredibly brave you know." She commented.

"I don't know about that."

"You are. And not just for this, but for everything. We are technically monsters after all." She cracked a smile at me.

"Technically. But you guys are bending over backwards to help me."

"You're family." She said in simple explanation.

I smiled. That dimmed the fear for the rest of the drive. Once the car stopped, Edward was at my door, still scanning the grounds.

"Everything ok?" I asked and noticed Esme putting my bags into another car.

"Oh yes, everything is excellent." He sighed and looked down at me and stroked my cheek. "They followed you part of the way here, but turned back. I'm guessing they're going to make sure you don't go back to Charlie's.

I tensed but knew Rosalie and Esme could handle watching out for Charlie. Esme rushed over to touch both our faces and hug us quickly before darting back to Forks.

Edward led me back to the car Jasper and Alice were already in. I felt a twinge of panic as I realized this was it. I was leaving Edward. The reasons for why that was the best course of action drifted away. I bit the inside of my lip to keep from giving away my emotions. I wasn't sure if his expression was due to the fact that he could see through my mask and knew I was scared; or if his own fear was merely leaking through.

He stroked his hands up and down my arms until he gently lifted me to my toes again. In his new habit, he laid his forehead on mine.

"I love you. I'll come get you soon." he said in his promising voice.

"You better. For all we know, I'll fall in love with another vampire. Or a warlock."

"Humans aren't included in my list of competitors?"

"Too boring. Dating humans when you're a human is for people who play by the rules."

"You rebel."

"I love you." I said as I let him go. I was already feeling more panic. "Kick nomad ass ok?"

"Always." He grinned at me, but his eyes said it all. He closed the car door for me and backed away. I saw him look over to Alice and nod before looking back to me. His expression made it very hard for me to not jump out of the car.

I didn't look away from him until he was out of view. I let out a shaky breath when we were gone and Alice turned around in the passenger seat to pat my knee.

"He's going to be fine Bella."

"No one faster than Edward." Jasper added, and looked at me through the rearview mirror. I knew he was testing to see if he needed to use his calming gift on me.

"I know. He'll get them. I'm ok Jasper, no need for the ability usage." I looked out the window for a while and saw we were headed towards the airport. "Where are we going anyway? Isn't this the private airport?"

"We're private people." Alice giggled. "We're only going a state over. We were going to go to Phoenix to lure them to your old home."

"That's a good idea, I'm sure they've found out by now that I'd go there. Why aren't we doing that?"

"We have allies who are staying in the Oregon area. They've dealt with trackers before and can help us take them out quicker."

"Tanya, Irina, and Kate." Jasper said. "They live like us as well. Carlisle, Edward, and Esme have known them the longest."

"It's nice of them to help out." I said, but wished I could have been doing more than acting as bait.

We boarded a small plane without having to speak to, or even see anyone. Jasper went to the front of the plane and I knew we were alone and he'd be the one flying it. Why was I even surprised?

I sat with Alice and shook my head. "Something has gone wrong hasn't it?"

"Why do you say that?" She faced me with her usual smile.

"We could drive to the next state over, why would we take a plane?"

It's less risky and less time. We were more vulnerable to them while in the car. It's better to be overly cautious until we have greater numbers. Who knows though? Edward, Carlisle, and Emmett might take Victoria and James out before we even land.

"Maybe." I stared at my hands. "Hopefully."

"You worry about the wrong people."

I rolled my eyes at her. "How do you know I wasn't worrying about myself?"

"Because you don't do that. You tend to put everyone else first."

"Alice how do you do that? We've known each other for two months and you talk like you know everything about me. Is it because you have been having visions of me now?"

"Longer than now." She said hesitantly.

"How much longer? Did you have visions of me moving here?"

"Eventually. I had other visions first." She took in my expression and then took a breath. "I've been having visions of you for seventeen years. Since you were born."

"Oh." I wasn't sure how to feel about that. Creeped out a little, even though I knew it's not like she could control what she saw. I just felt like it was the universe invading our lives. I was confused also. Curious most. "Why?"

"I'm not sure why I see the things I do. When they started they just confused me. I shared them with the family once the visions overlapped with ones of Edward."

"So he knew about them? He knew about me for years?" Definitely wasn't sure how I felt about that.

"Not details. We knew you were coming and we knew you were significant to his and our lives."

"So he's not just with me because your visions said he would be?"

"Not at all Bella. He fought it in fact. He thought he could change them." She reached over and touched my knee. "He loves you, not my visions silly."

"Have you seen me as a vampire?" I asked boldly, but I didn't wish the question back. I knew by her look that the answer was yes.

"I have. I don't know how or when exactly and it doesn't mean it will happen. It could change."

"What other vision have you had that you're hoping will change?"

"Now she narrowed her eyes at me. "You're an observant little human aren't you?"

"I'm an alien, and you've seen my die haven't you? That's why you're all being so careful. That's why he looked the way he did when we drove off?

"I've seen the aftermath of your death, not you die."

"My funeral you mean?" I shouldn't have been able to talk of my death so easily. Maybe I was an alien.

"Yes. But it can change Bella. I promise. If it couldn't change, he would have changed you by now."

"He doesn't want me to change. I want to. I want to be one of you."

"You are one of us."

"Not in the full sense."

She sighed. "I know. I agree with you, you should be one of us if that's the life you want. It would make things for both of you easier and happier…."

"And fuller." I added.

"Yes. Edward just sees it differently. One of these days though he'll realize it's not his choice, it's yours. We'll do something about that." She winked. "Until then, try not to worry."

"Thank you for being honest. Edward is with me, but I think he sugar coats things also."

"He's afraid you'll run for the hills one of these days." She rolled her eyes, but softened. "I humor him because I've never seen him this happy and full of life."

I smiled and we changed the subject to lighter topics. We talked about different Cullen family stories until we landed. I took out my phone to call Edward as we walked towards a car parked in the deserted hanger. He picked up immediately and I felt myself calm.

"How was the ride?" He asked, sounding relieved.

"Unnecessary. Plus I don't like flying."

"That's irrational. Planes are safe when vampires fly them."

"Yea well I can be destroyed by planes regardless. So rational. How is it there?"

"We lost James momentarily but Victoria is still somewhere close. She seems to be confused about where to go and keep circling."

I paused from answering when I saw Alice's expression. She looked terrified and I knew she was having a vision.

"Bella?" Edward sounded concerned at my silence.

"Alice?" I asked her and I heard Edward make a strangled sound. "Edward?" I breathed. "Are you ok?"

"Run!" I heard him say as I saw Jasper run for us. I dropped the phone and turned to see Laurent and three others behind me.

"You left." I said to Laurent who grabbed me before I could even scream.

"I came back for a final game. Fredrick, Lionel, Max, do you have those two?" Laurent said to the three vampires who were now locked in a fight with Alice and Jasper. They somehow nonverbally conveyed an answer to him, and Laurent started backing away with me. "Let's go see James then shall we?"

"Bella!" I heard Alice scream in a tone that sent a spasm of pain through me.

I struggled but there was no point. He picked me up and seemed to fly out. I couldn't see or hear Alice and Jasper. I didn't even know if they were still alive.

It started to click with me. There weren't just three of the nomads. They were just the only three in the woods. I could only imagine what Alice's vision had been, and knew that Edward must have seen it in her mind.

Edward, I thought numbly as I tried to struggle again.

As I did, Laurent tightened his grip enough that I both felt and heard something snap. The pain was enough for me to find my scream. Laurent slowed and dropped me to the ground. It was cold cement. I didn't know where I was but I recognized James' feet. I looked up as he leered over me.

"Hello again." He said, and his foot kicked out towards my head. I tried to stay conscious, but it was as useless as my struggles.

Edward was my last thought.