DISCLAIMER: Stephanie Meyer owns all things Twilight

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry updates are taking so long. I'm working overtime because I am going to be out of town for a week starting the third. But I am still working on the story. Also my computer is still rebelling against me so I'm having to take trips to the library to post these in between work and hanging with my family and friends. Anyway, enough with the excuses. Here's the new chapter; I hope you like it.

Also really quick: I'm still deciding about the song from last chapter's author's note so if you've got more opinions please speak now or forever hold your peace. Lol. I was leaning towards Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls. Anyone think that song would work?

-BPOV-

Edward sang to me again like he had last night. He sat me down on the billowy cushion of the piano bench beside him and smiled at me shyly. Then the music danced around the meadow, bringing tears to my eyes. It was a soft enchanting melody that seemed to summarize the feeling of the entire day perfectly. I rested my head on his shoulder as I listened to the song, the epitome of joy. I was tempted to record the song for depressed souls everywhere- antidepressants be gone! It was impossible to feel anything less than euphoric listening to this simple melody.

When no one was around

And I couldn't even find myself

It was you I really needed.


I was so blind.

But now that I have found you

My love you will forever be.


Remain with me. Remain with me.

And I will help you see

That you deserve the moon;

How much you mean to me.


The world could shift beneath my feet

But it is you

I will always need.

My love you will forever have.

My heart you have attained.

The music faded away with a long somber note; the last sentence so serious. There was nothing left to say, nothing I could have said as a follow up to that so I just basked in my happily ever after although I hoped it was far from ever. I turned my head, still resting on his shoulder, and kissed him- soft and tender.

"Forever." I whispered after pulling back, a smile on my face.

Edward kissed the top of my head and rested his chin there.

"You are my life now."

We sat there for I don't know how long, afraid to break the perfect moment. It had been such an unbelievable day. I mean I was Bella Swan. Things this good just didn't happen to me. But it was happening now, like someone wanted to make up for all of the disappointments in my life with this one human being sitting beside me. And he more than made up for every bad thing that had ever happened to me in my dreadfully bland life.

"I think we should go." Edward sighed after a while, the regret evident in his tone. "Before Leah decides to send search and rescue after us."

I chuckled. He didn't.

"She would, wouldn't she?"

He nodded and I sighed.

"Fine," I whined.

This caused a chuckle as he kissed my head once more and pulled me up with him.

"We can come back anytime you want, my love."

I grinned.

"Really?"

"Of course." He assured me. "Just name the time."

I bit my lip, pretending to think about it.

"Tomorrow?" I asked. "And the next day?"

He laughed.

"My wish is your command." He promised, trying to look grave. It wasn't working too well for him and I smirked. He was too happy to even pretend to be serious right now.

"But we should get going." He repeated, taking my hand. "You've been gone the entire day. Leah is probably already more than suspicious."

I frowned, worried. Would she include this disappearance in her report back to headquarters? Would they check up on Edward and see that he had taken this same afternoon off of work? They would surely put two and two together.

"What are you thinking about, my love?"

I looked up at Edward as he helped me over a log obscuring the trail. He was frowning, but I wasn't sure if it was because he had his own worries or if he was frustrated at my silence. Probably a little of both; he hated it when I didn't tell him what I was thinking.

"Are we going to get in trouble?" I sounded ridiculous. I sounded like a child that was worried about big brother telling mommy and daddy. And I suppose to some extent that's what was happening here. Leah was big brother.

He chuckled, brushing a kiss to my knuckles.

"I'll deal with Leah." He promised, guessing where I was going with this. "I'll think of some excuse."

He winked.

"Maybe we had car trouble?"

I nodded.

"And then we had to fight our way around a grizzly bear to get home." I added, my eyes shining with mirth as I exaggerated his story- the practical one he was working through on our way to the car.

All the way home I added these details. By the time we pulled into the driveway a blown tire had turned into being magically transported into a Disney movie by a wacky magician we had encountered while changing said tire. I was still signing Hakuna Matata. Edward chuckled, shaking his head as he opened the door for us and motioning me inside.

"That's… interesting." He laughed. "But I think you should let me handle the cover stories."

I pouted, sticking my bottom lip out.

"You don't like my ideas, Ssa?"

He rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to say something but he was abruptly cut off by big brother herself. Edward had brought out that maybe we should call her big sister but I decided against it- to which he remarked that I was extremely gender confused today. I had just stuck my tongue out at him.

"Cullen!"Leah shrieked.

Edward huffed, plopping one last kiss on my jutted bottom lip and then he dropped my hand and took a step back so he was within a safe distance away from me.

"Yes, Leah?" He called back amiably.

We could hear her angry snort all the way through the house. It sounded like she was in the dining room for some reason.

"I need to talk to you." She announced, still not showing herself. Maybe she was too mad to be professional with me. "Now!"

Edward shot me a look that roughly translated into, 'should we kill her now or wait?'

I scrunched up my nose. I wished he didn't have to go face Leah right after our magical day.

"Save yourself." He stage whispered.

I giggled, and he winked, walking away with his head hung comically low. Edward would take care of Leah. There was nothing he couldn't take care of. I literally skipped up the stairs to my bedroom and closed it with a wistful sigh, thoughts of today taking over my mind and leaving no room for negativity. Today had been the most wonderful day anyone anywhere had ever had. No joke.

And then I heard it. Just when I had let my guard down; just when I hadn't thought to look over my shoulder for once.

"Hello, Bella."

His breath fanned over my neck, bringing goose bumps with the foul stench. I froze, my eyes wide with horror. I knew that voice all too well.

"I've missed you, Bell."

I spun around, my face pale.

"J-Ja-Jacob." I stuttered, only able to muster the volume of a breath.

He raised an eyebrow archly.

"Were you expecting someone else?" He asked, his voice holding twisted amusement.

I shook my head vigorously although I don't know if I was answering his question or if I was trying to dislodge the terror that was now clouding my skull, bouncing around in there and making it hard to concentrate on anything else.

"You must have known I was coming." He said, looking at his leisure.

I took a reflexive step back and my back hit the door. Jacob took that frightening step forward and rested his hands on either side of my face. I couldn't look away although my body was screaming at me to do so. I was frozen in pure unadulterated fear. I reached blindly behind me in a pitiful attempt to open the door although once the door opened I had no idea.

Jacob laughed, grabbing my hands and pinning them to my sides.

"Oh no, my dear." He chastised.

I gulped. And just like that my nightmare was no longer only just a nightmare anymore. It was no more just the frightening images that kept me awake at night, tossing and turning in a cold sweat. It was reality. And my nightmare was standing right in front of me.

"How did you know where I was?" I asked everything out of focus except for the brooding dark eyes in front of me. My haunting past made a startlingly clear present. "How did you get in here?"

"Oh, Bella." He snickered, brushing my hair out of my face while keeping my hands in one of his. I flinched away from his touch which seemed to both irritate him and amuse him in equal quantities. "I can't believe you thought I would actually give up on you. I love you."

He paused as if waiting for me to respond in like manner. I remained silent. Edward had shown me what love really was. Love was not scary like this was. Love was not manipulative ways. I had never been in love with Jacob Blaque, not even in the beginning.

He sighed, seeming disappointed.

"There's quite an impressive security system here. I'm sure you knew that though." He said, still not having answered my questions. With Billy I had been able to remain strong. I had been able to make a conscious decision, as scared as I was that I would not show my fear. With Jacob standing here in front of me I could do nothing but swallow because I knew what had to happen now. There was no way they were going to let me walk away twice. Especially since the mere possibility that I would revolt was now a reality. I was already the enemy.

He had the nerve to sound offended, slightly hurt. Bile rose in my throat and I finally gained the ability to look away, throwing my gaze to the floor as if this would somehow save me.

"Best security system I've ever seen." He continued, sounding impressed. "I honestly don't know if I would have been able to get past it. Thankfully that isn't necessary when someone is here to simply open the front door for you and give you the guided tour."

He chuckled darkly, reminding me of his father in that action. The sound held no humor. It was callous, uninterested, slightly bored. It is the sound of someone completely heartless- a warning that they will show no mercy nor feel any remorse.

"It was all quite civilized really."

A wave of fresh terror pulsed through me, so strong that it nearly knocked me over as his words registered. My head whipped up, my eyes wide and stinging.

"Leah!" I gasped.

Jacob smiled maliciously.

"Leah and I have been good friends for a long time." He said, sounding proud of himself. "Even since before I knew about the family business."

He looked down at his nails, examining them casually.

"But I must admit I do reap some rewards from that friendship."

He looked back up, his eyes colliding with mine like a wrecking ball of hate.

"For instance; knowing who that sniveling little spy was. They honestly thought I wouldn't know if one of 'my own' was against me."

Tears welled up in my eyes and I knocked my head against the door, trying to feel something other than the guilt- the pain that attacked from the inside. I didn't have to ask. He had killed him. I could see it in his eyes when he talked about the so called betrayal.

"But not even Leah knew where they had moved you." He said, his tone formal as if this were any old conversation. "It seems they were keeping that secret very well. They hadn't even released that information to the other agents you know."

He smirked.

"Your friends back in Chicago have some serious trust issues."

I glared t him, fighting the urge to spit in his face. He seemed to see how much effort it was taking on my part and it seemed to amuse him greatly.

"Can you imagine my delight when my friend, Leah got put on the case? She'd not only know where you were- she'd be here to deliver you to me."

This had been her plan all along. Of course she wouldn't think twice about turning us in. we'd known from the beginning that it was us against her, that she was here to spy on us. We just hadn't known who she was reporting to.

"Edward!" I cried, seeing a flash of him hanging his head, walking towards the other room just minutes ago. Little did he know he was walking towards his doom.

"Edward!" I screamed, finding the volume as the realization that this did not just involve me anymore flooded my mind like a wave of cold water in the face. I had to warn him! Maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe he could get out still. Maybe-

"Enough!" Jacob snapped, shoving me more roughly against the door. I felt blood in my mouth from where I had bit my tongue on impact and it mixed with the fear to make my stomach heave.

"Yes, I was also surprised when Leah found out why she was being assigned to the case." He seethed, anger boiling deep in his coal black eyes. "It seems you and Agent Cullen are getting a little too close for their taste."

He snarled the name and I stiffened.

"Edward," I sniffed, tears now falling slowly down my cheeks. This couldn't be the end; it couldn't! not for him!

This last utterance was enough to push him over the edge, snap the formal tone he was keeping. He pulled his arm back and let it collide with the side of my face, my head snapping to the side.

"You are mine!" he growled.

"I am no one's possession!" I snapped, rubbing the blood off of my lip.

A look of pure distain crossed his face and he shoved me away from the door and onto the floor. I crumbled to the carpet, tripping over the momentum and the piece of lingerie y that lay still abandoned on my floor.

Jacob surveyed me and then fabric with cold cruel eyes and his nostrils flared.

"My father never liked you." He notified me, balling his fists at his sides and clenching his jaw. "He didn't think you had what it took to keep the family secret."

"That secret was killing people, Jacob!"

He shrugged, seemingly indifferent to that fact.

"He wanted me to end things with you but I didn't." he ground out through clenched teeth, the regret clear in his chilled voice. "You are the reason that he's now in jail."

Like a shadow the darkness of his anger overtook his face. He glared at me like a child who sulks over some injustice they can't understand.

"I'm going to correct that wrong now." He said, intensely determined.

I closed my eyes against my tears. In the past year I had escaped death more times than most people ever find threats. I knew my luck would run out sometime. I was the danger magnet after all.

Jacob stalked towards me and I opened my eyes hesitantly, taking a deep breath. This was what it was like to look death in the eye. This was it.

"You will die for what you have done to my father." He said. "But first you will watch lover boy die for what you have done to me."

"No!"

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm sorry for the cliffie but I'm going to try to update again tomorrow before I leave for my trip. No promises but I will try very very hard. Don't forget to leave me reviews. Reviews=love. :-)

Much love!

P.S. I need something to read on the plan and I can't think of anything. Any suggestions?