AN and Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight – just Emma and Ian.

I had posted this chapter earlier, but found a few critical errors. So I went back and fixed them….enjoy!!!


Chapter 19: Informed Decisions

The old year faded into a new one – full of both new beginnings and promises.

January moved into February without incident. Edward lived up to his promise of not leaving again. Esme was happier because all her children were home once again as well as the new addition of Ian. Carlisle was happy just because Esme was happy.

Alice was happy because she had found a new love with Ian. Emma was happy as well. She had been extremely worried about Alice ever since she and Jasper had gotten together. She was scared that Alice wouldn't find her true soul mate. But after seeing Ian and Alice together, she knew that Alice would be ok. Even better yet – Alice and Ian had taken a trip together in early February to see if they could learn anything about their pasts. And the results were actually surprising. Alice had learned a bit about her past and Ian had learned a lot about his. All of this made Ian happy. Actually, he was beyond happy. He was ecstatic. He was now a Cullen – well actually a Hale. But nonetheless, he was now a part of the family. Rosalie and Emmett were happy simply because everyone else was.

With all the happiness in the household, Jasper was always happy. Yes, it was a draw back to being an empath, but to see Emma smiling everyday was worth feeling everyone's feelings.

Most of all, Edward was happy. Well at least put on a façade that he was happy. The only one who knew otherwise was Emma. They made it a point to talk each and everyday. It was the only way that Emma knew how to keep Edward from slipping back into his thoughts of suicide. She was also the only one who knew that Edward would be returning to Forks in June, after Bella's graduation, to beg for her forgiveness. While he planned to do this, he hadn't set the idea in stone yet. He couldn't do that yet without Alice seeing his plans. Having Emma know was one thing, but having Alice know was another issue completely. Emma could keep a secret, while Alice could tell everyone or even demand to go. To him, it was simply a twin thing.

While everything had been progressing as planned towards June, it was a surprise visit from Tanya and Kate that threw everything for a loop in early March – even though their visit didn't last that long. Everyone besides Emma, Jasper and Edward had gone on an extended hunting trip for a few days.

Edward lay on his couch one afternoon in February listening to a mixed CD of music that Emma had recently made for him. Someone walking towards his bedroom caused him to turn his head towards his door. That was when he saw Tanya standing in his doorway.

"It's been a while, Edward," she said with a sly smile. Even without reading her thoughts, he knew exactly what she wanted.

She wanted him.

"Hello Tanya," he said sitting up. "What brings you to New York?"

"Kate and I decided to take a road trip to see our extended family," she said walking towards him and sitting down on his couch. She seductively ran her hand up his thigh.

"Tanya," Edward said standing up. "I haven't changed my mind."

"Shame," she said. "I was hoping that it wouldn't come to this."

He stood there with a confused look on his face for half a second before she launched herself at him.

"What do you mean?" Emma yelled standing up. "Don't you know what he could do to her?"

"He simply said that he was going to check on her for a friend," Kate said. "We have no reason to doubt Laurent's intentions."

"Darlin', calm down," Jasper said. Emma turned and glared at him. "Remember I was there when all this happened last year."

"There is just something not right about it all," she said turning to leave the living room.

"Where are you going?" Jasper called after her.

"To tell Edward."

Tanya pinned Edward against the wall and practically ripped the shirt from his chest as she frantically kissed every part of him that she could. Being a gentlemen, Edward didn't want to throw her away from him and leave her be. But he had to do something.

"We got a problem!" Emma yelled barging into his room.

Tanya pulled away from Edward and growled at Emma. Seeing Tanya taking advantage of her brother made Emma want to rip her throat out. It took all her self-control not to do so. Pushing Tanya away from her brother, Emma quickly retold Edward all that Kate had told her downstairs.

"I may not be able to see the future, but I know that something isn't right. You can't wait until June to return. We've got to go back now."

Edward nodded and disappeared into his closet to find a new set of clothes along with a few other changes. While he was gone, Emma turned to look at Tanya. "You may think that you are the most gorgeous thing in the world, but I've got news for you," Emma snarled. "You aren't. You are nothing but a whore. Don't ever touch my brother again or it won't be pretty."

Tanya glared at her as Edward emerged from his closet with a new set of clothes on as well as a bag over his shoulder. He and Emma quickly left the room without looking back at Tanya.

"I can't ask you to go with me," Edward said walking towards his Volvo in the garage. "What about Jasper?"

Emma glared at him. She was going with him whether he liked it or not.

"Yeah what about me?" Jasper asked walking up behind them. Emma noticed that he had a bag slung over his shoulder. He smiled and winked at his wife as she quickly kissed him. He had at least figured that he needed to be prepared to leave because if Edward were to leave again, then Emma would be going as well. And that meant Jasper would be going as well because he wasn't going to let Emma out of his sight, especially after what she had told him about the Volturi.

Edward sighed. "What about the rest of the family? What are we going to tell them?"

"Kate and Tanya just left." Jasper said. "They thought it best not to be here when the others returned, given what they told us and what Tanya did to Edward. As for the others, I left a note saying that the three of us decided that we needed to go hunting as well. I figure by the time they got home, we would have already been to Forks by then and halfway back here."

Emma turned back and looked at Edward with a smirk on her face. "We'll take my car," she said unlocking her red and white striped Mustang with her keyless entry. "It's faster then your Volvo."

Edward nodded in defeat. At least this time, he wouldn't be going off on his own.

'Don't do anything rash Bella. We're coming…'

AN #2: Sorry if you don't like my portrayal of Tanya...I never really liked her anyways...........