Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of the Twilight Saga are the property of Stephanie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. The storyline of A Family like Ours is mine.
NB: THIS CHAPTER IS UNBETA'D – SO ALL MISTAKES ARE MINE ALONE.
*ΩafloΩ*
A FAMILY LIKE OURS: A SEQUEL TO PEOPLE LIKE US
CHAPTER 25
IN THE LAST CHAPER:
"Mom?" Alexis' voice was muffled against Bella's shoulder.
"Hmm?"
"I, um I have s-something to t-tell you."
Bella smiled against the soft hair, "I know, sweetheart. It's going to be okay."
Alexis let out a sigh and hugged her mother tightly, "I love you, Mom."
"I will always love you, Alexis. You are heart of my heart."
The two women stood like that for a long time before Alexis pulled away and smiled awkwardly, "so, um, I'm, um, I'm"
Bella rolled her eyes, "Sweetheart, if you can't even say the word, how are you going to be once the rest of the family find out? And by the feel of your tummy, that won't be too much longer. Just say it. Out loud."
"Mom, I'm pregnant." Alexis whispered.
Bella put her hands on Alexis' shoulders, "Are you and Mario happy about this?"
Alexis shrugged but as Bella raised her eyebrows, she nodded and smiled, "We are so happy and that makes me feel so guilty. I know that this couldn't have happened at a worse time, and I'm sorry for that"
"Now, I don't want to hear that. Was this planned?"
Alexis shook her head, "Of course not!"
Bella nodded, "Exactly! Now, what did the doctor say? How far along are you? When's the baby due?"
As she waited for answers Bella wondered how Alexis was going to manage to raise a baby and finish her degree.
Alexis chewed on her lip and shifted from side to side.
"What?"
Bella frowned, "Alexis Esme, what are you not telling me?"
"Well, um, I don't know… I'm about um nine weeks, I think." She stuttered as Bella frown deepened.
"You don't know? Why don't you know? Have you been to a doctor?"
"Yes, Mom. I saw the clinic doctor and she said that everything looked okay."
Bella's eyes widened, "The clinic doctor? Seriously Alexis? Why haven't you gone to an obstetrician yet? How do you know that everything is fine?"
"Mom! This is why I was reluctant to tell you – now there is something else for you to obsess over! God!" Alexis snapped as she folded her arms across her chest.
"That is not fair! Of course I'm going to worry Alexis! You tell me that you are pregnant and then"
"ALEXIS IS PREGNANT?!"
Bella and Alexis turned around to find Jasper, Alice, Esme, Charlie, Sue and Carlisle staring at them in shock. Rosalie looked smug for some reason.
Alexis stared at her extended family that meant the world to her and then she looked at her mother who looked as scared at being caught out as she felt.
She sighed, reached over and took Bella's hand in hers as everyone began to talk at the same time.
"I will kill him!" Grumpy Charlie
"Go get your gun, Charlie!" Grandpa Carlisle
"A baby! How wonderful!" Aunt Alice
"Edward's going to stroke out!" Uncle Jasper
"I knew it!" Aunt Rose and then she fist pumped.
She fist pumped? Alexis shook her head.
"Oh fuck!" Alexis
"Language; and 'oh fuck' is about right." Bella.
"OK! CALM DOWN!" Bella shouted over the noise.
Everyone stopped and looked at her.
"This isn't going to help anyone – least of all, Alexis. Can we please go inside and talk about this calmly." She glared at Charlie and Carlisle and pointed, "No guns, Dad! No one will hit, punch or have Mario arrested, is that understood?"
Carlisle held up his hands in surrender but Charlie narrowed his eyes and stared at his daughter, "Why not?"
Alexis let out a giggle, "Because I need him around, Grumps. Come on, I'm getting cold." She looped her arm though her mother's and walked inside and into the den.
'Smart girl – takes after me" Esme said as she and Sue turned to follow.
Rosalie and Alice grinned at each other and they hurried after her.
Jasper, Carlisle and Charlie stared at one another in silence.
"Edward's gonna shit." Jasper said with a gleam in his eye.
"Damn straight Son that could be your little girl up there!" Charlie snarled.
Suddenly Jasper lost his sense of humour, "We should kill him." He growled.
Carlisle suppressed his own anger and shook his head at the two men, "Now, you are not going to help by making comments like that, Jazz. Edward and Bella have enough strife right now or have you forgotten that two of the children are missing? Now, let's get up there and for goodness sake, Charlie, don't mention your gun in front of the FBI or else they are going to lock us all up – or have us committed!"
Charlie nodded but Jasper heard him mutter, "I know a quiet spot!" as they trudged up the stairs.
By the time they got to the den, the women had prepared snacks and steaming pots of tea, coffee and hot chocolate and were talking quietly.
Mario stood to one side, near the back of the room trying to not look as scared as he felt. Logically he knew that he could handle himself, but he also knew that he wanted this family to accept him as one of their own.
Charlie spotted him, but kept walking as Carlisle kept a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Later…" he muttered before he walked over to where Bella and Alexis were sitting side by side on a sofa.
"Can I sit with my girls?" Charlie said as he pushed his body between the two women and put his arms around their shoulders as he narrowed his eyes at Mario – mine!
Mario swallowed nervously; he could see why Alexis had told him that Charlie Swan had been a great cop.
'Aunt' Alice and 'Aunt' Rose drew his attention as they made their way over to him, "Hey Stud" Alice said with a grin.
Mario felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment, "Err"
"Don't mind her, Mario, but at least you've taken our minds off the rescue for a while", Rose chipped in.
Mario nodded, "I know this wasn't the best time, and I had no idea that she was going to tell everyone now, but"
"She didn't tell me – I guessed when I felt this little hard ball in my daughter's belly."
He looked up to see Bella standing next to him.
"Bella, Mrs Cullen, I'm"
He didn't get any further as Bella put her hand on his shoulder.
"Now, none of that, I'm still Bella, although hopefully I'll be 'mom' at some point." She smiled at him gently.
"Congratulations, Mario."
"Thanks, Bella. I know that Alexis is young, but I want you to know that I will be there to support her and I will make sure that she can finish her degree."
Bella nodded, "Yes, well, that's a conversation that we are going to have once Edward gets back."
She suddenly looked crestfallen as she glanced at the doorway.
"Would you like me to see if I can get an update?"
Bella smiled gratefully at him, "Would you please?"
The three women stood together in silence, "So – are you going to be Nana or Granny Bella?" Rosalie asked before she and Alice began sniggering.
Bella swatted at Rose's arm, "We need to make her go and see an OBGYN."
Alice gasped, "She hasn't been yet?"
"No, and she said that she is at about nine weeks. I just want to make sure that everything is in order. She is so damn young."
"Bells, we were all young once, remember? Alexis is a smart girl and Mario seems to be a great guy, although I don't want to be around when you tell my brother."
Bella sighed, "Me neither. He is going to go nuts, but after today he will see things differently." She said and tried to sound convincing.
Rose looked at her and snorted, "Yeah, right! Between Edward and Emmett, 'Cabana boy' will be lucky if he can ever father another child!"
Just then Alexis yawned loudly, "Sorry, I'm just a little sleepy."
Carlisle smiled at her, "Why don't you go on up to bed? One of us will call you as soon as there is some news."
"I don't know Pops..."
"I do young lady. Don't forget that I am a doctor and that I know best, now scoot on up to bed! In fact, we should all try and get a little sleep." Carlisle looked across the room where Esme and Sue had fallen asleep and Charlie looked as if he were not far behind.
Bella agreed and soon afterwards everyone had made their way upstairs besides Bella and Jasper.
Jasper moved to turn on the television and quickly found re-runs of a popular reality show.
"Come and join me, Bella. We might as well watch something entertaining."
Bella shrugged as she joined him on the sofa. After she shivered for the second time, Jasper insisted on covering her with a woollen throw that was over the back of a chair.
"Do you want anything else?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah, my family – here at home with me" she said quietly.
Jasper shook his head, "Damn, sorry, I wasn't trying to be an ass, of course you want that, I meant"
"I know what you meant Jazz and I'm fine for now."
They lapsed into silence again.
"Thank you" she said.
"For what?"
"Staying with me. I know that you probably want to be with Ali right now."
"Hey Bells?"
"Yeah?"
He waited until she looked up at him, "Shut up, girl. I am right where I want to be! Now let's see who wins the 'runway'" he said as he snapped his fingers and made Bella chuckle.
Jasper put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side and after a moment's hesitation; she snuggled into his side and put her head on his shoulder.
They sat like for a long time, each one zoned out in their own thoughts until Jasper heard a tiny snore coming from Bella and he realised that sometime in the past hour she had fallen asleep.
He looked at the large clock on the wall – it was almost four thirty a.m. and he wondered when the S.W.A.T. team would make their move.
He was glad that Bella was getting some sleep, because anyway the next few hours went, she was going to need all of her strength. He shifted slightly and moved so that Bella was laying stretched out on the sofa with her head burrowed into a cushion.
He put another, thicker blanket over her, before he turned the television down so that the sound was just a background murmur.
After he stretched and relieved himself, he checked and was relieved to see that Bella was still fast asleep and he made his way into the study, turned, hub of operations for the duration.
Several people were crammed around Emmett's desk, and Jasper could see a bank of computer monitors had been set up.
One of Emmett's team, Amos Rush noticed him and shook his hand before he drew him closer, "Jasper, how are you doing?"
"I'm okay Amos, just a little sleep deprived but at least Bella is sleeping down the hall."
Amos rolled his eyes, "We were told that you two looked very 'cosy' on the sofa by the F.B.I. agents"
Jasper chuckled humourlessly, "Assholes, they've got nothing and if it wasn't for your team, they would still be pissing around here, scratching their asses, looking for 'clue's'."
Just then Special Agent Della Murray looked up and glared at Jasper, who grinned back at her, "Suspicious little thing, aren't ya?" he drawled, daring her so say something.
As she opened her mouth, Agent Sweeney stepped forward, "Mister Whitlock, please understand that it's our job to be suspicious."
Jasper narrowed his eyes at them, "I don't care what you think, but if either of you upset my sister in law, there will be hell to pay."
Sweeney admired the way that the man's facial expressions barely changed event though his eyes were cold and hard and there was no doubt in his mind that Jasper Whitlock would make good on his promise. He glared down at his partner who had started all of this nonsense before he met Jasper's gaze, 'No need to worry, Sir, there isn't anything to say to Mrs Cullen or anyone else for that matter".
Jasper nodded, "Good, now, who needs some more coffee? I'll go and put on a fresh pot before I grab a quick shower. If any of you need to change or freshen up, there are three full bathrooms on this floor and half baths downstairs." He said pleasantly before he made his way out of the room.
*ΩafloΩ*
Four hundred miles away, Edward sat huddled around the makeshift ops table in the camouflage tent that had been set up about five miles from the fishing cabin that the S.W.A.T. team had found earlier and they had been able to confirm that there were five people inside – three adults and two children.
The tracking systems confirmed that the signals were coming from within the small cabin and the infrared trace had confirmed that all five people inside appeared to be alive and healthy – at least for the time being.
Edward was lost in his own world, aching at how close he was to his two children, and yet he was so far away.
"Eddie!"
His head snapped around to Emmett, "Yeah?"
"You okay, Bro? We are about to go over the plan again." Emmett's calm blue eyes made Edward feel less tense.
"Right, I'm listening."
The older man who was in charge of the operation, Special Field Agent Daniels looked around the room.
"Listen up carefully," his steel grey eyes met Edward's briefly in warning, "We will move out just before first light – Oh Five Hundred and thirty five precisely. There will be four teams – Jones, team Bravo, you will move in from north east, cutting off their access to the water. Stevens, team Foxtrot, you move in from the north west- that will block their access to the forest. Jenson, team Sierra, you will come in from the west – that blocks off their back door and Harrison, team Lima, you will sweep in from the south east and that will block their exit to the beach and the other camping sites."
"We are going to try and extract the children from the situation, but that may not be possible. Mister Cullen, this is going to be a scary situation and you are going to want to rush in, but under no circumstances are you to do anything of the sort. Our main priority is getting your children out alive and we will do this by any means necessary, is that understood?"
Edward felt sick to his stomach as he nodded. He could feel his hands shaking and he clenches them into fists.
"Good, now, you will stay here, we are about five miles inside the forest, here," he pointed to a dot on the map.
"This is where we will run the op from. No one is to fire without a positive identification on the unsubs and we will only use tear gas in an extreme situation and after a direct order from me. Are either of your children Asthmatic or do they have any upper respiratory illness?"
Edward frowned, "What?"
"Asthma, do they have asthma or bronchitis? If we use tear gas it will affect their breathing temporarily."
Edward felt himself grow pale at the thought, "No, they are both healthy, but how dangerous is it?"
Daniels' eyes grew steely, "It's not dangerous, but it is unpleasant, which is why you need to be on hand to calm them down as we bring them back here. They may panic and they will obviously be frightened – we can't have you panicking as well – you are going to need to be their strength and the voice of reason in their fear. Can you do that Edward?"
Edward felt Emmett's hand clasp his shoulder and his presence enabled Edward to take a shaky breath and nod.
"I will be fine. Just tell me what to do and how to stay out of the way so that you can all do your jobs." Edward said quietly.
Daniels didn't comment but Emmett saw that the man was impressed with Edward's resolve. The truth was, he was blown away at how well Edward was holding up – he was barely keeping it together and yet Edward had remained calm for the most part. He just prayed that Andrea and Maxwell would remember all the bits of information that they had been taught over the years. He knew that Andrea remembered because she had the foresight to pack the most essential items before they were taken and he hoped that she remembered to hit the ground and crawl once the gas went off.
"We will be moving into positions in twenty minutes to gather what you need to and gear up!" Daniels ordered his team.
"Emmett, Edward, we don't have much time, so do what you have to and then meet me at the vehicles." They would be moving on foot as they didn't dare use a car or truck that would alert the men to their approach.
Edward was glad that Emmett, Anderson, Brian and Quill were going along, one with each team, while Morgan stayed with Edward. Edward knew that Emmett had to have called in every favour that he could so that a member of his team could accompany the SWAT team but he was eternally grateful because Andrea and Max knew these men and he also knew that Emmett's men would keep them safe.
Emmett and Edward walked in silence to a quiet spot. Each man stared out into the pitch darkness. Thankfully there was a thick low cloud which added their cover and it was supposed to start raining by five that morning.
Edward could already smell the rain in the air.
"Em," he started.
"You don't have to say anything Bro." Emmett began, but Edward put his hand on Emmett's shoulder, "Yes, I do and you need to listen to me. I am so thankful that you are my brother. I know that we kid and joke but you are my best friend and I love you. I want you to know that Bella and I can never repay you for putting yourself out there. Please," his voice broke and he had to swallow quickly, "Please, be careful".
Emmett shook his head slowly, "Damn Eddie, you are such a fucking drama queen! Poor Bella, I bet she hasn't had cock in years, because you my friend have a pussy!"
Edward stared at him open mouthed for a minute before he punched his arm.
"Fuck you! I was trying to be nice!"
Emmett dodged Edward's fist and grinned at him, "Nice! Fuck, I thought you were trying to get into my pants!"
"Asshole!"
The brothers danced around each other until they noticed that they were being watched with some amusement by Emmett's team.
"I've got to go; I need to check in with the team." Emmett said quietly. He was glad that he had been able to lighten the mood.
"Sure. So I'll see you later." Edward said, suddenly feeling unsure.
Emmett picked up his backpack and swung it over his shoulder.
"It's going to be okay, Edward. I promise you that we will do everything that we can to ensure that."
The brothers stared at each other for a moment in silence before Edward nodded and Emmett turned away and walked over to where the others had gathered.
He could sense that Edward was watching him but he deliberately put him and everything else out of his mind. This was a mission, just like the hundreds of missions that he and his team had run before and just like before, they would not be going home empty handed.
He would stake his life on it.
Edward watched as his brother and the twenty other men disappeared into the night. He shivered at the sudden silence even though he wasn't cold.
"Edward?"
He turned to face Daniels, "Would you like to join me for some coffee and a piece of toast? I know that you probably aren't hungry, but you will need it later on."
Edward nodded, "That's very thoughtful of you."
Daniels shook his head, "No, its years of experience, son." He led Edward away from the main tent to his personal tent, where there was a strong carafe of coffee waiting for them.
For the next while, the older man did all that he could to keep Edward occupied with trivial conversation until his second in command, Roberts, stuck his head into the tent.
"Sir?"
Edward's head shot up as Daniels got calmly to his feet.
"Sir! We have a development!"
"We'd better go then, right?"
"What sort of incident?" Edward jumped to his feet, sending his chair crashing to the ground.
Daniels turned to face the younger man, "Come on,"
Edward nodded, suddenly unable to speak but if Daniels noticed that he looked a little green, he didn't say anything.
Before Edward entered the large tent draped in camouflage netting, he took several deep breaths and said a prayer, please let my children be okay.
*ΩafloΩ*
Daryl was stiff from lying in the same position for hours, feigning sleep. He tried to keep track of the other two men as they came inside, worse off than before they left.
They were high on alcohol and Darryl knew that they had done some Coke as well before they had fallen into coma like sleeps a while before.
Daryl wasn't sure what the time was but he was sure that if they were going to make move, there wasn't going to be a better time.
It was still dark so it had to be some time before dawn but Darryl didn't want to take a chance and wait any longer.
He got up quietly and shook the little girl.
She woke up as soon as he touched her and although she stiffened, she didn't make a noise.
He leaned close to her ear and ignored the fact that she stiffened as he drew closer, "You need to get up, and we have to leave. Can you wake your brother quietly?"
Andrea nodded and she rolled over before she began to whisper in Max's ear.
Daryl was worried when the younger child whimpered but Andrea quickly covered his mouth and whispered into his ear.
She released him at his nod and they both got up.
"We are going to make as if you have to use the bathroom, okay?" Daryl whispered to them as they pulled their jackets on.
"Wha arrre youuu whisperrrring 'bout over there? I'm trying to fucking sleep!"
All three stiffened as the Chief's slurred voice rang out.
"Ah shit man! The damn kid wet the bed! I need to take them out to piss!" Daryl said as he motioned for them to hurry up.
"Whathefuckeverman" was the only response that they got and Daryl heaved a sigh of relief.
The small convoy moved stealthily towards the door when Andrea gasped as a hand reached out and touched her arm.
Daryl swung around only to find Peter staring at them intently.
"Peter"
Peter shook his head, "Hurry up and go, there's not much time. Take them into the woods and move as quickly as you can – go!"
Daryl swallowed and gently guided the two children out of the door.
"I'm so sorry…" Peter whispered.
Andrea looked back at him, "I will tell him" she said quietly before she hurried over to Max and put a protective arm around his shoulders.
Peter felt his throat burn as his eyes filled with tears. If only he had made different choices in his life.
If only he had been a better husband and father. If only he had allowed Edward to help him instead of biting the hand that had kept him steady for years. He knew everything that Edward and Bella had done for his ex-wife and kids over the past fifteen years. He knew that when they almost lost their home, Edward had bought it for them and had made sure to put the house into his sons' names. He knew that Edward had provided enough money for the boys to go to college and he made sure that Charlotte and the boys had a vacation every year. Between him and their old college buddy, Ben Carmichael, the North family had always been taken care of, even though Ben and his wife Tia had always lived in New York.
He had so many regrets, so many missed chances, and so many missed opportunities. But he had the chance to make it right. He had a chance to do the right thing for once in his miserable life.
He thought of his beautiful wife, Charlotte. God! How he had loved her, still loved her but there was too much anger and resentment between them now. He had let her down, he had failed her and there was no way back from that. He thought of his two beautiful boys and he prayed that they would understand that he had at least tried to do the right thing.
With a final glance up at the dark sky, thick with the scent of rain he closed and locked the front door and drew the twelve inch hunting knife from his coat.
He stared at the man that had caused so much misery and pain, the evil, sick fuck who would stop at nothing to destroy his once best friend and he moved silently forward.
Larry Calvina opened his eyes slowly. His brain was fuzzy but he was sure that he saw that cocksucker North moving towards him with something glittering in the firelight.
What was that? He moved slightly and let out a grunt of laughter, "North, little cocksucker, come to suck on my cock?" he giggled again, but the giggle died in his throat as he saw the sharp edge of the hug blade coming towards his throat…
His eyes widened in shock, "Peter? I didn't know that you had the balls….gaggghhh"
His breathing gargled as the blade pierced his flesh as if it was butter.
Calvina lunged at Peter who was taken by surprise at the man's speed. With the amount of drugs in his system, he should have still been out.
"What the fuck are you doing, slave-boy?" Larry spun away from Peter and moved towards the fire place.
There was a log sticking out of the coals and Larry grabbed the log and waved it in Peter's direction.
As the searing pain of having grasped the red hot log pierced Larry's mind, he let out a howl of pain and threw it away from him.
The two men circled each other like dogs.
"You will NEVER hurt anyone else again you sick FUCK!" Peter growled as he stabled blindly.
Calvino screamed in pain as the blade sliced his intestines. He ignored the pain and lunged at Peter, twisting the knife away from him.
Peter drew himself up, standing taller and stronger than he had in a long time, "I'm going to end you, asshole."
Larry Calvino stared at the man in shock. In all the time that he had known Peter, he had never once felt afraid of him, but now he felt fear run down his spine. In the glow of the fire, Peter North looked deadly. His eyes were dark, black even, and his white teeth glittered in the glow of the fire, they looked sharp, dangerous and menacing.
Larry took a step back and stumbled as he began to fall, he saw the glitter of the knife, with a roar of fury, Peter sprung forward, plunging the knife into Calvino's chest, the jagged edge of the teeth ripped through his flesh.
Larry's fists gripped Peter's torn and bloody shirt as his eyes widened and he gasped.
Peter stared into Larry's eyes and he was almost mesmerised as he watched the light and life drain from them. Right there, in the small cabin he watched as the man who had so intimidated and scared him before turned into a small, grey, insignificant man.
The crackling noise took him by surprised and he looked up just in time to see the blazing inferno that surrounded them. The log had fallen against the dry old cotton curtains that hung against the small window and it had ignited in a blaze of orange.
Peter felt no fear as he watched the roof begin to cave in, "Forgive me..."
He welcomed the hot darkness as the heavy beam crashed into his skull, killing him instantly.
The small cabin burned to the ground with in an hour.
It was an hour that Edward Cullen would never forget.
*ΩafloΩ*
As soon as the door of the cabin closed, Daryl urged the children across the grassy meadow that surrounded the cabin on three sides towards the forest that stood between themselves and freedom. Unfortunately, they had no light to go by and the ground wasn't flat and after Max had fallen for the third time, Daryl tried to pick him up but Max was terrified of him and so after Andrea half dragged her brother across the meadow and they had reached the cover of the trees, Andrea dropped her backpack and encouraged Max to climb onto her back.
"I want Mommy! I want to go home!" the little boy stood crying. He was tired, hungry and cold and he was more scared than he had ever been and he wanted his mommy and daddy.
Daryl shifted from one foot to the other impatiently, "Come on! We've got to move!"
Max trembled as he cried harder.
Andrea turned and glared at the man, "Shut up! I know that we've got to move, but my brother is only little and he is scared! If you are in such a hurry, just leave us! It's your fault that we are here in the first place! Just because you are helping us now, doesn't mean that my father won't kill you when he finds you!"
The little girl looked far older than her ten years as she stood toe to toe with one of her captors. Her bronze hair hung around her in wild disarray and her piercing eyes glittered in the dim light.
Daryl was tempted to say, 'to hell with it' and to walk away because he knew that she was right. Edward Cullen would rip him limb from limb when he caught up with them and to be honest Daryl didn't expect anything less. He reminded himself that this was the course that he had set for himself from the moment he had decided not to go to Edward with the plan that Larry had.
Daryl let out a breath and leaned down, "Look, I'm not going to leave you alone in these woods. Why don't I carry your backpacks and you put Max on your back?"
A red glow caught their attention and after encouraging the children to hide behind a large rock, Daryl moved a bush aside and stared in horror at the burning cabin.
He went back to where the children were hiding and picked up their two backpacks.
"Ready?"
"What's that smell?"
"Nothing, let's go"
"No, what's burning?"
He glared at Andrea, "the cabin! Okay, the cabin is on fire and we have to leave! Now!"
Max climbed onto his sister's slim back and wrapped his legs around her waist and put his small arms around her neck.
"Not too tight, Maxi. I won't let you fall. Come on, Daddy is out here somewhere looking for us." Andrea said as she patted his bottom.
Max smiled against his sister's neck, "Yeah, let's go home".
The scraggly trio moved through the darkened forest, trying desperately not to trip over the undergrowth. Darryl couldn't get his mind off the blazing cabin that they had just left behind. Where were Peter and Larry? Were they behind them? Had they gone in another direction?
*ΩafloΩ*
"Give me an update"
"The teams are at the cabin, Sir – it's been destroyed." The young agent swallowed nervously.
"What? How? I said no fire-"
"No Sir, it was on fire when they got there."
"Get Jones on the wire – Now!"
Edward stood frozen in the doorway.
As if in slow motion he watched people scrambling around. He saw Agent Daniels talking on the phone but he couldn't hear anything until he felt someone shake him.
"Edward!"
"Where are my children?" Edward didn't recognise his own voice.
They weren't in the cabin," Morgan said quietly.
"What?"
"There are two bodies in the wreckage, both male adults. There is no sign of the children or the other male."
Edward felt his knees begin to give way as a hand quickly gripped his arm and guided him to a chair.
"Edward? Edward! Can you hear me?"
Edward looked up to see Morgan kneeling in front of him.
"They aren't in there, Edward! They are still alive!"
Edward didn't feel any relief, "Who – who are they with?"
Fear gripped his heart as he thought of his two children in the forest or god forbid in the lake with that madman – oh God!
"We haven't been able to make a positive identification yet, son, but Emmett has confirmed that their tracking devices are moving slowly but steadily north. Three teams are on the ground making their way toward them as we speak." Daniels spoke up.
"So, they are in even more danger now?" Edward growled.
"Not necessarily – we outnumber the Unsub fifteen to one and your children are still alive and moving! They are on their way heading in this direction! Now, you have to pull yourself together for their sake, okay? Can you do that?" Daniels' voice was firm and it was just enough to pull Edward out of his pit of despair.
"Yes, yes of course. What do you need me to do?"
Daniels nodded and felt some relief. He hadn't been sure how the actor/singer would hold up in such dire conditions but Edward Cullen had surprised him.
Although he looked as if he had aged ten years overnight, his eyes held steely resolve.
"I need you to get ready to receive them. Can you go with Mister Morgan here, and make sure that there are enough blankets, spare clothes, food for them?"
Edward was going to protest, he wanted to hear when they found the children but he also knew that he wouldn't be any good sitting there; driving himself crazy and so he nodded and went quietly with the younger agent.
Morgan led Edward into another tent behind the large ops tent. Edward noticed that there were two men and two women inside. His eyes widened when he realised that it was a medical tent.
"Mister Cullen, I'm Doctor Wright, you can call me Ben. These are my colleagues Dave, this is Maggie and Anne. We are here to make sure that Maxwell and Andrea are healthy once we get them back. This is only a precautionary measure, I assure you. We have a helicopter on standby to take them to a nearby hospital for a thorough examination, just as soon as we have cleared them."
The other doctor, Maggie stepped forward with her hand outstretched, "Mister Cullen, I'm Maggie. I am a qualified child psychologist and trauma councillor. I am just here to help both Maxwell and Andrea deal with their feelings. Right now they are probably just functioning instinctively and they are both in shock. This is a massive trauma for any child to go through. How are you doing?"
Edward frowned, "Me? I'm okay"
Maggie smiled sympathetically, "I'm sure that you are not 'okay' but you are doing a great job of holding it together and that's important for your children."
Edward nodded before he turned to Morgan, "What do you need me to do?"
Morgan pointed to the backpack that Bella had shoved into his hands before he left, "Can you get their clothes out and then we can make them sandwiches."
Edward stared at the other man before nodding. They both knew that this was just 'busy work'.
"Sure."
Edward opened the backpack and almost cried at the smell of the fabric softener smell that came out. Bella had always insisted on using the same brand. It smelled of sunshine and flowers and – Bella.
He pulled out clean underwear, thick track suits and long sleeved tee-shirts as well as socks and two pairs of shoes.
As he held Max's small running shoes in his hands he felt his eyes fill with tears.
He had taken Max and Casey to buy them just weeks before and Max had been so excited to have the same brand of running shoes as his daddy.
Edward quickly ran a hand over his face and stood up.
"That's everything I"
Just then a man came running to the tent, "They found them!"
Edward wasn't even aware that he was running until he reached the other tent.
*ΩafloΩ*
Dawn began to lighten the sky, which made it a little easier for the straggling trio to walk through the dense forest.
"Pick it up – we have to keep moving!"
Andrea felt as if her arms and legs were going to fall off. She was moving as fast as she could but Max's weight was getting harder and harder to carry.
"I need to stop for a minute! Darryl, please STOP!"
Darryl bit back a retort and stopped moving.
He turned around to where the two children were sitting on a tree stump.
"I'm sorry, but I just want to get you to safety." He said as he handed Andrea her backpack.
She pulled two bottles of water from the bag and opened one for Max and one for herself.
She looked almost apologetic, "I'm sorry, I only have two..."
"It's fine, you need it, go ahead."
She drank deeply.
"Drea? I'm tired and I need to pee-pee."
Andrea wanted to scream at her brother to shut up but she knew that it wouldn't do any good. He was calmer than he had been in hours and she wasn't about to upset him again.
"Okay, come on, I need to use the bathroom as well."
"Don't go far" Daryl warned them.
Andrea glared at him as she pulled a roll of toilet paper from her pack, "You are not going to watch us use the bathroom!"
She took Max's hand and led him behind some trees.
His eyes widened, "Outside?" he said in a loud whisper.
Andrea smiled for the first time in hours, "It's okay, Max, I'm also going to potty outside, this will be like our own little secret."
Max grinned at her and nodded, "Cool! Just like Nick and Sammy do sometimes without Mommy knowing!"
*ΩafloΩ*
Darryl watched the children move off and he suddenly felt a rising panic. He knew that he was a coward, but he couldn't just wonder around the woods with two kids, waiting for Larry to find them! He had to find some help fast and he knew that the kids were just slowing him down!
With a sigh he quickly picked up his back pack and moved off into the dim light.
*ΩafloΩ*
Andrea waited until Max had finished his business before she undid her own pants. She wasn't as enthusiastic as her little brother was about peeing in the outdoors, but she was thankful that she had brought the toilet paper.
When they were finished, Andrea wiped Max's hands and then her own with a couple of disposable wipes that she had taken from the restroom at the gas station.
"I'm hungry"
She smiled as she took Max's hand again, "You are always hungry, just like a little bear! Come on, I still have some snacks in my bag."
When they got back to where their bags were, there was no sign of Darryl.
Andrea frowned, but she helped Max to sit on her thick jacket as she dug in her bag and found an orange, two packets of crisps and a large packet of dried fruit.
"Here we go, Max, we can have a picnic before we walk again."
Andrea looked around as they ate. Darryl's backpack was missing. She strained her eyes to see the surrounding area, but she couldn't see or hear him moving about.
Had he left them?
After eating and drinking their fill, Andrea noticed that Max was falling asleep and she nudged him.
"Hey sleepyhead. Don't fall asleep okay, we need to keep walking." She could see his little face pull into a frown and his lip jutted out in a pout and she sighed.
"Come on Maxwell. I need you to be a big boy now. You are brave and strong and I need you to help me. Can you do that?"
Max was hugging his Mooki in his arms as he looked up at her, "You need me to help you, Sissy?"
Andrea nodded, "Of course I do! You are a Cullen, right?"
He nodded.
"And don't Cullen men always look out for the girls?"
He nodded again.
"So I need to look out for me, okay?"
"Okay, Drea. Mooki and me will holp you."
He held out his hand and she took it in hers.
"I love you Max." she whispered.
He smiled at her lovingly, "I love you too, Sissy." He answered.
Just hearing the familiar nickname made her heart ache and tears formed in her eyes. She missed her twin and her siblings more than anything. She missed her parents and the rest of her family so much and she vowed to get them home.
"Come on, let's go!" she said enthusiastically even though she was scared.
She had no idea which direction they were supposed to go in, but the dawn breaking weakly though the clouds helped a little. She turned towards what she thought was North and after they had put their jackets on and she had picked up their backpacks they headed off.
She had no idea where Darryl was, and although she wasn't scared of him, she as worried that he had just left them behind. But there was no time to worry about that now; she had to get her brother to safety.
*ΩafloΩ*
When Emmett's team reached the cabin, the fire was almost out and Emmett's anxiety went through the roof.
"Are they in there? We have to look!" he barked out as a man tried to stop him.
"Get the fuck out of my way, kid, or you are going to lose your head! That is my niece and nephew in there!"
"Emmett!"
He swung around just as Anderson reached him, "What?"
Anderson had been with the lead team.
"There are only two bodies! Both adult. We think that it's Calvino and Peter North. The kids aren't here!"
"Are you sure?"
Andersen nodded.
"Are you fucking sure? Because you had better be!"
"We are certain. I'm waiting for feedback from Napa now."
Just then his satellite phone rang.
He listened for a minute and then closed it.
"Their trackers are still moving – slowly, but they are moving North, North West. About two miles ahead" Anderson said.
There was a murmur of voices as the news was passed on.
"Get that mobile tracker set up now!" the order came from one of the teams leaders.
"Harrison and Lima team will stay here and wait for forensics, the rest of us are going to spread out eight feet apart, in drag net formation. We have no idea which Unsub is with the Cullen children, but for now we need to assume that whoever it is, is armed and dangerous and the lives of the two children are out priority, right?"
"Yes Sir."
"If it looks like the end game will be an altercation, take the Unsub out, but only if it's your last resort."
Emmett and the rest of the teams formed a long human drag net – a long line as they entered the forest. Their eyes had adjusted to the darkness but it was still necessary to wear the night goggles that they had been given. The night vision glasses made it much easier to see in the darkness. Emmett felt his hip vibrate and pulled out his walkie talkie.
"Closing in – one and a half miles ahead."
Emmett quietly passed the word along the line before he fell back into formation.
Suddenly the line stopped. Emmett saw two of the team leaders hurrying towards him.
"The three have become two – it looks like the Unsub has split from the children – look"
Emmett looked down at the infrared tracker. The device could only be used in a two mile radius and Emmett watched as a lone figure moved quickly towards the base camp.
To the left of the screen he saw two figures huddled together and his heart swelled up.
"What are we waiting for? Let's get them!"
Jones shook his head, "We need to intercept the Unsub. Jensen and his team have moved out to intercept him. As soon as he has him, we will get the children."
Emmett shook his head, "No"
Jones' head snapped around as he glared at Emmett, "Mister Cullen you are here as a favour. We will stick to the plan. The Unsub first and then the children." He snapped before he turned away.
"Fuck it to hell!" Emmett hissed as he ran a hand through his hair.
Anderson put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Em, you know that this is the right way. What if this is a trap? What if it's one of the kids and the Unsub is waiting with the other?"
Emmett let out a sigh, "I know! But this is so fucking frustrating! I just want to make sure that they are okay, you know?"
Anderson nodded, "Of course I know. I want that as well."
Emmett as his men sat down together. Someone passed a canteen to Emmett, who drank from it deeply, as he realised for the first time how tired he was.
"I'm getting too old for this," he said.
There were various sounds of agreements.
Ahead of the teams, Lima team moved stealthily through the wooded area with hardly a sound. Ahead, they could see a figure moving away from them. They were able to see that it was an adult male; who matched the general description of the ranch hand, White, but the light was too poor to make a positive identification.
What they did see was that he appeared to be unarmed.
Lima team leader, Jensen motion to two of his men who took off to the right, one man moved to the left, with the remaining two men spread out.
Darryl felt the hair on the back of his neck rise. He felt that he was been watched. He stopped for a moment but heard nothing. With a shake of his head he pressed on. The feeling of being watched got harder to ignore. He felt himself begin to sweat beneath his jacket. Cold beads of sweat ran down his face.
Please don't let it be Calvino, he thought before something hard knocked him off his feet.
Before he could recover he looked up into five guns pointed at his head.
"Darryl White?"
His mind was numbed to the pain of the heavy boot on his chest as he nodded.
"Where are the children?"
He tried to speak but realised that the air had been knocked out of his lungs. He pointed behind his head.
One of the men spoke into a walkie talkie as Darryl was flipped over and his backpack was wrenched off his arms. His hands were handcuffed behind him tightly and he was hauled to his feet.
As soon as they got word that Darryl White, the last of the abductors had been taken into custody, no one could hold Emmett and his team back from almost running forward.
Within fifteen minutes Emmett could see two small figures in front of him.
He wasn't even aware that he was crying as he ran forward, pulling the night vision glasses off.
"ANDREA! MAX!" he shouted.
The two children stopped and swung around, "UNCLE EMMETT! UNCA MEMMETT!"
Emmett sobbed aloud. He had never been so happy to hear Max's mispronunciation of his name before.
Emmett lunged forward and pulled both children into his arms.
The trio fell onto the damp ground.
The children were sobbing hysterically while Emmett cried and tried to run his hands over them to make sure that they were okay.
"Are you okay? Are you okay? Oh God, Oh God! We missed you! Are you hurt?"
Andrea and Maxwell clung to their uncle as they cried.
The rest of the search party stood a little distance away. There were a few more wet eyes as Quill, Anderson and Brian looked on. Even the hardened members of the S.W.A.T. team looked moved as they milled around.
"Where's my Daddy?" Max asked when he had calmed down a little.
"Your daddy is waiting for you and Drea back at base camp, Buddy! What do you say; can we get you back to him?"
Both children nodded and Emmett laughed as he stood up.
"Do we have to walk?" Andrea bit back a sigh.
Emmett laughed again. "Nah, I think that we can arrange a piggy back for you two."
Max tightened his arms around his uncle, "You carry me, Una Memmett."
Emmett tightened his arms around the youngster, "Sure thing Pal. Andrea, you okay with hitching a ride with Quill?"
Andrea felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment, "No it's okay, I can walk."
"Nonsense kid, you are limping, let me give you a lift." Quill suggested as he crouched down. Andrea put her arms around him half-heartedly but secretly she was happy to not have to walk another step. Her feet were killing her.
Rain began to fall as the group made their way back to the base camp.
As they reached the clearing, Andrea heard the most beautiful sound in the world.
"ANDREA! MAX!"
She looked up and saw her daddy standing in the pouring rain with his arms stretched wide.
She scrambled off Quill's back and ignored the fact that she slipped in the mud before she launched herself into her father's arms.
"Daddy!" Her chest felt as if it was going to explode with the feeling of love that she felt at two strong arms closed around her slim body.
"Baby! Oh God, my baby!"
A smaller body crashed into them, sending them into a pool of mud, "Daddy! Daddy!"
"MAXI! Oh my loves!"
The three were still crying freely as Emmett and Anderson urged them to their feet and guided them towards the medical tent.
*ΩafloΩ*
At five forty seven, Bella woke up with a fright. She sat up and looked around her. She was still on the long sofa in the family room. She stretched up, shit she felt like ass! She ran her hand over her hair and groaned when she felt the haystack at the back of her head. Her ponytail had come loose while she had slept and it was a tangled mess.
She looked up at the clock and wondered what the progress was. She knew that it could be several more hours before there was any feedback and so she decided to put the coffee on before she went to take a quick shower to make herself feel more human. She also wanted to spend time with the children before she began the vigil again.
Once she had showered and had changed into jeans, boots, a long sleeved top and a thick cardigan she went next do to wake up the minis.
As soon as Elizabeth opened her eyes she stared at her mother, "Anything?"
Bella brushed her auburn hair out of her face and shook her head, "Not yet, Sweetheart, but Dad and Uncle Emmett are working on it."
Elizabeth's eyes got tears in them immediately and she quickly brushed them away and got out of bed.
"Beth,"
"I know Mom, just – don't, please. I just miss Sissy and Max." she said sadly as she went into the bathroom and quietly closed the door.
Isabelle chose that moment to climb onto Bella's lap and put her little arms around Bella's neck, "Are you sad, Mommy Belle?" she asked.
Bella brushed the dark hair off her forehead before she leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"I am a little sad, Munchkin, but I'm glad that you are here to give me cuddles."
Isabelle giggled, "I love to give you cuddle's Mommy Belle. I'm gonna give Maxi and Drea lots and lots of cuddles when they come home."
Bella smiled as she pressed another kiss to the soft hair, "I know you will, baby."
Once the girls were dressed, the three of them made their way downstairs to the kitchen where most of the family were.
Elizabeth quickly made her way to Nicholas' side and it warmed Bella's heart when she watched Nicholas, Sam and Jackson all give the little girl hugs before Nicholas drew her to one side. Bella watched as Nicholas brushed a tear off her cheek before he drew her into a hug.
"Do you want coffee Darling?"
Bella turned at the sound of Esme's voice.
"Please Mom, oh you are an angel." She said as Esme pressed a hot mug of aromatic coffee into her hands.
"You know, this is very hard on all of us, but especially on Elizabeth. Andrea is her soul mate, her best friend and she is lost without her."
Bella nodded at the truth behind Esme's words.
"You are right. I just wish I could help to ease her pain."
"Just having the rest of us and especially her siblings around her is helping, Bells." Sue said as she joined them at the counter.
"Hmm" Bella hummed.
After a few minutes Esme turned to Bella as she and Sue shared a look that Bella didn't miss.
"So, have you given anymore thought to what Alexis told you last night?"
Bella shook her head, "Not really, well yes, of course, but this isn't the best time to think about this you know."
"It's the perfect time. You are going to need a plan for when Edward gets home." Esme said knowingly.
Bella groaned, "Don't remind me! He is going to freak out! I'm just worried what he will do or say, because you know how he gets. He says things without thinking and especially if his temper gets the best of him and what is worse is that Alexis is so much like him, it's like world war three when those two go at it! Neither of them will back down and it's exhausting!"
Just then Carlisle walked up and put an arm around Bella's shoulders, "Are you worrying about what Edward's going to say to the news?"
Sue and Esme laughed while Bella groaned, "I'm glad you think it's funny!"
Carlisle smiled sympathetically, "Bella, we all know how dramatic Edward can get – that's why he is the actor in the family, although Alice gives him a run for his money with her flare for the dramatic, but I've been thinking about it and I think that I have a plan…"
Carlisle's plan was quite simple. Once Edward had come home and they would give him a few days before Bella would break the news to him, Carlisle, Esme, Sue and Charlie would be on hand if needed.
"So your brilliant plan is to send me into the 'lion's den' and then if he drains my blood, you and Charlie will step in? Effing brilliant plan Carlisle." She said as she rolled her eyes.
Carlisle let out a bark of laughter, "You don't fool me, Isabella, and you are the only one who can stop Edward from flying off into space."
He and Bella shared a smile, "Perhaps you are right, I"
Just then Amos Rush hurried into the kitchen, "Bella!"
Everyone stopped talking and froze as Bella turned in slow motion to the doorway.
"They are on their way home!"
Bella heard something smash before her world went black.
A/N: I promise that I am working on the next chapter.
Hugs and smooches,
Justginger