Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight Stephanie Meyers has that right.

Thanks to my Beta NeeNee246 who is just awesome.

Chapter 25

EPOV

My head was still throbbing as I looked up at the pure figure of evil stood in front of me. Why wasn't I so shocked to see Alex Volturi looking down at me? I had always had my suspicions he wasn't really dead even if I had kept them locked deep in the back of my mind.

"Hello Edward," Alex smirked looking down at me. "How is the head? I'm sorry my men hit you so hard."

"You mother fucker, where is my wife?" Bella and our unborn child was all I was worried about. I didn't give a fuck if Alex broke every bone in my body so long as Bella was safe.

"Bella is fine. My men are just making her comfortable on my yacht." I pulled hard against the rope on my wrists. Bella wasn't going anywhere with this fucker.

"I will fucking kill you!" I roared pulling hard, not caring if my wrists began to bleed.

"Edward you can't kill someone who is already dead." Alex wondered around the room. "So I hear you got my Bella pregnant again."

"She is my Bella." I snarled almost lifting the chair I was tied to.

"You're wrong. She is mine and that bastard child inside her."

"When I find you Alex I will kill you." I yelled. "You can't hide from me."

"You'll never find me Edward. I'm taking Bella and your child away forever."

"I'll always come for her Alex. You'll always have to look over your shoulder for me because believe me I will be close."

"Not if she thinks you're dead."

"You would have already killed me if that was your plan."

"You know someone has betrayed you don't you." Alex smirked. "Someone who you thought was on your side." Alex was right but I already knew who had betrayed me it was clear as day. Only a selected few people knew about my trip to this island and that Bella was pregnant.

"How much did you pay Garrett?" I glared, feeling the blood trickling down my face onto my bare chest.

"I'm impressed Edward," Alex laughed darkly. "How did you know it was him?"

"He is ruled by money like you. I will fucking kill him." I dropped my head beginning to feel light headed.

"Well, you will have to take that up with him but he didn't know it was me who he was dealing with. Jane my dear sister organised all that for me."

"You killed Demetri didn't you? You knew he wanted to kill you."

"That fucker did almost kill me." Alex snarled showing me his burnt neck. "If it weren't for my quick actions, and the security guard who worked for me. I would have been burnt alive. I had to scramble around the woods for weeks until I could call for help. "

"I couldn't give a fuck. I wish you had burnt to death."

"I bet you do," Alex chuckled looking at his watch. "Well, this has been fun catching up Edward but I really have to go."

"I'll be coming after you Alex don't forget that." I snarled pulling hard on the ropes.

"Have you ever been burned Edward?" Alex turned looking darkly at me while he pulled out his lighter.

"Kill me you fucker, it's the only way you can stop me coming for her." Alex kept on laughing as he drew closer to me.

"No wonder all the females love you Edward. You're so heroic. It's such a shame I have to do this." I looked up just in time to see Alex hit me hard over the head and I was plunged into darkness.

oxoxoxo

I awoke face down in the sand. That fucker was gutless. He couldn't even kill me. Alex must have dragged me out of the beach hut before setting fire to it. It was just a simmering pile of burnt wood now. How long had I been unconscious?

I noticed my hands were untied as I gripped the sand beneath my hands. My head was throbbing but that was nothing compared to my heart. I had lost Bella. After all my precautions of keeping her safe I had walked right into Alex's trap. How easy was it for him to steal Bella from under my nose on a secluded island? How foolish could I have been?

I sat up feeling my head spin. I made my way to the sea and washed the blood away as best I could before making my way to the main house on the island. What would I tell everyone? I had lost Bella. I felt my legs falter. What would I tell the children? I had let my entire family down. When I got off this island, I was going after one fucker first – GARRETT.

oxoxoxo

"I should have seen this coming," Emmet hung his head while I was being patched up in the main house. "Edward, I've let you down."

"We'll find her," I replied firmly. I wasn't giving up. I told Alex that. So long as there was air in my lungs I would keep searching until Bella was back safely in my arms.

"I can't believe I didn't see this coming." Emmet sipped his whiskey.

"Where is he," I heard Garrett's voice before I saw him and as he came into my view I charged for him.

"YOU MOTHER FUCKER. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU HAVE DONE?" I roared hitting him over and over again. "ALEX IS ALIVE YOU MOTHER FUCKER AND HAS BELLA."

Emmet pulled me off Garrett before I killed him. Garrett lay on the floor stunned just looking at me.

"Alex told me you were his source so don't deny it. I had already worked it out. Well, fuck you Garrett, the world tour is over. I quit. I have to find my wife and unborn child." I kicked his leg as I charged out of the main house ignoring his calls.

"Where to first," Emmet asked patting me on the back. I knew he was with me every step of the way.

"Home," I replied sadly. "I need to see the children and tell Bella's parents. Charlie has a lot of contacts we can start with."

"We'll find her."

"I fucking hope so, because I can't fucking live without her Emmet." I whispered as tears finally found their way down my face. I knew I had to be strong for my family but in those hours traveling back I let the misery take me.

oxoxoxo

My parents were the first faces I saw when I got home to Seattle. I could read their worried expression's as they embraced me.

"Bella's parents are already here. They are with the children." My father muttered in my ear. All I could do was nod and walk solemnly into the room were all the laugher was coming from.

"DAD, DADDY," All three kids screamed with excitement as they saw me. I dropped to my knees from pain. How was I going to tell them there mother was missing?

I held all three of them tightly in my arms and began to sob. I couldn't stop myself. I was holding the only part of Bella I had at the moment.

"Dad?" Grace asked touching my face catching the tears trickling down my face. "Why are you crying? What's wrong?"

"I just missed you guys so much," I lied catching Charlie's sorrowful eyes looking at me. "Can you guys go and join Grandma Esme for a moment I need to speak to Grandma and Grandpa Swan." I kissed them all before they left.

"Where is our daughter Edward?" Charlie glared. I was still on my knees looking down at the floor. "Tell me! Where is Bella?"

"Alex Volturi has her." I whispered putting my head in my hands. I couldn't watch their faces.

"WHAT?"

"He's not dead. He took her . . .I . .tried . . .I" I tried to hold back the heart wrenching cries but I couldn't. I feared for my love. Alex was capable of anything and I had let her slip through my fingers.

"How, I don't understand," Charlie was at my side touching my shoulders. "Edward, we don't blame you. Please look at me."

"But I've let her down Charlie." I looked up seeing the same loss in Charlie's eyes. "I told her I would always protect her. How could I have been so stupid. . . .How am I going to tell the children?" My voice was going hysterical and Bella's mother touched my face.

"You tell them mommy is missing but you will find her." Renée caressed my face. "You will find her Edward. You have beaten Alex before." I wished I had as much faith in myself as her.

oxoxoxo

The first month was difficult in so many ways. The children and I were all solemn knowing our family wasn't complete without Bella. When I was around the children I could just about hold it together, for them but it was the night's I went insane, clinging to Bella's pillow sobbing for my lost love.

"What's that Jack?" I asked noticing him slip a piece of paper into his bag.

"Nothing," Jack quickly went for his school coat.

"Hold on," I replied pulling the letter from his bag reading it. "Jack, you have been fighting again. I thought we had a talk about this."

"Please Dad, just drop it." Jack pulled the letter from my hand running to my mother's car.

"He miss's mom, dad," Grace sighed with wet eyes.

"You knew he was still fighting?"

"He uses it so he doesn't keep crying." Fuck, how was I going to sort this? Without Bella I was hopeless.

"I'm going to find her baby," I cooed, getting to my knees as Grace hugged me tightly.

"I know you will dad." Grace whispered kissing my cheek. "See you later."

"Have a good day at school." I called as Hope walked slowly towards me. Her brown eyes were lifeless as she looked up at me forcing a smile. It was clear to see Bella's disappearance had affected her more than Jack and Grace. She was only six after all. Hope didn't understand.

"Come here baby," I sighed pulling her tightly into my chest kissing her hair. Hope was so much like her mother, even more so with Bella gone.

"I want mommy, daddy," Hope whimpered clinging to me.

"I'm working on it baby, trust me. Come on you'll be late for school." I picked up her bag and took her hand leading her outside to the car. As soon as the car cleared the gates I was back into research.

Kate had been untouchable since I had got back and I knew why. Felix was in on it. I could vaguely remember his face as one of the men who jumped me on the island.

I knew Bella had got as far as Brazil with Alex but that was where the trail ended. He was being protected by the drug lords in Brazil. Everyone was too afraid to speak out but I would find someone.

Garret gave over all the information he had but I hadn't set eyes on him since the island. He had been in cahoots with Jane for months before the fateful day I lost Bella.

"How are you holding up?" Alice hugged me as Emmet, Jasper and Rose arrived.

"Just getting by each day at a time," I smiled weakly.

"Well, come on lets work more on this. There has to be a lead." Emmet muttered walking into the study. I couldn't help but smile with the faith all our friends had how could I not hope?

oxoxoxox

Two months into losing Bella and Charlie had hit a strong sighting of Alex in Bahia, Brazil. His links to the drug lords there meant there was a strong chance he was keeping Bella close.

"You can't just barge into Caravelas demanding to know where Bella is Edward," Charlie shook his head at me. "Alex runs most of that town."

"I don't care. He was seen there over two days ago. He can't have gotten far. He is meant to be dead after all."

"You need to leave it to the FBI they are working hard."

"I'm not sitting here while Bella is still with that psycho. It's a lead Charlie. I'm going."

"Edward you stick out like a sore thumb. I'll go." Emmet called from across the room. I knew he was right but I didn't like all this waiting around.

"Listen to him Edward," Rose called. "You need to be here with the kids. I think they are the only ones holding you together right now." Rose was right. I think all four of us were holding each other together.

I sat listening to Grace play my piano. She was coming along so well. I wished Bella was here to see it. Her hands moved effortlessly over the keys. I didn't realise I was crying until she stopped.

"Sorry Dad. I didn't mean to make you cry." Grace moved to sit on my lap.

"You didn't baby. I was just thinking." I rested my head on her shoulder.

"About mom?"

"Always about mom." I smiled kissing her head.

"Why won't the bad man let her go? She belongs with us."

"He's hiding her really well but we are getting closer."

"Who is he?"

"Someone your mom met before we got married."

"Did I know him? You and mom weren't married when I was born."

"When you are a little older I'll tell you the whole story Gracie." I smiled getting up to start dinner.

"I'm twelve dad. I can cope with the truth."

"I know you can. I'm just not sure I have the strength to tell you yet." I smiled sadly and Grace nodding understanding my eyes.

Oxoxoxo

Three months into losing Bella and I was slowly losing my mind. Emmet had been lead on a wild goose chase in Caravelas. It would appear Charlie's source had been mistaken. No one had even heard or seen Alex Volturi.

"How can we still have no leads? It's been three months. Bella will be giving birth in three months. I can't let her . . ." I held my chest as a panic attack came over me.

"Breath Edward," Jasper poured me a glass of whiskey.

"Is that wise Jazz," Alice scolded,

"Look at him. He needs it." It was true, it tasted fucking amazing. I hadn't touched any alcohol since coming home. I knew it would hold no answers. I couldn't go back to my old ways of trying to control my pain. I had my children to think about now.

But as the liquid calmed my head I couldn't help but take the bottle from Jaspers hand.

"Great, "Alice moaned following me as I walked into my music room. "Do you see what you have done, Jazz? Edward, please don't do this."

"Can you get the kids from school? I don't want them to see me like this." I muttered swigging the bottle as I began to play the piano.

"They need you Edward. Don't do this to them. They have already lost Bella." Alice whimpered.

"YOU THINK I WON"T FIND HER DON"T YOU." I wasn't sure where my anger came from but suddenly Jasper was in my face.

"Don't you fucking dare speak to Alice like that," Jasper shouted with an icy tone. "All she has ever done is worry about you."

"I never fucking asked her too."

"Fine, drink yourself stupid. We'll look after your children for you but I am telling you now it won't help you get Bella back." With that Jasper took Alice's hand and walked away leaving me alone with my grief.

That was my darkest day when I drank my body weight in whiskey. I bashed the fuck out of my grand piano and ended up a sobbing wreck on Bella's side of the bed.

The next morning I pulled myself together. I couldn't fall apart like that again. I needed to be there for my children. I needed to be there for Bella. I was all she had to count on.

oxoxoxo

Four months and I knew I was turning to a crazy man. It shouldn't be taking this long. There had to be something I was missing and I knew there was one person who might just help me. If only I could track her down.

"The Glamour awards, she will be going," Rose screeched rushing into the study. "I was thinking about it last night. All the top models go. You always get an invite after that men's grooming campaign you did."

"Will I be able to get near her?" I replied wanting to kiss Rose. She was so fucking amazing.

"Edward, if you take all of us with you she'll have no choice but to talk to you." Emmet smirked as did the rest of them.

"It's time I got my tux out then." I smiled thinking for the first time in four months I was getting somewhere.

You knew he wouldn't be dead right. He's my barward after all ;)

So what do we think? Did you like Edward's strength? Children give you so much more to fight for so I have heard?

Bee xxx