A/N: One day I will be healthy for a period of time and I will be able to keep up with writing and real life and everything. I hope you had a good holiday season and that your lives are treating you well.

I miss you all.

Chapter 25 - Soul Meets Body

LaurentPOV

What the hell was I doing back here? When I sensed Alice in that damn store I should have continued on and just killed someone else for their clothes. But it was too tempting to see the misery on that damn seer's face. I wanted to see if Victoria's plans were working, to see if her little disciple was keeping the future in flux. And now here I was stuck in a sweatshirt that proclaims 'What happens in the camper, stays in the camper' driving to the hospital to pick up the damn family like some cab driver.

I pulled up to the hospital turn off and realised that I wasn't getting any further. It seemed like the entire town had shown up to gawk at the world ending. It almost made me laugh at how much destruction one woman could cause. A few of the trees were still smoking and the acrid smell of burning metal and plastic was still strong enough to make some of the humans cough.

The sun was nowhere in sight and Alice had told me that I would be able to get to the hospital without being revealed. I parked the car on the side of the road and got out. One of the police pointed at me shouting that I couldn't leave my vehicle there. I smiled as nicely as I could managed and walked towards him.

"Could you help me? My girlfriend and her family are in the hospital and I have been told to come and collect them." I smiled again and waited for him to swallow down the fear he couldn't place.

"Ah, right. Well, sir, as you can see we are having an emergency situation here and there is no one leaving the hospital at the moment. Can I ask you to wait here until I get some information for you, Mr...?"

"You can call me Laurent. Sure. Can you find out about them all, officer...?"

"Officer...? Oh, just call me Skittles. Of course." He started to walk away and then stopped and yelled back.

"What's their name?"

"Cullen." As I said the word a ripple of excitement went through the crowd standing near us. Great. Being the centre of attention is just what I needed. I signalled to Skittles that I was going to sit in my car and did exactly that. I closed the car door behind me and listened as the crowd started whispering to each other. A couple wanted to come and talk to me, offer their help or condolences. A few were commenting how odd it was that only one body had been found so far in the car leaving the house. It was a phenomenon I had never understood about small towns and bad news travelling. It had gotten James, Victoria and I into trouble more than once over the time we had spent together. If one person saw what we were or spotted us with a person who later turned up dead, everyone would know in less than no time. That was usually the time to move.

I looked over the heads of the crowd at the open road. It would be so easy to gun this engine and just get out of here. But... It was all just so interesting. I had spent long enough with the Denali's to know that they, and the Cullen's, wouldn't stop until the family was safe. And I had spent enough time with Victoria to know that she wouldn't stop until she succeeded at whatever goal she had set herself. I wouldn't put money on who would win. I couldn't.

The officer was coming back to the car. I got out of the car to meet him. He got close to me to speak in a low voice. His blood was pumping hard as the excitement of the situation was getting to him.

"Your girlfriend and the rest of the family are fine. No broken bones or anything. Dr Cullen is insisting on looking after them himself but Dr Snow has just discharged them all. If you follow me then we have permission to drive up to the door. You will need to be careful when passing the explosion zone through. We can't disrupt any evidence. I'm sure you understand."

I nodded as solemnly as I could and got into the car. The officer started to move the crowd back and I revved the engine. This got them moving a little quicker.

There was a crater in the driveway up to the hospital and scorch marks on the trees surrounding it. It must have been a spectacular sight; maybe even one that rivalled the fireball that I had set off in Biloxi during another one of my little errands for Victoria. I noticed the girl on the side still holding her mobile. She was the one that Kiazna had messed with previously, probably the one that had set off the explosion. As soon as I get a moment to myself I must remember to tell Victoria not to leave her there. It was almost like she wanted the girl to be caught... Oh... very very smart.

I laughed a little as I pulled up to the door. I couldn't get much closer without driving into the hospital itself. Skittle pointed and told me to wait as he rushed into the lobby. I started in and saw the Cullens all gathered together in a crowd. They looked broken, they looked as if there was no more fight in them. Well, everyone except... Emmett. He looked as if he was really ready for a fight, even though his arm was in a sling. Ah, yes, the wolf injury.

Carlisle looked up at Carlisle and confusion crossed his face. Ah, clearly they assumed I was dead also.

A moment later and they were all in the car; their movements had looked nervous to me. My God, Victoria really had rattled them. She would be pleased. I revved the engine without saying a word hoping that the questions wouldn't start until we were away from all these damn humans.

The so-very-helpful officer was speaking into his radio with a worried look on his face. He instinctually stepped out of the way as I moved forward. Emmett clapped me on the shoulder and I heard one of the females I didn't recognise breathe out as the crowds parted leaving me a pathway. I slowly moved forwards ignoring the staring eyes and whispers. Why did the Cullens put themselves trough this? Why live among these creatures? I swallowed down the venom rising in my throat and concentrated on the road as the blonde girl broke the silence.

"Where are we going?"

"To the Pacific Motel. She got you all rooms and you are to wait."

"Who?"

The sound of the human hand landing on the hood of the car stopped the questions as Skittle stopped us moving any further. He came round to my side and signalled me to wind down the window which I quickly did putting a smile on my face,

"What's the problem. I just want to get the family out of here."

"Sorry about that Mr Laurent. Seems there are a few questions that need answering."

"Can they not wait. We all need to rest away from prying eyes."

The crowd pressed in a little as they strained to hear the conversation. Carlisle leaned forwards.

"We are going to the Pacific Motel and have no intention of moving from there for the time being. You can get hold of us there."

Skittle seemed to redden as he caught sight of Carlisle.

"I understand that Dr Cullen but the Sher… the Deputy Sherriff wants to speak to you specifically at the station… er… now."

"Of course." Carlisle sighed. "Shall I come with you or would you like to come with us?"

Skittle looked in the car at the very little space that was left and took a breath in.

"I am sorry to do this to you… Dr Cullen… Could you come with me?"

Carlisle whispered something to his wife and then opened the car door. He looked up at the sky and noticed with relief that the clouds were on our side for a moment.

"I'll see you all at the motel soon." He turned to me and fixed me in his stare. "Keep vigil, Laurent."

I nodded and drove away as soon as he closed the door.

APOV

Traffic. There was never traffic in this part of the world. It was one of the reasons I loved it. You could drive fast from anywhere to anywhere and barely pass another car and yet today… Traffic.

I passed a truck with a Forks High School sticker and smiled to myself for a moment. That all seemed an age ago and yet was barely a blink of an eye since Bella and I had…

The vision hit me hard. I longed for the time when I could just see and didn't have to feel everything too. We were still too late, but Bella was no longer dying, she was dying to be born again. And Edward… Edward was heartbroken as he killed her, rather to see her dead than the soulless monster he belived she would be,

The turning for the airport was only a hundred yards up the road but I was still penned in by a dawn crosswalk and what looked like an entire town using it. I had watched the plane land 3 minutes ago and knew that it would be killing Jasper to have to wait until it taxied to a complete stop. I hoped he remembered what I told him about watching for sun spots and prayed that he would remember that he was soon to be surrounded by humans. I concentrated on his immediate future and saw a slight change. He was no longer coming out to the car park but would wait inside the terminal for me.

The driver in the car in front of me finally moved forwards and ate up a few more yards. Dammit! There must be about 25 yards to the turning now. My skin tingled as if I could feel his arms around me already. The crowd thinned out and the car ahead lurched forwards. Obviously I wasn't the only impatient one.

I was one car from the turning now as the light turned red again. I put my foot down. Nothing was keeping me from my love. I drove up onto the sidewalk and nipped round it leaving a few horns and angry shouts behind me. The car park was empty as I skidded into position as close as I could get. There were a few startled faces in the windows. Obviously the 'terrorist attack' in Seattle had them all worried. Should have considered that…

There. I couldn't wait any longer and threw open the car door. I barely kept my speed in check as I ran towards my reason for being. He opened the door slowly as I jumped into his arms and help him close to me.

His relief flooded over me and I felt my whole body melt as he smiled. As his lip curled I took it between my own and kissed him hard throwing all the passion and love I felt for him into it. I felt his mood change to match my own and all I could see was him.

EPOV

Jasper had run from the plane as soon as the door was unlocked leaving me to talk to the pilot about what needed to be done. I watched my brother as he ran through a ray of sunlght, his skin throwing sparkles in the air. He was moving almost too quickly and I whipered a warning which he answered with a low growl.

"Mr Cullen. Don't worry about a thing. Mr Jenks has already been in contact with the relelvant people and this issue will be taken care of within the hour."

"You have been a great service to us. I can only apologise for the trouble that has been caused here."

"Of course." The pilot put his hand out, and it took me a moment to remember that I should shake it.

"Thank you again. I will make sure that you have been well paid for today." I handed him the note I had written before with instructions about flight plans he should log and then shook his hot hand.

As I let go of his hand I looked up at the sky. If I jogged to the building I would beat the next ray of light. I tried to make my speed seem as casual as possible and followed Jasper into the building.

As I heard a car screech to a stop at the front of the small terminal, all the thoughts of the people inside flooded me with panics of more attacks and I shook my head at my impetuous sister. Could she not see that this was what was going to happen?

But the love that exploded in front of me as Jasper and Alice finally saw each other was enough to drive any thoughts of anger away. If my heart could beat it would have stopped. This was the thing I wanted but could never have again. I deserved only death and as soon as I knew Bella was safe I would get back on the flight I had just arranged… Oh damn.

Alice was staring at me horror crossing her face.

"Don't you bloody dare Edward Cullen."

JacobPOV

My feet… paws hurt. The thoughts in my head was making that spin too but I knew I was getting somewhere.

Harry Clearwater has had a heart attack.

Is he okay, Paul?

No, Jacob, he is dead.

Go to the Clearwater's and make sure that Sue is protected. Embry, you keep a look out for anything.

And me?

Jared. You keep folllowing that trail. Where are you now?

Still on the 112.

I am almost at the meeting place near Neah Bay. There is a very strong vampire scent here… and something else.

What was that? It was faint but it was something that shouldn't be here. Bella.

The road that cut through the forest and my path to her seemed to flicker as the clouds raced across the sky. The sun would be almost impossible for vampires to avoid so I could probably relax for a moment. I lifted my head and sniffed the air. Definitely Bella. Somewhere close. The smell of the ocean and the overwhelming sweetness of the vampires were masking it but yes, that was her. I'm coming Bella.

Hey, Jake, keep your mind on the job at hand. You can find your girlfriend soon…

The noise of a tree exploding over your head is loud and I had heard gunshots many times before but never that close to me.

I turned and saw the young Makah boy pointing the double barrelled shotgun at me and saw his finger twitch to the other trigger. I had no where to go so I jumped into the road and felt the searing pain as the bullet ripped across my back. There was no time to think as the sunlight hit my face just before the truck hit my body.

Was this it?

The momentum of the impact threw me into the forest on the other side and I landed in the trees.

The light was fading in and out and the voices in my head grew dimmer too… There were many pairs of footsteps coming closer and an excited voice.

"I shot a bear!"

The footsteps stopped as a man broke through the treeline.

"That's not a bear… That's a Quileute, you stupid kid! We're in the woods near Backtrack Road and Educket."

I heard the crackle of a radio as the world faded out.

I'found you Bella… I'm sorry…

BPOV

So many voices in my head. The screaming and the crying, the cold and the loving, and there… the truly terrifying.

"So, my young friend, what do you now see?"

A voice no older than twelve or thirteen spoke, "I have seen it. Just as darkness falls the boy will awaken and then you will see something more terrible and beautiful than you could imagine."

"Really?" Victoria sounded excited, something that chilled my bones. "Anything else?"

"Yes. As the light touches the land again they will come and I will see family again."

"Yes, my dear child you will. Are you excited?"

"I am. I want nothing more than to meet my great Aunt…"

"And what would you like to do when you meet her?"

"Watch her die in agony."

"Excellent."

EsmePOV

The clock on the wall of the motel room read four sixteen in the afternoon. That meant I had been separated from Carlisle for twenty seven minutes and there had been no news. Could one of us go down there and listen unseen to what was being said?

What if they put him in a cell? Oh God. What if they put him in a cell with a window that faced the sun? The Volturi were already on their way; what would they do if they found out Carlisle had been arrested.

"He hasn't been arrested Esme. They are just talking to him." Kate sat down on the bed beside me, the springs squeaking with the slight movement.

"I didn't realise I was talking out loud. I am sorry." I looked up and realised that we were alone.

"Emmett and Rosalie are next door having a quiet moment. Laurent is with Irina. Carlisle will be back soon."

"Are you reading my mind Kate?"

She smiled weakly. "No, I am just reminding myself where everyone is."

I opened my hands and closed them again, the light from the window catching on the ring Carlisle had given me so many years ago. Kate took it and stopped the trembling I hadn't even noticed was happening.

"Do you think…" she began.

"What?"

"Do you think Carmen made it?"

"I don't know." Would any of us make it through this? "I hope so."

Kate stood up suddenly and turned. I knew the look in her eyes and I nodded. I would want to go and see what I could find out too.

As she picked up her bag and turned to the door it opened and a voice I never expected to hear again came in.

"Kate, you will need to take the 101 straight out of town and then head up to Port Angeles. Carmen is taking the boat up Gold River into Strathcona and then heading to the cabin up there. She will be there until Charlie turns. If you go now you will catch her at the Marina."

Kate smiled and then nodded as she ran out of the door. Alice turned to me but did not stop talking as I enveloped her in my arms,

"Carlisle will not be back for a few hours but he is okay. Jenks will take care of him. I called him from the road. I didn't stop though as I though you would want to see…"

I looked up into the eyes of Edward and sobbed in relief. Finally, my beautiful son. Alice held me up and passed me to him while I sobbed. I hugged him so tightly and then grabbed Jasper into the hug too. The door opened behind us and Emmett drew Alice and Rosalie in too.

"Finally…" I whispered as my family surrounded me. One by one they let go and stood in their couples as I held Edward to me and he whispered his apologies for leaving.

"Now," said Emmett. "Now, we can fight what is coming."

"No…" Alice said as her eyes widened. "Not now…"