Author's Note: A little talk between two old friends, perhaps, might help one relax. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 26

Bella's Point of View

I stared at the TV in Max's living room blankly. I was watching, but I wasn't listening. I wasn't taking or absorbing anything in. I was concentrating.

I was sure that it had already started. Victoria was already putting her plan into motion. She was creating a newborn army.

As the days passed, my visions got clearer. More details came to me, and I couldn't help but become increasingly worried about my family. I knew that they'd made an alliance with the werewolves that Tanya was so partial to.

It was a good idea, and I'd known about the alliance for a long time now. I should've told them to do it before I'd left. I knew that they would win, but I still couldn't shake off the feeling that there was a possibility of something going wrong.

Something prodded me on the shoulder gently. Blinking, I looked up to see Max smiling at me worriedly.

"You okay, kid?" he asked.

I forced out an unconvincing smile. "Sure."

Max had invited me to stay with him for a while. He'd joked that since he was an old man and could no longer defend himself, I might as well spend my sleepless nights watching over him.

I'd agreed, mainly because he did seem a bit more fragile than he used to look, and because I'd missed my old manager. He'd made such a difference in my career, and I felt as though the least I could do was to keep him company.

It was surprising that he didn't feel the tendency to just run from me. It was even more shocking that he trusted me enough not to kill him while he was asleep. I supposed, that when you got old, you really weren't afraid of anything. And maybe the trust and affection that he'd felt for me before overruled the urge to get away from me.

Max was carrying a mug of hot tea. He sat in his favorite armchair across from me, frowning. "You don't look fine. In fact, you haven't been yourself ever since you came to live here with me. You're always looking…agitated…and nervous."

My eyes flickered back to the TV. "Do I?"

"So these visions of yours," Max said casually, "what do you see?"

"What do you mean?"

"What kinds of things do you see?"

"Futures," I said, my lips barely moving as I focused on the visions again. They were scenes I'd seen one too many times before over the past few days, but I felt like I was missing something. A detail…something that I was able to see…but something that Alice would be able to see.

I knew that Alice was monitoring every decision that I would make right now. Maybe even on Edward's orders. I knew that my family needed me now more than ever, still unsure about what they were planning to do. They didn't know if all of them were going to survive, and they had no idea if Tanya would be safe after all of this.

But I needed them too. I missed them, though I loved talking to Max for hours at a time. I needed to know my own uncertain future that only Alice can tell, and I needed Jasper's calm and smooth charisma to keep me from being anxious. I needed Rosalie's reassurance, and Emmett's jokes. I needed Carlisle and Esme's love and trust in everything that I said. And most of all, I needed Edward.

I missed him even more than I missed my family. From the moment that I'd realized that I loved him, he was my everything. I couldn't imagine a life without him anymore…and yet, I was miles from him, surviving through each day in his absence.

It was like hell. The days dragged slower than they usually did. I wanted to see his handsome face. I wanted to feel his hand on my shoulder, begging me to tell him what I'd seen in my visions in his musical, velvety voice. I wanted to hear his laugh again, and I wanted to smell his scent.

"Can you see mine?" Max now asked me.

I looked at him, then smiled. "Yes, I see your future."

"Tell me."

"I don't tell people their future," I told him. "There's a possibility that they might try to change it – especially vampires, as they do live forever – and it always ends up bad. I guess you can say it's my own personal rule to my gift."

"I'm an old man, Bella," Max said reproachfully. "I'm practically waiting for my death. What special things can happen to me now?"

I laughed quietly, and he seemed fascinated like he usually did at the musical sound.

"Tell me," he said, sounding like a whiny five-year old.

"You're right," I said. "There's nothing special in your life anymore. Not really." I paused, then added mildly, "Unless you count your first great-grandchild of your first son's daughter."

Max's eyes bugged out, and he almost spewed out his tea. "What?"

I chuckled. "You'll get to see your great-grandson a couple times before you die, and you'll even live long enough to see a couple of his birthdays. So don't worry, and don't count on death for a long time. You're quite healthy, and you have a long life ahead of you. And you'll die a happy man."

He grinned. "Really? My granddaughter's pregnant? It's gonna be a boy?"

I smiled guiltily. "I shouldn't have told you."

"Whom would I tell?" he countered. "I'm glad you told me. I'll just act surprised when they tell me. Thankfully, I'd had loads of acting practice while I was managing your career."

I laughed again, but there was an edge to my laughter. He noticed.

"What's wrong with you?" Max asked impatiently. "Seriously. You're worried about something."

My lip twitched. "Is it obvious?"

"Not really," he admitted. "You're a good actress, and your skill has improved over the years. But I've seen you acting one too many times, and I can see it when you're pretending. So tell me now. What's up?"

I sighed. Then, I reached for the remote control and switched the channel to the news. There was a report going on about increasing homicides in Seattle. More dead bodies have been found neglected.

Max watched the report, looking disgusted. "Seattle," he muttered distastefully. "Always killing."

"You're right," I said, answering his question as though there hadn't been a pause while we watched the news. "I'm worried."

"About what?"

"My family," I answered, and he blinked. He hadn't been expecting it.

"What's wrong?" he asked tentatively.

"I…" I bit my lip. "I left them for a good reason. I have…a brother…that I'm close with. But with the family problems getting a bit out of hand, I knew that I had to leave, provide all of them with space. I needed space from him as well."

"Why? If you're close to him, then what's the problem?"

My smile was haunted. "He's in a dangerous position right now." I hesitated. "Can you imagine what it's like to be a vampire…and in love with a human?"

Max's eyes widened. "Your brother is in love with a human?"

"You see why it's dangerous. I've told him repeatedly that it's unwise…that it's risky…and he refuses to listen." I paused. "I suppose, even if I went back now and tried to persuade him again…he would still be firm on refusing to listen to me, wouldn't he?"

"Who knows?" Max shrugged. "Maybe he has his doubts now that you've left. If he loves you just as equally as you love him, then he probably understands that you left for a good reason. He'll think over his actions, and maybe he'll be smart enough to call if off."

"Vampires are rather permanent, Max," I said wryly. "We always look beautiful, we're always dangerous… And if we get introduced to certain emotions, certain…strong emotions…we can't ever forget it. And if he truly loves the girl, it's permanent. Nothing will ever make him forget her. He won't be able to leave her easily."

"Well, what have you seen about his future?" he prompted.

I didn't reply. Max was sharp, even for a human.

"I think I know," Max said, grinning. "You've seen him without the girl. He'll probably be fine without her. Am I right, or am I right?"

I closed my eyes. "Yes. You're right."

"And if I didn't know better, I'd say that this boy is more than just a brother to you. The tone in your voice just tells me that you love him as a man."

"Is that wrong, do you think?" I asked quietly.

"I don't think so," Max said. "If you've known him for a while, and you've fallen in love with him in the process, then maybe you're his true mate. I still don't get this mate business you told me about, but I do understand that vampires are permanent. I think he might be in love with you, and he just doesn't know it yet."

"What about the girl?" I countered.

"Who knows?" Max shrugged. "She might just be an interest. Temporary lust…maybe he's just curious about her. Curious about actually liking someone. It's natural that he should feel confused. If vampires are permanent with their emotions, such as love, then he's very close to touching that feeling. The way he feels about that girl is so close, that he can't draw away from it. He gets more curious, naturally, and he sticks with her. But you know what, Bella? I wouldn't be surprised if he's actually in love with you." He winked.

I laughed breathlessly. "That would be nice. Then I wouldn't be feeling hurt like this."

"But can't you see that you'll end up with him eventually? Can't you see your futures?"

I exhaled slowly, my eyes still closed. "I can."

"Then what are you so worried about?"

My eyes opened slowly, and I stared at the next news report that continued on from the previous Seattle homicide report.

"Because," I said finally. "This is the present, and what I see is the future. I'm feeling the pain right now, and my happiness is coming later. Now is now, and that's what really matters at the moment."

AN: So…what'd you think? Good so far? If I do say so myself, I really like the last couple of sentences of this chapter. I thought it was a good saying. What did you think? ;) Reviews, please!