AN: This is IMPORTANT: I estimate that there are only a couple of chapters left, give or take 1 or 2. Sad times. I've had so much fun with these characters.

My next fic is being written. I will start posting when I have a decent amount pre-written, I'm thinking by the end of the month. So put me on author alert if you want more from me.

It's called The Long Walk Home, and here is a summary (which is subject to change): They fell in love, but they were ripped apart. What will bring them together again? (And yes, I know I haven't given very much away, but I hope to have the banner ready for the next chapter.) It's set in 1917/18 and will be an Edward/Bella fic.

Thanks to babylopez2008 who pre-read this for me.

Enjoy...

Bella

I run faster than I've ever run before, faster even than Edward. My fear propels me forward.

"Bella, wait!" I hear Edward call out in the distance.

I can't stop though. It's my dad. I need to know he's okay. He has to be.

Why couldn't Alice tell us over the phone?

Maybe I'm worrying for nothing.

I doubt that somehow.

If the human is still around, I'm too preoccupied to notice. I'm too scared to even care.

Edward manages to catch up. He clasps on to my hand as we run. His touch helps to soothe me the tiniest bit.

"Alice!" I call out as we approach the house. I know she'll hear me.

"In here!"

I follow the sound of her voice.

"What do you mean she's going after my dad?" I demand to know as soon as I enter the house. The rest of the Cullens are already waiting in the living room. I run to join them.

Edward and Alice stare at each other as she replays her vision.

"Well?" I ask to remind them I'm standing right here.

"Your father is in Seattle, searching for you. I very briefly read her mind before she disappeared. She was angry and upset that you were no longer human. It turns out that the nomad we destroyed a couple of weeks ago-"

I interrupt Edward, "James."

"Right, James. He was her mate. She wants revenge, Bella. When she saw you were no longer human, she had to change her plan."

"I can't believe I've put him in danger," I say. "I have to go. I've got to save him."

"No, Bella." Edward stops me by grabbing on to my arm. The action makes me growl. He immediately lets go. "I'm sorry but you can't. You'll get distracted by the scent of the humans."

"Like hell I'm staying here while she goes after my dad!"

"Bella," Jasper interrupts. "We will go; Edward, Emmett and I. We won't let her get away this time."

"You said it yourself that she must have a gift for escaping, Jasper. How are you going to catch her? You couldn't the last time. Edward failed to today, and he's the fastest one here. I'm going; it's me she wants."

"Please, Bella," Edward begs. "If something were to happen to you-"

"Me? But it's alright if my father suffers for something that we've done? We're wasting time talking about this."

"Hang on," Carlisle says. "I understand that you're upset Bella, but Esme is with him right now. He's safe for now."

I take a couple of breaths, thinking over the information. I nod, reluctantly.

"Okay… There is nothing to worry about for the moment," Carlisle continues. "I suggest that you boys go and hunt now to build up your strength. Alice, Rosalie and I will stay with Bella."

The guys agree, although Edward seems more hesitant.

"Are you going to be alright?" he asks me.

"Sure I will, but my dad won't," I reply sarcastically.

"I'm sorry," he responds, "for all of this."

I shrug. I don't really know what to tell him so I stay quiet.

"Should I come too?" Alice asks. "I might get a vision of her trying something. We could leave straight away then."

"Good idea, sweetheart," Jasper replies. "We'll need to be prepared and ready to go as soon as we need to."

"We'll hunt in the direction of Seattle," Edward decides. "It'll save us some time later on."

"Why don't you just go straight away?" I ask. "She doesn't know you've had a premonition, Alice. You could stop her before it starts."

"It's a risk," she replies. "If she caught our scent, she could try to do something drastic and much worse. She's very volatile. We don't want to ruin your father's chances."

"Chances of what?" I question. "Of getting out of this mess alive?"

She nods sadly in response.

If something happens to my dad, I could never forgive myself.

"Go," I tell them all, my voice sounding flat.

"Don't give up hope," Edward says to me. He places a kiss on my forehead. "I love you. I'm going to fix this mess, I promise."

He turns to leave with the rest of his siblings.

"I'd like to help," Rosalie pipes up. "I didn't the last time, and I regret it every day. Can I?"

We're all quiet for a moment, no doubt shocked into silence like I am.

Edward looks at me before answering her query with a nod.

They all leave together quickly.

I should feel some relief, but I don't. My dad is out there because of me.

"You're like an open book, Bella," Carlisle interrupts my thoughts. "You can't blame what's happening to Charlie on yourself. We all have an equal part in this. If anything, you're a victim of the situation much like your father."

He places a hand on my shoulder to comfort me.

"How'd you figure that out?"

He sighs.

"You didn't ask for this anymore than he did." He's silent for a moment before adding, "If you need to talk about anything-"

"Stop, please," I interrupt. "Just stop trying to replace him. I already have a dad." I shrug off his hand from where it sits on my shoulder.

"I apologise. I didn't mean for it to come across like that. I do think of you as my daughter, Bella. But I don't expect you to reciprocate that."

My head falls into my hands as I begin to feel ashamed for how I talked to Carlisle.

"I'm sorry," I say as I look up. "I just haven't gotten used to all of this yet." I try to offer him an excuse for my behaviour.

"That's understandable," he replies. "You don't need to apologise to me… You've come a long way since we first met, Bella. But you're still healing too. Emotional scars can take a lot longer to heal than physical ones. Dealing with all of that while being a new born… well, I'd say you're stronger than anyone I've ever met. Someday, when you're ready of course, I'd be very proud to call you my daughter."

I fly at Carlisle and hug him hard. If he's uncomfortable with my strength he doesn't show it.

"Thank you."

"There's nothing to thank me for," he replies as he reciprocates the embrace.

I pull away after an appropriate amount of time.

"I never had a dad up until my mom died," I tell him quietly. "If I'm being honest, I don't know how to deal with the fact that I now have two."

Carlisle smiles at me warmly. He clears his throat and says, "You're doing just fine."

"Thanks," I reply sheepishly.

"I'm sure there are a few rocks and boulders lying around outside. Why don't you take your frustration out on one of them? I seem to remember Emmett doing that several times when he was first changed. Although, he may have been doing it to show off his strength."

"Thanks for the suggestion. I might just do that."

"No problem. I'll be in my office if you need me."

He heads upstairs, leaving me alone. I guess he can tell when I need some space.

I leave the Cullen's house and head towards a stream of running water that's nearby. I'm bound to find something to unleash my aggression on around there.

The running water calms me immediately. As I approach, I startle and scare off a deer that had come to drink the water. I haven't hunted today, so I decide to chase after it.

It takes no time at all to catch up as I give in to my vampire instincts. I follow its odd and potent aroma until I see it in the near distance.

I crouch down automatically and pounce, jumping through the air and on to the deer's back. I almost crush it with my weight. It makes a startled noise as its brain catches up and realises it's being attacked. It tries to kick me of, so I straddle its back to avoid hurting it any further. I know that if it kicked me it could easily break one of its legs. I don't want it to be in any more pain.

"Sorry, Bambi," I say before I sink my teeth into the flesh of its neck.

It doesn't take long for the animal's moans to quiet down as I drain it of its life.

Every time I hunt, I'm amazed that I don't feel any guilt towards killing an innocent animal. I do feel better after feeding. The Cullens told me that it's just what happens as part of the food chain. I say it's better to kill an animal than a human, as harsh as that sounds.

I find some place to hide the drained and deformed carcass. With each hunt, I become more skilled at keeping myself clean. I notice that this time I only managed to get some dirt underneath my nails. I head back to the stream to wash my hands. When I'm done, I take a seat on a rock.

What should I do now? I know what I want to do, but I also know that someone might put a stop to that.

I wonder…

There must be some loophole to Alice's visions. I hope she doesn't see me trying to figure it out.

No phone call yet… I figure I'm safe.

Perhaps she's trying too hard to see the other vampire. Maybe that slows the rest of her visions down.

What I do know is that it has to be a last minute decision.

I get up from my sitting place and head in to the woods. I stop for a second or two to take one last look at the Cullen's house.

I'm just going hunting.

Edward

It's been thirty-one minutes since I left Bella. I wish I didn't have to. She looked like she was in so much pain. Yet, I know that there wasn't anything I could do for her. Her sarcastic remarks told me that much. It hurt that she spoke to me like that, but this is a difficult situation, one that I wish she didn't have to face. At least she isn't alone.

"Anything yet, Alice?" I ask my sister who looks as if she's meditating.

You know the answer to that, she thinks.

Of course I do. I was hoping that my question would spark something though.

The sun will come out in three, two, one… she thinks.

Sure enough, I now look like a disco ball. I move to sit beside Alice in the shade.

"Are we going to be able to get there if it's sunny?" Emmett asks as he approaches us.

"It won't last," replies Alice. "It wasn't sunny in my premonition."

The sun will disappear… now, she thinks.

"That's better," says Jasper as he joins us. "Nothin' yet?" he asks.

Alice and I both shake our heads.

"Man, I hate waiting," Emmett states.

"Shouldn't we keep moving?" asks Rosalie as she comes to stand by her mate's side.

"I don't want the future to change for the worse," Alice answers. "I'm finding it difficult to work out where she is as it is."

We're all silent then. No one has anything to say. We've all hunted to kill some time. Now we wait.

After five minutes of being quiet, I decide I can't take it anymore.

"I'm going to find something to kill," I say in my agitation.

My siblings leave me to it.

After thirty seven minutes and two deer later, I hear the rustling of leaves in the distance, followed by the thoughts of Alice.

You need to come back, Edward.

I sigh. I suppose it could be important. I run in the direction of my brothers and sisters. When I'm close enough, my mind is assaulted by the thoughts of theirs.

Oh man, thinks Emmett.

Stupid girl, Rosalie thinks.

Why didn't I see it, Alice mentally scolds herself.

We have to go, Jasper concludes.

"Can you guys slow down? It's getting loud in my head," I ask.

"We need to go, Edward," states Jasper.

"Has she decided?" I question. It's about time.

"No," pipes up Alice, "but I don't think it's going to take very much longer."

Alice shows me her vision that she must have had while I was hunting.

It's Bella. She's in Seattle.

She's gone after the nomad… alone.