Disclaimer: I don't own them...

Thanks so much to Sunflower for pre-reading/editing this for me.

~~~~~~~~u~~~~~~~~~

Walking quickly out of his office, the Captain looked toward the interrogation room to confirm that the Cullen brothers were being questioned. He looked up at the monitor outside of Room 1.

Jasper Cullen was sitting in the room, a bottle of water and a cigarette hanging from his lips. He was smirking at the detectives in the room with him.

"Son of a bitch," he whispered under his breath. Fucking Feds, fucking suck up detectives.

The Captain moved toward Room 4, finding Edward Cullen on the camera above the door. He was the picture of cool. He had a slight smile on his face as he played with his watch. He would chuckle every now and then at something said to him, but didn't say a word. This guy had that look about him that said he knew the game and he wasn't going to be intimidated by a fucking cop

I walked into the bullpen, "Who the fuck authorized anyone to pick up the Cullens?"

Everyone got quiet. Clearwater finally answered me. "Sir, the Feds stepped in. They went straight to the Chief and he sent Martinez and two patrol cars."

"Fuckers," the Captain grumbled as he walked back to his office.

He slammed his office door, just as his personal cell phone started ringing.

"Fuck!" he yelled, before answering.

"Hey, Cap."

"Hey, I'll keep them comfortable until your girl gets here. I just found out about this, I was kept in the dark," he grumbled. He would be raising hell on this one.

He may not agree with the Cullens way of making a living, but they kept their shit tight. There weren't dead bodies flying everywhere or drugs running rampant on the street. And as long as they weren't interfering with his job, he didn't care too much.

But the fucking Aros coming to town had the Feds sitting in his precinct just waiting to catch a break. IA was also wandering around, looking for someone to investigate.

"Alright, keep me updated," Carlisle answered, and hung up.

~~edward~~

I've been sitting in this room for about twenty minutes. I hope Bella and Tanya are okay. Carlisle arranged for a car meet us at the Wine Cafe, so I'm sure they are fine. I wish I had my phone so I could check in with Bella, just to make sure.

The past week has been crazy. We've been planning like crazy to make sure everything in New York went off without a hitch. Everyone in the family was on board. We didn't have a single person that disagreed with the plan, or argued with the way it was planned out.

The guys really came through, making suggestions to improve or speed up what was planned, ensuring that all of our people came home safe and unharmed. It was a good plan. And I am assuming it went off without a hitch if they have Jasper and me sitting here. I look at my watch, 10:53pm. I smile; they even got done with time to spare.

The door opens and I tilt my head toward the entrance. An agent, a newbie from the looks of him, is standing in the doorway with a smirk on his face. Huh, cocky. He's in for a surprise.

"Cullen," he says, I lift an eyebrow but don't speak.

"I'm Agent Malone, FBI."

I remain quiet.

He clears his throat, "I have some questions for you."

I smile and tilt my head, ask away.

"Where were you between 10:00pm and 10:30pm tonight?"

I laughed. What an idiot. Did he forget that detectives from this precinct picked me up in Wicker Park?

I don't have time for this asshole. I lean forward, "I want my attorney." I sit back in my chair, with a smile and look at my watch again.

The agent is sitting across from me, trying to stare me down. And I'm so fucking happy, I chuckle. My mind starts to wander...

I'm glad I had dinner earlier, and the wine is mellowing me out nicely. I wonder if Daniel Aro has contacted my father yet. It'll be nice to finally sleep with Bella tonight. I hope Matteo stays asleep...

~~jasper~~

I am walking around the room, completely bored. I am not one to sit still for long. I don't even have someone to talk to. Kate gets really pissed at me when I talk, but I can't help it. I'm a talker!

I look toward the reflective window and walk over. I knock on it loudly, "anyone planning on coming in here? I'm bored."

Nothing.

I start pacing again. I wonder if anyone's gone in to talk to Ed yet. He was pretty fucking happy on the car ride over here. That detective was pretty pissed off that we didn't seem nervous about being dragged to the station.

The door opens, "Fucking finally."

I pull out the chair and sit down, leaning forward and folding my hands on the table. I felt like a fucking kid waiting for an assignment.

The agent looks a little alarmed. He's probably in his fourties been around a while, knows how this works. I wonder who authorized bringing us in. This guy seems to know it's pointless.

"Mr. Cullen," he says slowly, "I'm Agent Gainford."

I reach a hand out to shake, he frowns but takes my hand and nods. "Very polite."

"Yes sir, my mother taught me well," I chuckle.

"So Mr. Cullen, a few questions for you."

"Ask away."

"Where were you tonight between 10pm and 10:30pm?"

My back straightens, "Really? That's your question? Fuck, I was expecting something more cutthroat." I sit back in my seat, deflated. "Well, a detective picked us up outside of a wine bar in Wicker Park at exactly 10:30 pm. I would guess we got there around 9:45pm."

"Doesn't that place close at ten?" he asked, looking really interested. What the fuck? Is he seriously asking me about the restaurant's hours?

I shrugged, "I don't know. They didn't kick us out, and other people were still finishing up."

We sat there staring at each other. This is boring. "Is this the part where I request counsel?"

He shrugged and walked out. I pulled out a cigarette.

I hope the girls are okay. I hope Kate's already on her way, this shit's boring as hell. Damn, too bad Seth can't come in here, he's always good for a laugh.

I wonder how the Captain's doing, he's probably shitting his pants right now, and pissed as hell. My guess is that the Feds went over his head to the Chief of Police. The Chief's an asshole. Always trying to make a name for himself. Idiot, he should know that we run Chicago. He'll never get anywhere without us.

I can't help but chuckle, he'll learn.

~~Bella~~

We are sitting in my apartment waiting to hear from Edward and Jasper.

When we first arrived, I walked over and picked up Matteo from Santo and Nonna Cesca's. They've been a Godsend, and while I definitely do not take advantage of their kindness, I appreciate the couple of times that they have kept an eye on my baby boy.

He is such a gorgeous baby. Olive skin, brown hair, hazel eyes, just beautiful. He does slightly resemble Edward's side of the family, but I imagine he will look like Gianna when he gets older.

I have pictures of Demetri and Gianna in a memory box that I started for Matteo. When he is old enough to understand, I want to have answers for him. I want him to know who his parents were, and I don't want him to ever resent Edward and I.

I look away from the fireplace, Tanya is asleep in the overstuffed chair in the corner. I stand up and grab a throw from the couch and drape it over her.

Deciding to make myself busy, I put on my glasses and pick up my laptop. I open up the accounting program for the gallery and start going over the numbers and paying bills.

Everything looks okay. I open up the calender and see that the studio is booked solid for the next month. Business has been so great lately.

I open up my mailbox and go through the few items that look important. A shoot for Alistair is set up for January.

I'll need to make sure I have all of the details finalized for that. A rooftop shoot in January. It will be freezing outside, but I can already see how gorgeous the shots will look. I hope it snows, that would make it so much better.

My cell phone rings and I grab it, I don't recognize the number but it's a Chicago area code. I hit the answer button thinking it might be Edward.

"Hello?" I answer quickly.

"Bella? Bella please don't hang up."

I stay quiet and look at the phone again, "Peter?"

"Bella," he chokes, "we're in trouble, Bella. We need help, please. Please?" he's pleading with me.

I swallow, "What's going on? Where are you?" I don't know where to start, but I know I cannot leave this building. If I didn't have Matteo...but I do. I can't take any chances where he's concerned.

"We have...Is there somewhere we can meet? We are in the city but I don't know. Char's not doing well. I think she's in labor."

"Oh no. Okay, Jesus...hold on," I think, I get up and walk over to Tanya, shaking her to wake up. She jumps up quickly, "what?"

"I'm going to go to Nonna Cesca's really quick, please listen for Matteo," I say quickly, shoving my feet into the heels I left by the door earlier.

"Is everything okay? Jasper and Edward?"

"I haven't heard from them yet, I have to talk to her for a minute. I'll be right back."

I walk out quickly and practically run down the hall to the elevator. "Are you still there? You need to give me something, Peter. I'm pretty sure the Cullens are looking for you guys."

"Shit. I know, but it isn't what you think. Bella, we had to run. Marcus," He takes a deep breath, "Marcus was working with the Aros. He was using you to get himself, the family, out of trouble. Just like that asshole did with your mom."

"What?" I gasp.

"Yes, when you gave us the trip to Hawaii, Char and I thought it was a good idea. We knew something was going on and that you wouldn't want us in the middle of it. We went back to the apartment and started packing." He paused for a moment, "While we were packing, Marcus and Alec Aro walked into the apartment. That was when Char and I realized there was more going on than we originally thought. So we waited until they left, went to the airport and swapped our tickets with an older couple. We ended up in Mexico. We just got back to Chicago, and I'm scared shitless to go anywhere."

"Oh my God," I reached the second floor and ran down the hallway, banging on Carlisle's door. He opens the door quickly, his cell phone against his ear.

"It's Peter," I say, holding out my phone. He pulls me inside and I see Santo sitting on the sofa with a tumbler. They have the interrogation rooms at the police station up on the screen. Kate looks like she is giving the detectives hell and Edward is sitting next to her quietly, looking serious and sexy as hell.

Carlisle hands Santo his phone and then takes my phone. He walks away and shuts the door to his office, I slump into the sofa next to Santo who wraps an arm around me and kisses the top of my head.

"I'm so tired," I say quiety, mostly to myself. And then I must drift off, because I don't remember much after that.

~~u~~

I hear crying. And someone is talking, but I can't quite make it out. Matteo.

My eyes pop open and I look around. I'm laying on the couch in Esme and Carlisle's living room with a blanket thrown over me. I look up and Edward and Jasper are still up on the screen. I frown. And hear the crying again.

"Oh my God," I cry out and jump off of the couch. I find Tanya and Esme in the kitchen warming up a bottle for Matteo.

"I'm so sorry!" I cry, as I walk in. Matteo's little face turns in my direction and his cry gets louder.

"Hello my baby, I'm so sorry. I'm here, it's okay," he calms down a little and Esme hands me a bottle for him. He drinks greedily and I sit in one of the chairs at the table trying to calm myself down.

"Are you okay, Isabella?" Tanya asks.

"Yes, I came here last night to speak to Carlisle and the last thing I remember is sitting next to Santo on the couch. I must have just passed out. I'm so sorry, Tanya."

She laughs, "It's okay. Esme came upstairs to tell me where you were. Little man just woke up a few minutes ago."

I smiled, "thanks."

"Como stai, tesoro?" Santo asks when he walks in. (How are you doing, sweetheart?)

"Io sto bene, grazie," I answer. (I'm fine, thank you.)

"The boys will be leaving the station shortly. The police department and FBI were not able to find anything to keep them."

"Oh Thank God," Esme breathes out. "Well, let's start cooking. They'll be hungry when they arrive. Tanya, grab the container with the steak medallions from the refrigerator. I'll make some eggs and hashbrowns. Isa, honey, why don't you go out into the living room and relax with Matteo."

I walk out of the kitchen, yawning and shifting Matt so I can burp him. Carlisle is walking out of his office, he looks exhausted.

"Carlisle," I call out, he looks up at me and smiles at Matteo.

"Hi, sweetheart," he kisses the top of my head and rubs his hand over Matt's head. It's a sweet gesture that I am not quite used to yet.

"Is everything okay?" I ask.

He frowns, "come sit with me."

I follow him into the living room. Once we are seated on the sofa, he asks, "What did he say to you on the phone?"

I repeat the story and he sits quietly. He nods and then looks up at the television screen.

Edward and Jasper are both walking out of the interrogation rooms, Carlisle shuts off the television.

"That's what he said to me, too. I've asked him to go to your apartment, and Rob will meet him to check on Charlotte. I won't lie, Isabella," he says with a frown. "I am not sure whether to trust him or not. But with Antonio, Felix and Alec out of the picture, I'm willing to hear him out. He also told me that Marcus was found dead in New York."

I gasp, "Oh..."

"His story seems plausible, and he contacted you as soon as he got into town, so that makes me think he is most likely being truthful. But I don't think we can allow him to stay in Chicago."

I slump, "You aren't going to..." I trail off.

"I can't answer that, sweetheart. I won't know anything until we speak to him and Charlotte."

I nod, I understand. It's the family first, everyone else second. He kisses the top of my head—again, before getting up and walking out of the room.

I walk to the kitchen. "I'm going to go home and wait for Edward. Maybe take a nap."

"Okay, honey. Are you sure you're okay?" Tanya asks me quietly. "You've been a little off since last night."

"I'm just tired, and worried about Edward and Jasper," I kiss her cheek, "I'm fine."

She doesn't look like she believes me, but she nods and walks back toward the stove.

Things between Esme and I are still awkward, so I call out a simple, "Okay, I will see you later." And I walk out of the apartment.

I walk to the elevator, and make sure the blanket is covering Matt's head. I push the button just as the doors open.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~unexpected~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a/n: Hi Everyone! How are you? Enjoying the weekend, I hope.

So...I hit 1000 reviews this weekend! I can't even explain how extremely happy this makes me. You guys are the best! I didn't have the chance to respond to many reviews for the last chapter. Sick children and work kept me ridiculously busy, but thanks to all of you! You guys have all been so positive and amazing.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you think ;

Until next time...