Hello

I'm sorry this is late. I had a lack of confidence until now, when I finally just opened a new word doc and started the chapter again from scratch. I was also in Melbourne from Friday to Tuesday night, and right now, I am extremely tired for... some reason.

Anyways, I hope this chapter isn't a complete fail.

See you down the bottom...

"Edward, what-?" I began, but he shook his head, inhaling sharply as he put his foot down on the accelerator. He didn't speak as he sped home, but I could see that every inch of him was tense and poised, as if waiting for someone to try to attack.

My right hand fell to my womb at that thought, and I swallowed. For the first time, I was terrified that someone would try to hurt me, Edward, or even the baby. But I was at a loss as to whom. No one outside our family, Charlie and Abby knew about my pregnancy and of course they wouldn't do anything to harm either of us.

They loved us.

I jumped when I felt a cold hand over my own against my belly and looked up into Edward's concerned, scared eyes. My brow creased and I reached up to cup his cheek, a small part of my brain now realising that the car was parked in the garage.

Edward looked into my eyes and leaned in. I closed my eyes and tilted my head, wanting Edward's lips against mine, and just before he granted me that wish, he whispered, "I won't let anybody hurt you; either of you."

As his lips softly touched mine and I melted against him, I realised what had happened. Edward must've been close enough to hear the family's thoughts right at the moment that Alice had a vision. And whatever that vision was, it was serious.

Life-threatening.

I whimpered and shuddered in pleasure when Edward's fingers ghosted up my spine, having slithered up under my shirt.

Too soon, Edward ended the kiss. I growled under my breath and pouted, making Edward chuckle. In the next second, he'd zipped around the car and opened my door, holding out a hand for me to grab onto when I stepped out.

When we were out and the car was locked, we walked inside, quickly locating our family in the lounge room. When we walked inside and were met with the sight of our family sitting perfectly still on the lounges, I looked up at Edward to see the same grave expression on his face.

"What is it?" I whispered.

Slowly, they came to life. A few blinks, small, slow movements and sighs were released as they looked at each other conspiringly. I suppressed my frustration at being kept in the dark and dragged Edward to the closest vacant loveseat. We sat down, and it didn't escape my notice when Edward pulled me closer to him and wrapped his arms around me tightly that the Cullens all looked at my belly. My eyes narrowed and I bit my tongue to keep from shouting.

Alice sighed. "I had a vision."

I raised an eyebrow. "I gathered that. What no one has told me is what it was about…"

She looked into my eyes and smiled softly for a split second before it was gone. "A war."

"When?"

"I don't know. I can't see that. All I can see is that something is coming for us. All of us-" she said, her hand waving around, gesturing to everyone in the room "-and all of your kind."

My jaw flexed. "The warlowitchas. It has to be. They are the only ones who would come after our kind."

Alice sighed as if she had been expecting yet dreading this conclusion. "If it is, then I can't see them. I can only see that we will be facing something… not what it is."

I frowned. "Usually, if you can't see something, your vision goes black." I raised an eyebrow at her and asked, "Any idea why that's gone out the window now?"

"No," she sighed, and I could hear how frustrated she was. She leaned back against Jasper, and he wrapped his arms around her petite waist, hushing her as she huffed.

"You mentioned magic," Carlisle said quietly. My eyes wandered over to his form, and I saw him sitting there, hunched forward, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. He looked into my eyes, beseeching with me. "Could they have casted a spell, perhaps, that hides them from the vision so Alice cannot actually see them, but only anticipate that they will be coming?"

"Yes," I said, nodding. "It is definitely possible, but I wouldn't think they'd know about Alice's gift."

"They might be covering all bases," Jasper inputted. "Though they might not know about Alice specifically, they would surely know that we could have someone on our side that will see them coming."

I nodded. "It's possible."

"What else did you see, Alice?" Edward spoke for the first time, in a mere whisper.

"Allies," Alice said, her eyes connecting with Edward's. "We need to find allies. Split up and search for them." She looked at me, "You also need to talk to your mother. She'll be able to help us. She'll advice you, us. tell us what we need to do."

I sighed, but nodded. "Alright, I'll get a hold of her and arrange a visit for as soon as possible. Is there anything else we need to know?"

Alice shook her head. "No, there's nothing. But I really don't think we have time to waste. We need to get moving, get planning. Now."

I nodded. "Ok."

We talked for a little while longer about anything other than the vision or what we knew was coming. Esme asked about my father and Abby, and Edward and I told her everything that had been said when we'd told them I was pregnant. She also requested that Abby come over sooner rather than later, and with a laugh, I nodded.

When I yawned, hours later, Edward lifted me into his arms wordlessly, and took me up to our room. He laid me on the bed and undressed me then himself. I pulled the covers over me and waited for him. Less than a second later, I felt the bed dip and I reached out for my husband. He wrapped his arms around my waist, resting his hands lightly on my womb, and he pulled my body against his.

It wasn't very long before I fell asleep.

I've been thinking about getting a beta. I'm sick and tired of feeling like shit because I don't have faith in my writing, so I figure having a beta for some or all of my running stories should help with that - even if just a little.

Thanks for reading and please review,

bexie25