Er... hi? Anyone still reading? Sorry for the delay. I don't know why it's taken me forever, but here's the next chapter.

Bella POV

It had been a few weeks since the hearing. Dad insisted that I start carrying a can of mace with me, especially in the mornings since it was dark when I left for work. I hated having it with me, but I understood his reasoning. After arriving at work, I would send Dad and Edward a text message saying I was fine and secure in the bakery, and when I arrived home after my shift, I would send them another text as well. It seemed like a bit much, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

In the days that followed the hearing, I found myself talking more in therapy. I needed to prove to myself that I wouldn't let Alice and Gabriel get to me. So far, it seemed to be helping. Edward and Dad had come with me for one session. Dr. Hartford thought it would be good for the three of us to express our fears now that Gabriel was in the picture. The things that Dad said during our session surprised me the most. He said he was afraid of not only losing me, but also the girls and his sanity.

"Bella, if anything happened to your girls, I couldn't live with myself. And, if anything happened to you...I don't think I could live through it. I love Sue with my entire being, but to know you were put through that hell again, to see you battered and crumpled, I don't think I could handle it. The mere though of that bastard touching you makes me sick. I can't lose you again. I just can't."

"Dad..."

"No, Bella. You don't understand what it was like for me," he interrupted. His voice was stern yet shaky, like he was on the verge of losing it. "I know I've told you some of what it was like, but there are things that happened that you don't know about. When you and Ian were first taken, I tried everything I could to find you. I threw myself into work and organized search parties. I did everything I could think of. When those two FBI agents told us your case was cold and that there was nothing more they could do, I felt like a complete and utter failure. Everything felt like it had slipped away from me. I didn't know what to do. For the first time, I failed at doing my job – my job as a husband, a father and a police officer. I started questioning every decision I made at work because I couldn't trust my judgment. Billy and Carlisle saw how far gone I was and told me to get my head out of my ass before I put one of my officers' lives in jeopardy. Then, when your mother died, I didn't know what to do. Everything I had was gone. I was numb. I went through the motions of the day and put on a fake smile. I'm sure people knew I wasn't okay, but I just didn't know what else to do. I hate to admit it, but there were a few times when I contemplated eating my gun." I was shocked at his words. I didn't think his depression had gotten that bad back then. "After you and Ian reappeared, I thought I was given a gift. I'm sure I've made mistakes, but truthfully, I just wanted you to be happy."

"I was happy, Dad. I am happy. Ian was too, for a short time," I assured him.

"When Ian had you on that porch, with the knife to your throat...I still have nightmares about that." Dad shook his head to clear his thoughts, but his emotions were still evident on his face. His eyes were wet with tears that were just about to fall, and he was shaking a little bit. "Even now, even though I know he's gone and that you're safe...I still see it. I can still see the terror in your eyes, the uncertainty in his, and the rage in Keith's. It was too much. Too many questions are still unanswered."

"What questions do you still have?" Dr. Hartford asked.

"I just want to know why all of this happened. What did I do to put this on you guys? What could I have done better?"

"Dad, I'm sure whatever the reason, you couldn't have prevented it," I said lovingly. I took both his hands in mine and squeezed them.

"You don't know that. Only Ian and Keith do, and now we'll never know. When the FBI agents found the house that you were in, all I could do is sit there and wait. No one was telling me anything. I was restless and just wanted some answers. It was the worst hours of my life...knowing you were right there, within reach, and I could do nothing. All I wanted to do is go in, grab you and get you as far away as I could. Hell, I even thought about having a drink to calm my nerves, but I didn't. I couldn't. I knew you'd hate me if you found out.

"But you need to know, that when it was all over, when you were brought into the hospital, and I knew you and McKenna were okay, I lost it. I lost it in front of Esme and Carlisle, of all people. The two people that have done the most for you, for us. I was a sobbing mess." I was shocked again, knowing that Dad broke down in front of them. I realized then how difficult it had been for him. I stood from my chair, sat on his lap and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. It wasn't much, but it was all I could do for him at that moment.

"Who were you crying for, Charlie?" Dr. Hartford asked.

"Everyone. Renee, because I loved her and was still upset that she left. Ian, for the loss of my son even though he caused this. McKenna, because even though her father was a bastard, he was gone. And Bella, because the threat was over, that she was okay, and that she was a mother. My biggest fear is that you hate me for not trying hard enough to save Renee."

"Dad, I don't hate you. I don't even hate her. She didn't know how to deal with her pain. I'll admit, when McKenna first came into our lives, I wished she was still here. I didn't know what I was doing. I still don't, even with three girls now. But McKenna, McKenzie and McKayla love you so much. Sue and Leah love you. And I wouldn't be here without you. You saved me in more ways than you could ever know."

"I did?" he asked as he quickly wiped the tears that had fallen.

"Yes. The nights when we just watched movies, the hours you let me cry into your chest with your hand running through my hair...I can't explain it. It was the little things that made the difference."

"So many nights I found myself standing in the doorway of your room or sitting in the rocking chair watching you sleep. Watching McKenna sleep. I would go in and place my hand on her chest to just make sure she was real, just like I did with you at her age. I even do it with the twins when they're over. I couldn't live with myself if something happened," he said as he shook his head to clear his thoughts. He was gripping my hands so hard, like he was afraid to let go. It didn't matter though, because I was squeezing just has hard.

"I know that you and Edward will protect me and the girls, so please stop worrying about something that hasn't happened yet, okay? I don't need you making yourself sick."

"You sound like your mother...and Sue."

"Mom and Sue are smart ladies." We both chuckled and essentially eased the tension in the room. Sue had told me the next morning that Dad had slept the deepest he ever have since they've been together. I imagined that a weight had been lifted off his shoulders by what he had revealed in therapy. I was glad to see that it had helped him.

Today was my day off, and McKenna did not have school because of the holiday. I decided we needed to have a girl's day and called Sue to see if she could take the twins for a few hours. She agreed, saying she didn't have anything important to do today. After dropping the twins off at Dad's house, McKenna and I made our way downtown to get our hair cut and nails done. Her hair had really started to turn blonde and her curls had begun to straighten out as well. She was starting to look like Keith more and more each day. Thankfully, she hadn't started showing any of his aggressive behavior, which made Edward and I happy. She still loved her pets, although none of them remained. For whatever reason, they all died within a week of each other. She cried in her room for an entire day, only coming out for lunch and dinner, and refused to speak to anyone. It broke my heart to see her that sad. She hasn't asked for a new pet yet, though I was pretty sure it was coming.

As we were walking back to the car after getting our hair cut, a car pulled in next to mine.

"Bella, how lovely to see you," Alice said as she got out of her car. I instantly froze and pulled McKenna close to me. "My how you've grown since the last time I've seen you, McKenna. You have such pretty hair."

"Get in the car," I said to McKenna. As soon as her door closed, I hit the lock on my kiosk, and turned to face Alice. "What do you want, Alice?"

"I just wanted to see how you're doing."

"Why?" I asked.

"I'm trying to be nice, Bella. Maybe even give you a chance to apologize."

"Apologize? For what?" She had to be joking.

"For ruining my life, of course. Seeing Gabriel in that horrible jumpsuit and in handcuffs, it was just awful."

"Well if I had my way, he wouldn't have been released. He deserves to be in jail for what he did."

"He didn't do a thing. You made that up just to get attention, just like usual."

"Sure. Look, I have to go," I said as I turned back toward my car. Alice grabbed me by the arm and spun me back around.

"Just remember something. Gabriel has resources. Resources to make you disappear, not to mention your kids," she said with a slight, yet evil, grin.

"You wouldn't dare," I said.

"I'm sure the staff of Forks Elementary School is overwhelmed with the number of children enrolled. Maybe one is unaccounted for after recess one day..."

I pulled my arm back forcefully from Alice's grip. "Stay the hell away from me and my family, Alice."

"Just remember Bella," Alice said, "all it takes is a phone call to tear your perfect little world to shreds. Don't think I wouldn't do it, either."

I quickly got into the car and tore out of the parking lot. McKenna was talking to me from the back seat, but I didn't hear a word she said. I drove through town, not realizing where I was headed until I found myself parked next to Charlie's cruiser at the station.

"We're going to see Grandpa?" McKenna asked excitedly, clapping her hands.

"Yes." I clutched McKenna's hand as we walked inside. "Hey, Brian, is my Dad around?"

"Yeah, go on back."

McKenna and I walked past the front desk and back to Dad's office. He was busy typing away on his computer but stopped the minute he saw us.

"Grandpa!" McKenna said excitedly.

"Hey! What are you guys doing here?" he asked as he stood.

"I need to talk to you. Alone," I insisted.

"Oh. Sure. McKenna, why don't you see if Maureen has any candy hidden in her desk? She's right outside."

"Okay!"

McKenna rushed out of Dad's office for Maureen's desk. She had been his secretary since I was a girl and had the best candy in the place. Maureen adored McKenna, so I knew she would be fine. I sat in a chair in front of Dad's desk and broke down.

"Bella, what's wrong?" Dad asked after he closed his office door.

"Alice...I saw her after leaving the salon," I said after composing myself somewhat. "We're not safe, Dad."

"Wait, slow down. What did she say?"

I told Dad what Alice said and how I no longer felt safe in Forks. He immediately called Edward - who had just gotten home from a long shift at the hospital – and Carlisle and Esme down to the station to decide what to do. I needed to get away from here. I didn't even want to stay in the same state. But, I knew Edward couldn't leave. He had just started his residency, and I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that. Perhaps I could just take the girls somewhere – maybe to a small town in the mountains where we were surrounded by trees. It didn't matter where, really – just some place where no one knew us.

"We have that cabin in Canada that you guys could use," Carlisle said.

"No. Alice knows that place," Edward said. "Maybe another state."

Everyone went back to talking at the same time about what they thought was best. Esme had pulled out her phone and started going through her contacts, trying to find friends that were out of state that we could stay with. It was so loud that I couldn't hear myself think. Once Edward starting talking about looking at other hospitals, I knew I needed to step in.

"Edward, you need to stay," I said.

"What?" he asked.

"You have to. It's not that I don't want you to come with us, but you really need to stay. It'll look too suspicious if we all left town. Plus, you have work."

"To hell with work, Bella. This is more important right now."

Everyone started talking again, making plans for us to leave. Not wanting to hear it, I walked out of Dad's office. McKenna was sitting on Maureen's lap and painting on her computer. I walked outside and sat on a bench, breathing in the cool air. I closed my eyes and basked in the few moments of quiet I had.

EPOV

I knew Bella was right – I knew it would look like something was up if we all left, but I didn't care. I needed to be there with them. I needed to protect them if something happened. Surely Alice would never harm the children. At least, that's what I told myself before all this happened. McKenna, McKenzie and McKayla were innocent in all of this.

My mind started wondering if we'd ever escape all of this. We had been happy and content, and now everything Bella and I had worked hard for, everything we worked through, was crumbling. Each minute that passed, another piece would fall. I couldn't let it get to a point where it all came down, but yet, in the back of my mind, I knew it would happen. The only way to prevent it would be to leave. You could call us cowards for running, but what other choice did we have? Gabriel and Alice clearly had a plan on Thanksgiving. Now that their plan had started, it wouldn't stop until someone paid the price.

"What if we asked Em and Rose to take the girls?" I blurted out.

"I think that's a good idea," Esme said. "I could bring the girls up there myself in the morning. It wouldn't look out of the ordinary."

"I'll call Emmett and Rose," Carlisle said.

"Good," Charlie said.

"Can I see Jasper too?" McKenna asked from the doorway. I didn't realize she had come back into the room.

"Yes, if he's around," I said.

"Yea! I'm going to tell Mommy!" McKenna ran out of the office, her long hair trailing behind her.

I knew Emmett and Jasper would be able to keep up with her, and Rose could handle the twins. If necessary, we would register McKenna in a school in Seattle, but I hoped this mess wouldn't last that long.

A few minutes passed. I sat and listened to Dad speak with Emmett, making arrangements to bring the girls to their home tomorrow morning. From what I could tell, Emmett was excited to have them, yet wanted to be here to help as well. Dad assured him that he was a bigger help where he was, and that we would keep him up to speed on what was happening here. Next to me, Esme was making a list of everything we would need to pack for the girls.

"Charlie, come quick!" Maureen called frantically from her desk.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Someone said McKenna was just hit by a car!"