A/N: Thank you for reading and reviewing :)
Tanya watches Bella continue to pace back and forth in the living room. She hasn't taken a break since they came back to the house. Bella stops instantly when Tanya's phone rings.
"Yes", Tanya says after seeing it was Garrett calling.
"We found Henry and took care of them. He's hurt. We're going to the hospital", Garrett says.
"We'll meet you there."
Tanya hangs up and sees Bella looking at her in confusion. Her conversation with Garrett was too fast for Bella to understand. Henry is safe (and hopefully not too hurt), and her and Bella can go to the hospital. There is only one hospital close to this area, so Tanya knows that is the one they are going to.
"They found Henry. He's alive, but hurt, so they're taking him to the hospital now. We can meet them there."
Bella breathes out a huge sigh of relief and hugs Tanya, who kisses her forehead.
Thank God, Tanya thinks. She hasn't prayed in years and yet found herself mumbling prayers in this situation. She honestly didn't know if her coven would find Henry alive.
"Let's go", Bella says.
They walk outside toward Tanya's car, Bella a few feet ahead. The relief Tanya feels from Garrett's call vanishes instantly when she spots a blur emerge from the trees.
"Bella!", Tanya calls out.
Tanya rushes toward Bella but is tackled from the side and falls to the ground. She recovers quickly and makes her way to Bella, standing in front of her protectively. Two vampires are standing about ten feet away. The woman has thick, wavy red hair and the man has muddy, dark blue eyes.
"Vi-Victoria", Bella whispers, her voice trembling.
Victoria? Tanya stares at her and growls. When Bella told her about James, Victoria, and Laurent, Tanya figured that James and Victoria weren't mates. It had been four years after all. She could have killed Bella by then if she wanted. Victoria smiles, it quickly falling into a menacing glare.
"Hello Bella Swan", Victoria drags out.
Tanya looks over at the other vampire. Him and Victoria aren't standing next to each other, instead positioned diagonally on each side of Tanya.
"That's Alex. That's the guy from my class", Bella whispers in disbelief.
Tanya looks at Alex more carefully. He's definitely not a newborn. If anything, he seems to be at least as old as Jasper in the way he carries himself. The way he stands, he looks like a natural fighter. Victoria looks sinister and growls at Tanya, while Alex is inexpressive.
"Thought I'd forgotten about you?", Victoria says. "Not a chance."
"What do you want?", Tanya asks.
She knows the answer, but needs to access the situation. Tanya thinks she can take them, but it would be difficult. It's two against one. She also has to somehow protect Bella at the same time. Tanya hopes that someone from her coven comes home before going to the hospital. She doubts it though.
"You know what I want. Revenge."
"You could have come sooner", Tanya says.
Tanya glances at Alex. Something is off about him, but Tanya is still trying to figure it out.
"No. I needed it to be now. Right when little Bella had no guard dogs and the family of her dreams", Victoria says.
Victoria continues talking and while it appears Bella is listening, Tanya isn't as focused on her. Tanya's eyes are on Alex. She's noticing the same thing Bella did. He has the beauty of a vampire, but he's not as pale. The skin of a human maybe? And his eyes…looking deeper Tanya sees that beneath the muddy, dark blue are bits of red and violet. Undetectable to the human eye.
"You know, I don't know what they see in you Bella. You're such a boring human. Just sitting in your room doing homework", Victoria chuckles out.
How would she know what Bella does in her room? She was watching her? No, if she was close, Tanya would have smelled her. Then it hits Tanya. She can smell the trees, the sweat forming on Bella's forehead, and even Victoria's lemon-rose scent, but she can't smell Alex. He does not have a scent at all. If he was not standing in front of her, she wouldn't know he was there. He could have been watching Bella and them undetected. Unlike Victoria, he hasn't even spoken a word. Tanya wonders if he can talk and if so, what his voice would sound like. She does not think Alex has a gift. His form is not an illusion. It's almost like something bad happened during his change into a vampire. Some sort of freak accident.
Bella wraps her fingers around Tanya's arm, shaking.
"Don't Bella", Tanya says, through clenched teeth.
The last thing Tanya wants to do is hurt Bella when fighting Victoria and Alex.
"Yes, Bella. Cling to your mate" Victoria says.
"Bella said you have the gift of self-preservation. You seem to be lacking it", Tanya says.
Victoria scoffs.
"You're the one whose days are numbered. A thousand's too old anyway", Victoria says.
Victoria locks eyes with Alex briefly and then they charge at Tanya. Bella screams and Tanya forces both of her arms out, knocking Victoria and Alex back. Tanya rushes toward Victoria, grabbing her. They fight, but instead of Alex attacking Bella, he joins Victoria. The fight is just as challenging as Tanya thought it would be. Just when she manages to hit Victoria, she has to defend herself from Alex. Separate they wouldn't be a problem, but Tanya is struggling to fight them together.
Victoria grabs Tanya's neck, Tanya clawing at her arms. Tanya grunts, her eyes leaving Victoria's to see Alex by Bella. Alex is holding Bella's cellphone and he crushes it in one hand before shoving Bella to the ground.
"Bella!", Tanya calls out.
Tanya kicks Victoria in the stomach, moving her away, and then faces Bella. Alex is gone. When Tanya spots him, his body is on the ground limp, head gone, Maddox standing over him.
"Need some help?", Maddox asks.
Tanya turns back to Victoria as Maddox charges to attack her. She shoves him off easily and starts to run away from them. Guess her power is kicking in after all, Tanya thinks. Rather than getting away and disappearing into the trees, Victoria is tackled by Irina. Tanya and Maddox immediately join her, not giving Victoria a chance to get away. While Victoria's body is burning on Tanya's lawn, she walks over to Bella.
"Are you okay?", Tanya asks.
"I should be asking you that."
"I'm just glad it's over. It is over right? No more vampires that hate you?"
"No. No more."
Irina and Maddox approach them.
"How did you know?", Tanya asks.
"Laurent mentioned helping a friend. I thought we'd check on you both before going to the hospital", Irina says.
"We lucked out with her attacking when she did", Maddox says.
"Thank you", Bella says.
From her tone, Tanya can tell Bella finally feels like this is all over. With Edward and Victoria.
"Let's go to the hospital", Tanya says.
Bella stares at Henry sleeping in a hospital bed. Tanya stands next to her.
"You can sit in the chair next to him. He'll be okay Bella."
"I know. Do you think he'll remember what happened?"
"Probably. Even the hardest things to believe are hard to deny when you're in the hospital."
Bella sits down in the chair next to Henry. He looks so peaceful, even with a cast on his arm.
"They could have done way worse. The break is small and will heal fine", Tanya says.
"Why would they take him?"
"Distraction probably. Or just to mess with us."
"This is my fault. Henry and even all of you fighting", Bella says, not taking her eyes off Henry.
Tanya walks over and kneels beside her.
"It is not your fault Bella. You couldn't have known."
"Jake…the others at La Push, they helped keep her away. Victoria never gave up. She found a new coven. She found other vampires to help her. Laurent—"
"Laurent couldn't move on", Irina interrupts, entering the room with Maddox.
"He told her about me. About all of you", Bella says.
"Is that what Victoria was saying?", Tanya asks.
"Yeah."
"Well, you were right about Alex", Tanya says.
"He was a vampire?", Bella asks.
"Yes. Just not a normal one. I don't know what was wrong with him."
"Where's Kate and Garrett?", Bella asks.
"Hunting. We'll go when they come back", Maddox says.
"You should go with them. You fought too", Bella tells Tanya.
"I don't want to leave you alone", Tanya says.
"Kate and Garrett will be here", Bella responds.
Bella looks at Henry again, rubbing her hand over his hair.
"I don't want him to remember this. Can you help him? Like you offered to help me?", Bella asks Maddox.
"Absolutely", Maddox says.
"Bella you're in for a long night. Do you want anything? Water or something?", Irina asks.
Bella is thrown off guard by the change in topic.
"Um…water I guess."
"We'll go get you some", Irina says, pulling Maddox along.
Irina and Maddox leave the room, eventually standing in front of a vending machine out of Tanya's hearing range.
"What are you doing?", Irina asks.
"What do you mean?"
"You can't help him. It's too dangerous."
"And I'm just supposed to leave him like that? Traumatized?"
"We don't know if he remembers yet. He could block it out."
"It's not worth the risk Irina. Trust me", Maddox says calmly.
"Do you think Bella would trust you if she knew what could happen? It was already dangerous enough when you offered it to her."
"I can do this."
"Maddox, it is one thing experimenting and improving your ability on random people, but he's a child. He's family."
"It worked on my brother."
"But what about the people it didn't work on? The people who don't know who they are. The people who are so far gone and messed up that they don't have a life. What if he wakes up and doesn't know how to talk or walk or even know who Bella is? Who his mother is."
"I've gotten better. I have to try Irina. I'll do it and we'll go from there."
Maddox hands Bella the water bottle and a bag of trail mix.
"Thanks."
"Any time", Maddox says.
"So, how will this work? He'll just forget? Is it an illusion?", Bella asks.
"Creating new memories is similar to an illusion, yes. Erasing them…it's more complicated. It messes with way the brain works on a more chemical and physical level. It's hard to explain."
"When can you do it?"
"After I hunt. Then let him rest."
"You should get some rest too", Tanya says.
"I can't leave him."
"We'll watch him. Take shifts. You should be in a real bed", Kate says, walking into the room with Garrett.
"Okay. I have to pick Leona up in the morning anyway."
"Do you want us to do it?", Tanya asks.
"No, I can do it. Jake's supposed to get in tomorrow too. He didn't tell me what time though."
"We'll go hunt and I'll help him when we get back", Maddox says.
Maddox, Irina, and Tanya leave. Kate and Garrett sit down on a small sofa in the room.
"Thank you for saving him. Bringing him here", Bella says.
"No use leaving him there. The hospital seemed like the right option. Finish the camping adventure", Kate says, trying to lighten the mood.
A smile pulls at Bella's lips and then a small chuckle. Even with the smallest jokes, it didn't change the fact that Kate and the others did everything they could to help Henry. For that, Bella knows in a way Victoria was right. They are her dream family.
A/N: Do you think Maddox can pull it off or are Irina's concerns valid?