It started to become too much for me; as my emotions continued to go up and down I felt as if I needed a few moments on my own to try and calm down. When Renesmee woke up she was going to need my at my best; and right now this wasn't it! So with this thought in mind I quickly stepped out of Edward's arms and I went to go and leave the room, before anyone could stop me.

"Bella!" I heard Edward say as I walked out of the room. "Bella!" he called after me as I started walking down the corridor.

"Edward don't!" I called back to him as I heard footsteps which told me that he was following me before he closed the door behind us. When I got to the end of the corridor I leant against the metal banister in front of me and let my head drop down. I hated how helpless and vulnerable this situation made me feel; I didn't know how to deal with these feelings. Yes I was accustomed to this way of life; but I was still technically a new born, even after all this time! I didn't know how I was going to be able to keep my emotions at bay. But I knew that I had to! Our way of life was so precious to our full family; and I didn't want to do anything to risk it. "I need to be on my own" I told him.

"Why?" I heard him ask. "We should be together" he stated as he stood on my right hand said.

"I know you feel that way" I answered as I slowly looked up at him. "But I really need to be on my own right now Edward" I stated and we shared a concerned look with each other.

"Why?" he repeated, which caused me to look forward and through the wall of glass that was on that particular side of the house.

"It's my fault" I admitted.

"Bella-" he began.

"No Edward!" I snapped as I turned around and looked up at him. "The fact that our daughter is now in a hospital bed" I added as I pointed towards the room we had just come out of. "Is my fault!" I insisted sadly. "I couldn't protect her!" I exclaimed.

"Bella-" he tried to began again.

"No Edward!" I stated, cutting him off. "I can't help but feel ashamed" I admitted as I put my head into my hands. "Guilty" I quickly added.

"Bella don't torture yourself" he said as he tried to wrap his arms around me to pull me back into his arms. "It sounds like you had your hands full" he added as I let him pull me into his arms and I rested my head against his chest once more.

"She threw me down a cliff" I sighed. "And used this time to get to Jacob and Nessie" I groaned as I snuggled the top of my head against his broad chest. "I can't live with myself at the fact that-" I began but stopped myself when it became too painful for me. "Our perfect little daughter is hurt!" I exclaimed.

"But you are not to blame Bella" he dismissed as he used his right hand to gently take hold of my chin to make me look into his calm eyes. "Please don't torture yourself like this?" he muttered as our faces were only inches apart.

"It's hard not to Edward" I confirmed. "I just want to be a good mother" I insisted sadly.

"Hey!" he said as he stroked my chin soothingly with his thumb. "You are an amazing mother Bella" he said smoothly. "Don't doubt this?" he said in the same calming tone.

"Ok" I muttered. "I'll try not to" I promised and I watched as he meekly smiled at me before pressing a tender kiss against my nose. "I still want a few minutes on my own" I told him with a meek smile as he pulled away.

"Are you sure?" he asked. "Do you not want me with you?" he enquired. I could tell by the look in his eyes; he ideally wanted me with him. I just hoped that he wasn't about to fight me on this; as I didn't have the energy to argue with him.

"No" I replied. "It's ok Edward" I stated, trying to reassure him. "I just need a few moments to pull myself together" I explained. "When Nessie wakes up she is going to need me at my best, and this isn't it" I stated sadly.

"Ok" he advised. "But please do me one thing?" he enquired.

"Yes?" I prompted.

"If you decide to go outside-" he continued. "Stay local" he added.

"Of course" I meekly smiled; I then watched as he nodded at me as he dropped his arms away from me. I then watched as he slowly turned around and started to walk back towards Renesmee.

As I watched the door close behind Edward I decided that I wanted to go and stand in our back yard; yes I was going keep my promise and stay local. I just felt that as there was so much going on in my mind; so being outside might help me with my conflicted thoughts.

It didn't take me long to walk through the house, and before I knew it I was walking among the grounds where me and Edward had our wedding. I couldn't help but let a small smile spread across my face at the memory; when I was walking down the aisle with Charlie everything seemed so certain. I was taking my place in the world, yes I was still a mortal at the time - but I always knew that my place was always by Edward's side.

My mind then reluctantly went onto the situation that we currently found ourselves in, I really felt so unsettled at the fact that Jane and other Volturi members were close by. Anything could happen; and the risk they pose to the life that we lived in Forks. I knew that they probably wanted us to be unsettled; so they were able to act out whatever plan they were obviously trying to act out.

Another thing that was on my mind is how easy Jane was finding it to keep coming and going on our land to try and get close to the packs. Yes they weren't directly targeting me or our family, yet. I just don't think they realise how connected we are to the packs now; I knew that they would never understand it or attempt to tolerate it. When they found out they probably would use this as their trump card; their time to strike - but what they wouldn't know is that we were ready for them.

But now that Jane had assaulted Renesmee surely she knew that this would evoke a reaction from our family; maybe this is what she wanted. So when we acted she could use this as an excuse to fight back; to finally be able to fight with me. I could tell by her recent smugness that she couldn't wait to be able to quench her thirst to fight against me; she has made it not hidden secret that she has wanted this since we first met. I just hoped when the time came for it; she wasn't just expecting me to lie down and take it - she would get the fight that she is after.

When my mind then went onto Renesmee I then began to fill with guilt, shame and disappointment then began to consume me. I hated the fact that I hadn't been able to protect her; my perfect little girl. Yes she was part mortal and part vampire; but I didn't know her wound was going to heal. The constant reminder of my failing against Jane would be there for ever - and this is something that I could never forgive myself for.

I was quickly pulled out of my train of thought when a new scent swept past slightly in the distance; my head quickly snapped around in the direction it was coming from. I quickly began to panic as the realisation that I was right consumed my body; I grimaced as I bawled my fists up and one word escaped through gritted teeth.

"Caius!"

I didn't know what to do! Caius was here! I started to fall into a wave of emotions that I didn't know what to do with; even though I knew why he was here. Part of me wanted to hear the words come from his lips; to hear what justification that he believed to be true. As I started to picture the smug look that was probably on his face right now I couldn't stop a growl escape from my lips; I hated how he thought that he could just decide upon one of these 'conquests' and just throw his weight around. I failed to see how the packs or even Children of the Moon could cause such a disturbance to Caius's way of living; they were just living their life like he was. Yes I understood that one Child of the Moon had attacked him in the past - but surely should this be enough to spell genocide? I have hated every thing that has happened since Jane started appearing in Forks; how it disrupted everything! Everything that we live and stand for!

I turned around to go and get the others; but I froze when I started sense Caius's trace and scent weaken. I looked despairingly in the direction of where he must be in the distance and I made a decision. I had to follow him, I had to find him - only then would I be able to try and talk to him to stop him from doing what he was doing.

As I took the first step towards him I felt the trace continue to weaken; and this was enough to drive me forward to make sure that I didn't lose his trail. I could also sense that Jane and somebody else was with him; but whoever this third person didn't matter to me. What mattered right now was the fact that due to their plotting and scheming my daughter was now lying in a hospital bed in an induced coma!

As I continued to make my way toward Caius and Jane I made a decision; I wasn't going to confront them. I just wanted to get close enough to see if I could hear what they were planning to do next - then I could try to protect the packs and my family. My mind then started to think about what could happen if they caught me - but I just kept assuring myself that this wasn't going to happen. I wasn't about to let them catch me.

A smirk spread across my face when Caius's trace became strong again; and I could hear his voice in the distance. Unfortunately I couldn't hear what he was saying; so with the thought of finding out more about his plans I quickly pulled my phone out. I then went onto the GPS onto my phone and I shared the location with Edward; I knew that this would be enough for him to come and look for me. I also knew that when he got close enough he would be able to pick up Jane and Caius's trail - just as my own.

I then quickly knocked my phone onto silent; I knew that as soon as Edward received my location he would be attempt to ring me to find out what was going on. But I couldn't risk Caius, Jane and whoever else finding out that I was close by.

So after sliding my phone back into my trouser pocket; I then slowly began to walk Caius's direction. I could see that a small meadow was in the distance; however it was a drop below the ground I was currently walking on. Just before I got to the ledge I slowly and quietly dropped to my hands and knees and crawled forward. When the meadow came into view I saw Caius stood with Jane and Alec on the other side of the long meadow. I should have known that it would be Alec that was with them - Jane didn't tend to go too far without her twin brother. However before I could think upon this any longer I heard Caius's voice ring out cheerily, which caused me to grimace.

"We know you are there!"

"Come out, come out whoever you are!" he sang as the three of them looked in my direction. Deciding quickly that it was probably better for me to show myself rather than them coming looking for me; so with this in mind I quickly stood up and jumped down onto the meadow. "Now look at who we have here" he smirked as Alec and Jane stepped to either side of him, flanking him.

Silence filled the air as we all stared at each other; I felt a lingering feeling begin to enter the pit of my stomach as I noted how menacing their eyes now looked. It was different to any other time I had seen the three of them; they were more cold and calculating but as an after thought I knew why - they were away from Aro and Chelsea's influence. And by the looks of it being away from them was really having an impact on the three of them - and by the looks of it they were looking to use this time away from Volterra to their best advantage.