A/N Hey everyone, I've had a really busy last couple of days and it seems like I'm going to have a busy couple of weeks which is really frustrating when I'm trying to write as much as I can. I'm still getting along okay though and while I might not be getting lots of chapters to you I'm still going to get them as soon as they are ready. I can tell you all now that I've found a new Beta, Tricia2475 while she didn't get to Beta this one (sorry for all my mistakes guys) will be my Beta from here on and I'm sure you'll all be very grateful to her cleaning up some of the messes I miss with the writing. Anyway I'm glad that many of you read the authors note I left about the character death warning and many of you have replied in PM's to me when you've decided to leave. I respected that some don't want to see death in fanfiction. For those of you though who have chosen to stick with me I'd really just like to say thank you too all of you, it's incredible how many of you have responded to this story and have shown so early on great support in the story I'm writing. It always makes writing easier knowing I've got a bunch of amazing readers waiting. So here you guys go, enjoy and let me know what you think.

RED DAWN

SUMMARY: Edward had always warned Bella that the pack were dangerous. Hostile, volatile and aggressive in nature. She ignored him, testing even Edward's own vampire instinct by staying friends with his enemy, Jacob. One event will change them all, Bella never truly understood the supernatural world. Didn't understand the aggression that lay dormant even in her controlled mate until it was too late. Warning: Violence and Character death.

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all the Characters.


Chapter Eight

It had been two days since Bella had seen Edward.

She'd come to regret ever asking him for space but had to respect that he'd given her exactly what she'd asked for. Even when her heart and head tried to fight over what was right. He hadn't vanished from her life completely he'd been on the edges of her days during the two days since she'd woken in hospital. Carlisle had wanted to keep Bella for a little longer then she'd wished but she'd not had the energy to argue being discharged especially when everyone she cared about were still very worried about her.

She'd been lucky she'd come to find out.

Had the wounds been a little deeper or a little more to the left, if she'd been left just a few seconds longer she'd not be here right now and that had been worrying. She'd been close to deathly situations before but never one caused by someone she'd trusted. Even when Jasper had lunged for her on her birthday due to the paper cut, she'd never worried somehow knowing Edward would come between them. This had been different, this had been a close call that could have resulted in everything going to ruin. Not that some parts of her life and the other's around her hadn't already. She'd seen glimpses of Edward during the times she wasn't too fogy from medication for the pains she was having. Where he'd be talking outside of her room with his family members, his eyes even in her haze still on her. She'd even had a talk with Renee where her mother had pleaded with her to sort out whatever it was that was upsetting them both because she was worried about Edward.

The irony didn't miss Bella, she was in hospital healing from wounds and it seemed her parents were confident she'd be fine now and it was Edward that they were worried over. The same person they'd all but written off not too long ago and given her such a hard time for taking back and welcoming into her life.

"Sometimes when I stay later" Renee whispered. Which Bella felt the urge to be amused at knowing that all of those close by would be able to hear her no matter how she tried to whisper, with the enhanced vampire hearing.

"He's already here. He leaves the second your father or I check in but I caught him last night. I must have caught him off guard because he was just laying his head on the bed holding your hand to his face whispering to you" Renee sighed while Bella felt the all too familiar tightness around her throat and chest.

Missing Edward even more when she thought of him watching over her as she slept, even when she'd asked for time he'd been unable to stay away and it made her want to run to him and have him hold her.

"It's one of the single most beautiful things I've ever seen. Like it was out of a movie Bella. He looked embarrassed when I saw him and he excused himself apologising. Always polite" Renee had giggled that morning. All while Bella had listened and she'd felt a tingle in her fingertips at her mother's story, as if she could still feel his cool smooth flawless skin under her touch still.

She'd wanted to have Renee find him then and tell Edward that she wanted to talk to him. He'd not been around the hospital though, she knew eventually word would get back to him from his family. She'd needed those two days separated from him even if it caused them both pain. She'd been far too confused and hurt to face him without reacting badly. She'd tried to hold strong in what Jasper had said that while Edward was the man she loved he wasn't just a man, they were mates. She'd experienced firsthand the lengths that an immortal would go to too avenge a fallen mate, while Victoria was evil her actions in most vampire's minds were just normal.

All vampires reacted the same to losing their loved one, their mate in this life. First the rage that demanded vengeance for what had been taken from them and then eventually the need for death. Some sort out death instantly like Edward had when he'd believed Bella to have been gone from this world. Then there were those who lived for centuries fuelled on that inner rage who seek to hurt and make as many pay as possible before their end. Bella had also come to the realisation that Edward was also capable of the latter. Edward would cause destruction just as quickly as Victoria was trying to against her family for having her taken from him. He'd almost lost her because of uncontrollable shifters, now he was ready to rid that threat to not only her but himself and his family for good. She'd need to look past what she knew was a more human belief in what happened, she'd wanted to become one of them and now she was. Her family had an enemy and she'd have to stand with them, like Carlisle was even though she knew he hated the very idea of more deaths. She'd forgive Edward anything he did, just like she believed he'd forgive her if the roles had been reversed.

"You ready to go home Bells" Charlie asked as he squeezed her shoulder as she sat in the wheelchair. She'd nervously been fidgeting with the strings of her jumper since she'd sat down in the damn chair that she didn't feel was at all necessary.

"I'm ready dad" Bella sighed even if she wasn't completely sure. Bella felt self conscious of what people would say, never wanting the attention of people on her the thought that now people would stare every time they saw her scarred face. She'd always felt plain, it seemed cruel now that she felt herself ugly from what had been done to her. Found it even harsher that she'd never considered Emily in that regard but viewed herself that way. She'd seen the stitching that covered so much of her body, seen the horrible thick gashes that covered her once blemish free skin. She hated the idea of Edward ever seeing it, that he'd probably seen it at the very worst of the wounds that had been on her.

"Everything is going to be fine sweetie. Carlisle said there's lots of things that can be done" Renee said.

Bella curious if her mother had somehow become a mind reader, though Renee had eagerly pushed the idea of reconstructive surgery. While Bella didn't want to be scarred. She also didn't think her family had the kind of money that would be needed for that type of work done and she really didn't want to spend even more time in a hospital being slowly worked over to make her less, less hard to look at.

"All you have to worry about right now is getting better Bells. Nothing else matters just that you feel better, the rest if you decide comes later" Charlie said giving Renee a look that told her straight away to drop it.

They wouldn't argue about it out in front of Bella but they'd talk about it soon enough they both viewed it differently and both wanted the best for Bella. Renee wanted her to have a normal life in her future, one without scars and people cruelly pointing and staring. All Charlie cared about was that Bella was healthy and happy with herself not what the world thought.

"Where are the Cullen's?" Bella asked surprised not to see them as Charlie pushed her chair out of the room and towards the hospital exit. Moving through the waiting room that had all but been claimed by the Cullen family since Bella had been admitted to the hospital. She'd heard it all from the nurses how the family had refused to leave. They had all but been living there in the waiting room for days.

"Charlie and I thought we'd get you home. Let you rest and get used to the pace of things. We didn't want to overwhelm you. They said they would be close by" Renee explained probably not reading into what that meant at all but Bella knew the Cullen's well enough that if they'd made comment on being close by that would be literally. Bella wouldn't be surprised at all to find that they were still very close just hidden or out of sight to human eyes unless Bella needed them.

"I'm sure you'll hear from Edward soon" Renee said smiling down at Bella as even then she blushed, only one side of her face flushing at the thought. She forgot with the distance how well Renee truly knew her, they'd always been very close even if they hadn't shared the most typical of mother daughter relationships.

"I bet he's really happy that your getting out of there" Renee tacked on as Bella nodded she hoped he'd come to her tonight, the idea that he might not worried her. She hadn't spent a night without him coming to her since he'd come back, even when he needed to hunt he always came to her before and then would arrive while she slept to be with her.

"I hope so. I miss him, I'm glad he's taking care of himself too though. I know if it was up to him he'd forget about himself and just stay by my side" Bella said.

While it was a lie she'd told her parents to explain away his absence in certain times while she'd been in hospital. Bella completely believed that given the choice Edward would much rather worry over Bella then himself. He always thought of her before himself. She hoped wherever he was that he was feeding, she knew the family hadn't been able to with the threats looming and her needing protection she doubted even now all of them would go. She'd learnt about the seriousness of what had happened to the Denali coven, how Eleazer had lost an arm. Tanya too but they'd retrieved it. Kate had been the worst she'd had her head ripped from her body, and had finally woken up completely drained and in serious need of blood. Bella didn't like to think of Irina. The Denali sister she'd never meet now, because the wolves had destroyed her it had been something she'd needed to know though. The pack were clearly just as ready to take lives as her family were, the harsh reality was she'd rather it be the pack then her family. That was why she was ready to have Edward back to apologise and beg for his forgiveness. She was ready to be a true mate and not some weak human imitation of it. They both deserved better.

Bella was happy to climb out of the wheelchair once they reached the hospital exit. Both Charlie and Renee had tried to convince her that there hadn't been a need, but she'd stubbornly stood on shaky legs wanting to leave of her own will. Bella had been happy to take the passenger seat of the cruiser though and had freely laughed at the reaction of Renee's face when Charlie had opened the back door for her mother. Leaving Renee in the back seat of the cruiser, behind the protective cage guard that separated it from the front. Renee had been a good sport with it all though allowing Charlie to make his somewhat sarcastic musings about it not being Renee's first time in the back seat of a police car. It had made Bella happy to see there was no animosity between them, they'd never really interacted throughout Bella's childhood and she'd always just assumed they didn't like each other. Then she'd come to live with Charlie and thought that Charlie had never stopped loving her and Bella still believed that. Still believed that Charlie would welcome Renee back with open arms, if Renee asked him too. Charlie was constant like that even now with his budding romance with Sue he'd always love her mother. Bella knew she was very much like Charlie in that respect constant and predictable.

Bella did notice that her truck wasn't in Charlie's drive when they pulled up to their home and didn't want to bring it up knowing exactly where it was. She wasn't even sure how to go about getting her truck back but would accept that she'd need to be driven around, not that she had any plans of going anywhere for a while. The idea of going out only made her worry about what people would think about her and she was scared. Bella was terrified of who might be out there just laying in wait to attack. Either it being Sam or Victoria she felt like she had a large mark on her back. She wasn't even sure if the pack, those she believed friends would ever want to see her now anyway. It was easy to joke with her when she was vampire girl when no vampires lived in Forks, not so much once she'd all but brought them all back and distanced herself from them except for pretty much Jake. Even then she didn't want to think his name, the anger and guilt all too much. He'd tried to kill Edward and she'd hate him for that, but she couldn't help but feel guilty for the awkward shy boy he'd been before his heritage had triggered his shifter side. When he'd just been Jake, the boy who fixed cars and didn't believe the legends of his people were even true.

Charlie opened up their home and followed close behind Bella as she climbed the stairs his hand on the small of her back to steady her. While Bella wasn't used to people trying to care of her, she'd tried not to give Charlie a hard time. He'd been exceptionally more attentive and affectionate with her since she'd woken up. The death of some of the kids he knew in La Push and her own attack had fundamentally rocked Charlie's core. He'd seen that he could lose his daughter just as tragically and quickly as some of his friends had lost children and he was tired of holding that part of him back. He'd always feared being too awkward barely knowing his own daughter. There was nothing wrong with showing love though, seeing the Cullen's up close around each other had really hit home with that. Teenagers who weren't ashamed of hugging their parents or each other telling each other they loved one another even with people around. They didn't shy away or get embarrassed they were close. They stuck by one another, Charlie wanted Bella to feel that way from him that she could really trust him and turn to him when she needed. He'd let the Cullen's care for her letting Carlisle and Esme almost become a second set of parents because he was still living the bachelor life even with Bella close. There was no excuse for that. Leaving her alone not knowing what was happening in his daughter's life except for when things got out of hand. Charlie was ready to make changes he just hoped it wasn't too late, his daughter was all but an adult now. Hopefully she still had a place for him in her life.

"I know you probably going to say you don't need it but..." Charlie pushed open Bella's bedroom door and her eyes zeroed in on the modest sized flat screen that had been fitted to the wall across from her bed. While Charlie stood a little worried. He'd wanted to get her something, wanted to have something she could do while she was forced to rest in bed and get well.

"Dad, you shouldn't have this, it must have cost..." Bella turned to Charlie knowing that while he had the money she didn't need it, she was happy with her room without one but she stopped protesting seeing the hopeful look on his face.

"Thank you dad" Bella added as Charlie smiled at her shrugging his shoulders.

"It's not a problem. Carlisle said you'd need to rest and I know you aren't big on watching TV but I thought it give you something to do. During the day instead of just laying around bored" Charlie moved to her smiling and placing a hand on her shoulder as he reached to her bedside table and grabbed the remote control and handing it to her as she took it awkwardly.

"It's got one of those DVD players on the side of it. I kind of just asked the kid in the store to show me what would be the best model. I thought that you could have Edward with you the both of you could watch movies together or something. You'd have to leave the door open though when he's here" Charlie said his cheeks heating at the mention of Edward being in her room, he didn't like the idea of his daughter being alone in bed with the kid. But that was just the way any father would feel about his teenage daughter, Bella however couldn't believe that Charlie was ready to start letting Edward back in the house without argument. Charlie wouldn't know that Edward had been in Bella's room almost every night since they'd started their relationship and for a time even before that.

"You know you're going to have to explain to me what happened between you and Edward. You've given me a hard time about him treated him poorly for a long time. I'm not sure I understand where this whole, turn around has come from" Bella took a seat feeling tired again.

As she sat on the edge of her bed, placing the remote to the side as Charlie stood in front of her. Shifting his weight between his feet awkwardly, before sighing and then taking a seat beside her, on her bed. He thought about whatever it was he was going to say before turning to Bella and looking at her seriously, as he shook his head smiling even if it was a little forced.

"I guess I do owe you an explanation. I was ready to treat him no different when I came to the hospital. I was all but ready to just keep him away from you while you healed. Even though it had nothing to do with him I would have blamed him just because" Charlie shook his head a little ashamed of himself, it seemed so immature now when he thought about the grudge he'd been holding against a teenage boy.

"I always thought that you cared too much. That he didn't deserve it. I've never been able to get past how you looked when he left. I guess seeing him... seeing him so torn up. So damn sad and broken about you being hurt reminded me of that kid who rushed off to chase you with his dad when you went to leave Forks. We had a talk and he was honest with me. Told me about what happened. Told me how he wanted to give you a clean break a chance to move on. I'm not going to say he was right but the thought of him doing that seemed noble even if a little stupid. Then he told me about how he'd... well he'd run away from home but had been too scared to come here in case you wouldn't want him. How he'd called here and been told about Harry Clearwater's funeral. The whole misunderstanding" Bella nodded swallowing harshly against what her father was saying, Edward had tried to tell her father the truth. As close to it as he could, and Bella felt so grateful to him for it. The lies had created a rift between her and her father because of everything that had happened he'd never understood and she'd not wanted to try and lie her way through it.

"He told me. Looked me right in my eyes and told me he'd not wanted to live if you weren't alive" Bella could see the struggle that even her father had with thinking about that. In his eyes Edward was a teenage kid, not some century old immortal. Charlie didn't know the lengths one had to go to seek out destruction, but he knew enough. The seriousness of Edward's claims, Edward would rather be dead then without her.

"It's scared me Bells. Seeing this kid who looked like a man readily tell me he'd kill himself if you died and I couldn't be angry at him. How could I be angry with him for loving you that much? I'm not going to say it doesn't worry me, it does and I hope Carlisle and Esme know about this so they have someone he can talk to about his feelings. But I won't make things difficult for the both of you, not when he's always there for you. Not when he'd do anything for you, he stood by you in that hospital even when I had to work, or deal with everything. He held his own feelings back and made sure you came first. I can respect that" Charlie nodded finishing but Bella was stunned that Edward really had done his best to let her father know. He'd told him he'd kill himself and while the idea was completely against anything she wanted, she understood it.

A vampire had no life once they lost their mate, she'd seen the husk of the immortal Marcus who barely even seemed present only the gift of another in the Volturi holding him in place. She almost believed it cruel that they would leave him in that state instead of giving him mercy, Bella wasn't sure she herself could bare it if Edward was destroyed. She'd want her own mercy given to her if he was taken from her, that wasn't even with being a vampire yet.

"So you're really okay with Edward and I being together?" Bella asked needing to hear him say it, needing to know that she had her father's approval. Even though it had never mattered the idea that her parents could accept the man she planned to spend forever with would be a blessing neither of them would understand nor know.

"Bella as long as he's good to you and he makes you happy I have no problem with him" Charlie reached over giving her hand a gentle squeeze of reassurance.

"I can't promise to always be understanding. I'm still your father and it won't be easy to accept but I recognise you're an adult in most respects and that if he's who you want I can't get between you. I've made it difficult for you both, I've even tried to force... well interfere with Jake knowing how he felt about you. I'm sorry for that too. I was being just as selfish about it as I was trying to protect you, I see that now. You've always been meant for more than Forks and I knew Edward would take you away. He's too big for this small town, I thought by forcing the whole Jake issue it would end up making you stick close to home, you're like me but in that respect you're like your mother. You'd have never been happy here in Forks had it not been for the Cullen's" Charlie said and Bella had wanted to protest but hadn't she believed the very same when she'd first arrived. She'd always planned to leave as soon as she could for college or when Renee settled down again, until Edward. It had only been home here in Forks because Edward and all they shared together was here, she didn't feel it fair to disagree with Charlie when he'd hit the mark so correctly.

"I still wouldn't have regretted coming to live with you" Bella said honestly not wanting her father to feel that she hated being here other then when she was with Edward and his family.

"I know that too Bells. Just remember your old man when that kid has you jet setting across the globe" Charlie wrapped an arm around Bella's shoulders as she smiled and hugged her father back.

It was somewhat of a goodbye Bella could tell in that moment, Charlie knew or at least knew that she'd leave one day and not return, and while she couldn't promise not to. She could promise to never forget him. She'd make sure of that, even after Edward changed her which she knew she was ready for even in her conflict over it. Bella would live for as long as she was gifted with Edward, hopefully forever like they dreamed and she'd always remember her father and mother and that they'd loved her enough to know one day she'd leave them behind.

"Love you dad" Bella whispered into her father's chest as he held her.

"I... I love you too Bells" Charlie mumbled back kissing her hair softly.

Edward had always loved to run.

It had for a long time been the only pleasure he'd gained from becoming an immortal being of the shadows. The wind wiped against his skin as he blurred to the very sight of man. Edward had loved it, even as a human, while the memory had only surfaced later in his early days of his second life. Memories of his human life had become very precious to him then, he'd been raised by two very religious Irish immigrants in Chicago. Elizabeth Masen and Edward Masen Senior had been self made success stories in America. They had married against both their families wishes and then hopped onto a boat over to the new world. They had barely a penny to their names, but had been young and driven and so deeply in love. Even now while their faces had faded from his human memories he remembered their love. Remembered the way his mother had giggled when his father had swept her off her feet and placed a kiss on her lips when he'd returned home.

Edward had been a surprise to both Elizabeth and Edward they'd had him later in their life after they'd finally made a comfortable life for themselves in Chicago. Edward's father had finally made partner in the law firm that he'd started literally at the bottom of, over a decade earlier before his son's birth. It had been that love his two parents shared though that had been always something Edward had held onto, it had been the thing that had kept him from ever satisfying the pleasures of the flesh like so many others of the vampire kind.

Edward had always known that one day he'd find a mate, that he would find the one person who would be to him everything that he ever wished for. That she would be the one person to complete him in all the ways that he still lacked as a person. He'd waited his entire existence, even in his own cynical view of the world, he'd still held hope even when he'd found himself the only one alone amongst mated pairs. His love for running had always been an escape in those past days, when the love making became too much to bear. When the advances of women upon him became almost unbearable to listen too.

Edward ran.

Edward had learnt only in the last twenty years due to Alice and Jasper that Edward may have been a very talented runner as a human. While of course, he'd remembered wanting to be a soldier. His mother's complete rejection of that idea, and his father's own desire for him to work with him as a lawyer. It had been one little news article, in an old archive of newspapers in some remote part of Chicago that Jasper and Alice had found it. The story was barely anything at all really, only a couple of words but it had been accompanied by a picture. Tired and worn and even when Alice had tried to restore it, there hadn't been much improvement but it had been special to Edward. It had solidified something about himself he'd always known and that was that when Edward ran he felt truly at home and within himself complete.

The little news article had merely mentioned the success of one Edward Anthony Masen Junior on his record breaking local track win, it had mentioned that the young seventeen year old had great potential of being a future state champion. It had shocked Edward and made him feel incredibly proud and yet sad too. Even when he'd looked at the little restored image of himself in those horrid barely their shorts and vest with the number thirteen on a white piece of paper pinned to his top. His parents either side of him with the somewhat large trophy standing behind them. It had become something of a reminder of how far from human he was. Of the lost potential he'd had taken from him only months later when the influenza hit. Edward Anthony Masen Junior would never be an athlete or a solider or even a lawyer, fate had made other plans. For a while Edward had tried to reject the joy running had gave him after that, it had taken his brother Emmet's teasing to bring about the joy again when Emmet had obtained a somewhat similar running outfit as the one from the picture. Emmet had teased him relentlessly and in the end Edward had been able to look past his own misery and cynical view of it and accept that running while a link to his humanity didn't have to be something he mourned simply because he wasn't human anymore. Edward had kept that same image in every single wallet he'd ever used since that day, as a reminder of his parents as a reminder that he'd one day have what they had. That just because he was no longer human didn't mean he'd not have the same love they had shared.

Edward over the last couple of days had found himself returning to this image more so then he'd done in a very long time, his forced distance from Bella had made him constantly return back to the photo. While Edward didn't show it often to his family over a hundred years they had been gone and he still mourned the parents that had died beside him in that hospital in Chicago where Carlisle had found him. Alice had tried to get through to him and he'd listened, he'd returned to running perimeter checks during the day hours with his siblings then returning to Bella's side while she slept. He didn't feel guilty for imposing himself on her while she slept, it wasn't the first time he'd found himself watching her while she was unaware but it had seemed everyone else including Charlie and Renee knew. He'd tried to keep his mind occupied away from Bella as she tried to figure it out even though he knew she was struggling, that she was deeply upset still and conflicted over what was happening he knew she had to make her choice. Emmet still believed him a fool for thinking there was ever a choice.

In the end it had been decided with his abilities once Kate awoke Edward would be the one to accompany them on a hunting trip. He was the closest thing, for knowing where any of the pack was at any given time with Alice not able to see anything. Kate had woken wild and grief stricken her last image before having her head torn from her shoulders was Irina's own head being thrown in the fire. When she'd come too finally even in her weak state she'd come out fighting and it had taken Emmet and Edward both getting severely shocked by her gift to try and calm her. Tanya had stepped in then to try and sooth Kate and explained what had happened. The Denali would be in mourning for some time now. Those wounds wouldn't heal, Edward knew that even now both women still mourned Sasha even though she'd betrayed them and created an immortal child. She was still their mother. They'd miss Irina too now forever.

"I thought we were supposed to be all feeding Edward" Eleazer said moving from behind tree cover to see Edward sitting back against a large boulder deep in the Olympia forest.

"I've fed enough" Edward said the small picture held between his fingers as he turned to look up at Eleazer, he was trying out the prosthetic that Emmet had gotten for him. They'd hollowed it out and the limb was pale enough in colour to almost fit Eleazer's real colouring, Eleazer was struggling with it, his advanced mind not liking the useless fake that it had in place. He was doing the best he could all considering.

"Your eyes will take longer to change colour if you don't gauge yourself on animal blood" Eleazer said having expected Edward the usually most weighted down by his guilt to want his eyes to change back as quickly as he possibly could.

"Why bother. I intend to bite more wolves" Edward said with a blunt honesty that Eleazer was coming to respect in the young man he'd always found Edward too isolated and closed off within himself.

"Well the venom certainly works. I believe it's more than that though, your reason for keeping your eyes red?" Eleazer tried to ask of Edward without being to prying in the young immortals business.

"I'm not thinking of changing my food source if that's what worries you" Edward said evenly sitting up more against the bolder as Eleazer moved to stand beside Edward, while he'd found him closed off and burdened he'd always found the vampire Carlisle had sired first a very intriguing vampire.

"It has an effect on the pack. It shows them I have broken the treaty, it shows them a vampire. As their legend tell them. I don't want them to look at me and believe I'm a being of restraint. I want them to see me as the legend they fear. I want them to see a cold one who will end them. I have no shame for these red eyes. I earned them by protecting the woman I love. Once these men are dealt with I'll ensure the colour returns to how they should be. I know it concerns Carlisle" Edward said simply, Alice had been a genius to see that his red eyes would torment the wolves. Them seeing the red of his eyes truly was like he'd spat in the face of everything their people had done to make peace with the cold ones. Ephraim was their noble former leader who had created the treaty, Edward's eyes were a clear attack against the last written word they had of a man they all believed the best of them. Edward found it highly ironic that if Ephraim saw what had become of his people, he'd plead with Edward to stop them.

"Carlisle is in a great time of change even for himself. He's wanted a family, never a coven. I've seen how your family have moved to follow you, Carlisle struggles with it not because he doesn't believe in you but he never wanted that. He certainly never wanted to be at war with other supernatural beings" Eleazer said recognising that it had in some ways been the reason Carlisle had left Volterra. The constant death and seeing Aro and his movements for obtaining power and ending the rule breakers had become too much for Carlisle.

"I can't give him what he wants. I love Carlisle. I know I've disappointed him even if he denies it many times in this life. He created me and I've never hated him for it because I've always known him to be a good man. He saw a child dying and a mother begging him for him to do what only he could. He gave me this life and while I've been unhappy with what I am, trying to deny what I am while remain what I'm not I can't resent his choice. I've found what I've always wanted in Bella. I can't be the man he wants though, I've tried and I've failed so many times. We take our strongest personality traits into this life, Carlisle was always compassionate. I was a young man brash and arrogant with dreams of being a soldier, it was only my fear of god that had kept me tied to my humanity. My absolute view that we were damned and that we were soulless has kept me feeding on animals because I've silently been trying to earn forgiveness from my god. I've come to embrace that I'm both I'm the vampire and the man and I can't pretend to be one thing, I wanted to fight for my country as a human. I would have killed to fight for my flag. I can't stand down and not fight for my family for my mate. I'm selfish. I've always known this and if it comes down to me living forever or my enemies I will always pick myself and Bella" Edward said surprising Eleazer at the complete honesty from him.

Edward had always been insightful but Eleazer had never truly got to know Edward in the way that his own family had, the mind reader had always been something of an enigma to him. Seeing him so accepting of what he was of knowing and believing the reason he was the way he was, Eleazer respected the self awareness of the man in front of him. Knowing his own desire to feed from animals had only come due to a fear he'd carried over from his humanity of a punishing god for his sins he'd committed.

"You don't believe Carlisle can understand this?" Eleazer said believing Edward to be wrong however in that aspect he knew Carlisle loved his family and was a forgiving man.

"My father loved Aro and respected the friendship did he not? Yet my father has been completely against the idea of Aro ever coming into close contact with our family. My sister Alice believes I'm a vampire of a similar position of Aro. Maybe you'd know better you've spent much time with him, I believe Aro power hungry and tyrannical. I believe he will make movements to take those gifted in my family one day, so does Alice. If I'm to trust her and I do wholly, the coming fights are simply trials to ready me for the time Aro and I are to come against each other" Edward said turning to face Eleazer his eyes wide at what Edward had revealed to him. He'd spent much of his existence with Aro and had seen the darker sides of what Aro capable of when he desired something. The idea that Alice predictions of a future war between the Cullen family and that of the Volturi guard scared Eleazer, wolves and untrained newborns were one enemy the Volturi were a threat all unto themselves.

"Has Alice seen this in a vision?" Eleazer asked quickly.

"No. Nothing concrete but Aro's desire for me only grew in Volterra when we met. Then meeting Alice and her unique gift and then my mate still human and able to block him made us far too tempting. We both believe it's only a matter of time before he makes some type of movement" Eleazer believed that they were paranoid, that all the danger around them had made them believe worse of everyone but he noticed the smirk on Edward's face at his thoughts remembering the boy was aware of everything.

"You may be right I was just curious on your own view on it. Alice believes I'm intended to lead my family. You've become a leader of the Denali coven even though you yourself are younger then Tanya and Kate. I wanted your opinion" Edward said curiously, what Alice had said did worry him it added to something he didn't want to think about. But now away from his home and the threat of the two enemies surrounding him and his loved ones, he wanted to know of the potential threat that lay dormant across the ocean hidden away in a castle.

"While I'd never want to tell you not to worry about Aro I do not want to believe that he'd come here unless he had good reason. He respects Carlisle this I do know and while it's true in the end their friendship strained because of their beliefs they are still friends Edward" Eleazer tried to help ease the concerns over Aro being a threat and Edward knew that in his own fear of everything closing in, he may cause more harm. He already had his enemies at his door he couldn't continue looking even with Alice's warning. He'd have to trust that for now the Volturi would stick to their word that they'd allow him to change his mate and that would be the end of it. They just had to hope they didn't draw too much attention with all that was coming.

"What brought this all on really Edward?" Eleazer said sensing that there was more too all this talk of Carlisle and Aro and his Volturi guard coming. He knew the young man had to be under a great deal of pressure they'd also noticed the Denali coven, that Edward had been deeply upset since his mate had woken and wanted time away from him.

"I'm conflicted. Not with what I must do but with what I may have to embrace. I've come to accept my more vampire nature because I had too, so I could be what my mate needed when she was hurt. I realised both man and beast loved her and would do anything to save her. Alice has told me I've rejected my gift because I'm scared of it, she told me that she believes that is where Aro and my similarities fade." Eleazer had to agree with Alice, Aro had always enjoyed holding his power over those around him. Being able to constantly know their thoughts it became too much to resist, most finding themselves ignored until they allowed him to take their hand to see into their minds.

"I guess what I'm requesting is for you to take a reading of my gift Eleazer" Edward said finally as both men looked at each other seriously.

"I've taken your reading before Edward what more could I tell you, then what I've seen in the past?" Eleazer asked confused now sensing that he still didn't completely understand.

"Please take the reading" Edward said weakly, his own mind believing he knew the answer already Alice had tried to make him see and he'd not wanted too.

Now though knowing Bella was ready to take him back or at least accept what he'd done. Alice had already sent him a message letting him know Bella was ready he needed to do his part. Alice had said it was time to stop hiding and pretending, Edward needed to accept that for not only Bella but for himself. A life of always being ashamed of his gift, viewing it as a curse and apologising to those around him for what he had no control over seeing.

Eleazer nodded turning to Edward focusing on him, Eleazer's unique ability almost opening up in his mind as Edward watched intently in his thoughts. Seeing the strange fluidity of colour and while Edward could see the strange almost auras that Eleazer could see in most people he had no way of understanding it, it wasn't really colour that signified anything he'd once tried to decode what it was Eleazer saw. It seemed whatever it was that Eleazer saw even with Edward's mind reading he'd never be able to understand it, this was something entirely only gifted to Eleazer. Much like Jasper's natural awareness and understanding of what a person felt even hidden amongst the clearer emotions in a room or person. He couldn't help but be in awe of the strange language that seemed to be easy for Eleazer in his mind to piece together, for a moment he even believed Eleazer's mind may have gone silent as he took his reading of him and then everything was gone the strange things that Eleazer saw, the sounds he seemed to hear too that took him to a place far different than the one they lived in. Eleazer was shocked when he came to himself, resembling Alice in some ways after she'd been drawn into a powerful vision as he blinked rapidly. Too quickly for any human to notice and then exhaled.

"You truly are a very intriguing immortal. It's no wonder Carlisle has tried to keep you and those in your family secret from other immortals" Edward wasn't completely sure he agreed it was Carlisle's influence or just that most had wanted their abilities to remain their own knowledge and no one else.

"It's developing. I'm rather stunned to see that it is actually you never showed signs of it changing when I first took a reading of you but it's been nearly sixty years since I've ever tried to" Edward nodded Eleazer didn't ever feel the need to use his ability unless asked.

Eleazer was lucky in a sense that his ability was simply to him like turning on a part of him and then shutting it down again when he didn't need it. Unlike so many others gifts in the vampire world Eleazer could simply use this second sight he held or allow it to vanish, like he lived in two worlds. The one of gifts and the potential they held and the normal one.

"I was worried that was the case. I've known for some time that I've been able to hear further, I spent so much time trying to block it all out. Alice and I realised the length it went once when I'd not been concentrating before we moved to Forks. Carlisle had been upset about a patient he'd lost I'd told Esme he'd needed her thinking him in his study. Alice had told me then that Carlisle was still at work. The hospital was nearly ten miles from our home" Edward looked down at his hands concerned it had been a long time ago now, he'd reacted badly too it and never tried to see if he could go further. It seemed the more familiar he was with a mind the further out he could hear it amongst the buzz of thoughts he always heard. After that he'd only doubled his efforts to hear less from the minds around him.

"It's truly impressive. I'd never even thought that such a thing possible for our kind until I'd met Kate and seen her desire to force her gift to develop and cover more than just the palm of her hands. The fact your ability has developed even in spite of you trying to prevent it shows you how powerful a gift you posses Edward" Eleazer said very much engrossed in all the possibility that could come from this talent getting stronger. His mind already musing on if it was only distance that would grow further and further out or if something more of it came from his power.

"I'd hoped Alice was wrong but she's very rarely wrong" Edward sighed suddenly feeling the need to leave and find Bella to just hold her to comfort his own unease. He knew he had to face it. He'd just wanted so desperately for it not to be getting stronger, he'd already felt cursed by it the thought that as the years continued on it might only grow more made him worried.

"This isn't something you should feel is a burden Edward. It's a gift, I know you struggle with it knowing all thoughts, and I can't imagine it's a happy place to be in the minds of those around you. See it for what it is Edward a way to protect your family, ten miles with a familiar mind without trying you saw that from Carlisle those years ago. Imagine an enemy who you could see from ten miles away. Who could ever hope to come at you and your family to cause them harm when you already see them? Already know their mind" Eleazer said his hand reaching out and squeezing Edward's shoulder, he wanted to convince Edward to talk with Kate or even himself more the idea of helping along such a powerful talent thrilled Eleazer. The possibility that it was something even greater than just a growth in his hearing distance thrilled Eleazer even more, felt like he was a scientist discovering something brand new to this world. Developing powers were so very rare, just as rare as Bella and her latent gift in human form.

"I've never viewed it like that. I've always just felt like I was perversely stealing the thoughts from the heads around me" Edward admitted he'd always felt like his gift was something he shouldn't be proud of. Even when all those who knew of it around him were impressed by it, but all thought about it in a way of how powerful it would make them. How knowing the thoughts of those around them, there in gave them power over them, Edward had never wanted that though.

"That's why you are nothing like Aro. He never had issue with knowing and wanting to know more. I used to believe that his gift was more powerful Edward but I think Aro may have seen what I have not. Your mind reading with its still developing potential is far beyond even him. You and your Bella are going to be a very powerful mated pair once she comes into this life" Edward had to agree he had believed Bella would be a very powerful immortal once she was changed. He'd known that the second he'd seen her block not only Aro but Demetri and Jane's gift. Demetri was a tracker who could follow, a somewhat mind footprint, a brain wave of sorts and when he'd seen Bella he'd seen nothing to tell him she'd ever entered the room at all.

"We should begin in that direction. Carmen is looking for you and Tanya and Kate have finished" Edward changed the subject ready to leave this conversation behind he'd need to think about this all more.

Most of all though, he wanted to return to Bella. He wanted to speak to her and he knew she was ready to speak with him now. He had enough faith in them that she wasn't going to send him away. The reunion they had shared in the hospital hadn't been what he wanted at all. Now with Bella home he hoped she'd let him take her into his arms and hold her. Hold her so he could finally feel inside of him that she was safe and that they were unbreakable.

"Let's go. It's never wise to leave Carmen waiting" Eleazer joked happily.

Even as Edward could see in his mind that Eleazer wanted to talk more about what he'd seen. He didn't doubt for a second that Eleazer and Carlisle would later hold themselves up in Carlisle's study to talk about the theories that Eleazer was starting to think. May be possible with what he'd seen and what he believed may change vampire's views on gifts or talents they had. Edward and Eleazer both moved from the bolder they'd been sitting on Edward giving one last look down at the picture smiling gently as he pushed it into his pocket. It was time for him to let Bella see all of him instead of the parts he'd willingly showed. Even those long lost human parts of him that he'd even tried to hide from himself, Alice had been right. It was time for them both to truly be honest with whom they were. Edward was confident in one thing though, he knew whatever he revealed to Bella she'd find a way to understand and still love him because he knew that there wasn't anything Bella could tell him that he'd not be able to accept. Emmet was right, there was no choice human or vampire Bella was his mate he'd found that bond even while she was human, he knew she felt it too.

There was no time for doubting that now.