A/N Hey everyone, I wanted to get this to you all earlier then I would have done so I'm forgoing sleep to spend time editing this chapter also writing helps chill me out after a tough week. I'm off today my time or tomorrow for most of you guys time zone so I'm hoping to get the finishing touches done on the next couple of chapters I've been writing, I've been really struggling around the chapters 24 and 25 but I'm hoping to get them complete and should I manage that tomorrow then perhaps there will be another chapter this week. Though I can't promise you guys anything but I really am going to try to get more to you, you've all be really supportive even those of you who feel I left you hanging with the same Cliff hanger for two chapters I do apologise for leaving you guys waiting but there was reason. Things need to happen in a certain way and order or else I'd have lots of mess that would be spotted and questioned by you guys and myself later on when things don't fit. So thank you all for being so great and patient with me believe me I'm looking forward to getting this all finished for you as I'm hoping you guys are to reading it all. Anyway let me know what you think and...

Enjoy :)

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 Eighteen

There would forever be moments in Edward's life that stayed with him. That moulded him, even more deeply than anyone would believe possible. Moments of substance and some of brief interactions with another soul in this world that shifted his very being drastically. Edward had always known deep within himself that there were many of these moments in his long existence. For all of the theories of change being impossible for his kind, except for in the rarest of times he'd never truly felt that to be true. He'd felt change in its subtleties and seen it countless times in his life, he'd seen the moment of change in many of his family members over their shared time together.

He'd witnessed the freedom of what had claimed purchase of Rose when she'd killed her attackers, he'd then watched her colder interior buckle under the very love of her mate. He'd watched a woman move past the death of her very own child and abuse of her husband to become a wife and mother to a new family in Esme. Edward had even seen the drastic change of a battle scarred warrior who had turned away from human blood and death which all he knew to repent against his past actions. Edward had seen change many times in his family and while he'd tried to deny any change possible in himself he'd known deep within there had been many times when change had been unavoidable.

While it was true the vampire kind were unyielding and repellent against any form of change his family had lived a much more adaptable life, to blend they'd learned behaviours strange to their kind. His family changed with the times constantly, with written word, spoken word, appearance, even the knowledge they carried. To blend amongst the human kind they'd submerged themselves in they had found a way to change, they'd found something other's of his kind did not find so easily. Edward had undergone those times of change.

He knew that he was experiencing one of those shifts in his very being right now, he knew this awakening of acceptance in both his mortal and immortal self were going to shape his future. Edward knew forever this day would be scarred into his body like the chewed marred teeth marks that covered his neck from his fight with a newborn.

Today the day he lost his father, would change him.

It would change him just as much as the bite Carlisle had delivered had.

It would change him as his rebellion had changed him.

It would change him as much as finally finding his mate.

It would change him as much as the day he decided to become both man and beast.

Those moments that had casted such an influence over his life, none would be so devastating to him though, even through the pain of the change. Even that moment when he turned away from both Carlisle and Esme in search of human blood. The moment he took his first human life for the sins they had committed. Charles Evanson, Esme's human husband. Still to this day he carries with him that memory of the man who caused her so much suffering and snubbing out that vile human's existence. Edward had always known his hunger to seek vengeance or revenge against those who harmed the people he loved would haunt him. Killing those who had hurt Bella was an almost second nature, had he not intended to kill all of those human men who had cornered her in Port Angeles that night so long ago. Had they even been able to lay a finger on her, that night would have ended differently, Edward knew that now more clearly then he knew anything else in his life.

Had even one touched a hair upon her head Bella would have seen firsthand the monster he'd tried to protect her from. Edward hungered for vengeance more than blood in the source of his victims.

He'd want that now too.

He'd barely even said a word since he'd crushed his phone in his hand ending the call from Jasper, Bella had watched him even though she'd felt the same fear. Both knew that this wasn't some simple conversation that had gone bad between the pack and Carlisle. Jasper would only sound like that for something that truly affected him. Jasper was always the epitome of controlled emotion. His gift allowed him that, he could hide his true feelings in most cases even when it felt like those emotions he shared in may buckle him. Jasper would somehow find the strength and will to push it away. Lessen the burden of other's even as he experienced it with them. Edward had heard the pain in Jasper's voice, Bella had heard it too and she knew that something awful had happened.

Tears were quick to come to her eyes, already emotional from the goodbye she'd shared with her mother she feared what had happened in Forks while she'd taken Edward from his family. The guilt was quick to come with the tears then too, had her own need to be with her mother taken Edward away when his family needed him. If the pack had hurt Carlisle there was no redeeming for them in her eyes, even despite his actions and the way he'd spoken to her. Carlisle was a kind and gentle man, a man who had outright tried to defend the pack and save them from a war his family wanted. If they'd hurt Carlisle there would be no room for peace, Bella knew that if her worst fears had come true that Edward wouldn't stop.

That the entire family wouldn't stop.

Edward was already enraged by them, if they'd taken his father from him too she knew it may break a part of Edward she'd never be able to fix.

That scared her more than anything.

"We don't know. We can't know. He might be fine" Bella felt herself trying to speak through her shaken and weak voice, trying to reach Edward. His grip looked so tight on the steering wheel and yet his hand in her own hadn't tightened at all, it was as cold and solid as stone as it sat in her lap unmoving.

"Edward please..." Bella found herself pleading with him to show some kind of response, his speeding was sending the car hurtling forward she couldn't believe the speed they were moving. Yet she trusted him enough to know they wouldn't crash, his need to protect her was strong she knew he'd never risk an accident and yet she felt scared as the outsides seemed to be nothing but blurs of grey, green and brown to her eyes.

"If they've touched him. If they've harmed him... I will take from them what they've taken from me. They would harm my mate, they would come for me and then they would target the one man in this world worthy of redemption from this life" Edward's tone was devoid of any emotion it was cold and lethal a calm whisper that seemed to caress Bella's ears and send the hairs on her very arm upright as she felt a shudder of fear ripple over her. It was the look in his eyes though, for all the struggles that Carlisle and Edward had been going through in recent how badly the relationship they had shared was tattered by the choices being made.

Edward loved Carlisle like a son loved a father, no Bella had to believe it was more than that. They shared something so deeply intimate and close she'd never seen a father and son so deeply linked then Carlisle and Edward.

They had been father and son.

Brothers.

Best friends.

Colleagues.

Teacher and student.

They had shared decades by each other's side, they'd both found joy when the other had finally found their mate. They had shared in each other every joy and hardship of this life, Bella knew losing Carlisle would haunt Edward. She'd known how deeply the confrontation was affecting them both, even though Edward tried to appear strong against it.

"We can't think like that Edward. We have to hope. We have to hope he's okay. That..." Bella lost the words in her mouth because she dreaded it, felt the twist of her stomach as the nausea built in her gut. The feeling that she may only hurt Edward more by giving him false hope then.

Time was finally gone though.

As the car lurched, and swiftly turned into the exit to the Cullen driveway and there a lone figure stood on the Cullen porch.

Jasper stood on the Cullen porch his head casted down as he leant against the wooden railing that wrapped around the elegant plantation like porch. Only when the car stopped did Jasper finally look up from the ground to set his eyes on the car, it was clearly written on his face. Bella sobbed into her hands seeing Jasper's twisted face in despair, the agony almost palpable and then the roar of complete agonized pain that swept past Edward's lips.

The next second Edward's hands viciously slammed into the dashboard.

It would have caused Bella to scream had she not somewhat expected it, his hands had buried themselves deep into the dashboard cleanly snapping and crushing it in. Plastic showered over them both in small shards and the airbags didn't even shift as they blew under Edward's forceful power. Bella hadn't been scared of him though, or what he'd done as she found herself unbuckling her seat belt and trying to move to Edward who had frozen then. She tried her best to cradle his head to her kissing his hair trying to ease his pain while she cried, Jasper moved then pulling open the door of Edward's now useless Volvo. Jasper and she shared one look, she could see that Jasper was struggling not only with his own pain but the pain he was experiencing from Edward too.

"He's gone"

Edward mumbled the words lifelessly his chest heaving forward then as he looked to Jasper, seeing inside his mind. Even as Jasper tried to shield Edward from what he'd seen, what the family had discovered a short time after Edward had left. Esme had gotten worried when Carlisle hadn't tried to contact her, then she'd done her best to reach him at the hospital to only find out he'd ended his shift during the night. It hadn't taken them long to find some trail, Jasper and the family had tried to convince Esme to let them find him. The strange ominous feeling of something being wrong making them feel the need to protect her from seeing anything. It had been Esme who had finally found him though, it had been Esme who had found his remains. Even now as Edward could see the flashes of images of the scene Jasper tightened his own resolve trying to force away, images of a brick wall appearing at the forefront of his mind then. Unshakable and firm, fuelling his own determination with his gift as he tried his best to lock out his brother. As he tried to protect Edward from the scenes of the clearing of the border line.

"You don't want to see that Edward. Don't look. Please don't" Jasper said as he reached into the car snapping the seat belt on Edward at the corner and taking hold of his firmly set shoulders looking to Bella.

"Let me get him out of the car Bella. He wouldn't ever hurt you but it make me feel a lot calmer knowing there is a little space" Jasper said softly as Bella found her arms weakly letting go of her distraught mate, her hands moving to cover her face as she tried to hide her own distress.

Jasper all but pulling Edward's unmoving body out from the car's drivers side removing the shattered steering wheel from out of the way throwing it aside.

"He's gone"

"I know. I know it hurts. Feels like you can't breathe around it but you need to control yourself. We don't get to grieve yet. We don't get to break do you hear me Edward" Jasper said gripping either side of Edward's head as he leant him back up against his car the only sound the soft sobs of Bella who was climbing out of the passengers side.

"Right now we have to be strong. Everyone else they can let this consume them but they need us. We've gotten this far and now we need to fight through it. If we falter now we'll lose everyone. You can't back down now" Jasper said evenly trying his best to level Edward, even if his words were filled with their own pain. With the agony barely being forced down.

Jasper could see it then the ripple of anger, that anger that came whenever someone lost a loved one. That deep anger that made you want to just scream up into the skies and demand answers. That pain that nothing could fix, that made you want to reach out and just break anything close. Jasper pulled Edward close hugging him tightly as Edward pressed his face into the crook of his brother's shoulders his fingers almost breaking into the back of Jasper's skin as he gripped tightly and yelled out only Jasper's shoulder muffling the sound.

Bella could only watch helplessly as Edward seemed to shatter before her very eyes, for all the times they had endured together he had been the one to hold them together. Now as he was breaking she didn't know how to fix this for him, wasn't sure how to be strong enough for him as she only watched him. His muffled cry of pain into Jasper's shoulder showing a side of their brotherly affection she'd never been present too before. She'd always seen the joking and teasing they'd shared in but now seeing that comfort that the two seemed to be yearning for and finding with each other was both heartbreaking and beautiful. She stood watching wiping at her own tears, the thought that Carlisle was dead still not completely settling inside of her. That somehow someone who was immortal was no longer alive. Then the thought of Esme, how this would hurt a woman she viewed as her a mother.

She cried harder then hiding her face from Jasper who looked to her as her pain heightened, Bella knowing this would destroy Esme. Her loving and maternal, second mother. How would she survive without Carlisle, how much her suffering must be now with what had happened? Bella felt any belief that the pack didn't deserve what was coming falling away in her distress and her own anger, forever was drastically changing. How could forever be the same without Carlisle there with them, his kind and gentle guidance to help them throughout their existence.

"She's still out there?" Edward said thinking of Esme pulling away from Jasper then and trying to distance himself from his gift, trying to make it so Jasper didn't suffer more with carrying both of their pain.

"She refuses to leave. The others wouldn't leave her alone. The scents are all over the place. I couldn't... it was too much. I had to contact you everyone else was..." Edward nodded as Jasper struggled to say what he wanted, the emotions had been too much and in trying to hold everyone else together he'd almost been brought to his knees under their pain, in the end he'd needed to contact Edward and escape from the deep torment they were all feeling.

"You'll stay with Bella" Edward said then looking to Bella standing her beautiful face stained with tears, eyes puffy from crying he moved to her pulling his mate into his arms and wanting to squeeze her so tight she'd become part of him but knowing he had to be gentle with her.

"No Edward we'll go togeth..." Edward cupped her cheek shaking his head, he could hear the protest in Jasper's mind too. His brother wishing to stand with Edward and the family, he'd told him he couldn't grieve yet and while Jasper felt guilty for it he was ready to stand by his word too. Stand together with Edward to help their family, he felt a coward hiding here at their home while the family were suffering.

"I don't want you to see him like that. I don't want you to see my father in the state he is now. Remember him alive. Remember him as he was Bella. For the both of us" Edward pressed his lips to her forehead turning to Jasper as he guided Bella to Jasper's side.

"We grieve later. That doesn't mean you have to suffer their pain right now. Prepare yourself though. I'll need you and that gift to help Esme. When I return with her you are to focus on her only, everyone else will bare their pain but Esme will not suffer this without our help" Edward said firmly, he'd need Jasper to take away her agony. He'd need Jasper's gift now more than anything with helping Esme through this devastating moment. For even though he suffered Edward knew his suffering was nothing compared to that of his heartbroken mother.

The pack would pay for this, there wasn't enough sorrow he could bring to them to make them feel equal in the pain they'd caused. He knew though he'd opened this door, he'd targeted Leah in a malicious and cruel attempt to hurt Sam. He'd done it for both need to protect his family and harm the pack. He'd made this personal, more personal then this fight had been to begin with. He'd made the target on those he'd loved even larger, that had been his mistake. He shouldn't have allowed them to run, should have tried to take advantage of the situation sooner. Like Emmet and Jasper had both said, waiting had brought this on them.

He'd failed them all, now not only had they lost Irina but they'd lost Carlisle. He wasn't sure how to fix that, if there even was a way to help his family heal from that kind of pain.

"Edward I should go with you" Jasper tried to argue and while he knew someone had to stay with Bella he didn't want to leave his family without his help. For all the good his gift could do for other's it was also in a way his own curse to be burdened by, feeling the emotions that all other's felt gave him no time to feel his own pain.

"You'll stay with my mate" Edward said with a finality behind his rasped tone, Bella couldn't help but feel like she'd watched a cold hard shell cover over Edward in that moment. Closing himself off from the pain, pushing it away she didn't agree with what Jasper had said they should both be allowed to grieve too. Not pushing it aside they were being fools to think they could just push it down and it not bubble up, hadn't they seen proof of forcing away feelings and hiding emotions.

"Edward please..." Bella reached her hand out to him, her words failing her under the distress and crying she just couldn't seem to say anything. She was failing him by not being strong enough to help him, she couldn't bear the thought of what he might have seen already from Jasper's thoughts or what he was about to see.

"I'll be back soon love" Edward said his eyes even as he tried to hold himself strong she could see the cracks of something inside of his eyes that was screaming to be let out of him. Edward turned from her gaze to look to Jasper nodding only once and then vanishing from her human sight, only Jasper's grip on her stopped her from falling to her knees once he was gone.

Edward ran from his home, the torment of his own thoughts and that of Jasper's chasing him he'd never be able to escape his own mind, his brothers grief, his own. He was going towards his entire families, he knew each and every one of them word be hurting, that this would be hard for them all. All while he carried shame within him, having to face the woman who had been his mother would be the hardest, his choices had brought so many complications for her and Carlisle, it had all but driven a wedge between them. Carlisle had died fearing him and disgusted by the things he'd done, his father who he loved was gone and he'd never be able to earn his forgiveness now. There would be no redeeming for him in his father's eyes, and now his mother would be the one left to carry the burden no immortal should feel.

The loss of her mate.

Edward's choice had brought them down this path, his mistakes and then attempts to fix them had brought them to this future where Carlisle no longer existed. He tried to cast his thoughts aside feeling selfish in thinking of himself and his need for forgiveness in his father's eyes when his mother would be suffering. Edward pushed on harder his feet leaving rough chunks of mud kicking up as he pushed himself more powerfully then he would normally run. There was no grace and fluid movements now he didn't glide over the forest floor barely leaving an impression now he burst through violently and all while still hoping beyond hope somehow he'd break through to the treaty line and find Carlisle still alive.

It wouldn't be what Edward would find though, as Edward broke into the clearing he could instantly smell the scent of wolves, scents mixed in that he wasn't sure he'd taken in before. Adult's, which had become part of the pack. It was the second lingering scents though, the sweet almost sickly plastic scent that lingered toxically after burning one of his kind.

Any scent of Carlisle was fading and fast with all the scents surrounding them now, his family turned to see him.

They stood in small pods clasped together but in a formation that seemed to be blocking him from going to Esme who he could see around gaps of his family members. Carmen was pressed tightly into Eleazer who both looked almost sickly in appearance the second Carmen set her eyes upon Edward turning into her mate and sobbing. Tanya and Kate both stood clasping each other's hands but a steely resolve of anger had clouded over both woman, both minds set. Enough had been enough and no longer would they be told to hold and wait, time for stalling was gone and they wanted revenge, they wanted blood.

For Irina, and for Carlisle.

Emmet was sobbing openly, the mountainous man who placed his very pride upon the safety of his family had never expected to ever lose one of them. This was not sitting well, there was nothing that could be said even as Rose tried now in her pain to comfort her openly sobbing mate there was no reaching him. Alice was the first to move to Edward she appeared almost trembling as she placed her hand out to stop Edward from going forward.

"Don't. Edward you don't need to see this" Alice pleaded but Edward's resolve only tightened firmly as he took Alice's hand and moved it to her side and stepped around her. Edward needed to see this, he had to face this. There was no interruption of him then as they parted there wall of bodies and Edward moved slowly past them.

Esme faced away from him, her back to him, completely still as she sat on her knees, both legs crumpled under her body she didn't make a sound, didn't move an inch.

Her mind did enough.

Edward could hear it like the faintest of whispers. She would have been silenced by the other's thoughts was Edward not focussed only on her, the silent whispered plea that shattered him. Edward froze on his step as his anger filled him again, his need for action and yet he had to push it down because his mother needed him now. She needed him more then he needed blood, and for all Edward's failings to Carlisle he would not fail him now.

Edward would not leave his father's mate in need, he'd not fail Esme. He'd do everything in his power to do that for Carlisle now. Edward moved behind her and she had still not noticed him, too deeply buried in her own mind it seemed, buried in a way that made her almost as silent as his own mate. Shock he had to believe, though he'd never believed a vampire capable of it. His stomach churned though once he finally looked over his mother's shoulder to see what sit in her lap. Edward chewed on his lip then biting into it and feeling the cracks of his own flesh and venom pour over his lip as he looked up into the sky. His hands cracking under his own strength, while they bawled into tight fists at his side.

They'd burned his father's body.

They'd burned every part of him and left the ashes there.

They had burned every part of what had once been one of the greatest men in Edward's life, all the parts but his head.

They'd left Carlisle's lifeless head there for his family to find.

Edward couldn't pull his mind or his eyes from it now though as he looked at what had become of his father. His once handsome face was sagged the skin no longer looking unyielding but like it was beginning the process of decay even if that was impossible. There were deep cracks and marks from teeth scattered over his face, chunks of flesh missing completely. They'd placed something in his father's parted mouth and Edward could only feel the fury rise inside of him. They'd placed a rat in his father's open mouth, he wasn't sure if this was a kind of slander against Carlisle himself or the diet he'd lived by his entire existence. The pack had wanted to hurt them, they'd disrespected and dishonoured a man, honourable and noble who had stood for his beliefs even when it had placed him at odds against his own son.

Edward felt his fingers uncoil as he tried to calm himself, reaching out and placing his hand upon his mother's shoulder and finally she became aware of his presence, of everyone's around her. As if his touch had dragged her back from the brink of her sanity, he'd wished he'd not touched her as the wail that left her lips made him lurch.

"I can't give you what you most want. I can't take the pain away not completely, let me take this burden mother. Let me give him rest, let your family take care of you now" Edward said as he turned to look behind him nodding towards Tanya and Kate who both slowly approached. Edward knew she would struggle, he knew his own family would not have the strength to force Esme away from the only remains of her husband and mate.

"No. I can't leave him Edward. He's still in there. He's not gone, we can fix it. We can fix it" Esme cried out widely shaking her head while her hands clung to Carlisle's head on her lap. There was no bringing him back though, his body burned and his head so badly destroyed there wasn't any way of his survival. If he was still somehow locked away in his own mind Edward could not hear it and Edward knew there was no true way of unlocking that.

Carlisle was gone.

"I'm so sorry mother" Edward whispered as he moved behind her wrapping his arms around her and then lifted her body as her grip fell from Carlisle lifeless head. Edward continued to apologise into his mother's ear as she became ferial and wild in his grip, snarling and kicking against his grips nails scoring into his arms as she tried to force herself free from Edward.

"No. Not my Carlisle. I hate you. I'll hate you forever. Don't do it don't take him from me Edward. Please" Esme begged between hysterical rage and fear, Tanya and Kate both taking her struggling form from Edward.

"Come on Esme let's go home. We can help you" Tanya said but even Edward could see from Tanya's mind she didn't believe her words, she didn't know if there was a single thing they could offer her that would fix these wounds.

"Edward you can't. He's your father. Don't, he's not dead Edward you have to see. Hear his thoughts he's still in there Edward please he's still in there" Esme begged reaching out to Edward in her hysteria believing he was the only one of them that could truly tell her that there was still hope, in Edward she believed he'd somehow be able to give her back Carlisle. It broke his heart that he'd be the one to effectively shatter his own mother.

"He's gone Esme. Carlisle is gone. There is nothing there. I'm sorry" Edward said softly cupping his mother's face in his hands refusing to turn around and look at his father's lifeless remains. There was no thoughts, there was nothing, Carlisle was gone from this world. Edward watched as his mothers face crumbled and then fell limp into Tanya and Kate's hold and cried, heartbreaking sobs of grief. The most devastating of pains, that of the loss of your mate.

"Take her home. Take her home and place her in her bedroom. I'll be back soon and Jasper and I will... the family needs. Esme needs us to be strong now" Edward looked from his own family and that of the Denali.

"Edward you can't be planning on going out there alone" Alice said her own hysteria growing now, where she'd believed perhaps her visions were starting to see around the blackness this had sent her into a tailspin of self doubt.

The very thought of Edward going alone across that border seemed a very likely possibility to her and she couldn't bear it if her angry stubborn brother decided to do that. All while knowing that if he chose to hunt the pack down now they'd have no hope of stopping him, she feared that only more of her family would be lost now.

"No. Not yet. The pack and I will face soon. I have to..." Edward turned away from Alice and his family as he could still hear the distant sounds of Esme screaming and struggling against Kate and Tanya.

Slowly moving towards his father's remains and looking down at the lifeless face of the man he'd most respected and wanted to impress. He'd died not knowing that even in his anger Edward still loved him, that despite all they'd been through in the last recent months he still would have given anything to have his father at his side.

Edward's siblings remained silent then as they watched Edward briefly place a kiss on Carlisle's forehead and then place his head down upon the grey ash. They watched with silent anger and sorrow as Edward was forced to remove the dead rat from Carlisle's mouth and as he flung it clear across the clearing viciously. They watched with helplessness as Edward pulled from his pocket a lighter, and ignited the only remains of the man who had been a father to them all for decades.

To some of them their creator.

Edward sat silently watching with a mask of emptiness, void of any emotion on his face, only his eyes ablaze with an inferno as harsh as the one before him. He didn't turn his eyes away from the burning face of his father, even when his siblings could no longer remain and they left. Edward forced himself to watch every single part of his father's image slowly crumble under the flames that roared over his face. Edward remained alone with his father's ashes, silently cupping his hands together in prayer and closing his eyes to the world and inclining his head towards the sky. Even then as he struggled to keep hold of his faith he knew Carlisle to be a man of greater faith then he. Edward calmly reciting the Lord's Prayer from memory in the form that Carlisle had been most fond of from his time as a human, his past within the Anglican Church.

"Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven..." Edward said so softly that as each word passed from his lips and he struggled around his own grief of his father's death.

The words he spoke became nothing more than a silent movement on his lips, the light breeze collecting up Carlisle's ashes and blowing it across the clearing. Even then though as he spoke the word of the bible Edward knew it would not change his choice, even when he knew that his father would still not wish for other's to be harmed because of what had been done to him. Edward would fail Carlisle in that way, he could only hope that he'd find redemption in his father's eyes by caring for his mother. He could not save the pack from himself now. There was no hope to build bridges. Carlisle had gone to them for some reason, he'd turned from his own family and gone to meet the pack alone.

He'd trusted them and they'd betrayed him and killed him, left him disrespected and dishonoured, for the woman who loved him to find. Edward would seek out each one of those men involved, he'd end them.

"Amen" Edward finished silently before turning to the approaching sound of thoughts on the edges of his mind. The surprise and shock making him shakily rise from his feet.

"Bella" Edward croaked out when he saw her come through the tree line first, her ever silent mind blocked to him but that scent and familiar heartbeat all too ingrained in his very being. He moved to her then catching her and pulling her warm petit body against him, pressing his lips into the crook of her neck as she clung to the back of his hair tightly as he held her off her feet.

Silently standing watching with a sombre smile a stocky brunette male, he stood no taller than six feet in height but had an impressive set of broad shoulders that gave him a somewhat imposing physique. While not nearly as built as Emmet he stood with a confidence that held somewhat of the same mischief behind it. His skin was even paler then most others of his kind a tone that looked like a china doll in colour, a thick jaw and a jagged scar down his jaw and under his chin. Edward turned his face up from Bella's neck and tuned to look at the thoughts that had invaded his mind as he looked to his friend, perhaps the first friend he'd ever made in this life outside of his family.

Xavier.

"I hope you don't mind fella. She was all in a tizzy and well. I've always had a soft spot for pretty eyes" Xavier said in his heavy English accent, and while his tone of voice was teasing and light his mind said everything else.

"I'm here Edward. Whatever, you need. Whoever, you need. Justice brother, just like the old days. Bring the justice where justice is forgotten" Xavier said in his mind, nodding with an iron willed determination in his eyes. Edward only returning his nod firmly. Xavier had taken to the way of hunting that Edward had introduced him to all those years ago with a great passion. Even in those early days it had seemed to awaken something inside of Xavier. A man who as a human had believed the world was filled with far too many crooks and criminals' then good honest people.

"You aren't alone" Edward said as he placed Bella down on her feet and Bella took his hand grateful to be back at his side, she'd been eager to come to Edward and when Xavier had surprisingly arrived before the rest of the family had returned. She'd been willing to trust Edward's once friend with getting her to him without any trouble.

"Ah... Forgotten how bloody annoying that shit was. I'm sure you'll make up for lost time. You'll have to excuses the missus she's a little wary. Rochelle, get your ass over here and meet Eddie" Edward watched as Xavier extended his hand out towards him and while he could see the woman's thoughts he was shocked to see her seem to slowly materialize against a tree and then reach out to take Xavier's hand.

She was gifted, shared a talent that was very similar to one of the guards within the Volturi, Afton.

It seemed though that Rochelle needed to be in contact with an object to blur herself against it unlike Afton's gift of completely making himself invisible to his surroundings.

"I apologise" Rochelle said plainly though he could see from her mind that she wasn't, she was a slightly skittish vampire that had spent a long life submerged and hidden from the eyes of others.

She liked her isolation, she'd been changed when she had been enslaved and brought to America to be sold most likely to a plantation. A vampire had taken a likening to her and changed her, not expecting her to have a gift she'd managed to escape his desires. Rochelle which was a name she'd chosen in the last decade to make it more acceptable then the one she'd all but forgotten amongst the change. Rochelle was a tall and slender woman with shortly cropped hair, her skin had been lightened which gave her an alluring caramel like tone. While she was wary of anyone else she seemed overly eager to take hold of Xavier's hand as she stood even taller then he at his side.

"Seems we've both found an old ball and chain since out time travelling together. Guess we all have to settle down eventually though right? This is my mate Rochelle. Rochelle this is the man who taught me the way we hunt, Edward" Edward found it highly ironic that Xavier considered the way he now fed from his previous way a lifestyle in on itself, even more so that he considered it one of Edward's creation.

"I've heard much of you. Many stories he has shared of your short time together. Had I not known of my mates appreciation of the female form I may have been concerned" Rochelle said with a biting quick wit that had Bella giggling even despite the situation at the rolled eyes of Xavier.

"I am sorry for your loss. We only received word yesterday through your brother, we came as quickly as we were able" Rochelle offered softly while she'd not at first been overly happy about the thought of getting involved with other's problems she knew she owed this vampire much. He'd saved her mates life long before they'd found each other, had also given them both a way to tolerate the hunger and killing in this life. Xavier and Rochelle both took to the hunting of the human wrong doers very happily, while they didn't have the skills Edward did to find those guilty they'd taken to finding them almost like detectives. Solving unsolved cases and then executing their own brand of punishment.

"I'm thankful that you would stand with my family" Edward said but he could see both had found a resolve in standing and fighting when they'd seen the return of Esme. Her frantic struggle and wailing had made them both fearful of that pain and both wished to right the wrong done upon the woman.

"You've met my mate, Bella" Edward looked from Xavier to Bella reaching up and wiping a tear from off her cheek, her eyes heartbreakingly sad and while he couldn't cry he knew he would if he were able. This pain was like a festering infection in his heart that he didn't know how to remove. He'd carry this pain for as long as he was to be allowed to live.

"Yes we've had the pleasure of meeting your human mate. Gotta say almost laughed my damn socks right off seeing that. No offense to you sweetheart" Xavier directed to Bella then smiling a little towards Edward.

"This motherfucker couldn't do anything without the biggest deal being made about it. Bet he's been a right boar to deal with, all that brooding shit I told him. A gothic novel that works a treat, Bram Stoker would have loved him. The real world though, well it's not all that bad" Xavier hissed a little when Rochelle elbowed him, her mind thinking that it was wrong to joke about Edward's attitude even more so when he'd just had to burn the remains of his sire. While they weren't all caught up it seemed Jasper had given them enough information when they'd been alone before the rest had arrived and Xavier had offered to get an increasingly upset human back to her mate.

"Sorry Edward. Me and my big mouth right" Xavier said awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck as Edward shook his head not offended by him, while it had been a long time he knew Xavier well enough from his past to know it wasn't intended to be meant with harm. He spoke before he thought, in some respects he and Emmet were very similar.

"While I'd like to speak with you both. I really must get back to my family. Esme will need..." Edward felt Bella squeeze his hand as he struggled with it, her screams and pleading still very much on his mind.

"You are more than welcome to come back. I know it can be uncomfortable but right now we'll need to stick together. My mother will need me though, she just lost her mate. My sire" Edward said clearing his throat even if it was unneeded and Xavier couldn't help but standing forward and placing his hand on Edward's shoulder. He'd remembered many of the talks they had shared together, how much Edward had respected and loved his parents, not only the human ones but the immortal ones that he'd had in this life.

How guilty he'd felt in the last days they'd shared together, the fear Edward had carried of them turning him away when it had become too much. When Edward had been unable, to even feed for his agony and guilt over all the killing even when it had been the scum of the human world.

"We're here. Just tell us where you need us mate and we've got your back. I told you a long time ago, you only needed to call and I'd be there for you" Xavier said seriously as Bella smiled at the amusing British vampire that she found herself curious of, she was very much interested to learn about the time they had shared together.

"I need to get Bella home" Edward said looking to his mate tenderly, also wishing to have a moment alone with her. Just to hold her close and reassure himself that she was okay, the loss of Carlisle making him feel the need to assure himself that his own mate was perfectly safe.

"I won't be going home Edward" Bella said shaking her head completely refusing the idea of being separated from him or any of the Cullen family, not now. Not when everything had happened, she wouldn't abandon her family during this time, they'd always stood by her side in the past. She needed to show them now they could rely on her too. Esme her mother in this supernatural world would need them all.

"You can argue all you like but it won't change anything. I'm your mate, this is my family. Esme is my mother too and Carlisle. He was a father too me. I won't leave you all alone and go home and pretend everything is okay. I'm not leaving your side, I'm your fiancée. Your partner we do this together or not at all" Bella said strongly as Edward looked at her and while he wanted to protest, didn't really want to send her away, he'd need her. He'd only wanted to protect her from what she may hear from Esme. He knew there was a chance Esme may still react angrily towards him like she had in the clearing, that she may need someone to channel her anger and hate and that he may be the person she decided to channel that anger towards. He was ready for it, he knew it may come.

"Take it from a man that knows. When the lady says something. Usually best to listen, I learnt the hard way" Xavier said using his hand to cover his mother from Bella even as his eyes widened comically and she smiled towards him. She was certainly beginning to see how Edward would have attached himself to this male, of all the nomad vampires who her lonely and guilt ridden mate had found this man in his struggle and befriended him.

"Believe me Xavier it can get much harder" Rochelle said with a grin on her full lips as she moved to Xavier's side and took his hand firmly in her own turning to look between Edward and Bella.

"Your mate has spoken. While I do not know much of a family. Loyalty and friendship are important. You say we stick together I agree. We will stand by your side Edward Masen" Rochelle said in her accented English with a determination that Edward respected, even though she was wary and concerned of the numbers she'd found herself around she'd stand with her mate and the man he saw as a friend to avenge the wrongs done against him. He'd not even felt the need to correct her on his name.

"I won't rush you. Though I'd appreciate us having a talk at some point. Jasper the scarred one. Made a mention of feeding on animals while we stay, while I understand this is your home I was wondering if I could persuade you. I see you have red eyes so I was..." Xavier stopped as he saw the look on Edward's face, the dark menacing glare that made Rochelle reach out and pull her mate closer to her. Edward's anger coming from irrational places, the thought of someone dishonouring Carlisle's home further by feeding on humans. He wouldn't allow it even for a friend.

"It's okay Edward calm down" Bella soothed stroking her hand over his chest as it rumbled slightly, he inhaled deeply trying to calm himself he knew it hadn't been anything he shouldn't have expected.

"I'm sorry" Edward said through his husky tone as he exhaled through his flared nostrils.

"While I don't expect you to feed from animals indefinitely I will not be able to give you any leniency. This is my family's home, our territory. We do not feed from humans. My father would protect these lands and I intend to continue saving the lives of the humans. Those who have crossed my family however I can't offer the same protection and forgiveness he would have. My eyes are red for taking the lives of those who would hurt my loved ones" Edward said deeply turning to Bella and tenderly stroking his thumb along her marked face. He could see that these both answered the curious questions of why Bella was scarred in a way like that, it had been on both immortals minds once meeting her.

"My father may have passed from this world but we are still the Cullen coven and this territory is ours. No human lives will be taken for feeding, if you feel you cannot stay under these rules I understand" Edward said turning back to look at Rochelle and Xavier as he shook his head towards Edward disappointed that he'd angered his friend. He'd known better then try and approach such a conversation, especially when there was more important things then his hunger for human blood.

"I'm sorry Edward. We will stay, I'm sure we can tolerate the diet for a time at least while we stand with your family. Think no more on it, I hear vegetarian diets are good for you anyway" Xavier tried to make light of it but knew not to push the issue, he knew better than many that Edward had a very lethal fighting style he didn't intend on practicing against other then friendly anyway.

"We all appreciate it" Bella said speaking up for Edward then, smiling to Rochelle who looked increasingly concerned and wary now. She had not enjoyed the anger that had flared in Edward but knew that this man was one Xavier still viewed as a friend. She understood grief did many things to a person. There was always just as much anger as pain in mourning.

"Let's go back home Edward" Bella whispered only for him even though she knew both Xavier and Rochelle would be able to hear her, Bella tip toed up pressing her lips under his tense jaw.

"Let's help our family" Bella said trying to do her best to show Edward that he could rely on her and that she could be strong for him now, so he could then in turn be strong for his family. Even despite all the dangers that had surrounded them, neither had ever expected to be faced with such loss. They'd lost a father and a leader, taking charge wasn't even a choice anymore for Edward, he'd need to take that place now to hold his family together in their grief.

He hoped the pack were ready, because he was coming and he would bring untold violence and devastation upon them.

The pack were going to suffer, he swore that upon his father's ashes.