A/N Hey everyone, first I'd just like to make a quick note to both Moosals and Purex50x who have both placed Red Dawn on the communities that they have. It always means a lot to me when not only you guys add me to your favourites and alerts but it's also cool seeing Red Dawn added to communities where other's who haven't read this story yet can see it. I'd like to think I've got some of the coolest readers, you all seem very open with messaging me and letting me know what you think. Even when it's to tell me off for things I've missed or things I can fix here and there, it's really fun to be able to interact with people like that. Especially when I know you all do it only to help along my writing, you've all made this return to writing very enjoyable for me. While I don't like to start thinking of other story ideas until I've completely finished something I've written I have to be honest and say you may have brought me back completely. Already ideas are forming that I have to push aside for now until after Red Dawn, first I have to complete and clean this one up though. I know Red Dawn means a lot to me and from what some of you guys have said it means a lot to you also so I don't want to let any of you down with that. Anyway I'll stop boring you with my authors note and let you all get into the newest chapter, as always I hope to get another up this week but if not be back same time next week :P...

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 Twenty

Edward and Bella remained curled against each other in the small space of the Aston Martin. Bella had moved into Edward's lap eventually as she'd tried to hold him together in his almost hysterical grief. Not that she'd been able to hold herself together any better. They had not said another word but the sounds of their cries and the soothing shushes and tender brushes of lips as both tried to ease each other through what they knew was going to happen.

Neither said another word as Edward pressed his face into the crook of Bella's neck and she'd clung to his hair tightly holding him there, they had never been more open and vulnerable in that moment as they mourned. Together they mourned so much.

The death of a father, the reality of losing a mother, and even the future that they had both believed.

All they could hold onto was the love they had for each other. All they could rely on was that they had each other in that moment. Neither one of them spoke about things that moved through their thoughts, Edward grateful for Bella's silent mind more so then ever before. Being able to only hear his own thoughts and pain while still being able to offer physical comfort as Bella too comforted him. For everything that had happened Edward couldn't believe that he'd never be able to earn his father's forgiveness. That his father may have died believing him a monster or that he even hated him, he'd told him to leave and now he would never return.

It twisted in Edward like a knife, when they all should have been happy, when he should have been able to ask Carlisle to stand at his side as his best man at his marriage to Bella. Edward would never get to share that with Carlisle now, it had been taken from them all. The fact that Edward knew Esme too would be leaving him only hurt more, he'd lost his human parents and now he would be expected to let go of those who he'd honestly believed would never leave him. Once again he would be an orphan to this world.

"I'll never be able to earn his forgiveness. He died hating what I was" Edward sobbed brokenly as Bella found herself forcing his beautifully heartbroken face up to meet her tear stained face.

"Carlisle never hated you. Don't you ever think that, he loved you. He loved you so much Edward, he was confused. He was struggling with the choices of our family but he never hated you." Bella said firmly trying so very hard to control her tears, at the sight of him.

She couldn't stop thinking about that picture in his wallet, that image of human Edward with his human parents and now knowing that she couldn't save him from that same pain again. He'd lost Edward Senior and Elizabeth and now he'd lost Carlisle and they were sure that Esme would leave too, she didn't want to be angry but she couldn't help it. She understood and yet she didn't, why had Carlisle gone to the wolves. Why would he have done that, placed himself in harm's way. All that his choices had brought down on them all because he'd refused to see. She couldn't voice her anger though because she didn't want to hurt Edward.

"I don't want to let her make the choice. I don't want her to make the choice. I know what she'll decide and I don't want her too. She's my mother, she's the remaining living part of Carlisle and I'm failing. How can my family believe I'm any leader when I'm failing my parents? I've failed them already" Edward tried to move his hands to cover his face but Bella's hands remained in place holding the sides of his head and leaning forward to press her lips gently to his forehead. His arms going limp under her kiss as they lowered and then wrapped around her back tightening around her holding her closer. Needing her still even closer to him than he already had her.

"You haven't failed us Edward. You can't blame yourself for this." Bella hated seeing how he was blaming himself, hated that she was watching him break before her.

His self loathing, his doubt and belief he was to blame for everything, she couldn't let him carry this though. Not the guilt of Carlisle being killed, she refused to let him carry that on his shoulders it would destroy him eventually if he was expected to take on that blame. Even more so if Esme truly did make the choice to join her husband and mate in death, she couldn't allow Edward to shoulder that burden and blame. It would destroy everything he was.

"Carlisle made the choice Edward. He made the choice to meet the pack. You aren't to blame for what Carlisle decided to do. He alone placed himself in harms way, after everything that has happened. He risked his life and he risked Esme's. I loved Carlisle but I won't let you carry this. You can be angry at me but only Carlisle and the pack can be blamed for his death and what it has done to Esme" Bella said firmly the traces of her anger at Carlisle slipping past her control, she wouldn't let Edward carry that blame not when there were others who deserved it more.

She would never think to dishonour Carlisle or his memory but he had lost himself, even though she herself hadn't wanted the pack killed. Even though she'd not wanted or wished to believe they had to fight she'd understood that there was no longer a middle ground, it was us against them.

Pack against Cullen.

Carlisle should have never gone to them alone, or gone when he'd been told to leave. Her mate wouldn't be blamed for something he'd had no idea of, he'd been watching over her no doubt when Carlisle had made that choice. She'd love Carlisle and she'd miss him every day but she wouldn't deny she was angry too, angry that her last memory of him would be a sad one where she'd not recognised the man she'd come to see as a father.

"I know, it was his choice that put him there. I can't help but feel I allowed this to escalate. I let him slow my choices on dealing with the pack. Now they've killed my father, for all his actions and feelings against me I still wish he could have seen I was only trying to protect us all. And Esme..." Edward struggled his mind moving back to his mother who he should still be with, helping instead of hiding away from what her mind pleaded for. The shame he felt for fleeing when he should be standing strong still ever present.

"I know her pain. When I thought I'd lost you, when I went to the Volturi. I couldn't live in a world without you. I couldn't bear you ever coming to harm again Bella. I couldn't, I feel so guilty while I feel so much despair and hate in my stomach I feel relieved it isn't you that has been harmed again" Edward whispered looking into Bella's eyes, desperate for a distraction from his pain and from the thoughts that haunted him from his mothers begging and pleading he needed his mate.

"I can't lose you Bella. I couldn't..." Edward pressed his lips to Bella's then, desperate and needy as his fingers slipped beneath her shirt caressing the warm soft flesh of her back.

The kiss that they shared then was not one of their usual affection and love, and while it still held the bond it was filled with sorrow, both still tormented and stricken by the loss of a loved one. It was needy in every touch and lingering caress, as they pushed closer together it was proof that both of them were still there. That while they had lost, and would perhaps continue to lose, they wouldn't allow each other to lose one another. For the first time in either of their relationship they used the comfort of flesh and intimacy to distract them from the pain that lingered and promised to never leave them. Bella's hands tugging and pulling on Edward's hair as he rocked her body slowly over his own, neither thought about how this was wrong and that they were doing something more intimate then they had ever shared before.

It didn't matter though, their love seemed the only thing that could make them feel anything other than the pain and they would take advantage of that. Perhaps later they would allow themselves to regret how things had progressed, but then it was all they could do to hold themselves above the rising water that promised to drown them in their grief. As Edward's tongue stroked along the pulse of Bella's neck his fingers slipped beneath the waistband of her panties, his cool touch sending sparks along her skin and making her whimper while her pelvis jerked.

They found the escape that they had needed.

While their family very well may never recover they both selfishly clung to each other. As Bella allowed Edward to touch her in ways he'd not so done before, his fingers intimately entering her with a gentleness that she'd not expected in their urgency for more. The moment for Edward when Bella's warm little hand cupped along his hardness and stroked over his crotch. The feral pleasure filled him as she'd palmed him and made him feel more then he'd ever believed before, for all he'd seen in minds he'd never truly known.

Hearing thoughts didn't prepare him for the reality of her touch.

His fingers tugging at her zipper opening her jeans more for his hand as he peeked at the lacy panties, hidden before from his view stretched with the intrusion of his hand. Edward's thumb circled against her sensitive nub, eliciting a peel of such pleasurable sound from his little mate, sound that he could never but hope to create with any instrument. Edward felt like the very world drained of colour as his vision focused on Bella only, her sight centred only on the face of the man she loved. The world faded around them as they found in each other an escape both their tattered hearts had needed.

"Forever..."

"Always..."

"Please..."

"Love..."

Words that fell from both of their lips as they clung to each other panting roughly, bodies both aching unusually for more and yet still alive with satisfaction. Neither regretted what they'd shared but knew it hadn't been what it should have. They'd both fallen into desperate need of each other. What should have been another step towards finally completing their mated bond, had become tinged with heartbreak and sadness.

Bella rested her head on Edward's chest, heaving a heavy breath, Edward's hand still inside of her jeans. His lips pressed into the crown of her hair, Bella's own hand tightly pressed against the hard twitching bulge that lay beneath his own jeans crotch. It should have been more romantic, for all the time they had waited and wondered. The first time they'd truly touched and brought themselves to blissful release had not been what either had believed it would be. They had allowed themselves to get carried away, needing that closeness. Edward couldn't help but wish he'd had it within himself to stop them and yet he could regret it either, he'd not wanted his first orgasm brought on by her touch to be in his car.

Like some hormonal teenager.

Even the thought brought a slight amusement, even if it was somewhat bitter. At least he could cling to the memory of the pleasure he'd brought to her in his bedroom before she'd accepted his proposal, he felt like he'd disrespected her somehow by doing this here. In the manner in which he had done so too, he could only hope that Bella did not feel he had used her or taken advantage in any way.

"We got carried away" Bella said already believing she'd know what had brought on Edward's silence, feeling the strange sense that she knew that this had in some way been wrong. Even though, it had felt so good. It had felt beyond good, it had given her a moment. Even as brief, as it may have been, of freedom from the burden of what they would have to return to soon.

"Yes we did. I feel I owe you an apology and yet I can't seem to regret it. I needed you, I still need you. It wasn't how I thought we'd progress and it isn't the ideal time but... It was still... it was amazing" Edward whispered and he didn't want to break the intimate contact his fingers had with her but could feel the tender twitch of her around him and didn't want to make her sore. Bella whimpered softly clutching at his shirt her hand slipping over his crotch to his thigh and gripping tightly as Edward found himself hissing along with her moan.

"Jesus" Bella panted roughly feeling the ache, she'd not expected to feel an ache from his fingers and yet then when she saw his long fingers move from her she wasn't that surprised. She'd always before made countless comments on the sheer length of his long fingers, she was however slightly embarrassed to see the signs of her arousal from her orgasm on his fingers.

"I'm sorry" Bella apologised as Edward shook his head, she couldn't help but feel relieved there hadn't been any blood though, she'd assumed. Maybe she was naive but he'd felt so deep inside of her with his fingers she'd believed her virginity would have been taken simply by that, she was relieved however there was none. It was a fear she'd not thought to worry over until that moment he'd curled his long fingers deliciously inside of her.

"You have nothing to apologise for love" Edward whispered pressing his lips again to her hair, his eyes turning to his finger coated in her arousal. The desire to taste was overwhelming and yet he felt a small amount of embarrassment should Bella find that strange of him, she had no idea just how good it smelled. That it could only possibly be beaten by the very scent of her blood.

"I thought there would be blood, did you not break my... I just well you were so...ugh sorry this is humiliating" Bella looked down shifting uncomfortably on his lap then not able to meet his gaze. She felt like such a naive ignorant idiot that she didn't know nearly enough about sex, here she had been begging for more and yet she had no idea about half of what was to be expected.

"Love, don't. You don't have a hymen love." Bella looked up then to Edward surprised and yet shaking her head, she'd never had sexual intercourse so of course she must have had a hymen.

"I'm a virgin" Bella blurted.

"I know. I know I'll be your first. Sexual intercourse isn't required for you to break your hymen though love. There are many things that could have caused you to have broken your hymen. Some woman aren't even born with them, it's different for everyone. I can tell though, well my sense could tell. There's a certain fragrance that one carries before they've had sex" Edward explained to Bella trying his best to dispel her concerns, he'd not known of course until he'd been touching her of her lack of a hymen. He'd known though that he was Bella's first even without his sense that allowed such knowledge he'd trusted her when she'd told him she'd been with no other.

"I'm so embarrassed. I'm 18 years old and I don't know anything about..." Edward shushed Bella softly leaning forward to press his lips against her cheek tenderly, lovingly as he cuddled her closer to his body.

"I'm a lot older Bella with just as little experience. It's nothing you need to feel embarrassed about" Edward shook his head smiling at her softly, once again reminded by how simply she'd been able to pull his mind away from what lay ahead for them. He leaned forward resting his forehead against her own sighing gently as he brushed his lips against her own.

"You don't regret what..." Edward had to ask, he had to know that she didn't feel they'd made a mistake. Bella had been completely correct in the fact that they had allowed themselves to get carried away, he could only hope now that she didn't feel this had been a mistake.

"No. Not at all. I... I don't regret it. I don't want you to regret it either. We both agreed we were ready for more, we're upset. We needed each other things got a little more..." Bella blushed which only brought a gentle smile to Edward's face that even with how far they had come in physical intimacy she still blushed for him. It would be one of the things he'd most miss when she was finally like him, when her cheeks no longer turned that shade from her blush.

"I don't regret it Bella. I love you, I just... I wish we had done this under more appropriate circumstances. Not while mourning, not in the front seat of my car" Edward said honestly, they'd clung to each other in desperation and need for proof and intimacy that they still had each other he knew that. Knew that the physical intimacy they had shared had come from a place of grief, while he didn't regret it he certainly couldn't help but wish he'd had the strength and control to get them somewhere more appropriate.

"I guess we're just like every other teenage couple. Experiencing things like this in a car is pretty normal" Bella whispered then moving her eyes to fix them back on Edward's a little impishly, Edward smirking at her even if it still didn't reach his eyes.

"I love you" He said huskily eyes stinging. How could he feel so much love and pain at the same time, he felt so much but yet she seemed to still make him feel whole while he should be feeling completely broken. He didn't know if he should feel wrong for feeling some sense of peace with her while all other's he cared for still were shattered by their own pain.

"I love you too Edward" Bella said confidently her eyes seeing that hint of struggle and wrapping herself around him again as they enjoyed that closeness that still gave them more peace then they believed themselves allowed to feel. Embracing tightly both realising the truth of how deeply their love could help them push aside that pain and yet recognising that in their love they could help each other carry the sorrow too.

Eventually the two would part and gain some at least semblance of composure, Bella had been ready to return to the Cullen home but had come against Edward's protests. The reason for leaving had been to give them all the chance to decompress instead of attacking one another but Edward recognised and knew that Bella needed to eat. Even if she refused to do so at that moment he knew that he couldn't keep allowing her to skip meals. He wouldn't allow anything to compromise her health especially while still healing. He also knew that beneath his logical argument there was still some reluctance to return to his family.

Edward he hadn't handled things well at all, by now he knew that his family were likely completely aware of what he'd attempted. Jasper too likely would have revealed to them what it had been that Esme was requesting though he doubted they'd speak of it openly. No one wanted to think over that. Edward himself didn't want to linger on that thought even though he knew they would need to address it. He didn't want to become like Aro, didn't want to keep a member of his family forced to some kind of prison through the gifts of others. Even though it twisted in his gut, made him believe he could physically and literally become ill from the very thought. Edward knew that Esme would have to be the one to make her choice. Not one person in the family could be expected to make it for her, even if they all wanted her to live.

Either way if Esme made the decision to join her mate, his father Carlisle, as she'd begged, the family would never be the same again. Edward had always viewed Carlisle and Esme as the heart and soul of the very family. He wasn't sure how the dynamic of their family would work without them. Without that love and compassion that had guided them throughout the ages they'd lived together. All Edward could do now was wait, wait and try to hold his family together. Bella was right to challenge him after how epically he'd lashed out against Emmet, he'd looked for some form of confrontation and almost lost his damn mind. He would have taken a bite of Emmet knowing even with his gift that Emmet's initial anger had already waned once he'd slammed Edward down.

Edward knew that it had only been her command that had levelled the aggressive side of his nature, the monster as he'd once before seen it completely stopping under his mates influence. Edward squeezed Bella's thigh gently as she turned to him smiling softly, her beautiful eyes just as conflicted as his own. He pulled his car to a stop in front of the basic but still modest diner that hosted most of the towns option for meals that weren't home made. It had a steady flow of customers during all hours and the elderly couple that ran it had run it for nearly forty years, the family having it throughout the owner's side for even longer. It had been a hangout for many of the teenagers that attended Forks high school not that either Edward or Bella had ever taken to spending time there.

They'd never before actually come here together and Edward had never had reason to come here, but he knew Bella and Charlie had been here a few times in the beginning of her move to Forks. In those times when he'd watched over her silently and confused over his feelings, he remembered watching her with Charlie eating in silence so unsure of himself and the human that had taken his attention. Never had he known then what he had learned now, as he'd opened his eyes to what had been changing within him. It reminded him of a time now that seemed just as long ago as many of the things that had happened throughout his existence.

"We could have gone home Edward. I'm okay really" Bella tried once again but was met only with Edward's shaking head, leaning over to press a kiss to her stitch covered cheek. He'd need to have them removed for her soon, he felt himself wince at the thought. Carlisle who had been in charge of her care, now he'd either have to do it himself or trust a human staff member at the hospital to take over Bella's care. There was so much that had to be dealt with, so much he didn't want to have to face still.

"We're here now, love. You need to eat, you haven't and... Even if you aren't hungry we can take something back to the house with us. Just in case" Edward said and Bella found herself quickly agreeing just to not give him any issues about it, she'd noticed the struggle that had washed over his face.

Something his mind was thinking that made him try to hold himself back, she'd do anything to save him any pain. It wasn't something she could give him though, so not arguing about his need to take care of her was something she could make easy on him.

"Charlie's here too. He's seen us" Edward added then but his tone wasn't open now, it was harsher with a coldness too it that made even Bella shudder against it.

"He's eating with Sue" Edward added his eyes changing to an onyx colour as he exhaled through his flared nostrils. Bella reaching too his hand, on her thigh rubbing her thumbs over the cool smooth skin on the back of his hand.

"We should go Edward. You don't have to be around them. After everything that's happened, let's just go back home to our family" Bella said with more urgency then, she knew that Edward wasn't nearly in the right frame of mind to control himself.

No one would even expect him too, she couldn't risk him seeing something in Sue's mind and reacting to it not only in front of Charlie but the others in the diner. Bella also wanted to keep Edward away from Sue, after he'd killed her daughter Leah, Bella couldn't believe that any face to face meeting would ever go well and she wanted to protect Charlie from the wraith of Sue. She knew how hard he was taking being forced out from his friends, even if it made her somewhat relieved.

"Charlie has already seen us. Its fine, I can handle this. I'm by no means innocent in the hate that Sue carries for me. I won't do anything to disrespect Charlie" Edward said with clear acceptance, he'd taken from Sue her daughter. She'd been somewhat an innocent in comparisons to many of the other wolves, she'd hated what she was, had only been in the fight against his family and the Denali under orders. He'd targeted her because he'd wanted to hurt Sam, he'd killed Leah because he knew the effect such an attack would have. Edward knew that Sue had every right to hate him.

"We won't stay. We'll order something to go and then we're going straight back to Esme" Bella said this time turning Edward's face away from the diner to look at her. There was no argument with her, if Charlie had seen them it would only raise questions if they'd decided to then leave.

Bella and Edward exited his car and Bella found herself moving quickly to her mate's side taking claim of his hand, needing to tether herself to him. She trusted him more than anything but she knew Edward better now than she ever had before, all his warnings in the past about his darker more aggressive nature weren't pushed aside in her mind anymore. She didn't react as she once had and simply believed that he was just overly cautious and protective of her, she'd once believed he was too filled with his self loathing to truly be honest about how little danger he posed. Even though she'd always known what he was she'd just never tied him to those of the traditional vampires she'd known of. Now she knew differently, that even her once controlled and calm vampire love had his limits and that they were gone now. Broken in a moment of her own foolish creation and now she'd need to help him, help Edward through the moments where his patients and anger would be tested. She couldn't hope to stop him as any of his family would but perhaps with his feelings for her she'd be able to reach him in a way other's could not. Like she'd had too when he'd been ready to tear into Emmet's throat when things had escalated at the house.

Bella could see Charlie already standing up from the booth he'd been sat at waving over at her as Bella smiled to her father, so blissfully ignorant Charlie looked happier than he had. Unaware of all the turmoil that was happening in her life, it made her feel only even more guilt ridden that her father who had made such a visible change since her hospital visit could never know the truth. Bella also couldn't help the fear that Sue or someone else from the tribe were to tell Charlie the truth, that they could very well give him their own twisted view of what was happening. They'd place him in unthinkable danger if they breathed even a word and yet she knew she'd never be the one to tell him. She knew her father, knew that he wouldn't be able to live in the world that had taken claim of her. He'd never be able to see past what the Cullen's were, he'd never be able to look at people she loved and cared about as anything but criminals. That he'd only have proof to his once former view of Edward, Charlie would never understand the things Edward had done. Even if he'd changed his very diet to not need to hunt humans, the fact that he had at some point would be guilt enough that Charlie would believe him worthy of punishment.

The law was there for a reason with her father and in the supernatural world, the laws of humans just didn't hold any true value. She lived in a world with one law, that the secret must never be revealed and it was one she'd been given a pardon for simply because of her fate to become one of the immortals. No, Bella would forever be happy to keep Charlie ignorant to what lay dormant in his town that he'd lived all his life. Even though one day she'd have to break his heart to leave her human life behind she knew it was her burden to carry, Charlie couldn't know about shifters, vampires and children of the moon.

"Bells" Charlie called over waving slightly with a grin, Bella raising her hand slightly to wave back, she couldn't help but take sight of Sue still seated across from her father.

Sue looked sick, her normally darker bronze russet tone had a sickly pallor to it, there was bags beneath her usually bright eyes that made her look like she hadn't slept. Even her cheeks were more pronounced as her face had evidently lost weight. Sue looked even in her soured expression still to be taking Leah's death horribly. She could only imagine what must be running through her mind as Bella turned up to look at Edward to see him eyes locked and fixated on the woman. There was a deathly expression on Edward's face, one that made her shiver in a way that made her glad she'd not been present for the night of her attack. She imagined there would have been a similar look upon his usually handsome face when faced with those who tried to come between her injured and dying and him.

It made Bella want to take him and run, force him away from the diner and whatever it was he could see in Sue's mind that had darkened his attitude. He'd been somewhat set in his belief that he'd be able to control himself and yet Bella didn't believe that it was true, he looked ready to leap clear across the diner to get at Sue. Human and incapable of defending herself against a supernatural as powerful as Edward, for all the confrontation between the pack and her family she couldn't agree to harming those who were human. She didn't believe Edward believed that was right, for all the hushed comments she'd heard about dealing with the pack there had never been any mention of those human who knew.

Those who were imprinted or the council members, even Billy and all his manipulative deceit he'd played part in hadn't been mentioned as a target. Humans were of no real threat to them after all, it was only the members of the active pack that were to be destroyed. The look on Edward's face however promised for more than just the pack being destroyed.

"Edward please, you need to calm down" Bella whispered trying her best to dispel whatever was coming over Edward, whatever offense Sue had committed in her mind to bring forth this reaction. Edward remained silent, almost a mirror image in his struggle as he had been that very first day in biology class so long ago now. On the edge between the man he was and the vampire instincts that ruled parts of him he'd always believed needing forced aside in favour of humanity.

"Bells... I didn't expect to see you till tomorrow. Hey Edward, you okay kid?" Charlie had finally approached the two of them as they'd stood awkwardly in the entranceway of the diner, Charlie taking notice of the somewhat puffy redness to Bella's eyes and then Edward's colder appearance. It was disconcerting to Charlie, for all his time around Edward he'd seen him as an aggravation and also as a god send, but his appearance seemed to send warning bells off in Charlie's head he'd never before allowed himself to be aware of. Something wasn't right, the part of the human mind that tried to warn them of a predator that they usually barely noticed was ringing loud and clear.

"Yeah we decided to get something to eat. Edward and I thought we'd grab something to take back to the Cullen's home with us" Bella said softly doing her best to take the attention Charlie was paying Edward away from him and to her.

"That's good. You need to eat, keep your energy up. How did everything go with taking Renee to the airport, I'm sorry I didn't get to see you guys off this morning but... there was something at the station that needed handling" Bella knew that was a lie but didn't challenge Charlie on it, she was positive he'd either been avoiding facing Renee leaving again or still upset from the arguments he'd had with Billy and Sue over the phone. Charlie wasn't an overly emotional person, when he reached those levels he distanced himself and she'd never before heard Charlie as angry as he'd been on the phone.

"Yeah she was okay. I'm going to miss having her around but you know how mom is, doesn't like sticking to one place for long. I'm sure she'll call me when she lands, unless she forgets. She wanted me to thank you for letting her stay" Bella said and Charlie shook his head rolling his eyes, it wasn't like there was really anywhere close by that she could have stayed. They'd both wanted to be close to Bella.

"Well you two kids order whatever you're getting and come sit with Sue and me. I feel like I'll never get to see you with everything that you've got going on in your life" Charlie offered which only worried Bella more the last thing she believed would be of any good was having Edward and Sue so close together, Edward while his face seemed oddly relaxed now was still completely silent.

"Dad we don't want to intrude... this is a date right? I know you haven't had chance to spend time with each other recently" Bella said awkwardly trying to veer away from sitting with her father.

"It's no intrusion Bells. Sue was asking about you anyway" Bella was surprised by this but then worried that perhaps Sue might have been fishing for information from Charlie for members of the pack. It would explain why Edward had reacted so badly once he'd entered into the diner.

"We'd be happy to join you Charlie. While we wait for our food" Edward spoke out then smoothly and calm, his words came out almost too smoothly it almost reminded her of the effect first meeting Tanya had. He was using that dazzling quality, she didn't know if that should have her more worried than anything else.

"Let me get your guys food. It ain't much but consider it congratulation on the engagement" Charlie smiled between them both then reaching forward and giving Bella's arm a soft squeeze.

"Garden burger I'm guessing. How about you, Edward?" Charlie asked already leaving and walking towards the counter as Edward wrapped his arm around Bella's waist leaning to press his lips to her hair inhaling deeply.

"The same Charlie" Edward replied while directing Bella towards the far booth that still had Sue seated at where she and Charlie had been eating their own meals together.

"What are you doing Edward?" Bella said in a harsh whisper more than ready to call his siblings to ask for help, believing he may have lost himself to his anger even if outwardly he showed no signs like he had before.

"We're just waiting for the food and then we'll go home Bella. Nothing more" Edward said too agreeably that even Bella found herself not believing him as she moved to sit beside Sue but found Edward blocking that path as he then moved in to sit there. Bella's eyes widened seeing Edward close the distance between himself and Sue, Bella could see just how disgusted and enraged Sue looked then as Edward boxed her in. The only exit from the booth for Sue now, was by getting past Edward. Sue pressed herself closer to the wall pushing her plate away from her turning her face away from either of them and fixing it on the window and the cars outside of the diner.

"Filthy murderer" Sue muttered but even Bella was able to hear the poor attempt at subtle name calling, this would escalate far too much. She could only hope with Charlie close enough by that both would be able to show some false civility.

"Mud-slinging. Your people have always been good at it. I am a murderer at least I've never tried to hide that. No innocent has died at my hands either, unlike your daughter" Edward said back with a velvety tone that would have made any passer by believe he was talking about anything as normal as the weather and not trying to emotionally attack the woman beside him.

"Stop it" Bella hissed at Edward but her glare was fixed on Sue.

"You are a disgrace. You dishonour your father and...argh..." Bella watched horrified as Sue's face had turned to her mid tirade about to yell at her. It hadn't been her anger that had horrified her though it had been the sight of Edward's eyes, even with his contacts in place they'd almost glowed briefly behind them bright red in colour. His face turned to Sue and then the entire diner had gone silent, deathly silent as he'd rested his finger tip on Sue's arm and Sue had fallen silent too coughing roughly as if the words on her lips had been pulled from her body.

It had only been as Bella had looked around that Bella had noticed the complete stillness and silence of everyone else around the diner, people looked frozen almost in positions. None seemed aware in their eyes like Sue who was stiff and frozen looking right at Bella, even Charlie who was standing across at the counter was frozen in mid pause. Only the slight movements in the chests of those around her, shoulders rising and falling showed that they were breathing.

"Edward" Bella gasped out and for the first time believing she knew already what he'd done, was this that strange growth in power, the ability to force his will. To push thoughts forward, she'd not seen what he'd done before but had heard a little of it, she'd assumed it something like an alpha command this however was so much more. So much more terrifying then she could have ever expected, she didn't believe even Edward knew what he was doing his eyes still focussed solely on Sue.

"Edward, are you doing this" Bella reached over to touch him but her hand paused briefly before making contact with him. Whatever Sue had been thinking and about to say had triggered something inside of him, it had awoken that part of his growing gift that he'd not been able to control when he'd wanted.

"You will never insult my mate again" Edward snarled and then everything seemed to come to life around them as Edward broke contact with Sue's arm. Bella was still frozen in her own shock.

Sue seemed to simply turn her head away from looking at Bella like nothing had happened at all. She had to look around the room to see if anyone had noticed and yet it seemed none were directing glances towards them, she couldn't believe what she'd seen. It wasn't like he'd frozen time but he'd stopped every single person within the diner, time hadn't stopped the large clock above the counter had still continued on ticking but everyone else had returned to themselves and what they were doing or saying as if time had stopped.

"What the hell did Edward just do?"

It was the one thing that Bella couldn't get over, what she'd just seen she couldn't believe it, she'd been the only one unaffected by it everyone else had seemed to be pulled under whatever Edward had done. When Edward's and Bella's eyes met though it seemed he was just as confused as she was, he shook his head reaching over the table clasping at her hand. His brow furrowed, his anger had gotten the best of him and when faced with Sue who had only been readying to insult Bella he'd not been able to stop himself.

He'd protected Bella even if it was only through words that Sue was going to say. Edward felt like his gift that was no awakened was starting to misfire, what he'd just done could have been fatal to him and his family. They were at such risk of exposure with all that was happening already he could have very likely revealed everything all by his own hand for simply being incapable of controlling it. He couldn't pull his mind away from what he'd done.

All he'd wanted was for it to stop.

He'd wanted it to just stop, the thoughts Sue was having the words that she was about to direct at Bella. The sight of them, the pack and the council celebrating about the death of his father. They had celebrated the killing of his father, Carlisle around a bonfire on the La Push beaches last night, as he'd been unaware they had shared joy at killing his father. It had been what had enraged him so much, the depravity of being that joyous, seeing those smiling faces and jokes made at his creators expense. Sue had wanted to hurt him for his killing her daughter, she'd wanted to show him how little respect they had for his leader as Edward had with disposing of Leah. She'd seen her daughter's body once the pack had returned it to her, the awful effect of the venom through her system had hollowed out portions of her face while at the same expanding and swelling areas. Leah while once would have been considered a Native American beauty was a mangled mess of distorted flesh after the poison he'd inject in her had worked its final influence. Sue hated Edward, couldn't wait until he joined his devil father on the fire and she'd made that clear. He'd wanted to kill her, even though she was human and by no means a threat to him, he'd wanted to end her for her thoughts.

"STOP"

He'd heard the word echoed back at him from every single mind in the room, heard the rough tenor of his own mind as it vibrated and echoed around him. His touch on Sue had seemed to claim some kind of giving her still a sense of what was happening, as every mind around him went completely silent he could still hear her panicked thoughts, that she was choking on her words she'd been about to say. He'd been lost to Bella as he'd been solely focussed on Sue, his touch making him feel like he had some strange control over the woman, as she'd pleaded to her god thinking she was dying. Edward had made the demand that she'd never insult Bella and he'd seen the moment his command not only verbal but mentally had sunk into Sue in a way that seemed to open her mind completely to Edward. As if he could see the command literally move through her thoughts and cement itself there.

Then he'd broken contact with her and everything had remained as it had before he'd done whatever it had been. He'd expected Sue to at least remember but even she like all other's seemed completely unaware, only he and Bella seemed to have seen what had happened. It scared him beyond any measure, he couldn't understand how he'd done it or what it had been that he'd done. In his anger and need for her to stop before he lost his composure it had snapped into place like it knew what to do with his expressed command. Just like it had happened before and he'd been unaware of it.

"We need to go love" Edward whispered to Bella urgent in his need to distance himself from this diner and the incident he'd just created, Bella stood from her booth reaching for his hand as Charlie was moving towards them.

"You two leaving already" Charlie said as he held two to go boxes of the food they'd wanted. The last thing on Bella's mind was eating though now, she had known it was a bad idea to let Edward close to Sue in his state. She just knew now she had to get him back to the rest of their family.

"Yes dad. Alice just called they need Edward back home for help" Bella said trying to think of some valid lie that could have them leave without questioning but not being quick enough to think of anything.

"Oh okay... I hope everything is okay?" Charlie said handing the two boxes of food to Edward as he took them without any trouble and the two of them rushed out of the diner Bella only turning back to wave at Charlie as he watched them both suspiciously. Edward had Bella's passenger side door open and was handing her the food faster then she believed appropriate with people possibly seeing but she didn't need to say anything, both were eager to place distance between themselves and the diner. Once Edward was behind the steering wheel and pulling out from the small parking lot of the diner Bella turned to him.

"What was that Edward?" Bella asked.

"I... I don't know. She just... the moment I was inside she kept thinking about it. About how they partied, celebrated killing Carlisle. While my mother is pleading for her death those fucking filthy dogs got drunk and partied taunting my father and family. Like they've beaten us, like we're all dead now. She just wouldn't stop... then she directed her attention to you and I just. I couldn't Bella. Something inside of me just had enough." Edward exhaled through his nostrils the wheels beneath his car usually smooth were squealing and tracking black marks on the road as he drove beyond the speed limit.

"If I had let her continue I don't think I would have been able to stop myself. She's human. It's one thing to kill those who do and can harm our family but she'd a human woman still angered and in grief from what I did to her daughter. I wanted too but I knew it would be far worse if I would have harmed her. I couldn't do that to Carlisle and Esme. Couldn't start killing even the humans who know of what we are, I just needed it to stop" Edward breathed as Bella placed her hand on his thigh knowing his hands needed to be doing something then so knew not to reach for them when he was tense in case he squeezed too tightly.

"The rest of them, in the diner they didn't notice. Sue didn't even seem to notice once everything went back..." Bella wasn't sure how to explain it, it had been so strange. Like Edward had stopped time but she had known he hadn't only the humans had seemed to come to a complete stop.

"No. When I gave the command to stop. I heard it in everyone's mind echoed back to me. Only Sue seemed aware as I touched her, the second I broke contact she seemed to forget. All but my command to not insult you. I had no idea what I was doing... I would have no idea how to do it again. I could have harmed them all, I didn't know what would happen" Edward reached up into his hair gripping tightly as Bella stroked his thigh trying to calm him, they should have returned home after their time away. They'd finally found some sense of even keel and then seeing Sue being present for the memories and thoughts she directed towards Edward had only brought more stress, more complications.

"It's okay Edward. The family will help you. We'll all do our best to help you control it... whatever it is. Eleazer and Kate want to help you. I'm sure everyone will" Bella tried to reassure him, she believed even Xavier and Rochelle would wish to help Edward in any way they could even if it was with his growing ability.

"We can't tell them" Edward said flatly turning to look at Bella conflicted then.

"Not yet anyway. I can't have my family concerned about me. Right now we have my mother. We have to focus on her alone. Whatever it is I can do that can wait. Right now we have to help Esme. I can't distract the family from that" Edward said and Bella could understand his desire to place Esme before himself and agreed with it but didn't feel it was the only reason. She knew Edward had hated his mind reading she could only imagine how deeply this would affect him with what it seemed he'd been able to do.

"I won't say anything. We do have to help Esme. But you should tell someone Edward. You need to know what it is you can do. I love you and I know you have so much to contend with right now. That gift. If it misfires when you don't want it too, if it awakens during a fight and only happens to some of the family and not others..." Bella paused seeing the falter in his face, as he realised what that could mean. Jasper had already said it had brought him to his knees when he'd heard it during the fight with the newborns. In the diner the entire room had frozen, he couldn't risk it happening when the family were trying to defend themselves, his gift could if he wasn't in control, harm them. He needed to take care of Esme, he needed to help her through this and give her the freedom to make her own choice but then... then he needed to learn this gift completely. He refused to be the wild card in his family that could bring about their destruction.

"I'll tell them. Not today but I will. Once Esme has made her choice. Once she's ready to make her choice I'll tell the rest of the family. With or without my ability though Bella. The pack only have time now, they have borrowed time we've let them live far too long. They've taken enough from my family" Edward said and instead of any argument or half hearted attempt to persuade Edward not to hunt those members of the pack Bella nodded simply leaning closer to Edward and kissing beneath his jaw. The sides were drawn up, she couldn't save them now. Not when even she wanted blood for what they'd taken not only from the man she loved but herself too.

It seemed the clock was ticking.

Time was running closer to the end.