WRITTEN FOR — JM Shaw (AKA WitchyVampireGirl)

PROMPT USED — Don't You Wanna Stay by Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson

CHAPTER 2: DEADLINE

Desperation flashed in Bella's eyes as she watched the resolve strengthen in his.

"What about Emmett?" she inquired, but he remained stoic.

"What about him?"

Her eyes grew wide, incredulous. "He told us the FBI was working to take Aro down! They just need more time."

"We don't have time," Edward stressed. "Aro sent me the message a week ago. I haven't gone to see him until now because of Emmett and his promises. If I wait any longer . . ." He shook his head once, dispelling the horrifying thought of Aro or his cronies laying a hand on his wife.

"Then we could run. Just until Emmett and his team manage to find the proof they need."

Edward exhaled in a gush, feeling despair seep into every cell of his body when he saw the feverish gleam in her eyes . . . it wasn't quite hope, because despite her words, she had to realize they didn't have an option here. But maybe it was the desire to hope, the scrambling effort to look for a ray of light in the bleakness that shrouded their future.

Whatever it was, it tore at his heart.

"And when will that be?" he asked her. "Days, months, weeks? I spoke to Emmett less than an hour after Felix handed me that piece of paper, and Emmett told me to give him a week. That deadline ends at midnight, and I haven't heard a word from him ever since." He framed her face between his palms. "They have other priorities, Bella, or they aren't as capable as they seem to think. We have to accept that. We're on our own."

"He helped us," she breathed as her tears spilled over, rolling down her cheeks. "He helped us so much when we were trying to settle down here."

"I know, love." His face softened as he leaned in to kiss her forehead. "But we can't depend on him anymore."

"Edward," she whimpered, clutching his shirt in her fists. Her eyes flickered to the drawer that held the worst parts of his past, and he didn't want her to think of it.

Bringing a hand to her chin, he gently angled it back toward his face.

"We could be overreacting, you know," he remarked, making an effort to school his expression into a reassuring smile and infuse some confidence into his voice, though he felt anything but. "Aro was . . . fond of me. He probably just wants me to see me after all this time."

"Just see you," she parroted blankly, obviously not believing a word, but he soldiered on.

"Yeah. After all, Felix was always the silent type. His lack of an explanation doesn't have to mea—"

"Then what were you doing in there?" she interrupted, jutting her chin toward the chest of drawers. "If you don't think you're going to be in any sort of danger . . ."

"Of course it's dangerous," he admitted. He gazed behind him for a second before deciding to take this conversation out of the room. "I'm not denying that, Bella," he said, leading her to their bedroom. She didn't protest, almost sagging against him in defeat and despair. "I'm just saying there's no need to think of the worst-case scenario here. If I go talk to him like he wants, he has no reason to harm us."

She sat down on the bed, and he followed. Her shoulders were hunched, her eyes tired as they peered at him. "Do you really believe that?"

I have to, was the thought that ran through his mind.

Out loud, he simply said, "Yes."

She nodded slowly, wrapping her arms tightly around herself as a shudder wracked through her slender frame. He reached out to hold her but stopped, his arms lifted mid-way, unsure if she would accept him.

Curled in on herself, she sat there for a moment, leaving him reeling, helpless, broken.

Why didn't she understand? He had to do this . . . to make sure she was safe. Nothing else mattered. Aro was not a patient man. Making him wait meant inviting trouble, he pondered miserably.

Edward didn't mind paying the price for the sins of his past, but Bella didn't deserve this. Her only folly had been to fall in love with a criminal.

Despite his association with Aro's syndicate, he had never killed another human being. He had lied, stolen, and threatened, but he'd managed to escape committing that one heinous misdeed. But Edward knew that when Bella's safety was on the line, he wouldn't hesitate to do whatever was needed of him. He would take Aro's life just as easily as he would lay down his own for her.

He glanced at the clock on the nightstand.

The digits shone, appearing ominous as they displayed the time.

23:20

A/N: I won't make you smile before I make you cry. Just saying.

Pics for each chapter can be found in my FB group – Fanfiction by ForeverRobsessed (You can find the link on my profile here.)