AN: As forewarning, this chapter is going to seem to move a little fast. I don't like James and his coven, or the whole dramatic chase, in the Twilight book. I tried to make it kind of like what happens in Eclipse, but not really. So don't throw things at me for making this minor, they aren't at all important to this story's plot. :D

On another note... OVER 200 REVIEWS! YAY!

Very slowly, over the next three months, Jasper and I worked together to build up his self-control.

Alice had to rescue me twice, but for 90 days that's a very good odd.

I was lying on Jasper's bed with him, listening to some Mozart, when Emmett came bundling into the room, bouncing between us.

Jasper raised an eyebrow and Emmett slapped a baseball hat on both of us. "Storm coming, you two in?"

Jasper sat up and asked, "Teams?"

He was smirking and I smiled. He loves sports- the horror- and very rarely passed up a family game.

I've been with them during their baseball games twice, they're pretty entertaining.

Emmett reported, "Carlisle is pitcher, Bella will be the umpire. It's battle of the sexes tonight, because I have a bet with Alice."

I started laughing, "You bet against Alice?"

He shrugged, "She might have over looked our awesome skill."

Jasper sighed lightly and looked at me, "Do you want to go?"

I smiled, straightening my hat, "Sure!"

So we loaded into the cars and the game commenced.

Emmett was fast losing his bet, because the ladies were almost fourteen points ahead by the time we were ready to call it quits.

It was seven, and getting too cold for me to stay out much longer because of the light drizzle, which wasn't helping any.

The game was drawing to a close with Alice as the last batter.

She was poised to strike, but the ball just sailed past her and right into Emmett's hand.

Everybody froze, and I watched curiously as they all looked at Alice.

An uneasy growl ripped out of Edward's throat and he dropped his bat, running towards us.

Without question, everyone else did, too.

Alice's vision ended and she turned sharply to look at Jasper.

Her voice was even shriller then usual, "It's those three that I saw. They heard us; they're coming to meet us. They'll be here in less then a minute."

I didn't understand why that was a problem, but before I even realized what was going on, Jasper was behind me, his arms curled around me protectively.

He pressed his nose against my shoulder and mumbled, "I'm sorry Bella. We should have stayed home."

I frowned and asked, "What for?"

He didn't have a chance to answer, and he didn't need to.

I watched with wide eyes as three others stalked out of the trees and headed towards us.

And they really did seem to be stalking. Their cat-like steps were sharper and more calculated than I was used to, and there was almost an aura of danger glowing off of them.

Carlisle, Emmett, and Edward strode forward to intercept them before they got too close.

Esme and Alice stepped closer to Jasper and me.

Rosalie sort of flanked us, but she didn't look at all happy about it.

The dark-skinned one smiled at Carlisle, "Hello. I am Laurent, and this is Victoria and James."

I watched Dr. Cullen force a smile, "I'm Carlisle, and this is my family."

Laurent looked surprised, "You have a large family."

Carlisle sounded almost pleasant when he answered, "Yes."

Emmett was not so polite when he snorted, "A large family that had trouble staying inconspicuous with you three stirring up suspicions."

Laurent glanced at James before asking, "What's your hunting range?"

Carlisle answered, "The Olympic range, and occasionally the Coast ranges. We maintain a permanent residence here, so we need a lot of room. There's another permanent settlement in Denali."

Victoria and James looked at each other in surprise.

Laurent sounded genuinely curious when he asked, "How do you manage that?"

Carlisle laughed, "It's a rather long story. Why don't you come back to our home with us so we can talk comfortably?"

Edward's voice was hard when he added, "And of course, we have to ask you not to hunt in our territory any more. It's causing us many difficulties."

Before he could reply the wind blew gently, ruffling my clothes and my hair.

James' eyes snapped onto me, his fierce red pigments swirling into a dark black shade.

He crouched down instinctively and growled, "You brought a snack?"

Jasper pushed me into Alice and crouched down too, a menacing snarl gurgling out of his throat.

He didn't give time for peace to be made.

He sprang forward and tackled James, sinking his teeth into the other man's shoulder.

I watched, wide eyed with horror, as James kicked Jasper off of him. They sprang apart, facing one another like furious tigers.

Emmett crouched to help, Laurent shifted uneasily closer to Carlisle, clearly not wanting to be part of this.

Victoria snarled and crouched down as well, ready to attack Jasper from behind.

Edward got in between them. He gazed at her intensely and started to speak, sounding something close to hypnotic, I even believed him. "You shouldn't get involved, Victoria, this isn't your battle to fight. James doesn't want your help."

With a thunderous crack, Jasper and James collided and started to wrestle.

Alice wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me close to her. Esme took a few steps back, standing between the two of us and the hostile gathering.

Rosalie had her eye on Victoria, Edward continued trying to persuade her to keep her distance from the two snarling men.

He laughed coldly in response to her thoughts, "What difference does that make? You're only his mate because you're useful to him, and you know it. Laurent knows it, too, he's thinking it right now."

Emmett ripped James off of Jasper and I cringed, hiding my face in Alice's shoulder.

I was too shocked to be worried yet. I'd never seen anything like this. Fighting so sudden and fierce it was worse then two animals tearing at each other.

Edward's icy voice announced, "Nothing is important to James except for his fun, Victoria."

With a screech of fury there was another terrible, thunderous, crack. I felt Alice tense and I glanced up. Rosalie was standing on top of Victoria, she must have intercepted.

I ignored those three, because I couldn't help but let my eyes drift back to Jasper.

He was snarling viciously, and the sleeve of his shirt was torn. He held one of James's arms as he flailed, and Emmett had the other.

The insane-looking man snarled, "Laurent, don't just stand there!"

Laurent was smart, he shrugged his shoulders indifferently, "This is not my battle, James. I told you I was tired of your games."

The man's mouth latched onto Jasper's arm and Jasper yanked it away instinctively.

Emmett lost his hold and James started to run, completely abandoning his mate.

Alice, however, darted after him and jumped on his back. With a painful shrieking sound, she ripped his head right off of his body.

I felt my mouth fall open and my stomach clenched.

She just beheaded him!

Little Alice!!!

With another horrible squelch Victoria was silent.

I felt my head start to spin before my world went black.