Title: Crossroads

Author: Ilovejohnmayer

Chapter Title: Slow Dancing In A Burning Room

Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephanie, just as my stories belong to me!

N/B: This is my fourth Fanfic, but my first Twilight story. Takes place in New Moon time. Please, tell me if anything is wrong or off with Edward or Alice or even Bella. Thanks for all the great reviews, and thanks to askjaz for all her help!

"May we sit?" Charlie nods tensely, and we sit down on the sofa. My nose picks up traces of her, and it somehow comforts me. We will find her, I just know we will. We must.

Alice speaks up first, even though Charlie is glaring at me. "Charlie, Mr. Swan, my family and I would just like to say we were very distressed to learn about what had happened to Bella."

He mumbles something like, 'Better be.'

But Alice holds up one hand. "That being said, we are not responsible for the events that unfolded after we left."

Charlie and I both shout an enraged, "What!" at the same time, and he looks at me questioningly.

Go along with me Edward.

"What happened to Bella was, I mean, is, terrible. But Edward can't be responsible, she acted of her own free will. She's an adult, she made her own choices."

Charlie looks as if he wants to argue, but Alice has a point. Even though I did indirectly cause this mess, I didn't place in her in that truck and drive her to wherever she is.

"But…but…" Charlie stares past me in thought for a while, and the room is silent except for quiet breathing.

Finally, he speaks, fiddling his thumbs lightly. "Fine, you win. Now get out."

"No Charlie, this isn't about winning or losing. We actually want to help find her." He glares at me, and I nod in agreement with Alice.

"Anything you know may help." I mumble inaudibly.

He shoots glances between Alice and me, stands up, paces for a moment, stops, runs his hands through his hair, sighs, and sits back down.

"Okay, you can help, but I'm only doing this for Bella."

"Mr. Swan, I believe we are all doing this for Bella." He glares at me again, but continues talking.

"Bella…left home about two months ago. One day I came home, her truck was gone, and a note on the fridge said, 'Couldn't stay here, I love you, Bella'. I called all her mother and friends and cousins and everything, but there was no sign of her. So they put her, against my wishes, in the runaways system, that way other police forces around the country could keep a lookout. I've got a few leads I'm following, but none seem promising. She's not using any credit cards, so its hard to track that, and there are a lot of Isabella Swan's out there, so I can't just break down every door.

"Last month, I got a promising lead out of L.A. Brunette girl, out of Washington, busted for solicitation. I prayed it wasn't Bells, but at the same time I hoped it was. Well, it wasn't, but someone else found their daughter." He trails off, his aging eyes downcast.

Alice speaks up after a few minutes. "Charlie, where are the leads? I mean, in what cities?"

His brows knit together as he processes the question.

"Umm…well, Phoenix, of course, New Orleans, Detroit, Chicago, L.A, Cincinnati, and New York City." I see Alice scanning through her visions, looking for identifying clues, like the Statue of Liberty or the Ohio River.

It's in the Midwest or East Coast, but not Phoenix, L.A, or New Orleans. Okay, we've narrowed it down.

"Alice?" Alice's head snaps back up, her eyes clouded with visions still.

"Do you…do you really think we'll find her?" His voice breaks a little, and he clears his throat in an attempt to mask his emotions.

"I'm sure of it Charlie." She hesitantly pats one of his hands, and he smiles weakly, warming up to her kind temperament.

"I still remember the month before she left. It was horrible, it was like someone had taken Bella and replaced her with someone I didn't know. She was a zombie; it was like a nightmare around here. She never really talked to people, unless you said something first; she didn't hang out with her friends anymore. She went to school and work, did her studies, got good grades; but she wasn't really there. Her eyes were blank, she was just gone."

I feel so conflicted. Why was she like this? I mean, how could I really have this kind of affect on someone? Why did she just leave like this?

Sounds like someone I know. Shut up Alice. I don't truly think I affect her the way she does for me. It's just…different.

Why? Why was it different Edward? I stand up and look around, looking for her voice. I heard her. I heard her voice in my head. And it wasn't a memory either, she was talking to me.

"Are you okay?" They both peer at me strangely, and Alice suggests that I sit down.

"Pardon me, I'm fine." Well, other than the fact that I'm losing my mind.

Charlie turns back to Alice and continues his narrative.

"And then there was the screaming." I don't need or want to listen in for this bit, but I can't help but see them in his mind. Her screams resonate throughout my mind and crush my spirits. I hear myself softly swear, and my breath catches in my throat. Did I, one "person", honestly cause all this?

"Don't worry Charlie, we'll bring her home." He nods and stars past her again, lost in thought. Curious, I turn to see what he keeps staring at.

Of course, it's a picture. A younger, less-stressed Charlie Swan stands next to a beautiful young woman; and between them is a toddler, with curly brown hair like her father and a smile like her mother. At first, I stare at 2-year old Bella with an unnatural yearning, but then my attentions turns, oddly, to her mother. Something in the back of my mind nudges me, telling me ask a question.

"Mr. Swan?"

He breaks free from his very depressive thoughts and glares at me. "Yes," he grumbles.

"Where does Bella's mother think she is?" Mothers have an uncanny ability to know things about their children, I have found. Whether they are alive, or dead, or even where they are, somehow they know.

He rolls his eyes. "Well, she has this crazy theory, but I doubt its right."

"Would you amuse me anyhow?" Alice cocks her head at me, wondering what I'm up to.

"Well, when Bella was younger, maybe 10 or so, she had this thing with musicals for a while. And her absolute favorite was Chicago. You know, the one with those two girls who kill and-"

"Yes, yes, I know. And?"

He ignores my impatience. "And she said she would go there one day. It was her dream city. But I bet she's forgotten all about that." I don't know, maybe not.

Alice, finally following my lead, offers to call Renee, leaving Charlie and me alone. It is uncomfortable for a moment, but then Charlie speaks.

"So…what have you been doing? How's L.A?"

"L.A? Oh, right. Fine, sunny."

"How's Carlisle and Esme?" I answer they are fine, they are all fine.

It is quiet again, before I ask him, "How are you faring?" He peers at me suspiciously.

"Okay, considering the circumstances," he pauses for a moment, "She blames me you know, Bella's mom. She says if Bella had never come here, this wouldn't have happened."

I sit up in my seat. "Mr. Swan, I feel as if I am to blame, despite what Alice said. I wish there was some way I could go back and never leave her. Or never meet her."

Charlie shakes his head. "No you don't. You love her; I'm not stupid enough to believe that lie. I don't understand why you left her, but I know you love her. Otherwise, you wouldn't have come back." I am left speechless. I see where Bella developed the ability to see through pretenses.

Alice walks back in.

"I think we should go now, its getting late, and Charlie needs his sleep."

Charlie laughs dryly. "I haven't really slept in a long time. I'll sleep when my girl is back home in her bed, where she belongs."

Alice shakes his hand and leaves. When I do, he pulls me close and mumbles in my ear, "I'm counting on you Edward Cullen. Bring Bells home." I simply nod, making an unspoken promise.

Outside I sniff the air, and still smell the horrible scent in the atmosphere.

"Come out boy!" Alice quips. It is soundless, and then the boy approaches from the shadows of the trees.

"The name's Jacob Black, not that you give a crap," he sneers, a sly smile creeping up on his russet-toned face.

"Didn't Charlie tell you to go home?" Alice's eyes narrow.

"Yeah, well, I had to make sure you parasites wouldn't have him for dinner, didn't I?" Hisses escape Alice and my mouths, and all three of us crouch into defensive positions.

No one moves, until Alice says, "Shit, we won't kill him today. Won't even maim him." She stands tall again, although Jacob looms taller than all of us, even me.

"So, dog, want did you really want?" He grimaces at me calling him dog, and a string of derogatory names about me run through his head.

"Why are you two back?" Alice answers his question while I listen to Jacob Black's head and process the idea if bringing Bella back to a place where werewolves dwell. I…couldn't leave her, I couldn't! I mean, it just wouldn't be safe, they are so unpredictable, especially the young ones.

Huh. Good luck with that. His thoughts are extremely pessimistic.

"We're going to find her." He glares and tells me to stay out of his head. I wonder how he knows about my gift. Did Bella tell him? I hope not, I hope she stayed as humanly far away from him as possible.

"It doesn't matter, cause I'm gonna find her first, before you and your little coven. Even before that other one."

Other one? "What other one?"

"Some vampire chick was all over the house, luckily when Charlie was at work. I think she was looking for Bella. How many of vampys are you guys friends with-"

"That was no friend." Alice's eyes go wide, but not wider than my own. No one from my coven would have come back to search for Bella, no one wants revenge on an unprotected human girl. No one but…

"Victoria."

Alice turns to me, and I can see exactly what she's seeing.

"Oh. God…"

Jacob look panicked, glancing between Alice and myself. "What, what is it? What's wrong?"

I sign softly, feeling my insides bleed at the thought of what is in my head happening. Because I know what Victoria will do if she reaches Bella before me.

"A vampire named Victoria is on her way to Chicago this very minute."

He rolls his eyes, relieved for the moment. "Yeah, so?"

I take in a deep breath, to push myself to utter these deadly words.

"If she finds Bella first, before any of us, she will kill her."