The Game

So here is the next chapter…. I'm not going to make any excuses for how long it took. I hope you find it worth the wait. I am sorry, and I will make every effort to update more quickly in the future.

BTW, I know absolutely nothing about baseball. Last time I played, I ended up running the wrong way, and I'd actually hit a foul ball, so…

Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be.

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When Bella and I came in to view, Esme rose from her seat on the rocks, coming over to us as Rosalie flounced away. Emmett paused for a moment, watching her, and wondered which course of action would get him in less trouble. If I follow Rose, she might get mad at me. If I don't follow her, she will be angry. I don't know what she wants…. But if I don't follow Esme, the rest of the family will be mad. And I really want to meet the human…. I just can't win for losing. I know how to handle Rose, though.

With that, Emmett followed Esme.

"Was that you we heard, Edward?" Esme called as she approached us. I don't think I've eve heard you make that particular sound in a very long time her thoughts teased me gently.

"It sounded like a bear choking," Emmett teased. Though bears are much more fun than you are. Maybe your little human will help change that.

Beside me, Bella smiled hesitantly at them. "That was him," she murmured shyly.

"Bella was being unintentionally funny," I explained, purposely letting myself tease her a bit.

Yep. She's going to make you more fun.

Alice came running over to us then. "It's time," she announced, just as the first peal of thunder echoed through the still air.

"Eerie, isn't it?" Emmett asked Bella easily, winking at her with a casual familiarity.

"Let's go." I want to play! Alice grabbed Emmett's hand, and together they began to run toward the field.

"Are you ready for some ball?" I was very excited, though I could not have truthfully said why. I had a chance to play with my family, yes, but I was very nearly giddy. I was much happier than a simple baseball game ought to have been able to make me.

Bella tried to sound enthusiastic, but her attempt at gaiety failed miserably. "Go team!"

I snickered at that, ruffled her soft hair, and then took off after my siblings.

"All right," Esme called, "Batter up!"

The first inning went well—Emmett's team was up by one when I caught the third out. I sprinted to Bella's side, my excitement barely contained. "What do you think?"

"One thing's for sure, I'll never be able to sit through dull old Major League Baseball again," Bella replied.

"And it sounds like you did so much of that before," I teased, laughing.

"I'm a little disappointed, though."

I didn't understand. What could be disappointing about this game? "Why?"

"Well," she replied, her eyes twinkling, "it would be nice if I could find just one thing you didn't do better than everyone else on the planet."

I just grinned at her.

Edward! Stop flirting with your girlfriend! We've got a game to play!

My brother was always so impatient. "I'm up," I told her, and headed to the plate.

The game continued as the score changed rapidly. Emmett's team was up, then ours, and back again. I was certain that Bella had no idea who was winning from one moment to the next.

I was catching for Carlisle when Alice gasped. I saw the vision even as she did—three strangers, here in the clearing with us. Red- eyed visitors. A vision that was in motion. Inevitable, and set to happen soon. It was going to happen tonight. I was at Bella's side before anyone else even had a chance to move. I knew that she would be in danger.

"Alice?" Esme's voice was tense. What could she have seen?

"I didn't see—I couldn't tell," she whispered.

By now, everyone had gathered around us.

Calm in his authority, assured, Carlisle asked her, "Alice, what is it?"

"They were traveling much quicker than I thought. I can see I had the perspective wrong before," Alice murmured. She knows that her visions are not infallible, but it always shakes her when she misses something. How did I miss it? They're going to be here so soon.

"What changed?" Jasper asked, anxious, his posture protective as he prepared to defend her from whatever had caused her fear.

"They heard us playing, and it changed their path." I should have seen it. Why did I miss it?

Seven pairs of eyes flashed to my Bella's face, and away. The same thought echoing in almost every mind. How do we protect her?

"How soon?" Carlisle demanded, turning his gaze on me.

I closed my eyes and listened. It wasn't long before I heard them—their thoughts were the only other thoughts I could hear. They were coming, and they were close. Sounds like a good game going on—hope they'll let us join. No fun to play with just the three of us.

"Less than five minutes. They're running—they want to play." I scowled. I didn't blame Alice for not seeing this; I knew how her talent worked. But I was still angry that I had put Bella at risk. I had known they were close, and yet I put her in danger anyway. I had been so stupid.

They're going to notice Bella. Her scent is too strong for them not to do so. There has to be a way to keep her safe. "Can you make it?" Carlisle asked.

As much as it hurt to admit it, I had to be honest with my father. They were too close, and I knew that if I chose that particular time to be arrogant, Bella would not survive. Alone, chances were good that I would not survive either. "No, not carrying--" I stopped. I didn't want to frighten her more than I already had. I could only hope that we were speaking too quickly for her to understand. "Besides," I continued, "the last thing we need is for them to catch the scent and start hunting." They would do so. Carlisle had summed it up correctly. Bella's scent was far too strong.

"How many?" Emmett asked, turning his eyes on Alice.

"Three," she replied, her voice tense.

"Three!" my brother jeered. "Let them come." We won't have any problems with them. We outnumber them. They'd have to be stupid to take us on.

All of us watched Carlisle. His word was law in situations like this. He would decide whether we stayed or ran. I know that the terror I felt was evident in my eyes.

"Let's just continue the game," he finally said, his tone cool and level, not betraying the worry he felt. I hope it doesn't come to a fight. We will protect her any way we can, Edward. I know that facing them is the safest option. A show of strenght may keep them from focusing on her as potential prey. As much as I hope we can keep the situation peaceful, we will do what we have to do in order to keep her safe. "Alice said they were simply curious."

"Edward," Esme breathed, her voice low enough that even I had to strain to hear her, "Are they thirsty? Are they already hunting?"

I shook my head.

Thank God for small miracles.

"You catch, Esme. I'll call it now." I wanted to be as close to my Bella as I could be. If I was close, I could protect her if the situation went to hell. With that in mind, I planted myself between her and the direction I could hear the others coming from.

The others returned to the field, warily scanning the forest for our guests. Alice and Esme both watched Bella—Alice was ready to come to the defense of her friend, and Esme was focusing on the safety of the girl she'd already begun to see as a daughter.

I turned to Bella. "Take your hair down," I instructed. I knew that it would do nothing to hide her scent, but I hoped that hiding that graceful neck from their sight would help keep her safe from them. One less temptation. It was harder than it should have been to keep my voice low and even.

To my immense relief, she obeyed without question. And them she turned those deep brown eyes on me. It felt like her gaze would have pierced me to the soul, had I been fortunate enough to possess one.

"The others are coming now." She was calm, matter-of-fact, and I couldn't help but marvel again at her courage.

I saw no reason to deny it. "Yes, stay very still, keep quiet, and don't move from my side, please." I don't know whether she could hear the all-consuming terror in my voice or not. Maybe, if she was close enough to me, my own scent would mask hers. It was a vain hope, but I needed all the help I could get. I didn't know what I would do if things went badly from here. Just in case my efforts had any affect, I pulled her long hair around her face, hiding more of her slender neck from view. I only prayed that it was not a futile effort.

"That won't help," Alice called softly. "I could smell her across the field."

"I know." My control slipped then, letting some of the frustration I felt slip into my intonation. I was stupid. Rosalie had accused me of that very vice earlier. It bothered me how right she had been.

Carlisle stood at the plate, and the others joined in halfheartedly. Every thought was focused on the future.

"What did Esme ask you?" Bella questioned, her voice low.

I hesitated. The last thing I wanted to do right now was frighten her. If she ran from me, it was only a matter of time before the others caught her scent. Out here, she would have no chance. But, yet again, she deserved to know.

"If they were thirsty," I finally murmured reluctantly. To my immense relief, she did not move.

The seconds ticked by, seemingly endless in their passage. It was strange for me to feel their passage so acutely—it was the first time in a very long time that I felt such a terrible anticipation.

Out in the infield, Rosalie's fury berated me. Her thoughts were tame echoes of my own.

I focused on the forest, waiting for fate to take us all in hand, and prayed that we would all be safe.

"I'm sorry, Bella," I mumbled. "It was stupid, irresponsible, to expose you like this. I'm so sorry." I had been worried that being with me would force her to give up more than she knew. Now, being with me threatened to steal her very life. The others would have no compunctions about taking her if they believed that they could do so. She was in danger, yet again, because of what I was. The hell of my existance contaminated every aspect of her life. It was nearly unbearable.

And then I stopped breathing. My eyes locked on a gap in the trees, and I stepped to put myself between Bella and what was coming. My family turned as well. Watching. Waiting.

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I know, I know! I make you wait a month, and then it's short again! I'm sorry! I tried to continue, but it was far too awkward. Chapter 17 ends there for a reason in the real book! I promise that the next chapter won't take quite so long. Please don't kill me!

I now have a poll up on my profile about an upcoming chapter. I would appreciate the imput of my readers on the subject. Will remain up until I get to the chapter.

Let me know if you see anything wrong! As usual, I can't fix what I don't see.

Thanks for reading.