Edward

The plan seemed simple. We would meet with the entire Liberty clan in New York and try to persuade them that Nessie was not an immortal child. If we were to succeed, we would fly back to Forks and resume our lives. If we were to fail, I was to call Carlisle and tell him to prepare to battle.

But what if we were to be ambushed once we arrived? What if the coven leader, Jennifer, were to simply shake our hands? In an instant, I would be separated from Bella and my only companions would be loneliness and Jennifer's mate, Jesse, who would be trying to persuade me to join forces with Liberty. Maybe that's what this whole ideal was. To make us die and then make us join their growing forces.

I surely hoped that Bella and her shield would protect us all.

Edward? Edward? We're almost there…What are you thinking?

Esme sat in the front seat of the car, blinking innocently at the review mirror.

I shrugged back to her and accidentally elbowed Bella in the process. Bella jumped. She had been staring out the window, deep in thought. I had tried to ask her what she was thinking but she was too preoccupied to notice. Nessie was full of life; jumping up and down in her car seat by the window. She asked in her mind if Bella and I would be riding those big airplanes.

I nodded and forced myself to smile in return.

Carlisle stopped the car in front of the airport. I unbuckled my seatbelt quickly and patiently waited for Bella to realize that we were here. When she didn't respond, I reached over and unbuckled the seatbelt for her. She finally reacted by mumbling apologies under her breath.

"What's wrong, love?" I asked.

"Just…nervous I suppose."

I smiled and gently pulled her out of the car. "I am, too…" I admitted.

Bella widened her eyes slightly but then smiled slightly back. "I'm more nervous than battling the Volturi…"

I chuckled. "You are a wonderful yet strange creation."

Nessie had unbuckled her car seat buckle and hopped out of the door. Bella smiled softly and picked her up. Nessie touched her forehead and Bella kissed her back in response. I listened to Nessie's thoughts and an image of Nessie pacing by the front door of the house appeared in her mind.

Nessie hopped out of Bella's arms and onto my back. She touched my forehead. An image of her beating me in a race appeared. I laughed. "You have fun with Uncle Jacob, okay Nessie?"

"Uncle Jacob's baby-sitting?!" Nessie jumped out of my arms and ran towards the car. Esme laughed lightly.

Be safe, Edward.

"I will, Mom."

Esme gave us each a big hug and went back to the car to strap Nessie back in. Carlisle appeared with our suitcases.

Edward, remember. Do not fight with them unless they threaten you or Bella. I'll have my cell phone on at all times. Take your time with them. And remember, winter in New York is still sunny.

I nodded back and took the suitcases from him.

I stepped up to the airport counter. The woman's forced smile became full of warmth. Her heartbeat quickened. Hell-lo handsome. For once, this job is useful. "Good afternoon sir. How may I help you?"

I used the voice that Bella used to claim "dazzled" her. "I would like two first class tickets to New York, please."

New Yorker, huh? I always liked the Yankees…"Certainly. One way?" the woman asked.

"Yes, please." I smiled at her and the heartbeat paced faster. Oh. My. God. I think he likes me!!

As the tickets printed out, the woman began to scribble her number on a little pos-it next to her. "So, who is the other ticket for, mister…Cullen?" Please say mother. Please say mother.

I almost laughed. I was pretty sure Bella had heard her speak because at that moment, she appeared at my side. I wrapped my arm around her waist. "The other is for my wife. We're going on…a second honeymoon." On cue, Bella smiled cheekily at the woman.

The woman looked her up and down. Figures, a good-looking guy for a good-looking girl. They could model together. Wait, did he say married? Darn it! The woman smiled falsely and crumbled the post-it in her hand.

"What is she thinking?" Bella whispered in my ear.

"Shh…I'm dazzling her," I murmured back.

Bella's grin grew wider and I think she was holding back laughter.

The newly designed first class seats were quite peculiar. They were shaped like eggs and a piece of two-way glass could be pulled out of the armrest for privacy. Bella found this hilarious and sat promptly in her chair, with mock properness.

"I feel like an egg yoke," she said, bursting into laughter. It somewhat suited her, for Alice had insisted that she wear a sunflower yellow sundress. But her laughter was somewhat forced and I waited for her to stop. She continued for several minutes and I could almost swear that the pilot could hear her too.

I sat in the egg next to her and took her hand. She stopped laughing and instantly calmed down. I could feel her tension leave her system. I rubbed my thumb in the center of her palm. Bella leaned back and relaxed on the yellow cushion of the egg. "Bella?"

"Hmm?"

"Why are you so nervous? Is it the fact that this group is so powerful or is it the fact that you're so beleaguered?"

Bella blushed slightly. "It's just the fact that…we're fighting for Renesmee all over again, Edward. The first battle took months of hard preparation and growing allies. We only had one day and no allies for this battle. How do we not know that Liberty won't attack us as soon as the plane lands? How do we know that they're even 'vegetarians'?"

I smiled slightly at her. "We don't, love. But, when you love someone, you defend them to the end." I leaned over to kiss her on the cheek, which was actually quite difficult to do. I had to lift up the armrest, lean over, pull the protection thing that surrounded the headrest off, life up her armrest, and then give her a kiss.

Bella chuckled through my troubles. I took her hand just as the pilot announced that we were about to lift off. I hadn't notice the other people enter the plane but now, as I pulled the armrest back down, I noticed the fast heartbeat of the woman in the seat across from me. She was suddenly pretending to read her book but as I listened to her heartbeat go even faster, I chuckled and kissed Bella's hand.

It was going to be a long flight…