A/N: We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Haha enjoy your Christmas people! Okay, so let's get down to business. Here's the chapter I promised, delightfully sad chapter that it is. :D Also…some of you may have noticed an 'error' in the last chapter. I'm not going to say what it was, but trust me, it wasn't an error. The song that features in this chapter is My Immortal by Evanescence (the goodbye). A complete playlist and photos will be up on my profile page tomorrow! Enjoy and review, xoxo L.
I pulled the car into the Cullen's driveway, parking on a patch of lawn so that the car was out of the way of the garage. Bella's truck was already there, the lights in the open house visible through the open windows.I didn't bother to zap the car shut as I jumped the porch steps two at a time; Robert right behind me. The door opened as I reached for the handle, and I stepped back as the olive toned nomad, Laurent, hurried down the path without a glance back.
Looking towards the door, I saw Carlisle, Edward and Bella.
"Ally," Carlisle smiled grimly with a nod of his head. They stepped back, allowing me to enter the house. We made our through to the garage, where the others were. Jasper and Emmett were loading bags of stuff into the Jeep, while Rosalie sat on the bench, watching with a scowl on her face. Alice was by the Mercedes. As we walked in, Esme was coming down from the opposite stairs.
"So," I said, dropping my bag at the door's entrance. "What's the plan?"
"Jasper and I will take Bella south, to Phoenix for a while," Alice said, bounding up to where Jasper stood.
"Emmett, Edward and I will go with Esme and Rosalie to try and ward the tracker off. As soon as Bella's clear and safe, we hunt him," Carlisle said. I felt myself shiver at his words.
I nodded. "I'll go with Bella, keep her company. With the four of us there, she'll be safe." I directed my last words at Edward.
"The four of us?" Jasper asked, confusion on his face.
"Well, with me, there'll be Robert as well, right?" I looked from Jasper to Carlisle.
An awkward silence filled the room. Edward moved with Bella to the other side of the room, where Esme stood with Rosalie. Alice looked at Jasper, and they moved away, leaving me alone with Carlisle.
"Ally, about that…" Carlisle started to say. I looked up at him, furrowing my eyebrows. Robert stood by my side, tense.
"About what?" I asked. I looked from him to Robert. Did he know something that I didn't?
"It would be better if Robert was to join myself, Edward and Emmett in the hunt for James," Carlisle stated. I coiled back.
"No." I shook my head, feeling the fear grip my body. Carlisle hadn't just suggested that I…leave Robert, had he? That was…
"No. Out of the question. Absolutely no way will that happen. No," I said, feeling my breath increased as I gasped out the words.
Carlisle looked at me, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'll let you talk it over he said, nodding before making his way over to the other side of the room. I watched him leave; only turning after feeling Robert's hand on my elbow. I lead Robert over to a small alcove in the corner of the garage, where we were partly concealed from the others.
"You weren't seriously considering this, were you?" I hissed softly. I felt my bottom lip start to tremble. I bit it, trying not to let on that I felt like crying. Nothing got past Robert, however.
"Ally," pulled me closer to him. "Carlisle and I had discussed it as a possibility earlier today, when he told me about the nomads. It wasn't set in stone or anything, just an idea. I won't go if you don't want me to." He ducked his head to look at me, concern flooding his eyes.
I wouldn't look into his eyes, turning my head to watch the others get ready. Edward was softly talking to Bella by the Mercedes.
It was selfish of me, when I thought about it. I had Robert twenty four hours, seven days a week. Bella's safety was in danger, and I couldn't spare Robert to make her safe.
"What can you do though? You are invisible," I pointed out.
"I've got tracking skills, Ally. You know that. I can help lead James away, make it easier for the others to hunt him down," Robert explained, pushing a lock of my hair behind my ear. I could feel my ponytail falling out.
"How long?" I whispered, looking up at him.
"Three days, max." I gulped. Three days was still a long time. I licked my lips before speaking.
"Go." My voice was barely a whisper, but Robert still heard it.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded, not saying anything. My voice would quiver, I knew, if I spoke.
Robert grabbed me in a bear hug, planting a kiss on my forehead. I felt his hands on my hair, bringing up the memory of that dream I had weeks ago.
"It was you," I said suddenly, my voice muffled by his chest. Robert moved me slightly.
"It was me?" he asked, confused.
"The dream, remember? It was about you. That's why I never said anything. Because it was you."
I couldn't look at him, so I wound my way out of him arms and started to make my way over to where Jasper was climbing into the Mercedes.
"We'll leave, and give you the call, okay?" Carlisle was telling Alice. She nodded, sliding into the passenger seat of the car. Carlisle turned to me. I could read his face like an open book. I nodded to him, letting him know my decision.
I felt my eyes start to water. "Let's get going then," Carlisle said, moving over towards the Jeep.
I felt something clamp down in my stomach, as panic filled my lungs.
"Ally." Turning around, I saw Robert in front of me. He grabbed me into another hug, this one a lot fiercer than before. I felt like I was going to choke, and I gasped.
"Air," I said. He laughed, letting me go, but only slightly. I leaned up against his chest, breathing in that sweet smell of his I loved. His hands were ice cold on my hair, but it didn't bother me. It never had.
And at that moment, I realized that that feeling was. The one I'd been feeling for so long now. Since Rhode Island, when I had gone through that phase of rebellion. That feeling had stayed with me, and now that I was going to lose Robert for a few days – maybe forever – it finally dawned on me. I loved him and I was going to lose him.
And I didn't want to lose him. I almost lost him once, and I swore that I would never lose him again.
Suddenly I felt the tears well over, escaping from my tear ducts and falling down my cheeks. I choked back a sob, the salty water creating a wet patch on Robert's shirt.
"Hey," he said softly, raising my chin so I could look at him square in the eyes. He brushed a stray tear from my cheek.
"Do you remember?" he asked me. I was well aware that we were doing this is the company of everyone else. I knew I looked silly, standing here, grasping on to something no one else could see, but I didn't care.
"Remember what?"
He cleared his throat, and in a quiet voice began to speak.
"I am that merry wanderer of the night…" Robert began softly in my ear. I laughed out loud, sniffing as I wipe the tears from my face.
"I jest to Oberon and make him smile," I finished. It was one of our many things. Whenever I was feeling sad or upset about anything, Robert would read me A Midsummer's Night Dream. I was Oberon, of course, with Robert being Puck. It was a guaranteed pick-me-up.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I turned around. "Ally, we have to make a move now," Carlisle said. I nodded, turning back to Robert as the Doctor left.
"Stay safe," I whispered. Robert leaned in and kissed me on the forehead.
"If anything happens…" Robert began. I pushed him away.
"It won't. Even still, I know, Robert. You'll be there," I said, smiling at him.
In a quick, swift movement, Robert had left my side and was in the Jeep. I watched as it pulled out of the garage and disappeared down the driveway, my hand involuntarily going to my forehead.
The tears began to fall more freely now. I felt like a part of me had been stripped away.
"Ally, it's time to go," Jasper spoke, breaking me out of my trance. I nodded, and slid into the front seat. Alice was already in the back with Bella, and we pulled out of the driveway, heading towards the safety of Phoenix.