Like I said I would, I updated :)

Now, could you please review when you're done reading? Pretty please?

Four: Safe And Sound

"Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit."

Kahlil Gibran

I ran through the thick trees of the Ochoco Nation Forest in Oregon, rejuvenated from the two mountain lions I had just consumed. It was not even noon, and I was mad at myself for not taking my time with my hunting, because now I had nothing to do but wait for my siblings to return to the spot we were supposed to meet at. And then I could get back to Bella.

I was very anxious, being away from her today. I was scared about Alice's vision. She hadn't had anymore like that, but it still unnerved me. There were no clues at all who, or what, the culprit would be, and no date had been present in the vision. It could be anyone, anytime, anywhere.

I slowed to a brisk walk as I came upon the meeting area. Emmett was already there, laying on the ground with his eyes closed and his arms folded behind his head. The sunlight that broke through the canopy of leaves above us glimmered off his skin. His eyes snapped open to look at me when he heard me approach him, and then he went back to "sleep".

That was the most delicious bear I've ever eaten, he mused in his head. We have to come back here soon.

I sat down next to him and brought my legs up to rest my chin on them. Thoughts of Bella wavered into my mind again, and I imagined her beautiful eyes sparkling when she laughed, the amazing red blush that crept up her neck whenever I touched her...

I closed my eyes, wishing I could fall asleep so I could dream about my love. Actually, I wished the sun would just go away so I could return to Forks to see her in person, which would be better than any fantasy I would never have.

Emmett sat up when Rosalie suddenly appeared next to him, her thoughts all a flutter. She was thinking about herself, Emmett, cars, and clothes. I pulled myself out of her mind and opened my eyes. Rose stood next to Emmett, who was still sitting, and I didn't need to read their thoughts or have Jasper here to know what they were feeling. They gazed into each other's eyes with such passion, it was making my heart ache for Bella even more.

Just a few more hours, I kept telling myself. She's safe with her mother, and she's missing you as much as you're missing her...

But all my reassuring thoughts dissappeared with the sudden appearance of Alice and Jasper.

One look was all it took for me to know something was wrong. Alice's face was contorted in pain and hysteria, her hands grabbing at Jasper's arm as she gazed at me apologetically. She was gasping for un-needed air, and Jasper was sending waves of calm towards her, but it wasn't working.

"Edward, I'm so sorry, I should've been keeping an eye out for something, but I was hunting, and I didn't see, and I'm sorry, please-"

Alice was begging me for forgiveness for something, and I dove into her mind to see what it was. She had another vision while hunting, another vision of Bella being snatched away from her home by a small vampire, whose face was shrouded from view.

I pulled out of her head, feeling the panic spread throughout me like a wildfire.

Emmett and Rose were shouting at me in their minds, but I ignored them, running away from their questions like I had two weeks ago. I darted through the forests towards Washington, not caring about the sun glittering off my skin, no caring if anyone I passed in the small towns saw or not; I had to get to Forks, to see if I was too late...

I burst through the front door and ran inside. Renée was unconscious on the couch, her body limp and twisted. I sat her upright before speeding around the house, searching for my love, but she was not there. Her scent was still in her room, fresh, like she had been taken only moments ago...

I ran to the kitchen and filled a cup with water, then I went back to the living room and splashed it on Renée. It took a few moments, but she eventually regained consciousness. She looked around for a moment, then, as she looked at me she remembered what happened.

"Bella?" I inquired, and Renée's eyes filled with tears, and she covered her mouth with her hand. I sank to my knees and put my face in my hands, then screamed into them.

BxExBxExBxExBxExBxE

My family's minds were buzzing, everyone's questions and thoughts exactly the same. I sat at the kitchen table in our house, staring into space. Hours ago, the police had swarmed into Bella's house, looking for any evidence I knew they wouldn't find. Renée had told them all that she remembered (which was not much) and I left before they could question me.

Carlisle was sitting at the opposite side of the table from me, his head in his hand, thinking hard. Emmett and Rosalie were standing at the counter, both of them blaming the Volturi, and it was a possibilty... but the scent in the house wasn't one that I recognized, much like when Bella was hunted by those vampires a couple of months ago. Only this scent, which was definately a vampire's, ended two feet outside the front door. I checked the whole area around the house, but I couldn't detect the scent anywhere. It was like the vampire disappeared into thin air.

Alice was miserable. I didn't need to read her mind or feel from Jasper that she was blaming everything on herself. She was sitting on the counter, her palms pressed over her eyes as if to remove her foresight from her mind. Esme was trying to comfort her with words of love and kindness, but Alice was too deep in her guilt and sorrow that she barely noticed.

Jasper stood behind me, keeping me from exploding with so many different emotions. Anger, misery, agony, grief. If it wasn't for Jasper, I would be turning over every building right now looking for Bella, probably risking her life as much as mine if I did so.

Edward, we will find her, came Carlisle's voice in my head. I clenched my jaw and closed my eyes, and pictures of Bella in the cell from Alice's vision erupted into my head. I gasped with pain and anguish.

"Let's go over what we know," Carlisle's voice penetrated the tense air, and everone looked up at him at once. His forehead was creased with worry, as was everyone else's.

"We know that the Volturi are the only ones who wanted anything to do with Bella, besides Victoria. But since she's dead, the Volturi are our only option right now."

"But Edward said the scent wasn't familiar to him," Esme put in. I could feel her gaze on me, but I looked down at my balled fists.

"That doesn't mean that they haven't gotten any new vampires for their guard," Carlisle said, and my head snapped up. I haven't thought about that...

"Where are you going?" my father asked when I stood up quickly and went towards the door.

"Italy," I answered, my voice coming out like a hiss. "If there is a chance Bella is there, I'm not going to sit here and do nothing."

I looked around at my family, coming to rest on Alice's face. She was still blaming herself, and her angelic face was filled with distraught. I rushed over to her and took her in my arms.

"I don't blame you for what happened," I told her, sincerely, and she hugged me back. "So you shouldn't either."

"I'm still so sorry Edward," she whispered into my shoulder.

We pulled apart, and then I headed for the door again. Before I got there, Emmett grabbed my arm, and I glared at him. But before I could say anything, he spoke.

"You seriously don't think you're going by yourself, do you?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief. Everyone came closer to us, all their thoughts telling me they were going with me.

"I don't want you risking your lives-" I was cut off by Emmett's hand.

"We love Bella, too," Esme said, quietly. My eyes involutarily darted to Rosalie's, and she nodded in agreement to Esme's statement, which surprised me.

"We're in this together, Edward," Jasper added, holding Alice's hand.

"So you're either going to accept that now, or when we're in Italy," Emmett said, removing his hand from my mouth.

Jasper must have been going insane from all the intense love and gratitude that swept throughout me as I looked at my family. They were willing to risk their lives to go after the people who might have taken my love and demand her back, all for me. I closed my eyes as the feelings overwhelmed me.

"Thank you," I whispered, and Emmett put his arm around me.

"Now, let's go kick some Volturi ass!" he shouted. Rose rolled her eyes as she stood next to her husband.

The seven of us ran out of the house, and thoughts of Bella urged me to go faster. I needed to get her back soon. I needed to have her in my arms, safe and sound.