Emmett Cullen had not often been the driving force behind his family's decisions. When the decision to move was made, it was met with a complacent approval on his part. His designated role had never been that of the decision maker.

"The only people powerful enough to threaten a vampire are other vampires. I can only think of a group of them having the motivation and the means to make one disappear—and leave no trace behind", Emmett stated. "We have to act quickly—who knows what intention they have!"

"And if it's not them? Are we going to just barge in, accuse the most powerful vampires in existence of having captured our brother?" Rosalie replied. "Even if it is them, they could just choose to kill us off, and nothing would come out of this!"

Uncharacteristically, Emmett answered to his mate's aggressive proclamation.

"I don't see anyone coming up with anything else," he said, looking straight into Rosalie's eyes. The determination she saw there seemed to bring a change in her. Unconsciously, this had been the starting point of a change of dynamics in their relationship. "This is, for now, our only option."

With this, the Cullens started to consider their plan; a scheme was made, tickets were booked.

Meanwhile, in Washington State, something strange was happening.

Edward Cullen had recognized that his instincts were taking over his mind. The problem was, he did not know if it were his vampire ones, or the cat's. But every fiber in his being wanted to separate the girl from the huge boy-man who was awkwardly following her into the house. The other two were subjected to a quick survey, and quickly dismissed as harmless.

"Dad, this is the cat I told you about. I don't think he has an owner, because nobody could recognize him. He doesn't have tattoos, and he not castrated either."

If Edward's brain had followed this conversation, he would have once again felt mortified. As it was, his only focus was on devising a plan of action. Violence was ruled out, for obvious reasons of height, and strength and whatever else. Thus, a plot was to be made.

The night at the Swan's household went slowly. For Edward, it was pure torture. Although Bella, his human, did not speak much, the teenage boy had been trying to speak with her the entire time. It would have been hilarious to see him try, if it weren't so aggravating. The boy was like a puppy, constantly grabbing for her attention, addressing her and calling attention to her; Edward could guess at his strategy. He wanted to make her feel important, by talking about her, asking her to speak of herself. To most humans, this would have been the most delicious topic, but Edward knew that it wasn't to Bella. He kept coming back with a new question, disconcerting compliment, or a simple remark, but it was all in vain. Bella would answer with the gentlest rebuttal. The persistence he showed caused the conversation between the two fathers to slow. They were progressively paying more attention to their offspring, and Charlie may or may not have laughed once or twice in his mustache. Bella was a bit ashamed, more for Jacob than for herself. Still, she didn't appreciate being forced to center stage, and she appreciated even less being ridiculed.

"I'm going to check on dinner," she said brusquely, dashing to the kitchen. Jacob made a move as if to follow, but Edward was on Bella trail and hissed as he saw Jacob's movement. It may have as well have been pure luck, but Jacob was astonished by the cat's aggressiveness; animals usually loved him.

Entering the kitchen, Edward saw his human busy putting the main dish in a new container. He stood guard at the entrance, half expecting to see the boy come up with a smile and an offer to help. After all, a threat coming from a cat wasn't much of a threat. Hearing a sigh, he twisted his torso. His human was finished with her chore, and now, leaning against the counters, was looking towards the heavens as if it held an answer not attainable by humans. Her frown was so profound it made Edward's heart ache. It was strange, this new sensation. He wondered if any cat could feel so much for their master. It was as if Edward's heart was a dead weight. It fell into his guts while expanding into between his lungs. Every heartbeat was felt like never before—not even when this new life, this new body was offered to him. He felt as if he could measure the blood that went through, then follow it in a golden trait when it left this new main organ. This new blood traced him from the inside, changed him. Time stood still. He didn't know into what he changed but it was a change as permanent and absolute as it would have been had he stayed in his vampire body.

He felt the need to go to her, touch her face and reassure her with his warmth. It was not that words lacked to describe what he would do in order to console the human; rather, it was that he didn't know what he would do, but he would do those things. Maybe it would be all the small things in life that make people happy—those small gestures that quietly said 'I love you', until it became a sure fact, immovable by time and so closely guarded in one's heart that it may have shined for everyone to see—but it would still be a secret. Maybe it would be the grand gestures that some people need to reassure themselves they love and are loved. But Isabella wouldn't need that. She would need the quiet moments, the private affection.

When she breathed deeply in, so did he. Life came back to him. Time started to tick again, not with the dictation of his heartbeats, but with the mechanical hands of a clock above the stove.

Then she grimaced. Edward idly wondered if she could smell the wet-dog like odor that perpetrated the air. He went to her then. He placed his paw on her knee and garnered her attention. His gaze was still on the gaze. He knew this moment would somehow be important. When he lifted his eyes to hers, his expressed feelings unspoken. There was a resolute air to them, and they warmed her heart from the inside out, like a balm for her ache. She slid down and took the cat into her embrace, her arms encircling him. He was thin enough that even as she hugged him, her hands could also touch her own torso. It was somehow reassuring.

As she came back with the plated fish, Edward was to her right. At any given moment, he would accelerate or decelerate in order to always be touching her right leg. He couldn't be sure, but he felt like she was taking smaller steps just so he could follow. He was pleased.

In a far colder place, Emmett stood before a lonely house in the Alaska wilderness. The house may have looked simple and be overlooked as the frail house of one of the pig brothers—waiting to be blown away by the big bad wolf. But the truth was elsewhere. It was a fortress, and inhabited by more dangerous creatures than a lonely wolf in a children's story.

Silhouettes began to emerge from its entrance, and Emmett saw the friendly and opened faces of the Denalis line up one by one. A lesser vision may have not detected the surprise there, but he could.

'I need your help,' was all he needed to say before he was invited inside and given attention to explain his predicament.

Emmett had devised a plan. It was well constructed, but at the same time, if something somehow went wrong, it could have drastic consequences. Angering the wrong people, for instance. It wasn't something he wanted to happen. But it might be inevitable at some point. Leaving out that train of thought, he chose to focus on one of the many that were going on in his mind. The powers of his brain was something Emmett knew—but it had never focused on so crucial matters as it did now.

'Edward's gone. He disappeared,' he began. 'I was the only witness. Not a strange scent was picked up, and his just disappeared.'

There was a silence as everyone processed. But soon, Tania's voice was heard.

'Could he have been forced into some kind of vehicle?'

'No,' Emmett answered. 'It was a split second lost on my attention. His scent did not disappear like it would if that had been the case. It was completely gone.'

At that, the Denalis nodded. No human means of transportation was completely hermetical. At least, not the ones they used on earth. It meant a scent, even at a fraction of its most potent presence, could be traced if one got into a car, plane, helicopter… Humans were truly helpless before vampire.

'No human could possibly have done this,' Emmett declared.

Eleazar fixed his gaze on Emmett. 'Then you are thinking… your attacker wasn't human?'

'Exactly,' Emmett stated.

'This could get very dangerous. I don't doubt you, Emmett, but this is very grave. The Volturi need to hear of this. If one can attack us in such a way, only them stand between us and this danger.'

Emmett's expression changed. Somehow, if Eleazar had never been very impressed by his friend's stature, he sensed a change in him—something not so subtle—like charisma. The room stood waiting.

'Eleazar, it doesn't surprise me that you would think this way. The Volturi have proven to be very loyal to you,' Emmett continued. 'But, if you consider the facts… who else than the Volturi? Who would have the power, or the desire, to ensnare Edward? You were with Aro for the longest time. You know how driven he is, and how much he will deploy to get what he desires.'

Eleazar chose his words carefully.

'It's a very dangerous supposition you are making here, Emmett,' he said gravely. Eleazar considered the man before him, who he had always considered his nephew.

'This is why I consult you. What brings me here is love for my brother. And the love I know you have for him, and the rest of our family, will lead you to consider my words. You know them the best. If we're not careful enough, we could lose him, or all of us could be lost.'

With that, Carmen touched her mate's arm, and smiled while saying:

'Of course we'll be with you. We're family. We'll do anything you ask of us.'

This battle is won, Emmett won. He was happy with the outcome, and thanked his lucky stars for their acceptance. Sooner or later, embarrassing questions would come up—those to which he had no answer. The most pressing one to Emmett, was one he had shared with his family in the morning. Why Edward? Yes, his power was interesting. Though Aro and Edward had never met, they knew of each other, and it would have been only a matter of time before Aro expressed an interest and follow with a proposal to join the guards. But there was Alice. Much, much more powerful. A power that came with uncertainty, but so immense that it could only be the most attractive to Aro. Of course, Emmett had thought of answers to this question. Edward, because he wasn't mated. Nobody would look for him the way a mate would, be tortured until they were re-united. However, Emmett wouldn't insult his friends' intelligence by giving this response. Aro may not know for himself the ability of the Cullen and Denalis to stand as families, sharing unbreakable love, but he suspected it. He had, after all, lost Eleazar to it. Edward, just for that reason, wasn't the best pick. There were others, within this world. Talented vampires that stood alone. Nobody would miss them if they were to disappear. Emmett frankly believed there was no reason to attack Edward first and foremost.

But those were thoughts that didn't occur to the Denalis, or if they did, they kept it to themselves. Emmett was glad.

Merry Christmas, and happy new year! No excuses for not writing in so long. Encouragement is always welcome!