Chapter 2: Loss

A/N: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. (In other words – I don't own it, I'm just playing). Please take the time to leave some words if you really loved it or really hated it! Thanks to my beta FE71SH for working the magic.

– BPOV –

"What was it Alice? What happened?" Edward asked. His words, and the look on Alice's face set me on edge.

"Just a vision I need to talk to Bella about. Alone." Alice replied, glancing at me.

Edward turned to look at me. I nodded. We're in this together, forever. I'm happy for you to know.

"Anything you need to share with Bella can be shared with me."

Alice looked between Edward and I.

Edward seemed to consider something in her thoughts for a while. Finally, he said, "Fine, if you must talk to Bella alone – do it."

Alice pulled me from the house. Her whole body was rigid with tension as she dragged me away from our family. As soon as we were far enough away from the house that supernatural ears wouldn't overhear us she turned to me. "Shield me, Bella. I don't want Edward to see this, at least... not yet."

"You do realise I will share with him anyway?" I asked.

She sighed. "Yes, just like I will tell Jasper. But we need to work out the course of action we are going to take first. See... it effects you more than anyone."

My thoughts went to Renee. I wondered if something was wrong with her – I knew she'd been ill lately, but was Alice going to tell me that the end was near for her. Stress threatened to freeze me in place, but I pushed through it and followed her as she dragged me even further from the house. We had gone a number of miles before she finally spun on me and stopped.

"The Volturi are coming," Alice whispered.

"Oh my god," I whispered. In theory we had little to fear from them – Cain was under Jacob's protection and Jacob had a pack of wolves on his side. The Volturi wouldn't attempt to harm them. Our family had technically broken no laws. But we had known for the last twenty years that should they ever become aware of my power the consequences would be dire. We'd thought of launching a pre-emptive strike so often, going to see them and introduce me as Edward's wife so they wouldn't come and strike us unprepared. But each time we decided to do that we saw the consequences. So I could understand the concern that was plastered on Alice's face.

"Just use your shield and watch." Alice held my hand as I pushed my shield out towards her. We had learned about fifteen years ago that I could relive Alice's visions through her memory of them. I couldn't shift into them, the way I could real memories, but I could watch and replay them in my own mind.

The Volturi stalked up to the door, the menace they possessed evident in their movements. A general feeling of unease settled on our family, even though we had no real reason for fear. They claimed to be here simply to visit a friend and his family.

"Carlise, old friend," Aro said, holding out his hand in invitation. All of us knew the implications of that small move. To accept was to show Aro every thought that had passed through your mind. To refuse was to die.

Carlisle extended his hand. The instant they met Aro's eyes shot to me, then to Alice, and finally to Edward. For less than a fraction of a second Aro's face burned with unbridled desire. He stifled it as quickly as he was able but one look at Edward's scowl confirmed what I suspected on seeing that look – Aro knew our talents. Carlisle knew the theory behind each of our talents perhaps as well as we each did. I could almost see Aro piecing it together. With the three of us he would have omnipotence – be able to see and control the past, present and future. I don't know what happened next but Edward suddenly launched himself across the short space, teeth bared – aiming for Aro's neck. A little blonde vampire who was standing next to Aro smiled at Edward. He fell to the floor screaming in agony. What happened next could only be called chaos. As my family took in Edward's pained cries they retaliated, each attacking a different member of the Volturi clan until a mist enveloped them all. Their shouts of rage became cries of panic. Aro froze when he saw I stood unaffected.

"Come now, and I will spare your family," he said in a quiet voice.

"On what grounds do you attack them?" I asked.

"They have broken the law – a human knows about us."

Cain.

"But if you come with us, we shall allow them to live as long as the threat is contained."

I shook my head. "I'm not leaving them."

"As you wish." He shrugged, and before I could even speak again my family were destroyed. Torn apart and burned as they stood helpless. Only Alice and Edward remained. Edward still screamed, the sound tore at me and froze me in place as effectively as the mist had stilled the rest of my family.

"No!" I screamed finally. I knew I couldn't make a decision that lead to my family being killed.

I came back to the present as a new vision hit Alice. Her face twisted in horror as it played out and she shook her head slightly as I indicated I wanted to see.

"Please Alice? Obviously something I decided changed it. Maybe we can fix it still?"

She nodded.

I pulled up the memory. It started the same as the previous one – Aro extending his hand to Carlisle. Carlisle accepting the hand, and inadvertently showing Aro our talents. Edward falling to the ground screaming.

"Come now, and I will spare your family."

I nodded once. If my leaving with the Volturi saved the rest of my family – I was willing to make that sacrifice. On one condition. "But only if Edward comes too."

I looked to Edward, imploring him to agree. Please, it is for our family, I begged. He nodded once.

The future jumped ahead. We trailed through the halls of the Volturi castle, Edward's hand in mine, our eyes blazing crimson. Chelsea – the vampire responsible for the bonds that tied the guard together was stalking behind us. I turned into a room, to perform my duties, and Chelsea took advantage. By the time I finished in the room Edward was no longer mine. He was kissing Chelsea with all the love and devotion he used to give to me.

My cold, dead heart broke.

Another vision hit Alice. Another twist based on what I decided after seeing Edward in the arms of another.

We stalked through the corridors of the Volturi castle. Edward and I walked hand in hand into the room so that I was able to perform my duties. I did what was asked of me. I returned to the present, Edward's arms were wrapped tightly around me but the world had changed. The sky outside was a ruddy-brown. The waters ran black. Pollution and grime covered every surface. The humans that were brought in for us to feast off were deformed and deranged. Obviously I had changed something that should have been left alone. I couldn't undo it – I knew that once I'd changed the past I became part of the events, I couldn't change it again.

I couldn't do it. I couldn't allow the Volturi to use my power for their own twisted game. I needed to stop them before Edward and I were forced to leave with them. I decided Edward and I would leave. We would return after the Volturi visit.

Carlisle couldn't answer Aro's demands to know where Edward and I were. His demands turned to accusations. Claims of treason were levelled against each member of the family. Those who fought – died. Those who didn't – died.

Alice was clutching onto me as she experienced the visions twice. Once in her mind, and again as a memory. We watched together as vision after vision, choice after choice, resulted in two things. Death and destruction. In almost every future at least one of my family was hurt or killed – all because of Aro's lust for my talent. Alice could forsee the future – she couldn't directly impact it. I could step back in time and start chains of events which changed... everything.

They'd be better off without me, I thought. Alice gave a small sob as another vision overwhelmed her. I pulled it up as soon as I could.

Carlisle extended his hand to touch Aro's outstretched fingers. Aro's eyes flickered between Edward and Alice. Edward smiled a little, but then shook his head. "Sorry, Alice and I will remain with our family."

Aro looked between them wistfully, but then he simply sighed. "If you ever change your mind we would welcome you with open arms. Perhaps you could learn to appreciate the finer things in life."

The look of disgust on Edward's face told me Aro was talking about human blood. "I don't think so."

Aro shrugged. "I heard rumours that young Edward had found himself a beautiful bride. I guess those rumours were unfounded."

Edward's brow furrowed as he considered Aro's words and thoughts.

Emmett broke the silence and tension. "My brother? The terminal bachelor – a wife." He laughed.

In the vision it was evident that my family didn't know me. I wasn't there... and they were safe. They were in fact better off without me.

"But why weren't you there?" Alice asked. I knew the answer, and it twisted like a knife in my stomach. I shook my head as I processed the implications. There was only one thing that could have caused my family to forget me like that – me.

"Bella?" Alice asked. I stepped back out of her arms. I tried hastily to think about what I needed to do.

"How soon, Alice?"

"What?"

"How soon before they come."

"Two weeks."

Two weeks. I wondered if I could do it. If I removed all traces of myself from their memories they would be safe from the Volturi. We all would be. Then after the visit I could return and give back the memories. I wouldn't be changing the past. It would be able to be fixed. That was what decided it for me. Two short weeks without Edward out of the rest of our lives was nothing. I needed to do this – for them. I closed my eyes and pushed my shield as far as I could. Further than I ever had. I continued to push until I felt each of my family under it. I felt exhausted by the effort and I hadn't even shifted yet. I pulled up a recent memory, concentrating hard on selecting the right one with the influence of so many minds under my shield. I felt Alice's hands close around my wrists just before I shifted back into my memory.

I watched as I ran past, Alice dragging me the whole way. Edward stood by the back door watching us, a look of concern on his face. Concern for me. The rest of his family milled in the living area.

I stood in front of Edward, drinking in all of his features. I needed to get each detail firm in my memory so that it could sustain me through the dark patch that was sure to come.

Two weeks, I reminded myself.

"I'm sorry," I whispered to Edward as I leant in to kiss his cheek. I closed my eyes and imagined the feel of his smooth skin against my lips. I knew he couldn't see or feel me, I was too far away for him to hear my thoughts. I put my hands alongside his temples and concentrated on his mind under my shield. I pictured all of the memories of me, and of us. I began to pull at them one by one. Each memory I pulled from him was like a lick of flame within me, the force of multiple memories burning into a fire that raged in my heart. I pulled them all from him. I knew if I could cry, tears would be streaming down my face at what I was forced to do – but I couldn't cry. I didn't have anything to offer as sacrifice for the sacrilege I was committing. I was down to the last memory of me. It was my first day at Forks high school and Edward watched me from across the cafeteria. His eyes met mine for the briefest second as he considered me. I couldn't take that one from him. I couldn't leave him with nothing. Instead, I buried it deep below his conscious thoughts – down into the part of his mind that only dreaming could reach. He didn't sleep, so he wouldn't be able to dream of me. But at least it would be there. I felt that I was leaving some small part of myself with him. I took one last deep breath of his scent, and then moved on to the next member of his family. One by one, I removed their memories. I hated what I was doing but kept assuring myself it was just for two weeks. Once the immediate threat of the Volturi was gone we could work out what to do for next time.

I could see the anxiety rolling off Edward in waves as he glanced at each of his family members in turn.

"Jasper," Edward whispered, breaking my concentration. "Where's Alice?"

I knew my time was running short. Before long they would go in search of Alice – and they would find me, unconscious in Alice's arms. I pulled the last memory from Esme and dropped my shield away, allowing myself to shift back to present. The last thing I heard before I did was Edward's smooth tones, taking on a dangerous edge. "Emmett, Jasper – we're going hunting."

I shook myself loose of Alice's grip and stepped back quickly. "I'm sorry, Alice."

"Bella, wait."

I shook my head and ran. Alice's eyes glazed over as a vision hit her. "Bella, no!"

I kept running, throwing myself headlong through the forest. I ran half-way back to the house before darting off to the side. I knew if they wanted to, any one of my family – who no longer knew who I was – could track and catch me easily. But I knew them enough to trust in the hope they would be too preoccupied with finding Alice and ensuring she was safe first before worrying about me. I stopped after a few miles, and pushed my shield back towards Alice. The last family member I had to betray. For the second time, I stripped her memories. Before they were ones filled with pain and sorrow – and I felt justified. Now they were happy memories, filled with love and family – and I felt sick. I pulled my shield back around myself. I couldn't have Edward accidentally hearing anything I thought now. I ran again – as I ran I composed a plan in my mind. Two short weeks was all I had available to ensure that my family would be safe – that meant all my family, including the wolf and human members.

In that realisation, my destination was set. I would head to Forks. I would ensure the safety of everyone there and then I would wait.

Two weeks and I would be back with Edward and our family.

Two weeks and I would be able to beg for forgiveness for what I had to do.

Two weeks of hell.

A/N :- Thanks to everyone who is sticking with this. Reminder I am (for the most part) a HEA girl. This story won't be the exception to that rule j/s