Chapter 11: Familiar threat

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.

The feeling of Edward's hands on my skin was like a salve on sunburn. It eased the ache I'd felt since the day I had left him. To have him issue words of forgiveness and hand me back my ring so readily inflated my heart and sent it soaring into the stratosphere.

Then as he began to move inside me, I felt his love echoing in his every move. His lips softly caressed mine as they danced tenderly together, wordlessly speaking of our mutual love and desire. I needed him now more than at any other time in my existence. I called to him in my mind, telling him how much I wanted him - how much I loved him.

He rolled us both over until I was in control of our movements. I linked my hands with his and stared into his eyes. There was a new depth to the love I saw there. It was almost as if he had a new understanding of something.

"My beautiful, strong, resilient girl," he whispered. "How could I ever survive a day without you?"

The pain which ran as an undercurrent to his words hurt me. I'd always known that I would rather face physical pain than see Edward suffer, but until that moment, I had never truly understood why - we were an extension of one another. Cut him, and I would bleed. Mortally wound me, and he would suffer the death. You'll never have to again, I thought. I would rather face death by your side than have to live through another separation.

He nodded at my thoughts. Then he twisted us back around, taking back the power. He thrust against me powerfully. I lost the ability to think clearly, to focus on anything but him and his topaz eyes burning into mine. He kept our hands linked as he brought me closer to fulfilment. I had missed everything about him dreadfully and the physical closeness I had now was almost too much to handle. He dipped his head to press small kisses to my throat, each one earning him a new sound as he continued his relentless rhythm.

I could feel our souls colliding, communicating with a shared voice as we raced towards our combined heaven. I wrapped my legs tightly around his waist, deepening the angle and he groaned in response. I yearned to have his mouth on mine and then suddenly, it was. His kiss was full of passion and want. There was not a single piece of himself that he was holding back. To have him back so utterly when I had been almost certain of suffering some devastation was pure bliss. Combined with my overwhelming need for him, it was too much. My world simultaneously imploded and exploded as I came apart beneath him with a cry of primal ecstasy.

I continued to move in rhythm with his body as his own pleasure peaked and he released inside me. The absolute love and devotion I felt - from him and for him - in that minute was almost enough to bring me to tears - if I were able to shed them.

He lowered his body so that he completely surrounded me. His arms pinned mine to my sides as his lips nestled into the crook of my neck. There, he whispered his love and desire again and again, his words matching my emotions.

Eventually, he lifted his torso off mine, staring deep into my eyes. He lifted one hand and traced one finger along my cheek. His finger came to rest against my eye with a feather-like touch.

"How did you manage to resist," he asked.

I couldn't... I didn't... I just didn't want to disappoint you.

He planted soft kisses on each eye in turn, my lids fluttering shut to allow him access as I saw what he was going to do. "You could never disappoint me. Amaze me, yes... disappoint... never."

He closed his eyes as his face lined with worry. "What are we going to do now?" he mused. "We have to tell the others. They are going to begin to wonder why I am spending so much time with you."

I sighed. "I know," I said. "But they can't know." About my talent, I added mentally.

He sighed. "Why does it have to be this way?" he growled.

I flinched at his words.

His finger traced along my cheek again. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to hurt you. I just wish I knew what to do to make this better. I just wish we could be together and happy."

I nodded. It was a right royal mess. I had only just enrolled in Forks High, I wasn't sure how they would react if I just didn't turn up anymore, but I also knew I couldn't let Edward out of my sight.

"I think we need to go back to see our family," he declared. "Whatever happens from here is going to affect them."

Fear gripped me, sending chills up my spine and tightening my throat. Despite only hunting hours earlier the burn in my throat roared to life, the stress of the day depleting my energy levels. Eventually, I nodded my agreement. He was right - anything that happened was going to affect the others. He kissed me once more, soft and slow, and full of passion, before climbing out of the bed and dressing himself.

As I was dressing, I heard him issue a chuckle. I turned to see him bent over near the wall I had been using as my personal punching bag.

"Do I need to ask?" he said, pointing at the holes.

I shrugged. "I've been here without you for too long." I wasn't sure that he would understand what I meant. "It hurt."

He nodded and then held his arms out for me. I stepped into them quickly, tucking tightly into his chest. He rested his chin on my head and enclosed me with his arms. "I know. I've lived through it to remember."

I felt him offering up a memory and I shifted towards it.

I looked around the room. It was full of boxes, each of which had a thick layer of dust. It was obvious they hadn't been touched in years. It was cold and lifeless. In the middle of the room, Edward was curled in Rosalie's lap on the floor. He shook tearlessly against her comforting arms. Mostly he was just issuing gut-wrenching, chest-raking sobs, but occasionally my name slipped from his lips; usually followed by a lament about me. He cursed himself for falling in love with me. He cursed himself for letting me go. Rosalie stroked his hair gently, issuing soft words of comfort. She told him she understood. She whispered that he had done the right thing - but she never once told him that everything would be all right.

I recognised it as a memory of our time apart. He was showing me that he understood the pain I had been living for the past thirteen months. Except he lived with it for seven years.

I shifted back to the present.

"It's not the answer," he whispered to me. "Being apart isn't the answer for us. We both know that now."

I nodded.

"We're stronger together."

I love you, I told him silently.

"And I you."

He broke off our contact. "Ladies first?" he said, indicating the window.

I stepped past him and leapt from the window. I landed softly less than a second before he landed beside me. We linked hands and ran.

Edward raced just in front of me, leading us towards our family's house. We ran without stress or fear. Instead, we took the moment to revel in being together. We existed in the moment running for pure thrill and exhilaration it offered. It had been a long time since I had felt so free - over thirteen months in fact.

Suddenly, Edward skidded to a halt, pulling me to a stop beside him.

"Stop," he ordered, before stepping in front of me protectively. He crouched low and issued a long menacing growl.

I froze because I realised that the Volturi must have found us. It was the only thing that explained his reaction.

"It won't work, Alice," he hissed.

I whipped my head toward him. He was reacting this way because of our family?

I turned my head in the direction he was looking and saw Alice lurking in the trees. I tensed as she stepped out toward us. I suddenly, and unexpectedly, felt calm in the face of her - which meant Jasper was around somewhere too. I quickly scanned the tree line for him but I couldn't find him.

Edward took a step back closer to me. He growled again as Alice moved forward.

She shot him an apologetic look before fixing me with a steely gaze. "It's for the best, Edward."

I shook my head disbelievingly as another threatening snarl issued from Edward's chest.

Alice turned her gaze back to him, apologetically. "She's brainwashed you or something. You're not being yourself right now."

"How would you know? You don't know the real me. The me I am when I'm with her."

Alice scoffed. I watched as they began to have a silent conversation.

- EPOV -

"It won't work, Alice," I hissed. I couldn't believe she was even contemplating doing what she had in her mind. I turned my mind to listening to Emmett and Jasper's thoughts. I could hear them both circling around. Jasper was focused on keeping Alice safe while Emmett circled around toward Bella.

I felt and heard Bella's confusion behind me and I wanted to reassure her, but I couldn't - there was nothing I could tell her to comfort her that wouldn't be a lie and I wasn't prepared to lie to her.

I growled a warning to keep Emmett back, to keep Jasper where he was and keep Alice at bay. Alice stared icily at Bella, her thoughts consumed with fear for me. "It's for the best, Edward."

No, Bella's internal voice practically screamed. This wasn't what she had wanted to happen - but it was something she had feared might. I should have listened to her fear. I cursed myself for not allowing her to follow through with her original plan of going to the wolves before she told me. She knew our family as well as I did - sometimes even better.

I snarled at Alice, warning her to back-off.

Alice stared at me, imploring me to understand. "She's brainwashed you or something. You're not being yourself right now."

"How would you know? You don't know the real me. The me I am when I'm with her."

That's what I mean, Alice berated me internally. You've spent one afternoon with her - and suddenly she knows you better than us?

I could feel the hurt in Alice's thoughts, but I couldn't let it sway me. Emmett was closing in on Bella, he was hell-bent on removing her from my side. They hoped that by removing me from her proximity it would break whatever spell she had cast over me.

"How do you see your plan shaping up, Alice?" I asked bitterly.

I can't see past certain... decisions, she thought, turning her eyes briefly to Bella. I could see that she thought their plan's failure was entirely because they hadn't found a way to be persuasive enough with Bella.

"I won't let you touch her," I growled.

You would choose her over your family? Alice asked, shocked.

"Every time," I said.

I shifted to my right to be more effective at blocking Emmett but I was careful to keep Alice in sight too. I heard the plan playing through the minds of my three siblings. Alice would distract me while Emmett snuck up from one side. He would then grab Bella as Jasper and Alice grabbed me. I couldn't believe they were trying to sneak up on a mind-reader. They really were losing their touch - or they thought I had lost mine.

I took another step toward the direction Emmett was coming from. I knew it left my back open to Jasper, but he wasn't my primary concern. If I could just stop Emmett from reaching Bella, nothing else would matter.

I turned to wrap Bella protectively in my arms. If I could just hold on tight enough we would be okay. I just needed to get everyone to stop for one minute. I needed them to listen to me, to understand.

Emmett made his charge and I couldn't help myself. He was hell-bent on reaching Bella so I threw myself in his path. We collided with a deafening thud. It was then that I realised my mistake. Their plan had been to play on my abilities to get me to launch at Emmett. His arms closed tightly around me and at the last second, I saw the true plan. The reality behind the mask they were presenting. I struggled against Emmett's hold, but it was futile. Jasper had Bella in his arms and was quickly leading her away.

Bella fought back weakly before submitting to him. She apologised in her thoughts for not fighting back, but she couldn't risk it. She thought that by fighting back, Jasper would be more likely to attack her. She was right. In his thoughts, he saw her as nothing more than a threat. Alice had explained what had happened in her vision, but her version of events twisted away from reality. She saw what she wanted to see. She thought Bella had manipulated me as a way to gain access to my family. Alice even suspected Bella of being involved with the Volturi. I wanted to scream at Jasper that it was all wrong, but I knew nothing I said would convince them. According to them, I was tainted and not seeing things clearly.

"Let me go," I roared at Emmett. He held tighter. I twisted in his grip but it was useless.

"Bella!" I screamed. My screaming turned into sobs.

I had made a terrible mistake. I just prayed it wasn't a fatal one.

"Please," I begged Emmett. "Please, let me go to her." My tone was almost silent when I continued, "She must be so afraid."

"She should be," Alice hissed. "Look at what she's done to you!"

"What has she done, Alice?" I raged, turning my head towards her, no longer able to see Bella and Jasper through the dense trees. I couldn't even hear Jasper's thoughts anymore - they must have been out of my range. It meant I had no way of knowing whether she was safe or not, except myself. I knew I would just know if anything happened to her. I would no longer feel complete.

"You're not being yourself, you're fighting with your family. You gave her an engagement ring for crying out loud."

"I love her, Alice."

"You don't know her."

"I do. I can't explain it, but I do."

She shook her head in denial. "It's not natural," she murmured to herself.

I dropped my head in defeat, trying desperately to think of something - anything - I could say to her that might convince her to at least listen to me.

"If I thought there was anything natural about this, I would be happy for you. I really would, but look at the facts."

"You really think I've been brainwashed?" I challenged.

"Honestly, I don't know what to think. I'm just worried about you."

"If anything happens to her..." Even the thought of some harm befalling her was agonising, to think of it happening at the hands of one of our family was enough to rip a pained growl from my chest.

I submitted to Emmett's will and felt his grip start to loosen. I knew I would be able to escape him, but I wouldn't be fast enough to outrun him while tracking Bella's scent. Jasper wasn't foolish enough to run in a straight line, he would zigzag and be evasive. He would go through rivers and streams and try to have me lose their scent. He would be meticulous and careful, just in case I was able to escape. I twisted free of Emmett's grip.

"Alice, please... take me to her?"

"I can't. We need to work out how big a threat she is first."

I shook my head. "She's not a threat. Trust me."

"I wish I could, Edward. I wish I could."

A feral snarl ripped through the air from a distance away, filling the forest with a new tension.

I launched myself in the direction of the sound before anyone could stop me. "If she's hurt, Alice... so help me I will tear Jasper apart."

- BPOV -

Jasper's hands were wrapped around my wrists in a vice-like grip. He constantly kept himself behind me and out of reach of my jaws - not that I would have bitten him, but he was wary of me. Each time I tried to turn around to head back to Edward, his fingernails would tighten on my arms, biting into the skin. His years of experience in battle and dealing with newborns were coming to the fore to assert his dominance over me. Compared to his upbringing, my own was a breeze. I had never been involved in a battle. I had barely even mock-wrestled with my family. He made it clear with his actions that he would not hesitate to attack if I fought him.

He pushed me along in front of him, nudging me further and ensuring I ran at full speed. Every minute that passed was another dozen miles separating Edward and I. Finally, I could run no further. It wasn't exhaustion as such, but my body just gave up. I fell to the ground, not even caring about the pain from Jasper's hands.

"Get up," he hissed.

"I can't," I whispered.

"Get up," he ordered again.

"I. Can't."

He growled menacingly at me.

I sighed. "Jasper, surely you can tell I am not a threat."

"Alice..."

"No -" I cut him off. "Forget about what Alice said. Forget about what she thinks she saw. Trust yourself. Trust your own instincts."

He shook his head.

"You know I'm not a threat."

He cocked his head to the side; I could tell he was reading me. I tried to hide the fear I felt and concentrate on my feelings for Edward - I knew they would be traced with concern, but I hoped the most overwhelming emotion Jasper would feel was love.

Jasper's eyes narrowed as he considered my mood, weighing my emotions and my words against his preconceived notions of me. I found the strength within me to stand and face him.

"I know you can tell what I am feeling, Jasper," I said, reaching out slowly to him.

He lurched himself backwards and a feral snarl ripped from his chest. It was a deafening sound.

"None of your tricks," he hissed at me.

I cursed my stupidity. Alice would have seen me use my hands when I gave Edward his memories back and she would have warned Jasper about it.

I raised my hands up in surrender. "No tricks," I whispered softly.

Jasper twisted around and suddenly I found myself pinned tightly to the ground. My arms were pulled up behind my back and Jasper restrained me with his knee and one hand. His other hand twisted into my hair as he leant over me. His jaw was inches from my throat. He was completely still, he wasn't even breathing. I had never seen Jasper use his full strength before. I gave a small whimper of pain as I felt my shoulders dislocate slightly from the force he was using to trap me.

"Please don't," I begged. "If you do anything to me, it will hurt Edward."

"How do I know the spell won't be broken by killing you?" He pulled my arms even tighter, the pain in my shoulders increased.

"There is no spell," I whimpered. "Please, don't do this. Please."

"Give me one good reason," he said.

"Edward," I breathed. It was the only reason I could find. I couldn't even begin to think of the pain he would be in if my death came at the hands of our family.

"This is to save him..." Jasper whispered as he closed the distance between his mouth and my throat, and he pulled harshly on my hair. I screamed out as I felt the sting of his venom as his teeth cut into my skin.

"Edward," I whispered once more, but this time it wasn't a plea - it was a good-bye.

A/N:- *runs to hide*

There isn't much to say atm... just - please... trust?