Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and the characters that make it amazing. I'm just borrowing them for a little while.

Chapter 10

Gone

"Isabella," Jasper tilted his head towards her in greeting. Jacob brought his arm up as if to try to block her, though she was already standing in between them and ignoring him.

"What's happened?"

"Brutus has needed a break. I chose to come myself. I wanted to know that you are okay...that you arrived safely."

"Thank you, Sir Whitlock," she smiled a fake smile. He was lying to her about something.

"How is your father?"

"Tis not good. I fear he has but a few days left. I...I hate watching him suffer like this."

"It is hard to watch those we love suffer," he stated, unable to meet her eyes.

She realized then that Alice was standing beside Jasper and they seemed so...right. It was like they made the perfect couple—in just an instant. "Alice...it is late..."

"I know. Sir Whitlock thought my home was yours. I told him I would ride over here with him. On his horse." They way she said this last sentence made Isabella smile, her voice became higher with each word. Her friend was absolutely beaming...she had never seen her tiny best friend this happy. Ever.

"Would you like me to walk you back..." Isabella began, desperate for the details of what Alice thought of him.

Alice answered with a quick 'no' while Jasper shook his head. "I will make sure she arrives home safely. That is why I am here, Isabella."

Isabella smirked, now knowing Jasper fancied Alice as well. "As you wish. Feel free to stop by for meals...and to...talk."

He read the hidden message in her hospitality and gave her a knowing nod. "Thank you, Isabella. Jacob, will you show our Isabella into the house? I will be leaving now with Miss Brandon."

"That's not necessary," Isabella responded quickly. "I am just going back in with my father. I can find my own way."

He nodded again and turned but not before she caught a glimpse of his small, almost relieved smile. She headed into the house then, just as she heard Jacob. "If you need for anything, you just have to ask, Sir Whitlock. I appreciate the protection you are providing my family and I."

~EA~

"Isabella?" her father whispered, gliding his hand shakily to the edge of the bed where she had been facing.

"I am right here, father. Edward has sent Sir Whitlock to watch over us now. We are safe now. We are all safe."

"One man will not...be able to...stop the violence of a hundred."

Isabella bit back tears as her father began to seemingly hallucinate. Knowing it no longer mattered, Isabella took his hand and decided to continue this lie Edward and Jacob had her caught in. "Edward is going to take care of us, father. We are all safe."

"I love you." The tone of his voice made the tears flow freely. It was a desperate, please-believe-me statement. He repeated it three more times as she slid off her chair in order to pull him closer to her.

"It's okay, papa," she said, trying to stay strong for him. She smiled through her tears as she remembered herself at Emily's age, running to meet him when he would come home, calling him 'papa'. "You can go. I will always be safe. I love you, too. Papa, it's okay to let go. Mama is waiting for you."

It took what had to have been hours for someone to finally hear the sobs. First, Miss Charlotte found her and immediately came to her side. Isabella still had a hold of her father's now lifeless body and Miss Charlotte gently removed him from her. "He is no longer suffering, sweet girl. He is with your mother. He is happy now."

When Isabella could not bring herself to get up off of the floor by his bedside, Miss Charlotte covered Charles up as best as she could and stepped out. Moments later, Jacob came through the door. Seeing her old friend, Isabella felt nothing but concern coming from him and it caused her to sob even harder. Not caring that they were in the presence of another, not caring that it was inappropriate, he bent down and took her in his arms like a child. Without saying a word, he carried her to her bedroom and settled her on the bed.

"Sleep, Isabella. Let your dreams take you from this for a night."

"There are no more dreams, Jacob. No more fairy tales. I have lost my father much like I have just lost my husband. I live in only a nightmare."

"Tis not true. You have Alice and Miss Charlotte and...me." He said 'me' as if he couldn't believe he even had to remind her.

"I am verily sorry for this whole mess, Jacob. I loved you once. I truly, truly did but there is another. I feel that I can not even breathe without him here. Now that my father is gone..."

"Try to sleep, Isabelle. My sweet, Isabelle, I need you to rest. I will be back soon," he said with a small smile as he stood up but Isabella could see the pain on his face; her words had hurt him deeply.

Self hate and grief fell away as she gave into the blackness behind her eyelids. It felt welcoming, the darkness that would be able to take her away from all of this pain. Drifting into sleep, for the first time in her life, she prayed that she would never awake.

~EA~

"Sir Whitlock! I know you are out here!"

Jacob Black kicked the sides of his horse hard, desperate to find possibly the only man who knew of Edward's whereabouts. This had gone far enough. He knew his Isabelle, ever since he came to stay with them, she had a deep belief in her faith and an even more stubborn streak. There was no way, none at all, that she would allow for a marriage of her own to be absolved. She was pigheaded to a fault and he knew she would never give up that easily on her own.

Finally, he saw the blonde dismount near the stables and Jacob turned from the woods towards him. "Sir Whitlock!"

"Please, call me Jasper," the man said kindly.

Before he could consider being polite, Jacob shook his head and said what he had to. "You need to get Master Cullen. Now."

"Jacob, I am afraid..."

"No. You are not afraid of anything. Nor am I. She needs him and he will be sent for."

"I don't think he wants her there...he loves her and wants to do what is best..."

"You're a liar!"

"I am his lead guard, Jacob. I have never once left the castle for an extended period such as this. Not one time. Edward is a friend. He was all I truly had there and when he left..."

"He sent you here? What do you mean he left?"

"No. I chose to. Isabella needs someone here to look after her. I was planning to come here anyway, to check and make sure that she was safe, but when he left without word to even his own mother, I suspected the worst. He had already asked me to protect her, if something happens to her..."

"Then why isn't he here himself? Is he that much of a coward?"

"No. Most certainly not. He is not...stable."

"Will he hurt her? Physically?"

"Never. He does not wish to admit it but he does love her..."

"I don't believe you. He'd be here if he did!"

"Then why do you want him here so badly? Why? To rub salt in his already wounded mind?''

"No because she loves him. Master Charles is dead, Jasper. He has just passed."

Jasper was quiet for a long time, as if strategically coming up with a plan in his mind. "I will try to find and bring him on one condition. You never mention his letting her leave. I will not allow you to make matters worse. Swear it."

"I swear."

"I said I will try. Verily, I do not know where he is. I will also need to make arrangements for a new guardian..."

"That will not be necessary. I can protect them."

"Who is to take care of you now that Master Charles has passed on?"

"Tis just me here."

"Peter explained that with no means, you are all struggling greatly. Is that true?"

"We are...we will be fine. I can provide for them," Jacob said, his face full of determination.

"The Brandons as well?"

"Yes."

"And protect them?"

"I will do everything in my power to keep my family safe and well..." Jasper was really starting to get to him and Jacob knew he had to calm himself down.

"What if I had another plan? When will Master Charles receive mourners?"

"He will not. Isabelle explained days ago that there are no more family ties. Only the Brandons and a few townspeople will come. They will be gone tomorrow."

"Then we will bury him tomorrow..."

"No. You have to go retrieve Edward..."

"Once he is buried, something that you will do for Isabella, you will help her gather her things. Miss Charlotte and the Brandon's as well will need to prepare. Pack lightly."

"Where am I to take them?"

"Seattle. To the castle."

"All of them?"

"Verily. We have plenty of food and protection there. It is safe."

"Is this truly necessary? To take them from their homes..."

"It is a matter of time before the intruders make it here. Now that Master Swan as passed, they will come. This is a small village and in my experience, gossip and rumors will fly rampantly when they learn that Isabella has returned...they will expect her to be wealthy..."

Jacob nodded, thinking back to the day before. It hadn't been lost on him that a strange man watched them closely almost the entire time they were in the small shop...or that the owner seemed to think Isabella was much wealthier than she truly was. The stranger in front of him was right. Isabella was in danger...and so was everyone else. For not the first time, he shook his head, wondering what the hell Edward Cullen was thinking when he had sent her home. He obviously wasn't thinking. At all.

As if Jasper knew what Jacob was thinking, he cleared his throat and said, "Look, I came here to try to help clean up Edward's mess. He is my friend and he's hurting. I will do what I must to help him...and believe it or not...that means keeping Isabella safe."

"I have one thing to say about your 'friend'. He is hurting mine. I respect you and what you are doing but I will do nothing that would mean helping him..." Angry, he turned to walk away.

"Then why are you demanding he come?" Jasper called after him.

Stopping, he clenched his fists, knowing full well why he was making this pathetic request. "I fear that she will not come out this without him. It is not me nor anyone else here that she wants and besides him, we are all she has."

He nodded. "We will leave tomorrow. I can not promise that he will be there, though."

"I'm not asking you to promise anything. If he is not there, I'll find him myself. I won't allow him to do this to her. It isn't right."

"I agree."

~EA~

The next morning, Isabella woke up with swollen eyes and a headache. Again. This time, though, she wanted to give up. The last of her family was dead. The only people she had were Alice, Jacob, Miss Charlotte, Alice's mother, and Peter. Her husband no longer wanted her, if he even ever truly had, and because of that she had lost the second family she had come to know. Miss Charlotte had been in twice to get her to wake up and eat breakfast, each time she refused. All she could do was pull her mother's blanket even more tightly around her in the hopes that she could at least pretend to be wrapped in Edward's arms.

Footsteps at her door made her sigh. "I do not wish to eat, Miss Charlotte! Please, leave me to myself..."

"Isabelle?"

She sat up, watching Jacob stand in the doorway. His eyes looked as red as hers felt and she knew that he was probably taking her father's passing pretty hard himself. "Yes, Jacob?" she asked after clearing her throat.

"Sir Whitlock feels it is not safe for us here..."

"We have no where else to go," she responded, cutting him off.

"He would like to escort us back to the castle..."

"I am not wanted there. What makes him think that my family will be?"

"Isabella, do you really believe that he does not care for you?" She knew they were no longer talking about Jasper.

"Not enough."

"So you do not wish to return. At all?"

She looked away. "Please just go, Jacob."

"Answer me, Isabelle!"

She frowned at him. "What does it matter to you? You have me right here. Why are you pushing this?"

"Because you are unhappy...and unsafe."

"I will be unhappy if taken back to the castle..."

"Then you will be unhappy either way but at least you will be safe if we leave."

"And I am to uproot everyone because..."

"...because you care about them and want them to be safe as well."

She stared at him, truly angry for about a whole minute before she just felt hopelessness. "When do we go?" she asked quietly.

"We think it best to leave soon. We will bury Master Charles first. Isabelle, I am not trying to hurt you."

"I am not trying to hurt you either."

~EA~

After bringing Charles to lay at rest beside his wife, the priest bid his farewells and headed home. "Isabella, are you ready?" Jasper asked softly, coming to stand beside Jacob—who was all but holding her up.

"I suppose."

She watched as Jasper walked away and she pulled away from Jacob. "I'm sorry..."

"Dear heavens, Isabelle, you have nothing to apologize for. Come on, if we do no leave soon we will not make it before nightfall. Jasper does not wish to travel with you at night."

They followed Jasper back to the house and Alice came to put an arm around her. "Alice are you sure you want to do this?" Isabella asked, sniffling a little and taking comfort in her friend.

"Absolutely," her friend smiled, though Isabella knew there were tears in her eyes as well.

"You've never been without your mother..."

"She is just going to her sisters. I think she has wanted to for a long time."

"Are you sure she is okay with you accompanying us?"

"Verily. Jasper discussed it with her," beamed Alice.

"Jasper, huh? You two are friends now?"

"He came to our home that night, thinking that you lived there, and he was so kind to us..." Despite the current situation, Isabella couldn't help but smile. "Jasper has reassured us that there is room for me there...and if I must be turned away...he will bring me back safe to my aunt and uncles so that I can be with my mother."

"Isabella, child, I have packed away what I could for you. It is all in the carriage," Miss Charlotte confirmed, pulling Isabella close and kissing her forehead.

"I wish you would come! Both you and Alice's mother are welcome..."

"My place is here, Isabella."

"It's dangerous."

"When they hear that you have returned to Seattle, I will be of no interest. Peter and I will be okay here. This will always be our home."

"Thank you. For everything. I will miss you..."

"Then you better plan a visit. I will be looking forward to it. Go now, child. Prove that husband of yours wrong!"

Isabella laughed through her tears and hugged the woman quickly again. "Alright, ladies. Alice, are you sure you have everything?" Jasper asked, his eyes narrowing on a small trunk that Alice had drug over from home.

Alice seemed embarrassed and looked down at her shoes. "That is all, Sir Whitlock."

He approached her then, a smile spreading on his face. "Thank you for packing so lightly, Alice. I'm glad you have heeded my advice. Please, remember that you may call me Jasper."

Isabella watched them with amused curiosity. Obviously Alice had been ashamed of her meager belongings and Isabella knew that Jasper understood that. Still, he said exactly what needed to be said to cheer her friend up again.

After saying goodbye to Peter, Jacob climbed up to take the reigns as Jasper helped Isabella and Alice into the carriage before climbing onto a horse himself. He planned to ride beside them, keeping watch for anyone who might mean them harm. Isabella glanced back, swearing to herself that this would not be the last time she returned. Miss Charlotte was her family and she would return to her for a visit just as she had promised.

When they were a good many minutes into the trip, Alice looked over to Isabella. "So, this is it? We are off on an adventure..."

"Tis not an adventure, Ally. You do not understand the severity of this. Edward will not be happy to have me return."

"That is impossible! Jasper has expressed that Master Edward quite fancies you..."

"Things are not always that simple."

~EA~

The bridge already being down at twilight should have been the first sign that something was out of place. They pulled up in front of the main doors and Jasper helped her and Alice out of the carriage. It was a matter of minutes before Esme was rushing out to greet them. "Oh, Isabella! You have come home to us!"

Receiving a hug from Esme, Isabella leaned into her and smiled. "I hope it is not a burden for you. I have returned with my friends, Alice and Jacob."

Esme seemed to throw a sideways glance at Jacob but kindly did not say anything to him. Her face lit up at Alice, though. "This will always be your home and anyone you want to have here is welcome...regardless of what my dear son thinks."

"Isabella!" Carlisle said with happy surprise.

"Hello, Carlisle, you've already met Jacob but this is my friend Alice."

"Miss Brandon is rather...impressive," Jasper added and Isabella immediately saw 'the look' come across Esme's face.

"Tis getting dark. Come, we must get you settled in for the night."

Jasper and Jacob carried their things and Carlisle lead them all into the castle. Nothing seemed to have changed, everything was in it's place but she had a feeling that her warm welcome was a little too easy for the situation. As soon as they were through the doors of her old quarters, she knew something was very, very wrong. The door to Katherine's room at the end of the hall was open and that door never was. Leaving everyone else behind in the library, she walked to it as fast as she could, her need to see Edward far surpassing anything else. There was no plan for what to say to him and anticipation built deep inside of her.

She was immediately disappointed as he was not in there...and it looked as though a natural disaster had been. The bedsheets had been thrown about and the dresses that once hung neatly along the wall were on the ground. Everything was either out of place or completely broken. Standing in the midst of the destruction, Isabella bit her lip and refused to cry. The next room she checked was her own old one. There were a few things that were out of place such as a baby blanket on the bed as well as her ball gown beside it.

"Isabella? Honey, he is not here..."

"Have you seen her room?" Isabella whispered, barely able to find her voice.

"Yes."

"He's gone, is he not?"

"He left the day after you did. He never spoke a word to us of it. He just up and left," Esme responded softly.

"Come on, let us get them something to eat, Esme," Carlisle said softly.

"I'm not hungry," Isabella said with a look of apology.

"Isabelle," Jacob said, stepping towards her.

"I am tired. I'd like to be left alone."

~EA~

Reluctantly, everyone finally left her to herself and she entered the bedroom she and Edward shared. Sinking down onto it, she scooted over to the side of the bed he normally slept on and breathed in deeply. The faint smell of him still clung to the sheets and tears immediately began to pour. It could not be true that he was gone for good. He loved his family, especially little Emily and his mother. There was no way that he would leave for good. She lay awake, trying desperately to remember if he had ever mentioned somewhere that he would go if he would leave.

As everyone was coming past her door, she heard a knock and saw Alice peek her head in. "Do you mind if I stay with you tonight, Isabella?"

"Of course not, Ally. I am glad you are here."

"Jacob is going to sleep in the room next to ours..."

The weapons room. He had never come right out and expressed that he was a soldier but it made sense. All of the weapons, the close friendship he had with Jasper, and the way Jasper kept him updated on any wrong-doings in the community. Sitting up quickly, Isabella fought to remember the information on the criminals Jasper had often spoke of, the ones who were going village to village. Edward could not possibly be fighting against them. She tried to tell herself that but felt it was rather pointless. That would be her Edward, if he was going to do anything to help someone, it would be something that could cost him his life—oh, how he loathed himself!

"Isabella, what's wrong?"

"Alice, I must seek Jasper..."

"I will come with you! He was in the dining hall just a few moments ago! What is this about?"

Pushing herself the rest of the way up, she practically ran from the room. Alice was right behind her as they ran into the dining hall and she ended up slamming into her back as Isabella stopped abruptly. Esme was crying. "Esme..."

"Oh, dear, tis nothing to worry over. I'm just a little sad is all..." Esme said, swatting her hand in the air as if to shoo a fly.

"No, it is something to worry about," Isabella argued, crossing her arms and trying to stand as tall as possible. "I know where he is."

Jasper, who seemed to be deep in conversation with Emmett and Carlisle, pursed his lips and looked up at her. "Isabella..."

"He's trying to defend us isn't he?"

"There are rumors...yes...but he did not share with me anything of his travels. He only asked that I keep watch of you and yours."

"We have to go after him. We have to find him..."

"He does not wish to be found," countered Jasper, looking frustrated.

Isabella could not believe what Jasper was saying. "So you expect me to act as though he never existed? Are we just pretending that he walked away, never to return, and that we are okay with that? Are we to do this? Because...I refuse!"

Isabella felt Alice wrap her arms around her. "Isabella, he's gone," Jasper said with force, trying to be as careful with it as possible.

Without saying another word, she turned with a defeated feeling, and walked back towards her bedroom. Upon pushing the library doors open, she realized something that she had not when they first came in. Every single shelf was now full of books. Leather-bound, paper backs, gold leaf, and any other type of book she could possibly imagine was there. She stood in awe, looking around herself at the full shelves just as Alice came in and asked what she was doing. Surely, spinning around in the middle of a room was something sane people simply did not do.

"They were empty when I left. Every shelf but one was empty..." Isabella murmured, feeling like a knife was digging into her heart.

Unexpectedly, a male voice sounded behind her as she saw Jacob peeking out from the weapons room in front of her. "He purchased them on our trip. He had planned to give them to you for your birthday," Emmett said, answering the questions she'd been silently asking herself. Trying to remember what day it was, she realized that come midnight that night, she would be eighteen years old. Turning towards the doorway where he was standing, she saw everyone. Edward's parents, his brother and sister-in-law, and the two littlest of the family. Jasper was now standing beside Alice and she could feel Jacob walk up behind her. Esme stepped forward first, a sad smile on her face, "Happy Birthday, dear Isabella."

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you enjoyed it!

Still sad? I know but I can make you a nice, big, fat promise. The next chapter has been written. It is ENTIRELY an Edward POV chapter. There is a little dream sequence and even how Tanya and Edward met—remember he met her before he met her sister! Things are going to start fixing themselves soon and I'm thinking this is going to be a short story...probably about 15 or so chapters. Either way, review and I'll send you a bit of Edward POV to hold you over :) You can also follow me on twitter. letzigprincess Thank you for your continued support, Letzy xx