Chapter Five, Distance Devouring

It was not a surprise when it happened this time, there was no shock in the sudden exit. The only feelings, were pain, and confusion.

It was Esme and Carlisle who left this time, leaving Bella, Edward, and Nessie alone. The lonely family.

Esme and Carlisle had said they missed the others too much, that they couldn't just watch their family be torn apart. They had begged and begged Edward, Bella, and Nessie to come with them, but the Edward and Bella would not hear of joining the Volturi, never, not even in a million years.

It hurt to watch them leave. But there was nothing surprising about it. Except that of all people, Bella could not imagine Carlisle and Esme drinking human blood again....

So what was happening? Bella didn't know...What was tearing the family apart? Bella didn't know that either. But it tore her to pieces not to know. The distance between her and the rest of the family, was devouring her, every part of her. It was a constant pain. And how she would get through it she did not know, all she knew was that she had to try and stay strong, her and Edward both, because they had Nessie to take care of.

Nessie was asleep on a couch, curled up in a little ball, with tear stained cheeks. Nessie did not know why everyone was leaving. And neither did Bella and Edward.

Bella would have been crying as well if she had been able, she felt awful, as if everything inside her were being torn apart.

Edward sat with his arms wrapped gently around her, and said softly. "I will never leave you Bella. I will always be by you're side. I promise."

This was the promise Bella had to cling to for dear life, whatever was tearing her family apart, she didn't know, but it tore her apart as well.

But the worse was still to come, and the worse was very very bad.

The Next day, was when it happened. The worse of all.

Edward entered the room with a serious expression on his face.

"Whats wrong?" Bella asked, she could tell there was something wrong, and she was dreading the answer.

"We have to go Bella....We have too. The others are all there! Life would be better there!" Edward said earnestly. And Bella was incresingly greatful Nessie was not in the room.

Though Bella knew exactly what he meant, it still took quite a long time for his words to sink in. "Go....To Italy?" She asked slowly, and Edward nodded earnestly. Bella felt as if something heavy had been dropped on her. "No!" She said, quickly. "No no no no no! We can't Edward, you don't do this to me too! Please. We can't raise Nessie there!"

"Bella, just think, think how great life there could be. It could be wonderful, the beautiful city of Volterra, living like royalty, and the whole family there to enjoy it with us!" Edward insisted.

"And what about the people we'd have to kill?!" Bella snapped, and Edward did not answer.

"Come on Bella, it could be wonderful! And I don't want to have to go without you." Edward said, a pleading look in his eyes.

"We're not going Edward!" Bella said, that was her final decision and she had no intention of changing her mind.

A frown came upon Edwards face. "Then I'm sorry Bella. I don't want to go without you....But if you want come..." Edward said sadly. And Bella stared at him. "You're kidding me right?" She asked him, staring at him. He did not look like he was kidding.

"I'm sorry Bella! But I have to go, everyone else is already there by now...And we're a family."

"What about us!?! We are a family. And now your just going to walk out and go to Italy?!" Bella said, her voice raising. She felt as if her world were spinning, it was turning upside down, it was toppling and replaying itself, but this was worse then when Edward had left before.

"I'm sorry." He said again.

"You can't do this to me! You promised you'd never leave me!" Bella cried out. How could he do this to her?

"I'm sorry." He said again, "I dont want to....I want you to come but...If you wont..."

"What about Nessie?! She needs a father!" Bella said, staring at Edward.

"I'm sorry." And he was gone. Just like that. Bella ran after him, but Edward was faster, and he was determind. If it was possible for a Vampire to cry. Bella would have. She felt as if everything was falling apart, as if pieces of a puzzle were being thrown away and the puzzle would never be put back together.

She rushed back to the house when she remembered Nessie. Nessie could not know what was going on. It would totally crush her.

Nessie was waiting for her when she arrived. "Mommy? Whats going on?" She asked, and Bella picked her up. "Oh Nessie," She kissed her daughters forehead lovingly. She knew one thing, and that was that Nessie at least wouldn't leave. "Mommy needs you to stay with Grandpa for a while okay?"

Nessie could see the desperation in her mothers eyes and did not ask questions.

Bella dialed Charlie's number and said. "Dad, listen, I need you to take care of Nessie for a while okay? No dad I dont know how long it will be. Yes. Everythings fine dad. Don't worry. Everything is fine dad! No, no, no dad. Okay, thank you, we'll be right over." Bella said into the phone, before hanging up.

"Lets go pack up your stuff Nessie." Bella said, lifting Nessie up and going to get her packed. She was packed in no time at all. And then Bella took her over to Charlie's. Charlie tried to ask questions and figure out what was going on. But Bella wouldn't budge. She wasn't about to tell him a thing. He already didn't like Edward much, and Bella wasn't about to make it worse. Because Bella knew there was something wrong. She had come to the conclusion that this wasn't the will of her family. And someone, somehow, was causing them to do things they wouldn't normally do.

"Thanks dad. I'm not sure how long it'll be. A couple of days maybe. " She said when she dropped Nessie off. "Thanks for watching her for us." She put on a big smile, and bent over to say goodbye to Nessie. "Mommy will be back, if you want to talk just call me right up okay? You know my number right honey?"

"Yes mommy." Nessie replied.

Bella gave her a kiss goodbye and hugged Charlie. "Thanks again." She smiled, though she didn't feel it. And raced back home. She didn't know what she was going to do. She just knew she had to think of something. But it was hard to think of something when her entire world was crashing down.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Thor dialed Aro's number with a smirk on his cocky face. "Master, it is complete, all of the original Cullen Coven is on their way. The only problem is is that the girl and her daughter wont come. I know you weren't expecting them, but I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you Master." Thor said into the phone, then paused as Aro replied. Then said. "Thank you master." And hung up.

"So thats what you're up to Thor?" Avary said from behind him, he hadn't known she was there, but he wasn't exactly surprised.

He turned and faced her, with a smug look on his face. "Well, it may be, but theres nothing you can do about it now. The mission is completed, and I'm going back to Italy. Arrivederci il mio tesoro" He said, which meant 'Goodbye my darling.'

At these words Avary let out a loud hissing sound. "I am not your darling. You are a sick man, and you disgust me." And then Avary was gone like that. Thors face was full of smugness. He didn't really care that he'd just been called a Sick man, in fact, he quite agreed. So with that, Thor headed back to Italy.