Chapter 13

Edward's POV:

I really didn't want to call Tanya, but I knew that I had to. We needed the Denali coven on our side if we were to ever have any hope of defeating the Volturi. I knew there would be conditions placed on Tanya's assistance. It had always been like that. Every time I needed something from Tanya, there were always strings attached. Always. But Getty had asked me to call Tanya, and, to her knowledge or not, I could not say no to Getty. So I did what I had been dreading:

"Hello, Tanya."

"Oh, hi Edward," she said. "What's up?"

Here was the part I dreaded. I was about to ask her to meet me at a bar, which I knew she would assume was a date. "Just the usual, you know… School, hunting, etc. How about you?"

I regretted the words as soon as they were out of my mouth. I knew Tanya would launch into a 30 minute, detailed story of everything that had transpired since we had last spoken. 10 minutes later, I stopped her. "That's wonderful, Tanya, but I really didn't call to talk."

"Then why did you call," she asked me.

"I really can't talk about this over the phone. I'm in Tuktoyaktuk (A/N: From here on out, Tuktoyaktuk will be referenced to as Tuk. That is the actual nickname for the town, and is much easier to type than the full name.), in the Northwest Territories."

"Yeah?"

"There's a new bar here called Breaking Dawn. It's 8:30 now. Meet me there at 5?"

"Okay, Edward," she said, excitement obvious in her voice. "I can't wait!"

After hanging up with Tanya, I ran my hand through my hair and let it rest on the back of my neck. I never knew conversations could be so stressful. Right then, my savior and my reason for 'living' walked in.

Getty rested her hand on the side of the window and stood, looking out for what felt like hours. I couldn't help it. I walked up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. "Hello, beautiful," I whispered in her ear. Yes, I did know that she had a boyfriend whom she loved, but I was determined to not give up. She tried to pull away from me, but I refused to let her go. She turned around to face me.

"Edward," she said sternly, looking me square in the eye. "Either you will release me, or I will have to remind you that I have no qualms whatsoever about building a fire right here and now."

God, I loved this feisty woman. She was amazing.

"Edward," she warned me again. "Let me go, or I turn you to ash."

I could tell she wasn't making an empty threat, so, reluctantly, I let her go and she turned back to the window.

"I called Tanya."

"Good," she said. "What time are we meeting her and where?"

"I told her to meet me at Breaking Dawn at 5."

"Okay," she said. "I'll meet you there."

Getty's POV:

"Okay," I told Edward. "I'll meet you there." Then I left the room.

I took out my phone and called Scott. He answered on the first ring.

"Hey beautiful."

"You weren't waiting for me to call, were you," I teased.

"What? Me? Wait for you to call? Never!"

I laughed. Busted.

"Scott," I started. "You do know that the world doesn't revolve around me, right?"

"My world does," he said.

I knew there was a reason I loved this man, but I couldn't let him know that I enjoyed his sappy romanticism.

"Ugh, you're going to give me cavities. Oh, guess what."

"What?"

"I made it up here. I'm in Tuk as we speak, actually." After I said this, I heard a door slam and tires spewing gravel.

"So far away," he whined.

"Not really," I countered. "You're only in Yellowknife. That's less than 700 miles. It's only 9, and knowing the way you drive, you could easily make it here by 5."

"Where're you going with this, babe?"

"You know the new bar, Breaking Dawn?"

"Yeah," he said cautiously.

"Meet me there at 5. I'm going through withdrawal."

I could hear him shaking his head at that. "And you say I'm giving you cavities."

"Well you are," I retorted.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Wait, how'd this happen? I'm supposed to be the one making sarcastic, dismissive remarks. You're good my friend."

"You wouldn't have me any other way," he said.

"I know. Just don't get cocky, okay? 'Cause I will dump your ass if you do."

"Alright," he said. "I promise. I'll see you at 5. I love you."

"I love you too. I'm counting the minutes."

"I'm sure you are."

"Remember what I said about cockiness?"

"Yes, mother."

"Bye, Scott."

"See you soon, beautiful."

I felt better after talking to Scott. I always do. Fortunately, he would be there when I next had to deal with Edward. For now, though, I had to clear my head, so I went swimming in the mouth of the Mackenzie River, where it met the Beaufort Sea.

7 hours later:

It was a quarter to 5 when I walked up to the door of Breaking Dawn, when I heard a catcall behind me. I turned around, looking for a construction worker, but all I saw was a 2009 Cadillac CTS-V. I walked over to it, and was looking it over when I felt someone quickly grab and release my sides. I whipped around and came face-to-face with the most welcoming sight I had ever seen.

I was greeted by an eyeful of 6 foot 3, light brown hair, hazel eyed, lean, muscular, smiling big enough to be seen from space…

"SCOTT," I squealed, jumping up and wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Hey, you," he said, enveloping me in the biggest hug of my life. "Like my new car?"

I was speechless. "This is yours? Who? How? What?"

"Stop sputtering," he said. Before I knew what was happening, his lips were on mine, and he was kissing me like never before.

After about 10 minutes, (What can I say? The boy has stamina.) we pulled apart, both gasping for air, me unnecessarily so.

"I missed you," I said. "Maybe we can continue this later, but, for now, let's go inside."

He pouted, causing me to glare at him. "Fine," he relented. "You were always good at making people succumb to your will."

"And I use it to my advantage," I said as we walked in the door, arms around each other's waists.

When we walked in the door, the hostess couldn't take her eyes off of Scott.

"Table for one," she asked.

I pulled Scott's head down towards me and kissed him. Turning back to the hostess, I smiled smugly and said "four. We have two other people joining us soon."

She led us to our table, all the while receiving imploring glances from Scott. "I have a business meeting. I just really, really missed seeing you," I explained.

He began to nuzzle my neck. "Oh. I missed you too."

As Scott was saying that, I heard Edward walk in. When I turned, I saw a pained expression on his face and a strawberry blonde throwing herself all over him.

Edward, I thought, look to your right. He looked, and I waved.

"Who are you waving at," Scott asked, as I saw Edward walk gracefully over.

"Scott, this is my associate, Edward Cullen, and his friend Tanya."

As I was making the introductions, Edward shot me an inquisitive look.

I told Scott that this was a business meeting.

I suppose it is, of sorts.

"So, Tanya," I began. "How are things in Alaska?"

"Slow. We've only been hunting and going on about our lives. There's only school and the like, you know?"

"I completely understand," I said. "It's dull, but it's better than nothing, but enough of the pleasantries. Let's get down to business.

"Tanya, we need your help. The leaders are coming. I don't know why, but I do know that unless we get help from you and your family, my entire family will die."

"By 'leaders' you mean…" the Volturi, Tanya finished silently.

"Yes. They don't know that we've come here, but I'm sure that by now they're with Esme."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean we left Esme in Forks to either stall them or prevent them from finding out where we are. This doesn't change the fact that we need help from your family. Are you in or out?"

"I think we can manage to help you," Tanya said. "Just keep in mind, my assistance is not unconditional."

"And what might these conditions entail?"

"Baby," Scott said. "Where'd you learn all these big words?"

I smiled at him. "Forks," I said matter-of-factly.

Everyone started laughing.

"Conditions," I pressed.

"Oh, yes," Tanya said, as if suddenly remembering. "Either you, Getty, come and join me and my family in Denali, or Edward gives me what I want. And he knows full well what it is that I want."

Edward mentally groaned so loudly, I could have sworn that everyone at our table heard it. The look he gave me had "help me" written all over it. I shook my head.

"Thank you, Tanya," I said politely. "We truly appreciate the help. Also, we will carefully consider each condition and let you know the agreed upon condition at a later date."

"Sheesh, Get," Scott said, earning a death glare from me.

"You know I hate that nickname."

"Sorry, beautiful, I was just going to ask why you were acting so business-like."

"Business-like? At a business meeting? Me?"

"Now you're just being sarcastic."

"Me? Sarcastic? Never!" I feigned offence. I looked at Scott's face for a couple minutes and couldn't help but laugh. He looked so guilty. "Relax, honey," I said. "I was just teasing. You know I love you." As I said this, Edward bolted from the table, with Tanya chasing after him.

"What's his problem," Scott asked.

"I really don't know how to word this nicely, so I'm just going to say it: he's in love with me, and therefore, jealous of you. I've told him time and again that I don't love him, and I've even told him about you before. For whatever reason, he has deluded himself into thinking I'll change my mind, even though he has someone that can and is willing to reciprocate his love."

"Tanya?"

"No. Well, yes, but there's someone else I had in mind. Someone he loved before he met me."

"Girlfriend?"

"Yeah." I looked at my watch. "I really don't want to, but I have to leave. Will you give me a ride back to the hotel?"

"Sure."

I smiled. "Let's see how much giddy-up that Caddy has."

While driving back to the hotel, Scott asked me a question I knew had been simmering in his mind since the conversation with Tanya.

"Something has changed about you," he started off. "You didn't use to be cryptic and mysterious. Not that it bothers me. But you also look different. More glamorous. It's nice and all, I'm just wondering what happened. Does it have anything to do with that Edward guy?"

Oh, crap, I thought. How do I explain this without telling him everything? "No. It has nothing to do with Edward. It's just another thing I picked up in Forks. I'm good friends with Edward's sisters and well, let's just say that they're a little bit obsessed with fashion."

"Oh. I guess that would do it. It really is good to see you again."

I smiled. "You too."

We were back at the hotel and, after an intense 15 minutes, I went inside, promising Scott that I would call him soon and more often. When I walked into the hotel room, Alice was in front of me before I knew what was happening.

"Getty," she said, mildly panicking. "Esme's been kidnapped."

A/N: There you have it. Another chapter. I didn't get any reviews for the previous chapter, so I would sure appreciate some for this one. Sorry for the cliffies in this chapter and the previous one, but now we're at the same point in the story for both Esme and the rest of the Cullens. Battle coming up shortly. That may take a while to write, since I have no idea how to orchestrate it. Anyway, review please. I'm working as fast as I can.