I must have fainted then, because the next thing I remember was waking up with the entire Cullen family peering down at me while I was laying on the hard kitchen floor.
"Ugg," I groaned.
"Are you alright, Bella?" Carlisle asked.
"No," I moaned.
"What's wrong?" Edward asked.
"I fainted," I answered.
"Why?" Emmett asked.
"Probably Esme's cooking," Jasper joked.
"Or lack thereof," Mark said. "Bella didn't eat lunch today."
"Why not?" Rose questioned.
"She had a late breakfast, so she wasn't hungry," Esme supplied.
"I'm right here, you know," I said.
"Let's go up to my office and I'll check to make sure you're okay," Carlisle suggested. "Alice and Edward, why don't you come with me? Everyone else can stay down here."
"Can I come?" Mark asked.
"Alice and Edward are used to acting as my assistants," Carlisle said. "I would prefer if you stayed down here with everyone else. It tends to get a little crowded up there if we have too many people trying to squeeze in."
"It's okay, Mark," I told him. "I'll be back down in a little bit."
Mark nodded, and Edward picked me up. He started to carry me up the stairs at a human pace, but as soon as he was out of Mark's sight he ran at his normal pace the rest of the way to Carlisle's office. He set me on the examination table and turned back to the door as Alice came through.
"What did you say about Victoria?" he hissed at her.
"She's coming, and she has friends this time," Alice answered quietly as Carlisle came in behind her. "She is debating whether or not to come tonight or at a later time."
"Then we have a few of our family members keep watch outside Bella's house," Carlisle said calmly. "We'll be ready for her if she does come."
"I think going to La Push tomorrow is out of the plan," Edward informed me.
"I'll be just as safe there as I am here," I said weakly.
"Are you alright, Bella?" Carlisle repeated. "You don't look very good."
"I'm just scared," I whispered. "I don't want anybody to get hurt by Victoria."
"We won't," Edward promised. "She won't even know what hit her."
"But she has friends," I protested.
"Only two," Alice assured me. "They won't be any match for us."
"Obviously Victoria thinks so, or she wouldn't be coming," I pointed out. I started to cry, and Alice exchanged a look with Edward.
"Jasper, a little help calming her down, please," Edward asked quietly. A calming sensation worked its way into the room, and my tears started to dry.
"What's wrong?" Edward asked. He sat next to me and put a comforting arm around my shoulder.
"This Christmas was going to be so perfect with you home and everything going well," I answered as the tears started again, "but Victoria had to come and ruin it all. I don't want you guys to get hurt. I don't want to have to mourn the death of my family because they got in between me and my assassin. I love you all too much, and Victoria is too dangerous on her own, but now she has friends and I don't want anything to happen to any of you!" I started sobbing, and I felt Edward sigh. "What are we going to do with you, Bella?" he asked.
"I'll go get Jasper," Alice volunteered. I could practically hear her rolling her eyes at my pathetic worries.
"No, don't," Carlisle commanded. "Bella, listen to me." When I didn't respond he repeated himself. "Bella, please listen to me."
"I am," I cried.
"Nothing is going to happen to any of us. We'll all be safe, you and Mark will be safe, your father will be safe, everyone. We'll be safe and sound, and we'll have gotten rid of Victoria."
"But I'm so worried," I whispered.
"Bella, we're an entire coven bent on keeping three people safe. All three people will be in the same house. It's the easiest guarding job any of us will ever have."
"Do you promise?" I asked.
"I swear it on my father's cross," Carlisle said, referring to the wooden antique hanging outside the door. "Everyone will be fine."
"Okay," I whispered. I buried my face in Edward's chest and he held me for a few minutes while I calmed down.
"Alice, go tell Mark that she's almost ready to leave," Carlisle instructed quietly.
"I think I'm ready now," I said before Alice could leave. I sat up and glanced at Edward's shirt to make sure it wasn't too wet. It wasn't, so I gave him a grateful smile and stood up from the table. "I might as well go now, or he'll come barging in."
"Too late," Alice murmured quietly. I heard the steps outside the door a second later.
"Bella? Are you okay?" Mark asked as he opened the door. I let him envelop me in a hug.
"Just a little embarrassed," I explained. "Carlisle told me to go home, rest, and eat something."
"Are we leaving already?" he asked. "Wouldn't you be better here where Carlisle can keep an eye on you?"
"Charlie called and said I have a surprise guest." I explained. "We need to go home."
"Why did you need to talk to Alice after you came in?" Mark inquired.
"I had to ask her a favor," I said and glanced at Carlisle before winking. "It's Christmas time, you know. Don't ask too many questions."
Mark laughed and pulled me into a tighter hug, complete with a small kiss. "I won't," he promised. "Let's go see who your guest is."