A/N: I promised you action. Now I must deliver. Thank you for reading this far!

EPOV

If it were possible for vampires to be unconscious, I would have achieved it by now. I would welcome nothing more than a brief respite from my longing to return to Bella and my pain at hurting her so deeply. Alice tries to hide her periodic visions of Bella, but I caught one glimpse - a most agonizing vision of Bella hurling a book while sobbing and cursing my name. The amount of pain I have caused was apparent in her streaming eyes.

Thoughts of her consume my mind. With my complex vampire mind, I could think of many facets of her and my mistakes at the same time. I often wonder about what she is doing now, at that very second. Is she eating? Sleeping? Is she smiling? I hope she still smiles. I do not, but I hope for her sake that things make her happy. I haven't smiled since the day I left her broken in the woods.

I write her every day. Sometimes I write many different times day. Of course, I never post them. It would cause her too much pain to receive letters from me, whom she believes has moved on. In my letters I explain to her about the Volturi and why I had to leave her, to protect her. I left her for her. I also apologize repeatedly for the other reason I left. I beg forgiveness for my petty underestimation of her, of not treating her as an equal. For damning our relationship because she didn't understand me. It was my fault, I never let her. I never explained my life. There are so many years of dark nights that I never told her about. How could I expect her to understand something she had never experienced? I apologize to her for the unfairness of my judgment. I ask for her forgiveness for my hubris, my awful pride in my own intelligence.

And where has that intelligence got me? I'm without my love. I am without a life. I exist only within this dark room, looking out on the world, but only seeing a pair of chocolate brown eyes with tears welled in them.

"Son, I need your help at the hospital, there has been a car accident and I need an extra pair of medically trained hands."

"I don't know, Carlisle. I can't concentrate on anything. I only see your face through a vision of her's."

"I am not going to tell you I understand, because I do not. The pain you are experiencing is one I have never dealt with, but I am here, the family is here Edward. We accept your loss and your pain, but you must attempt to function, for the good of those around you."

"You are right, Carlisle, but how do I function when my reason for living is barred from me?"

"You must learn to live, son. Take solace in the fact that she is safe from Aro's hands."

"Carlisle, surely if I went back one time, Aro wouldn't follow me to her?"

"We must assume that Aro will be watching for your movements, he wants to join him so badly, he will use force if necessary. I am surprised he hasn't found Bella yet, considering how long you were together in Forks. You cannot jeopardize her life now, or what has all your pain been for, if not to keep her safe?"

"Yes, you are right, as always. I will accompany you to the hospital."

"Thank you, Edward."

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JPOV

I really hate the pain Edward is going through. I really do. I feel horrible about my role in all this heartbreak. I can't believe I tried to kill by brother's love because of a paper cut. I can emphasize with Edward, probably better than anyone can, because every time I enter that house, I am living Edward's anguish. I try to stay out as much as possible, to save myself from his despair and to keep from reminding him of one of the reasons he left.

But he is gone with Carlisle to the hospital, so I am sitting with Esme in the living room, watching Rose and Emmett play cards. I have no idea what they are betting, but I'm sure, with Emmett, its vulgar.

"Thanks for being so understanding, Esme."

"No problem, my dear son, it was not your fault. It was going to happen eventually with Edward's, then current, mindset. I am sorry you must live his sorrow because of your gift."

A wave of anguish so acute it caused me to cry out, ending Rose and Em's game, washed over me in that second. It had a familiar tinge that made my body turn to ice.

Alice.

At that moment, Alice burst through the door, ripping it from its hinges in her haste, screaming Edward's name, then Carlisle's and mine mixed together. I caught her in my arms, restraining her from streaking around the room, screaming their names.

"Alice! What's wrong?!"

"Edward! Where's Edward?"

"He is at the hospital with Carlisle. What has happened, Alice? I can feel your terror."

"Bella! The Volturi! Aro has sent Demetri to follow her and wait for Edward to go to her. He's been trailing her for weeks. Now that Edward hasn't shown up, Demetri is going to kidnap Bella and take her to Aro so Edward will have to go to Italy and join the Volturi! Then they will kill Bella once Edward has complied and Edward will either die fighting for her, or their talented guards will affect his feelings, like you, and make him forsake her!

"We have to go to her! We have to help!" yelled Esme.

"We'll pick up Carlisle and Edward on the way, let's go!" said Emmett.

"We'll have to take two vehicles, the two fastest. We'll take Carlisle's Mercedes and Edward's Vanquish," replied Rosalie.

"That isn't everything!" yelled Alice, "Demetri will try to apprehend her tonight, during their storm chase, he'll kill her partner and take her and make it look like the tornado destroyed their SUV. Everyone knows Bella always gets too close to the tornados. The tornado that will develop tonight will be the biggest they've ever went after. There will be no evidence that Bella didn't die in the storm. I see two ways for her now, either Demetri catches her, or he drives her deeper into the storm and she dies in the tornado. We have to get there and help her. We have three hours to find her and protect her, we will have to fight Demetri. I cannot see if he will have back-up or not."

"I have the keys!" screams Rose.

I grab the Vanquish keys and pick up Alice's slight body and run to the fastest car in our garage. If I hadn't been so consumed with terror for Bella, and dread of Edward's pain if we should fail, I would have enjoyed the chance to drive Edward's most prized possession.

I peel out of the long, flat drive with Emmett, Rose and Esme in the Mercedes right behind me.

Review review review! I'm trying my hand at action sequences. Next chapter to follow quickly. I'm just as anxious as you are.