A/N: that's for all the alerts+ and reviews..

I would like to thank Angel of Sinne for an AWESOME!! Review!! She rocks!!

You should so check out her story.. Minutes to Midnight.. Its really good. And full of sexual tension and frustration… lol

Everyone wants there very own Edward.. We should boycott!

Chapter 17: Clearing

BELLAS POV

I shook involuntarily. Fight? They were all going to fight. They were going to get hurt, or worse, killed. Tears started to brim over. I couldn't fight them off anymore.

"Fight? You want to fight?" My voice was shaky.

"Bella, it's going to be ok." Edward whispered in my ear. I pushed away from him. It wasn't going to be alright. It was far from alright.

"NO, no its not! Everything is going wrong. You all are going to fight, your going to risk your lives for me. I can't allow that. I cant let you risk your life for me." I stood up and started walking toward the woods.

"Where are you going?" Edward asked as he was right beside me.

"To Victoria." Edward grabbed my arms and pulled me back I struggled to break free.

"Edward let me go!" I screamed, from beneath my now tear covered face. How could I let them all risk there lives.

"Bella, Please stop. Be reasonable!" Edward begged as he pulled me to the ground and held me. I tried once to get free, but his super human vampire strength wasn't letting me move an inch. Everyone else was huddled around us. Trying to calm me down.

"I am being reasonable! I cant let any of you die for me! I'm who she wants. No one has to get hurt. Just let me go. Please!" I begged, I was pleading with him to let me walk to my own death.

"Bella, we can't do that. I wont let her get her hands on you!" Edward said as he hugged me closer.

"Please." I begged. "Edward, what if she gets someone, what if she gets Alice?" Jasper tightened his grip around Alice's waist as I said that. "What about Rose? Or Esme?" I looked at all there faces they were blank, emotionless. They were hiding there fear from me. "Edward. What if she gets a hold of you? I couldn't live with myself. I cant loose you!"

"And I cant loose you Bella!" He said as he pulled my face to look at his. He was crying again. It was still weird seeing tears on his face. But I knew he meant every word. He was crying, crying for me. I stopped fighting with him. I collapsed in his chest and sobbed.

I didn't realize we had moved until I felt the wind in my hair. I looked up. I was in Edwards arms, and he was jogging through the woods. He slowed to a walk. And I saw Emmet and Alice beside him. I felt a wave of calm roll over us. I lifted my head to see behind Edward. Jasper was smiling at me.

"Do you want to walk yourself?" Edward asked. I shook my head.

"No but can you put me down for a minute?" He gently placed me on my feet. "I have to go to her." Edward let out a low throaty growl.

"Bella."

"Edward. I cant let any of you get hurt because of me. Jasper, what if she gets Alice? Or Emmett, what if she grabs rose and tortures her? What will you do? Who will you blame? Cause I sure as hell know who I'll blame. every time I look in the mirror. There death will be on my head!" Jasper took a step closer to Alice. Emmett just looked up into the sky. We all stood there in silence for a long while.

"I'm not going to let her get anyone, Rose, Alice, Esme, or you! Or any of my brothers. Trust me when I say that Bella. She comes near any of you. I'll kill her." Emmett hissed.

"Neither will I Bella, no one will touch you, or any of us." Edward said as he wrapped his arms around me. I started to sob again. I felt strong arms grab both Edward and me. I looked up to see Emmett smiling down at me.

"No one will hurt my family. Your part of my Family Bella." He said as he released us from his hold. "Now lets get you home."

Edward lifted me off my feet into his arms. We started jogging again.

When we reached my house, Emmett, Alice and Jasper said good night. Edward and me were suddenly in my room. He placed me on my bed gently.

"Where'd they go?" I asked quietly

"They are checking around your house. Making sure no one is near."

"Oh." all I could think to say was oh. It seemed to suit. How could I think of anything to really say. My, family. That's what they were now. They were all my family, and they were all out there risking there lives.

"Bella, please love. Try and sleep. This has been a long day for you, for all of us."

"Edward. I, I need you to promise me something."

"Ok anything."

"I need you to promise me. But don't make promises you cant keep do you hear?"

"Yes, Bella, what is it?"

"Promise me, no one will get hurt. Promise me we'll all get through this. Including Jacob and the pack. Promise me!" I was begging. Even though I knew he couldn't make that promise.

"Bella, I, cant." his face turned into a frown. "I cant promise you nothing will happen to Jacob and them. I have no control over them. But I can tell you they are strong, they all are. There like a family themselves and families look after one another. Just like my family. Were all strong Bella. We all will be ok. I can't promise no one will get hurt. But I can promise you that none of us will die if I have anything to do about it. We will protect ourselves. We will protect you. We ALL will get through this. Vampire, werewolf it doesn't matter you care about them, so I will try to protect them the best I can."

"Thank you Edward. I know that takes a lot from you."

"I mean every word. I know if something happens to Jacob, or any of the pack. It will hurt you, and I promised you I would not let anything ever hurt you again. I intend to stick to my word." I smiled up at him, and pulled him closer to me. I snuggled myself against his body as he stood in front of me. I wrapped my legs behind his knees and pulled him onto the bed. He rolled over me and laid next to my side. I laid in his arms for what felt like hours even though it was only a few minutes. Edward began to hum my lullaby in my ear.

"I love you Bella. Nothing will happen, I intend to spend the rest of eternity with you." I smiled up at him.

"I love you Edward, and I can not wait for that day to finally begin." he laughed, as I closed my eyes and drifted off into a dreamless night.

It's been three days, three long days since everyone decided it'd be better to risk ALL of there lives instead of just mine. So far nothing, not a trace of her, its like she just disappeared, but I wasn't that lucky. She'd be back, with a vengeance. She would come for me or some one I loved it was just a matter of when and who she would go for first.

Alice, Edward, Emmet and Jasper were at my house waiting for Quil Embry and Jacob to get here with last nights news. The past three days have went by very slow. Every loud noise I jump, expecting someone to run out and grab me. Every days the same since the last meeting we had at night. The plans were all set in motion. Carlisle and Sam had exchanged all the information they had. Now it was up to us. It was like she had vanished. So the secret nightly meetings have been put off until one side picks up something.

I insisted it would be easier with out these stupid boundaries and they both agreed but only if it came down to fighting. Even though we all knew it would eventually. She wouldn't just give up.

"Where are they? We do have lives!" Emmett said as he sat down on the couch.

"What do you have planned that's sooooo important?" I asked.

"Nothing, I just don't like waiting for, dogs."

"Emmet. You know how Bella feels." Edward said as he looked at me and smiled.

"Fine sorry! But that's what they are. It's not a lie."

"So when I yell at Jake for calling you a bloodsucker? that's ok right?"

"Well no, I fine. Emmett's wrong I'm always wrong."

"Your not always wrong." I looked at Edward and he just shook his head.

"Rose that bad is she?" he asked his brother.

"No, she's just, I don't know I can't do anything right. She's on edge cause of, everything, and then the fact that I'm running around associating with werewolves has her pissed off."

"She knows It's only because it's the easiest way, I mean if we need help against a rogue werewolf. What better way to win than to have an entire pack behind us?" Alice asked as she flipped through a magazine.

"Yes she understands, but it doesn't mean she's thrilled about it. So she's taking everything out on me. I don't get her sometimes."

"You and me both." Edward said. It wanted to ask why she hates me so much, but I figured now wasn't the time. I mean I never did anything to her. Except put her entire family at risk and put her sometimes husband in danger, but nothing to big. I rolled my eyes to myself. She was the least of my problems.

There was a knock on the door. Jake, Quil and Embry walked in.

"Finally!" Emmet said. Jacob looked toward him and glared slightly.

"Good news or bad news first?

"Uh, is there good news?" I asked. How could anything be good.

"Good enough, I guess." Quil smiled down at me.

"Ok, good news." We got her track again. She's with the wolf though."

"Is that the bad news?" Edward asked as he put his arms around me. I was hoping with all I could she would be gone forever. Wishful thinking obviously.

"Part of it. The other part, there's three missing people in the city, and there's another missing hiker. His campsite was found earlier today. There was blood."

"Great. Perfect, just what I need, more dead people on my back!" when was this going to stop? What was I thinking it was never going to stop until she got what she wanted. Me.

"Bella, its not your fault. You cant control her taking people. She would do it whether or not she was after you." Embry said as he put his arm on my shoulder.

"Yea but she's only here because of me."

"Charlie in 2 minutes." Edward announced.

"Should we go?" Quil turned around.

"Why would you need to go?" I asked confused.

"Well your dad. A house full of guys, and Alice." Everyone laughed.

"My dad knows all of you though. What do you think he's going to think were doing?"

"I don't know he's a cop for crying out loud how should I know?"

"Were plotting the towns take over." Embry added and grinned.

"Yea, the teenagers are going to take over and run the town." Emmet laughed. "It'd be a fun story to tell the judge. I'm sorry sir…." he was cut off by Charlie walking in.

"Wow, full house today." He smiled to see that it wasn't just the Cullen's here today. But Jake and his friends also. "Guys, Alice." he nodded.

"Hey dad."

"Bella you want me to order pizza?"

"Uh you might have to order the entire store, or are you forgetting who your feeding Charlie?" Jacob asked.

"That's right I forgot I was feeding the bottomless pit."

"It's ok we have to get going anyway. We'll see you guys later." Jacob said as he leaned down quickly hugged me and walked toward the door.

"Later tonight?" I whispered to Edward. He nodded.

Charlie ordered pizza. He said it was nice to give me a break from cooking every now and then. Of course Alice and Emmett excused themselves from eating. Edward took a piece for some reason. But I could of sworn I saw him throw it in the trash when Charlie wasn't looking.

I was up in my room after dinner waiting for Edward to sneak back in. Emmet and Alice would be taking his Volvo back. He would wait here with me like he did every night. Then when Charlie was asleep we would sneak out to meet the rest of them.

We were on our way to the clearing in the woods.

"So I see your starting to like Jacob" I smiled. As he placed me on my feet. We must have been close enough for me to walk.

"I'm a good pretender."

"See I don't think its just that, I think your actually starting to like him."

"Were enemies Bella, as soon as this is all over everything goes back to normal."

"It doesn't have to be." I sighed.

"Yes it does. It doesn't matter if we like each other or not. Which we don't. he's a werewolf I am a vampire. We don't mix. You'll see when you become one of us."

"Who says I am going to forget about Jake just because I'm going to be a vampire?"

"I didn't say you were. I just said you wouldn't be friends."

"I can still be friends with him." I said forcefully.

"Bella, he wont want to be. I hear what he thinks of us. All of us. It doesn't matter if cares about you now. When you turn, he thinks you wont be Bella anymore."

"Well that's just stupid!" I shot.

"Stupid or not that's what he thinks, and that's the way its supposed to be. Were enemies. Whether or not you want us to be or not we are. Especially me and Jacob. I put on a good face only because of you. But don't mistake my false friendship for the actual thing."

"Why not?"

"There's a few reasons which do you want first?"

"Don't give me the crap he's a werewolf you're a vampire."

"Ok fine. How's this. He fantasizes about you, in the most imaginative way possible just to piss me off and get to me. Or the fact that he tries to figure out ways to get you to leave me and go love him. Oh yeah were real great friends."

"You could be!"

"No we couldn't! Even if he wasn't a werewolf Bella. He is still my enemy. He is trying to take you, therefore sworn enemies, believe me he feels the same."

"Edward."

"Bella I'm sorry I wish it was different. I wish I could be friends with him even just for you. But when he makes me see the things he thinks of you, and imagines of you I want to rip his throat out." I shuttered at his words.

"I'm sorry he makes you think those things but Edward. I'm yours."

"And he doesn't want to except that."

"Can we agree to disagree?" I asked, I hated fighting with him.

"I think that best, seeing how the clearing is right through here." he smiled and kissed me as he pulled me through.

Carlisle and Sam were already talking. The rest of the Cullen's were sitting in the grass a little ways behind Carlisle. Jacob and the pack were standing behind Sam talking. Jacob looked up at me and smiled. He started toward us and was in front of me in no time.

"Bella." he nodded toward Edward. Edward slightly glared but nodded in response. How was I ever going to get them to be friends. I don't think it would ever be possible. Even if Jacob wasn't trying to take me away from Edward every chance he got.

"Hey Jake."

"You any better? You look a little bent out of shape." It startled me how I wasn't even in the clearing for more than a minute and he already knew something was bothering me.

"Nothing except bratty teenage werewolves and vampires who refuse to get along!" I said as I stalked away. I looked back slightly to see both of them standing there stunned. They looked at each other for a quick second before chasing off after me.

"Well that was a little rude there my love. I would hardly call myself bratty."

"What did I do?"

"You guys didn't do anything, I'm just sick of being put in the middle of your childish name calling and fights. So I'm done!"

"Done?" Edward was puzzled.

"Done what?" Jacob said as he crossed his arms in defense.

"I'm done fighting with you both. I'm done trying to get you to be civilized to each other. I will no longer be the middle man. I'm don't being the negotiator. I'm done trying to explain to Jake why you act the way you do Edward, and I'm done trying to tell Edward why you do the things you do, and I am most certainly done trying to sugar coat the fact that you put stupid little fantasies into Edwards head just to set him off. So ya know what. Tear each others throats out. Beat the crap out of each other.. Cause I'm done! I don't care anymore. I wish I could get my best friend and my boyfriend to at least be civil and mean it! I wish you two could just get alone for me. But I see that is never going to happen. So I'm done. Rip each other apart. Have fun!" I walked away from them again. I wasn't really as pissed off at them as I made it seem. I was mostly covering up the fact that I was scared for both of them, and everyone else. But they never listened when I told them that, they laughed and shook it off like it was nothing.

"Alice? Alice!" I heard jasper scream as I walked toward them. I began to run toward Alice. Carlisle was there in a matter of seconds. I reached Alice just in time to hear her say one word.

"Victoria." her voice was shaky, and she wasn't paying attention to anything. We all knew what was happening. Except for Sam and them they looked worried.

"Alice, Victoria what? Alice answer me snap out of it!" Edward shouted as he shook her shoulders.

"Stop shaking her!" Jasper snapped. Edward stepped back.

Alice took in a deep raged breath, and came to.

"She's, She's here."

"What do you mean she's here?" Edward asked as he looked around.

"She's on her way. A minute tops. We have no time."

"Is she going to attack?" Alice just shook her head.

I looked around at the pack they were all shaking.

"No, don't, it will just provoke her more" Alice said as she watched in horror.

Sam looked around, they all started to stop shaking.

We all lifted our heads at the sudden sound of a loud evil menace laugh.