Disclaimer: Not mine

A/N: So I have been getting some questions about the Volturi and the contract. I thought it might be helpful to have another POV to help explain what is going on in Volterra. So, here is Aro's POV right after the auction.

APOV

"What do you mean she was a shield?" I boomed.

Eleazar had just dropped a bomb. I trusted my staff to always do their jobs. I was a busy man, I could not remind them what to do. He had one job, to make sure that he documented anyone who had special abilities. Not that hard. Scan the room and see if anyone had any special traits. He had found the mind reader and the fire starter easily. How could he have missed this?

"I'm sorry sir. It was only after she had collapsed that I realized she had been blocking my ability. Then it was too late, she had already been sold and was gone." He admitted.

I was tempted to pull each of his fingers and toss them into the ocean. He could go for a swim and try to find them. At least that would get his worthless face out of my sight.

"Fine, fine. You fucked up. What are you going to do about it? With that kind of power we would be unstoppable. You need to find a way to get her back." I said. Just thinking about having a shield in my arsenal was exciting.

"What would you have me do? Go kidnap her? You know that if he was going to drink her, she would be dead by now. No way someone could only take a sip out of that girl." He snarled. The finger pulling was sounding better and better.

"We need to try and find a legal way to get her back. If they have not killed her by now, maybe they were going to use her as a slave. Give them a month, if she is still alive then they must return her. Make up some excuse about it being a 'meal only' auction. That boy that won her was not paying enough attention to realize we are lying out of our ass." I suggested. And by suggested I meant demanded.

I needed to get her back, preferably alive. I would have some fun with her before I turned her. I was looking forward to it!

Chapter 10

BPOV

I was still in shock from Edward's and my close encounter of the shower kind. I managed to finish up after Rosalie left, and was now sorting through the clothes Alice had left on the bed. She said she was going to find me something to wear to bed, yet all I could find was skimpy lingerie. Don't get me wrong, someone had exquisite taste, but I was not going to waltz around the house in nothing but a baby doll and sheer robe. Alice had even left me high heeled slippers. Hello, you have seen the kind of damage I can do to myself without the assistance of stiletto slippers.

"Rosalie" I shouted. I figured I had a better chance of convincing her to find me a tee-shirt than I did the wardrobe nazi.

"Yes, midnight?" She smirked.

"Midnight?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna call you midnight, as in "midnight snack." Thought that was pretty creative." She laughed.

Oh man, these guys had a fucked up sense of humor.

"Ah, yeah, anyway," I started, "is there some way you could grab me one of Emmett's shirts to sleep in? Alice left all this lingerie, and I am not comfortable frolicking through the house in it."

"Um, sure Bella. I think I can find something." She said cryptically before she glided out of the room.

She was back in a flash and handed me a gray long sleeved shirt. "This should do. Hope you enjoy it." And with a wink she was gone.

I had no idea what that was about, but the shirt was perfect. I found a pair of boy shorts in the pile of sin and threw them on under the shirt. After deeming myself presentable, I went out to say good night before my eyelids slammed shut. I found everyone in the living room, with the exception of Edward. I figured he was still embarrassed about our shower peep show, I knew I was.

"Sleep well Bella. We will be discussing some other options on how to keep you safe." Carlisle offered. "We are hoping to have a plan of action by tomorrow morning."

No wonder they are all so smart, you have tons more time to do things when you don't have to sleep.

"Ok, thanks so much for everything you all have done for me." I said, getting a little teary eyed. These "people" did not have to help me, yet had gone out of their way to try and keep me safe. They would have my eternal appreciation and trust.

"Bella, I think that we are going to have to get used to the fact that you are family now. And we protect our family." Emmett said, serious for once.

With a small wave to the room, I headed back up stairs. I listened at the door to Edward's room, but could not hear anything. I was kinda disappointed that I was not going to get to say good night. He had been my savior more times than I could count in the few hours I had known him.

I climbed up into the bed and settled down under the fluffy white comforter. For someone who has no need for a bed, they sure know how to buy one. I was asleep within minutes, and dreaming not long after.

Edward and I were on a wooded trail, me slung across his back. He was running so fast, the wind was whipping through my hair making a whistling sound. He slowed to a human pace as we neared a clearing. The sun was high above, shining down on the field of wild flowers. I had never seen so many different colors, it looked as if a rainbow was laying across the meadow.

He pulled me from his back, cradling me in his arms.

"This is for you." He whispered. "I had never seen anything as beautiful as this place, until I laid my eyes on you."

And yes, even in my dreams I swooned.

As he leaned his head down to kiss me, a strong wind rocked the meadow. Freezing cold and biting, it chilled me to the bone. He tried to shield me from it, but it kept changing directions.

He looked down at me sadly.

"I can't keep you safe."

Suddenly he pushed me behind him as he turned and watched a blond, long haired vampire walk out of the trees. He started moving towards us quickly, making the flowers look like a wave upon the ocean. Edward launched himself towards the blur, but the blond was fast, and timed his jump so he landed behind Edward, and right in front of me.

"Oh Isabella, I am going to enjoy this." He snarled.

I shot up in bed, shaking and stifling a cry. The cold persisted, and I looked over to see the window next to the bed was open. I knew I had not opened the window, even in May the nights got cold in the Northwest. I pushed the covers off, and got out of bed. I was not some helpless scaredy cat. I could check things out for myself. Although I really wish I had a baseball bat right now.

As I got closer to the window, the wind moaned and pushed the curtains into the room.

Forget this shit, I am outta here.

I ran to the door and pulled it open, only to barrel straight into a solid naked chest. I screamed and brought my hands up to my face, barely missing breaking my own nose with my cast. Edward grabbed my arms, pulling me out into the hall.

"What is wrong? Your heart rate is skyrocketing, I could hear it from my room." He said.

"My dream... and then the window, and the curtains." I stammered. Between the fright and seeing the shirtless specimen in front of me, I was lucky I could get that much out. Good thing he had pajama pants on or I might be catatonic and drooling.

"What about the window?" He asked.

"I am sure that I didn't open it before I went to bed. When I woke up from my dream, it was open and the wind was blowing in. I got scared and ran out." I admitted sheepishly. I had really wanted to be a warrior and face whatever demon was out there, but alas, I acted like a typical girl.

"Emmett." He said quietly. I was just about to correct him and tell him no, my name was Bella, when Emmett appeared next to us.

"Keep her safe, I am going to check things out." He said to Emmett.

I would have protested, but he was gone before I could even form the words. Emmett peered into the room, while keeping his giant paws on my arms, holding me in place against the wall. Edward returned a few seconds later, looking grim.

"Let's go downstairs with the others. I think there are some new things we need to discuss." He said.

Emmett released my arms and I sagged against the wall. This could not be good, someone must have been in my room and opened the window. How could Alice not see this, or Edward have heard them? I was so exhausted, there was no way I would be able to stay up for another session of "what the hell is going on."

Edward cleared his throat and I looked up at him. He looked so worried, and I wish I could have been able to ease his mind. He seemed to be staring at my shirt, and I looked down, hoping that I was not sporting highbeams.

"How did you get my shirt?" He whispered.

"I asked Rosalie to borrow one of Emmett's. Alice only brought me inappropriate night time attire." I admitted. "I'm sorry, I just assumed it was Emmett's." I was worried he was upset I was wearing something of his. I kinda liked it.

He seemed flustered, "No, I'm sorry. I was just surprised to see you wearing it. I had been looking for it tonight, it matches my pants."

I looked down and noticed that it indeed would match the pants that were slung low on his delicious looking hips. I could not tear my eyes from the line of bronze hair that extended from his navel down under the waistband of his pants. My fingers itched to trace that path, and I had to clench them into fists to keep them from doing just that.

He chuckled and I jerked my head up, cheeks flaming. He flicked his head in the direction of the stairs and pulled my hand over his arm. The old fashioned charm he exuded was really a turn on. I was hoping to encounter a puddle one of these days and see if he would take his coat off so I could walk on it.

We trudged down the stairs and I curled up on the couch. Edward sat next to me, and explained what he had discovered. There had definitely been a vampire in my room. He did not recognize the scent, but they had not been gone long. It seems my dream had awoken me just in time, and I scared the intruder off. He must of been hoping he could catch me unaware and take me without anyone else knowing.

Alice and Edward both admitted that they had not noticed anything amiss. They had all noticed my increased heart rate during me dream (Awesome!) but they could still hear me breathing in the room upstairs, so thought nothing of it.

I had not realized I had dozed off until I felt Edward's cold hand on my bare leg.

"Bella, do you want to sleep here tonight. It is not very comfortable, but at least we can all keep you safe here." He suggested.

"No Edward, why don't you just come up and lay in that nice comfy bed with me." I challenged. I am sure it was the exhaustion was making me so brave. I could barely keep my eyes open.

I heard one of the girls giggle and then felt Edward lift me up off the couch. "All right Sleeping Beauty, the comfy bed it is."

I snuggled into his stone chest, inhaling his cucumber, lime, vanilla scent. I was surprised that I could not smell his scent on his shirt.

"I had not worn it yet silly girl." He laughed.

Oh damn, must have said that out loud.

I could feel another rumbling laugh move through his chest, "Yes precious, you are saying those things out loud."

I tried to shut off my inner monologue before I said something that would really make it hard for him to share my bed. Get it.....hard?

A/N: Remember, reviews will get you some Edward in your inbox!