A/N: Playlist for the chapter (these don't necessarily go along with the plot line, they're just songs I sang along to while I wrote, and typed this chapter!): Tiger Lily-Matchbook Romance, Iris-GooGoo Dolls, Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore- REO Speedwagon, Open Arms-Journey, Fall For You- Secondhand Serenade, and On My Own- Les Miz (the musical)

Disclaimer: Much to my sorrow, I own nothing. :(

Chapter 11

-Visions-

Esme Cullen

"Alice!"

My daughter's head jerked forward, almost hitting the dashboard of the Mercedes. Frightened, I put a hand on her shoulder, continuing to drive with my free arm.

"Are you alright, dear?" Her eyes were still glazed over, her mind still caught in a vision only she could see. She was completely still, her white hand grasping the cup holder between us so hard I could hear the plastic cracking. I turned into the empty parking lot of an airport hotel, keeping an eye on Alice as I drove. Usually her visions weren't so violent. The only time they had been previously were when something bad was...

I gasped and spun to face my tiny daughter, clutching her shoulders, shaking her to make her come to. Her tawny eyes were darker than usual as they cleared, and her gaze met mine.

"Esme?" Alice's voice was reed thin, breaking.

"I'm right here, darling," I brushed her usually spiky hair out of her face. "Are you alright?"

She swallowed unnecessarily, her golden eyes averting from my face.

"Yeah, I'm fine." she lied.

"Alice, you're scaring me." She bit her lip guiltily, meeting my eyes for a fraction of a second before looking down at her lap.

"I don't want to talk about it, Mom." She dismissed the subject, turning forward in her seat again. I ignored her.

"What did you see?"

Her large eyes slowly slid up to look at me, filled with fear.

"I can't tell you, Esme." She took one of my hands in her own, "He'll know."

The look in her eyes was surprisingly dead as she spoke, and I tried to piece together what she was saying.

Of course the "he" she was talking about was Edward; she had been looking at Bella and Edward's future since we had left to hunt yesterday evening. Something bad was going to happen to Bella and Edward, and Alice didn't want Edward to know.

I felt the burning behind my eyes from nonexistent tears. How could I protect my children if I wasn't prepared for what was to come?

"I'm sorry, Esme." Alice's expression was similar to how I thought my own looked; full of fear, sadness, and a bit of frustration.

Who could Alice be frustrated with?

"Do you want me to drive?"

I nodded, getting out of the car to go around to the passenger's seat. Alice met me in the middle and wrapped her thin arms around my waist in a tight hug, her spiky hair barely tickling my nose.

"Esme, don't worry. Let me do that for once."

Her voice was calm, but I could hear the hidden anxiety in my daughter's voice.

"Alice, I'm your mother," I gave her a gentle squeeze in response, "Its my job to worry."

She looked up at me, a cheeky grin dancing upon her face.

"Esme, you're the only mother I have ever known," Her bell-like voice rang in the empty parking lot, signalling the honesty and love in her words, "I'm privileged to have you call me 'daughter' "

I smiled, the joy bursting through.

"I love you too, Alice."

She jumped up to kiss me on the cheek before plopping into the empty drivers seat, and we sped off, wordlessly, to our destination.

Alice Cullen

The less I think about what is going to -no, what could happen- the better.

I sped around, dropping to just above the legal limit as I neared the airport. The last thing I needed was a speeding ticket. Even thought the money wasn't necessarily a problem, I knew that Renee's flight was coming in early, and we were going to be late.

I had checked through all the possibilities of the situation.

If Edward found out about what I had seen in my vision, he would definitely overreact; it would be a knee-jerk reaction for him. If I told him what was to come, he would undoubtedly have a breakdown of self-loathing and grief, and that was hardly the best thing for Bella right now, especially under the circumstances. Bella was weak as it is. If she knew...

The possibilities weighed on my mind like a rhinoceros on steroids.

I tried not to sigh in frustration; Esme was already suspicious of my reluctance to tell her the truth.

I deftly pulled into one of the closest parking spots I could find, and Esme and I set off in search of Renee.

It took us only a couple of seconds to spot her over by the pay phone, talking to Phil, I assumed. She looked almost exactly like Bella, with the same eyes, pale skin, and chestnut hair. In fact, the only physical difference between mother and daughter were the extra 5 inches and laugh lines Renee had.

Esme and I walked over to her slowly, not wanting to frighten her, and waited a few feet away for her to spot us or finish her call, whichever came first.

Once she saw us, she gave a little wave and a smile, saying a quick goodbye and hung up the phone.

"Hello," Esme began, "you must be Bella's mother."

"And you must be Edward's." They exchanged smiles and Renee reached out for a handshake. Esme looked at me uncertainly, unsure of how Renee would react when she felt her cold skin.

I shrugged at her, quick enough for Renee to miss the gesture. If Renee was really the flighty character Bella had said she was, she wouldn't ponder on it.

Esme and Renee grasped hands for a second before I showed them to the car, carrying Renee's ridiculously large suitcase behind me.

From behind me, I heard Renee start to speak.

"What exactly happened to Bella?" I froze, my hand still on the trunk, halfway closed. Esme gasped, her hand clapped to her mouth.

"You don't know?" I asked her, shocked. She looked sheepish.

"Charlie was pretty upset on the phone last night. All I understood is that Bella was hurt and that I needed to come as soon as possible."

Esme and I exchanged glances. I could almost see their conversation before me; Charlie's face red with fear for Bell's well-being and anger at the monsters who had cornered her. I was surprised he had even been able to call Renee by himself.

"Maybe we should sit down." Esme led Renee to the backseat, closing the door as she slid in. Esme gave me a panicked glance as Renee fumbled with her bag, and slid into the passenger's seat.

I started the car, knowing that once Renee heard the truth, she'd want to get home as soon as possible.

Esme turned around in her seat to face the back.

"Mrs. Dwyer, I-"

"Please," Renee interrupted, "Call me Renee."

"Renee, then,"

I heard Renee's breath hitch as my mother spoke her next words, and I could almost feel her heart break.

"Bella was attacked."

A/N: sorry about such a short chapter! I'm in the process of writing a 3 page paper for my English Language class, and being the slacker that i am, i put it off until the night before it was do. its alright though, because the paper that only needed to be three pages long is turning out to be a flipping novel. oh well. anyways, review, and I'll post the next chapter later, since I'm pretty much finished with it! yay! :) Leave me some love!

Oh yeah, and if you REALLY love me, you'll check out my new-ish story, La Vita Nuova.

Ciao!

P.S. - I totally almost forgot. i work at a retirement home (fun fun fun) at one of the restaurants there, and I was escorting tonight (picking up people in different sections of the building with wheel chairs yadda yadda) and while I was walking through the halls tonight, i saw a name plate on the outside of a door, and the lady who lived there was named Mary Alice Broome! I was like "YAYYYY ALICE!!" lol... i know i know.. i'm so weird sometimes. anyways. if you're wondering why i don't update as much, its because i just got over being almost deathly sick (not really, but i felt like i was dying), i have loads of homework, and i'm starting a new job that has me working over 20 hours a week. and i have school. and i have to sleep sometime. sooooo yeahh. but still, i find time to procrastinate on essays cough cough and write chapters for you guys. so you should thank me by reviewing/pm-ing me. i always find time to answer back, mostly because all of you are so freaking amazing. and since i've just written the longest A/N on this website, i'm going to sign off now. :)

Kelc