"Bella?"

Her body shivers at the sudden icy grip on her skin. Dark brown eyes flicker to golden ones before they scan the dark surrounding and growing in size. What on Earth are they doing outside?

"Honey, you were sleepwalking."

Irina has her strong arms enclosed around Bella's waist, effectively blocking her from any movement or thrashes. A glimpse of a wrinkle appears on the vampire's forehead and her beautiful eyes seem to be searching something deep inside of Bella. With a head nudge, Bella tilts her head to the right and realises they're about ten feet away from her room.

"I.. I was?"

And then it hits her. The last time she remembers is being tucked in by her mate safely in bed. She never sleepwalked before. She's not a medical student by any means but Bella is smart enough to understand that sleepwalking among adults may be triggered by something negative. Like a bullet train, all the worst things arrive at the station in Bella's mind. Looking down, she's clad in her night shirt and pants but no shoes.

"Let's get you inside, my love."

Irina scoops Bella up in her arms and stealthily climbs through the bedroom window to cause any noise and not wake the Chief. There isn't a reasonable explanation that could have been given to Bella's father if he were to wake up and see Irina in his daughter's room. That would just increase his distrust in Denali's family further.

Opening her wardrobe, Irina grabs Bella's thickest sweater, one that Rosalie had gifted the human and helps her put it on. That's another issue at hand. It wasn't easy to get Rosalie to leave the human alone earlier. If she were to learn Bella's new sleeping habit, Bella's definitely won't be leaving their side.

"Come on. Let's head to the Cullen's. It's better to break the news to that crazy blonde when you're literally right in front of her."

"But what about Charlie?" Bella weakly protested.

After crying her eyeballs out few hours ago, her energy was depleted that she could barely initiate a protest against her mate's instruction. However, it is quickly drowned out by Irina's firm eyes. She knows she can never go against Irina's wish now. And the fact that the fiery craving of her mates' touch has risen to the surface, the pull is getting overwhelming. This is the end of her solitude, for now.

"Alice already called. We'll sneak you back in here before your father wakes up tomorrow. Carlisle gave him some sleep medication to help with his insomnia. He'll be pretty much knocked out till tomorrow afternoon."

Bella sighs in relief.

She feels a stab in her chest imagining all the sleepless nights Charlie had to go through ever since her disappearance. Ever since she moved here and got involved with the Cullens, many tragedies have befallen her and it's starting to affect Charlie's life. Would his life been stress-free if she hadn't moved here? The nagging voice inside of her echoes a knowing answer, further sinking her spirit.

Irina kneels, offering her back to her mate, knowing this is Bella's preferred position whilst she's in a vulnerable state. Wordlessly, Bella climbs on her back and buries her face onto Irina's shoulder, inhaling any inner peace her mate could provide.

"I'll go slower this time," said Irina in a hushed whisper.

And that she does as she could feel Bella's breathing slowing down as they begin their journey.

"It's a beautiful night," muttered a sleepy Bella.

"Sleep well, my darling."

The moon illuminates their pathway as Irina makes her way to the Cullen residence. From the way Bella's left cheek is pressed against her back, she knows her human is enjoying the luminous glow in the darkness.

Alice has drawn a warm bath by the time they arrive and Irina carefully wakes her mate up so she could help Bella get into the bathtub. Bella's eyes are halfway-closed but Alice's vision is never wrong. A lazy smile appears on her relaxed face as Irina sinks her into the warm bath.

"Rosalie on her way back yet?" Irina whispered lowly.

Alice nods, "She should be here by the time you tuck Bella in bed."

Irina sighs, "How bad will she react?"

"She's never been good at handling this stuff. But Esme will help her through it. She will calm down by the time she joins you two."

Once they feel Bella is warm enough, Alice goes downstairs to speak to Esme while Irina helps her mate dress up and pulls her in for some cuddling. Cuddling always helps Bella sleep; mostly. She positions herself behind Bella and ensures Bella sleeps at the middle of the bed, leaving enough space for Rosalie.

Not an hour later, Irina hears Rosalie returning. Her footsteps stopped at the front door, not doubt by Alice and Esme, who have strategised the best way to break the news to the blonde with fiery temper. Their footsteps leading Rosalie's heavy ones deeper into the forest signal that Rosalie will need to blow off some steam before she can calmly return.

About half an hour later, Rosalie quietly enters the room, with her clothes changed. Without any exchange of words, she carefully slips under the blanket and scoots closer to their mate. Her hand combing through Bella's soft locks and she leaves a deep kiss on her forehead.

Her touch works magnificently as Irina's because Bella sighs in content and leans into Rosalie's touch while tightening her hold on Irina's fingers.

"Eventhough Alice's right, doesn't mean I'm not pissed off at her for not calling me," Rosalie said in a low breath, far too quiet for any human's hearing. They had decided it was best to not break the news over the phone.

Irina chuckles, knowing full well Rosalie's irritation is directed at the fact that Alice is right. "You know our mate is as stubborn as you. Having you there, she would have just defied you, just because."

Rosalie scoffs, realising Irina is right. Depending on Bella's mood, she sometimes just likes to challenge the blonde, even if it's only to irate her. Both blondes know that if Rosalie was there, Bella would have insisted that they spent the night in her room instead; just so she could piss off Rosalie. Irina wonders how did the two ever get along in the first place with their stubborn antics.

"What happened?"

Things go quiet as Bella mumbles something in her sleep. They await at least ten silent minutes to pass by before continuing the conversation, knowing they could have accidentally woken up their human.

"Well, after you went hunting with Kate and Tanya, I stayed there and listened to her every movement. She and Charlie both fell asleep on the floor so I tucked them both in their beds. Jasper was about to take up my position when we both heard Bella walking. Next thing we knew she was heading to the woods with nothing but in her night shirt and shorts. Jasper sensed so much of anxiety oozing off her and determined that I needed to embrace her to snap her out of sleepwalk. When she came to her senses, she was gobsmacked to find herself outside barefoot."

Only the ticking of the clock can be heard and Bella's slow breathing continues to fill the silent room.

"What are we going to do?" Rosalie's voice was slightly hollow.

"We continue loving her in any way she needs it."

And Rosalie thinks that's the most dangerous option there is.

A/N: Sorry, work got busy. Here's a lil update for my lovelies.