All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

The last few hours were filled with great tension and arguing. Not everyone agreed with Edward's plan.

"No."

I sighed as the others once again tried to convince Edward to see things their way.

"Edward, we're been through this. Just listen to reason. Look past your desires and you will see that our plan makes sense."

I felt Edward's chest rumble beneath me. "I am only thinking of Bella."

"We won't let anything happen to her. Jasper and I will keep her safe. The others need you to help find the Tracker."

He didn't respond as I thought he would. His hold on me tightened and the room fell silent.

As much as I didn't like the sounds of their plan, it did make sense. He could read minds, and they could find the Tracker easier with his talent. I didn't want to be separated from him, but it seemed to be the only choice.

"Edward," I began in a soft voice, "I think you should consider it."

He turned his head down to look at me with incredulous eyes.

"It makes sense. They will have more success finding the Tracker with you helping. The sooner he is found the sooner we can put all this behind us."

"I can't leave you. I won't." His jaw clenched stubbornly.

"It's the best plan we have." I placed my hand against his neck snaking it around back to rest in the back of his hair. "Alice and Jasper will keep me safe. The Tracker will think I'm with you. He'll follow you to find me, except I won't be with you."

He began to shack his head in disagreement when Carlisle finally decided to speak.

"Edward."

He closed his eyes. "No."

"She's right, Edward. This is the best plan we have."

It was quiet for a while before Edward finally broke the silence.

He opened his tortured eyes. "Bella." His voice was as quiet as a whisper. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against mine. "Do you promise to listen to Alice and Jasper-do whatever they say?"

I nodded my head.

He sighed heavily and turned his head. "When do we leave?" He asked Carlisle.

It was Alice who answered. "The next flight to Seattle leaves in three hours."

So soon. I swallowed hard as I fought back tears. This was for the best, I repeated over and over in my head. I had to be strong or Edward would never leave. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in the crook of his neck to hide my pain from him. He automatically wrapped his arms around me, moving me to sit on his lap.

I wished for nothing more than for time to stand still. I wanted to stay in his arms forever, but time passed as it usually does, and before I was ready they had to catch their plane.

No words passed between us. Edward had to pry my arms free from his neck when the time came. My arms refused to let go.

"Bella," he breathed before crashing his stone cold lips to mine. This kiss was desperate and rough. I kissed him back with everything I had in me. Before I was ready he was pulling away sitting me down, alone on the couch.

He leaned down, kissing me once more upon the forehead before he straightened, turned, and walked out the door. Silent tears streamed down my face as I stared unblinkingly at the door.

He was gone.

I'm not sure how long I sat looking at the door. Minutes, hours, I couldn't say. Alice was the one who finally broke me from my stare.

"Bella?" she asked gently.

I jumped slightly, reluctantly turning to look at her.

She smiled. "Are you hungry? You haven't had anything to eat in a while."

I shook my head. Looking away, I got up and decided to go to the bedroom. I wanted to be alone.

I didn't bother changing as I curled up onto the bed and rolled myself into a ball. I wrapped my arms around my legs and closed my eyes. Sleep was not a possibility, but maybe if I looked like I was sleeping they would leave me alone. There was nothing to do but wait, again.

For the rest of the day I was left alone, it wasn't until the next morning that I heard a soft knock on the door. I tried to ignore it, but soon I heard the door creek open.

I felt the bed shift under me; I turned to great my guest.

"You look like you could sleep longer."

I shrugged best I could lying down. Truth be told, I hadn't slept much at all.

"I ordered you some food. Why don't you shower and change. It will be waiting for you when you're done." Alice said, smiling, before leaving me.

I wasn't hungry at all, but I didn't argue. I got ready robotically and entered the main room easily finding a tray full of an assortment of breakfast foods on top of the stand in front of the couch.

I sat down on the floor and grabbed the first thing my hands touched to eat not really tasting, not really caring. Self pity arched its ugly head and I soon found myself sobbing into my hands. I just wanted this over. I wanted my friends and family safe again. I was tired of waiting, so tired of waiting.

Before long I felt a hand on my shoulder and my pain lessened considerably. I looked up, my face stained with tears, to find Jasper sitting next to me. His eyes looked sympathetic and I knew at once he was the reason for my reprieve.

"Thanks." I mumbled looking away.

"This will all be over soon, Bella. Just hang in there a little bit longer." He soothed.

I shook my head and reached for my glass of orange juice taking a big sip before placing it back in front of me on the stand.

The day passed uneventfully. At regular intervals food was delivered to the room and each time I ate little to nothing that was placed in front of me. Alice kept shooting me concerned glances but said nothing.

It was a very long day.

The next day passed much the same…two days with no news.

Jasper and Alice were like statues. They sat perfectly still as they stared at the TV screen that was always on. Alice often had her eyes closed as she searched the future. They only seemed to move from their positions when food arrived.

Each day I would try, unsuccessfully, to simply sleep the day away. Sleep always seemed to escape me, if not for Jasper's influence I might not have slept at all. He kept my fears and concerns dull, allowing me to function part of the time. At night I knew it was his doing each time my eyes grew too heavy to keep open. My mind was always racing as I worried about the others. It was a wonder he could put me to sleep at all. I was always grateful for the break. I welcomed it and tried not to fight the stupor that would fall over me.

By the third day I was ready to pull my hair out.

"Alice?" I asked in a rough voice from disuse.

"Yes, Bella?"

"What do you think they're doing? Why do you think they haven't called?"

"Well, Rosalie and Esme are watching your father to keep him safe." She sighed, "The others must have caught the Tracker's scent and it's not safe to call yet." She added quickly, "It's a good think we haven't heard from them."

I nodded in thanks, and the room once again fell quiet. I stared at the TV not really watching or listening to anything that was on.

After a few minutes I realized I hadn't talked to my father in a while, and that I probably should check in. I was not in the mood to fake happiness, but I couldn't allow my father to worry.

"May I use the phone to call Charlie? I won't tell him where I am." I assured then as they looked at me apprehensively.

Alice nodded in approval and I reached for the phone dialing the all too familiar number. He didn't answer, for which I was thankful. I left a short message assuring him I was fine and that I loved him. I was glad he was not at home waiting. He needed to go to work and resume his normal life. He shouldn't stay home worrying about me.

I returned the phone to its previous position and resumed my former activity of staring at the television without really seeing or hearing anything.

My head snapped up to where Alice and Jasper were sitting when I heard her gasp. It had been hours since my phone call, hours of motionless quiet. Her gasp was deafening and I immediately inched closer.

Her eyes were wide as she looked at Jasper who was hovering over her protectively.

"What did you see, Alice?" He asked soothingly.

"He will escape the others. His plans have changed." She seemed confused.

"How have they changed?" I asked unable to contain my curiosity.

She frowned. "He's coming back to Phoenix; he could already be on his way. But why?" She breathed.

"Here? He's coming here? But he just left. Why would he return?"

She shook her head. "I'm not sure. I can't see what his plans are. They keep changing. All I know for sure is that he will escape the others."

"Should we call?" I questioned biting my lip.

She looked towards Jasper for an answer, but there would be no need, the phone rang just then. She was up and answering the phone before the first ring had ended. Jasper was close to her side as he listened in. Her lips were moving much too fast for me to catch what she was saying. All too soon she snapped the phone shut and turned to look towards me. I held my breath as I waited.

"The others are on their way. They will be here tomorrow by afternoon." She said to me then turned to Jasper. "You need to hunt. It's been too long."

He started to protest but she simply shook her head. "Bella and I will be fine. We're going to relocate closer to the airport while you're gone."

He glanced towards me with nearly black eyes. "I'll be back soon." He promised before he departed.

Alice went into motion as soon as the door closed.

"Why are we moving closer to the airport? Are we going somewhere? How will Jasper know where we are? What do you mean he could already be here?" My voice grew higher with each question as my panic increased without Jasper to keep it in check.

"Calm down, Bella" Alice said in a calm voice as she came to my side taking my hands into hers. "We are relocating for safety reasons; we have no plans to go anywhere yet. I will call Jasper with our location. He will meet us there as soon as he can. I saw the Tracker on a plane…which means it could have already landed…or he could simply be about to get on…I just don't know for sure." She paused, "Why don't you go rest while I make the reservations. I will wake you when it's time to leave."

I wanted to argue further but instead turned for the bedroom. I knew sleep would be a hopeless cause, but I wanted the time alone with my thoughts. I couldn't understand why the Tracker was returning. What had changed? I became lost in my thoughts as I tried to reason through the Tracker's thinking when Alice returned. It had been a few hours since she had sent me to rest.

"Bella, everything is all set. I need you to gather your things so we can leave."

Still confused I did as she directed. Within minutes we were at the front desk checking out. I recognized the car Carlisle had rented as soon as we stepped outside. The valet had brought the car around for us. Alice's eyes darted all around as she held the back door open for me. I stepped inside and instantly felt the car jerk forward, the door swinging closed as it pulled away.

My heart raced as I heard laughter coming from the front seat.

"You might want to buckle up, Bella. I would hate for anything to happen to you…just yet."

My eyes locked with the eyes of the Tracker in the rear view mirror as a smile spread across his face.