A Warning

Time passed slowly for me, even when I was juggling time between Alice and Jacob. Every day for two weeks I eagerly checked the mail to see if there was anything from Edward, and every day there was nothing. My disappointment grew each day but Alice's constant optimism helped.

"Bella you have to remember he's in another part of the country. It's going to take a while."

Alice and I weren't hanging out as much as before. The obvious love between her and Jasper make me miss Edward more, and I had to admit I was envious of her as her stomach got bigger. I didn't want a baby yet, but dammit Edward should be here like Jasper was. We should be holding hands like that… looking at each other like that. We should be starting a family too. I tried not to let it get to me, but Alice and I both knew that sometimes it was just too much for me to take. She was over today while Jasper, Emmet, and Rosalie were in Olympia with Carlisle and Esme, checking out the Olympia Center for Women and Children. They would be back tonight to tell us about it. She was on the couch with me while we watched some girly movie from a long time ago but I wasn't really paying attention; I was waiting for the mail. I was staring at the door when a soft smack on my arm drew me out of my thoughts.

"What?"

"I've been talking to you for like five minutes straight and you were just staring off into space," she laughed.

"Oh. Sorry," I said a little embarrassed, "I was watching the door for the mail."

"You have to be patient you know."

I nodded and quickly changed the subject.

"How far along are you now?"

"Four months."

"Any weird cravings yet?"

"I wanted to put chocolate syrup on chips yesterday."

"Ew! Please tell me you didn't!"

"Of course not. It seemed like a really good idea though."

"Ew."

We both laughed and she put her arm over my shoulder.

"Bella, you're not mad at me are you?"

I stared at her dumbfounded, to see if she was joking; but no, she was absolutely serious.

"Alice why would I be mad at you?"

"Well you've been coming over less. Have I been rubbing me and Jasper in your face or something?"

I smiled sadly.

"You haven't done anything wrong Alice, honestly. I just miss Edward a lot and seeing you two so in love together makes me miss him more."

"Oh Bella I'm sorry! I didn't mean to flaunt it in front of you!"

"Alice don't be sorry, you can't help it."

"I'm still sorry Bella, really."

"It's okay, being around Jake helps sometimes."

She frowned.

"What?"

"He has us play mindless video games the whole time. Hard to concentrate on missing someone when you're trying to kill some monster," I laughed.

"Oh okay. He hasn't been wearing the armbands right?"

"Well…"

"Bella!"

"Alice there isn't even any soldiers around here to see him wear them. He's just a kid who thinks it's cool to act like he doesn't care about the government or the war. Just let him have his fun."

"Bella you promised me!"

"Alice I'm sorry… I really am, but I just don't think it's necessary."

She groaned and I bit my lip, trying to think of a better way to apologize.

"Sometimes Bella I just don't get you."

"What?"

"You don't even seem remotely worried that there's a possibility a soldier could come and take you both away in the blink of an eye."

"Because it's unlikely they'll even come here."

"I just hate that you're so careless about it."

"I'm sorry."

"Just please keep one promise to me will you?"

"Whatever you want."

"Don't leave Forks with him, ever."

"Of course not.

"Promise me."

"I promise I won't ever leave Forks with Jacob," I recited.

"Thank you," she said with a soft sigh.

She rubbed her hands over her stomach with a smile and breathed out slowly.

"What should I name her?"

"Her? How do you know what it's going to be?"

"Well I can't call the baby an "it". That would be mean."

I laughed and shrugged.

"What names were you thinking of?"

"Something classic, you know like they had a long time ago."

She paused and smiled again, thinking to herself.

"Well?"

"Oh!"

She laughed and held up her hand to count on her fingers.

"Well there's Sara, Haleigh, Marie, Kayla, Samantha, and Danielle."

"Those are all girls' names."

"Well which one do you like best?"

"Haleigh, it's not as common as the others and it's a pretty name. What do you have for boys' names?"

"Andrew, Damian, Danyal, Josh, and Tyler. Which do you like best?"

"Hm. I really don't know. Damian is a cool name."

"Really? You don't think they're stupid names?"

"Of course not!" I laughed.

She grinned and got excited, like she was telling a secret.

"Jasper thinks they're kind of silly," she said softly.

"Well Jasper is a guy; he thought your cake was silly for goodness sake."

We laughed together, remembering his face when he saw the cake.

"How come is has to look like something? Why can't it be like an everyday cake?"

"It's our wedding cake Jasper! It has to be special!"

"So it will be a special everyday cake."

Alice laughed again.

"He's always been practical though."

I nodded in agreement and took a sip of my water. Just then, there was a knock on the door. I practically leapt out my seat and floated to the door to get it. The mailman handed it to me silently and went on his way. Alice was on the couch laughing while I flipped through the mail, looking for the familiar scrawl. Finally, I saw it.

Bella Cullen

"Alice!!" I squealed with delight, "It's here it's here!"

"Chill!" she said with a chuckle.

I tore open the letter and saw the short paragraph. I had hoped for more, but after I saw the date I was a little more forgiving.

"What's it say Bells?'

I handed her the letter and smiled.

Hey beautiful,

I miss you. Don't worry, I'm safe here. I just do a small job for now and some of the guys here with me are alright. Sorry to keep this letter short but I love you and I can't wait for your reply.

Sending love to you,

Edward.

"That's strange."

"I know. Edward usually has much more to say. Perhaps he's not used to writing it…"

"That must be it," she said with a gentle smile. "When are you writing him back?"

"I think now. Will you help me think of what to say?"

"Always."

I grabbed a pen off the table but she frowned at me.

"You know what he would love?"

"What's that?"

"You should spray some of your perfume on the letter."

"I'm out of perfume," I said with a laugh.

She pulled a wallet out of her purse and grinned.

"Lucky for you I have money today."

"Alice… you know I can't take your money."

"Nonsense. It's my very early birthday present to Edward."

We both laughed and she gave me a one-armed hug.

"Come on. Let's go."

We went outside and she screamed.

--Edward's Point of View--

I hated sitting in this office. His breath smelled like liquor and his voice was more annoying when it could echo.

"Eddy my boy, how do you like your job?"

He chuckled and gave his glass to a girl who couldn't have been more than sixteen. She was trembling as she poured more of the whiskey into his glass. As she handed it back to him, some of the drink spilled out. His hand went to her hair and pulled it roughly.

"That stuff is worth more than you!"

"I'm sorry!"

She squeaked her words and shook harder, careful not to look him in the eye.

"Get out," he said gruffly.

She gladly sprinted out of the room. I wished I could do the same.

"Sorry about that Eddy got to keep them girls in line."

"Yeah."

"Speaking of girls how's the missus at home?"

"I don't know. I haven't received a reply to my letter"

"What a shame. Listen Eddy, I got a matter of business to talk about with you."

"What's that?"

"You've been doing good with the rebels, ordering them and stuff. How'd you like to move up a rank?"

"What would that entail?"

"You get up later, more cabin time; different room, only four men in it. What do you say?"

"It seems fine."

"Glad to hear it. We got a report today, 'bout your wife."

I was suddenly much more interested.

"How is she?"

"Oh she's doing great," he said with a smirk, "been hanging out with the rebel friend of hers quite a bit."

"She's strictly neutral."

"Well nowadays, that just ain't enough anymore. You should tell her to be more careful."

"I will sir," I said stiffly.

He laughed and took another drink.

"You can go."

--Jacob's Point of View--

I couldn't believe what I was hearing at the meeting.

"You did WHAT?!"

"We didn't know it was your girlfriend's car."

"She's on the no-hit list! There's a fucking picture of her car!"

"No there's a picture of a car for a family whose son just went into the followers army."

"Where is she?"

"We didn't hit her. It was a warning."

"I need to call her."

"She's friends with them. You can't talk to her anymore."

"She's a neutral! She's my friend!"

"She has to pick a side."

"What if she doesn't want to?"

"Then you're not on ours."

"I'm on your side!"

"Then her warning has expired."

--Bella's Point of View--

I couldn't scream. I couldn't do anything. Alice's poor car was destroyed. The windows were all smashed. There were dents everywhere, and crude words with rebel symbols covered the car. There was so much it was hard to read everything, but enough words stood out.

Follower whores

Traitorous bitches

Poor Alice was crying.

"What did we do wrong?!"

I just shook my head. I couldn't talk. Jacob knew nearly all the rebels in town. How could he do this to us? He said we were safe. I hugged Alice, trying to keep myself calm, because I couldn't let myself be angry when Alice was so upset.

"I need to call Jasper," she whispered softly.

I nodded and clenched my fists after releasing her.

"I need to call someone when you're finished."

She was already gone. I was so angry. Jacob was supposed to be my friend. Well this was unacceptable. I'd seen enough rebel attacks to know what was after this sort of warning and no one in my new family would be hurt because of my so-called "friend".

--Edward's Point of View--

It was a quick change to the new room since I didn't have a lot to take with me. I was now Corporal Cullen. I had to share a room with 3 other men, all who had been here for at least six months. I noticed that the men who had been here longer followed orders quicker, spoke less, and had about as much morale as the man I most disgusted here. I had dreaded going into his office to raise my rank and now because I had a higher rank, I would have to report to him more. Joy. Back to the point, there was something going on here. I wasn't sure what but I would find out sooner or later. I sat down on my bed and sighed, fishing for a pen and paper. I started a letter to Bella, ignoring the sounds of my loud comrades from other rooms.

Dear Bella,

How are you? Is Alice's pregnancy coming along well? Sorry to write again so quickly, I don't have much to do here. I have some important news to give you and I know you won't like it but please listen to me. I don't want you to hang out with Jacob anymore. I talked to my commander and he said that people have to start picking sides… please tell the family for me too. I know you guys don't like it but for now I need you all to be followers for me, you'll be safer that way. Bella… I do love you and I know you'll be angry but I'm not trying to control you, I just want you safe. Please write back soon and let me know how you are.

All my love,

Edward.

I sighed softly and put the letter in an envelope. Bella was very headstrong but just this once, I hoped she listened to me.

--Bella's Point of View—

Alice came back outside faster than I expected.

"He wants us to go to his house and drive his car to Olympia to meet them."

"How are we supposed to get to his house?"

"Well um… we walk."

"I need to call someone first."

"Want me there?"

"Only to make sure I don't break your phone."

We went back inside and I dialed Jacob's number. He picked up on the second ring, breathless.

"Bella listen to me-"

"No. You listen to me. I know where the damage on Alice's car came from. You were supposed to keep us safe Jacob how could you?"

"I didn't know!! You have to become a rebel Bella. Screw his family; they'll kill you if you don't join!"

"His family is my family Jacob. Since I can't trust someone I thought was my friend, I'll have to help them myself. Don't try to call and do not come and see me. Any friendship I had with you is terminated."

"Bella! Listen to me dammit! They're going to kill you! Don't make this my fault!"

"It is your fault. Stop lying to me and grow up. Did you think if you let them do a warning on us that I would come running to you to protect me? I'm not completely helpless. Go away Jacob and leave me the hell alone."

I hung up quickly, surprised to see that my hand was shaking violently. Alice hugged me gently and I cried a little into her shoulder.

"He was supposed to be my friend…"

"I know Bells, I'm so sorry."

"This is all my fault, I shouldn't have stayed friends with him when he joined them like Edward told me to."

"Bella it isn't your fault he wanted to be a jerk. It's alright, we'll be safe."

"Alice… we can't stay here. Look what they did to your car… I hate believing him, but I think Jacob was telling the truth when he said they would kill us."

"We'll ask everyone when we meet in Olympia."

I nodded and she kept her arm around my shoulder while we walked to Jasper's house. The car was there waiting. We climbed in and for once I didn't care if she drove. I'd rather let her speed than get us into a crash because I was still so angry. As we got to the heart of Olympia, we saw not only her family, but a building behind them. It was all red brick with a solid wooden door. OLYMPIA CENTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN was scrawled in neat blocked letters over the door and we went to her family.

"So what is it?"

"Exactly what it says. There were all kinds of girls and mothers in there with babies. There were even some families who were in between homes."

"So…" Alice said softly, "Say we couldn't live in our house anymore. We could stay here until we get a new one?"

"Alice just because they trashed your car doesn't mean our home isn't safe."

"Actually," I cut in, "It does."

I explained how the car being trashed was a warning for all of us that they wanted us to pick a side, or they would attack the house, whether we were inside or not. Carlisle pinched the bridge of his nose before he answered.

"It was inevitable I suppose, for either side to be happy with a group that refused to pick a side."

"What are we going to do?"

Alice spoke the question that was on all our minds.

"We are going to have to leave, for caution if nothing else. We'll stay here until I can arrange another place for us to stay."

I looked around at my new family and saw the disappointment. The Cullen house was full of memories no one wanted to leave behind and now they would have to take what they could and leave. I didn't even live at their house and they had to leave because of something I did. We separated to our cars and I asked for Alice to take me home.

"Bella this isn't your fault honest."

"I was supposed to keep you guys safe, I'm so sorry."

"It isn't your fault. Stop thinking that."

"I'll make it up to you. I'll go there too."

"Bell you don't have to you have Charlie."

"He'll be safer without me there."

"Bella seriously, none of this was your fault."

"It won't change my mind. Besides, Charlie is neutral too. It's only a matter of time before they realize his daughter is married to someone in the follower army and they hurt him too. I may even bring Charlie with me."

"Alright," Alice answered softly.

We pulled into my driveway and I ran inside, ready to break the news to my dad. When I closed the door behind me and looked inside, my heart stopped.

"Dad?"

--

Sorry it's been taking me so long to update. I promise, faster updates now that I finally have my computer working properly again. I hope you guys are enjoying the story and I promise that I won't leave you hanging very long with my cliffy. By the way please review! I haven't gotten that many for this story and I really want to know what you guys think.