AN: I want to thank my new Beta! I think everyone will like the improvements she has helped me make. Thanks Gozde for all the encouragement and help you have given me. I loves Ya!

As I unlocked the door of my house I realized that the next time I moved I needed to call ahead of time and have my cleaning service open it and air it out. Damn this place was dank and musty smelling!

I would open a few windows and head out to make a round of the area. The only way I was going to be able to get through this was if I completely threw myself back into my work. I should have stuck to my original policy of not even wanting to date or get to know a female. Now I had no choice. No other female would ever make my heart skip beats, none would ever look as beautiful, or make me need them so bad I would walk through fire for them.

Stop it Edward! Clear your head. You have a job to do.

I moved through the town of Cripple Creek, Colorado stealthily. This was an old mining town and now there was a casino in every building it seemed. The streets were busy all night and would make this an interesting challenge to cover the area and look for clues.

I left town and headed north into the mountains. I really wasn't getting any vibes yet, but sometimes it took a few days for me to get acclimated.

I lay there in bed trying to read, but had gone over the same page four times and had no idea what it said. If I could get through the first few nights it would get easier right?

BPOV

I met Rose and Alice at school, so much had happened this weekend I wasn't even sure which end was up anymore.

We started to walk in the building and for some reason I needed to step back out. I had no idea why, but I could almost feel someone watching me. I was wishing it was Edward, but I didn't think he wanted to see me right now.

After first period I met Rose and Alice again at our lockers.

"How are you guys hanging in there?"

"Just barely, Bella, and I'm not so sure about Rose. She seems to be in a haze."

"Rose, are you okay? Do you feel sick? If you do I can take you home. Just let me know."

"Huh? Oh no Bells, thanks, I'm just kind of in limbo, ya know?"

"I know, trust me, I know. Let's just get through today and by this afternoon we will probably get home and have several messages from the boys." Alice was the eternal optimist. She was trying to smile, but her bounce was gone in her walk.

Classes seemed to blend together, one after the other until the end of school. I walked back out to my truck and saw a piece of paper on the windshield. I ran to grab it, but it was only an advertisement for a new pizzeria...

When I got home, dad was there earlier than usual.

"Hey Bella, did you hear any gossip at school about the goings on out at the old Quarter Horse Ranch?"

"Um, no dad I really didn't talk to too many people today. Something up?"

"Yeah, it seems the FBI and state boys were called out there anonymously about some stolen vehicles and lots of artillery. I thought maybe the gossip had reached the teens by now."

"Hmm, no nothing I heard yet, but I'll keep my ears open if ya want me to."

"No need to worry about it, there's nothing I can do about it. Out of my jurisdiction and all."

I felt in my bones that this had something to do with that Lucien guy. With the trucks and the guns he was waving around, it had to be tied in. But how in hell could I tell Dad that? If the FBI and everyone were called that meant they had caught him right? That meant the town would be safe again. That meant ...

NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I ran upstairs to my room as fast as I could and dialed Alice.

"Hello?"

"Alice, please tell me you had a message on your machine when you got home."

"Um, no Bella I didn't. I was kind of hoping you or Rose did."

"Hang on I'll get Rose on threeway with us." I clicked my phone over and dialed Rose.

"Yeah?"

"Rose did you have a message on your machine?"

"No Bella, but I haven't asked Alice yet."

"She's on threeway with us, neither of us did either. I just talked to my Dad and there was a big ruckus out at the old Quarter Horse Ranch this weekend. The FBI and State cops were called anonymously about lots of guns and stolen vehicles and stuff."

"Wow! Do you think it has to do with that Lucien guy?"

"Yeah that's exactly what I DO think. And if they have caught him, then the town is safe and if the town is safe, then their job is done here, and if their job is done here, then ... "

Both of them in unison screamed,

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"I don't know what to do. If we call them and they don't answer, we still won't know anything. I'm thinking I may drive over to their house."

"Pick me up on your way, I'll be on the porch waiting."

"Me too Bella, and I'm closer than Rose."

"Okay girls, let me give Dad some sort of excuse and I'll be right there." I grabbed my jacket and told dad I was going over to help Alice with some homework and would be back before dinner time.

I hopped in my truck and had to really make myself drive the speed limit, my dad would kill me if I got a ticket. I stopped and picked up Alice first and we went around the corner and Rose was out by the curb waiting on us.

We were silent all the way to their house.

I knew before I ever pulled into the driveway. The house was deserted.

We peeked in the windows and could see all the lights were out, the place just had a different feel about it.

We sat down on the steps and held each other and cried. They were gone.

We had no idea where and we were pretty sure they didn't say goodbye for a reason. They thought it would be easier for us if they just disappeared.

"I guess that really puts me in perspective doesn't it?"

"What do you mean Alice?"

"Well, if a guy tells you that you mean more than life to him and he is willing to leave, knowing he will never see you again, then what does that make my life worth? Not much."

"No Alice it's not like that. Emmet told me. It's not a choice that they make on how to live. They do this because it's the way their people have done it for centuries. They are Guardians and chose that way of life, knowing they would probably be alone for the rest of their lives. They left to protect us, I'm sure of it, and by doing so, they are condemning themselves to a lifetime of heartbreak." Rose had a tilt to her head as she spoke. She was more sure of her words than I had ever seen her before. I knew then, that she was as much in love with Emmet as I was with Edward and Alice was with Jasper.

I laid my head in my hands and concentrated harder than I ever had before.

Edward? Can you hear me? Oh please God say you can hear me. Edward,

I'm concentrating I promise. Please Edward, please hear me.

EPOV

It was late afternoon, I had made another round through the town, letting myself learn every little nuance. I was standing by the old city hotel watching the people going in and out when I heard her.

Her voice was in my head.

My Bella, my babygirl… She was calling out to me.

I froze in time just listening, not moving, not breathing, not thinking, just listening.

Oh God how I wanted to answer her, but I knew if I did, it would only make it harder on her.

I purposely made my mind a blank screen.

She sounded so sad.

I wanted so bad to run back to her, to hold her against me and tell her it would be okay again. I had promised her I would not let her get hurt, and I was the one hurting her.

Some guardian angel I was.

I had never left a job to someone else in my life. But I was now.

I packed my bags, made a couple of calls and was at the airport by nightfall.

I knocked on the door and took a deep breath.

When it opened I looked up at Dad with tears still in my eyes.

He grabbed me in a tight hug. Before either of us could say a word, Mom called from the other room, "Tell him I have his room aired out and his bed turned down. I had a feeling he'd be here soon."

I picked my bags up and went inside. Mom met me in the hallway. She opened my bedroom door and told me when I was ready to talk, they would be in the family room.

I dropped my bags in the middle of the floor and collapsed on the bed, trying everything I could to clear my head. All I could hear was the repeat of her calling out to me.

Her sad words begging me to answer her.

My Bella, my Bella I could never have.