AN: I want to dedicate this chapter to a group of ladies that mean the world to me. They give each other encouragement and love and support in everything they strive for. I could never have asked for better friends. Cheers to the Robkats!

And as always, I thank my wonderful Beta, who not only puts up with me, but is my thoughts of reason. Hugs Gozde!!

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I was off in my own world, staring into the fireplace as I sat. Each flame trying to outreach the one before. Blues and oranges dancing along as if they had no cares.

Carlisle broke the silence.

"I don't know what your immediate plans are if any, but you and your brothers have been invited to sit in on the Elders Circle when the trial begins for Lucien. They wanted to see if you would like to be witnesses for the prosecutors."

"Thanks, I think I'd like that. I'll get hold of Emmet and Jasper and see if they are in"

Esme spoke up, "I don't think you are going to have to get hold of them, I have a very good idea they are on their way here as well." She had her all-knowing Mom grin on.

I sat and rocked half the night, not wanting to give in and go to bed, knowing I would hear her voice if I laid down and tried to sleep.

Within two days both my brothers had shown up on the doorstep.

Carlisle filled Emmet and Jasper in on the Elders Circle request and they both agreed to go. It would be fun watching Luciensquirm as he stared at us. No matter what shape he took on.

The trial was set to start in three weeks, to give all parties time to prepare.

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We were sitting on a ledge of the mountain, taking in the scenery, when Jasper broke the silence.

"I was worried about how you guys were handling things before I came back here, but it looks like none of us are handling anything at all."

"I'm trying Jazz. It's just that every time I close my eyes I see Rose. I can still smell her hair and how sweet it was. I can still hear her snappy comebacks when I was picking on her. I can feel what it was like right after we told them and she clung to me and let me hold her so tight."

"All I hear is Bella's voice calling to me in my head and begging me to answer her" I whispered.

Both my brothers looked at me with the sudden remembrance of the psychic connection Bella and I had made.

"Oh damn, Edward! How are you hanging on man?"

I shrugged, "I'm not. That's just it. I feel like I'm falling apart one little piece at a time."

"The only thing that keeps me going is knowing Alice is safer with me gone than she ever was with me near. So no matter how hard it gets for me, I have to keep her in my mind to keep my priorities straight."

I leaned back on my elbows and was staring up at the sky watching the clouds pass over when I heard her voice so clear and sweet.

Edward, I'm... I'm not sure where you are or if you can hear me. I have to try. Please just answer me Edward, let me know you are ok. I think about you every minute of every day. If you think I will forget you with not being here , it's not going to work. I'll never forget my guardian angel.

I had to make it stop. I had to clear my head. I jumped up and started running. I wasn't running to anything. I was running from myself, from my inability to close my thoughts, from the weakness oflove.

My brothers caught up to me and asked me what had happened. I guess they thought I had another vision or something.

"Bella said that staying gone would not make her forget me; that she thinks about me every minute."

"She was just calling out for you? That's what made you take off like that?"

"Yeah, I was trying to clear my mind, um, sorry."

"No need man; I don't think I would be able to do it. I'm astounded that you can."

We headed back to the house and noticed a strange truck there as we approached. We entered cautiously.

There were two men sitting in the den. As we walked in the room, Carlisle introduced us.

"Boys this is Victor and Ivan, they are members of the Elders Circle. They wanted to have a chat with you before time for the trial."

We shook hands all around and sat down to chat.

By the time they left, we were certain that there were no loopholes in his case. He had broken the agreement of the shape shifters to preserve the sanctity of human life. He had broken nearly every agreement they had signed with the Interspecies League.

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We took our seats and waited on Lucien to be brought out.

I do believe the shock on his face was legitimate.

The prosecutors brought up the evidence that Jasper had forwarded to them, they called us each up one at a time to bear witness, and then they made their closing statements. It was now up to the council to decide.

It was only two hours before the decision was brought down and Lucien was sent prison for at least two consecutive life spans.

Yeah, we would see Lucien again and next time he would have a bone to pick with us.

BPOV

I kept trying.

I had no idea if he could hear me. I could only pray that eventually he would be close enough, or thinking about me or whatever it took for us to connect.

The school was coming to an end... You would think Rose, Alice and I would be having the time of our lives at the end of our senior year. But we could care less about it.

We skipped the Senior Prom. We stayed at my house instead. Dad never said a word. I guess he had figured out why I was so depressed after Edward didn't come back by. To tell the truth I think he kind of missed him too.

We had less than a month until graduation and the three of us were going shopping for shoes.

None of us was really into it, but we were trying them on when we saw three guys walk past the store. The side views made us all catch our breath and run out to catch them. The store alarms went crazy. The sales people grabbed us and threatened to arrest us and to top it all off, it wasn'teven them.

Rose's parents were throwing us all a graduation party.

Several times during the get together, we noticed my dad and Rose's parents standing and whispering together. We didn't even bother to see what they had in their minds.

We drudged through the last weeks of school and made it to graduation. I sat in a daze as the speakers told of their luminous plans for their future. I only wanted one future and it wasn't here with these people.

Edward, I'm sitting at graduation. I wish so badly that I could peer out into this crowd and find your beautiful smile. I want you to know that I am

thinking of you as I wait on my name to be called. I miss you so much. Please be safe.

I walked across the stage and paused at the other side to change my tassel over on my cap. The flashbulbs were snapping everywhere, but I couldn't bring myself to smile.

EPOV

Esme reached over and laid her hand softly on my arm. "What is it son?"

I looked up out of my stuper and tried to smile. "She is graduating tonight, and says she misses me."

Jazz turned without a word and walked out of the room.

BPOV

Dad came bouncing into my room all excited.

"Get up lazy bones! It's your first day of being a full fledged graduate."

"Come on Dad, gimme five more minutes."

"Okay Five minutes, but if you aren't downstairs by then, I'm coming up here singing at the top of my lungs."

He knew that would get me up, my Dad was great and all, but he couldn't carry a tune in a spill proof bucket.

I pulled my sweat pants on, jerked my hoody over my head, tossed some cold water over my face, brushed through my hair and trudged downstairs.

"What's your poison today kiddo?"

For some reason my dad was in an exceptional mood. I wondered what hewasup to?

"Um, orange juice, thanks."

"Why don't you grab the plates out of the cabinet and I'll dish up your eggs."

I reached in for the plates, but there was a big box sitting there with my name on it.

I took it back to the table and sat down. "Dad, what did you do?"

He was grinning from ear to ear. "Open it!"

It was a ticket. I opened it and read it. A cruise to the Bahamas.

"You've got to be kidding me! A cruise?"

"We have been planning it for months; Alice and Rose are going with you. We thought it might break you girls out of the humdrum you've been in."

I jumped across the room and threw my arms around his neck. "Thanks Dad! This is so awesome!"

I didn't even take time to eat breakfast, I ran to call Rose and Alice. We had to discuss what all to take. We only had a week till we left, that didn't give us much time to plan.

We made lists so we wouldn't forget anything. I think Rose and Alice were competing to see who could take the most luggage. I had to admit we were excited.

We met at the airport; we were flying to Florida, spending the night with my mom, then leaving out early the following morning.

We went up the loading dock waving back at Renee and Phil. We had our carry on bags and the tickets to our luggage. We stood on deck until we were on our way, waving as everyone yelled "Bon Voyage'."

We found our cabin. It was beautiful! We tossed our bags down and went straight back out to explore.

"Did you see how many swimming pools they have on each deck? I think I'll work on my tan tomorrow." Alice chirped.

"This is like a floating Party! I wish Emmet was here to take me dancing." She looked at us with shock on her face. "I'm so sorry girls. I truly didn't mean to upset you. It's just that he is the first thing I think of when I want to share anything."

Alice smiled and hugged her, "We know hun, we miss them too."

EPOV

We were working out in the gym; the TV was on in the corner. The network broke in to the show and put on a news bulletin. A cruise ship left Florida on its way to the Bahamas and had been attacked by drug dealers who were holding the entire crew and passengers hostage. We looked up and saw smoke rising from several areas where they had set off small bombs and grenades.

When the helicopters flew by and took videos, they could see passengers being held by gunmen.

The news crew was interviewing some of the families of the passengers. One guy said his daughter and her new husband was on there for their honeymoon trip. Another lady said her brother and his whole family were on there for their vacation.

Then we saw them, Chief, Rose's parents, and Alice's grandmother. We froze. Everything went in slow motion. I could barely hear what was said. Graduation gift… trying to cheer them up… will do anything to save them.

As we rushed in the door to gather our stuff, Carlisle and Esme were watching the news alert.

"Did you see this boys? Isn't this terrible? What's wrong with you guys?"

"The girls are on that ship. We saw their parents on the TV a minute ago."

Carlislenodded and grabbed his coat. "Come on boys I'll get you to the airport."

We grabbed our bags and hugged Esme.

"Take care of each other boys." She said with a smile. "Go save our girls."