A/N I am glad you all liked the last chapter. Here starts the camping trip. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 26

BPOV

I was up at 5 so excited. I was pulling blueberry muffins out of the oven when Jasper and Edward came into the kitchen. "Bella, the kitchen smells delicious," Jasper said.

"Thanks, I couldn't sleep after 5 am so I made us some fresh blueberry muffins for the road."

Suddenly Emmett came flying into the kitchen and said, "The kitchen smells amazing."

"While they cool, go get ready and then we'll be ready at 7 am when everyone gets here."

Emmett borrowed a quad cab four wheel drive pick up truck for the four of us to use. At 7:15 we were all pulling out, we were going up in four pick-ups. Carlisle finally took the point and got us to the creek front for camping in Yosemite. Esme found a quiet spot that was big enough for all of us that she had reserved. There was easy access to the mountains for climbing and regular hiking trails. We all sat down and ate lunch first and then Esme, Leah and I started our Dutch oven meal cooking over the fire. Then I went and helped Edward finish setting up our tent. Once the tent was up, we slid our duffels, sleeping bags and pillows inside. "Edward, I'll be right out. I'm hot and going to switch to shorts."

"Okay, see you in a few, Bella," and he kissed me. I slipped on my shorts, the new ankle wraps and my socks and came out. Edward and Carlisle turned to look at me and Carlisle smiled. Edward came over to me and said, "Wow, how?"

I said, "Shh," and pulled him into the woods behind us and said, "Thanks to the orthopedic surgeon. Can you tell there is a wrap on it?"

"No, you've got beautiful legs, Bella. I'm so glad I get to actually see them now. Now let's go; I want to see Jasper and Emmett's response."

So back to the campsite, we went and Jasper and Emmett came back with firewood. Edward pushed me toward them and I said, "Emmett, would you like some help?"

"Emmett, looked at me from the other side of the campground and dropped the wood and said, "Oh my god, she has legs."

He ran to me and spun me around in his arms.

"How Bella?" he whispered in my ear.

I whispered back, "It's a special flesh colored wrap."

Edward came up behind me and said, "How about we go for a hike?"

"Okay, Emmett and Jasper come on."

Edward then said, "Bella, I want to go for a hike with just you, kind of like a private date for us. Is that okay?"

"Sure, let me go get my hat."

"Will you grab mine in the tent, too and I'll get us some water."

"Okay."

We headed out on a trail. "Edward, do you like carrying your gun concealed or open like you are now?"

"Concealed, but when we are out like this, I have no problem with it being out."

"When we were on both rafting trips were you all carrying guns?"

"Yes, but they were in our bags just in case. So in Alaska, once we found you and the bear got you, they came out of our pack at the hospital."

"Okay."

"Now my beautiful, talking about guns is far from a pleasant conversation to have while on a hiking date."

"Okay, so enlighten me, what should we talk about?"

"The trails, how beautiful you are, and how much I want to hold your hand?"

"Ever the gentleman, aren't you; but I did get you to finally agree to sleep in a tent with me."

We had a great time together and I took off in a light jog down the hill towards camp. "Bella stop?" he said.

"No, I'll race you."

Suddenly, while we're still hidden on the path, I felt arms wrap around me and said, "I caught you; now what do I win?"

"I don't know," I said and I was wiggling trying to get free.

"Stop that," and he walked me over to a large tree and pin me against it. Edward brushed my pony tail back and lifted my hat from my face. The hat fell to the ground; his hands brushed across my face. He tilted my head up to his and lowered his to mine. We started kissing like we always had. But for once we continued kissing and suddenly, I felt his tongue gently but firmly pressing past my lips. I was surprised, excited for a split second and then I didn't know what the hell I did; but suddenly my face was slapped and stinging. Edward said, "Son of a bitch." I pushed Edward away from me; he stumbled back as he continued to mutter. I leaned down, grabbed my hat and ran the rest of the way down to the campsite.

There was no one around so I climbed in Emmett's borrowed truck and lay down and cried. I must've fallen asleep.

EPOV

When I finally realized my tongue wasn't going to fall off after Bella bit it and she was gone, I headed down to the campsite I knew I had a lot to teach her.

When I got to the campsite, Esme and Carlisle were there. When I got to them, I said, "Where did Bella go?"

"What do you mean she was hiking with you? When we got back here, no one else was here."

"Where did she go Edward? What did you do?"

"Can I please explain this later we need to find her first?"

"Edward, you're giving Esme and I gray hair because of you and Bella."

"Go check your tent. "Esme, will you start calling everyone to have them look for her?"

"Of course."

Carlisle followed me and we both said, "She isn't in the tent."

Suddenly, I hear Emmett and Jasper saying, "What the hell did you do this time, Edward?"

"Emmett, shut up that is the least of our problems right now."

"Check the rest of the tents and the cars."

"She couldn't get in the cars; they're all locked to keep animals and people out of them."

Esme said, "The others will be here shortly,"

Emmett said, "The tents are empty."

I said, "Oh fuck."

"What Edward?"

"Carlisle, she has been playing us all along. She got us to trust her. So much so, that we decided to reward her and take her camping. She bit my tongue to distract me and now she's gone. She doesn't want to be found. She played us all for a foul; me especially."

Emmett said, "Shut up, Bella likes us and wants to go home now. Just because you keep pissing her off doesn't mean she doesn't want to be with us."

"Emmett, shut up, think about it. She's great at disappearing into thin air. We brought her exactly where she needed to be to disappear. Now she has the wraps for her ankles, it'll be even easier for her."

Emmett turned and tried to lay a punch on Edward. "Shut up, Edward. What did you do to push her away this time?"

I ducked and the punch got my shoulder. I turned to throw the punch back. "Emmett, don't you see it. She knows we won't call the cops because we won't expose her." Jasper got me mid swing and Jake had just got back and grabbed Emmett.

Esme walked between the two of us and said, "Edward, I don't know, what is wrong with you or what you did, but I think we need to talk. We'll let the others look for Bella while you and I talk."

Emmett pulled out of Jake's hold and said, "You're lucky Esme ended this." Esme locked my arm and led me down to the creek. "Now sit, young man."

"Esme, she's gone and not coming back. My fucking tongue hurts and I want her back."

"Edward, what happened?"

"We were almost back from our walk and she started jogging down the hill towards camp. I asked her to come back and she said 'I'll race you'. I caught her and then I told her I win. She kept wiggling trying to get away. So I pinned her to a tree and pulled her hat off her head and brushed her pony tail away and started kissing her. I finally let the kiss move forward and tried to open the kiss. I thought we were good, but almost as quickly she bit down on my tongue. I screamed, pulled back and slapped her. It was probably five minutes or so before I headed back to camp. Esme, she's gone, what am I going to do?"

"Edward, I don't think she's really gone."

"Then how did she disappear so fast."

"I don't know, but there has to be a reasonable explanation."

"Fine, I want to go look for her."

"That's fine, but I'm coming with you."

We went and got some more water; we went back up the trail Bella and I had come from.

I followed Bella's trail and she had come back to the campsite. But then all the other footprints were mixed in together. Esme went up to her husband and said something and they just smiled at each other.

Jasper walked up and said, "Man, do you really think she is gone?"

"I really hope she's not; I love her so much. But she's really good and can disappear that easily. Who knows, maybe, she is sitting up in one of these trees laughing at us?"

"Edward, she called us her protectorates. She's been mad at you plenty of times; but she hasn't run away yet."

"I know, but we're back on her turf now." I went back into the woods looking for her. Esme and Jasper went with me.

A/N – Of course I know I am mean. Love to hear all your speculations of what is going to happen next.