Sorry for the wait! Chapters will be coming out more often once we get into the end of May and my classes start to ease up.

Thanks this time goes to my consistent reviewers, and my new ones. You guys keep me going!
Those are: carrigan-r, ftwmomof3, twisessed, and georgiana cullen.

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Chapter 10: Travels

Edward's Point of View:


Before the lady behind the counter could take Alice's boarding pass I snapped it away.

"Wait." I said, holding Alice's arm, and pulling my family out of line, "All of you need to stay here. The Voultri are not dumb, and they are sure to catch seven vampires in their city. They will be sure to catch one. We cannot be so careless."

"Edward is right." Alice said, now looking into the future making sure it was the right choice, "We should all wait for some further signal from Bella, maybe wait nearby."

"No, no, no, I will go first, and figure out what Bella needs us to do. Anyway, I must see her… I can't stand waiting around with all of you to figure out what's going on."

They wanted to object, I heard it in each of their minds, but then there was another pull within all of them. Each one of them was concerned for their mate, was concerned they would loss them in trying to bring Bella back to us. Slowly, they understood.

Esme came over and hugged me her thoughts were a mess as she tried to warn me, and help me in some way through the agony that she must have seen in my eyes. Don't let her get hurt Edward, whatever is going on with her is temporary, it must be. She loves you and only you forever and you know it. Vampires don't change their temperaments easily, but you know Bella has always been different, just give her time.


She continued to hold me as people around us began to stare; Emmett and Rosalie patted me on the back and started to head away from the terminal. Jasper was close behind, but Alice was pulling him closer to me.


I'm sure Jasper was sick of my utter anguish and anxiety. The feeling of the loss of Bella was eating at me, slowly. What if I had lost her? Where would my life be? Oh, I was heading to the Voultri anyway…

I shuddered away from the thought and hugged my family good bye.

Alice was the last to speak, "We will go back home, but we will call some friends, and see if they would help us, or if they could give us some advice. There might be something wrong with Bella or Max, we will try to figure it out. I'll make sure we are there when you need us. I'll be watching you."

Her thoughts suddenly turned a new way, "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen." She hissed, as she looked into the possibilities in my future, "You will not hurt yourself, if it comes to my attention that your thoughts have finalized… I will come get you, I'll jump on the next plane if I have to."

"Alice, no, you can't come." I said, answering a question forming in her head, "Someone needs to stay here to wait for me to signal for your help."

I gave my family one last half-smile and turned my back on them.

I took my place in line, and handed the lady my boarding pass, I was headed into the air plane when Carlisle put his hand on my shoulder.

Be careful, son. I'm sure Bella is in no immediate danger so take your time and be careful. I love you.


I nodded in agreement to his thoughts, "I love you too, Dad."

The plane ride to Italy was long and slow. My thoughts were dark, darker than usual. They almost made me wish for death because of just how unbearable they were. She loved me, yes.

But was that enough?

Comprehension started to dawn on me. Yes, she loved me, but no it was not enough. I was the Jacob this time around and Max had taken my place, or rather stolen it. My thoughts mimicked those of Jacob a few years ago when he was still infatuated with my wife, and in a few years, (or more than a few, if I had a say) years his mother-in-law.

Had she really fallen for someone more deeply than the love she had for me? Maybe she had become disgusted by me. Maybe I had begun to bore her. Maybe she felt tied to me because I created her, that she had no choice and that she was forced to love me.

I thought our love was deeper than any other. Oh, I wish I could read her mind.

As the ride dragged on my thoughts spun even deeper out of control, and this time I had no will to stop them. I let the angst and terror have me. I deserved it for letting her slip away.

It was a bright, sunny afternoon. Everyone was glittering in the pretty, secluded, meadow except for two people: Jacob and Renesmee. Renesmee was much older now, she looked to be about sixteen, and Jacob held her hand. The thought did not disturb me so much as make me smile at my daughter's happiness. I truly was happy that Jacob had imprinted. Of course, I would greatly have preferred it were someone else, especially not my daughter, but I was happy he had found the reason for his existence. I was proud, like a father would be for a son.

I, too, was in this meadow. I sat by myself on a picnic bench. The stream running along the side of the meadow was flowing peacefully and Bella, with her hair down and blowing in the gentle breeze, had her feet splashing in the water. Her hair caught the sun and shimmered, though not as much as her skin, the wavy deep brown hair seemed to have lighter highlights and the curls along the bottom and around her face made her look like an angel, the striking white-and-dark-blue sundress only added to her beauty. Alice sat to her one side, and Max to the other.


I noticed quickly that they were having a charming little splash war, giggling back and forth. Alice was only smiling at their joy. After a moment, Alice stood up, and walked towards Jasper. He was nearby, probably basking in the happiness emanating from Bella.


After one serious splash that reached farther up Bella's dress, playful anger appeared on her features. She turned around to tackle Max. He let her, and as she straddled him…


she gave him a deep, loving kiss.


"Watch It!" Cried the angry man in the seat in front of me. I guess I had beaten my head against his seat a little too forcefully. I had to control these thoughts! I was not psychic, nor was I able to dream, so these thoughts came straight from my own self hatred.

I hated myself more than ever before. I thought of all the things I could have prevented, now that she did not love me. For one, I could have left her human. HOW STUPID WAS I. I should have walked away that first day I saw her in Forks. I hated me.

Now that it had occurred to me that I would not be able to count on finding Bella who was about to tell me she really loved me, I began to worry. Well, if she still loved me a little, (which is something had to be sure of), then, of course she should be able to listen to me whisper to her to block my mind. Surely she would do that much for me, if not me, than for the safety of everyone else.

Bella's Point of View:

After I explained everything to Max, he seemed more than shocked. "Bella… surely you don't think we could do that. Are you crazy?"

"Max… I don't know when, and I don't know how… but we have to try."

"What do we do for now, then?"

"We keep our minds blocked from Aro, and we do our best to convince him we are part of his guard."

My mind zoomed out of control. How long would I be here? How long would I have to leave my daughter, how much will she have changed the next time I see her? Will I even be able to recognize her. Dry sobs threatened to take over before Max held my shoulder.

"We may be able to convince the Voultri that I left Edward, but I have no idea how to convince them I left behind my daughter for all of eternity."

"I shall tell him I broke off that tie as well, don't worry, Bella, and I will be forever sorry if I cannot get you out."

"No, Max. It's not your fault. You are right in assuming that I would do anything to avoid my family being destroyed. I would give up my life a thousand times before I gave up any of theirs, and now that includes you. So don't be afraid to ask me for my life."

"I can't help but feel guilty, Bella, surely you understa-"

I quickly covered his mouth, taking one hand off the car's wheel that I was illegally driving through the Italian countryside.

"Max, please. You are asking nothing more than what is to be expected from a sister."

Max smiled at the thought, and I saw him smirk. "You have no idea how lovely it is to be a part of a family, and to be a part of this family? It is nothing short of heaven on Earth, all that I could ask for in my existence. Finally there is a meaning, a feeling of true belonging."

"Don't mention it," I smiled back.

"How do you know where you are going?" Max questioned when we were almost there.

"I remember from the last time I was here." I stated, simply. Recognition hit his face as he must have recalled the story where Alice and I came to save a suicidal Edward.

"Oh, Bella I'm sorry, I wish you could see him again."

"There is a large part of me that wishes the same. However, I know better. I know that I would much prefer he and the rest of the family stayed away. Therefore they can go on living, and keeping Renesmee safe and sound."

A beautiful image of Edward holding a giggling Renesmee filled my mind, and almost made me lose focus. I heard the car behind me honk obnoxiously and zoom around me. When the driver of the sleek black car made it to the other lane, we both peered angrily at each other.

I felt my bubble become stronger and more powerful, each bit of anger adding to my now mental-physical field that was sure to push back even the most vicious of vampires. I smiled a crazy, sadistic smile and speed my way into Volterra.

Max and I stalked out of the car, looking like a forced to be reckoned with. I let my hair down, and Max smoothed out his clothes. We shut the doors and strutted down the darkened streets of Volterra.

Max held my hand as we found the nearest entrance to the secret underground castle. Before we could slide our way down, a member of the Voultri greeted us.

"Max, how pleasant to see you again. I see you have completed what we asked you to do." The greedy, red-eyed vampire looked me up and down appreciatingly. I saw his eyes linger at our intertwined fingers and then his mouth laugh heartily.

"Accomplished a little more, eh?" He said slapping Max on the shoulder, and winking at me.

I wanted to growl and take a snap at the man, but I knew better. We had to pull this off to the best of our ability if we were going to make it.

I knew it was only beneficial, I simply fed off anger.

I was sure our plan would work out. I just had to continue to get people to anger me and soon enough I could take down those nasty old rulers. I didn't care if a million vampires came after me when I tried. I just couldn't stand their constant threat any longer. I was going to take them down, and I don't care how absurd and unrealistic that sounds.

They deserved to be put in their place, underground.

I thought about how, technically they were already lived underground and fixed my battle cry.

Damn the Voultri!

That seemed plausible, and honestly, quite plausible.

How hard could it be? Use a combination of both the power of Max and I and delude Aro into believing I had left Edward for Max and that I had completely no attachment to my family, so much so that, I was willing to follow my convincing new mate back to his 'home'?

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Anybody have anything they want to ask me?
I'm all for suggestions and criticism!
Thanks again for reading, and if you're wondering about Bella and Edward … well… ehrm… what can I say? Love comes in time? I don't know… but don't worry too much. :D