5.

"That's great, Lisa," Alice said softly.

We were sitting in Alice's room. She was stretched out on her bed, while I sat on the edge, playing nervously with my hair. I had debated telling anyone what had happened for a full day and a half now, before finally caving in and telling Alice. I guessed from her reaction that she had seen that something had happened in her visions, but it felt good to share it with someone.

"Is it? I don't know, Alice." I asked her worriedly.

"Yes, Lisa, it is. First of all, you did it without majorly hurting anyone. Edward gave Bella a few bruises too, and I would say he did a lot worse than you, but the point is, he's been a vampire for a lot longer. You've only been at this for four years. You've done amazing, Lisa. Your ability to control yourself so well in such a highly emotional state… it's quite amazing." She grasped my hand and smiled. "And second, this is what you've wanted for a long time, isn't it? To be loved by your husband."

I laughed, though there wasn't any true feeling behind it. "Yeah."

"And the necklace proves to me that it wasn't just a one-night thing for him. He wants to continue this with you."

"Yeah?"

She nodded.

We were silent for a few moments, until I broke the silence. "I still can't believe we… did it."

Alice laughed. "You can say 'sex', Lisa." When I didn't respond, she sat up and hugged me. "You deserve this, Lisa. You deserve to be loved."

I looked into her brown eyes and let out a shaky sigh. "Yeah," I mumbled. I wasn't entirely convinced that that was true.

"Hey, chin up, girl! You just did it with your husband!"

Maybe she was right. I should be happy about this. "Okay." I smiled, hoping to convince her I believed it. I saw it didn't.

Alice took one of my hands in both of hers. "You're one step closer to what you truly want now, Lisa."

I shook my head. "Alice, don't speak like that."

She gave me a look that suggested she could read my mind. "Sure, it's terrible wishing this kind of life upon someone you love. But Lisa, you can't deny that you want him to want to be with you… forever."

I bit my lip again, not knowing how to respond. She was absolutely right, but I couldn't admit it. I didn't want to wish this life upon John unless he wanted it as much as I wanted him.

Alice hugged me one more time, then stood and pranced around. "Shall we celebrate?" she asked cheerfully.

"Alice!" I exclaimed, but I couldn't help but laugh. I knew it was the only thing that would get my mind off everything and help me relax. Maybe later I would think things through.

We were halfway down the stairs when Alice stopped dead in her tracks. If it weren't for my lightning fast reflexes, I would have crashed into her.

"Alice? What is it?"

A glance at her face told me she was seeing something that was going to happen. Quickly, I grabbed her hand. Darkness enveloped me. I realized I was in the forest outside the house. Suddenly, a wave of nausea sank over me. A man stepped out of the shadows and seemed to be examining the house. And then the vision was gone and I was standing next to Alice, inside the house, still holding her hand tightly.

I gasped, though it wasn't necessary. "What was that?"

Alice shook her head in astonishment. "I'm not sure, Lisa, but Edwa-"

Before she could finish her sentence, Edward was standing at the bottom of the landing. "Alice?"

We said nothing as Edward read Alice's mind. When Edward shook his head, I knew he had seen it all.

"What do you think?"

He glanced at me and then back at Alice. "Bree."

She shook her head in confusion. "What about Bree? It was a man I saw, Edward."

He ignored her question. "Where's Carlisle?"

"Right here." Carlisle's voice carried through the hall and I saw him step out of his office. "What is it, Edward?"

Edward quietly told Carlisle about the vision and something about this Bree he had mentioned.

I stared in confusion from Carlisle to Edward, wondering if anyone would ever tell me what was going on.

After a few more minutes of quiet discussion, Edward turned to me. "We're all going to meet downstairs. Will you walk with me?"

I nodded and joined him, watching Alice and Carlisle file past us down the stairs to the living room.

"Bree Tanner, her name was."

"Was?"

"Yeah, she was one of the newborn vampires that we killed in the meadow."

I recalled what Alice had told me about that day, the vampire army of newborns that Victoria had created to get revenge on Edward for killing her mate James. "Okay?"

"She spoke to me before the Volturi killed her."

"Mentally?"

"Yes," he replied, his voice grave. "She told me about a friend of hers named Fred. He was the only one who had not been fooled by Riley's claims about us and had fled the night before the battle. She made me promise that if he ever came across us that we would be kind to him."

"How do you know it's him, though?"

He glanced at me. "You felt the repulsion while you were watching Alice's vision?"

I nodded.

"Bree told me that Fred had a special power. He was able to repulse people away from him by creating a putrid smell. She told me people couldn't even look at him."

"So you think the repulsion we felt was caused by this Fred?"

His head bobbed in reply. We were nearly down the stairs now, having walked much slower than everyone else. "He's coming here."

I mulled that over in my mind. Suddenly, panic overtook me. "What about John?"

If Fred isn't like us, will he smell John and kill him?

Edward looked at me, following my train of thought. "I don't know."

"Can you get a read on him?"

Edward stopped, concentrating. "He's too far away right now. In Alice's vision, it was pitch black outside when he came."

I glanced out the window. The sun was setting, painting the sky with red and purple. I glanced at Edward and noticed he was thinking. I placed my hand on his arm.

… will take him away. The clan can protect him.

Edward glanced at me. Jacob.

I nodded, understanding immediately. If John is at the reservation with all the wolves, he'll be safe.

"Let's go."

We ran down the rest of the stairs. Everyone else was already seated in various places around the living room. Nessie was nowhere to be seen, probably out with Jacob somewhere.

Carlisle turned as Edward and I slid into the room. "Hello. Did you catch Lisa up?"

Edward nodded, turning to everyone, but still speaking to Carlisle, "Did you tell everyone about the vision?"

"Yes, I gave them your thoughts on the matter."

I joined Alice and Bella on the couch. Alice squeezed my hand and Bella gave me an encouraging smile.

"Alice, have you been able to pin down a time?"

"No. There's nothing to indicate what time it is, or even what day, though I'm assuming it's tonight."

Emmett. "His smell will probably warn us when he's getting close."

Edward nodded. "We have no idea how dangerous this guy is, though Bree seemed to think he was harmless, keeping to himself. But just incase, I'll call Jacob and ask him to take John down to the res."

"Good plan, son. If he proves harmless, we will let him stay if he chooses."

"Carlisle." It was Bella. "Are you certain?"

Carlisle mulled it over. "You're right, Bella. We'll talk it over once he actually gets here. According to Bree's description of his character, he may not even want to stay."

Bella nodded, smiling softly at Edward, who winked at her.

"Bella, will you call Jacob, please? Tell him we'll be having a visitor and that for his safety, we would like John to stay the night at the reservation."

"Of course, Carlisle."

"Wait," I spoke up. "I'm not sure if John will be comfortable leaving, and he'll be suspicious as to why we're sending him away."

"She's right, Carlisle."

"Have the wolves come here," suggested Emmett, to which Rosalie responded with a disgusted noise. Emmett glanced at her and whispered something in her ear. She shrugged. "Maybe we won't smell the wolves with this Fred guy around."

"Hopefully Fred won't smell worse," muttered Jasper. Emmett chuckled, to which Rose responded with a punch in the arm.

"Ow, babe." But they were both smiling.

"Alright. Bella, can you call Jacob now?"

Bella pulled out a cell phone and dialed a number. As it rang, she moved into the kitchen. Her voice was slightly muffled as she spoke into the phone. "Hey, Jake." Then a pause and light laughter. "Listen, I need a favor."

I tuned her out and focused on Alice. "Have you seen anything else," I asked her softly. She shook her head. "He's keeping a low profile, constantly covered by this aura of his."

"Is he alone?" Edward spoke up.

"I don't know. Like I said, I can't see anything past the shield."

Emmett tossed something in Edward's direction. "Aren't you glad Bella's shield doesn't smell?"

"Maybe it does." Jasper replied for Edward. "Maybe it just smells really good."

Edward glanced at Jasper.

"I think everyone is in agreement that your wife smells nice," muttered Jasper.

"Edward, leave Jasper alone."

A smile crept unto Edward's face and he winked at Alice. "No worries, sis. I was just messing with your man."

Alice stood and punched Edward lightly in the arm. With a grin, she said, "Well, don't."

Bella returned just then, stuffing the phone into her back pocket. "They're coming."

"They?"

"Yeah. Jake, Seth, and Embry."

Rose groaned. "This Fred guy better have a really strongaroma."

"How soon?" asked Edward as he wrapped an arm around Bella's waist. "Ten minutes, tops. They won't bother anybody."

I stood, seeing that the discussion was over. "I should go make him some dinner. I'll be back in an hour. Call me if anything comes up."

Alice nodded and I walked out the door, scanning the woods anxiously. It was not completely dark yet, the sun shinning a slice of light unto the trees. I knew I was being a bit paranoid, but just to ease myself, I took a whiff of the air. Oxygen, beetles and ants, and trees; no putrid odor.

"Good," I said to myself.

John had come back to the cabin around 4 to take a nap, saying he had a slight headache. I found him lying on the couch, watching re-runs. I walked up to him, putting my hand against his forehead. "You okay, babe?"

He looked up at me. "Yeah, I think I was just tired."

"Okay," I said. I leaned down and kissed his forehead.

In the middle of making dinner, a wet-dog smell filled my nostrils. The wolves are here. A small feeling of relief rushed over me, though my stomach still felt tight with anticipation and the unknown.

I pulled the wet noodles off the hot plate and strained them in the sink. "Hey babe," I called out to the living room.

"Huh?" came back his muffled voice. He must have had his head buried in a pillow.

"Alice and I are doing something," I said, biting my lip, hating to lie to him. "Can you make yourself a plate and clean up after? If you're up to it," I added.

"Yeah," he said, his voice clearer now. "Thanks for dinner." His head popped around the corner. "You girls okay?"

I smiled, looking down at my hands as I dried them on a towel, hoping he wouldn't notice the strain on my face. Instead of answering, I asked, "You going to stay here tonight? Rest a little, maybe?" I glanced up at him.

"Yeah," he said, stretching. "I think I might head to bed early tonight." I wondered if that would really happen or if he would figure out there was something more going on.

"Okay," I said, smiling brightly at him, hoping I wasn't giving off any anxious vibes. I was glad he was willingly staying put and hoped he wouldn't ask anything else about what Alice and I would be doing tonight. I kissed him as I passed him by. "Gotta go. I'll see you later, love. 'Kay?"

"Mmhmm," he said, heading towards the dish cabinet.

The minute the door closed behind me, Jacob was next to me. I let out a small sigh or relief.

"You won't have to worry about him leaving," I said.

"Good," he said with a nod. He was watching my face, and I knew he could see the worry in my eyes. "He'll be fine."

"Thanks," was all I said before I headed back to the house. But he was already gone.