Author's Note: I just want to add an explanation in response to some reviews on the last chapter. Firstly, when I had planned to write the whole Alice revenge subplot, it was originally intended as fluff but I added in the "linebacker from hell" as a catalyst for Rosalie to soften her attitude towards Bella since Rosalie knows what it feels like to be violated and she would feel some sympathy towards Bella even though Bella wasn't raped. Secondly, I never meant Edward to seem like the bad guy here. It's just that in Stephenie Meyer's own words: "Edward's big mistake is overreaction. It's in his nature to be too extreme…He's a very all-or-nothing kind of person, and it makes him unreasonable." It is also his nature to shoulder the blame even when it isn't his fault. Don't worry though; Edward still hasn't had his say to Alice yet. Thirdly and lastly, I tried to keep in the spirit of the books when it came to Alice as well as the rest of the family's sudden departure. In "New Moon", Alice never took any blame for leaving Bella behind. But if you look back at the series and have read the history of the books as well as "Midnight Sun", you will note that the whole family had uprooted themselves before for upon another member's request (i.e. : Emmett and Rosalie) so of course they would leave if Edward had asked them too since he never made that request before. Quoting Stephenie again but "Edward sees himself as a soulless monster destroying Bella's life and endangering her afterlife. The incident with Jasper acts as a catalyst, forcing him to act. He is determined to save Bella. He thinks the best way to do this is to take the vampires out of her life", hence the whole family has to leave. Besides Edward would have never realized the true depth of Bella's love for him had they never left Forks.

Okay, enough babbling and on with the story.

Bella POV

"What is it Alice? What did you see?" Jasper asked Alice.

"Victoria." She answered. That one word was enough. Jeff was no longer an immediate issue, not with Victoria looming so close on the horizon.

The mere mention of her name nearly brought me to borderline hysterics. I felt my breath hitch and my hands tremble. Somehow I had fooled myself into believing any threats by her were over but in the back of my mind I always knew that she would return someday. It looked like that day was finally here. I found it ironic that it wasn't so long ago that I would have begged for her to kill me should she have gotten to me but now I wanted nothing more than to live my life with Edward by my side. I felt Edwards's cools arms wrap around me in comfort as he spoke to me in calming, dulcet tones.

"It's okay. She won't touch you or Charlie." He whispered close to my ear in his soothing velvet voice. He was so positive in his declaration that I almost believed him; I wanted desperately to believe him. However, my concern was more for Charlie and my soon to be family than myself.

"When and where Alice?" He turned to Alice and asked her. Although he was trying to calm me, I could feel the tension in his body.

There was a void look in her eyes as Alice was fully entranced in her vision. I could tell Edward was right in the vision with her, seeing what she saw.

"It's now or very soon. She's in the forest, running near the Quileute border. She knows we're back and is trying to figure out a way to get past us." Alice said still concentrating on the images in her head.

"What are we waiting for…let's go get her." Emmett said enthusiastically punching his fist into his hand.

"Wait!…she's running from something… Damn! Everything went black."

"The wolves." Jasper said explaining to the others about Alice's blind spot when the wolves were close. "Alice can't see past the wolves. They must be chasing her."

My mind briefly went to Jacob. Was he part of the group chasing Victoria? Would he be injured because of me? I mentally shook off the thought. Jacob had hurt me, had betrayed me because of his jealousies and his inability to let go of something that was never his. How could I think sympathetically of Jacob when I was in Edward's arms? But I did because at one point he was my friend, the sun in my dark world. How quickly he had changed into someone I barely knew.

"She's ours." Emmett retorted like a child who had his favorite toy taken away from him. His voice infiltrated my morose train of thought and I was thrust back into the matters at hand.

"I'd rather have none of my family harmed so if the wolves get her first, so be it." Esme stated giving Emmett a reproachful look.

I sided with Esme on this. There was no way I wanted them hurt or possibly killed because of me. "She's right." I told them. "Let the pack have her." I didn't want anyone harmed but I knew who I couldn't live without. "Do you see anything else Alice?"

Alice shook her head sadly. "No, it's all dark. I'm so sorry. I can't see anything."

If there were any casualties I was certain I would hear about it from Billy or even Jacob himself. Billy would no doubt blame me as I knew I would blame myself.

"It's alright Alice." Jasper said embracing her in a reassuring hug. "Victoria didn't expect so many enemies in the area." He informed us drawing on his military knowledge and his intuitiveness. "She'll probably go off and lick her wounds, so to speak and try to come up with a new strategy."

"We'll be ready for her." Edward said clenching his jaw.

"No!" I said turning to face him gripping his shirt. "No one gets hurt. Not because of me. I won't allow it." As if I had any say in the matter. But I needed to say it anyway.

"Bella" he sighed in a placating tone smoothing my hair behind my ear. I felt the electricity of his touch seep into me and I resisted the urge to lean into his hand. I would not be distracted. "There are seven of us and only one of her."

"And if you factor in the wolves…there's no telling how many of them there are now." Jasper told him.

Edwards head whipped around to glower at his brother. "You're not suggesting we align ourselves with those mutts, are you?" he sneered, his opinion evident in the harsh planes of his face.

"We don't have to. They have been protecting Bella for months. If anything, they want to kill Victoria just as much as we do."

"It's true." I nodded. "First with Laurent and then right before you came back, they chased Victoria off."

I could tell Edward did not appreciate the reminder of what went on in his absence judging by the pained look on his face and I felt immediately remorseful for saying anything at all. "I'm sorry." I told him knowing he was internally chastising himself yet again for leaving. "Please don't continue to do this to yourself Edward. The past is over. I'm okay and we're together. That's all that matters." And it was true. He would never forgive himself for his past decisions. Instinctively I knew that even though I forgave him for it all. I just hoped it was enough for both of us.

He held me closer, resting his lips on the top of my head. "I know my love, I know."

"What do you think Victoria will do?" Rosalie asked Jasper for all of us.

He shrugged. "The only thing that makes sense is for her to seek back up or allies to aid her. She must know that between us and the wolf pack she can never win on her own."

"Does she even have any allies?" Esme asked.

Edward was the one that answered her. He looked deep in thought as he spoke. "She's a nomad, a rogue. In the whole time I was tracking her, she wasn't with anyone else."

"You were tracking Victoria!" I yelled separating from his embrace to look up at him utterly horrified. I shuddered as the thoughts flooded through my mind at what could have happened and damned my all too vivid imagination.

He looked unconcerned as he looked down at me. 'It's of no consequence. As you can see, I wasn't very good at it."

Of no consequence, my ass, I wanted to shout. She could have killed him. I wrapped my arms around him again relishing in the fact that he was here with me and not having been burned in a funeral pyre somewhere.

"It's alright, love. I'm right here." He assured, holding me close to him once again.

"So if she has no known allies, then what?" Rosalie asked as if I hadn't even spoken.

My brain went into overload then as I started to put pieces of an uncut puzzle together and gasped as I came up with the absolute worst case scenario.

"What is it Bella?" Jasper asked looking at me curiously noting the expression on my face. I wondered if I looked as green as I felt. "Have you thought of something? "

"Unfortunately, I have." I told all of them, praying that I was wrong, that it wouldn't come to that. "Since we doubt she has any of her own cronies, what if…what if she were to create her own? I mean she is a vampire, right? With venom? I know it takes a lot of restraint to take someone's blood without killing them but what if she could?" I watched each of their faces as the implications settle in.

"Damn, Bella. A newborn army. They would defeat us all." Emmett breathed. He saw the possibilities just as I did.

If possible, I saw Edward's face turn paler than it's usual pallor. His jaw was set in a grim line and I could swear I saw a muscle tick by his eye. He even knew I could be right. It was one of the times I wish I wasn't.

Jasper looked doubtful and for that I was eminently grateful. He shook his head. "I admit it has merit but I have worked with newborns before. Training them is a long, arduous task. I don't think Victoria has the patience for that besides she would need help."

"But it is possible." Edward asked him bleakly.

"Yes" he confirmed. "It is possible."

"I'll keep watch for Victoria, Edward." Alice said determinedly. "No one touches my family." She gave me a look meant to reassure me. It didn't even come close.

Edward POV

How had things gotten so completely out of hand, so completely out of my control? I thought to myself as I lay with Bella on our bed in my room, her head on my chest. She had remained unusually quiet the rest of the afternoon as the rest of us talked about possible strategies and it worried me.

We had told Carlisle as soon as he came home from the hospital and he was concerned but not overly worried which relieved me. He didn't think there was a likelihood of Victoria raising a newborn army either. But she would do something he added.

"Bella, love." I said stroking her arm lazily. "I have to get you home. Charlie will be worried. You usually don't spend this long at the library." I joked trying to coax a laugh out of her.

She gave her smile little effort but I was just happy to get a response. "I suppose your right." She said getting up and putting on her shoes. My eyes drifted to her bent figure and I saw a hint of the g-string she wore underneath her pants. I scrubbed my face with my hand and groaned.

"What's the matter?"

"Here we are in my bedroom, on a bed, with you wearing those sinful under garments and I didn't even take advantage of it."

She gave me a genuine smile then. "Alice did say the perfect foundation to emphasize any outfit was what you wore underneath."

"I hope she bought more of them for you. I won't let them go to waste next time." I said playfully lifting her up so she was lying on top of me. My lips settled on hers in a passionate kiss as my arms went around her to hold her more closely to me. I craved this, needed her touch, her warmth surrounding me.

I didn't want to worry about Victoria, about Jacob or any of the kids at school. I just wanted to concentrate on my Bella and how happy and complete she made me. I didn't want to waste any time, not when I didn't know how much time we had left.

"Mmm, that was nice." Bella said with a satisfied sigh.

"I was hoping for better than just nice." I told her with a smile to let her know I was joking.

"How about wondrous and electrifying."

"I like those descriptions much better." I said playfully nipping at her earlobe with my lips.

"Do I have to go home?"

"I would like nothing more than for you to stay however; I don't think you want to get on Charlie's bad side right now. He's had a tough day."

"I suppose you're right. As always." She grimaced as she rolled off me and got up. She turned to me then with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"I was thinking…" she started. Oh no. Whatever was going through her head, I could tell I would not like.

"What, love?"

"What if we give Victoria what she wants?"

I hoped I did not hear her correctly. "What do you mean?" I forced the words from my throat as I sat up bracing myself for what was to come.

"Instead of playing this never ending cat and mouse game with her that can only escalate, why don't we give her me?"

I was off the bed like a shot as pain...scorching, blinding, white hot pain coursed through me just imagining it. "Absolutely NOT!" What was this about? Did she mean to set herself up as bait? She at least had the good grace to wince.

"It makes more sense than waiting around to see what she will do, Edward. Just think about it. I could appear vulnerable in the woods and the rest of you would lie in wait for her. The minute she got too close, you all could pounce. Problem solved." She was so blasé about it like it never even occurred to her that things could go horribly wrong. I adored her for the fact she would do anything to protect my family but we were vampires. We could handle ourselves with another vampire.

"Problem solved? Just like that?" I questioned her disbelievingly. "And what happens if she's quicker than we are?" I trembled at the thought of Bella lying bloody and lifeless on the forest floor.

"She won't be. You're quicker." Bella was so positive she was right in this.

"No, No, No. I forbid it." I had to keep myself from stomping my foot on the floor like an errant five year old. "Bella Swan you will erase that thought from your head right now." I reigned in my anger when I saw the shocked expression on her face. I embraced her again, needing to touch her. "I'm sorry. I know you think it's a good idea but you're talking about potentially sacrificing yourself. I can't live with that. We'll find another way. I won't, I can't risk losing you again."

"It was just a thought." She said mumbling into my shirt.

"I know you're just trying to help" I told her breathing a sigh of relief that she would forget the dangerous course of action. "I'm sorry I reacted badly." And I truly was bit I wasn't sorry about the outcome.

"It's okay. I've come to expect it from you."

I grinned down at her. She knew me so well and yet she was still with me, still loving me. For that I was profoundly humbled. 'C'mon, let's get you home."

At Alice's insistence, she came with us to Bella's. I knew she wanted to talk to me so I consented to have hr tag along. She could get back on her own. I would be staying with Bella for the night. After we dropped Bella off, I pulled into a secluded side street near Bella's house and waited for Alice to speak.

She looked like she was about to cry if she could. I read her thoughts and knew she want trying to manipulate me but I wanted to hear her say the words out loud just the same.

"About today…"she started. "I am so, so, sorry Edward. I never meant for Bella to get hurt in any way."

"I know Alice." I said resigned but unwilling to let her off the hook completely. "You meant to pay be back for my previous transgressions but you didn't think about the consequences did you? I am furious Alice, furious. It was just a joke to you, wasn't it? Let's drive Edward crazy, huh? Let's see how far I can push Edward before he breaks? Well it worked Alice. Are you happy now?" I yelled banging the steering wheel almost making it crack in two.

"I only meant to…" Alice began. I didn't give her a chance to finish.

"I know, I know…to pay me back for leaving…for making you leave. Well you know what Alice? I admit I made the biggest mistake of my miserable life by leaving but no one made you leave Alice. You could have stayed."

"I left for you, Edward. For you and your damn misguided perceptions. You were the one that wanted all the vampires out of Bella's life. You are the one that thought we were all a danger to her. It didn't matter to you how much it hurt her when we left, how much danger she could get into in our absence you just wanted to have your way and you got it and she almost died because of it. I would have stayed but I left for you, damnit!" She sobbed.

"Don't you dare tell me it didn't matter to me how hurt Bella was when we left. The knowledge of it very nearly destroyed me." I couldn't let myself get so angered. Alice for all of her faults was still my sister. "So are you done, Alice? Have you gotten the revenge you wanted?" I whispered wearily.

"I never intended this." She said brokenly.

"Didn't you?" I replied. But I could read her mind, see that she didn't. She just wanted to make me crazed with lust and jealousy for my Bella. As if I didn't experience that enough on a daily basis.

""Do you think you can ever forgive me?" she sounded meek and I was disgusted with myself for making her feel this way. Alice was never meek despite her pixie like stature.

"Only if you tell me that you bought Bella more than one pair of lacy thongs." I grinned at her and I was happy to see the mischievous gleam back in her eyes.

"I knew you'd like those." She said giving me a playful punch in the arm. Her face turned somber then. "I can still see Bella as your wife and as one of us Edward. It's never faltered, not once. That vision has only gotten stronger. I just wanted you to know that."

I nodded unable to speak of the joy that brought me. With all that had been revealed about Victoria, I still was unsure how about how it all would turn out. It brought me some solace to know that Alice's vision of the future, of our future was still clear.

"Show me." I whispered. And she did. It was beautiful. Bella and I were in our meadow. It was springtime; the flowers grew in abundance on the ground. Bella lay next to me with a purple flower on her hand, a golden wedding band on her finger. She was staring at me with such love in her eyes, butterscotch eyes that resembled mine. I closed my eyes committing the scene to memory. "Thank you Alice."

"You're very welcome."

Since I couldn't do anything about Victoria's threat to Bella, I decided to focus on another threat, one that I could do something about.

"So about this Jeff creep..." I said.

Alice looked at me warily. "Edward…you promised Bella." She warned.

"I promised Bella we wouldn't touch him."

I watched her focus on that particular vision and saw a smile spread over her face. "Oh, I see what you mean."

And she did. She did exactly.

Well, I hope I have sufficiently redeemed myself in this chapter and I hope you enjoyed it. Til next time…