Thank you to you all for your reviews and your patience. I know my updating has been sketchy lately, I will try to update more regularly.
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The next day the house was still in an excited buzz over the upcoming wedding. Bella, Esme, Alice and Rosalie had all offered to help Renesmee plan the special day and the group of women settled themselves in the living room to begin their preparations. Edward was sitting at the piano playing light music but the rest of the men had discretely disappeared to get right away from the wedding preparations.
"I just thought of something," Esme murmured suddenly and looked up from the wedding magazine she had been flipping through. "Where will you live after you get married? Jacob won't be able to come to Volterra with us, he wouldn't be safe."
"I didn't think of that," Renesmee gasped and glanced at Bella.
"We could stay here?" Bella suggested and glanced over at Edward.
"Of course we can," Edward nodded, seeing his daughter's thoughts and knowing she was on the verge of getting really upset. "I would need to return to Volterra for the voting and to stand down from the council but after that Bella and I could settle here in this house. Nessie and Jacob could have our cottage."
"That's perfect," Bella grinned and turned to look at Renesmee. "Does that sound all right with you?"
"It sounds great," Renesmee smiled.
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Brandon was sitting by the pond in the back yard when he sensed someone approaching him and he turned and watched as Angel walked down the back stairs and over to him.
"Brandon, can we talk?" Angel asked softly, already settling down next to him.
"I guess so," Brandon shrugged.
"I wanted to talk to See but I can't find her," Angel added.
"She went hunting with Oliver and Stella," Brandon told her.
"My Mom and Letty went hunting too," Angel sighed.
"What did you want to talk about?" Brandon asked.
"I kind of want some advice," Angel explained. "I guess you have noticed Lucas and I have got close."
"I have," Brandon nodded, pulling his emotions into check quickly so she wouldn't feel them.
"He has kissed me a few times," Angel confided. "And I really like him. Last night he asked me to be his girlfriend."
"Did he?" Brandon smiled, although inside he felt like his heart was being ripped into two. "What did you say?"
"I said I'd have to think about it," Angel told him. "It's a big step to take and I want to be sure before we make things public."
"That makes sense," Brandon nodded.
"Can you think of any reason I should say no?" Angel asked and turned her big brown eyes up to look at him.
"Nope, no reason," Brandon said tightly. "If it's what you want, do it."
"Okay, I will," Angel nodded and glanced at Brandon wistfully for a moment before jumping to her feet and heading back inside.
"You moron," Brandon snapped to himself after she had left. "That was your chance and you blew it."
Even with his feelings for Candice bubbling through him he still loved Angel and he knew that he now had no hope of ever being with her. He wished Sierra was around to talk to but Oliver, Stella and Sierra had only left an hour earlier and he knew they were planning to be away for the entire day. Wanting to put as much distance as possible between himself and Angel he jumped to his feet and slipped quickly into the forest and before he could even think about where he was heading he had broken into a run straight to the lakeside where he always met up with Candice.
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When Brandon stepped out from the trees he immediately saw Candice standing by the water's edge. She turned and offered him a sad smile when she sensed his approach and he walked over to stand beside her.
"Is something wrong?" Candice asked, feeling the emotions he was projecting.
"Just had a bit of a disagreement with one of my cousins," Brandon lied. "Nothing serious."
"That's not good," Candice smiled at him.
"I don't want to talk about it," Brandon said firmly.
"That's fine," Candice nodded. "Actually I have something I want to talk to you about. I'm sorry Brandon, I really like you but I think it is time I moved on."
"Why?" Brandon frowned.
"I was chased by the wolf pack you warned me about this morning," Candice murmured. "I got away but I don't think it is safe for me to stay in this area any longer."
"I can tell them you are a friend of mine?" Brandon offered. "Or you could come stay with my family?"
"I don't want that," Candice sighed. "I'm a nomad. I like roaming from place to place, seeing new and exciting things. I'm getting bored remaining in the one place for so long."
"I'm sorry," Brandon whispered. "I'm being selfish. I just enjoy your company so much."
"And I enjoy yours," Candice smiled. "You could come with me?"
"I don't know," Brandon murmured. "My family…."
"Just for a little while," Candice pushed. "We can come back here one day."
"I'm not sure…" Brandon started but Candice leaned towards him and pressed her lips to his.
"Please?" she murmured softly. "I love you." Her words shocked him for a moment but before he could respond she crushed her lips to his and pressed her body against his body. This kiss was unlike any of the others they had shared, it was filled with intensity and longing. When Candice moved her hands down his chest and began to fumble with the button of his jeans Brandon felt desire course through his veins and he knew he could never be without her again.
"Make love to me Brandon, please?" Candice begged urgently and he gathered her tightly into his arms and lowered her to the grass, his lips still locked with hers.
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"So will you come with me?" Candice whispered softly a few hours later as they sat entwined together. Brandon thought about his conversation with Angel that morning and then looked down at the woman snuggled in his arms.
"Of course I will," Brandon smiled at her.
"We should go now," Candice grinned.
"I have to say goodbye first," Brandon argued. "And tell my family where I am going."
"They might try to stop you," Candice frowned. "What if we head away from here and then call your parents so you can explain. I'm sure they'll understand."
"Maybe," Brandon whispered unsurely.
"Come on, please?" Candice begged. "Let's go, now!"
"Okay," Brandon laughed finally and Candice giggled as she jumped to her feet and grabbed their clothes.
"Get dressed," she said hurriedly. "I want to get away from the wolves territory before nightfall." They both dressed quickly and then Candice slid her hand into Brandon's and without a word between them she guided him away in the opposite direction of the Cullen house.
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They had travelled for a few hours and Brandon knew they were out of the state of Washington when Candice finally slowed down.
"So where are we going?" Brandon asked her as they continued to walk side by side.
"I haven't been completely honest with you," Candice admitted as they walked. "When I told you I didn't have a home, that wasn't exactly the truth. I have a lovely house and there are others of our kind around although I wouldn't call them family."
"Okay," Brandon murmured, not sure what to say to her. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"
"I didn't want you to say you wouldn't come with me," Candice sighed. "The people I have around me aren't like your family. They don't love me, not like you do. I wanted you with me."
"I guess I can understand that," Brandon smiled at her. "So, we are going to your house?"
"Not yet," Candice murmured, knowing if she made a definite decision then Alice would see everything, and she had been so careful to keep her entire scheme a secret from Alice. "Let's wander for a while first. See where life takes us."
"I like that idea," Brandon grinned.
"Me too," Candice giggled and snuggled into his arms, a sinister smile spreading across her face as she held him, knowing very soon she could put her plan into place.
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Bella, Rosalie, Esme and Renesmee were discussing Renesmee's wedding dress when Bella noticed Alice wasn't paying attention. She turned to look at her and frowned when she saw Alice's eyes glazed over.
"Alice, what do you see?" Bella asked her, turning everyone's attention to Alice.
"Alice, what is that?" Edward frowned, seeing the fleeting images in Alice's head.
"I don't know," Alice whispered and her brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of the flickering vision she was experiencing.
"Sweetheart?" Jasper gasped as he raced into the room and he ran to Alice's side and dropped to his knees in front of her. "What do you see?"
"I'm not sure," Alice murmured.
"You're not sure?" Jasper echoed with a frown.
"It is something to do with Brandon," Edward explained quickly. "About the only clear image I can make out is his face."
"Alice?" Jasper demanded as he turned back to his wife.
"I don't know, I can't see," Alice pouted. Suddenly her eyes glazed over again and the vision that overcame her was obviously much more violent because she let out a moan and threw herself into Jasper's arms.
"He's coming!" Alice gasped.
"Who?" Jasper asked.
"Eric!" Edward growled, seeing the new vision clearly.
"Mum!" Oliver screamed as he ran into the house, Stella and Sierra right behind him. "Did you see it?"
"Yes, I saw it," Alice nodded.
"How long?" Jasper demanded.
"He is just passing Edward and Bella's cottage now," Alice told him and her fear slammed into him.
"He is not going to hurt you!" Jasper snarled and jumped to his feet and turned and stormed out of the house.