SM owns.

Thanks Mommakat!

I just wanted to let you all know that there only four chapters and an epilogue left to go! Thank you all for your support of this story!

EPOV

I closed my eyes tight as I buried my face in the crook of Bella's neck. No matter how hard I tried to tune out the thoughts of my family, I could not. Bella was happy with the decision to go to Russia. I was happy with the decision to go to Russia. Kate and Irina were extremely happy. My family though? Extremely unhappy.

Well not my entire family, but the ones who I wanted to hurt the least were the same ones that were hurting the most. Carlisle had started to reminisce about how glad he had been when I joined him as a vampire. He hadn't realized how lonely he had been until he wasn't alone anymore. I was his first son, companion, and friend. Aside from Esme, he felt closer to me than anyone else and he would miss me terribly.

Esme on the other hand couldn't stop thinking about the last time that I'd left in rebellion. She was recalling how sad she had been and worried and upset. She remembered feeling like things had been incomplete, imbalanced and just odd without me around. She was not excited for that incessant feeling that something was missing to return.

Alice was sitting on the living room floor trying with all her might to see when I would return from Russia so that she would know exactly how long she would have to go without her best friend. She wanted to be able to say that I would only be gone for a short while, that her favorite brother would not stay away for too long. She however could not do that because since I would be with Bella my future was blank to her. She was trying to stay optimistic but with my impending departure and the lack of comfort her gift usually offered she was not faring too well.

Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper would all miss me as well but they were handling it well. Jasper's only concern was for how Alice was taking it since the emotions he felt from her were not the happy ones he was accustomed to. Emmett and Rosalie often lived away from the family so they were used to not being around me and everyone else for that matter.

The other half of my family were happy for me too, of course. They were glad that I'd found Bella and that we could happily be together. I would never even know how sad they were if I couldn't read their minds. They would never actually voice their sadness, not wanting to dampen what was a happy occasion for me, but since I could read their mind I heard and could not help but feel sad as well.

I stayed with Bella for the remainder of Edward and Bella Day and then showered with her afterward. Once we were both dressed we headed out of the room but just before we crossed the doorway she dropped her shield for me.

"What's wrong?"

I turned and smiled at her. Even though I was trying my hardest not let my reaction to my family's sadness show on my face, Bella still saw it. I didn't want to tell her about it though. I was happy with our decision and I knew that hearing about my family would make her want to reconsider.

"Alice is in my head," I lied rolling my eyes.

Just as she could read me, I could read her. Bella didn't buy my lie but she didn't call me on it either. She just nodded her head and we continued out of the bedroom for the first time in 24 hours. Alice who was eagerly waiting for us at the bottom of the staircase did not call me on the lie either. Her thoughts were so preoccupied with what she wanted to say to Bella that I doubt she even registered what I'd said. Bella kissed my lips quickly before sighing and turning toward Alice. I turned to Carlisle's study where he and Esme were. She was nestled in his lap simply enjoying the feel of his body and his scent. He was trying and failing to read the newspaper. He too was reveling in the nearness of his wife.

I reached the door to the study and was granted permission to enter before I even knocked. They'd heard my approach and as I entered the room Esme moved away from Carlisle. I met her in the middle of the room and engulfed her in a hug.

"I'm happy for you Edward. You know that I am so don't worry about me," she said hugging me with all her might. "I'll miss you just like any other mother would miss her child when they leave the nest, but I'll be comforted knowing that you'll be with your mate, you'll be happier than you've ever been, and you'll visit as much as you can," she continued.

I nodded my head not knowing if she was speaking for her benefit or my own. Probably both. I held on to her for as long as she held on to me. I just wanted to comfort her.

"It won't be like the last time. You won't have to worry about me because you're right. I'll be happier than I've ever been. I won't be gone forever. Just four years and then Bella and I will come back and live with you guys for a while. It's a compromise for everyone but it will work. We all just have to get used to it," I told her.

Esme nodded her head against my chest before giving me a tight squeeze and stepping away. Carlisle came to her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Edward's right, honey. Everything will be fine. Let's not make this a sad occasion. We should be celebrating," Carlisle said.

Esme smiled up at him and then at me. "You're right! We should plan a party!"

BPOV

"Be..," Alice began but I grabbed her pinning her tiny body to me, her back to my chest, as I covered her mouth with my hand. I threw my shield over her and she went completely still in my clutch.

I'd been going slower than a human's walk trying to prolong my conversation with Alice. I really just didn't want to hear what she had to say. I wasn't really angry with her but I just didn't want her as a friend and I knew that that's what she would be trying for. We had only got as far as the forest's edge when I heard Esme's voice as she spoke to Edward. Her tone was so different from the warm smiling tone she usually spoke in. It made me pause, especially since she was talking to Edward. I should have felt bad for eavesdropping but my curiosity cleared that right up.

I listened as she tried to convince herself that she was okay with him leaving with me. The sound of her sorrowful voice broke my heart. Alice was flailing wildly in my grasp but I held on tight. No matter how awful it was of me to eavesdrop, I had to hear what they were saying. I hadn't spoken much with Esme but I liked her a lot. I could tell she was the very heart of the family and so sweet. Edward loved her so much and I knew that it had to be hurting him to hurt her. I'd been completely sold on going to Russia but now I found myself uncertain again.

I took off into the trees carrying Alice along with me. When I stopped and finally let her go, her mouth immediately started going a mile a minute.

"Bella do NOT worry about anything that Esme said. Really she'll be fine. We'll all be fine. Edward wants to go to Russia and Esme wants him to go too. She wants him to be happy and he is with you. We're just not used to Edward being away from the family so much. Esme's behaving like any other parent when their child moves away from home. This is healthy for her, for him too. Please don't say anything or change your mind about the decision you and Edward made and are completely happy with!"

It took me a while to process her words. Her words came so quickly even for a vampire and I had been momentarily distracted at how her lips had actually blurred as she spoke. Once I'd gotten over the awe, I felt my shoulders slump in defeat.

"I just wish that nobody would have to be hurt over this. I'm sure you know just as well as I do how much Edward loves Esme. He can't possibly be happy when she isn't. He'll regret leaving and then he'll start to resent being with me," I said.

Alice rushed forward shaking her head rapidly to grab both my hands.

"He won't!" she exclaimed. "Bella I do know how much Edward loves Esme. I also know how much he loves you. He could never resent being with you. It's just not possible," she replied.

"I just hate that Edward and I can't just have a normal relationship. Everything has been so complicated from the very beginning and I feel like that will never change," I sighed letting my body sag against a giant oak.

"Normal relationships are complicated. Every couple has their issues, believe me," Alice said. "All that matters is that the love you two share is strong enough to overcome them."

I furrowed my brow and mulled over what Alice was telling me. Of course she was right. Relationships were never perfect. I would be setting myself up for failure allowing myself to believe that it was or ever could be.

"Do you believe he really wants to go to Russia?" I asked her.

"Yes, Bella, I really do," she answered assuredly. "Please don't worry about Esme. She wants him to go as well. Everyone knows that this is what Edward wants, that this is what is best for him," she continued.

"And Esme won't resent me either?" I asked.

"Not at all," Alice smiled shaking her head.

I found myself smiling back at her as well. So quickly had I began to worry and just as quickly she had assuaged me. I guess I could maybe somewhat sort of see just a tiny hint of why Edward adored the runty vampire.

"Thanks Alice," I said.

"You're welcome!" she replied her eyes lighting up like a Christmas tree.

She looked so happy to be talking to me and I had found it incredibly easy to talk to her. A semi-awkward silence passed between us before we moved to the real reason we had come out to talk. I watched as Alice wrung her hands and tried to figure out what she wanted to say or where to start.

"What I said and what I did to you was awful Bella. I can't even tell you how sorry I am. It was wrong of me to accuse and assume the things I did. You have every right to be angry at me. God knows that Jasper was," she said.

"I am angry," I nodded. "You didn't even let me speak so that I could explain. I wouldn't have told you about Edward but I would have assured you that Jasper is like a brother to me. I know that you didn't really know what was going on at the time but that was your fault. You didn't bother to ask Jasper anything. He's not an idiot and if he had any reason to think that I was coming on to him I'm sure he would have told me to back off all on his own. He would never do anything that even has the potential of hurting you," I replied.

Alice's face crumbled in what looked like pain as she nodded her head in response. "You're right. You are completely right. I don't have much of an excuse as to how I behaved. I guess I'm just not as secure as I would have liked to think. My gift was rendered useless, I had Edward in my ear, who unbeknownst to me was extremely jealous of Jasper at the time, and well, to be perfectly honest, it just makes me nervous sometimes that Jasper has cared for other women," Alice admitted. "The others have been involved with people before they mated but they were never happy with those people. Jasper had actual feelings for someone that was not me and even though I know that it's impossible for him to want anyone else, a part of me is always secretly suspicious," she said.

Alice wrapped her arms around herself and I felt the need to comfort her. The look on her face was so dejected and so ashamed. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder but she only dropped her head lower.

"Jasper told me about Maria, Alice," I began. "Yes, he had feelings for her but I think it was the automatic attachment that vampires instantly have for their sires. Coming into a his new life, Maria was the closest and only relation he had. What they had was a relationship built on desperation and loneliness. Then as he was inserted in the wars, they shared a lust for power and dominance. That wasn't real, Alice. What he has with you is. From what he told me, I know that Jasper is a completely different person from who he was at that time. What he lusted after and yearned for then, is no longer. You have no need to worry about her or any other woman," I told her.

Alice nodded her head and glanced up at me with a shy smile. Her eyes were glassy and I knew that if she had been able to she would have been crying at that moment.

"I know," she nodded. "I'm such a silly girl."

"You're not," I assured her. "We all get a little territorial when it comes to our mates."

"I'm so sorry, Bella," she sighed.

"Forget it, Alice. Let's just start over, okay," I suggested.

She smiled up at me and nodded her head eagerly. She wrapped her tiny arms around me and gave me a tight squeeze.

"Thank you, Bella," she said.

"No problem," I replied hugging her back.

Making up with Alice made me feel really good, lighter for some reason. I guess getting along with her was kind of important to me even if I didn't want to acknowledge it. Edward adored her and I wanted us to be able to at least be civil to one another for his sake. Another part of me wanted us to get along for Jasper as well. I wanted to be his friend without him having to feel like he was consorting with his wife's enemy or something. Talking with Alice made me see that underneath all her bratty behavior she was actually a nice person. I could really see us being close one day, maybe not tomorrow but someday.

Alice headed back to the house, but I stayed in the woods. I wanted to give hunting another shot. My eyes were still flaming red and I just wanted them to go back to gold. I knew that, that would not happen for a long time but I had to put forth a valid effort to get myself to that point again as quickly as possible.

I was not looking forward to taking down the awful taste of animal blood though. So instead of running to track my prey, I casually strolled though the trees. Meandering along aimlessly, more than I was hunting. After a while though, I came a across a very familiar scent that made me stop in my tracks.

Tanya.

She had not been around all day and I sort of missed her. Her presence was so scarce lately and I was sort of worried about her. She never gave any details about where she was all the time and whenever she was with us she seemed to be itching to get away again. I found myself following her scent and before I knew it I was running, hoping just to see her or maybe even spend a little time with my newly elusive sister.

I'd been running for about three minutes when a fierce growl coupled with a nauseating stench assaulted me. I halted and checked my surroundings to see what the hell was causing it. It didn't take me long to spot it. About ten yards away was a small house and approaching it rapidly was the hugest wolf I'd ever seen. The beast was slightly larger than a full grown horse and it's razor sharp teeth were bared. I couldn't believe my eyes. Wolves just did not get that big. I stood frozen in fear as I watched the ferocious animal charge toward the house.

Were there people inside? Was the wolf planning to attack them? I could hear a heart beat and I could still smell Tanya's scent strong in the air and coming from that direction. Was it possible that she was inside that house?

Images of Phil being torn apart filled my head just as Tanya appeared in a back window of the house. Her eyes landed on the beast and fear took over her face as it made it's way toward her. Before I had even made a conscious decision, my body moved into action. An involuntary growl of my own ripped through my chest and the mutant wolf spun around at the sound. It caught sight of me and crouched low preparing to launch itself at me. The fear had left me entirely and was replaced with a blind fury I'd never felt before.

Edward's words replayed in my head. I was stronger now, virtually indestructible. That wolf should be afraid of me! I didn't know what had happened to make this wolf grow to the size it had but I knew that I could take it. It had been heading for my sister who had protected me when I was on the brink of death and now it was my turn to return the favor. I'd be damned if I'd let another wolf rob me of a loved one.

My eyes locked with those of the wolf and simultaneously we sprang.