DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me…they are all the creation of the wonderful Stephenie Meyer.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Stephen decides to try to make his dreams into reality.

Deadly Dreams – Part 2 of 4

LAST TIME: The study door opened and Alice slipped in. "Edward, we have a new problem. I don't know which of his decisions he's changed…but everything is clearer. I think he plans to do it as early as Monday."

"Alice, I don't understand something," Carlisle said. "If Edward and Bella are in class together, how does this human get Bella alone?"

"Edward isn't with her for some reason," Alice replied. "I can't see what causes him to leave her side. It seems the event that pulls Edward away from Bella hasn't been decided on yet, but the human is so bent on his plans, that it doesn't matter in some strange way."

"Then I will just have to make sure I never leave her side at school," I said.

Alice shook her head. "Edward, you know that might not work. The future changes for every little thing. I don't know why you aren't there, but it must be something pretty big."

I was fighting to keep my temper under control. This whole situation was ridiculous! Was it really so much to ask to have a peaceful life? I took an unnecessary breath to calm myself. This life was the most peaceful I had ever experienced. My anger was clouding my judgment. I needed to relax in order to do the right thing for Bella.

"There must be something we can do, Alice. Tell me what you've come up with. Maybe we can figure it out together," Carlisle instructed.

"I've looked at Emmett threatening the human, but that only gets Emmett arrested. We have no proof the human's ever spoken to Bella, much less threatened her life. I've looked at framing the human for robbery. I've also looked at arson. The thing is, Carlisle, he's reclusive and goes so few places. No one will easily believe he's done something bad because it's technically out of character for him. He's an excellent student and he's never been in trouble at school or with the police," Alice explained.

"How do you know all of that?" I asked her.

She shrugged. "Jasper and I started following him and doing some research on him. He lives alone in an apartment. It's freaking spotless! And he either keeps that sketchbook on him at all times, or he's got one hell of a hiding spot. I couldn't find it and I checked all over that place. The only outcomes that I keep seeing are we move, he dies by our hands, or he dies by Bella's, when she can no longer pretend she's human."

"I refuse to let that weight lie on Bella's heart, Carlisle. Just the knowledge that we killed a human for her sake will give her unnecessary guilt. If she is the one to take his life, she may never get over it."

"Edward, we all have to do things we don't like at one point or another in this existence. Do you really think it's best to keep this from Bella?"

"Alice has seen what the guilt will do to Bella. It's not like with the Volturi. Bella has seen them and heard them. She regards them as monsters that she needs to defend herself and her family from. With this…she'll only see that he's a weak human."

Carlisle sat quietly for a moment, staring at his fingertips. Thoughts of what he would do in my position ran across his mind quickly. "I want you to consider something for me."

I nodded my head for him to continue.

"Consider letting Bella see his plans."

The anger welled up in me and I clenched my hands into fists to control myself. I clenched my jaw, gnashing my teeth together with a loud click. I panicked as the visions of Bella struck by her grief returned to my mind. The study door was flung open, revealing Jasper.

He closed the door and quickly moved next to me, putting his hand on my shoulder. "What's going on, Edward? The pain, panic, and anger coming off of you is worse than before…When we…"

"I know what time you're referring to," I snapped, fighting against his calming influence. "Stop trying to calm me!"

"Edward, stop fighting your brother and let him help you," Carlisle demanded.

I hung my head in surrender, allowing Jasper to calm me down.

"Jasper, the human you have apparently been following with Alice has made some troubling decisions. He may be some sort of psychopath or serial killer, we aren't sure. But he plans to kidnap, torture, and kill Bella," Carlisle told him.

"Well, that won't work. She's a vampire," Jasper said seriously.

"We realize that. The problem is that I can't come up with a choice that changes the outcomes or gives us a new one. Either we move, we get rid of him, or Bella has to kill him," Alice explained.

"And Edward's sudden surge in emotion?" Jasper asked.

"Carlisle wants to show Bella what Alice and I have seen," I replied.

"I have lived through many centuries. The current one we live in is one of the most violent I've seen in a long time. While ridding the world of this man in secret may save Bella from undue guilt now, you are only leaving her open for future incident. I do not want her innocence dampened anymore than you do, Edward. But as her father, I want her to be prepared for the hard choices in life. Let her see his plans and decide for herself how we should handle this," Carlisle explained.

"Showing her his sick plans isn't enough? You want to put his life in her hands as well?" I hissed. "Do you know what that will do to her? Are you trying to drive her insane?"

"Edward," Jasper said, trying again to calm me.

I shrugged away from him. "Carlisle, you have been my father in every way and you know I respect you. But this is madness!"

"No, Edward. This is a hard choice of life. We are immortal and we will come across humans who discover us. Usually, we can just pack up and flee into the night. But there will be times when moving is riskier than staying. Right now, either choice is risky," Carlisle said. "Spend the day considering it and we'll discuss it more tonight. You should be getting to school."

"We can't go, Carlisle," Alice said. "He'll follow us home if any of us go."

"Edward, I'm sorry, but this is too serious. The choices we are left with affect our entire family. I hope you can understand. As head of this family, I'm calling a family meeting right now to inform the others," Carlisle announced, standing up from his chair.

Carlisle had actually used his rank as head of our family…Part of me knew he would only do that if it truly was necessary. But the selfish part of me wanted to find Bella and take her away so she wouldn't have to hear any of this.

"It won't work," Alice said, putting her hand on my shoulder. "She'll know right away that you're keeping something from her. You'll only upset her more."

I nodded my head. The four of us walked into the living room together. I flopped onto the loveseat, tossing my arm across my eyes. I wasn't anywhere near ready for this, but who could be? I had seen into the dark hearts of humans during my rebellion. I knew what they could be capable of. I had hoped Bella would not need to share in that knowledge.

"Edward, it will be okay," Alice assured me, rubbing my arm.

"I need you all to come into the living room," Carlisle announced.

I lifted my head up, preparing for the meeting ahead of us. Esme came walking in from her garden. Rose and Bella came from down the hallway. Emmett ran up from the basement.

Bella gave me a glorious smile before hopping into my lap. I returned her smile as best I could, locking her in a tight embrace. She would always be completely safe in my arms.

"I've called this family meeting to discuss a problem that has arisen." Carlisle had a captive audience with those words.

"Is it the Volturi again?" Bella asked, growing stiff in my arms.

"No, love. They're not coming," I assured her.

"Well, then it can't be that bad. Right?" Bella's smile was so very misplaced.

"I'm afraid this one is actually worse," Carlisle said. "The Volturi were only curious. This person means one of us great harm."

"Don't be cryptic, Carlisle!" Esme chided. "What's going on?"

"One of Bella's classmates has become obsessed with her. The young man is mentally unstable. He's made certain decisions that are forcing our hand," Carlisle explained.

"What classmate? What are you talking about?" Bella asked, tensing in my arms once again.

Alice sat on the arm of the loveseat and stroked my wife's hair. "Bella, do you remember mentioning Stephen to Rose and me?"

"Oh, yeah!" Bella chuckled. "Vile Mike the Second."

"Bella, I'm afraid it's much more serious than that," Carlisle said. "He's suffering from some sort of psychotic break. He wants to kidnap you so that he can kill you."

"Where did you ever get a crazy idea like that?" Bella cried.

"I saw him planning the whole thing, Bella," Alice replied. "He has a book with sketches and notes. He wants to kill you and keep your wedding ring as a souvenir."

"Why?" Bella asked, tilting her head to the side.

"We don't know, love," I said, pulling her further against me. "Alice and I think he may have done this to human girls before. And for whatever reason, he's become infatuated with you."

"So you're basically telling me that I go to college and I attract a serial killer?" Bella yelled.

"Jasper," I said softly.

My brother nodded his head and washed the room with calm.

"Alice. Edward. Show her," Carlisle instructed.

I sighed heavily as I took Bella's hand in mine. Alice took hold of her other hand.

"Bella, open your mind so I can show you what Alice has seen," I whispered.

She gave me a confused look, but nodded her head. When her hand started to grip mine harder, I knew she was sharing the vision with Alice and me. Bella suddenly yanked her hands away from us. She put her face against my shirt and sobbed hard, her entire body shaking.

'Edward.'

I shook my head at my brother. I didn't want him to give Bella false calm. She needed to deal with this on her own if she was going to decide the fate of this human. I was angry all over again that Carlisle wanted this to be her choice. But I also knew my father loved Bella dearly and he would never do this unless he was sure it was necessary.

I rested my head on hers, sobbing right along with the hurt angel in my arms. This was not what I had wanted for her. I'd promised to make everyday a happy one for her. She shouldn't have to be sad in this way.