A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed and alerted my story, and those who continue to read. You all are the best! For you Edward fans, things are not going to get any better, so don't get your hopes up! As I said before, I have a plan for this story and I know how it's going to end. So without any further introduction, here's chapter 20. Don't forget to leave some love!

Oh, and because I haven't stated it in a while, here's the disclaimer: I own nothing, I'm just messin with SM's characters.

xo

-A

-Edward

I ran into the forest behind the house and up the mountainside. I had to escape the tormenting thoughts of Emmett and Bella. He stole her from me. My Bella. She was mine and he took her. And now she was blinded by what she thought was love and that made her turn me away. That made her run to his arms and turn me away. What did she see in him? He was all muscle and no brain! He couldn't provide her with the intellectual stimulation she so desperately needed! No, not needed, craved. Bella didn't want the good looks! She wanted the intelligence! She wanted some one she could converse with! And yet, there she was. Running off with the brawn instead of the brain. It just wasn't right.

But I'd show her. I'd show her I was the one she wanted, and I had the perfect plan to make it happen. It would have been beautiful. I was just going to rough up Charlie a little bit, nothing too serious, then manipulate him into believing it was Emmett that had attacked him. And when he walked in the house tattered and torn, she would be in such dismay that she would return to me. She would shut Emmett out and be all mine, as she should be. It should have been flawless. But no. Of course not. Of course Emmett was with her, and of course Alice saw it coming. Goddamn Alice and her visions! The two of them ruined everything and my plan fell through! Things went too far, and in my rage at being found out I ended up doing exactly the opposite of what I had set out to accomplish. She was supposed to turn to me to ease the pain and never know that I had actually caused it. But she saw everything, and as a result banished me from her life. She never wanted to see me again, and would seek comfort in the arms of another man. My Bella would seek solace with Emmett and would never forgive me. My Bella was his. Forever.

Rational thought overcame me and I slowed to a walk. She wasn't my Bella. Further pondering made me realize: she never was. She was always Emmett's Bella. Not mine. I don't know why I didn't sense it right from the start. I should have felt the bond between them from that fateful moment when she discovered our secret. The way he had tried to shield her from seeing Alice and I after the hunt, he was over-protective when he didn't need to be. And the way he held her in his arms when she fainted. He was so tender with the way he cradled her; like in his arms was where she was supposed to be. And it was. She belonged with him, and I had refused to believe it. She was his all along. I didn't doubt that she had loved me at some point, but not any more, and not in the same way she loved him. Ours was a fleeting love, where theirs was transcendent. It was timeless, and nothing we might have had could compete with that.

I paused at a cliff to watch the black night sky become a dull gray as the sun rose behind the rain clouds. The majesty of the morning meant nothing to me, and I turned and headed back down the mountain. I trudged through the underbrush, not even acknowledging the forest creatures skittering away from me. I didn't care any more. Thirst, hunger, staying alive, none of that mattered now. Bella was out of my life, and it was my fault. I was so wrapped up in my jealousy that I deliberately hurt her, and now she was gone. What reason did I have to exist?

I broke through the trees and stepped into the clearing behind the mansion. I knew now what I had to do.

-Alice-

I adjusted the blanket around Charlie and mopped the beads of sweat off his brow. He took a labored breath, grunted, and shifted uncomfortably. The only thing the Oxycodone was doing at this point was keeping him knocked out so he wouldn't have to feel anything. There was only so much Carlisle could do. Charlie was human, so he would have to heal like one, pain and all.

"I know you don't like it Alice, but there's nothing you can do," Carlisle had said.

"I know, I just wish it didn't hurt so much," I had frowned. "I don't like seeing him like this. Edward is such an ass. I swear it, when I see him again, I'm -"

"Don't dwell on it," Carlisle admonished. "It's not going to help Charlie. The best you can do for him right now is make him comfortable."

He was lucky Edward hadn't killed him. Hell, Edward was lucky he hadn't killed him, because I would have ripped his arms from his body. Charlie was the closest thing I had ever had to a father, and I was going to be goddamned if anyone was going to take him away from me. Least of all a petty, jealous little teenager like Edward. If he had just let Bella make her own decisions and be with Emmett, none of this would have ever happened.

Bella…

I smiled to myself. My best friend whom I loved like a sister. True, I hadn't agreed with her choice at first, but once I saw how happy she was with him, it was hard to deny her. After all she had been through with the loss of her brother, and then the cold shoulder from the man who claimed to love her, she deserved a shot at real happiness. And every time I saw them together, it was blatantly obvious. She belonged with Emmett. He was her protector, her lover, and her soul mate. In shielding his thoughts from Edward, he had also effectively cut me off from seeing anything about his future. Had he been open about it, I would have seen it. Bella was the queen of repression, so it came as no surprise that I hadn't seen it coming from her. I stopped to listen for them, and scowled when I heard Emmett step in to her room.

"I can always help you with that shower, you know," He cooed seductively. I heard Bella's heart start to race and she swallowed hard.

"The hell you can, Emmett Cullen!" I shrieked before she could respond. "Keep your hands to yourself or I will tear them off!"

I heard her sigh in relief and take a step back. Em grumbled in defeat.

"Cock Blocker," he muttered.

"I heard that!" I shouted with a laugh. Bella giggled in return and scuttled out of her room and into the shower. Emmett shuffled around for a minute, getting dressed, then settled down on Bella's bed.

"I wasn't going to touch her," he said. "It's just fun getting her all worked up. She's beautiful when she blushes."

"That's very sweet," I responded. "But is now the right time to get her going?"

"That selfish son of a bitch tried to kill her father," his voice became hard. "And in her fragile state something like this is liable to push her right over the edge. I will do whatever it takes to keep her here. I've waited an eternity for her, Alice, and I won't lose her now. Not because of him."

"I've never seen you like this," I absently stroked Charlie's hair.

"Like what?" he asked

"So fiercely protective. It's admirable."

"I love her," he answered without hesitation.

"I know," I smiled, reflecting on my own feelings for Jasper. "Look after her, Em. Shelter her, protect her, and cherish her. You're all she has."

"You know I will."

The water shut off, signaling the end of Bella's shower. I heard her towel off and dress and practically rush back to her room. I turned my attention back to Charlie to give them some privacy, but not before I heard their final exchange.

"Baby, I will never force you to do anything. If you want more, then by all means I'm ready. But if all you want is for me to hold you, then I'll hold you forever." Emmett told her.

"I'd like that," she whispered. There was a moment of silence as her breathing slowed and her heart beat steadied.

"I'll never let you go." I heard him tell her after she had drifted off.

There was no doubt in my mind beyond that point. They really were made for each other. She was his perfect match, and he was hers. How she had ended up with Edward first was beyond me, but it didn't matter now. None of it did. She was right where she belonged. Now and always. I closed my eyes to see if I could get a glimpse of their future, but was assaulted by a vision that nearly knocked me off the couch.

Billows of purple and black smoke filling the air. The overpowering smell of gasoline. Tongues of yellow and orange flame leaping out of the charred skeleton of what used to be a…

"Volvo! Shit, no, Edward! This is not the way!" I cried out loud and leapt over Charlie. I bounded up the stairs and burst through the bedroom door. Emmett sat bolt upright, clutching a very startled Bella to his chest.

"Jesus, Alice!" He shouted. "Can you knock?"

"No time!" I answered and began rummaging through Bella's bureau. I threw a shirt and a pair of jeans at her. "Get dressed! You guys have to go! Now!"

"What is it?" She looked up at Emmett in alarm. "What's going on?"

He smoothed her hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. She relaxed slightly in his embrace.

"Do as she says," he answered, then met my eyes. "What's the rush, Alice? Where are we going?"

"You have to get back to the house!" I sputtered. "If you leave now, you can get there in time to stop him! Go!"

"Back to the house?" Bella was still lost. She pulled her shirt over her head. "To stop who?"

"Edward!"

She glared at me and remained silent.

"What are we stopping?" Emmett asked, placing a soothing hand on her now quivering shoulders.

"He's going to kill himself, Em!" my voice shook. "He doesn't want to live without Bella, so he's going to douse himself in gasoline and set himself on fire!"

"The hell he is!" Bella growled. Emmett looked down at her, astonished.

"Babe?" he sounded crushed.

"I'm not going back to him," she laid a reassuring hand on his cheek. "But I'll be damned if he's going to sacrifice himself for me. This is just another one of his bullshit stunts for attention. Let's go before he makes a complete ass out himself."

I wished she was right; that it was all a stunt. Emmett swung her onto his back and they leapt out the window and into the night. I walked at a human pace back down the stairs and prayed that they would make it on time.