Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Shadows
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Prompt: Suffer

"They're everywhere," Alice hissed as we stepped off the plane. My eyes followed hers, picking out vampires in the crowd.

"Yes, but some of them are with us," Edward said. Changing my focus I looked where he was looking and recognized the vampire we'd met by the lake a while back. Reaching back into my brain I pulled out his name, Garrett. He was standing next to a glorious blonde who was almost as beautiful as Rosalie. Her bone structure looked Slavic.

"Kate!" Alice cried, rushing forward with her arms open wide. She was met halfway by the smiling vampire who pulled Garrett along with her like an unwilling puppy. People were startled at the sound of the crash they made when they came together in a hug, turning to look, and then smiling at the happy reunion. I also noticed some who were frowning, not happy that we had allies.

"We need to leave here quickly," Edward said, his eyes constantly moving. "I'm glad you have a car."

With a gentle push to my back I was set in motion, almost running to keep up with the vampires' long strides. I'm sure it looked like a bunch of movie stars trying to get through the airport unnoticed, which only served to make people notice us more. I could see fingers pointing in our direction as people whispered to each other.

Not stopping for our luggage, we were quickly loaded into a van. "A mini-van?" Jacob asked, not hiding his disappointment.

"Would you prefer a fifteen-passenger van?" Kate quipped. "At least this one has all-wheel drive and an engine that moves."

"But it's a mini-van," he groaned as he folded himself into the front seat. He was simply too tall to get in the back.

"You'll suffer through, I'm sure," Rosalie said as she jumped into the back.

"What about our luggage?" I asked, looking back to where the carousel was beginning to move as a disembodied voice announced that baggage from our flight could be picked up there.

"We'll have it delivered," Alice said as she squeezed in next to Rosalie. "Hop in back with us, Bella. We're the smallest." It turned out Carlisle had to climb in back with Esme on his lap. Kate sat between him and Rosale. I sat on Edward's lap in the middle seat between Jasper, who held Alice, and Emmett. Marta looked incredibly uncomfortable in the small space left by Jacob's body as he held her, but it was better than sitting with Emmett.

"Maybe the fifteen-passenger van would have been a better idea," Emmett grumbled as Garrett put it into gear.

"They won't try anything on the roads," Alice informed us. "It would draw too much attention."

"Has anything changed?" I asked. It seemed we were surrounded by cars, all the drivers looking at us. "I thought the Volturi were willing to wait until after my graduation. It's not like we attacked Felix." Edward pulled me tighter into his chest as my voice rose, trying to calm me, but this time it didn't work. "What will they do when we reach the house?"

"Shush and let me look," Alice replied, frowning at me before turning to glare at Jacob. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to have us stop so you can phase and run off, would you?"

"Alice," Marta said with a frustrated sigh. "Can't you try to see around him?"

"It's not clear…"

"Then try to picture Aro and his reactions."

"I can run, babe," Jacob offered, already moving to jump from the van. Apparently the fact that it was going seventy miles an hour wasn't something to worry about.

"And get attacked? I don't think so. You aren't leaving me a pregnant widow." His face twisted up, but we knew it was worthless for him to argue with her. The imprinting prevented him from doing something that made her unhappy.

Alice gasped and I felt Edward stiffen beneath me. "They're not coming here."

"Why Washington?" Edward asked. "We're here."

She shook her head. "Everyone…"

"The wives too?" Edward adjusted me on his lap so he could turn to face his sister directly. "How many? When?"

Her face screwed up as if she were eating something sour. "They're amassing now, but will wait until after Bella's graduation. Then…" Another gasp left her mouth as she turned to Jacob. "Your brothers…"

"What about them?" he asked, the chair squealing in protest as he turned to her quickly.

"They want them. That's why they're going to Washington. We have to meet them there."

"I'm calling Sam," he said, moving Marta so he could open his phone.

"Charlie?" I whispered, looking at Alice, desperate for news of my father.

"He'll still be at your graduation, Bella, but, will be gone when we confront the Volturi," she told me, grief twisting her face.

"How long?"

"Two months."

Happy Thursday Lovelies!