Chapter five, for you! If anyone is curious, it took me a whole week to get past the writers block I had. That chapter is finally finished so now I feel ready enough to post this one. One more thing: It's a long chapter!

Swimming wasn't so bad. It wasn't like we got tired or needed to climb up from underwater for air.

As we swam through the familiar sea, I remembered why it was so familiar. When I was a newborn, Felix took me out here and got me to swim the whole thing. He had me memorize practically every inch of it. I knew it changed often, as nature does, but there were key things that always stayed the same. It wasn't until after I knew the pool of water like the back of my hand that I found out everyone else on the guard knew it just as well.

We reached land in just under a couple of hours and docked ourselves at a deserted cliff. Soaking wet, we sat beside each other.

"It'll still take us a good amount of time to get back to Volterra…I'm not really sure what to do." I said. I'd never been stuck in a situation like this before. "I can't even call. My stupid phone won't work!" I tossed my phone into the water in front of me. "This has never happened before… oh my god. Edward what if they think we're dead?!"

Suddenly my face was in Edward's hands. "Calm down, love. Just breathe."

I nodded and swallowed thickly.

"It's alright, okay? We'll just use my phone."

"But the water-"

"Isn't a big deal because my phone has a water-proof battery," he finished.

I smiled. "That's oddly convenient."

"I'm nothing if not thorough." He pulled a wet phone out of his pocket and handed to me.

I immediately flipped it open and dialed the number as Edward arm wound around my waist.

I started to dial Felix's number and then realized I would get no answer. So I had to hang up and dial a different number.

"Hello?" My dad's monotone voice answered, and I knew he thought we were in trouble.

"It's me, Dad. Edward and I are safe."

"Bella! We were so worried! Where are you? Should I get Demetri to come and get you?"

"That's hardly necessary, Dad. We're somewhere on the coast of Syracuse. It should be a few hours before we make it back. I never thought knowing the sea like the back of my hand would ever come in handy."

I saw Edward's eyebrow lift at my statement and I shrugged at him.

"I'm glad you're safe, but… how did it happen?" he asked.

"I honestly have no idea, Dad. We were in the plane, and everything was fine and all of a sudden it lurched forward – like really bad turbulence. The engines failed and then the plane was on fire. Edward and I had to jump."

It was silent on the other end for a bit too long for my liking and I could hear anything going on.

"Dad?"

"Sorry, Bella. I just want you to remember to never ignore a coincidence. Be careful, I'll see you soon."

Then the line went dead.

I handed Edward his phone back. He would've heard the other line and I knew he wasn't too sure of what my dad had told me. But I was pretty positive that we should get home sooner rather than later.

Edward took my hand in his and we started back to Volterra. The sky stayed unusually cloudy as we wound through Italy, but I was grateful for it.

"Edward?" I asked after we were about half-way to Volterra.

"Yes, love?" He squeezed my hand, probably being able to tell how anxious I was to get home now.

"What do you think he meant… about not ignoring coincidences?" I asked.

I had been trying to think of something, but my mind couldn't find the answer.

"I think… maybe- I don't know..."

He kept hesitating, and I had to wonder if maybe he had figured this out an hour ago. "Just tell me Edward."

"What if someone is trying to pick us off?"

I almost stopped, but then I remembered where we were going and quickened my pace. If Edward was right I wanted to be home now.

A thousand possibilities finally took residence in my mind, and Edward's suggestion was the worst of them. What scared me the most was that the of someone picking us off was entirely possible. My legs pushed me even faster. I wasn't losing anymore of my family, and especially not Edward. I wouldn't live with myself is anything happened-

"Bella!" Edward called out my name. And by the way he said it, it wasn't the first time.

My head snapped to look at him.

"Calm down. I may not be right, let's just get back and I'll talk to Aro."

I nodded.

"Where'd Joshua go?" He asked suddenly.

Joshua. He was supposed to watch out for us, make sure something like this didn't happen.

"I don't know." My voice came out strangled, and I paused to calm myself down. "He either helped or he's dead or he got distracted - in which case he's a dead man anyways. If he's not back soon after we are, Demetri will have to go out to find him."

I immediately didn't like my own idea of any of us being out of the castle.

I heard Edward's phone buzz in his pocket again.

His paced slowed as I wouldn't let go of his hand to let him answer and he had to use his other hand.

"Alice," he muttered before hitting a button and holding it to his ear. "Hello?"

Edward Cullen I can't believe you didn't answer your phone! You do realize both you and Bella disappeared for at least five minutes! Five minutes, Edward! Bella saved you guys back there!

Listening to Alice talk on the other side made me grateful I could think quickly.

"Alice, I'm sorry. Look-"

She cut him off, Esme wants us all to fly up, she already got us a week off of school. We're all really worried. Carlisle says we could be there by tonight. Edward looked over to me and I shook my head.

No one was getting in or out of that castle if I could help it.

"No! You can't come over here, okay? You all need to stay in Forks. It's not good over here right now. Just stay there."

Look, Edward, we've heard a couple things recently and we just want to check on you.

Edward looked over to me, his eyes begging for a way out of it. He and I both knew that it was not a good time for his family to be visiting.

I held out my hand and took the phone.

"Alice, it's Bella."

"Bella!" Alice's voice sang from the other end. "We miss you so much, please we just want to come up for a couple days and then we'll be out of your hair… or you and Edward could just come home…" The panic in her voice shocked me.

"I'm begging you to stay where you are. Stay in Forks, keep a low profile if you can. Don't worry either, alright? We're handling it."

Then I heard a different voice, Emmett's. "C'mon! I miss my little sis!"

"Emmett!" Alice hissed along with other voices.

"Am I on speaker?" I asked.

Then the phone was taken from me and Edward had it against his ear again.

"Bella said we're handling it, I'll call you soon." Then he hung up.

I looked ahead to find that we were a little closer to Volterra then we thought. I could see the castle clearly and wondered what kind of state the inside was at the moment.

Edward and I ran a little faster once seeing it so close.

Once inside the city's walls, we walked at a human pace; knowing we were finally safe.

"Are you alright?" I asked him with a low voice.

He nodded. "I just want them to stay home…" I could tell he wanted to say more, but he kept quiet.

"You don't want your family to see you wearing one of these?" I asked gesturing down at the black cloak still around my shoulders.

He gave me a small smile, and I knew I was right. As much as Edward wanted to be here, we both didn't know how his family was going to react yet.

"…Supposing Alice hasn't already seen it." Edward spoke up, seeming to finish my thought.

We stepped into an alley and I led him down until it was pitch black and we slid down the grate. Edward started to continue down the hall but I stopped him.

"Hey." I smiled up at him and smoothed his face with my thumbs. His eyes closed as I whispered soothingly. "It'll be fine, okay?"

He nodded lightly, keeping his eyes closed.

"We'll figure it out and it'll all be fine," I told him.

His eyes opened then and a small smile came out. "Aren't we always fine?"

I gave him a chaste kiss and we continued down dark hallways and through elevators until we reached the throne room.

Everyone was on edge as they turned to see who entered the door, and then relaxed when they knew it was only Edward and I. I was happy to see Heidi safe in the corner by Demetri and everyone looked like they had fed so they could go a couple of weeks now.

"Dad, I think you should listen to Edward for a minute," was the first thing I said. I wanted everyone to know how possible his theory was… how exact it sounded. "No," I corrected myself. "Everyone needs to hear this."

Edward's presence in the room suddenly changed. It felt like he owned the room.

"I think maybe… someone is trying to pick us off. And as far as I know, that's never happened before."

"It hasn't," my dad chimed in.

"So what is this, a… war?" Heidi asked.

"Not that we couldn't handle a war," Jane said.

"I don't think that we should jump into using such big words yet, we don't know anything yet," I defended. A war is not what I wanted.

"But we have to protect ourselves!"

"We can't do anything so hasty."

Everyone started talking at once.

"Excuse me!" My dad shouted; silencing us all. "No one knows exactly what's going on or where things are happening and we will take no action until someone takes action against us. Our laws are still intact and I don't think a war would protect ourselves from humans… or protect them from us. Nothing happens until I say so. And what I say now is that no one is leaving this castle unless something happens in these city's walls."

"Dad, exposure-"

"Hardly happens and if people know what's good for them, they won't try anything," he interrupted. "Edward, is it possible your family could do us a favour?"

"We can't ask them to fly up here." I confirmed before he could suggest anything.

He continued like he didn't hear me. "Maybe they could get out to friends that we're increasing security around here? To make sure that people don't do anything too dangerous while I'm trapping you all here."

"What a good way to put it," I muttered under my breath, since no one else could get away with it.

"My family is not persuasive people but I'll honestly try," he… laughed?

Then my dad laughed. Okay what is up with this? "I trust that you'll try."

"Hey, Dad?" I asked, trying to get some normal behavior going on. "Where's Joshua?"

His eyes darkened as he realized what I had earlier.

"I'm aware he'll be here soon. I suppose Edward could take care of him."

I tried not to wince, but it went unnoticed as everyone realized that it was about to be official. I thought… or hoped that Edward would have more time to think it out. I looked over to him to try and find some peace for my mind but he didn't even look nervous about it.

Edward's eyes went from amber to fire and I lifted my shield all together in desperation. Please tell me what you're thinking.

His eyes darted to mine as the room's atmosphere fell casual. He whispered low so now one would hear, "If someone is around to protect you, they need to do their job. If he had anything to do with what went on today, I'm surprised he has the guts to show up. I'm not letting you lose one more person in this room."

My shield snapped back over. It wasn't used to being compeltely off.

I'd never really seen Edward act this way. But I liked it. I always had someone protecting me; but Edward protected me because I was his. Just like how I protected him because he was mine.

"I'm going to tell you until you get it; I want to be here."

Just then, we heard a set of elevator doors open and Dad looked at Demetri and Alec. They nodded and left the room.

I wasn't sure if it would be Joshua, but Edward would've said if it wasn't him. But then I heard his voice struggling against Alec. He would die whether he took part in setting our plane on fire or not, but I needed the information… we all needed the information to keep ourselves safe.

The doors burst open and Joshua was being dragged in. He was limp, but he kept shouting.

"Give me my sight back! I didn't do anything! Where are you taking me?!"

They threw him to the middle of the room and we all took form in front of him as Alec him back his senses.

When he could see again, he slowly got up off the floor. He looked around the room but when his eyes landed on Edward and I he looked like he had seen a ghost.

My dad and Edward were having a silent conversation and when I saw Edward nod, Aro held out his hand towards Joshua.

When he let go, Dad finally spoke out loud. "So now that we know everything about each other, tell me one thing… did you have anything do with setting that plane on fire?"

He swallowed. "I- I did."

I almost charged at him right then, but Edward held me back.

"What about Felix?" I got out.

"Yes."

Edward's grip on me tightened.

"Who told you to do this?" Demetri asked. It was the one thing we all wanted to know.

Edward and my Dad exchanged a look before Joshua said, "James is a good liar."

Then Edward was gone from my side and Joshua's head was rolling on the floor.

A/N - *hides behind computer* Thoughts? Likes? Dislikes? Concerns? Comments? Predictions? Review!