I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.

CH. 15 (BPOV)

I couldn't sleep, I was tossing and turning in bed. It had been little over twenty-four hours since Jasper told us that Alec was his way back to Phoenix. Jasper got a call after supper and returned to the table with a grave expression. Alec figured out that not only that I was gone, but the security cameras had been messed with courteously of Irina, who was a double agent. She had been working for Alec the whole time. Agent Tanya Denali was dead and Agent Kate Garrett was in the hospital in critical condition not expected to make it. We lost all track of Alec and had no idea of his whereabouts. We could only assume he was headed our way.

Jasper and Edward tossed around the idea of contacting Emmett. But were hesitant to do so. They didn't want to give away his position now that the cat was out of the bag. They assumed he didn't contact us because he wasn't able to. I didn't want to think about the other reason why he didn't.

I finally slipped out of bed, and wandered downstairs to Alice's room. As I approached it was obvious that she and Jasper was still solidifying their reunion by making up for lost time.

I sighed and headed back up the stairs. I paused by Edward's door, debating whether or not to bother him. I knocked on his door.

"Come in."

I poked my head around the door.

"I didn't wake you, did I?" I asked shyly.

"No. At least I'm pretty I'm awake this time." He sat up in bed.

"What do you mean this time?" I stepped around the door. It looked like he pinched himself.

"Never mind me. Just a vivid dream I had the other night. What's wrong?" he asked.

"I can't sleep. He's out there. I know it. He is coming for us, I just know it. We should move now. Some place he won't look," I answered.

"Come here, angel." He patted the seat next to him. I moved slowly and sat gingerly next to him. He reached slowly and took my hand in his.

"Everything will be okay. We could run, but we will be running forever or we can take him out now," Edward answered.

"Are you forgetting about his family? They will just come after us next," I pleaded.

"Then we will do anything we have to get you and Masen into witness protection," he explained.

"But what about the rest of you?" This idea didn't seem thought through to me.

"We are hoping that Jasper and Alice will be under their radar. If not, Jasper has a back-up plan." He left out himself.

"And you? You will be with Masen and me…right?" I chewed on my lip and started to pull away from him.

He held on to my hand. "Bella, I'm not sure if I'll be able to come with you. Especially if we aren't married."

I yanked my hand away. "You promised to stay. Why are you talking about leaving?" I accused standing up.

"I may not have a choice. I will keep the two of you safe. If that means away from me then I will do it." He looked frustrated.

"You're giving up once again." I started to walk away so he wouldn't see my tears. He grabbed my arm and stopped me.

"I'm not giving up. Dam it, Bella. I'm trying to protect you." He begged trying to turn me around but I resisted him.

"Did you think of what that would do to Masen? Only to have you a couple of days before you leave again? It will break his heart. He can't lose you like that. I can't lose you like that again," I admitted with a small sob.

"Angel, look at me, please," he pleaded. I turned to face him. He looked completely torn up himself. He brushed the tears from my eyes. "I don't want to lose either of you. I'm going to do everything I can to stay with the both of you. I am going to fight for the both of you. I wouldn't be leaving the two of you because I want to, but because it may be the only way to ensure both of your safeties. Please, understand that. I love the both you too much to lose you or to risk your lives. When the threat is gone, I will find the two of you again. Please, don't look at this as I'm giving up. I don't know what else to do." he pleaded honestly.

"We could leave. Now. We can leave and hide where he would never look. Buy a remote island somewhere and live on that," I suggested on a whim.

"Is that really the life you want for Masen?" Edward looked perplexed.

"If it means that you stay with us. Yes. I know I've kept you at arm's length, but it's only because I was afraid I was going to lose you again, so I was protecting myself. But it hasn't worked, because I can't hide that I still love you so much, despite everything that has happened." My admission rushed out before I could think twice about it.

His eyes lit up slightly and he leaned down and kissed me lightly on the lips. My lips tingled with warmth and desire, and I started to kiss him back. I had missed his touch and my body craved to be with his. I had always felt protected in his embraced, and I just wanted to curl up in his arms and not leave.

The kiss remained gentle and loving. He didn't rush it but he seemed to savor it, like I was. My hands rested on his broad shoulders as his arms slipped around my waist. When he pulled back, he pecked my lips before I rested my head against his chest. He rested his head on top of mine.

"I'm sorry it took so long for me to tell you," I whispered.

"I would wait forever for you, love." He kissed the top of my head.

The snow was lightly falling on Christmas morning. I was feeling miserable. My mother cancelled on me last minute about coming to see her for Christmas. We were already in the car driving to the airport for my flight when she called and said she was going to the Bahama's instead. Charlie had to work, since he thought I wasn't going to be there, he gave some other guys the time off. On top of it all, Edward and I had our first fight, two days ago when we exchanged gifts.

We had discussed a price limit, so I was a little shocked when I opened what looked like a very expensive necklace. I felt horrible that I only had a DVD of a movie that he had enjoyed. We ended up arguing about it, and he left in a huff. Not how I wanted to remember our first Christmas.

I debated whether to call but decided I wanted to apologize in person. Taking a deep breath I left the house, and got into my old truck and headed for his house. Hopefully, I wasn't too late. About a mile from his house the truck broke down so I had to walk the rest of the way, which was more like two miles with how long their driveway was.

With my teeth chattering I walked up the front steps and rang the doorbell. After a moment, Esme opened the door. She looked at me in surprise and then behind me.

"Dear girl, get inside before you freeze. Where is your truck?" she asked taking off her cardigan and draping over my shoulders.

"It broke down a few miles down the road. I walked the rest of the way," I answered pulling the sweater closer around me.

"Edward didn't tell us you were coming. You're welcome anytime, sweetheart, I just thought you would be at your mother's." She looked concerned.

"I was supposed to go, but she cancelled last minute. Edward didn't know. I'm sorry for intruding, but can I speak with him?" I asked.

"Of course, and you're not intruding. I hope you stay for dinner, I will have more than plenty. Edward's in the living room. I'm going to make you some hot coca to warm you up. You look frozen thru."

"Thank you, Esme" I blushed before heading towards the living room.

I paused in the doorway when I spotted Edward and his father playing a game of chess.

"Carlisle, can you help me in the kitchen?" Esme yelled from the other room.

"Coming, dear." He stood without taking his eyes off the board at first. He finally glanced my way and smiled.

"Merry Christmas, Bella. I didn't know you were joining us today." He walked towards me.

Edward's head shot up in surprise. He started to smile, but it dropped quickly.

"Merry Christmas, I didn't know myself." I gave him a smile back.

"Well, we're glad to have you." He continued on to the kitchen.

"Hi." I smiled sheepishly; I walked over and stood next to him on the couch.

"Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you were going to your mom's," he answered sounding reserved.

"She decided to go to the Bahamas instead." I shrugged and he scowled shaking his head. "Besides, I rather spend Christmas with you." I admitted, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "Are you still mad at me?" I asked, biting my lip.

"No," he answered. "In fact, I owe you an apology." He patted the seat next to him. I sat down next to him, but turned to face him.

"You don't owe me an apology. I owe you one. I overreacted and acted like a toddler. You gave me a beautiful gift, and I shouldn't have acted like that," I apologized.

"But I did change the rules. We had an agreement and I broke it. I understand why you got upset. I just spotted the necklace and I just wanted you to have it." He frowned and reached for my hand.

"It was beautiful. I should've thanked you rather than made you feel bad about it. I just was feeling guilty I couldn't do more for you," I admitted.

"I'm sorry I made you feel that way," he apologized. "Next time we make an agreement, I will hold to it. I'll accept your apology, if you accept mine?" I nodded in agreement and he leaned over to kiss me chastely.
He pulled away and grabbed a blanket from behind him. "Damn, baby, you're freezing. What did you do, walk, here?" He wrapped it around me and pulled me on to his lap cuddling me against his warm body.

"Only the last two miles or so, the truck broke down." I snuggled deeper into his arms.

"I guess I need to warm you up then." He kissed me.

I pulled away when he tried to deepen it.

"Your parents are just in the other room." I reminded him with a smile before we got carried away.

"Right," he sighed, but looked very happy. "You know what? This is even a better Christmas present, spending Christmas with you." He kissed my nose.

"Are you sure about this, love. I don't want to rush you into anything you're not ready for." He pulled me back to the bed and sat then pulled me on to his lap.

"I was afraid to rush, too, but, the feeling of losing you again is too much to bear. I can't handle that either." I wrung my hands until he covered them with his own.

"Then we will go as slow as you need. I think you're already taking steps in the right direction with wanting to see someone for help. I will support you however I can. If you are agreeable maybe I can sit on some sessions or we find some for couples or even family sessions, whatever the both of you need." He nuzzled then kissed my cheek.

"You're really willing to work with me on this? There are days I'm just about ready to give up," I admitted.

"Then I won't let you. I get that you need to stand on your own two feet, but there is nothing wrong with me supporting you to do so. I'm not that scared 18yr old boy who bailed when he started to panic." He looked regretful.

"I know that you're not." I kissed him gently. We slowly deepened the kiss, but didn't take it any further.

Edward's door flew open making me jump, and Edward's arms tightened around my waist. Jasper flew into the room with a worried look. He glanced at me quickly, but made no comment about what we were doing, he turned to Edward.

"The cameras just picked up two dark cars entering the driveway," he announced. "I've already called Jacob, but we've got to move. Alice is already heading for the panic room."

My heart started thundering as panic set in. He found us.

"Love, you need to take a deep breath and remain calm," Edward spoke to me. "We need to get you and Masen to the panic room, now." His calm voice helped me stay calm.

"Right." I hurried through the bathroom and scooped up a sleeping Masen with his stuffed frog and Grover. I didn't want to wake him if I could help it. The panic room was sound proof, so I hoped he will sleep through it all. Edward met me in the hall. I was surprised to see a bullet proof vest but not to see the gun in his hand.

"Follow me." We moved quietly, but quickly down the steps. When we reached the living room he paused. He kissed the top of Masen's head and then me quickly. "Go, I'll come for you when it is safe."

"Edward, be careful, I love you," I whispered, a tear streamed down my cheek.

"I love you, too, angel. Now go, please," he ordered.
I hurried away, grateful for once I wasn't clumsy. I hurried down the steps and toward the back where Alice stood in the doorway of the panic room. When I reached her I realized I forgot something in my haste. "Take Masen and close the door." I handed her Masen quickly.

"What?! Bella, where are you going? Get in here." Alice looked worried. She was small but she still managed to hold Masen without too much trouble.

"I need to grab his nebulizer. It's only in the kitchen where I left it. If he wakes up and has panic attack he is going to need it. I'll be right back." I ran across the room.

I reached the kitchen and grabbed it off the counter. I turned and found my way back blocked.

"Isabella, I found you." Alec stood in the doorway. He looked pale and unshaven and angrier than I have ever seen him. He had a gun in his right hand. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked crazed. I didn't answer him as I backed away.

"What? Nothing to say? Where's my son!" he hollered.

"He's not yours," I spoke up.

"I see that you think you can talk back to me. Did you forget what happens when you talk back to me?" I heard the click of the gun. "Take me to my son."

"He isn't yours. Edward is his father." I held my ground. I looked around for something to defend myself with.

"Is that the name of the guy I just killed? I thought his name was what was it…Austin?" Alec goaded.

"You're lying." My heart thudded unevenly. He couldn't possibly have killed Edward. But then where was he?

"Seems to me that you're the liar." Alec spotted the nebulizer in my hands and frowned momentarily. "Is he having an attack? What are you waiting for?"

"He isn't. I was grabbing it just in case?" His worry surprised me.
"Why couldn't you just leave things as they were? This Edward abandoned you pregnant. I gave you a home. You and Masen could have had anything you wanted. I just needed you to be my wife and for him to be my son. That was all I needed, but that wasn't good enough for you. You had to keep trying to contact that loser, no matter how many times I had letters sent back to you. Do you think I wanted to ever hit you? You gave me no choice. Why couldn't you just obey me like my whore of a sister and pathetic mother did to my horrible excuse for a father?" he seethed, the gun raised and he pointed it towards me. "You are coming with me. Get Masen!" he screamed.

"No! You're never going near him again." I refused as I took a step back and hit the counter.

"Either you go get him or I kill you!" He shouted again. "But, first you will watch me kill him."

"You won't touch him. I thought you needed him for your little plan, isn't that why you targeted Bella here?" A voice spoke up from the porch door. Emmett stood there with arms across his chest glaring at Alec. He looked as though he had been through the worse end of a fight.

"How did you get free? Royce was supposed to be watching you." Alec flushed a little worried.

"Pretty boy? He may be rich and all, but he can't fight for shit. He couldn't even figure out how to turn the safety off on his gun either. He's pathetic. Getting away from him was a piece of cake. The only reason why you two got the jump on me was because you drugged me. Well, it wore off. Now you only succeeded in pissing me off even more." Emmett took a step forward, inching closer towards me.

"Come any closer, and I will shoot her. No one knows but me and Royce what she looks like. She can be replaced. Perhaps we will use Royce's wife. She's probably too fried from all the drugs he gives her to realize she never had a kid of her own," Alec taunted. Emmett's jawed tightened, and he took a step forward. "I swear, I'll shot her!" He shrieked. He looked around wildly and tugged at his hair.

"Where's Royce!" he demanded, the gun was shaking in his hand. Alec was clearly losing it.

"Put the gun down, and I'll tell you," Emmett answered back. Emmett was almost in front of me now.

"Tell me!"

What happened next, happened in slow motion. Alec squeezed the trigger and I closed my eyes and screamed. I was hit from the side and was knocked down by something heavy. I opened my eyes, and found Emmett half on top of me. There was blood seeping out of the back of his shirt. He had jumped in front of the bullet to protect me.

"Oh my god, Emmett." I shook his shoulder but he was out cold. I spotted a gun in his back waistband, and slowly slid it out.

Alec had his head in his hands, and he was muttering to himself. He wasn't paying attention to me. I took off the safety and raised the gun.

"Put the gun down, Alec. It's over," I spoke up.

He glanced and looked at the gun and started laughing manically.

"You. You're going to try and shoot me? You are too weak, you don't have it in you." He raised his gun again, but I beat him to it. I squeezed the trigger. My head hit the counter behind me, but I managed to shoot Alec in the shoulder and he dropped his gun as he screamed in pain clutching his arm.

"Police! Drop your weapons and freeze!" I heard someone yell, but I couldn't let go of the gun. Alec dropped on to his knees as the room was swarmed by more officers.

"Bells," someone knelt beside me. "Let go of the gun, honey. It's over. He can't hurt you anymore. Give me the gun before you do something you'll regret." Jacob begged me. With a shaky hand I handed it over.

A/N:

I know, I know I'll update as soon as I can. Hopefully hubs will have a free moment to edit over the weekend so I can update Monday. No promises though, we have a lot going on this weekend.

So they reconciled, but then Alec had to go and interrupt it. Don't be too hard on her for her freak out. She has been through a lot, it's only human for her to have doubts.

I'm not sure how you are feeling about Emmett now. The guy did just save her life.

Questions will be answered soon.

Thank You For All Reviews.

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Preview:

"Go on. She won't stop you." He encouraged me. "I'm going to check on Emmett and get us something from the cafeteria. Would you like anything?" I shook my head. He walked down the hall and disappeared around a corner.

I tentatively took a step back through the door. Esme glanced up but didn't say anything. Her eyes looked sad and exhausted. She watched as I slowly made my way to the bed on the opposite her. I sat on the edge of the seat and took Edward's hand in mine.

We sat in silence for a while until she finally spoke.