Hello, everyone! I know it's been a while, but I do still have a goal set for finishing this story by the end of spring this year. This chapter brings us further along my intended outline, and hopefully I can push them out faster now that NaNoWriMo, the holidays, and some work stress are behind me.

Some readers have requested a short synopsis of the story so far, since it takes me a while to get chapters out for this one, so here goes.

Bella was turned into a vampire before she ever reached Forks and spent her newborn year in Volterra. The Volturi hoped to add her to their arsenal of gifted vamps, but after almost a year of training she didn't figure out how to shield others. At the prompting of her mentor, Renata, Aro and his brothers offered her the chance to leave once her newborn year was up, and to their surprise she took them up on it. Before she left, Renata told her about Carlisle Cullen's diet, knowing how much she hated killing humans. Bella set out to find Carlisle while also managing to figure out the vegetarian lifestyle for herself. After a year, she encountered the Cullens who invited her to become a part of their family-in no small part due to the attraction they noticed between her and Edward. Bella and Edward headed to Alaska to visit with the Denali cousins while the other Cullens finished executing their latest, planned move. They discovered their feelings for each other in the process. Tanya wasn't, and still isn't, too happy about Edward finding his mate. The others are getting to know her. And now, on with the story.

EPOV

Two days before we were due to move into our new house in Talkeetna, Bella stretched beside me, lithe and graceful as the cats I loved to hunt. She purred as my fingers trailed up her sides, reveling in the feel of the smooth skin under her shirt. while my mouth captured hers for another long, slow kiss. Her own hands skimmed along the muscles of my bare stomach and chest in languid circles, which of course led to an erection I was becoming all too familiar with.

So far, this was the most daring we'd allowed ourselves to be. I now felt as if I had every curve of her delicious body memorized, as much as I could through clothing and small slivers of skin, and felt the desire to progress further. However, I doubted I would ever tire of relearning each inch of her, no matter how many years we spent together. The devotion of my other family members to the carnal side of their relationships had never been more understandable to me.

Her soft, smooth lips pulled away from mine only to trail small kisses along my jaw that ignited my lust further. I tried to keep it in check while also delving into the exploration of my mate, a pastime that threatened to consume me. I especially enjoyed finding the spots that made her moan softly and push her lithe body against mine, like the spot just behind her ear, the smooth curve of her collarbone peeking out from the round collar of her shirt, or the soft shell of her ear.

This time we indulged ourselves on the chaise lounger in my room at the Denali home, an oversized affair that Tanya no doubt picked out years ago with the hopes that she would be able to intrude and tempt me even here. Thankfully, I always managed to emphasize the sanctity of this room. In fact, it was my insistence that no one enter without my permission that created the same rule for everyone in the house, once Carmen and Eleazar seized on the idea.

An artificial wave of calm hit us, causing us to both let out weak growls. Our passion faded away in the face of the emotion imposed upon us, and I lifted my head to glare at the door as Jasper knocked.

"Not to intrude, but Bella's due for a lesson," he called softly from outside. I could tell from his thoughts that he was regretful to part us but determined to continue the day's lesson. He felt I'd already distracted her enough for one afternoon.

Beneath me, Bella giggled. "I think he takes a sadistic pleasure in this," she said, not trying to keep her voice down at all. I knew she was just teasing him, since she didn't seem nearly as upset by the interruption as I felt.

"Come on, darlin'. You know I wouldn't dream of causing you pain," Jasper drawled from the hallway as he began to walk away.

She moved to get up, and I tightened my fingers on her waist, unwilling to let go. She smiled up at me, really more of a grin, and ran her fingers through my hair. "It's just for a few hours, Edward. I'll be back," she reassured me.

"It's not fair. I don't want to share," I muttered, although secretly I was delighted at how well she was fitting into the family dynamic.

She leaned forward and gave me a quick peck on the lips, barely enough to taste her, before jumping out of my arms and heading toward the door, straightening her shirt as she went and hiding inches of gorgeous skin from my hungry eyes. "It's not healthy to get what you want all the time," she taunted me, looking over her shoulder to make sure I was admiring the view as she left. I was, of course, although part of me wanted to drag her back so that I could run my hands over the curves of her bottom, so sweetly presented to me now.

I absently pulled my shirt back on as I reflected over the events of the last two weeks. Other than the girls' night out, our time had been spent readying ourselves and our new home for occupation, although most of the latter was virtual as we weren't scheduled to physically occupy our Talkeetna house for another week. That particular night, my brothers had dragged me away on a hunt, knowing I would probably find a reason to shadow the ladies as they danced and gossiped in whispers too low for human ears. At all other times, I reminded within earshot of my lovely mate.

I had watched, content, as my family drew Bella out of her shell. As promised, Jasper began tutoring her right away. Esme often brought samples into the Denali's library where they studied, seeking her approval for everything from shades of paint and bedding to the type of fabric she preferred for curtains and whether she wanted metal or glass lamps. Alice interrupted study time at least once a day to have Bella try on the clothes she ordered, until Bella put her foot down and told her they needed to find something else to bond over. Alice searched the possibilities for several hours before she settled on theater and classical romance novels. After that, she did her best to monopolize Bella's study breaks with discussions of their favorites and plans to experience shows together. Carlisle was busy setting up practice in Talkeetna, and Rosalie and Emmett were often gone for days at a time exploring the Alaskan wilderness—if you want to call it that—but even they often took moments to sit and talk with Bella when they were in the house, especially in the evening when both families tended to congregate together in the family room.

Unable to tear myself away from her beauty, I stayed on the sidelines, relaxing in a chair in the library or the great room and reading while also allowing part of my attention to focus on the activity around me. I also pulled her away for breaks, longer than Alice because I knew Jasper would sympathize with my desire to get to know my mate more. We took long walks, during which we grew ever closer emotionally and physically. And of course, we experimented with our growing physical relationship, both content to move slowly but also, I was sure, both aware of the growing intensity in every touch and look.

Only two things marred my happiness. From the day the rest of our family arrived, Tanya began a mental barrage of complaints mixed with sexual innuendos and fantasies featuring me. In an attempt to keep the peace, I didn't mention this to anyone in my family, and I kept my mind as busy as possible in an effort to drown her out. However, the other worry I had originated with Eleazar, who tried and failed to hide growing concerns about the size of the Cullen clan. He was afraid that we would draw unwanted attention from Volterra. After a couple days of listening to the way his thoughts circled around the matter, I urge Carlisle to speak to him about it. They talked the situation over and reluctantly concluded there wasn't anything they could do except be wary. This meant that now both of them fixated on the idea several times a day.

As I sat contemplating how the addition of Bella had completed our family, a vision rocked Alice while she painted. I ran from my room into Carmen's studio, which she was sharing with her usual generosity. Alice stood frozen, raised brush dripping dark red paint onto the drop cloth below. My hurried footsteps drew the others in the house, everyone except the Denali sisters who were off hunting, this time for blood.

Alice's vision hit me like ice water. Two dark-haired men in the traditional Volturi cloaks, walking through the snow toward Bella and me. The lips of one pulled back in a snarl, although the other was calm.

"When?" I bothered asking out loud for the sake of the rest of my family but also to save Alice from having to endure double visions trying to read my intended words.

Bella inched close to me and slipped her hand into mine. The comfort I felt from her touch might have astonished me if I wasn't anxiously waiting for Alice's answer. I absently squeezed the small fingers in mine, offering reassurance I didn't feel.

"Three days." Her answer came with calm and confidence that might have soothed me in any other circumstances.

"Why?"

Alice frowned and tried to look into the past, something she was only occasionally capable of doing. When that didn't work, she began to search the future in one-hour increments starting from the current moment, attempting to find the connection. The thirty-fourth time, she struck gold. Another vision blossomed, the same Volturi guards standing with Eleazar in the driveway outside the cabin. The three men talked, all relaxed and in apparent good humor, when one stiffened without warning. He turned, looking to the left of the house. The vision went dark.

"Edward?" Carlisle pulled my attention away, knowing that Alice would need a few more seconds to recover but anxious to know what she saw.

"A pair of Volturi guards will be here to visit Eleazar in a couple of days. Something will alert them to Bella's presence, I believe, and they will come looking for us. All Alice saw at first was them approaching Bella and me, no other family members," I informed the room. Bella's hand tightened in mine, and she plastered herself against my side.

"I haven't received word from Volterra of a visit, but it is not uncommon for Aro to direct his guard to seek me out about unusual or problematic gifts while they are out on assignment." Eleazar's gaze moved from Alice to Bella. "Frankly, I'm surprised they didn't try to tempt me into a visit upon discovering you, young one."

I growled a bit but subsided with a look from Carlisle. The Volturi allowed Bella to leave. Surely they weren't tracking her now.

Alice seemed to agree. "I think they will be caught unaware by her scent while consulting with you, Eleazar. One of them looked surprised in my second vision, while the other was unaware of a change."

"I should leave," Bella spoke up.

I gripped her hand more tightly. "Please don't go." I shouldn't have begged, but the thought of her leaving me was terrifying.

She lifted her free hand to my cheek. "I don't want to, but I can't put you in danger," she whispered. Her eyes swam with tears she couldn't shed.

I released her hand so that I could grip both of her shoulders. Looking deeply into her eyes, I told her, "We will work it out. We always have before. And there's no knowing how those two will react upon seeing us. No decisions have been made on their part. Right, Alice?" Throwing the question at my sister, I shifted my plea to her.

With a shake of her head as if to clear it, Alice turned her gaze on us. The sad smile she offered was less than reassuring. "I'm honestly not sure. Edward's correct that they haven't made any decisions, and you haven't made any yourselves. In fact, all of our decisions will probably play a part in this. It's a balancing act."

"Just a couple days isn't going to be enough to remove Bella's scent from the entire area," Carmen pointed out. "Even if she were to leave, they might catch a whiff somewhere on their way out."

I nodded, turning back to Bella. "If you're here with us, even at our property, we can protect you."

She pulled away and turned her back, teeth worrying her bottom lip. "I don't know..."

Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her body against mine. "Please. We'll protect you. We won't let them take you."

When she nodded, another vision hit Alice. She saw another encounter with the two Volturi, this time with our entire family there. They stopped to talk to Eleazar, and Bella came out of the Denali house, the rest of us following after. The Volturi guards looked tense, but the larger one was less hostile this time. It seemed that with the element of surprise out of the equation, they were able to accept her presence with us. I breathed a deep sigh of relief as every eye in the room bounced back and forth between Alice and me.

"If we are all here at the time of their visit, their reactions appear to be merely curious," I informed everyone.

That brought hope to almost everyone crowded into the room, but one mind stood out to me, doubt darkening her thoughts.

"It will work, Rose." I turned my head to stare as her worries washed over me.

Gold hair swinging around her shoulders, she frowned back. "You can't be sure what they'll say once they return to Volterra, though," she whispered. Her hands gripped Emmett's arm, as if she could protect him from our far-off rulers through the strength of her fingers alone.

"I'll monitor the situation as we speak with them. I think we can be fairly certain, between my gift and Alice's, what their reactions are and will be." I injected as much confidence into my voice as I could muster, both for my sister's sake and for Bella, standing still and quiet beside me.

My love surprised me by letting go of my hand and moving slowly over to Rosalie. Her bottom lip caught between her teeth, she reached out and placed a hand on her arm. "I promise, if we see anything in the next few days, or even during the meeting, to make us think that my presence will be a danger to any of the family, I'll leave. I won't let them hurt you for no reason."

The vow nearly brought me to my knees, but I knew that should the worst happen, I would follow her rather than live the rest of my life without the other half of my heart. Thankfully, Bella's words didn't trigger another vision from Alice. I took some small comfort in that. Surely she would see if such a contingency would be necessary.

Rosalie's thoughts followed a similar vein. Still, Bella's words touched her in a way little could, and she responded with a small smile a nod of her head. That was as significant as one of Alice's full-throttle hugs, and their interaction helped decrease the tension throughout the room even further.

"I think I will speed up the remaining details on the Talkeetna house," Esme murmured and slipped away. Just in case, her thoughts whispered as she glanced back at me before turning the corner into the hall.

As if a dam broke, the others made their excuses and left, even Alice. Her golden eyes, usually bright and cheery, echoed her somber mind as she threaded her fingers through Jasper's and led him away. I tried to ignore the pessimistic feeling that gave me as I pulled Bella into my arms and tucked her head under my chin. We stood that way until the sun began to set, flooding the white walls with shades of red and orange. No words were spoken between us, but I was sure she understood my intent to remain with her no matter what. I felt her acceptance of my decision in the arms wrapped tightly around my waist, the way she drew in my scent to calm and comfort her, just as I did hers.

As always, I welcome and cherish reviews! I hope you're still enjoying this story even if it is taking me longer to get out than I'd like.