Hello Lovely Readers! Just a quick note tonight to remind everyone that this is a work of fiction and while I endeavor to do whatever research I can to make it somewhat tolerable, I usually limit research to the internet. No actual US Marshals or US Attorneys have been interviewed for this story, nor have I been able to locate an actual participant in the witness protection program. For this reason, certain aspects of the following chapter are completely made up, and/or reference what we've previously been seen in movies and on TV. Please forgive any errors or other such ridiculousness. (I recommend just focusing on Bella and Edward, okay? )

Thank you once again to all the usual suspects, including poor SueBee who is having laptop issues this week. :( And, big surprise... I still do not own Twilight, its characters, or Christina Perri's beautiful music. No copyright infringement is intended.

Now, I believe when last we left off, the phone was ringing? Oh, yes, that's right... the phone. ;-)

Chapter 19:

BPOV—

"Bella?"

"H... Hi," I whisper, my eyes closing. I can't believe it's him.

"Oh, Bella... Oh God, I thought I'd missed you. Where are you? Are you all right? I got your message."

I laugh through happy, relieved tears. "I'm fine. I think I got your voicemail just now while you were checking my message. I'm glad you called back... so glad."

He laughs, too. "Me, too. Are you really all right? You sounded scared and upset."

I take a deep breath. "I was only upset I wouldn't be able to talk to you. I thought you weren't there."

"I'm at a friend's house. Do you remember Ms. Meyer?"

"Yeah, of course."

"She and her husband wanted to have me over for dinner. I've been putting them off for weeks. I can't believe, of all the nights... I spend most of them alone." He grows quiet, I can hear him breathing. "I think about you all the time. I was glad to hear you do, too."

I smile. "I do... I miss you. I even miss Forks, can you believe that?"

"I miss you, too. It's not the same here without you. Nothing is the same anymore."

You have no idea...

"How are you? I've been so worried about you. They told me you got out of the hospital, but..."

"I'm fine, baby. Really. I had my last post-op check-up a couple weeks ago and I do physical therapy at home now. I'm pretty much back to normal, except that I feel like a huge piece of me is missing." There's a pause. "People are getting pretty sick of me sulking, actually. I think Emmett's finally had enough and will be moving out of my house soon. It's about time, though."

I can tell he's trying to make light of things, but there's a hollowness to his voice that tells me he's just as bad off as I am. It's bittersweet and I sniffle a little from the effort of holding back my tears.

"Bella, no. Please don't cry. Please, love. I can't... I'm driving. Let me pull over."

I shiver and wipe at my eyes. "You left your dinner? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pull you away from anything."

"Don't be ridiculous! You're much more important. Do you know how long I've been waiting to hear your voice? How hard I've tried to get someone to take me to you?"

My face lifts into a smile. "I did hear a little something about that."

"Did you?" he chuckles.

I nod even though he can't see me. "Alice, that's the Marshal I'm with now, she's still in touch with Jasper, the one you met in Forks... or in Sequim, I guess."

"Oh, yeah, I've spoken to him a couple of times. And Emmett's left dozens of messages for Alice."

"I heard about that, too."

"I'm glad. Jasper never mentioned that he spoke to you personally, but he did make sure to let me know you hadn't forgotten me."

I smile. "I haven't. Not even close... I love you." The words are out before I realize I'm going to say them.

"I love you, too, Bella... so much."

I'm unable to hold back the tears any longer, but I can hear Edward's quick, uneven breathing too and know he's just as affected as I am.

"I was worried, maybe..." he begins.

"I..." I stop because I've spoken over him. "Sorry, go ahead."

"I was worried maybe you might have started having some doubts. I mean, it's been so long and we barely had a chance to begin."

"I know... I've worried about that, too. I've been preparing myself that you might not feel the same anymore. And I wouldn't blame you. I come with a lot of baggage."

"No, Bella. I don't think that way. None of that matters to me."

I take a ragged breath. "I don't deserve your love. It will cost you so much, Edward."

"You'll give me more back in return."

His voice is rough and it hits home. Maybe, I think. Maybe I have already...

For several long moments, neither of us can speak. I hold tight to the phone, shivering from both the cold and an excess of emotion. It's dark now and the wind is picking up. It crackles against the receiver.

"Where are you calling from, baby? Are you outside?"

"Yeah. I had to use a payphone."

"Is it dark where you are?"

"Yes, and before you ask, it's cold, too. But I really don't care. I needed to talk to you."

"Bella..." He lets out an exasperated sigh. "As much as I don't want to let you go, as much as I loathe the very idea, it doesn't sound like you're being very safe, baby."

"I'll be fine."

"Where's Alice? Is she with you?"

"No. I left her at our hotel."

"You're alone?" The alarm in his voice is startling, and sweet.

"I'm fine, Edward. There's a police station right down the road. It's a pretty safe town, too."

"Bella..." My name comes out as a growl.

"Edward... I'm sorry, but this couldn't wait."

He sighs heavily. "I know, and I'm so glad you called, but not at the expense of your safety or health. You should go back. Do you at least have a coat on?"

I smile. "I have a heavy sweatshirt on over a long sleeved shirt. I'm fine." My body shivers, revealing my lie. I'm just glad he can't see it.

"Maybe I can call you on this number tomorrow. Do you think you can get away again?"

"I doubt it. I'll try, but I don't want to do anything else to get Alice fired. We'll be headed back your way soon though. There's something I'm obligated to do in a few weeks. I think you are, too."

I hope he can read between the lines, because I don't want to say anything out loud about testifying before a grand jury. Paranoia runs deep at this point.

Fortunately, he seems to understand.

"Will I see you then?" he asks.

"If you want to, that's the plan. I think. Alice doesn't say much sometimes. Certain things she tells me, others she doesn't."

"I want to see you. You're all I can think about."

"I wish I could just leave and come back there... it's not like I'm their prisoner, but..."

"You're afraid," Edward concludes. I shake my head.

"Not for myself," I whisper.

"Bella, we'll be fine."

"That's not what I mean, I... I..." I'm not the only one at risk anymore.

The words catch in my throat, my heart starts pounding faster and faster. I take a deep breath and open my mouth to try again, but a loud crash a short distance up the street startles me and causes me to cry out.

"Bella! What's wrong? What was that?"

I cover my mouth with my hand and spin around to look towards the noise. Angry voices and glass breaking accompany an apparent scuffle that's going on just up the street.

"It's okay. I'm okay," I say quickly. "There's some kind of argument going on."

"Close to you?"

"No, on the other side of the street. There's a bar and restaurant over there. I think it's..." I lean to look again and listen carefully. "I think they're fighting over a game. It sounds like it was just a good time gone bad."

"You should get out of there, Bella. Go back to Alice."

"I don't want to go yet." Tears fill my eyes.

He sighs. "I don't want you to go yet either, but I need you to be safe, baby. I think I almost had a heart attack just now."

"I'm sorry. Me, too. They startled me."

"Baby, I want you to go get in your car and go back to your hotel. Please."

"I wish I could bring the phone with me."

I still need to tell him about the baby. Our baby.

"Listen, Bella... I... I don't think I can stand the idea of not seeing or hearing from you again for so long. Is the payphone you're calling from close to where you're staying?"

"Yeah..."

"Good. Say no more, I'll look it up when I get home and I'll be on a plane tomorrow." He takes a deep breath at the same time I gasp, grabbing onto the wall behind the phone for support. It's just too much to hope for.

Edward misunderstands my reaction. "Unless you don't want me to."

"No! Of course I do! I just..." I shake my head. "Are you sure?"

"More than anything. I even told my parents about you, just in case I got lucky and was able to join you."

"You what? You did?"

He laughs. "Yes, they were a little surprised at first, to say the least. But they've adjusted to the idea."

"Really?"

"They're getting there. Of course, I told them you're it for me so they couldn't say much after that. They only want my happiness... and yours. They really do care about you, you know."

"I don't know what to say... I thought for sure they would be completely opposed."

"I know. I was worried, too."

I'm stunned, and happy... and nervous. The baby.

"Edward..." More shouting sounds from the outside the restaurant nearby, at the same time the wind decides to whip around my body once again. I shudder almost violently.

"I should let you go. You're making me nervous and you're going to catch pneumonia."

Baby...

"Edward, I..." I open my mouth to tell him, but realize I can't do this. I can't just blurt it out and then hang up on him!

"What is it, Bella?"

Say something.

"Bella?"

"Are you serious about coming up here?"

"Hell, yeah."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes, baby. I'd fly out tonight if I didn't have to drive home and then back to Seattle first."

I nod. "Okay. We have some things to discuss when you get here."

"Yes, I guess we do." He's quiet a moment. "I, uh... I don't suppose you could suggest a good hotel in the area?"

I smile, my eyes closing as hope blooms in my heart. "Try the Extended Stay near the airport. I hear it's pretty nice."

"Thank you, Bella. I will find you."

"I know. I trust you."

He hums and it's a wonderful sound. I smile and try to imagine the look on his face. Is it the same one from that night? I wonder if he's imagining it, too. Caught up in the moment, it feels like not even a day has passed.

How can that be? How can these feelings be so strong and so sure?

My quiet musings are eventually broken by the whipping of the Alaskan wind and the chattering of my teeth.

"Go, Bella. I'll be there tomorrow. I promise."

I exhale a shaky breath. "I'll be waiting for you."

~(~)~

I'm an odd mixture of elated and ashamed on the ride back to the hotel. It's amazing the high I feel having simply heard his voice, yet I can't help but feeling immensely guilty for not accomplishing my goal. I didn't tell him. I should have told him.

Still, I can't be all self-flagellation and no joy. He's coming for me. He'll be here. Tomorrow.

Alice is going to freak. God, I hope I don't get her fired. I hope she doesn't turn her ire on Edward either.

Trepidation takes hold of me as I ascend the stairs back to our second floor room. What will she say? What will she do? Is she going to be horribly angry with me?

I open the door to our suite with an apology on my lips, but freeze in place the moment I see inside.

"Alice?"

She's not anywhere in sight, but I can hear her rummaging around in the bathroom, and what is visible explains everything.

"We're leaving?" I shut and bolt the door behind me, panic threatening.

Alice appears, her hands on her hips and her face stern. "Welcome back."

"Are we leaving, Alice?"

She rolls her eyes. "What did you think was going to happen?"

"But now? Tonight?"

She sighs and walks over to the open suitcases on her bed. My bed is covered in all of our clothes and other belongings, an apparent inventory in progress. Alice must have needed something to manage her time, because I've never seen her pack this way before and we've traveled together a few times.

"Alice?"

"Not tonight. But in the morning, we're on the first flight out."

"Where are we going?" I'm doing everything in my power not to lose control and yell, or cry.

"Seattle." She starts throwing things in her suitcase with gusto. "I looked the other way when you asked me to, but I can't ignore what you did altogether. I happen to need my job, andI happen to like it. Not to mention that I like you."

She grabs her gun in its holster and throws it in the suitcase before letting out an exasperated sigh and pulling it back out again and placing on the night table next to her badge. She turns to face me and crosses her arms in front of her chest.

"I'm sorry," I say.

"I don't want apologies. I've obviously handled this situation all wrong from the very beginning. Did you at least talk to him?"

I look at the floor. "Yes."

"You used my cell phone?"

"No. A payphone, outside City Hall."

She makes a face. "I ought to take you over my knee..." After a moment she softens. "Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"What did he say about the baby?"

I take a deep breath. "Um, I didn't exactly... tell him."

"What? Are you kidding me?"

"I got a little overwhelmed, Alice!"

She throws her arms in the air. "Of course you did! Which is why you should have just waited the three weeks I asked you to!"

"Look, Alice, I am sorry, but that's a moot point now. Edward picked up on the fact that I called from a landline and he's going to search the number and be on the first plane here tomorrow. If you could just delay our flight a couple hours, I can talk to him after he lands."

Alice gapes at me. "You cannot be serious."

I don't get a chance to answer before she spins around and huffs across the room to the tiny kitchenette where she starts slamming around in the cabinets; all two of them.

I follow slowly behind. "Please, Alice. Please do this for me."

She leans against the counter, her hands gripping the edge. "How am I supposed to explain how he found us? Or what he's doing with us when we arrive back in Seattle tomorrow?" She faces me. "Do you seriously want me to lose my job? Or end up having your case reassigned to someone else?"

I sigh and wipe my tears. "No, of course not... but I can't do this anymore, Alice. It's either wait for Edward or I walk."

When I look at her, I can see the fight has gone out of her.

"Fine," she breathes. "I'll call my boss and see what I can do. I'm fairly sure we can prove you're under significant emotional and physical duress due to your pregnancy and renegotiate things. Hopefully, I can have them bring Edward in as well. Before he has a chance to get on a plane and complicate things."

"Really?" I practically bounce with joy.

Alice shakes her, but a ghost of a smile breaks out. "Yes, really."

Not surprisingly, I burst into tears, but at least they're mostly happy tears this time. "Thank you, Alice."

"Yeah, well, don't thank me yet. I still need to call this in."

She looks at me meaningfully.

I frown. "What?"

"Can I have my phone back?"

"Oh!" I gasp, laughing now. "I completely forgot!"

She rolls her eyes. "Just give me the phone, Miss Hormones."

I laugh again and dig her phone out of my purse. I hand it to her and she mutters something under her breath when she sees I turned it off. She walks past me and begins pacing while she waits for it to power up.

"I'm going to go take a shower," I tell her. I'm excited now; eager to get back to Seattle and hopefully to Edward.

Alice nods and puts the phone to her ear. I'm tempted to stay and listen in, but I'm also nervous it will go badly and I'll be crushed. I'd rather live in my little happy bubble a while longer.

Thirty minutes later, I'm exceedingly grateful that I listened to my gut instinct and showered when I did. Not only am I feeling somewhat ill again, but I can tell as soon as I emerge from the bathroom that something's up. Alice is biting her lip, watching me speculatively.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

She sighs and pats the bed next to her. "Come sit."

"Alice... please just tell me."

She waves me over. Dread and panic fill me as I move slowly to her side. "What's wrong?"

She smiles sadly. "Nothing's wrong, but... you won't be able to see Edward tomorrow."

"What? Why not?"

"The FBI has demanded that they be allowed to interview you personally about the day Cullen was shot — before you speak to anyone else. I guess they've been putting the pressure on our office for a while now."

"Oh, well... can't they do as soon as we get to Seattle? I don't mind telling them what I saw, not that it was much, but..."

Alice's expression stops me.

"There's something I haven't told you yet," she says.

"What?" My heart is pounding.

She takes my hand. "It's not the end of the world. Please try not to get upset."

I pull my hand away. "Just get on with it. What aren't you telling me?"

She sighs. "James Wiles has been claiming that he shot Edward out of self-defense."

"What?"

"Not only that, but he's claiming that prior to that, you fired at him first, before he had time to identify himself or draw his weapon.

"Bullshit!"

She cringes as I jump up off the bed. "Bella, settle down. Nobody believes him. The evidence even proves otherwise, but he's entitled to a defense."

"Entitled to lie through his teeth is more like it!"

Alice snorts. "Yes, he's entitled to lie through his teeth. And who can blame him? He doesn't want to go to prison. He's a law enforcement officer; prison would be a very bad place for him."

"So... he could end up walking? After nearly killing you, Jasper, and Edward!"

"Oh, no. No, he'll go to jail. At least he will as long as your testimony corroborates Edward's and there are no major snafus in the handling of the physical evidence."

"Oh."

"You know, if he were tried, he would be facing a minimum of thirty years in prison? Unfortunately, he's being offered a deal. He'll get off on lesser charges and serve less time because he's testifying against the assholes who blackmailed him into doing this in the first place. Personally, I don't think he deserves a break, but... his testimony might help convict those indirectly responsible for your parents' deaths and make you safer in the process."

I inhale slowly and nod. I know all this. It's still hard to think about though. It's still hard to believe this is my life. It's hard to believe that my parents are really gone and a bunch of Romanian mobsters are to blame. It's even harder to believe that my life as I knew it is really over and that I can never, ever go back.

Alice pulls me down next to her and puts her arm around my shoulder again.

"So... the point is, your statement is a formality, but an important one."

I exhale heavily and escape from her arm before lying back on the bed. I feel sick again. Stupid pregnancy induced nausea...

I swallow. "How long will it be before I can speak to Edward?"

Alice lies down on her side, facing me. "A couple of days, tops. Hopefully much sooner than that."

I stare up, breathing methodically, musing. "A couple of days..."

"You've survived longer. Two months already."

"True."

"You can do this, Bella."

"Just a couple of days?"

"Yes."

"Okay." I nod. "Someone has to tell Edward."

"I've taken care of that already."

I nod again and continue breathing in and out slowly. The nausea isn't letting up. I roll on my side, swallowing again as my mouth starts to water. I look at the clock and see the likely cause of my problem. It's past eleven and I haven't eaten anything since lunch time.

"Alice..." I whisper.

"You look sick again."

I nod. "Can you...?"

"Ginger-ale? Or crackers?"

"Both, please."

She gets up and walks towards the kitchenette. It's too late though, and moments after I hear the refrigerator door open, I bolt for the bathroom.

~(~)~

The next day dawns much the same. I wake up feeling anxious, then grow nauseated the moment I brush my teeth. The awful feeling stays with me until I give into it and make a mad dash for the restroom just outside our departure gate.

"I hate this," I grumble while splashing cold water on my cheeks and rinsing my mouth.

Alice offers to get me a mint or some gum from the terminal gift shop. I look at her incredulously.

"Oh, right... the mint flavor sets you off."

Turning the water off, I pat my face with a paper towel. "I think I'm figuring out that I have to eat first and let my stomach settle. We just didn't have time before leaving for the airport."

"I know, I'm sorry. Do you want something to eat now?"

I shake my head. "I do, but I'm afraid to. What if I get sick again on the plane?"

"You have to eat something, honey."

Right now, just the mere thought of food makes me cringe. I sigh. "This sucks."

Alice smiles sympathetically and picks up my carryon before I can. "Come on, we'll find something in the gift shop."

"I can carry my bag, Alice."

She ignores me and leads me dutifully to the little store.

Seven-Up and graham crackers get me through the first half of the flight. I nap on and off, interrupted only by dreams of seeing Edward again. They leave me anxious and unsettled.

How will he react? Will he feel obligated to stay with me? How will I ever know if he's making a clear decision regarding our odd and barely-there relationship once he knows about the baby? What if he never wanted children? What if he wants to have ten more? What if we run away together and we're wrong about our feelings for each other?

I love him, I've never felt anything so strong before, but how can either of us be sure that what we have will survive outside of the impossible circumstances we've found ourselves in so far? What if we're both in love with the idea of being in love?

I swallow back another wave of nausea with the last of my Seven-Up and ask Alice to see if they have any ginger-ale on board when the drink cart comes by. Closing my eyes, I try to ignore both the morning sickness and the questions that run on a loop through my consciousness.

At some point I must doze off again because I'm suddenly standing on the porch of a small house. It's a soft green color, like moss but lighter, with white trim and shutters. The front door behind me is painted a darker green color, wild sage, my brain supplies. I like it. I know somehow that I picked it out myself.

Looking out onto the small yard, I see a child's scooter discarded haphazardly in my azaleas. There's a bucket of sidewalk chalk spilled out at the bottom of the stairs and simple drawings pepper the walkway approaching the front gate. I glance around looking for the artist, eyeing the latch on the gate first to make sure it's still secure. I say a silent prayer of thanks to my husband for insisting on fencing in the front yard.

My stomach flip-flops when I reach the bottom of the porch steps. Without thinking about it, my feet carry me around the side of the house, towards the sound of their voices. Sweet soprano laughter mixes with the quiet tenor of a man whose voice I'd know anywhere—especially when he's speaking in the patient, methodical way he is now. He's teaching our child something and his voice holds the tone I well remember from his classroom days long ago. I smile and tip-toe quietly to the corner of the house and lean around, hoping not to interrupt them.

Just as they come into view, sitting side by side in the grass with their backs to me, Alice appears out of nowhere and grabs my arm. I look at her in alarm. What is she doing here?

She shakes me. "Bella... time to go."

"No," I protest, trying to break free from her grasp. No... I need to stay here.

"Bella... come on. Wake up."

Wake up?

It's only then that I realize it's all a dream. Or it was a dream. I'm drowsy and confused now, not even half awake. I blink slowly and try to correct my blurry vision and wake myself.

"Where are we?" I rasp.

Alice laughs softly. "We're in Seattle, kid. We've landed already."

I sit up and look around. Sure enough, fuzzy people are collecting their carry-ons and standing in the aisle of the plane waiting to exit. I blink some more.

"Are you okay?" Alice asks, looking at me skeptically.

I nod.

"Feeling better?"

I shrug. "I think so." I swallow thickly, my voice rough with sleep. Alice watches me warily another moment.

"Okay, well just sit tight until the rest of the passengers de-board. Do you need anything? This?" She lifts an unopened can of ginger-ale.

I shake my head. "Do you have any water instead?"

She nods and pulls a bottle out of the bag at her feet. "Here you go."

"Thanks."

"You were really out of it."

I yawn and she laughs. I shrug again. "Better than me being sick the whole flight."

Alice wrinkles her nose. "Very true."

The plane empties slowly, so of course, the first stop Alice and I make after getting off is the bathroom. At least this time, it's not to throw up. I actually feel surprisingly good and positive about how things are going. I wonder what Edward is up to and how he was approached about all this. He does know, right?

The question makes me antsy, but I wait until we exit the airport and climb into a very official looking black SUV that's waiting for us along with two additional Marshals and a police escort. As soon as we're on the road, I turn to Alice.

"Are you sure Edward knows what's going on? I mean, he's not on his way to Juneau right now is he?"

"Of course not, Bella."

"You're positive?"

"Yes." She rolls her eyes, but adds nothing.

After another moment I can stay silent no longer. "Where is he?"

She smirks. "He's either at the district office being brought up to speed, or nearby in a hotel somewhere until we're ready for him, or possibly still in Forks if he needed some time to get his things together. Somehow I doubt that last one, though."

"Oh."

I look away, my heart hammering. "We're headed to the district office, too?"

"Yes..."

"Okay. Good."

"Relax, Bella. Soon."

Soon...

It's enough to start my stomach fluttering, which, in my condition is not a good thing.

By the time we pull up outside the federal courthouse in downtown Seattle, where the U.S Marshal's office is located, strong feelings of anxiety have added to the nervous, excited fluttering from earlier. The fluttering quickly grows to churning, and before I know it, morning sickness has reared its ugly head once more.

I spend the better part of the day with my head on a desk in some poor soul's office; a trashcan not far away. Alice has every possible remedy for nausea brought in for me but nothing works for long, if at all. I want nothing more than to lie down and sleep through it, but there are things to be done; obligations to be met if I want to see Edward.

So I suck it up. I get through an interview with the US Attorney's office without complaint. I speak with the FBI Internal Affairs people while steadfastly ignoring the waves of nausea that probably are more to do with recalling that day's particular events, than they have to do with being ten weeks pregnant.

All in all, I do pretty well... at least until they ask me if I have any questions. I automatically respond with the most obvious one.

"Why did Wiles do it? I mean... I know he was blackmailed, but what would make a formerly good cop turn like that? My father would never have–"

The words catch in my throat as images and thoughts of my father's last moments, of his refusal to bow to the whims of a criminal no matter the consequences, flood my mind. His desperation is my last memory of him.

His desperation and his blood... thick, dark, flowing freely, and congealing as it left his body.

Oh, God...

I bolt from the table ignoring the cries of protest and concern that follow me. The bathroom isn't far, which is a blessing because I have only seconds before my body will purge what little food I've managed to keep down today.

With the inevitable retching comes the crying. Deep, painful sobs overtake me when there's nothing left to throw up. I'm overwrought and my stomach hurts— the actual muscles hurt from the force of everything. My arms shake as I hold on to the institutional white toilet for support.

There's a commotion outside the bathroom door, and just as I try to push myself up off the floor, Alice throws the door open.

"Bella!"

She's at my side in an instant, helping me to my feet. I guess I didn't take the time to lock the stall.

"What happened? Are you okay?"

I've got one arm looped through hers and the other wrapped around my tender mid-section. She looks completely freaked out.

"I'm fine," I say weakly. "I just got overwhelmed."

"You don't look fine. You're pale as all hell."

"Gee, thanks."

She eyes me up and down as she leads me to the sink. "You're shaking... This is worse than this morning. What's going on?"

I lean against the counter. "It was a lot. Talking to them and reliving everything, you know? I just let my mind wander and..."

"Here," Alice says, turning the water on for me and grabbing some paper towels. I dip my hands into the water and then lather them with soap.

Alice is right, I am shaking. It's obvious while rubbing my hands together in the sink. A shudder runs through me.

"All right, that's it. Young?" Alice calls.

A woman with dark hair and olive skin opens the bathroom door. She eyes me in the mirror momentarily before looking back at Alice. Alice faces her.

"Tell Crowley and Marks their interview is over. Get Uley and have him bring a car around and tell Marcus we're taking her for the night. She needs to rest."

"Sure thing," the woman answers. She nods at Alice and offers me a small smile before departing. Alice turns back to me.

"My new partner." Her face is completely neutral.

I, on the other hand, flush. "I'm sorry."

Alice scoffs. "I swear, woman, if you apologize one more time..."

I smile weakly. She sighs and moves my hair from my face, wiping my brow with a damp paper towel. "Better?"

"Yeah."

"You're still shaky."

"I probably need to replace everything I've thrown up today."

Alice nods. "Let's get you out of here."

We don't make it two steps before I remember myself. "Edward?" I ask.

Alice swings the bathroom door open. "He's here, actually. He had a lot of–"

She doesn't even get a chance to finish her thought before I hear him.

"Get your hands off of me! If something's wrong with her I need to be there."

"Sir, please go back in the office. We'll..."

I dart out into the hallway followed closely by Alice.

I sway a little on my feet while my heart begins to pound inside my chest.

He's here.

He's there, not twenty feet away from me.

Yet, he's being held back by two men I haven't seen before. From their uniforms, I process that they must be building security, but another individual stands between us, a man in a suit much like the ones the rest of the various law enforcement officers and lawyers in the building wear.

I open my mouth to call out to him just as Edward's eyes lift and meet mine.

Oh, wow... so green. I'd forgotten.

"Bella..."

His name leaves my lips silently as I stare in awe. He's here.

He starts towards me as I take him in, my own feet frozen in place. Then it all goes pear-shaped.

"Sir, back-up."

"But..."

"Sir. I've told you to wait in the office."

"But she's right there!"

"Sir..."

"He's cool, Uley."

Uley doesn't pay attention, his dark, weathered hand skirts beneath his jacket... onto his holster, his gun. I hear his safety click.

NO!

"Bella?"

"Hey! Uley, back off!"

Stop!

"Bella?"

"Uley, come on, leave him alone!"

My feet move suddenly, motivated by the alarm in Edward's eyes and the hand on Uley's gun.

"Bella!"

I sway. My legs fail to support me.

Alice doesn't see, she's too busy dealing with her overzealous co-worker.

But Edward sees.

He sees and he's there, racing to reach me before I hit the ground.

I just wish I knew if he made it.

~(~)~

"Bella!"

"Shit! What happened?"

"She just went down. What's wrong with her? She looks like a ghost."

"She's been sick. Uley, make your ass useful and call an ambulance. Someone get Marcus out here."

"She's sick? Crap, from being outside the other night?"

"I don't know. Isabella... can you hear me?"

"Bella, baby? Open your eyes."

"Brandon, what's going on?"

"She passed out, sir."

"Did she throw up again?"

"Yes, sir, I think it was pretty bad this time."

"Probably dehydrated. I'll get a team to escort you to the hospital. Be sure to check out the staff over there, and list her as a Jane Doe. No mess-ups this time."

"Yes, sir. Thank you. Young and Uley are fine to accompany us... as long as Uley can follow orders."

"The only one with that problem around here is you, Brandon."

"Yes, sir."

"And you, Cullen... You're going to have to stay with us."

"No way. I'm going with Bella."

"Sorry, no can do. You're officially a witness now and I can't spare the extra security to keep an eye on you."

"But..."

"Sorry, kid. Welcome to the program."

~(~)~

So, it's recently been pointed out to me that I leave you guys with cliffies all the time, and, oh look! A cliffie! *facepalm* Let me assure you, this was not meant to be a bad one. Bella's had a big day is all. She'll be fine.

Now, Edward... there's another story. Poor boy. So close, and still so far.

Until next time,

~Ginnie