The call to Sam had gone relatively easy. He had taken Bella's injury personally, always believing if he had been just a little quicker, he could have prevented what had happened. Now that Bella had almost been attacked again, this time with no pack members around to stop it, Sam was actually grateful for the Cullen's intervention. And while he wasn't thrilled with the idea of Bella moving in with them – he agreed with Carlisle that the nomad's word alone was not enough to assume Bella would be safe out by herself. Sam had promised to keep Jacob busy so that Bella would have time to talk to Charlie without risking Charlie talking to Jake before her. Sam had promised to send Seth along to visit if Bella failed to talk Jake out of coming. They both knew there would be no stopping him.

Charlie had been tricky, Bella didn't want to lie, but he obviously could not be told about the nomads. In the end, she told him how surprised she had been to stumble across Jasper on her way home, how upset Carlisle had been at not being there after her injury. Bella told Charlie she had taken Carlisle up on his offer to move in and save on college dorm expenses. If it didn't work out, she could get her dorm space back next semester.

Finally, Bella had called Jake. It was a good thing Sam had been with him, because Bella was pretty sure Jake had gotten close to an uncontrolled phase after hearing about the nomads. Jake hadn't been that undisciplined in a very long time. Unlike Sam, Jake wasn't thankful the Cullen's had been there. Rather, Jake had accused them of setting up the nomad situation to force Bella 'back into their clutches' as he had put it.

In the end, Sam and Bella had managed to calm him down and get him to see reason. He finally conceded that such a move would have been unnecessary on the Cullen's part. Nomads or not, if the Cullen's wanted Bella somewhere, how was she – a human – going to stop them?

Jake made it clear he was coming for a visit to assess their intentions himself. As he had put it, "No one was going to mess with his best friend without him there with her."

Bella sighed as she finally put the phone down. She shook her head as she remembered Jacob's plans for accommodations when he arrived. She'd honestly tried to change his mind but he was stubborn. Oh well, it would all work out she supposed.

Putting problems for later out of her mind, Bella realized she still had time to herself, retrieved her laptop and continued work on the paper she had begun writing yesterday. She was exhausted despite the nap – it was getting late – but wanted to have more written or she would feel behind on making her deadline.

When the Cullen's returned it was to find the house peaceful. Rose went straight to the room she shared with Emmett while everyone else followed the sound of Bella's heartbeat to the kitchen.

There they found her with her head resting on her keyboard, fast asleep. Her cell phone lay forgotten beside her.

Esme shook her head, "Poor dear has had a trying day. Carlisle, would you carry her up? I'll turn her sheets down and tuck her in. Alice, sweetheart, make sure her work was saved and close the computer. Best to bring her things to the guest room."

Taking care with her right arm, Carlisle ever so gently lifted Bella. With the precision of a vampire, he was able to pick her up and rotate her into a comfortable position without jostling her at all. Following his wife, he carried her up to the guest bedroom.

Bella was still wearing the pj's loaned by Esme, so Esme simply pulled the bed covers back (Bella it seems had made the bed after awakening), allowed Carlisle to lower her down, then Esme tucked her in. Alice slipped in behind them with Bella's computer, notebook and phone. At Esme's direction, she left the phone on the bedside where Bella could easily find it. The other two items Alice set on the desk.

Alice then set about readying a clean outfit for Bella. Heading to the room she shared with Jasper, she first chose new items from her closet that she knew would fit Bella and look wonderful on her. Jasper (who was now reading a book in the room) laughed when he saw the pout that crossed his wife's face, easily knowing the reason. Sure enough, his little wife pulled her hand back from the closet, and then made a show of quietly stomping to the den where he could hear her open a suitcase before she returned to Bella's room.

After leaving her selections for Bella to find, Alice returned to Jasper and complained, "She took one look at the shoes I chose and refused to wear any of it!"

Jasper smiled and asked, "Why didn't you just change the shoes?"

A horrified Alice said, "I tried! She'll only wear those hiking boots of hers! They'd look horrid with the skirts here!" Then she tapped her chin in thought, "But if I order some more casual looking skirts…"

Jasper just shook his head knowing his wife was hopeless and enjoying the thought of the upcoming battles of wills between Bella and Alice. He had a feeling Alice wouldn't find Bella so compliant these days.

Carlisle led Esme into their room and over to the window seat. He settled down with his back to the wall and opened his arms to invite Esme to join him. She laid down on her side and rested against his chest. They said nothing, simply took comfort in each other.

Finally, Carlisle sighed and said, "I need to call him."

Esme didn't need to ask whom he meant, "He won't answer." It was a statement, not a question. Edward had stopped answering his phone several years ago. The family simply left messages every so often to update Edward on their lives. They knew he listened to them because every now and then he would force himself to call Carlisle. These return calls were unpredictable though.

Carlisle knew Esme was correct and gave the matter some thought. Finally, he retrieved his cell phone from his pocket and dialed his son.

As expected the phone rang until the voicemail picked up. Carlisle left the message he had preplanned, "Hi Son, I thought I'd call and say hello. Your mother and I miss you. Esme's begun the addition to the house here in Kalispell but I believe she will be making some changes to the blueprints she had settled on. You should discuss them with her – I'm certain you'll find you want to provide input. Your siblings have all settled into their classes over at Montana State. The clinic is going well, however I may have to have your mother put in an appearance soon. Lots of young ladies seem to be making appointments for unnecessary reasons. I do believe your Mother will be shopping for a new dining room set, if you'd like to give her some input. Well son, I love you, I look forward to the day we see you again. Call soon. Oh, almost forgot! Jasper intercepted some nomads today and kept them from munching on Isabella. Night son."

Esme waited until Carlisle had hung up before she slapped him on the chest in disapproval, "Carlisle Cullen, that was downright cruel."

Carlisle shrugged, "I'm well aware Esme, but shocking him might be the only way to get through to him right now."

From Alice they knew that Edward was barely functional these days, hunting only enough to maintain his control should a human wonder near his attic apartment. He refused to be home and any planned intervention always resulted in Alice foreseeing Edward leaving. He simply refused to be near any of them. Carlisle knew Edward only listened to the messages to ensure the family was not in any danger, and only called home out of deference to his mother.

They settled into silence again, Carlisle thinking about all he had learned today and how he had let Bella down. Esme focused on simply being present to comfort Carlisle, instinctively knowing he was blaming himself. She didn't try to argue him out of it. For one, she knew it would do no good. For two, Carlisle was a good leader and as such would take responsibility for the results of his decisions. Regardless of the fact that the initial decision had been made by Edward, there was no getting around the fact that Carlisle had ordered the family's departure.

Esme instead turned her thoughts to breakfast for Bella. She hadn't discussed the meal with Bella, so she didn't know what she would want. Yet Esme felt certain Bella would be more comfortable preparing the meal herself rather than allow Esme to. So Esme mentally charted several options she felt Bella would be comfortable making and the ingredients available on hand. She would present Bella with the options when she awoke.

Carlisle knew it could take days before Edward bothered to listen to the message, so he wasn't expecting it when his phone rang. Looking at the display he announced, "It's Edward". The house fell silent except for the sound of the sleeping human.

He answered the call but before he could speak a growl ripped through the speaker followed by, "Carlisle…this better be Emmett's idea of a bad joke."

"Well hello to you too son." His voice turned very serious and Carlisle said, "I assure you, it is no joke. If not for Alice's warning and your brother's intervention today, there is no doubt Bella would be dead."

Edward sounded as though he had to force his next words out, "Is she…was she…how badly was she hurt?"

Choosing his reply carefully, Carlisle said, "They did not touch her. Jasper was able to arrive first."

Carlisle heard the sound of Edwards hand dragging through his hair, "Good…that's good. Did she see him? Did he speak with her?" Edward's questions were tinged with desperation and hope. Much like a man in the desert asking for water.

"Yes, as a matter of fact she is asleep in the guest room. She and Esme will work on the blueprints tomorrow to add Bella's room to the new addition."

Edward didn't say anything for a long moment. Then very slowly he asked, "What do you mean Bella's room?"

Carlisle instructed, "It is time you came home son. There is no longer any reason for you to stay away. Much has transpired in Bella's life during our absence. I have ordered her to move into our residence and shared with her the truth of our departure from Forks."

The growl that ripped through the phone actually damaged the speaker on the phone, resulting in the remaining conversation being scratchy.

"You had no right!"

Carlisle sighed. He knew he held equal blame, yet he wasn't pleased with Edward's reaction. Softly and with sorrow lacing his voice, he said, "You're correct Edward. I had no right. No right to order my daughter be abandoned by her family. No right to leave my daughter unprotected. No right to not be at her side as she as she recovered from a horrendous injury. No right to leave her without the means to pay for the proper level of care. Yet to tell her the truth? That I had every right and obligation to do."

Even through the damaged speaker, Carlisle could hear Edward's breath catch with his revelations. When he finished speaking, the line was silent for a few moments. Finally, in a shaky breath, Edward pleaded, "You said they didn't touch her…"

Taking pity on him, Carlisle answered, "She wasn't touched by these nomads Edward. Yet, Isabella is very far from ok. You should come home son. Far more has transpired in our absence than you could ever imagine. I think it's best we continue this discussion when you arrive and not over the phone."

Edward's pain was palpable as he refused, "I can't…if I do I'll never be able to force myself to leave a second time."

"I understand the sacrifice you intended to make for her sake Edward. I am proud even for your willingness to suffer so to give to Bella. Yet it didn't work son. What we didn't realize is that it was never going to work. It seems since Bella was born she was crossing paths with the supernatural. From the moment she entered your life, her fate was sealed one way or another. Our leaving hasn't changed that. No matter how hard you try, how long you stay away, Bella will never have a normal human life. Something about her draws the supernatural in, particularly our kind."

Edward argued, "It's her soul we are talking about Carlisle, her SOUL!"

They could hear Edward trace a path across the floor, "If you left again, but told her why. Set her up with a cell phone we cover the bill on…She can call us for any reason, anytime. But we never visit…too dangerous. Alice…Alice has to be willing to watch over her…"

"Edward, stop," Carlisle said gently.

"No…no, that won't work. You said Jasper barely made it to her today….Alice still needs to watch from afar – Jasper can't live with a human…you and Esme could though…that's it – you and Esme take a house near wherever Bella is…we'll have to trade off or drop out of the community every so often to keep our secret…but then someone is close enough to react to warnings from Alice…"

This time Carlisle's voice was commanding, "Edward STOP!"

Heavy breathing could be heard through the broken speaker, but Edward finally stopped his rambling plans and seemed to be listening, "Even if the decision wasn't already made, even if I had not already given Bella my word to NOT walk out on her again, it still wouldn't work. Bella is not the girl you left behind Edward. She is a grown woman, with her own mind, and a past that makes her very mistrustful of us, with very good reason. I promise you the first thing she would do to that cell phone is destroy it. We walk out on her again, and Bella will never ask us for help, never accept help from us. I will NOT betray her a second time, for ANY reason son."

"Edward – son – come home. You still do not know the full consequences of our actions. I think when you do, you'll see the folly in your suggestions."

Silence reigned for several minutes as Edward presumably thought through all Carlisle had said. Finally, he spoke. His voice was barely audible, "I can't Carlisle. I want to more than anything, which is exactly why I can't."

Carlisle sighed, knowing what he had to do, "Alright Edward. I was hoping to avoid this – to tell you in person. Please put the phone on speaker and set it away from yourself, assuming no one is around to overhear what I say."

Edward sighed but did as requested, then said, "Go ahead Carlisle. I'm on the other side of the room and there is no one around."

Carlisle nodded, "Brace yourself for what I'm about to tell you son. The nomads were not the first vampires to cross Bella's path after our leaving. She's been hunted from the moment we left…" and Carlisle proceeded to share with Edward all the revelations they had learned from Bella today. As he spoke, they could hear various pieces of wood being destroyed – presumably Edward's furniture. Here and there a growl was heard. Finally, a keening cry came through the phone when Carlisle spoke of the injury Victoria had inflicted.

When Edward's cries had quieted, Carlisle said, "So you see son, my mind is set. Bella does not trust us, with reason. Her objections have not swayed me, and neither do yours. Come home."

They all heard, "I'm on my way." Then the line went dead.

Wrapped in Jasper's embrace, Alice smiled and announced, "He's planning to leave just as soon as he's done burning the remains of his bedroom."

She didn't know if anyone else suspected, but Alice wasn't pretty certain Carlisle's decision hadn't stopped at moving Bella in. Because in the recesses of her mind the memory of a vision she once thought unstoppable had begun to take substance again from the moment Carlisle had seen Bella's injury. She would keep her own council on its meaning – Carlisle would speak when he was ready.