A/N: Hello again! So, this chapter is a bit different, with a lot of inner musings from our characters, a bit shorter in page count but a lot of information and development! I hope you like it and as always

Enjoy!

When You Love Someone

Chapter 19: Tag, you're it

The little town we were staying in was quiet this time of night, save for a few patrons coming out of bars or couples going home from late-night dates. The streets were lit, and the overcast was lovely with the wind coming in lightly.

My boots hit the pavement with barely a sound as I took in the sites of the town and against my better judgment, I let my mind drift for the first time since everything.

For any person it would be a major accomplishment to not only understand the complex recipes but actually put them into action; my skills as an alchemist have greatly improved and maybe, just maybe, I could figure out the fire potion that Didyme lost her life too.

Then again, even if I were to figure out the components, which really, I already have with the missing ingredient back at the hotel (closely guarded by Jasper and Alice) there wasn't much left then to actually make it.

My journey here is closely coming to an end. I was due back in Volterra in the coming week and knowing now what Caius and possibly Chelsea has done; I wasn't exactly sure how justice would be delivered.

Edward had a point, as much as I hate to admit it, but what evidence did I really have? Testimony and speculations aside I have nothing concrete. If I were to bring Didyme's killers to justice I would have to go on the offensive.

They must know what I've been doing. Going as far as to send an assassin to kill me means that they must be scared. Otherwise why even risk themselves like that.

I had to be smart about this, but I can't risk anyone else.

I shook my head as once again, Alec entered my head. He was confusing enough as it is or maybe I'm making it complicated. I don't even know anymore. On the one hand, he has done nothing to hurt me, at least not purposely. Jane and I are on better terms, I felt bad since I haven't spoken to her in weeks but at the very least, the less she knew about everything the better. Alec, on the other hand, seems to know more than he let on, in fact, I'm sure of it.

The day in the library when he showed me those scars, he knew something, maybe he even had suspicions about Caius, maybe Chelsea. No matter his relationship with her or lack thereof he should have told me.

Shouldn't he?

I mean I told him everything about my love life (and lack thereof in the last few months) then again maybe I'm a fool for believing anything a clone says and not even thinking of the time in forks.

He looked so, dare I say, broken, upon the cliffside. It was so quick, just a glimpse and I had to leave. Would a man really give so much thought to me if he didn't care?

He must care a little or I could just be fooling myself.

Then again why would I waste my time over 'does he love me or not' gets old; I haven't been like this since high school.

Because you haven't been in love since high school. – Stylized

Now that was a sobering thought.

Do I love Alec or am I just letting people get into my head? Is it love or am I so desperate for attention and some care that I latch onto anything with any resemblance of love? Okay ouch, that thought hurts but what if it's true? I mean I don't exactly have a staller record with people I've loved in that regard, then again, the only person on there is Edward and even he isn't that bad. I mean sure, he's bad but is he that bad?

Well yes, but Alec is nothing like that. At least from what I've seen. He has shown numerous times that he, I guess likes me. He tolerates me at the minimum, but love? That's quite a leap, Bella Swan, even for you.

Plus, how much do I really know about Alec? I know he was changed when he was 21 years old, that he had a tumultuous human life and turned his greatest torture into his greatest weapon. An amazing feat for anyone. He has taken care of and watched over his sister, has become one of the greatest assets the Volturi has ever had as both an offensive and defensive weapon, and all the while been a confident and friend to the lost queen, Didyme.

Along with a confident possibly an ally to the scheming and mischievous queen who, from stories and her diary, only wanted to protect everyone she loved. Perhaps he had a bigger role in that than anyone knew, even what Carlisle knew. Then again, his past is a bit blurry, what exactly was his role? He may be innocent when it comes to Didyme's actual murder but how else was he involved? Could I fully trust him? Confide in him about my theories, show him all the evidence I gathered, tell him how I was able to make the potions, tell him I was so close to creating the potion that Didyme was killed for?

Tell him how scared I am that I'm so close to finishing it? That I'm terrified of killing again, that being alone on the battlefield, if I should fail, that I would die alone?

Something I had craved for, to die alone so no one will know, that I didn't deserve to be with anyone and now…that is my greatest fear.

I didn't want to die alone. I didn't want to die, obviously, however ever since Alice had warned me all those months ago, that the road would be dangerous and full of turmoil. I guess dying for a cause wouldn't be so bad.

I made my peace with death a long time ago, but maybe I should make my peace with life.

I'm here, I'm alive and I'm doing something important. My life means something. My purpose here is something, what I don't know, but it's somewhere. I have a family (although complicated) and I have friends; I have someone who I may (maybe, possibly) love but at very least care for deeply. At minimum maybe we could explore something other than friends.

At least if he would want to.

If he did, it would be nice, to have someone again; but not just anyone, it would be Alec. We would do what we've always done. Sit and relax without saying a word, just enjoying each other's company. We would play chess, maybe go hunting together, travel together. I could see the world with my best friend, my partner, my mate.

It's the first time I had ever dared to dream of a happier future, with him by my side, living a life that we had built for each other. The mystery of Didyme has been solved and the book being brought to the light. Her memory is properly remembered instead of in the shadows to protect her murderers. Alec would heal and so would I.

We would be together.

Our family and friends together. Would I dare to go through with it? To risk the delicate balance of friendship we already have for a possibility. For a dream?

Would I regret it if I didn't?

I have eternity yet would I spend it alone, always wondering what could have been or spend forever in limbo never taking a risk? To be honest neither of those sounds so appealing. Maybe I could take the risk.

I just hope I didn't ruin my chance.

He looked so desperate when I left him in forks. Where would he be now? I left my phone in Forks and purposely left anything that could be tracked back in Alaska. Perhaps Carlisle was able to speak with him? Maybe he traveled back to Italy? Maybe if I plead with him, we can talk, just like he pleaded with me to do. To just talk, we have always come to the table to talk, why should this be any different?

Sighing, I realized I had come full circle and walked all the way back to the small hotel we were staying at. Smiling softly, I made my way in only to stop short at the sight before me.

Two dead humans threw to the side of the wall, the lobby looking destroyed. "Oh my gosh" Darting over I knew there was no reviving them. Whoever did this had to have been a vampire. Their necks were twisted and eyes glassy as if they didn't hear them coming. Wincing I closed their eyes and adjusted their necks, laying them down properly. Shaking I stood and with a gasp, I realized I couldn't smell anything, there was nothing here, as an empty space.

Quickly I ran to the room hoping, praying that Alice and Jasper were alright. Opening the door, the room was trashed with no sight of Alice or Jasper, no scent, no trace of anything.

Stepping over the debris, my hackles were raised, I cautiously looked around, not moving too much. All the doors were blown open and the cabinets were destroyed. It was obvious whoever did this was looking for something.

Taking a small step forward, I inspected the room, making sure I was still alone. Making quick work I lifted the floorboard and the ever-important vials, thankful for their quick thinking of storing them there. With a breath of relief, I held them to my chest before my world went black.

Alec

Three days.

Three days since Bella and the other Cullen's left and three days since I lost track of Bella for the second time. This is unacceptable.

"This is ridiculous, I could be out there, right now and bring her home in the amount of time I've been sitting here!" I growled out as Janie rolled her eyes and beat Emmett in chess. Again.

"Alec you and I both know that we can't do that. We go out searching and word reaches Aro, we could all be in danger, plus Bella's punishment would be much more severe." She cautioned as I huffed and started pacing the room.

"Alec you know she's correct, we both know how Caius would react once he knows Bella's activities and Aro would have to go along. It's the law." Carlisle tried reasoning with me.

"I'm aware of the law Carlisle, I've enforced it for centuries" I bit out as I sighed deeply. "My apologies, I didn't mean to snap however you can understand my position here?" I explained as the big one, Emmett snorted.

"Yeah we all know you got it bad for Bells" He snickered as his wife, Rosalie, quickly gave him a hit over the head as I raised my eyebrows.

"Excuse me?" I said lowly as he stared sheepishly at me while I saw Carlisle subtly shook his head at his son.

Obviously, he ignored it as he continued "Well it's obvious, isn't it? You protect her like she's your mate. You stare at her like she's your mate. You've been running a hole into Eleazar's carpet with your pacing and all you've talked about is Bella even before they left. You know if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck…. It's a duck" He said simply as everyone stared at each other awkwardly, well everyone besides my sister. On the contrary, she was snickering.

"And you're encouraging him why?" I asked her in a low voice, my patience razor thin.

"Alec, he has a point, just everyone here has been too awkward to approach you. You can be so intimidating, so cold. Yet with her, and don't deny it, you become different. A better version of yourself. We've all seen it. Maybe this could be good for you?" Jane said quietly as I shifted my eyes around the room.

"I'm not commenting on my emotional state when there are more pressing matters to attend to." I pressed, refusing to meet anyone's curious stares. "and you" I snapped as the big one met my stare head-on, a smile playing on the edges of his mouth. "Keep your mouth closed about mine and Bella's affairs…or lack thereof" I hastily added as the smile crept onto his face.

"Just, never mind, I'm going to check the monitors again" I mumbled as Janie and the oaf went back to their game and thankfully no one approached me after.

Rubbing my hand against my head and headed down the hallway, I closed the door behind me, hearing a soft click and for a moment I relished in the silence.

Shaking my head, I went to the chair and had the monitor screen's low buzz slowly calm my nerves. As usual, the dot was at a standstill. No coordinates. No notes. No clues.

Nothing.

"Where are you?" I mumbled as I clicked around fruitlessly, seeing no change. How could she just disappear? No warning, no indication. There must be something. Unless she didn't want to be found.

Groaning I rubbed my forehead, trying to forget the last memory I had of her, our last conversation together. The hurt on her face, the tears in her eyes. It was just like before, when she came the first time, except worse because she was looking at me.

How could she look at me like that?

The memory of her face forever etched in my mind. Her eyes, her expression, what did that creature do that could cause that look to appear on her face? What could she think I did? I would never hurt her in any way but maybe she didn't know that. What if Janie was right? I've been too cold. Maybe I have been too guarded, too closed off for her to know.

This wouldn't have been the first time my sister has been so open with her opinions. Of course, she has never been so bold as to come forward with so many others in the room. Of course, knowing her that may be the reason why thinking she can entrap me into revealing something.

Revealing what, I don't know. Groaning I brought my hand to cover my eyes and leaned back into the chair, shaking my head. There's a reason I don't think about emotions; it leads to unorganized thoughts and no control over how you feel.

I've always been in control; the only time that I wasn't was when I was on that pyre; the villagers tying my hands and feet and the fire so hot it was like going through the change twice.

No one has been able to match my skill nor my intellect. I've kept my cool, I've thought as the enemy, and beat them. I've risen through the ranks and gained the trust of not only my fellow guard members but the kings of our world.

Because of that, I was placed in the highest rank imaginable – protecting the Queen. Didyme, Marcus's mate and Aro's precious sister. The only family he had managed to save. I was placed to protect and hopefully keep out of trouble.

She was infamous in the court, always with a witty remark and never a woman who could be easily tamed as Marcus would say. The Romanians despised her of course, with her easy charm and intelligence she gathered supporters easily towards the Volturi's cause. Always on the front lines, never one to be told what to do; a trait I admired and revered. As a woman of status and wealth, she was supposed to be meek and following orders – not giving them.

Marcus, worried and afraid (as he was in the right too) assigned me to guard his mate; to indulge her every now and then as long as she was safe. Allowed to follow through with her experiments if they don't bring attention. Able to travel the world making friends and allies everywhere she went while Marcus made friends and allies in court. Together they were a force to be reckoned with, an impenetrable wall that guarded the Volturi and allowed the Romanian empire to fall.

Of course, Didyme's demise weakened the Volturi, but who would hate her so much that they could destroy not one person but an empire? Carlisle suspects Chelsea and although her behavior back then is suspect could she really have killed the queen? Could Bella be right?

Regardless she will pay, hurting Bella in that regard, any regard, warrants punishment, and if the brothers won't do it then I will. To hurt Bella, to kill her, the thought is too much to bear.

Groaning I pinched the bridge of my nose as memories of her flew through my thoughts. Her smile, her laughter. The moments together we spent in silence just enjoying each other's company. I liked it. I wanted it. I love it. I loved…her.

NO!

Growling at myself I shook my head of those thoughts. Love would only bring pain, have I learned nothing of my past mistakes! Everything I love gets destroyed and I can't have that for her. I won't allow it.

Until she's safe, these thoughts are my own. Until she comes back when the danger has passed maybe…. maybe there might be a chance. To hope for her reception of someone like me. To even love someone like me.

"I would think so"

Snarling I glared at the intruder as Edward cautiously leaned in the doorway. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to intrude"

"Yet you intrude on my mind?" I kept my glare as he looked to the floor.

"I'm sorry it's not that I can turn it off, but I try to keep it to a minimum; however, Bella feels the same. I know it, she's told me herself. She has the same fears as you do but she also feels the same passion, same love."

"And I supposed I should take your word for it? The same boy who toyed with her emotions instead of doing the honorable thing and coming clean? The same boy who has kept her running and dragging her back whenever it's convenient for you? The same boy who let her go off and do something reckless by going after a creature of the moon?" I seethed

"I'm not asking you to, I just want to try and do better by her. I know it's illegal, but she needed to. She needed to go, and I couldn't have stopped her even if I wanted to. She does what she wants when she wants. That's who she is. I came here to hopefully talk with you if you ever wanted to hear it. My relationship with Bella or lack thereof is a consequence of my own making. I realize that it's my fault but that doesn't mean I can stop caring about her. Part of that is trying to guarantee happiness for her…and her mate" He said softly as I growled low, warning him to watch his words.

"You know Alec, I read it as much, otherwise you wouldn't want to bite my head off. Or that you of all people would care this much about a human girl even before she became like us." He pointed out as I glared, my temper flaring and I cast my gift, dropping him to his knees.

"You don't think I remember? I knew she wasn't mine even back then." He whispered with his eyes staring at nothing.

"I don't know what you're talking about, nor do I care, but I'm going to warn you only once. Stay out of my head and mind your tongue. You speak of something you have no knowledge of" I hissed as I gave him his sight back as he stood slowly.

"I don't have my bothers gift of knowing emotions, but I know how you must feel about me. I get it, believe me, I've been an asshole and a liar among other things. I wasn't intending it but that's not an excuse, I just want to clean the mess I made. I want to do better and that means supporting my friend." He said lowly, his eyes on me.

"Supporting her? In your delusion, you really think letting her go off with an old Major and his mate to confront a child of the moon as support? Tell me this since you're in the mood to chat. If you wanted to support, her so badly then why not go with her. To go on the same suicide mission as she did?" I asked barely controlling my anger

"I wanted too but I had a different role; I did my part; I'm doing my part and helping her from the ground. You all accuse me of underestimating her and perhaps I did but not anymore. I trusted in her plan and I trust her, which is why I'm here. Her instructions were clear and I'm following them. You see, Bella knew that going was illegal and that if somehow you or anyone found out she was done. Alec, believe me, or not but Chelsea isn't the only guilty party. Caius knew where the sanctuary was. He knew and instructed Afton to kill her. I saw the pattern of his thoughts and Bella had her own theories to back it up. If Caius killed Didyme she needed hard, irrefutable evidence that he was responsible. I wasn't going to say anything, but things have changed. I'm good at keeping secrets, too good really but in this case, it's better than I do and now you need to keep it too; that is if you want her safe." He warned as he slowly walked to the computer and pulled a flash drive out of his pocket.

"This is a chip that Alice and I designed that allows any user to be in contact with one another with a hidden camera. It can connect to anywhere in the world, all it needs a host. All we would have needed is video evidence and that would be enough in the court. The drawback however is that to go unnoticeable it's late by 72 hours but it's secure." When moments of him plugging it in the images of Jasper, Alice, and Bella came onto the screen, each looking ragged and injured.

"What happened to them?" I asked, instantly going on alert as my eyes were glued to the screen as Edward quickly explained their mission was a success but not without a battle.

"This was taken three days but look what happened" Instantly the picture sped up with Bella leaving the room and Alice applying more substance on her shoulder. Once she was finished she went stock-still before eyeing Jasper as he quickly lifted a floorboard to reveal a real floor and underneath a compartment and put all the vials inside, covering it with another fake floorboard and dumping a liquid on top. Instantly the door was crashed open by two vampires I recognized, and the icy tingles of fear ran down my back.

"No" I whispered as the faces of Chelsea and Santiago appeared on the screen. She yelled something as Alice and Jasper quickly went on the defensive. Jasper shouter something before a fight broke out, Santiago quickly displaying his gift sending Alice to the ground. Santiago although gifted to cause pain could only do so for a few moments, unlike my sister but once was enough. Jasper roared and attacked Santiago quickly disposing of him before Chelsea sprayed him with substance, leaving him crashing to the ground, unconscious. She then made quick work of spraying Alice who stayed unresponsive. Taking out her phone she spoke with someone but the word "Caius" was clear and quickly making another call, another vampire with a name of Xander, came bursting in and carrying them both out of the window while Chelsea rummaged the room, my guess looking for the vials Jasper hid moments before. Not finding what she needed she instructed something to the boy and disappeared out the window.

"Xander" I growled as Edward lifted his eyebrow

"Xander is one of Caius's guards. He was being trained by Dimitri because he had a talent for the track" I said lowly as rage started to build in my chest.

"Impossible" I muttered as with time Bella returned to the room looking panicked. She carefully monitored her surroundings making sure the threat was gone before lifting the floorboards and gently hugged the vials towards her chest before Xander came up behind her and like Chelsea before, sprayed her with the mysterious substance, the vials dropping down onto floorboards once and Xander taking Bella out of the window. Chelsea returning briefly to collect the vials, looking gleeful.

"I'm going to kill them" I whispered tearing my eyes away from the screen and looking at Edward's similar expression.

"That's why I stayed behind. I could send help and I could bring evidence in. That's what she wanted, hard evidence. Bella's tracker fell out during the attack here" He said pointing to a small black dot on the screen, "but Alice and Jasper should still have theirs. I instructed Astrid to keep the others busy while I go get Jasper and Alice. If you want to come, we have to go now." He whispered as I nodded my head sharply, following him down a small hanger where a small jet was waiting for us.

"If we hurry we can find them and hopefully locate Bella before anything else happens" He warned as we made quick work, Edward doing the smart thing and letting me take control of the plane, Edward taking place as co-pilot.

"Where are the coordinates" I demanded, getting the jet ready to take off.

"I already installed them, it will take us as close as the jet allows, and then we have to run in," He said as I nodded my head.

I don't care what I had to do. I was finding Bella and killing anyone who allowed this. No one, not even Caius, would stop me. I was coming and I was bringing her home.

Can anybody hear me?

I'm hidden underground

Can anybody hear me?

Am I talking to myself?

Saying, "tag, you're it, tag, tag, you're it"

He's saying, "Tag, you're it, tag, tag, you're it"

Melanie Martinez – Tag, you're it

A/N: So close to the end of the first part of when you love someone! Instead of making separate fics, I'll include all of the 'parts' in one story and we are two chapters away from the climax of part 1! Hold on to your seats because it's going to be a bumpy ride! Find me on Twitter!

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