I have updated with two chapters tonight because as the lazy writer that I am, I haven't updated in almost three weeks. So here you go I hope this clears up a few questions from the last chapter. Enjoy, and please review.

Chapter 11

Passing Notes

It wasn't like Bella had ever had a dream worse than this, but admittedly; this was pretty bad, a nightmare, even.

She was in Carlisle's office. Sitting at his huge, mahogany desk, staring up and out the bright glass wall. There was a thump from behind her and the father himself stood by the wall.

"Bella?" He asked curiously, staring at her in awe, rather than accusation. Bella stumbled out of his chair and ran forward to him. The golden eyes of her imagination stared cautiously at her, one cold hand laid on her forehead.

"108.5" He said clearly, a certified smile stretching across his face. Bella frowned, but before she could react, Carlisle was gone.

"Carlisle?" She called, looking around the study. The vampire was gone, leaving behind nothing but sad, cold loneliness.

And with a fright, Bella opened her eyes to face the same golden ones.

* * *

The two golden orbs hovered very close to Bella's own face, studying her cautiously. Bella's body tensed, fighting back the fear that she once associated with those eyes.

"Bella," The honey voice murmured to her. As her stupor wore off, Bella realised the scene had changed again; she was back in reality, in a familiar room. The soft covers she lay on smelt beautiful, a woody-musky scent. She recognized it as Emily's house.

She blinked a couple of times, and the frame outreached to see Carlisle Cullen sitting by her bed. Pain lashed around the edges of her stomach, only a distant reminder to her pain from moments ago. "Carlisle." She acknowledged him, as her voice was a mere whisper. The familiar smile she had come to expect from their leader was lost on his face, the substitute somewhat lesser in comparison to his beauty.

"How are you feeling?" The doctor asked, inching closer again to lay a cold hand on her forehead. Bella shivered at contact; it was like an eternity that she had felt something so cool since her 108.5 werewolves. Bella simply nodded, avoiding Carlisle's eyes.

But she could feel them probing, probably looking for some sort of falter in her decision. But she cleared her throat and fought back an unexpected roll of anger. "Why are you in Seattle, Carlisle?"

Bella hoped she didn't sound rude; it was hard to be disrespectful to such a man of kindness and good as Dr. Cullen. But an echo of his old self returned and he smiled warmly. "We- Esme, Alice and myself were just clearing out some bank accounts and whatnot. We're relocating to…somewhere else next week."

Bella nodded. This was such a perfectly understandable answer. She blamed herself for such paranoia. She felt slightly intrusive as Carlisle skipped over on locations. "Oh, okay."

The awkward silence continued as they sat on Emily's huge carved bed, memories and sadness swirling around in the space. But Carlisle was the first to snap out of it. "Well, I guess I should be going now, I promised Esme I would be back by 8."

With a start, Bella looked out the window and saw darkness; she had been out for more than a few minutes then. Carlisle's painted smile returned and he walked gracefully from the room. A second before the door shut, Bella could have sworn he said something. "Be safe."

Bella waited for an endless moment, long after the purr of the Mercedes faded away. She couldn't move, frozen in shock and guilt. What had she done to their family? She couldn't ignore the absence of natural joy Carlisle usual wore, or burning memory of his face in her mind the day they left.

There was a quiet knock at the door, interrupting her self-grief. It opened an inch to reveal the warmth of Jacob's face. "Can I come in?"

Bella propelled off the bed, ripping the door out of the way and wrapping her arms firmly around his waist.

"Oh, Jake." She cried, tears streaming freely down her face. Something heavy fell down to the floor beside her but Bella was long gone noticing. She pulled Jake through the door; the same unyielding strength guided her to push Jacob down on the bed beside her. "Are you okay?" She growled, kissing his cheek, forehead, collarbone and any part of his upper torso she could reach. "Don't. You. Ever. Do. That. To. Me. Again." She kissed him in between each word, her tears falling onto his shirt.

He winced against her neck as she clasped at his body, but laughed huskily into her ear. "I'm perfectly fine, Bells." Jacob assured her. Naturally, he would never disclose how very painful this was for him; the ache of each bone, repairing itself and joining back into their places. But he smiled, as he would always for this girl.

"How about you come have some dinner, you must be hungry." Bella nodded, her anxious eyes never leaving his. She quickly ducked down and grabbed the crutches Jacob had dropped by the door and helped him out into the open room.

To Bella's surprise, the whole pack was there, not to mention Kim, Sue or even little Claire, who lay sleeping in Quil's arms. But the last shock was to see her own father, Charlie asleep in the armchair closest to the fire. Did he know everything now?

Jacob grunted as he fell onto the couch, sending another jolt of worry through Bella. He didn't miss it.

"Chill, really, Bella. Dr Fang patched me all up." He laughed, an echo coming from his brothers. Bella smiled weakly and edged through the tiny space between the huge bodies to where Sam leaned against the kitchen bench.

"What happened?" She growled at him, holding back tears again. Sam sighed, and pushed away from the counter, putting a hand on her shoulder. He glanced nervously over to where Charlie slept and gestured towards the sliding door. "Let's take a walk, Bella."

-

The cold ocean mist blew untainted across the beach, and Bella once again denied the warm arm of Sam Uley. She faced away from the leader as he talked, keeping her eyes on the swirling pool of midnight ocean.

"Victoria attacked us. It was partially my fault; we were unprepared and I knew we were taking risqué chances. We were about half a mile out from the Soh Ho Forest Rangers Outpost when she just appeared from nowhere."

Sam shuddered uncharacteristically, and Bella gulped as the story took a frightening turn. "There were almost twenty of them. I still don't understand how we got out alive. There were twenty new, young bloodsuckers. As soon as we managed to get Jake out of there, we killed only those who got in our way. As Paul and I carried Jacob out, we saw the rest scatter away."

Bella gasped, her whole world crashing down. There were still newborns around, brand new vampires searching for her. Twenty of them Sam had said. She felt her throat start to tighten. "And then what?" She managed to splutter, bending down to pick up a rock.

"We carried Jacob home. I could feel her watching, but I am almost certain she will not attack again tonight." Sam smiled if only slightly as Bella turned her horrified face back to him. "We did manage to take out more than half of her army."

Bella closed her eyes and nodded. Army. Yeah, Sam had that right. An army bred for only one purpose: to hunt her.

"I called Dr Cullen as soon as we got back onto the rez. It wouldn't have been possible to take Jacob to a hospital, not at the rate he was healing. The vampire was aware of our abilities, and he was more than obliging to examine Jacob. He saved his life."

Bella saw a flicker of something flash across Sam's face. Could it ever be possible that the werewolf alpha could ever feel some sort of gratitude for his sworn foe?

Unexpectedly, Sam came to a halt. He cleared his throat and reached into his back pocket. "I did warn him to stay away from you, Jacob didn't want you to be upset, but Dr. Cullen assured me you were out cold. He gave me this for you to read."

Sam placed a piece of slightly crumpled card in Bella's grasp, looking sheepish. "Jacob read it beforehand. He only wanted to make sure the other one wasn't asking for you back. But he tells me it is something else entirely."

Bella nodded, coming to a standstill as her confused eyes glanced at the familiar writing of Carlisle Cullen. Sam exhaled, and stepped back. "I'll leave you to it. Just come straight back to Emily's." Bella nodded without looking up and began to read.

-

Bella, it read.

I want to thank you for taking the time to read this, you will always have a choice when it comes to making decisions based on the past evens involving my family. But this was something I had to make sure on, make sure you were safe and free from anything from our world.

The Volturi have been made aware of the current situation, and they have agreed to break the deal that was formed when you saved my son in Italy. You will no longer have to fear for demise or secrecy, Aro has sworn his oath to me he will not hunt you; he acknowledges you have your own secret now, something you would not want exposed any further than ours. I explained quite clearly that we had relocated and we would have no further contact. The Volturi were quite generous. We owe them our lives.

I do hope you are well, I am sorry I couldn't greet you today. We thought it best to keep that distance safely and harmoniously.

Sincerely,

Carlisle Cullen.