𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞

Turns out the plan to get Bella and I safe was going to go something like this: Bella was going to absolutely break Charlie's heart and leave for phoenix and I was supposed to do the same to Billy.

Yeah, not happening. There was no way I'd break Billy's heart like that, and to worry him and Jake to the point of a stroke was so not worth it. Also, if Paul heard he'd definitely stop me. I wouldn't put it past him to chain me to the house or something. So, I decided to amend my part by instead going after Bella.

I pulled up in front of my house alone, Emmett waited at the treaty line for me to return. The lights were on in the kitchen so I knew Billy was still up. I quickly rushed into the house in a panic that wasn't hard to fake.

"Liv?" Billy asked as I breezed through the kitchen and went straight to my room. "Olivia!" He hollered when I was out of sight.

I quickly grabbed clothes, throwing them into a duffel bag. I grabbed my phone charger and then went to the bathroom. Jake was at the sink brushing his teeth while I started grabbing my toiletries. "Are you going somewhere?" He asked through a mouthful of toothpaste. 

I cringed at the sight but nodded at my brother, "I'll be back soon though." 

I left the bathroom and made my way back out to the kitchen where Billy was looking at me worriedly. "Olivia, what is going on?"

"I need to go," I breathed, my heart racing the same way it did every time I lied to this man.

"Go? Go where?" He asked, his brows furrowed in a suspicious kind of way.

I took a breath before repeating Bella's part of the plan. "Bella freaked out. Her and Edward broke up or something and now she says she's leaving for Phoenix and never coming back. I need to go with her and talk some sense into her, okay? She's making a huge mistake and it's going to break Charlie's heart if she doesn't come back."

Billy stared at me for a long moment, not saying anything, "you think you can get her to come home?" I nodded. "And you promise me you'll be safe?" Again I nodded, but it was another lie that had me aching in my chest. "Okay. I trust you."

It occurred to me then, as I stood in the kitchen, staring down at my adoptive father, that I realized I may never see him again. They may never catch James, which would mean it's not safe for us to return. Or James could catch us, and then I'd never come home. I felt tears burn in the back my eyes, guilt flooding them.

I dropped my bag and lunged forward, pulling him into a tight hug, my face buried into his long hair. "I love you, dad." The word slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. 

I'd never called Billy 'dad', but that's what he was, wasn't he? He's been the only constant male figure in my life, other than Harry and Charlie, but they weren't there for everything. Billy was. He's raised me for the last six years and I know that no matter what he'll always be there for me.

Billy's arms tightened around me and I felt something wet drip onto my shoulder, "I love you too."

He sniffled as I pulled back and I gave him my most encouraging smile I could muster. "I'll be home soon, promise."

We ended up pulling up to the Cullen's house at the same time as Bella and Edward. Just by looking at her I could tell she was a wreck, and I couldn't blame her, I can't imagine what it would feel like to break Billy's heart.

"You okay?" I asked as we walked toward the house, I grabbed her wrist, pulling her to fall back in step with me, following behind our boys.

Bella nodded after a moment. "Yeah, I just... I wish I didn't have to do that."

"I know," I gave her a small smile, "you'll make it up to him."

The conversation died as we walked into the house, immediately halting our footsteps as we ran into Laurent and Carlisle in the foyer. Emmett and Edward immediately went into defense mode, pulling us close to them. 

"Wait," Carlisle stopped them from doing anything, "he came to warn us about James."

I could feel Emmett relax, but only slightly, his hold on me was still tight. Laurent stepped forward and began explaining, "This isn't my fight and I've grown tired of his games. But he's got unparalleled senses, absolutely lethal. I've never seen anything like him in my 300 years.

"And the woman, Victoria, don't underestimate her." The warning was even more unnerving as I took in the blood red of his eyes. I shuddered, leaning into Emmett even more as we watched Laurent leave without another word.

The Cullen men shared a wordless look before we all started moving toward the garage. I could see Esme, Alice, and Rose packing things into a black Volvo. Jasper met us at the door, "I've had to fight our kind before. They're not easy to kill."

Emmett guided me into the garage, "but not impossible," he let go of my waist and started digging in a cupboard with Jasper, "We'll tear them apart and burn the pieces."

"I don't relish the thought of killing another creature, even a sadistic one like James," Carlisle scolded, obviously taking note of the slight excitement in Emmett's voice as he mentioned the burning of pieces.

"I'm gonna run Bella south," Edward began, "can you lead the tracker away from here?" I glanced to Emmett, wondering what his plan was. We hadn't talked about it on the ride here, he was too busy holding my hand in a death grip and glaring at the road to hold a conversation.

Carlisle shook his head, "no, Edward, James knows you would never leave Bella. Same with Emmett. He'll follow you guys." My eyes went wide at the idea of being separated from Emmett. I could feel my heart rate increasing as another panic attack threatened the edge of my mind.

Emmett must've sensed my discomfort because he quickly dropped what he was doing and pulled me into his side. I immediately wrapped my arms around his waist, holding him close and tight.

"I'll go with the girls," Alice volunteered, "Jasper and I will drive them south. I'll keep them safe," she directed the promise at Edward and Emmett.

I buried myself farther into Emmett's cool embrace, not at all comfortable with the turn of events. "Can you keep your thoughts to yourself?" Edward asked in an almost disgusted tone.

"Yes," Alice agreed.

Emmett started pulling me away from him and while I let go of his waist I gripped the front of his shirt in a death grip. I shook my head up at him, having to crane my neck in order to meet his eyes with how close we were. "I don't like this," I voiced.

I could see the worry in Emmett's dark gold eyes, his hand cupped the side of my face, his thumb brushing over my cheek. "I don't like it either, baby." He placed a kiss to my forehead, and I gripped the wrist of the hand that was holding my face, closing my eyes and completely ingraining the feeling of him into my skin.

He pulled back slightly to look at me, "it'll be fine. I won't stop until we find him, okay?"

I took a shaky breath before nodding, I trusted Emmett. I knew he meant what he said. He would hunt James to the ends of the Earth just to get back to me. "Just be careful, Em. I don't want you getting hurt."

Emmett let out a low chuckle, his dimples popping out as he smiled down at me, "I don't know if you've noticed, princess. But I'm much bigger than that guy."

I rolled my eyes, unable to stop from flashing him a smile of my own. "Whatever, just do it anyways." My smile faded as the worry seeped in again, "just promise we'll be together again."

I searched his eyes, waiting for his response, "nothing could ever keep me from you, 'Livia." I nodded up at him, believing him with every ounce of my being. Emmett bent forward and placed a kiss to my lips. It felt like a goodbye kiss, even though I knew it wasn't--not really.

Still, I poured every bit of feeling into that one kiss. I didn't care that his entire family was in the room with us, or that they could all hear the way my heart raced. All I cared was that Emmett knew how deeply I cared for him, that I'd also do anything to bring us back together. No matter the cost.

We pulled back only when I was breathless and slightly light headed, "I'll see you soon?"

"Soon," Emmett agreed.

I had to take a breath of encouragement before I was able to pull away from him. I had to use every ounce of strength I had to walk away and get into the Volvo where Bella was already waiting. 

I watched out the window as Emmett and Edward started pulling out mine and Bell's clothes. "Rosalie, Esme," Edward spoke, "can you put these on so the tracker will pick up the girls' scents?"

"Why?" Rose asked and my gaze snapped to her. She was glaring at Emmett, "what is she to me?" I thought back to the baseball field, how Rose acted completely jealous when it came to me and Emmett. This was a lot like that and I suddenly got the feeling that there was a lot more to their story than what I knew.

Emmett opened his mouth to respond but Carlisle beat him to it. "Rosalie, Olivia is with Emmett and Bella is with Edward. They're apart of this family now," he picked up my jacked that had fallen to the floor at Rose's feet, "and we protect our family."

She took the jacket from his hands, not saying another word as she walked off toward the jeep. I turned away from the Cullen's and instead leaned back against my seat, trying to stop my thoughts from spiraling.

Had Rose and Emmett been a couple? We're they ex's? I wouldn't blame Emmett, I mean he was fairly old, it'd be unfair for me to assume he'd stayed abstinent in all that time-- especially not when I'd been hooking up with Paul this last year. But it did leave me feeling slightly jealous myself as I wondered if they'd slept together.

"Don't be so worried," Emmett's voice broke me from my thoughts and I turned to see him leaning into my window. Suddenly all my jealous emotions floated away, leaving me with just worry for him. For all the Cullen's really. I barely knew them but, the thought of one of them getting hurt because of me left me with a feeling of guilt. "It'll all be okay."

I nodded because I knew if I spoke I might cry. Instead I just pulled his lips to me in a quick kiss. Emmett turned to Alice who was behind the wheel, "don't drive too fast, and keep her safe."

Alice nodded, "I won't let anything happen to either of them." Her promise held so much conviction that I found myself believing them. Nothing was going to happen to me or Bella. We were going to be just fine.