Edward is pacing in the Cullen living room. Abel and Alice were called by him. He smelled a vampire intruder in Bella's house, mainly in Bella's bedroom. Alice is stressed because she didn't see it coming. Bella and Abel are trying to keep track of their fast-paced conversation.
Abel is suddenly very glad that Lauren's with the Clearwater's in La Push.
"Who was it?" Alice asks.
"A stranger," Edward answers. "I didn't recognize the scent."
"A nomad passing through?" Esme assumes.
"A passer-by wouldn't have left Chief Swan alive," Rosalie states.
Bella and Abel grab each other's hands and shudder at the thought of anything happening to Charlie. Esme walks over and they let her sit between them. Esme wraps her arms around s them soothingly and the door bursts open, Emmett and Jasper come walking in.
"The scent disappeared about five miles of Bella's house," Jasper states.
"Someone's orchestrating this," Edward assumes.
"Could it be Victoria?" Carlisle asks. "Emmett says she's been around."
Alice shakes her head from side-to-side. "I would've seen her decide," she claims.
"It has to be the Volturi," Edward says.
"I don't think it's them, either," Alice claims. "I've been watching Aro's decisions, too."
"So we keep looking," Emmett says as he sits on the couch and pulls Abel into his lap. He wraps his arms around his fiancée and rests his face on his back, listening to his heartbeat while Esme keeps an arm around Bella.
"We also take shifts in guarding Bella's house and keep Abel here just in case," Carlisle says. "Abel, you should see if Leah can keep Lauren on the reservation."
Abel nods and he grabs his cellphone.
"Another protection detail?" Rosalie makes a face.
"Hey, Blueberry," Leah greets. She calls him 'Blueberry' because of his blue hair.
"Rosalie...." Esme warns.
"Leah, can you keep Lauren in La Push for a little while," Abel says. "I can't explain right now."
"No, she's right," Bella says.
"Of course," Leah says to Abel. "We'll keep her safe. Let Sam know if you need the wolves' help."
Abel thanks her hands up
"You can't protect me, watch my dad, watch Abel... and search for the intruder, and for Victoria, and keep yourselves fed," Edward says.
"I'm not - "
"Ah!" Abel holds a hand up and Edward's outs closes quickly. "What's your idea, Bella?"
Bella turns to Abel. "Can you call Jacob?"
Abel nods. "I can." Abel calls the number.
"Hey, Abel," Jacob greets.
"Need your help. Bella's house. One hour?"
"I'll be there," Jacob replies instantly and he hangs up.
"That's how you handle that," Abel says and he shoots Edward a withering glare. "What did I say about your controlling nature? Let Bella make her own decisions." He stands up and he looks at Emmett. "Is your bed still up?"
Emmett grins. "Oh, hell yeah." He throws Abel over his shoulder and zooms upstairs, earning a yelp from the human, making his thunderous laugher fill the house and everyone smiles at each other, everyone but Edward and Bella.
