Here's one with a bit of angst because - well it's what I do and let's face it Bitchtoria is still out there causing trouble. Thanks for reading and reviewing! It means so much to me! Sorry for the mistakes, I worked all day with a migraine and am not fixing this lol Also sorry for cutting it a bit short - I wanted to have a head start on the next chapter...

Chapter 22

We were all packed and ready to go by mid afternoon the next day. Our spontaneous trip was easy to pack for. Ski suits and bathing suits were required - the rest was up to us... Well the rest was up to them - Alice still packed my suitcase for me. I wasn't even allowed to enter Edward's room when she was rifling through my clothes - this was of course to prevent me pulling out the more racey garments that she threw in there.

Regardless of Alice's tantrum after, Edward let me throw some of my choices in with his clothes. A fact that I was most thrilled with, even after Alice stuck her tongue out at me and stomped out of the room.

We rented a limo to take us and our things to the airport. Everyone tried guessing where we were headed but none of them got it right. We told Rose in secret what was going on because she wanted to be able to pack appropriate dirty surprises for Emmett, it was easier and less disgusting just to tell her rather than her fill us in on her ideas and then choose which ones were appropriate. Everyone else was in the dark about our plans.

Alice was successfully keeping her mind on other things like singing Possibility by Sierra Noble or picturing Jasper in a cops uniform to prevent Edward from seeing our plans. They all shot comments of excitement and frustration at our refusal to divulge anything but I ignored them. I was too content, I sat in his lap and stroked his cheek, ran my fingers through his beautiful hair. I was pleased when I was able to distract him from his frustration with Alice, and even more pleased when a pleasant growl, almost a purring sound came from deep withing at my handiwork. Every now and then he would nuzzle my neck or place soft kisses on any part of me his mouth could reach.

Eventually our little flirtations became a game. I attempted to dazzle him to occupy him, he dazzled me to get the plans out of me. He would lean close, his cool breath across my lips, his aroma filling me, calming me into a false sense of mind, his gentle hands moving across my thigh or cheek at the right moments, "Will you tell me?" he breathed. No less than 6 times did Alice have to slap my knee - hard - to keep me from falling prey to his actions.

"You Mr. Cullen are too good at this." I told him when we exited the limo at the airport.

He merely smiled and began to drag the suitcases behind him. "ME? You're one to talk!"

I stopped walking abruptly. Edward ran into me, catching me before I hit the ground. "Bella?"

"Sorry Edward, what were you saying? I zoned out there."

"Blood?" He asked quietly, he looked concerned as he watched the humans around us.

"Hmm? Oh yeah.." I fibbed. "I'm okay, it just hit me all at once. I didn't breath until I came in and the doors closed."

He looked at me strangely and then shrugged, "Gee Bella, maybe I am too good at dazzling you." and he picked up the bags and continued.

I hastly looked around. Truth was I completely forgot what I was doing...and that could only mean one thing.

Victoria was here.

She was following us.

Hiding in plain sight.

The cocky bitch. I had to give her credit, she was relentless. Always on our heels, always present at the precise moments when I am most happy or most vulnerable. My time with Edward these past few days had been wonderful - I felt normal, whole, loved. I had forgotten that we were all still in very real danger - prey to a flaming headed vixen. Revenge was on her tongue and we were providing her with tasty treats every day. Our choices to live a normal life until we had to deal with her was just what she wanted...we were giving her ammo every single day.

I didn't like it. But what was I going to do? Tell them? Warn them...it seemed right but...I couldn't tell Edward, and they surely would. The last time I mentioned her name he flipped out - sure on the outside he seemed calm, cool and collected but I could see it in his eyes - he was freaking out. He held me as we lay listening to his records, I saw him trying to protect me - his mind branching out in a thousand directions, stretching his ability to find her thoughts - testing to see if she was in his range. The entire time I just watched him. I said nothing. Did nothing to quell his fears - I merely distracted him. I couldn't bare to see him so worried - so frustrated with himself and his inability to protect not only me but all of us.

Was that it really though? Was I really distracting him? No...I was protecting him. I didn't want him anywhere near her. I knew her power to incapacitate someone with a single memory - I knew her ability to take away a thought process as soon as it was committed to memory - she was a deadly weapon. A practiced deadly weapon. One that would act with out remorse, without conscience. She would destroy him. And I knew her vengeful side well enough by now to know that she would do it not by killing him...no she would toy with him first, mess with his head, mess with our relationship before finishing him off. It would be the worst kind of torture for both of us.

And after him she would move on to the rest of my family. And I knew what she had in mind for me.

I was to be left alone. With my memories intact, able to see them all clearly in my mind, remember each laugh, smile and breath. I would be left to mourn. Mourn until I eventually gave in and lost my mind...mourn until I took my own life.

I voyed then not to allow it. Not for me...for them. I couldn't bare for them to be hurt. I couldn't tell them she was close, they would try to fight her, no questions asked. They would hunt her...and she would tear them down one by one...

No I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't tell them.

I wouldn't mention anything to him unless truly necessary.

She would not get her revenge through him.

Play your game Victoria, go ahead and follow us...you will have to go through me to get to him...to get to them.

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"Are you sure you're okay?" Edward asked me from his leather seat.

We were on the private jet tarmat waiting for our turn to take-off. I glanced at him as I looked through my observation window. "Mmhmm, I'm fine." I lied. My eyes scanning the runways.

She had to be there somewhere. Our private jet was not up on the teleprompter - it wasn't public knowledge where we were headed - hell most of the people on this flight didn't know where we were going. She would have to do some major detective work to find our location...there was no way she would risk being on the plane with us. We would smell her even through the cargo hold.

"Bella, you're not telling me the truth." Edward whispered low enough so only I heard. Everyone was paired off with their mates. Enjoying the excitement of our trip and here he and I were...me lying through my teeth and he worrying relentlessly.

"I am. I'm fine Edward." I said agian, this time not looking at him. I thought I could see flaming hair in the observation deck in the distance.

"Bella, you won't even look at me. I know something is up." he said putting his hand on mine.

I looked at him. "I'm fine."

He looked hurt. "Bella."

"Edward...just drop it, okay? Now is not the time." I nearly hissed, removing my hand from his and brushing the hair out of my eyes. I was glancing at his family, I didn't want them to be worried. The plane was starting up now, we were moving down the runway. I went back to looking out the window. I tried to remove the scalding image of Edward's hurt filled eyes from my brain. But I couldn't every time I closed my eyes they were there. His tortured face wondering what was wrong, questioning me, being hurt by my crassness. His eyes were begging me to be truthful. I swallowed the venom that was pooling in my mouth. I grimaced as it went down. Had that just been a vampire-like throw up? Hurting Edward was making me sick to my stomache?

That gave me an idea.

I put my hand back in his and glanced at him. He was still staring at me questioningly, the hurt still stung in his eyes. "I'm scared of flying." I lied to him.

"Bella this was your idea." he reminded me, his face still questioning, suspicious almost.

"Yes, but is my irrational fear of planes enough to hold back this family from a well deserved trip?" I said sweetly. Almost in my joking tone. I swallowed the venom again. Lying to him was not fun. I hated myself with every syllable that came out of my mouth.

The more distant I was being towards him and the more short I was with him - the more hurt he was getting. The more his questions bubbled. The more he worried.

My white lies were keeping him safe. I had to remind myself.

I kept my hand in Edward's for the entire flight. He stroked my hair as we chatted. I assumed he was trying to keep my mind from my 'fear', but somewhere deep down I knew he didn't believe me.

When we finally landed it was dark outside. We were on a private airstrip and we all headed right from our plane straight for a helicopter. We piled in - a little cramped with Emmett's massive size squished in the middle, "Cozy." he quipped putting his arm around Rose, who rolled her eyes but smiled at him lovingly.

When we finally arrived at the roof of our destination, we all hurriduly climbed out of the cramped space. Carlisle tipped the pilot before grabbing his and Esme's suitcases. We all grabbed our and followed him to the edge of the building.

I took a huge deep breath when we reached the edge. It was still nightime but the moon shone bright in the sky. We were on a mountain...we were on a house built into the side of a mountain. I looked around as everyone took in the fabulous view. The peaks were covered in snow and we could see fresh powder along the private runs.

"Beautiful." Esme breathed. "Bella, Alice, you girls could not have picked a better spot."

Everyone murmered their agreements as we continued to look at the view. It was literally breathtaking. No one moved from their perch or spoke louder than a whisper. The cool night air whipped it's brisk breath around us, it was like a cool breeze to our already frigid skin. It was refreshing.

I drank it in. I allowed it to clear my head, cleanse my soul and try and forget about lying to Edward and fighting Victoria.

Alice's tiny hand made it's way into my left one. "Brilliant idea sis." she whispered and kissed me on the cheek.

"Alice, you're the one that's outdone yourself. This place is perfect...truly amazing." I breathed.

Her tinkling laugh rang across the wide open space before us. "You haven't even seen inside yet!"