Twilight

AU Fan fiction

Bella/Alice pairing

United at War sequel

Disclaimer: Everything involving the twilight series and the characters of twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter One

The dark haze that had settled on her like a blanket lifted swiftly, leaving golden eyes to blink open and stare into a bedroom lit by the pale blue moon light seeping in through the large windows.

Alice please baby, please come back to me, talk to me… something.

I'm here my Bella. Before she knew what was happening the tiny vampire was twirled around and settled on the taller brunette's lap. "I'm right here love, I never left," she whispered gently as she looked into crimson eyes a blaze with frantic worry and fear. Cupping her mate's cheeks, running her thumbs along the pale smooth flesh, Alice frowned in genuine confusion. "What's wrong Bella, what's happened to get you so upset?"

Shaking her head the brunette reached up and took the pixie girl's hands into her own and brought them down, hugging them against her chest. Reaching up with one hand she caressed the tiny girl's cheek with the backs of her knuckles as she exhaled, "you really don't remember."

Midnight brows drew together in a deeper frown as golden orbs searched crimson in frightened perplexity. "Remember what? Tell me what's going on, is it the Romans, did they-"

"Alice no, no… calm down baby," Bella rushed out, breaking off her mate's panicked words, and hugging the petite body in a tender embrace close to her chest. "The Romans are gone my love, we defeated them at their own castle."

"I know that, I just thought a follower or something…" Alice trailed off softly as she lifted herself to look once more into Bella's expressive gaze. "If it's not them, then what is it?"

Tilting her head to the side the brunette studied her tiny mate as she pushed back chaotic raven tresses. "What is the last thing you remember Tink?"

Sitting back on her mate's lap a bit, Alice thought over her last memories with her brow puckered back into a frown. "You teleported us from the training room into the hallway, we were going to see my family but…"

Running her finger tips along Alice's pale jaw line and gently turning the little vampire's head back to meet her eyes, Bella asked, "But what love?"

"Everything went dark and… and silent." The raven haired beauty's eyes went wide with fear as she whispered, "What happened to me?"

"I-I don't know baby, no one could reach you, I couldn't reach you." Bella explained even as her mind raced with fresh worries and frustration.

"But you can always reach me," Alice whispered absentmindedly as she struggled to grasp memories beyond the darkness in her mind.

Playing with the hairs at the back of her pixie's neck, Bella gently pulled until their foreheads touched, needing the physical contact with her mate. "Not this time Tink… something was blocking me from you," the brunette confessed.

"I can't… I can't remember anything; it's like my human memories." Alice said softly before connecting her gaze with the brunette's as they clung to one another for comforting reassurance. "Only… only this time I have a feeling."

"What kind of feeling Tink?" Bella gently demanded.

Looking into swirling crimson and amber, the dark haired girl said, "Like it's alright. I feel like they'll come back to me, I'll know when I'm supposed to."

"It's alright?" Bella asked with astonished disbelief, saying, "Do you even know how long you were catatonic Alice?" When her tiny mate shook her head the brunette practically shouted the answer as her emotions rampaged through her. "Forty eight hours Alice, no one's been able to hear your thoughts, feel your emotions, get through to you for two entire days." Her voice dropped to a broken whisper riddled with fear and guilt, she added, "You've been lost from me for two days Alice."

"I'm right here and fine baby," Alice tried to reassure the distraught brunette.

Shaking her head, Bella scooped her tiny pixie up into her arms and walked over to the bedroom door. "No you're not alright or fine, something happened to you and you can't even remember any of it. That does not equal out to alright for me."

"Where are we-"

"To see your father and my uncle Marcus, "she answered before Alice could finish the question, while running through the labyrinth halls of the Volturi castle. "I want them to look you over, see if there's anything unusual going on with you."

Rolling her topaz eyes at her mate's worry, the tiny vampire mumbled, "I feel just fine and perfectly normal, but if you're in such a rush why not just teleport us?"

Scowling down at the pixie cradled in her arms Bella hissed, "You are not just fine Alice, and until we know what happened no more teleporting… for all we know that could be what triggered it."

"Bella that's just ridiculous, you've been teleporting me around for months and nothing happened." Alice rushed out in exasperation, her frustrations with her stubbornly concerned mate mounting as they burst into the laboratory wing of the castle to find lord Marcus waiting with an amused smile.

"Carlisle is on his way since the entire house hold has been privy to your loving bickering." The dark haired ancient informed them in his customary soft spoken tone of indifference. "Just place little Alice on the table princess and we'll see what we're able to discern." He instructed, gesturing to the simple examination table set up in the back of the large room.

As the brunette carried her across the laboratory, Alice noticed the assortment of medical and scientific equipment set up in various sections of the room. "Quite the set up you have here lord Marcus," she commented while frowning at a grouping of manacles hanging from one of the stone walls.

Taking note of where the tiny girl's stare was focused, the ancient couldn't hide the shame from his gentle tone as he spoke. "Yes it is, though some parts are no longer useful."

Bella laid her mate down with a tender smile as she added, "Mostly he's used this lab to study me over the last seventeen years. He was always racing between here and the hospital wing every time I showed a new ability as a child." Leaning forward to place a loving kiss at her temple, she vampire whispered, "He's weighed down by the guilt of his years as a vampire before I came into the family, all of my family are."

Sorry, I won't bring it up anymore love.

Thank you Tink. Placing another tender kiss to her temple, Bella stood up and asked, "What kind of test do you think you'll be running?"

"There aren't that many test one can run on a vampire," Carlisle answered as he came into the laboratory, his golden gaze immediately seeking out and settling on his youngest daughter. "It's good to see you back with us Alice." He added in his soothing tone with an accompanying smile.

"It's great to be back, but can we hurry this along so the little princess can stop treating me as if I'm made of glass," the pixie teased, smirking up at the brunette hovering over her bedside and continuing to touch her hands, arms, and hair.

"You are her mate Alice, after everything with James in Forks you should understand how she's feeling right now." Carlisle smoothly reprimanded his cheeky daughter before stepping up beside the examination table with Marcus. "Why don't we start with a few simple light tests before moving on to some of the more taxing procedures."

"What kind of taxing procedures?" Bella questioned with a scowl marring her beautiful features.

Patting the brunette's hand resting on her shoulder, Alice answered, "the ones that would test my memories and visions baby."

Frowning over at the pair of scientific vampires, the princess asked, "Is it a good idea to test them so soon after she's come to?"

"I want this done quickly because I do remember the reason we're all here in the first place." Alice said with a lifted midnight brow in her mate's direction adding, "Besides the fact that I'm perfectly fine."

"Of course you'd remember why everyone's here," Bella grumbled as the two elder vampires chuckled softly. "Let's just get this over with."

Patting his niece's shoulder Marcus whispered, "She'll be alright little one, there's no stopping your Alice."

"Don't I know it," she whispered in response.

The dark haired man pushed back the curls sticking to his forehead, wiping away the cool beads of sweat clinging to his skin. Taking in a shuddering breath of cold air, tasting the night the tongue in his dry mouth, the man opened his dark chocolate eyes. Blinking away the dizzy haze blurring his vision and causing his mind to swim, he slowly focused on the chestnut haired beauty, kneeling on the dirt floor of the rugged cabin surround them.

"Did it work… did you get through to Isabella this time?" The young woman asked anxiously even as her crystal blue eyes searched over the man in front of her. "Are you hurt? It looked painful and took so long, so much longer than the other times."

Letting out an exhaled shadow of a laugh, Abrielle lifted his strong hands up to frame the worried woman's cheeks. Pulling her into a quick kiss of comfort before speaking in a husky whisper, "I'm not hurt my love. It simply took a lot more out of me than I was anticipating. Isabella's shield is so strong, for not knowing what she is or being trained, she's amazingly strong. I used most of my energy feebly attempting to break through to her mind."

"And did you?" the chestnut haired female asked again while pushing her long wavy locks out of her eyes.

Shaking his head Abe looked into his wife's frightened gaze with a sad one of his own. "Her shield was too great… I had to find another way to reach her and only succeeded in getting through to her mate."

"But Alice isn't the one we wanted, she's not the one that-"

"I know my sweet, I know." The dark haired man gently interrupted as he pulled the woman into his strong arms, tucking her in close to his broad chest and rubbing soothing circles onto her back. "It will still happen Rachel, I promise it will still happen." As his wife quietly sobbed into his sweat dampened shirt Abe gently combed his fingers through her hair and looked out to the dark blanketed sky outside. "I promise sweetheart, it will still happen."

"Well she's just as energetic as ever," Jasper commented as the quartet of vampires joined everyone else gathered in the sitting room.

With a gruff laugh Emmet scooped up his baby sister in a tight hug. "Good to know the midget's still our energizer bunny."

Swatting her mate's arm Rosalie rolled her eyes saying, "Put her down before the little princess throws an overprotective fit." When Bella shot her an annoyed glare the blond simply shrugged before studying her freshly painted nails.

Hopping out of her big brother's hold Alice twirled over to her mate's side and curled her arms around the brunette's waist. "I'm absolutely fine, the resident vamp M.D.s have given me a clean bill of health."

"Then you should get a third opinion, it's not normal to be missing two days worth of one's memory." Edward commented with a deep frown puckering the pale skin between his bronze brows as Bree rubbed soothing circles on his back from beside him.

"Wow… for the first time I agree with Edward," Bella mumbled, receiving a pinch to the side from the little pixie snuggled into her.

Walking across the room to sit beside his wife Carlisle took Esme's hand as he spoke to the large group of immortals. "I never said what happened to Alice isn't worrisome, but with the exception of the lost vision and time, she has nothing wrong with her."

"Accept the usual," Emmet whispered with a chuckle that quickly turned into a groan when his wife's hand connected harshly with his chest.

Rolling her eyes at her bulky brother's antics, Lucidity glanced from her father to her youngest sister, asking, "Will it happen again?"

"There's no way to know without figuring out what the trigger was for this first episode." Marcus answered with his gentle tone as he looked over the worried expressions of the Cullen siblings. "For now the best we can do is move forward and stay calm if it should happen again."

Shifting his gaze to the raven haired vampire, Edward said, "You can't know it won't happen again Alice."

Rolling topaz eyes, the tiny girl snuggled closer to Bella saying, "I do know I just feel it some-how."

"Here we go with this feeling again," Bella grumbled with a shake of her head.

"Last time I checked Jazz got the feelings and you had the visions Ali," Lucidity commented, her face still holding tight to her worried frown.

"Why don't we just move on and hope this was a one-time incident since Carlisle and Marcus have done all they can for now." Esme suggested softly before looking over at her youngest child with a pointed glare, adding, "But you are to tell us immediately if anything is off with you."

Nodding her head with a gentle smile for her mother, Alice relied, "I can do that." Slipping out of Bella's hold the pixie girl took her mate's hand and pulled her along to the center of the sitting room. Gently pushing the brunette onto the oriental carpet covering the stone floor, Alice quickly burrowed into her princess's lap as an ear to ear grin curled her full lips. "Now let's talk about the arrangements we've agreed on and anything new we can add."

With a deep groan Demetri spoke up for the first time saying, "She couldn't have forgotten this as well."

Smacking the muscled vampire in the back of the head, Heidi hissed, "It's our baby sister's wedding too you dumb ox."

"Yes and we've done quite a bit of planning that I'd rather not have go to waste." Chrissy added from beside Heidi.

Watching the exchange between her siblings with an insistent smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, Bella leaned in close to her mate and breathed in deeply of the pixie's reassuring scent. I'm sorry if my worrying gets on your nerves Tink, but I just can't lose you.

Lovingly running her fingertips along the pale arms wrapped tightly around her waist, Alice leaned back into the strong chest behind her, relishing in the comfort of the brunette's embrace. I could never leave you little princess, and your worrying doesn't bother me so much. I know what it's like to fear for your mate's life… it wasn't so long ago that you were human baby.

True but even then I was stronger than you gave me credit for.

And not nearly as strong as you thought you were… need I remind you about a little trip I took through your mind while you were in a coma from pushing your gifts beyond your human limitations. Lifting one of Bella's hands to her mouth Alice gently nipped the flesh between the thumb and index finger before swiping her tongue across it. As powerful as you are my love you still have limitations.

Nuzzling into the crook of her mate's smooth neck Bella let out a whispered sigh. I know baby I… I just want you safe.

I'm with you Bella… I'm safe. The pixie thought as she turned her head and kissed the brunette's temple before reaching up and snatching the plushy projectile pillow from the air.

"Hey," Emmet grumbled with a childish pout. "I so had you that time."

Releasing a trill of chiming laughter Alice launched the decorative throw pillow back at her hulking brother saying, "As if that would ever happen."

"Why don't you two love birds, soon to be newlyweds, pay attention so Em doesn't throw anymore pillows." Luci said with a wink at the cuddling couple. "You are the one who wanted to talk about this after all sissy," she added with a teasing smirk in the dark haired girl's direction.

"For the thousandth time let's please discus this wedding," Rosalie said with biting sarcasm from beside her husband.

Shaking her head with a smile Esme broke into her children's banter, asking, "Are you still set on following the older traditions princess Bella?"

"And for old read ancient," Heidi mumbled.

Smiling over at her daughter lovingly holding her tiny mate, Sulpicia said, "I'm touched that my little girl wishes to wed her mate in the ancient customs as her father and I did."

Returning her mother's smile Bella nodded, saying, "Regardless of what my disappointed modernized sisters would prefer, Alice and I still plan on marrying in the old way."

"Splendid," Aro announced with a small clap of his hands, unable to hide the proud grin stretching his mouth wide. "The other guests will be arriving throughout the day tomorrow, and your mother and aunts have already arranged the feast and engagement festival for the people in the village."

Leaning forward in his seat as his thumb stroked the back of his wife's hand, Carlisle asked, "What other customs does the couple observe during the ceremony?"

The dark haired ancient smile over at the blond doctor as he spoke, saying, "When a leader would marry… a celebration would last three days. The first day was the feast and festival while guests from farther away were arriving. The marrying couple's families would provide mountains of food, music, and dancing as a way of showing their thanks to all those closest to them."

"Please tell me the second day is the bachelor party," Emmet practically begged with a hopeful stare.

Laughing at the large boy's pitiful expression Caius said, "The night before the marriage ceremony the couple is separated by friends and family, they're not able to see one another again until they are to take their vows." Seeing Emmet's wide grin the blond ancient continued saying, "There are certain rituals the girls will have to go through while apart, but mostly the night is very much like a modern day bachelor party."

"Awesome," Emmet's deep voice rumbled out as he shared a large smile with his brothers and the Volturi males. "The guys call Bella."

"You call me?" The brunette asked with a lifted brow and amusement dancing beneath the swirling amber surface of her eyes.

Shrugging his shoulders Demetri looked at his little sister with a teasing grin. "Alice is too girly to enjoy what we have in mind."

Rolling her eyes at the overly excited muscled males, Sulpicia asked, "Have you girls been able to find your tokens?"

"Tokens?" Bree asked with curiosity as the couple in question nodded.

Hugging Alice closer to her chest as she hooked her chin over the pixie's shoulder, Bella looked up at her soon to be sister in law, saying, "Tokens are usually pieces of jewelry, a textile of sorts, some type of statue or carving… an artistic gift that you feel represents your perspective partner. You choose the gift or make it with absolutely no help from anyone else, and you exchange them after the feast on the first day of the celebration."

"Usually the exchanging of tokens takes place in front of the entire village, but we've decided to do the exchange in front of family and close friends only." Aro added, his proud smile still adorning his pale face as he looked around the room.

Patting the arms circling her waist Alice said, "Why don't we let the guys off the hook while we girls get into the decorating details."

"Wait…just one question," Jasper interrupted in his southern drawl as the grateful male vampires started shuffling towards the door. Meeting his little sister's smirk, knowing she already knew what his question was, he asked, "What are you making us wear for the wedding?"

The pixie's smile only grew as her golden eyes lit up with pure unfiltered excited happiness. "Don't worry Jazz, for the nest three days no one will have to dress themselves."

"And her saying that with that creepy twinkle in her eyes is exactly what makes me worry." Edward commented with a shake of his head while following his brothers from the sitting room.

Hopping up to her feet the dark haired girl turned and kissed her mate before saying, "Out with you too baby, it's time for girl talk now."

Looking down at herself in an exaggerated examination of her body, Bella lifted her gaze back to her pixie and tiled her head as she spoke. "Pretty sure I'm a girl Tink… unless something went really wrong when dad bit me."

Suppressing the laugh threatening to bubble up from her throat, Alice lightly smacked the teasing brunette's shoulder. "I very well know you're a girl my love, but you're definitely filling the male role in this ceremony… my brother's even called you for the bachelor party."

"Yeah yeah," pulling the tiny body into her arms and holding her as close as she could, Bella kissed her mate's full lips in a slow loving caress. Just remind me that you're alright now and then… my protective instincts haven't been pacified by the examinations our vampire doctors performed on you.

Pulling back from the brunette's tempting mouth Alice looked into shimmering orbs of mixing crimson and gold. "Of course my princess," she whispered before stealing a swift peck and sending her mate from the sitting room. Turning to face the rest of the room, unable to keep the slight hop of excitement from her step, the little vampire announced, "We have a lot of work to do ladies."

Crimson eyes churned with gold held the blood red glare leveled from the height of the dais with unflinching strength. The brunette stood proud and unwavering in the middle of the throne room as she patiently waited for the explosive protest she could feel coming. The room was silent and drafty as if alive with sense of an approaching storm.

"You cannot be serious… no Volturi could possibly be serious when soliciting such a request." Caius shouted pushing himself to his feet as venom speckled the open air in front of him, his fist clenched tightly at his sides.

Tilting her head slightly, completely unaffected by her uncle's expected outburst, Bella kept her tone calm and controlled as she spoke. "I am very serious and I never presented this as a request uncle."

"They are abominations-"

"As are vampires to some," she injected even as the blond ancient continued on his rant.

"Uncontrollable, temperamental, hostile, aggressive killer… have you forgotten what their kind did to me?" He hissed out between his teeth before rounding on his quietly amused eldest brother. "You were responsible for the girl's education, did you simply skip over the dangers and histories associated with those foul creatures."

"Now now Caius-"

"Damn it don't you now now me Aro!" The enraged vampire harshly bit out, cutting off his brother's placating words as he laid into the leader of their family. "You spoiled her too much, always giving into her every whim and want-"

"Fairly certain the entire castle is guilty of that," Marcus mumbled only to be ignored by his youngest brother.

"You know how violent and atrocious they are, but she has you so tightly wrapped around that little finger of hers'… you'll relent and cave into her wishes, placing us all in danger without a care as long as the princess gets her every desire."

Pulling in from the silent blond soldier standing to the right of the room Bella projected a tidal wave of calm directly at her heated uncle saying, "Enough!" Watching the blond ancient stumble back to his ornate chair as the heavy blanket of forced emotion settled over him, the brunette stepped forward as she said, "They are not the werewolves uncle Marcus thoroughly educated me on, along with a play by play of your own personal experiences with those particular creatures. The Quileutes are shape shifters and after a rough start their alpha and I were able to reach a tentative friendship and alliance against common enemies." Looking from her quiet uncle to her father as suppressed anger danced beneath the falsely placid surface of her amber orbs, Bella continued saying, "Now the original question had been… who is on the guest list, and the answer is that Alice and I have agreed on the Denalis, the Amazon sisters, the Irish coven, and the three Quileute shifters. Is there anyone else you feel I should add father?"

"No my dear one, I simply asked out of pure curiosity." The dark haired vampire answered with a slight smirk as he glanced over to his youngest brother, still slumped in his chair and firmly put back in his place.

Nodding her head slightly the brunette looked over to Jasper saying, "Then we'll be returning to the training room if that is all?"

Waving his hand dismissively Aro smiled as the pair of young vampires left the large drafty room of gray polished marble. "Every day she gets stronger and wiser," he whispered almost without realizing he was speaking out loud.

"She will make an amazing successor," Marcus whispered with a crooked smile.

Scowling at both of his brothers Caius leaned forward in his throne hissing, "I still don't like-"

"That is enough my little brother." Aro calmly interrupted with a raised hand as his crimson gaze met the blond ancient's scowl easily. "Our princess allowed me to view her memories when she and little Alice first arrived months ago, and as she said… the shape shifters and her have become friends and allies, even with their troubled beginning."

Lacing his fingers in front of him while resting his elbows on the carved arm rest of his own throne Marcus said, "I know your encounter with the true children of the moon left you scared and fearful, but the shifters will be severely out-numbered here…" Tilting his head to study his youngest sibling a bit more closely, the soft spoken man asked, "What has you so frightened about these particular guests?"

Meeting the dark haired ancient's curious stare before glancing to his other brother and back, Caius released a slow breath before answering. "I don't like Isabella's trust in the creatures. They may not be werewolves but they are still a danger to our kind… associating with them as she has will leave her exposed to more harm than good in my opinion."

"You always have been so overprotective of her," Marcus commented with a silent smile.

"She is my niece," Caius said in a tone that gave voice to his upset over the situation being discussed. "I've loved that little girl since she came through our doors smelling of smoke, wind, and everything that makes her who she is. I would lay down my claim to eternity to keep her safe, and I will fight and yell against her stubbornness if it means protecting her."

Sharing an understanding smile with his older brother, Aro turned to face the blond man to his left. "As much as I would love nothing more than to keep my daughter safe and protected forever… She needs to grow up and find her own way, no matter how hard it is for our entire family to allow her to do so."

As the ancient's words faded into thoughtful silence, the three brothers lost themselves to favorite memories of a young beautiful Volturi princess. The trio of vampire kings could almost hear the ghostly echoes of childish giggles and squeals, quickly running bare feet slapping against stone often followed by racing vampires, and the always available announcements of love in high pitched tone of the youthful brunette.

"Alright boys… time for your fittings," Alice happily called out, bulldozing the silence of the vast throne room as she and the ladies of the house entered with wide smiles.

Dropping his head into his hand Caius grumbled, "Wonderful."

(The Following Morning)

Pushing wavy locks of rich brunette silk from her face, the alluring Volturi princess stared down on the congested village square struggling to contain the smiling giddy people surround the food tables, games and rides. Bella's red amber gaze watched a small group of children cheerfully chasing one another, their tiny fragile bodies weaving through the adults littering their play area. Her enhanced hearing picked up the excited squeals erupting from their broadly smiling mouths as her own lips curled in a slow grin of her own.

"I believe it's customary for both members of the engaged couple to be present when greeting their guests… unless I got that mixed up somehow." Jane said softly as she stepped out onto the stone balcony just outside her little sister's bed chamber.

Keeping watch over the celebrating villagers, Bella let out a soft sigh before speaking to her favored sibling. "I just wanted to see them… watch them for a little while."

Studying the taller girl, seeing the curious unpredictable child her sister once was, the blond blinked away the remembered image, asking, "Do you miss being one of them?"

Laughing softly, shaking her head, her long unbound tresses swaying with the motion, she said, "I was never really one of them to begin with Janie." Turning around to face her sister the brunette's eyes caught the shimmer of the blond vampire's diamond skin before looking to her own simple pale flesh. "I'm not exactly one of you either," she confessed on an exhaled whisper.

"Consider yourself lucky… it's hard being a badass when you sparkle." Jane teased with a smirk, happy to see the silent smile take over her little sister's full lips once more. "You've always been unique baby Bella. Human, vampire, or whatever… you are now and always will be my beautiful little sister and the heart of this once lost family." Stepping over to the younger girl Jane gently tugged the brunette into an affectionate hug, holding Bella close and tenderly kissing the girl's temple when she rested her head on her shoulder.

Blinking away the moisture blurring her vision, moisture that could still escape the confines of her red amber eyes despite her vampire status, Bella clung tightly to her favored sister. "I have never doubted that I am where I'm supposed to be Janie… I just want answers."

"And you have all the time in the world to find them little princess." The blond whispered beside the girl's pale ear.

"Do I?" The brunette questioned just as softly, pulling back from the smaller vampire's comforting embrace to stare directly into her blood red orbs. "I can still cry, I still bleed when fangs break through my skin, I don't shimmer… those are the things we've had time to find out since I've been out growing my newborn stage." Stepping back from her sibling, pushing her long pale fingers through wavy silk strands, Bella's tone dropped to a ghostly whisper as she brokenly spoke her next words. "Who's to say I can't still die, that I do have all the time I'll need to find answers?"

"Bella…" The blond exhaled as she helplessly watched her little sister's strong composure crack and shift.

"I want to Janie," The princess said before the other girl could continue speaking. "I want to live forever with my family but mostly…" Looking up from the weathered stones beneath her feet the brunette's tear streaked face met the saddened gaze of her older sister. "I want to share eternity with Alice… I want to always be by her side… I don't want to leave her alone Jane, and I hate the uncertainty of what I am threatening that shared forever."

"Bella," the melodious voice of the dark haired pixie called out as her tiny body gracefully glided out onto the sun drenched balcony. Rushing over to her mate Alice tenderly cupped the brunette's cheeks and stared up into the girl's troubled eyes asking, "Baby, why haven't you told me any of this?"

Pulling the raven haired beauty in close to her chest, her arms circling around the girl's waist as she ducked her head into Alice's neck and shoulder, the brunette whispered. "I didn't want to worry you Tink."

"I know… I only saw this vision because your emotions reached out to me for a moment." Alice gently reprimanded as she clutched just as fiercely to her mate's lean form. "You should have told me, you can't just keep shutting me out like that."

As the pair took comfort in one another's physical presence Jane quietly slipped off the balcony and out of the bedroom. Those two really are perfect for each other.

"It took me a little while but I eventually realized the same thing." Edward commented as he adjusted the lace up color of his navy blue tunic. "And keep the jokes in your head, Alice left your traditional attire in your room."

Holding up her hands in mock surrender, unable to keep the smirk from her mouth Jane asked, "Has everyone else changed then?"

Nodding his head with a small exhaled laugh he said, "The two meat heads took some convincing but they buckled under the threat of your baby sister."

"Most do, even before her change."

Thinking back to his fight against Bella in the forest of Forks the bronze haired vampire nodded in understanding. "Guess she's always been a bit scary." Looking into the blonds' crimson gaze he asked, "Are they going to be alright?"

Nodding with a soft smile Jane started walking towards her rooms. "They're together and know how to care for one another better than any mated pair I've ever seen." Looking over her shoulder at the younger vampire Jane said, "My sister has some understandable fears and only time will placate them, so for now… yes, they're alright."

Edward watched the tiny blond continue down the stone castle hall before once again fidgeting with the traditional wedding garb hand crafted by his little sister. Bella if you can hear me… just remember the next few days are for celebration. You have an entire castle of people who love and value you and Alice, and we're all here in any way you may need us.

Thank you Edward.

Smiling at the thought Bella had allowed him to hear, the bronze haired boy made his own trek down the hall, his booted feet making little sound on the stone floor. Anytime soon to be little sister.

Leaning back from her mate with a smile Alice tucked silky tresses behind the taller girl's ears as she spoke. "What are you and Eddie talking about little princess?"

Rolling her amber eyes at the use of the nickname Bella stole a quick kiss from the tiny girl's full lips before replying, "And what is it that makes you think I'm speaking with Edward?"

"You have that look on your face," the pixie answered with a shrug.

Frowning in curiosity the brunette asked, "What look would that be?"

"The one I saw for months in Forks every time you and Edward spoke with telepathy." Going up on her toes Alice kissed her mate's furrowed brow, adding, "You get a small frown and the left corner of your mouth tilts up just a bit." Kissing the mentioned area of the girl's tempting lips, the tiny vampire asked, "So what are you two talking about?"

Letting out a soft laugh Bella hugged the little body closer and nuzzled her neck as she inhaled her comforting scent. "He's simply reminding me of the loving family and friends I have and what this weekend is about."

Shaking her head where it rested against her mate Alice couldn't help but smile as she thought of how far things have come in so short a time. "I like it better now that you two get along, but it was fun to see someone beat him in a fight." Shrugging her shoulders, her tone taking on a cocky lift, she said, "You know… other than me."

Squeezing the pixie's sides, causing a trill of wind chime laughter to erupt from the girl, Bella kissed Alice's pale neck. "You're always so humble my love."

"Of course I am," the dark haired girl shot back with another laugh before pulling out of her mate's tight embrace. Looking the taller girl up and down, her topaz eyes drinking in the sight of leather encased legs and a burgundy red tunic covered torso, she said, "You definitely make the mid evil look hot baby."

Cupping Alice's smooth cheeks Bella smiled as she spoke. "I'm glad you're enjoying it but did you have to make these pants skin tight?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," the little vampire replied in mock innocence as her gaze lit up with her brighter smile.

Smirking, Bella asked, "Is every outfit going to be like this?"

"I did only measure you the one time sweetheart." She answered with an impish grin before allowing her gaze to rake over her mate's toned body one more time. "Trust me little princess, you have absolutely nothing to be even remotely embarrassed about." Hooking her fingers into the leather waist of the taller girl's form fitting pants, Alice pulled until their hips were flush against each other. "I did make them in different colors though."

Nuzzling back into her pixie's neck, nibbling the pale cool skin, Bella whispered, "And does this dress you're wearing so nicely happen to come in different colors as well?"

Playing with the hairs at the back of the princess's neck, Alice shook her head as she moved so her lips were right outside the girl's ear. "Nope, but they only get better… I promise."

"Would you two get down here already, we'd like to get this thing going!" Heidi called up to them from the large castle hall.

Moving so her forehead was pressed against the tiny vampire's, Bella gazed into bright topaz eyes with a smile tugging at her full lips. "I suppose it would be a good idea for the happy couple to greet their arriving guests."

Stealing a swift kiss the raven haired pixie danced out of her mate's arms and toward the doorway. "Come on my future wife, people are waiting to bask in our unprecedented love with us."

Bella watched her little vampire glide out the door and through the bedroom with an enamored smile. Her rich amber gaze trailing over the long flowing baby blue dress with its' ruffled short sleeves and chest hugging bodice. Do I get a hint about the other dresses?

Not a single one, now stop staring and get moving baby.

Laughing softly, the brunette's amusement filtered into the tone of her thoughts as they sped down the connection to her mate. You know me too well Tink.

I also know you have the libido of a sixteen year old boy turned into a newborn vampire.

Cocking a dark brow as the air rippled around her, Bella snaked her arms around Alice's tiny waist when she appeared behind her little pixie. "That's an accurate description, but I'm fairly certain your libido is a perfect match for mine love." She whispered into the dark haired girl's pure white ear before nipping the tantalizing lobe. "See you there baby."

Alice let out a soft growl of frustration when the hallway became devoid of all but herself and the lingering scent of her little princess. "Cheating teleporting cocky soon to be wife," she grumbled while running to the hall where everyone was gathering.

The end of Chapter One