CH2

Thankfully Aro didn't give them a chance to say anything, "Ahh the Cullen's have arrived, how are you dear friend?" Carlisle's eyes shot between Aro and myself as he stuttered a reply "we-uh-were-good Aro, thank you for-for having us."

"But of course dear old friend. Wouldn't want your family to fall to this army now would we?" Aro smiled sweetly as if part of him wanted exactly that. Dragging my eyes from their so called leader I took in the rest of the family, as well as the addition vampires. Edward was first of course, his bronze sex hair, his golden eyes slightly darkened, that stupid dazed smirk on his face as he gazed at me. I admit my lips twitched at the idiocy. Turning to the vampire I actually missed the most, Alice, and I was surprised to see tears in her dark eyes, and I mean dark as if she hadn't fed regularly in a while. She was leaning into a shocked Jasper as if he was holding her together. Off to the other side Emmett seemed to be doing the same as Rosalie leaned into him, she was much better at hiding her emotions though I saw the regret and pain in her eyes. Emmett looked like he wanted to flash across the room and envelope me in one of his hugs. Esme had her hand over her mouth as she tried to get ahold of her emotions and keep the sobs at bay. And next to them stood three other blonde vampires who I could sense the power and age from. One was a strawberry blonde with long curls passing her shoulders and stood maybe slightly shorter than Rosalie. She stood before the other two which made me guess leader. Though she was in front of them one of the others with dirty blonde hair in a braid clung to her arm slightly, though I knew she could hold her own. Slightly behind them stood a taller vampire with platinum hair straight down her back, I could sense a gift from her through my shield, and she held herself like a warrior. I was brought out of my musing by the quiet "Bella" and looked back towards Edward. I didn't bother replying though as Caius beat me to it, "we are her to discuss business Cullen if she wishes to speak to you it will be done after." He turned back to the matter at hand as Aro continued to speak, "Jane has spoken to you I assume?"

"yes, she has stated that a vampire, Victoria is creating an army to, well to kill us."

"indeed it would seem so. You do remember this woman yes?" Carlisle looked to me for a split second before looking back "yes, we had killed her mate."

"why?"

"he-he was after my sons mate-" growls filled the room at the word as I shook my head in disgust. Caius spoke up as soon as it quieted "you mean someone your boy mistook as his mate."

"No she is my-" his words were cut off as Heidi closed her hand around his throat. "The Kings did not give you permission to speak." She hissed out and by damned if it wasn't so hot. She practically tossed his scowling ass to the side when she got her point across. Aro cleared his throat "so you killed one mate without thinking of the second?"

"we didn't think she-"

"a mate without a mate is nothing." We all turned as Marcus stood from his chair his solemn voice booming out. "did you think she would simply forgive and forget the death of her everything?" he shook his head in disgust, showing more emotion than most have ever seen from the ancient, "Isabella is unattainable, so it would seem this vampire will settle for your lives instead. You have been offered and accepted our sanctuary. The Volturi will deal with the threat and you will be able to return home. If you chose to return home before the threat is neutralized, stay out of our way." He sat back down now that he made his point. Aro spoke up once more trying to hide as smirk "Felix will show you to your rooms, after your belongings are situated you may roam as you please. Dismissed." As soon as the last word was out of his mouth I flashed out of the room, Jane and Heidi not far behind. I entered my room tossing my cloak on the couch before reaching for a blood bag. I downed it quickly before Heidi spun me around to face them "love-"

"I'm fine."

"No, you aren't. Your angry and hurt and your feeling everything you felt back then all over again. And your shutting down." I shook my head well aware she was right. "Bella you know she's right. Seeing them again has to be hard."

"It isn't seeing them again!" I nearly shouted out before taking a breath, "it's, it's- did you see them! They looked horrible! They mourned me, they did this and they think they have a right to mourn me!"

"Jane, give us some time please." I vaguely heard Jane agree and flash out the door through the ringing in my ears and my blurry eyes. "they did this" I murmured more to myself then anything as I collapsed onto the floor. She took me into her arms and rocked me murmuring soothing things in my ear, just as she did to the human me all those years ago. "I've got you my love."

I don't know how long we sat there curled up on the floor but it felt like ages. When I was finally able to control the sobs I murmured a small "thank you".

"you never have to thank me for being here for you." I leaned up and pressed a kiss to her lips, it started out slow and gentle but quickly turned heated in seconds as her tongue passed my lips. It swirled with mine as she started tugging at my clothes. She must have got fed up as the next thing I heard was fabric ripping as she flashed us to the bed where she threw me down. She pulled her own clothes off quickly before pouncing. She didn't say it, but she didn't have to as she spent the next 6 hours making sure there would be no doubt that I was hers. I was completely covered in her scent as she once again buried her head between my legs. "Fuck Heidi, babe don't stop." My hand tangled in her hair as I pulled her closer and once again the orgasm rocked through me. "fuck woman." She chuckled against me as she crawled up my body leaving a trail of kisses until she reached my lips. "Mmm. I love you."

"I love you to Heidi."

We took turns showering knowing if we went in there together we wouldn't leave my room for another 24 hours. I threw on some tight jeans and a tank-top before throwing my cloak on over it. Heidi opted for a seriously short skirt and tight button up that showed more than I wanted anyone seeing, "really?"

"what?" I shook my head "nothing." She sent me a knowing smirk, "let's be honest, it has less to do with your concern over people ogling me and more on you will have a hard time focusing." Had I still been human my face would be as red as a tomato. "shut up." Her laughter followed me as I left my room nearly running right into the wall outside my door, and by wall I mean Vampire. "Father" I murmured gaining my balance as Heidi walked up behind me "King Marcus, is everything ok?"

"Of course, I simply wished to see how my daughter was faring."

"I'm fine father."

"are you child?" I let out a sigh, "I will be. It is simply a lot to take in is all."

"Of course, say the word and I will toss them to this army." I couldn't help but smile at that. "I know father, I will keep that in mind. We were just headed to Caius and Athenodora's to see Damon, Aidan and Ayana, come with us?"

"But of course." We waked the hallways silently tensing around every corner with thoughts they were around the next until we reached the door we wanted. I knocked before entering what had been turned into a library. Caius sat on one of the many chairs, a smiling babbling little 3 year old on his lap and a smile no one outside our circle would see in his face as he read something about dragons to him. He looked up as we entered, "Ahh Isabella, Heidi and Marcus, I was wondering when you would make an appearance."

"sorry uncle I needed to-think for a while." I stumbled out well aware they caught the smirk on Heidi's face, "of course." I looked down just in time to see the boys twin sister tumbled into my legs before Athenodora was able to catch her, sweeping her into my arms "are you giving your grandparents trouble?"

"cha!" she laughed with us as we couldn't help it. "where your big brother huh?"

"here." I turned as he walked through the opposite door, a bag of chips in his hands. The five year old walked up to us for a hug "hey auntie."

"hey buddy, what you up to?"

"nothing, I was on the phone with mom."

"oh, do you know when she's coming back?"

"no but she said soon." He shrugged it off before heading back to his own book but I know he missed her. Athenodora joined him, these do really did enjoy doting over their grandkids.