Author's Chapter Notes:

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Twilight belongs to the great Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 3 ~First Fight

"So here's what we do. No more running. We stand our ground," I heard Emmett's voice downstairs.

Rosalie had delightedly consented to preoccupy Renesmee in Edward's and my bedroom, while the remaining seven of us would discuss the case of our approach on the Volturi. Rosalie would be listening from upstairs.

Edward and I descended down to the first floor, our hands interlinked together. We joined the fervent discussion. Edward sat beside me on a loveseat, cradling me into his chest. I settled contently into him.

"We cannot let them destruct Forks. They are without a doubt, suspicious, if it is true that they know where we are," Carlisle presented formally, opening his arms towards everyone. "We either wait here, or we go to them. I see no other option."

"If we allow them to come after us here…" Esme's temperate words were left dangling with horror. Our eyes held for a moment, though she looked away in dismay. A hush fell over us for a minute, as we thought about Renesmee.

"What about Jacob?" I asked, turning to face Edward. He was staring down the rug which covered the wooden panelled floor. "He can help us." I turned to Emmett, who had been the one to convey the alarming news to Jacob of our departure. I could only imagine Jacob's fury, and I shuddered.

Edward glanced at me and massaged my shoulder with his fingers. I forced a smile, though I was certain that he was not convinced that I was as carefree.

"I don't think that his pack should leave your father's post," Emmett replied, hunching over his knees and pressing his hands together.

"That's not what I meant," I said, gesturing my hands to explain myself. "If worst came to worst, Renesmee…"

"No," Edward snapped. I didn't even bother to finish what I was about to say. I jerked my head around to scrutinize his face. It was bland of emotion. His expression was taut.

Emmett was seated beside Carlisle on the sofa, stretching back as if this debate were small talk. He never seemed to let anything disquiet him. He spread out his fingers, his elbow propped on the armrest beside him. "Look at it this way," he made eye contact with his mother, who was perched next to Carlisle. He held up his thumb and forefinger as he spoke. "We are protecting the people in Forks, alright. By taking the war elsewhere. Though if we disturb their peaceful ruling in Italy, the Volturi may not be so hostile."

"So we go to Italy," Jasper answered simply, which resulted in Alice shaking her head at him and mouthing 'nope'. When Alice said no, it was a no.

"Not your best idea, sweetie," Alice's harmony-like voice said, sounding awfully and disturbingly weighted. Jasper gave her a quizzical look but said nothing.

"That would consist of us splitting up," said Carlisle, his tone solemn.

"Not necessarily," interjected Emmett.

"This cannot be like the last battle. That was pure dumb luck, and because of Bella. They were caught off of their guard. I guarantee you this time, they will be more prepared," said my husband. "I will not allow for Bella and my daughter to be exposed to them again." Edward unwound his arm from me, and propped his elbows on his knees. He shivered, as if his body had frostbite. I rested my hand on his leg. My other hand claimed his. I squeezed it in a consoling gesture. His hand tightened around mine.

Alice was perched at our feet, sitting cross-legged. She was quiet, and focusing on any new clips of the future that may be sent to her.

"You all need me. You know my gift," I spoke up, self-assured. My eyes swept over my family. "You know what I can do."

"No. Not you." Edward bit off, below the tone of a whisper. He wouldn't even look at me as he spoke. He kept his eyes lowered to the carpet under his boots. "Emmett, Carlisle and Jasper will venture to Italy, and attempt to catch them off of their guard. I must remain here with Alice, Esme, Rose, and with you and Renesmee."

It took a dragging moment before I could speak. I stared off into the space that seemed to evade his unusually empty gaze. His voice was hallow of emotion. "We shouldn't split up." My hand moved in a circular motion on his knee. It didn't seem to faze him. He acted as though I hadn't touched him. He grimaced.

"No, we should not," Alice said, stressing the last word of her delicately articulated line. "I agree with Bella on this perspective. Although we can summon up our militia, just as we did before. In fact, I have already made the calls."

All nine pairs of eyes landed on her. She tilted her head to the side.

"Of course you have." Jasper awarded her with a slight grin.

Alice continued. "You know what would happen if Bella and Edward were to end up like in my horrendous vision. Sorry, not happening. Not in my head." She shook her pixie-like hair in a whoosh. Jasper was perched on an enormous footstool next to Alice.

Jasper was maintaining the tranquillity of the room. He looked her square in the eyes as if reasoning with her.

"We wouldn't allow that, I told you. Send Emmett, Carlisle and Jazz. I will can stay here with Bella, Rose, Alice, and Renesmee," Edward reasoned.

"There is strength in numbers," said Tanya form a different perspective. She was sprawled in a leather recliner across from the bay window, facing Emmett, Esme, and Carlisle. "If I must say this. We function better as a body. As one."

"True. We'd be nearly volatile," said Kate from next to Tanya. Kate had just arrived early from her hunting expedition, though Eleazar had lingered behind along with Carmen. It was evident that Kate was as anxious for the battle as Emmett and Jasper were.

It was too bad that Eleazar had been on their hunting expedition. I wondered when they would return. I slid my gaze toward Edward, who was still frightfully rigid. He finally spoke.

"We must split up. Half here, Emmett, Jasper, Carlisle and the rest of the covens, all go to Italy—" Edward pointed them out with a jab of his fingers. "—Bella, Esme, Rose, Alice, Tanya, Kate and Renesmee here, with myself." Edward repeated himself, and ignored her remark. His forehead creased at her proposal of the entire Olympic coven challenging the Volturi.

"I thought you loved me, Edward." Alice touched her fingertips to her temples. Edward and she were butting heads. "They have too much power there, don't you see?" She shook her head at him as if he was missing something of common sense.

Edward stared at her pensively, his lips rubbing together. He didn't comment.

"Yeah. Think of it this way. They won't want waves in their city," said Emmett, clearly on his side. Emmett shrugged and a smile stretched across his face. "Let's pay 'em a visit."

"Bring it on." Jasper straightened his posture, his face calm.

"Let's do this!" Emmett cracked his knuckles.

"We may as well be asking for the death penalty. That's called insanity," said Alice, enunciating the last word as if she were speaking down to him.

"They will not see us coming, yes. Though do we have the upper hand, on element of surprise," Carlisle scanned our thwarted faces. "Not unless we are all together."

"Edward and Emmett are right," chimed in Jasper. "I say we take a trip."

Esme exhaled and Alice groaned. Edward's eyes glassed over. Carlisle clapped his hands together. "Then we should cast a vote." Carlisle said. He went around the room clockwise. "Esme?"

She gave a weighted sigh. "Yes."

Carlisle ticked his eyes over to Jasper and Alice. "Of course. Yes," Jasper answered.

Alice shrugged, slumped and then nodded. "Yes. But together."

"Hell yeah!" said Emmett, louder than need be.

"I say yes," said Tanya.

"Yes. It is a wise idea," Kate replied.

Carlisle looked at Edward and I expectantly. "Yes, of course. But not all of us," said Edward sternly.

It was my turn. Carlisle's eyes rested on me as I answered, "Yes." I was hit with a bleak look from Edward. I concentrated on Alice's obscure expression. She looked as though she was trying to see beyond the dark-panelled wall behind me.

"No," Rosalie's voice sounded from the second story. We could all hear her with our enhanced senses.

Tilting his head to the side, Carlisle said, "I vote yes."

"Nine to one," said Esme lightly, announcing the odds.

"Alright then, we venture to Italy," Carlisle said in his usual voice of authority.

There was a pause as we meditated on our individuals perspectives on the urgent matter at hand. I kept my eyes on Carlisle.

"Well, what if Jacob could be with Renesmee, while all of us went together?" I proposed, attempting to light the way. Edward pondered for a second and then tossed that notion out the window with a sharp jerk of his head negatively. I amended, "That way we don't have to split up."

"I don't think so," Edward said, his words snipped. He shook his head negatively, pessimistic that Jacob's pack would help. "And I am not letting Bella near them again. I have said it before, and I will not say it again." Edward separated each and every word as it were its own phrase. I noticed how he wasn't speaking directly at me. He looked around the room as if I wasn't even there.

My brow twitched in horror as I gawked at him. What had I said? His face had turned sour, as if he had just witnessed someone throwing up. It cut me deeply. I hated not being on the same side as my husband, but I thought that he was biased because it was me who would be exposed to the Volturi. I didn't believe that he even thought about my ability being in the ultimate fight because he didn't want to think about that aspect. I averted my gaze. I already knew that Edward and I would not agree on this point. I intended on helping in the battle. My abilities were our golden key to bring the Volturi down.

I leaned back from Edward to get a better look at him. We disagreed, and it made me feel distant from him. My eyes were full of panic. My lips dropped open. "Edward."

Edward was stone. I averted my gaze. I intended on shielding our army in the war. My abilities were our golden key to bring the Volturi down. Why couldn't he see that?

He wouldn't acknowledge me. "They will die without me," I said. I wanted to take his face in my hand and make him look at me. "We need my ability to guard everyone. With my mind. I can't do it from here." I knew I was right. My mental capacity to stretch out the impenetrable shield would take a lot of effort as it was to protect us in battle.

Everyone hesitated from the election to listen to us. Jasper and Emmett studied me, though they both looked away, clearly not on my side. Alice appeared satisfied with me. She was nodding her head as if I had just guessed the correct answer to a riddle. Esme and Carlisle were unreadable. They simply stared at Edward and I, seeing the friction between us.

I felt uncomfortable, just like the time when I had asked the Cullen's to vote for my mortality. It was so silent, that we could hear Renesmee brushing through Rosalie's strands of hair, cooing over how pretty it was. Perhaps it was easier to have Rose tending to my daughter, since Rose would probably follow Emmett anyhow.

I felt a sudden burst of determination to save my family. I had complete confidence in myself.

I was unnerved by the way Edward ignored me. I knew that my logic perplexed his mindset. "I told you no," He said, his voice stiff.

"And I told you no," I said, all of my timidity gone. The room seemed to have frozen solid. Nobody moved—which wasn't a novelty as far as we vampires were concerned.

Finally, he turned to me sharply, reading my stalwart expression. He actually glared at me. I lifted my chin, obeying his last request to never look down to anybody. "I am part of this family. And I am a great strength to our survival. You know it."

Edward must have gone off of his deep end, for he tore our hands apart with his break. He bolted up and flew out the front doors with a slam, before anyone could say another thing to him. I sat, staring at the place he was sitting a second ago.

There was a five second pause before Carlisle spoke, aversely casting his vote. "I vote that we split apart." He deliberated, glancing at Esme before addressing the rest of us. "Though we must come to an agreement of terms to make this work." He knew that Edward could still hear everything that we said.

"Put it to a vote then," Emmett sighed, holding up his hand, palm up. He dropped it to his knee, as if settling the predicament.

Esme smiled for me, though I couldn't smile back. It was evident that she was proud of what I said. "As much as I hate to admit it, you are right, dear." She told me. "Although, I think that we should travel to Italy, all of us," she hesitated and then supplemented, "Except that we should leave Renesmee with Jacob, and the wolf pack."

I would have to square away the terms with Jacob. We would be in dire need of the rest of his pack as reinforcements. As would Charlie. "I vote that we all stay together. I believe we would be more effective that way."

"I second that movement," said Tanya, waving her fingers and then touching them to her chin pensively. "I vote against separation."

"I object," Jasper said simply, spreading out his hands. He glanced at Alice and I could tell that he was lulling the room with his calming efforts. "I don't think that all of us should be present for this." He was thinking of Alice, Esme and Rose.

"I second Jasper on this," said Kate in her luring tone.

Jasper's lulling techniques didn't work on Alice though. Alice nailed him with an icy look. "Not yet. Edward is not present in the court." Jasper pretended to shiver. He mouthed "I love you" to her, probably to fend off her scorn. She softened up around the edges and relaxed her tiny body. "I know," she said back behind unmoving lips.

It was obvious that Rosalie was tuned in to our debate session from the level above.

"I third Jazz's." Emmett's hand shot up. He let it fall with a smack. Everyone looked at him. "I don't agree that everyone should be involved. Only the Nomads, Amazon, Egyptian, Irish, Romanian and the Denali covens mixed with the Jazz and me." He fixed his eyes on me. "I don't think Esme, Rose, or Alice need to be on this one. It could get ugly."

"Certainly won't be pretty, silly," Alice said with a ladylike scoff. She turned to face me.

"Not supposed to," Jasper said, folding his hands. "I'll enjoy it though." Emmett and he knocked their fists together, stretching across the room to do so. Alice rolled her eyes. Esme pressed her lips together. Carlisle stared at the carpet gravely, as if trying to look at the situation from every angle.

I stared at the window pensively, thinking about the look of betrayal Edward had given me. I know it had hurt him because he thought I had betrayed his trust.

"The Volturi are all going down," said Emmett vehemently, his balled fist slicing through the air as if he were knocking someone over.

"Catchy. We should make that our slogan," Alice wedged in with a muse. She tapped her finger on her chin thoughtfully, though I knew she was skilfully harassing Emmett and Jasper for their ways of seeing things.

Carlisle amended, "Edward should stay along with the women. Furthermore, I think that we should involve Jacob's pack for reassurance and backup."

I nodded robotically.

"Not fair, not fair," Alice chanted, bouncing lightly in her place, chanting to herself while shaking her head. She was right; Edward and Rose needed to be a part of this conference.

"They can hear us you know," Jasper said to her gently, although not condescending her.

My gaze skimmed the room. I should be thrilled, yet I felt so incomplete. Why wasn't I happy that my proposal was winning? Though Edward was no longer present, we all knew his vote.

"I object," Esme said lightly, her eye hidden downward. "I believe that we should all stick together. We do need Bella. The results were effective." Carlisle and Esme traded a long, meaningful gaze. This was the first time that either of the Cullen pairs did not agree with one another. That included Edward and myself. There was a deep pit that drilled itself in my stomach. We were still waiting to hear Rosalie's election.

"So do I, but who's listening to me?" Alice sang her phrase as if it were a song. "You're betting against Alice here."

"Do you see any reason why just Emmett, Carlisle and I shouldn't be the ones to go?" Jasper asked Alice urgently, wondering if there was a reason that we must not all collaborate together and travel to Volterra. He turned to look at her expectantly. She met his serene eyes and titled her head to the side as if she didn't need to be asked. "Do you see the outcome?" he added.

Alice let out a wisp of frustration. She reached up to tap her fingertips daintily to her temple and shook her head, defeated. "No. But I certainly can guess that it will take all of our strength." Her eyes rested on mine and then returned to Jasper. "And Bella." Alice looked at me.

"Yes, though Edward does not wish her to. He wishes her to remain with Nessie," said Carlisle.

"I think we should bring Bella," said Jasper. After a moment, Emmett agreed with a firm nod.

Alice brightly said, "You need Bella on this front."

Carlisle pondered for a moment, and then he said urgently, "If we add all of Denali coven, the Amazon, the Egyptian, the Irish and perhaps the Romanian, then I motion fourth on splitting into two teams. Though, I won't allow Esme, Rosalie, Alice and Renesmee to be tainted as such again. Not even if Jacob can take Renesmee."

I noticed how Carlisle had not said my name, nor Edward's. He must had had faith in our vigour. He knew we two were resilient, though he didn't wish to risk Esme, Rosalie or Alice.

"I guess that is everyone. Except for Nessie, she cannot vote. She's too young," she smiled soberly at me. I accepted the comic relief, though only my lips twitched and then fell into a frown.

"Give her about two years," said Jasper, commenting on my daughter's growth spurt that seemed to be ongoing day by day. Literally.

"They grow fast," Emmett said offhandedly, hunching over his knees and folding his arms. He ticked his glance upward. I imagined he was waiting for Rosalie to come down to meet with us and report her vote to the court.

"That leaves us at a tie," Esme announced. "We will need Rose's vote to be the breaker."

"We need Rose and Edward's officials here, I'm not sold out on this yet," Alice turned to eye me meaningfully. "I will gather Rose…" she was insinuating that I go after Edward. She slapped her palms on her knees as she bounced up like her motion was part of a dance. She scooted up the spiral staircase. She was glancing over her shoulder at me.

Why should it be so difficult to talk to my husband now? Not wasting a moment, I gathered my wits and gracefully gaited out the front door. I stepped down and gaited into the clearing, covered in snow.

I could not visibly see Edward, though I knew he was about one hundred yards to the north of the property, standing next to a tree and facing away. His breaths were choppy. He had enough time to cool down. Besides, I couldn't let our disagreement prevail over us.

"Edward," I said softly. I glided behind him, though he didn't show his face to me. I stopped a foot away from him. The longer the silent treatment loitered, the more miserable I felt. I waited another minute, a minute too long. "Can we talk about this?"

His hands propped on his hips in a mechanical motion. He went on shunning me.

"Fine, you don't have to talk to me. But we need you inside, to vote." I said formally, which felt odd after all that we had been through together. It felt like the first time that I had spoken to him, uncertain and cautious of what he may say.

"You all know my vote," he said coldly, with clipped words. I wanted to reach for him and hold him, and make all of the pain go away—for both of our sakes. "But you see Bella, you will listen to me either way." He ordered me, though he was speaking to the tree in front of him. Snow peppered all around us heavily. I predicted a blizzard in our midst.

I hesitated, my eyes grazing the snow as if the answer lay in the white fluff. Finally my eyes snapped up.

"No. I won't," I said quietly. His back straightened. "Not when this puts all of our lives at stake," I argued, rationalizing with him. "Not when I can do something about this."

"I think you're wrong," His tone was distant and rueful.

"Am I? Then why did we win the last round with the Vo—" I stopped for a moment, not able to say the name. His shoulders tensed. I trained my stare on his back, wanting to reason with him, not argue. "Look, I'm not betraying your trust here Edward, but I think you know I am right."

"You. Aren't. Going. Bella." His voice was still gruff.

"I have to. And I will," I countered.

I could hear his muscles flex as he straightened his shoulders. He was so tense that I was afraid he would break one of his bones. He was not only angry at the dilemma, but he was furious at my defiance against him.

"I'll stop you." Edward sighed, dejected. His voice was hard.

I was at a loss of words. My head jerked back. The shock wore off after the silence clouded over us. "I'm not the one you need to fight," I said, pleading with him.

"Please Bella don't do this," He said gruffly. I still couldn't see his face but his voice was crumbling. Shaking.

I twisted around him and caught a glimpse of his eyes. They were tormented, frigid. He rotated his feet so that he faced the opposite direction. "Will you just look at me?" I asked soft, yet firm.

"What else would you like me to say?" he said abruptly. "That I agree with you? I don't stand with you on this. Clearly, we have a problem on our hands."

I felt as if I were suffering. I frowned at him. He finally turned around, his eyes burning into mine. The depths of my hope crumbled to despair. Hurt, I dropped my eyes along with the flurries of snow. "Just trust my judgment. Please." He said, the last word strangling to escape him.

"Are you even listening to mine?" I asked in all honesty, but he cut me off.

"I won't risk your life, and our daughter needs a mother," he choked the words out, as if they parched him. His eyes were like flames. Not furious flames, but flames of misery.

Agony burst like lasers out of his stare. My eyes bore into him, refusing to give in. It was like we were having a silent argument now. His expression was hard as stone. "And if they lose?" I muttered a searing question, insinuating the hypothetical situation if he were to fight the Volturi. "They come after us anyhow, Edward. We are fierce, banded together as one."

As if considering my side in retrospect, he looked closer at me. We stood there for an extensive few minutes, before Alice's bell-like voice sounded. "We have the tie breaker and we need you. May as well get in here, you lovebirds." I swore I heard her giggle at the end, and the door slammed.

Edward cursed under his breath. We had both heard Rosalie's assessment: "I could hear the entire proposal," Rosalie had said with pride when she was summoned downstairs to join the contention. "My conjecture is that neither plot is wise, though I disagree on the Cullen coven separating. I vote we all stand as a family."

Edward was trembling with unadulterated bitterness towards the verdict. Our wrangling stare was unwavering. Though I held the winning ballot, I still felt vacant inside. Drained, I broke the ice, "I guess it is settled then." My arms elevated and then dropped at my sides as a final gesture.

"No. It isn't," said Edward harshly, his rock-like stare piercing mine. I stepped closer to him, resilient. My eyes were as intimidating as his warning glare were, I plunged into the bottomless waters, hoping not to drown for what came out of my mouth next.

"Watch me." I set my jaw in place. Our daughter's life was on the line here, and that was too precious for either of us to lose. I wouldn't afford that consequence for any mistakes that may be made here.

He must have been stupefied by my strong rebate, because his eyes expanded but then he regained his composure. His lips opened as if to say something to me.

Ending the disagreement, I turned and pivoted on my heel to go back inside, even if I would be going without him. It was inevitable that the decision was made. It broke my heart to not be able to arrive to any kind of compromise with Edward, but time was of the essence. Time was valuable, and we were running short as it passed us by. We could tie up our lose ends at a later time. My insides wrenched as if someone were twisting a serrated knife in the heart. What we parted on these horrible terms and I never got a chance to say goodbye? My eyes fell though I kept walking.

"Please Bella," He said so faintly that I thought that he was speaking to himself. His tone was filled with dread and intensified passion at the same time. That beautiful voice of his grabbed me, taking me prisoner.

I halted dead in my tracks, softening up as if I was melting. I slid my eyes sideways, catching a glimpse of his hand, stretched out to me now. I believed in my power—the inclusive power of all of the Cullen's banded together. Yet now my willpower diminished, and I suddenly was irked. I felt weakness seep underneath my granite skin.

Edward must have seen an opening to wedge his logic on me. He persistently proceeded. "Please, side with me." He begged gently, the potency awash from his tone, replaced by mourning and unconditional love. "I need us to be together on this, love." This was a spinning change to his demeanour, though in most ways, it relieved me.

I squeezed my eyes closed. He drove a very good bargain. I hated it when he wedged our love into such disputes. In fact, this was the first real quarrel that we had ever had as a newlywed couple. "We will be together this way, Edward," I said matter-of-factly, still speaking about my vote on the situation. I tired from the challenges, and the blunders of the day that may turn eternal if we didn't watch our steps with vigilance.

"I beg you." He pressed. He towered over me, his chin hovering over my right shoulder. His hands tenderly slid down my arms. I could feel them through my sweater. My mind relaxed involuntarily.

My stomach was knotted to the point of suffocation. Only I could change my mind, and only I could shift the score of the election by my vote. Ironically, I heard four deliberate taps from what sounded like a gavel on a wooden table. Alice.

"Ahem. This court is called back into session. Recess is over." Obviously, Alice was politely asking Edward and I to regroup and call me to the witness stand.

I bit my lower lip, keeping my eyes closed so that Edward couldn't distract me anymore than he already had. I pictured him smouldering at me again and I couldn't have that waving my decision anymore than he already had. He was going in for the kill. The snow swirled all around us, as if we were in a live snow globe. I could see that my hair had turned white. I bet that if Renesmee were to peer out of the window right now, she wouldn't be able to find her parents. We were both powdered in snow to the point of no recognition.

Edward patiently waited for my response. I considered every aspect, every angle, and I played two scenarios in my mind's eye. One: If we were to combine the other Denali, Nomad, Egyptian, Irish, and Romanian clan in place of Edward, I'd say that we still may pose a chance at enduring through this. Four collaborated clans against the Volturi. So if there were still four covens fighting against the Volturi—without myself—the odds were still marginally good. Those were the pros.

Two: If we eliminated Rosalie—that wouldn't make much of a difference—Alice, that could hurt our chances to not have her present in battle, Esme, no loss there if she would stay behind, and of course, myself, that was the only con.

And I need not forget that my daughter would be safe with me, though I still needed to iron out with the rest of our family that I wanted Jacob to be beside us as we waited behind when the battle was in session, just in case. That was another pro. The aspects of splitting up into two groups didn't convince me, though the situation was considerable. Edward, myself, Renesmee, Alice, Rosalie, and Esme would stay behind. Emmett, Jasper, Carlisle, Kate, Tanya and the other clans would collaborate into the attack army against the Volturi.

At least two minutes passed by as I arrived to my conclusion. I bowed my head and then snapped my chin upward, turning to face Edward. My mind was made up. He searched my eyes fervently for my response. I nodded once, catching his agonized eyes.

I pursed my lips, knowing I would regret this. But it all boiled down to me trusting Edward. With my life and with our daughter.

I breathed out in exasperation my final answer, "You owe me. Big time."

As Edward grasped what I meant by finally siding with him, I nearly collapsed at the colliding impact his arms had as they tightened around me. "Ooof!" I said, my air knocked out of my chest. One hand massaged my hair, and the other rubbed my back. I eased into him, grateful that we had come to some settlement.

Sure, now you love me, I thought inwardly. In an instant, I was but mush in his arms.

My hands wound around his waist and I sighed in relief. I leaned my cheek against him and let my eyes close for a moment. I felt as if he hadn't held me in what seemed to be a prolonged, aching day. I felt his lips pressed against my temple. "I will make this up to you, my love." He caressed my face with one of his cool palms, and then kissed me tenderly. I slid my lips down to the base of his neck.

"You don't fight fair." I murmured into his neck, and then sealing my love with a kiss under his jaw. I'm not sure how he possessed the power to influence me into changing my mind, but he did. Was this a hidden power that he possessed? I was now kicking myself for letting him into my head.

"Thank you," he said into my ear intensely, planting a kiss there. Yeah, yeah I thought inwardly. It was either this surrender, or having him cross with me for eternity. I couldn't bare that fate.

He held my face in between his massive hands, staring into my eyes that I felt dizzy just looking back at him. His eyes smouldered again, which could have sizzled the snow that I was now decorated in. "I vowed to love you for eternity. And that is precisely what I plan to do." He told me, determined to make sure that I would stay alive. His promise held great treasure for me and for some stupid reason, I believed him. I wanted to have faith in Edward, so I guess that meant that I would have to have faith in what he said to me.

We spent another few cherished moments, lost in one another's eyes before his hands smoothed down my arms and our fingers interlaced. He let one of my hands free and then guided me towards Tanya's castle so that we could announce the amendments to the ballot box. Now, there was a slight change in plans, and that meant that my next line of duty would be to call Jacob. It seemed that I owed him an explanation as well for my abrupt absence. Something told me he would chew off my hide. I'd only hoped I hadn't caused too much damage.