Finally managing to find my bearings again I answered "Can we go for a walk outside and just talk? I mean, if you're supposed to be my mate I should know something about you."

A wide smile graced Heidi's lips as she all but dragged me outside to the courtyard. Excitement was exuberating out of every pore and I doubt any vampire, or human, could bring down her mood in that moment. "Why of course Isabella, I would love to have a personal chat with you. I am happy to also see you're taking my advice of going outside more."

Entering the courtyard I took in everything around me. To my left there was an entrance to what appeared to be an intricate garden. On my right there was an apple orchard, which I found highly amusing. In front there was at least 150 yards leading up to a firm brick wall of defense, with large wooden doors serving as the entrance. Everything was closed off in that moment, but I was content to walk around in the open space for a bit, before settling down on one of the benches to have my chat with Heidi. Beginning, I asked Heidi to tell me a bit about herself.

"For starters I am 274 years old, so technically I am quite the cradle robber with you. Physically I am 26 years old. So once again I am really robing the cradle here, ah the things I do for love." I could tell she doing more than keeping the atmosphere light; one thing I was quickly learning about Heidi was her playful nature. I really enjoyed how genuinely happy she seemed all the time. It was a nice change from Edward's constant self-loathing. Not even realizing I had just internally given a point to Heidi, and put down Edward, Heidi continued on.

"Before I was changed I had one older brother, and two loving parents. In all honesty, my human life was rather dull. I got a high school education, which was a large feat for woman back then, and then I worked for a tailor. I was engaged to be married to a man, whom I did not love. He wasn't mean or unintelligent or unfortunate looking, he was simply a male. Even in my human life I knew I was attracted to the women. Back then though there wasn't even a word for that, and I would have been either arrested or put in jail if I had been found out. As a result I lived in a world of denial. Becoming a vampire and living amongst the Volturi, who are much more open to the idea of same sex relations, helped me to gain a lot of confidence in that respect. I won't lie to you Isabella, I am not a virgin, I have been with women before."

I reasonably knew that Heidi had not cheated on me. I knew that I would not have even been born for the majority of her exploits, still I could not help but be a little bit jealous. Deciphering what that meant would have to wait though as I needed to voice my next question to her.

"How were you changed?" All of the Cullen's were changed as a last resort, it interested me to hear the circumstances in which others were changed, especially Heidi's.

"The Volturi had come to my town, tracking a rogue vampire, when Aro stumbled across me. Even in my human life I had been quite beautiful, and gave off what others called a 'trusting aura.' I cannot tell you the amount of times people would spend five minutes with me and say that they didn't know why but they felt they could trust me. Sensing my potential Aro explained who he was and what he was. After hearing of my dilemma he told me of how accepting the vampire community was, and that it wouldn't be an issue. I had spent so much of my life building a wall to keep people out so they wouldn't discover my secret that I never felt as though I truly left much behind. After turning both my beauty and 'aura' enhanced twenty fold. Some in the castle would even call it my gift, the ability to make people feel immediately safe and trust me implicitly. I've been here ever since, and not once have I wanted to leave. And if I did, Aro would let me."

I could tell she was trying to defend Aro and the Volturi to me. She seemed to recall my reluctance from last night's talk when I was questioned about what I know. "So it's your aura I'm attracted to and not the mating bond?"

"NO!" She answered so quickly and with such assertiveness that I couldn't help but to flinch a bit. Taking me in her arms, so that my back was against her front, and her arms wrapped around my waist from each side, she whispered her explanation. "Isabella, not once has any person or vampire said that they felt whole because you are my mate. Not only that but even if it was my gift it would be a mental one, and you are a mental shield. The power wouldn't work on you, just like all of the other gifts that don't work on you. I understand that it has only been a day, and that it will take longer for you to come to fully accept this, but I need you to promise me something."

After feeling the nod of my head she leaned in even closer and whispered "Promise me you'll try. I can give you the world Isabella, but I need you to meet me half way."

I turned my head so I could look her in the eye and whispered back "I promise."

The relief Heidi must have felt was palpable in the air; her eyes were filled with it, and I could feel her hard body relax at my words as well. Turning back around I decided to just allow myself to enjoy being in her embrace. After a while of just contently being around one another Heidi nuzzled into my neck and said "It's nice to know you're attracted to me." I could feel her smile as she said these words, and it in turn caused me to let out a genuine laugh and smile.

"I've also come to a conclusion Isabella."

"And what is that conclusion Heidi?"

"As a symbol that you're willing to try will you allow me to kiss you?"

The question caught me completely by surprise and I took a moment to think before answering her. On the one hand, I would be cheating on Edward. Well, maybe not technically since there was no time to officially get back together, between the jumping on him and saving him to the throne room. On the other hand, I had promised Heidi I would try. There was also no use in denying that I held some sort of attraction for the woman. Whether it was from her beauty or an actual mating bond I couldn't tell. I guess a kiss would be a good way to start finding out. Turning once more to Heidi, I shyly smiled and nodded my head yes.

The look of utter bliss on Heidi's face made me feel as though I had made the right decision. Lifting me by my hips she turned me around so that my legs were straddling her waist, my arms wrapped around her neck and our noses were touching. Heidi leaned in first, slowly, tentatively, allowing me plenty of time to back out. But I didn't want to. With this thought I closed my eyes, as well as the distance to her lips and kissed her.

The kiss started off slow, basking in the feeling of our lips touching and the sensations coming from that alone. On my end I had never felt anything like it. Heidi's kiss made me feel warm, cherished, and a good amount of pleasure. Before I could do anything I felt her tongue graze against my bottom lip, asking for entrance. I gladly did so and within mere moments she had elicited a moan out of me. Exploring every inch of my mouth I had never felt a kiss more pleasurable or passionate. As the kiss heated up Heidi's hands began to roam up and down my sides, only serving to enhance the pleasure. When I finally had to pull away to breathe I found myself wishing I was a vampire, so that I could continue to kiss the blonde goddess in front of me.

Finally opening my eyes I could see the pure lust emanating through Heidi's eyes. She clearly wanted more, but also wanted to respect my boundaries. I continued to keep finding things I liked about her with every minute I spent with her. This isn't to say that she was perfect, no one was perfect, but she was pretty damn close. Unfortunately, before I could decide whether or not to keep kissing, Aro and Sulpicia came up to us. Both vampires took in our slightly compromising position and smiled. They clearly believed they wouldn't even need six months, and honestly, at the rate things were going, I doubted they would need six weeks to convince me.

It was Aro who began the conversation. "Well Isabella, as much as I do not want to interrupt the two of you there are pressing matters that we need to discuss. But those can wait until after you see Edward to say your goodbye. He leaves in twenty minutes."

With this the four of us made our way through the castle towards the room they were holding Edward in. We were quite the sight to see with Heidi's arm wrapped securely around my waist, and Aro's in an identical placement on Sulpicia. Winding through the corridors with grace and speed I didn't know I had we reached the room in no time. Before going in Aro warned me "Isabella, understand, this is to say goodbye. You may hug him but due to the newness of your bonds to all three of us we will be incredibly put off by this. I am warning you so you understand that we are not mad at you but rather him. In the end Heidi and I will need to talk to him alone, you need to leave with Sulpicia when I ask, is that understood?"

Instead of answering I asked a question of my own. "Are you going to hurt him?"

Heidi answered "No, or at least we don't plan on it. I know that would hurt you Isabella so we won't, but if he attacks first survival instincts will kick in."

"That's fair, if he attacks you first you should protect yourselves." This brought a smile to everyone's faces and that is how we entered the room. Heidi kept her routine going and we entered the room with her arm wrapped securely around my waist.

Edward looked up the minute the door was open and caught my gaze. His eyes were the first thing I took note of, as they were coal black. It actually caused me to momentarily halt my movements. Taken aback by the fear that must have been shining through my eyes, as well as the loud grumble that came from the vampire next to me Edward kept still, rather than rushing right to my side. I could feel Aro and Sulpicia's intimidating presence right behind Heidi and me. Instead of making me uncomfortable, it brought me a lot of comfort. Once the scene settled down a little bit Edward addressed me.

"Bella, love, I am so happy to see that you are alright. I was so worried about you when they forcibly separated us." At the end Edward glared at the vampires who had accompanied me into the room, accusation screaming out of his body language. "But don't fret love, I won't let them separate us again."

At this all hell really did break lose. Heidi took me and moved me in front of Sulpicia with vampire speed, and Sulpicia wrapped her arms tightly around me just as quick. Aro and Heidi stood in front of us, forming a barrier for Edward to have to go through to get to me. All four vampires were snarling at one another, and a fight was quickly approaching. Hoping to ease the situation I voiced my opinion.

"Edward, I am not going back to Forks with you." I tried to get a look at Edward's reaction at this statement but I could not see him past Aro and Heidi.

"What do you mean you're not coming back love? All of your family is there. Your father Charlie, Esme who treats you like her own daughter, Alice, Emmett and me. If they're forcing you to stay Isabella just give me the word and we will be out of here."

Without looking at Edward his charms weren't working on me this time. I could tell what he was doing as well. He brought up Charlie and Esme to hurt Sulpicia and Aro. He could read their minds and knew of the bond that was forming between us. Repeatedly bringing himself up was his challenge to Heidi. Was he always this calculated and manipulative in our relationship? I would have to think that one through later. For now if he wasn't careful I don't know if he was going to make it out of the room alive. My opinion of him may be changing but that doesn't mean I want him dead.

"Edward, I want to stay. There have been some, developments made here and I need to see them through before returning home." At the mention of going home I could feel Sulpicia go stiff behind me and I saw the rigid postures in Aro and Heidi as well. Trying to give comfort to the vampire holding me I ran my hand up and down her arms in front of me, as if you were trying to warm someone up from the cold. Tilting my head to see Sulpicia's reaction I was rewarded with a small smile directed at me.

The display, while comforting to Sulpicia, seemed to be the last straw for Edward. Responding to something that was in at least one of their minds he screamed "Bella is mine! She is mine not yours!" At the end of the statement Edward made a lunge for me. Before he could get more than a few feet towards me Heidi had him pinned to the floor, with one hand clutching his neck and her legs straddling his torso.

With the most venom I have ever heard come out of the normally playful vampire, Heidi addressed Edward. "She is not yours. You are a mind reader and yet you continue to claim Isabella as yours when her rightful mate is right in the room. You call upon her human father to rile up your king, and bring your own coven mate in the mix to rile up his wife. You are despicable and I should ripe you limb from limb, and then set the pieces on fire. However, that would not make MY mate happy, so I will refrain. Do not test me Edward."

Edward looked truly afraid for a moment as Heidi's movements now gave me the ability to see the room again. It was but a moment before his composure returned and he spat back just as venomously "It is laughable that you think you're Bella's mates. She will never want you, where she has begged me before to bed her."

At this I physically cringed at the crude manner in which Edward spoke. Shockingly, instead of physically lashing out, Heidi merely laughed and remained quiet. Before I could figure out what she was doing Edward put the pieces together for me.

"You kissed her Bella?! How could you?! She must have you under her power, that's all Bella. Don't worry I'll take you home and get you away from these monsters."

It was here that Aro made his presence known. "Edward, you will never touch my daughter again. In fact, if all goes well, you shall never see my daughter again. You are hereby exiled, permanently, from Voltura. If you ever come back punishment shall be death. Heidi bring him to his feet."

As Heidi did this Aro made his move, he struck Edward in the face three times, cracking the vampire's cold, hard skin. After each one he gave a reason for the hit. "That was for leaving Isabella to die in the woods after using every personal demon she has against her." Punch. "That was for continually tricking Isabella into thinking you were her mate." Punch. "And that was for threatening to take my daughter away from me." In the end Edward's face looked like it had just gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson, I was starting to see why Aro was king.

After the last punch Sulpicia whispered in my ear. "Isabella dear, if you have any last words for Edward you should say them now."

All I did was give a simple "Goodbye Edward. Please tell Alice, Emmett and Esme I love them, and I always will." Before I could start crying Sulpicia moved her arm to fit around my shoulders and ushered me outside to the gardens.

Heidi's POV:

Thank the Lord for Sulpicia. Turning to Aro I looked for the permission I so desired to have. The chance to have my go at Edward. I couldn't stand him. He hurt my mate in unimaginable ways and I wanted to kill him. But I refused to sink to his level, I refused to lie to Isabella. Instead I will keep my promise and refrain myself from permanently harming the sorry excuse for a vampire, and he did attack first. Aro gave me the nod and as I turned to Edward I hit him as hard as I could in the jaw. The impact of my hit sent Edward flying across the room, and I hoped Sulpicia had gotten Isabella far enough away that she couldn't hear it. Jumping on Edward, I hit him several more times, in rapid succession.

Riding myself of some of the anger I had built up for this vampire, I stopped after a couple of minutes. "You will never touch my mate again Edward. You will never see or speak to her again either."

At my declaration the vampire merely laughed. "It is funny that you think you've won Heidi. Do you really think I am going to give up that easily? I have big plans for Isabella, and I am a very patient vampire. I will have her back."

With this Aro and I shared a concerned glance, but the notion that any vampire could get through me, Aro, Sulpicia, and the elite of the Volturi guard was unrealistic. With one last punch to the face Aro and I walked out of the room, leaving Felix to deal with Edward, Aro and I left to find our mates.