If Poet owned Twilight she'd be watching Edward play piano! (naked!)
If Candy owned Twilight she'd be out hunting grizzlies with Emmett! ;-p
"Welcome to Volterra, Bella" Alice sang as we came to the gates of the city.............
The sun burst through the clouds as if Alice had called it forth glinting off of the cars that were lined up trying to get into the city walls. Alice seemed a little flustered as she glared up at the sun but turned to wink at me with a bright smile as she pulled a pair of elbow length leather driving gloves from her purse.
There were guards stationed at different points up and down the line. They seemed to be directing traffic; forcing most cars to turn around but allowing a few to pull over and park on the sides of the road.
I nervously bounced my knee twisting my hands together in my lap. Alice placed one gloved hand on my knee to still my motion. It wasn't necessary because I froze as one of the guards approached the car.
The guard had an irritated expression on his face when tapped on Alice's window, speaking in an exasperated tone.
"La città è oggi chiusa ai veicoli privati. You' necessità del ll di girare intorno." He gestured towards the narrow road that most of the other cars had went when turned away.
"Potete fare un'eccezione? Per favore?" Alice purred in her most persuasive tone as she rolled the window down. She flashed the man her brilliant smile holding his gaze. She was dazzling him the way Edward always does to me.
Thinking of Edward made me anxious and nervous again and I began to fidget again. I could imagine the shocked expression he would give me right before he swept me up into a passionate kiss.
I must have lost myself in that fantasy because the next thing I knew Alice was parking the car in a lot just inside the city walls.
"Bella, I can't go with you, I will be exposed in the sun. I can see the clouds covering the city in about an hour. I will meet you in Edward's room." Alice explained as she turned to me looking slightly uncomfortable about sending me alone but resigned.
"But Alice, I don't even know what hotel or room he's in," I protested.
He's staying in the green room at the Camere Renzi, it's located about three blocks that way, right across from the central Piazza dei Priori." she pointed back over her shoulder towards the square were everyone seemed to be gathering.
"Can't I wait with you?" I was suddenly unsure of how Edward would react to my being here.
"Bella, I know they Volturi aren't planning to do anything today but I'd rather get Edward and get out of here as quickly as possible. There is no need to tempt fate after all." She was impatient and I wondered if the was some reason for that impatience that she wasn't sharing with me.
I nodded with a sigh and stepped from the car. I hurriedly made through the thongs of people who were milling around waiting for some sort of parade to begin.
The buildings in the square had little or no signage so I had no clue which one was Edward's hotel. I tried to ask for directions but since I couldn't speak Italian it was very difficult plus I was more than sure that I was pronouncing the name of the hotel wrong.
"Excuse me, miss?" a thickly accent voice asked. I spun around to see a young woman who looked to be about my age with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Her warm smile coupled with the fact that she at least spoke English filled me with joy.
"Oh please say that you understand English as well as you speak it!" I almost yelled with excitement.
"I do, and forgive my intruding but if you are looking for Camere Renzi it is right behind you." she smiled pointing out an old building that had no markings that gave away its name.
"I am, thank you so much," I rushed the words with a smile before turning and running for the building.
The hotel concierge looked up quickly when I entered but went right back to reading her book. I approached the desk but she didn't acknowledge my presence at all.
"Hello, I'm looking for" I began but she cut me off.
"No vacancy," she said curtly with only a slight accent. I sighed impatiently when she waved me away with a flick of her wrist.
"I don't want a room; in fact I already have one. My boyfriend is staying in the green room and is waiting for me." I replied in a more gruff tone than I would have used had she been nicer.
"Your boyfriend is staying in the green room?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. I knew then that she had seen Edward. Anyone with eyes could see that I wasn't enough to stand beside him.
No! I would not go there. Edward loves me and I love him, and that makes me enough to stand beside him.
"Yes, my boyfriend. Now, if you could point out which room Edward is staying in I will be on my way." I was done with this conversation and ready to be in his arms.
"The green room is the third door on the right." She gave me a dark look and smiled evilly. I was sure that she thought I was going be turned away at his door.
I hesitated outside his door, afraid to knock. What if he did turn me away? No, Bella get it together. Edward loves me! He will be happy to see me.
I knocked but there was no answer. I was sure that he could smell my scent from here. I wondered if was even here. I knocked again and called is name. There was no response.
I tried the handle and it wasn't locked. I let myself into the room closing the door behind me; I stood at the entrance looking around at the place that Edward had been staying. The room was decorated in different shades of green and white but I couldn't tell you any of the detail about the designs because I was in shock over the state of disarray and just plain destruction that surrounded me.
The mattress had been flipped off of the bed; the blankets and sheets shredded and threw around the room. There was a desk by the window that was lying on its top and the desk chair was missing. Edward's suitcase was lying upside down beside an overturned armchair. Edward's clothes were scattered around the room. I half expected to find him huddled in the corner but he wasn't anywhere in sight.
I could only imagine what had happened in here and my imagination was in a very dark place. The Volturi. They must have found him here.
I picked up one of Edward's shirt and lifted it to my nose. His glorious scent was overwhelming and I sank to me knees. I began rocking back and forth crying into his shirt begging to be wrong.
I'm not sure how long I sat there but my mind was reeling with pictures of Edward's death that I couldn't shake. Finally, I decided that if these Volturi people had killed my Edward then they were going to have to kill me too.
I knew that I had to act quickly so that Alice wouldn't be able to stop me. I had no idea how much of my hour was already gone.
I scrambled to my feet trying to decide how to draw enough attention to myself to force them to act against me. I could run out into the street and beginning screaming about the vampires that were living here. Yes, that would force them to kill me, just to shut me up.
I turned towards the door just as it opened. My hallucinatory Edward was standing right in front of me. I wondered just how far from reality my mind had traveled if it had my delusions opening and closing doors now.
We stared at each other for what seemed like eternity before I found my voice.
"Edward?" I questioned. I wondered if my mind would have him speaking to me too.
"Bella, is it really you?" he asked in his velvety soft voice. I nodded and he closed the distance between us taking me into his arms.
"I don't know why god would allow me to see you again after what I did to you but I will be forever grateful for this moment. I hope that you will stay with me until my end tomorrow sweet angel," he whispered into my hair.
"Wait, you're alive? The Volturi didn't kill you?" My voice cracked with emotion. Edward was really standing here holding me in his arms.
"I haven't been alive in six months but the Volturi didn't kill me. I tried to get into to see them but the brother will not take an audience today. I was told to take the day and decide if I really wanted their assistance, if I still wanted to speak with the return at dawn, but not to worry love, I won't exist much longer," his voice was harsh and apologetic at the same time.
"Oh Edward." I gasped, "Don't say that. You have to exist, for your family, for me! Don't you understand, I'm not dead! I'm really here and we are both safe!"
"Bella?" He pulled back to look into my eyes, I smiled at him lovingly.
"Bella! Thank god!" he tightened his hold on me and I felt his body trembling as the sobs rocked his body.
"Shh, Edward don't cry. I'm here." I reached my trembling hand up and ran it through his hair trying to sooth him.
He pressed his lips to my forehead then pulled away from me to pace in front of me. I almost laugh at the familiarity when he pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"I don't understand. That boy said that you jumped off a cliff and that Charlie was out planning the funeral. He had Alice's phone. He said that she was preparing you to be seen in public. Then Rose confirmed that Alice saw you jump from-"
"Stop!" I shouted, "You were moving so fast I was starting to get dizzy." I looked around the room for a place to sit but found nothing suitable. Edward noticed my observation and quickly righted the armchair. He sat down and pulled me into his lap.
"I think we need to have a very long talk about a lot of things, Bella." he breathed.
"We do but the only important thing to say right now is this; I love you, Edward Cullen, now and forever and nothing you can do not even you lying and running away can stop me!" I didn't give him a chance to respond. I turned my head and pressed my lips to his. He returned the kiss fervently.
He broke away from the kiss too soon for my liking like always. He pressed his lips to my hair, my forehead, my eyelids, and each of my cheeks.
"I love you too Bella. I'm sorry that I lied to you," and his lips were on mine again. This kiss was slow, building and I felt my heart beating like it hadn't done in months. That thought made me pause because a much as I love him I was still angry with him. I wanted to know why he lied and I didn't have the patience to wait for this conversation.
I broke the kiss this time and stood up. Now it was turn to pace the floor.
"Why, Edward? Why did you lie to me? I spent months thinking that I was unloved! Do you know when I realized what a liar you were? It was when I jumped off of that cliff in La Push. I saw it then, I heard you tell me time and again that you would leave me to protect me and I can't count the number of time that you said you loved me! I felt like such a fool for not fighting harder that day in the forest." I was seething, my hands clenching into fists at my side as I paced.
"Bella, I had to lie. I had to make you think I didn't want you so that you could forget about me. I had to show you that I was a monster." I snorted to keep from yelling at him. I had never wanted to hit someone so much in my life! He was not a monster and if it wouldn't break my hand I would slap him across the face!
At first I thought that he had some how heard my thoughts because he was on his feet now too, but he wasn't moving towards me. His eyes were locked on something behind me.
"What happened in here? Did you decide to redecorate Edward?" Alice laughed.
"Alice, I need a favor." I looked pointedly at her and she smiled sweetly at me then glided forward and smacked Edward so hard that it sounded like thunder.
He nodded and didn't make a move to retaliate, he actually smiled at her.
"I guess I deserved that."
"You sure did." I crossed my arms glaring at him.
"Thanks Alice." Edward and I both said at the same time.
"No problem, that's what sisters are for," she looked between Edward and I then left the room.
"Where are you going?" I called after her.
"She's making arrangements for us to go home, love. I'd ask why you needed her to hit me but I can guess it has something to do with the monster comment?"
"It was," I agreed. "Now let's get your things together and get out of here."
He sped around the room gathering his clothes and righting the furniture. He sighed heavily holding up the tattered bed linens.
"I guess I'll just have to pay for new ones." He chuckled throwing them the trash can.
"Why did you trash the room Edward?"
"Alice should be ready by now; we are meeting her at the gates. She's getting a car for our return trip to the airport and securing tickets for our trip." He changed the subject trying to dodge my question.
"I can understand Edward. Just wait until you see my room." I told him sincerely.
"We make quite the destructive team don't we love?" he chuckled shaking his head.
I laughed with him. He wrapped one arm around my waist and picked up his luggage in the other. I was surprised to see that the sun was setting when we entered the lobby.
The concierge did a double take when she saw Edward and me together. I couldn't resist throwing a smug smile at her. Edward squeezed me tighter to him and approached the desk.
"Good evening, I'd like to check out, please. I also need to make retribution for the bed linens. I seem to have obliterated them in a moment of passion." He winked at her, smiling conspiratorially at her. I couldn't help the blush that crept up my cheeks.
"Of course Mr. Cullen, I just need you credit card." she stammered looking at me in awe.
I wanted to say that's right he's mine while sticking my tongue out at her; but I was more mature than that so I settled for a small wave and a smirk as we exited the hotel.
Alice was waiting for us beside a black car that looked very expensive and of course very fast. She slid into the driver's seat while Edward held me on his lap in the passenger seat.
The drive to the airport was quiet but it was a comfortable one. I knew that Edward and I had a lot to talk about but right now I was content to have him back.
Alice surprised me by grabbing my up into a hug when we got out of the car in the parking deck.
"I will see you on Saturday morning at the airport in Seattle. Have fun and for goodness sake go shopping at least once!" she kissed my cheek and hugged Edward before dancing off towards the international terminal.
"Where is she going?" I looked up into Edward's amused eyes and became lost in their golden depths.
"She is going to Forks to help the family prepare the house. You and I are heading to Milan for the next three days, if that's okay with you." Three days alone with Edward? Like he really needed to ask! I nodded enthusiastically causing him to laugh loudly.
He took my luggage in the same hand that he held his in and wrapped his other arm around my waist and led me to the ticket gate.
"Why are we going to Milan? I would have figured Alice to send us to Paris or something." I asked as we sat down in the very cushy first class seats.
"Milan is the fashion capital of Italy, love and she thinks that if you are exposed to enough couture you will suddenly fall in love with shopping for it." We both laughed. Only Alice.
"Not to mention the fact that she saw us getting married without her if we went to Paris," he whispered in my ear.
My heart skipped a beat and I found it hard to swallow around the lump in my throat.
I had never imagined getting married, Renee was relentless with her arguments against it and I too believed that you should wait until you were older and more mature to get married so why did I have visions of myself in a white gown all of a sudden.
I knew that I wanted Edward forever but did that necessarily include marriage? No, it didn't have to but if he was my husband then he would belong to me and better yet I would belong to him.
Edward and I love each other just like it is to Carlisle and Esme, Jasper and Alice and even Emmett and Rosalie. I wanted what they have! I want forever with Edward. I want it all. I'm not Renee and Edward definitely isn't Charlie! We won't end up the way they did. What am I saying? Is this really something I want?
Holy crow! Yes I think it is! I want to marry Edward! I gasped out loud at this revelation.
"Bella, love are you okay?" Edward's voice was laced with concern.
I couldn't contain the smile that spread across my face. I was so excited that my voice came out in an Alice like squeal.
"Let's do it! Let's get married!"
"I would love nothing more than to marry you Bella but it's not possible. There is a two week waiting period in Italy." His eyes held so much emotion when he spoke. He really wanted to marry me too.
"Then let's get on the next plane to Paris or heck Vegas for all I care," I wanted him to know just how much I wanted him as my husband. My husband, wow. I'll be Isabella Cullen!
Sorry love but the little pixie thought of that. She knows that it takes seventy two hours for a marriage license to be processed in France and by the time we land in Milan get a flight out and land in Paris we will only have about fifty hours. And as for Vegas, you know she's watching for that and will be there ready to stop us." he said all of this in a defeated tone.
I took a minute and tried to find a way around Alice and finally decided what to do.
"Okay, we'll just wait until after graduation. We can get married this summer and when we get back from our honeymoon you can change me." I could hardly wait to be with Edward; I mean really be with him like a married couple should be.
"Bella, you don't want to be what I am." he sighed; frustrated to be back on this subject again I'm sure.
"Yes I do and that is one of the things that we are going to have to talk about. You can not keep making decisions for me. We are a couple and that means that we are a team. I will not have you dictating my life for me like you did in September." I glared at him to show him I meant what I said.
"I still don't think that you understand what being like me would mean for you but I guess that's something that we can discuss later too right?" I nodded and snuggled down into his cold embrace. I drifted off to sleep with him humming my lullaby softly in my ear.