Chapter 6

Intrusion

The family assembled in the counsel room – Athenodora and my mother took Didyme and Orithyia to the tower – and to my highest pleasure but also deepest annoyance – Demetri led Renesmee Cullen into our midst.

"Rensmee, my dearest," Father welcomed. "It's so wonderful to see you again, though I've noticed that you have come unaccompanied. Did you not bring your family to visit us?" he asked kindly.

"No, Aro, I come before you unknown to my family's knowledge." She looked at me, and her thoughts were consumed in happiness of seeing me again.

I was warmed by her thoughts but I kept my expression plain, through Marcus I saw just how strong her emotional bond was to me; my father was guided by Renesmee's gaze, looking to me and then back to her with a smile on his face. He had figured out the reason behind her lone journey; and he didn't even have to read her mind.

"Aro, I come here against my family's wishes only to fore fill my own – for I have come to join the Volturi." Her claim spread like wild fire through the minds of everyone in the room; but not at all to my surprise.

"Well, my dear this certainly is unexpected; especially since the rest of your family have always declined my invitations." Father then looked at me again from the corner of his eye, seeing the distinct protest in my eyes.

He then turned back to Renesmee. "Well my sweetest heart, I see no reason why I shouldn't let you stay, but for the sake of your family you might be rushing into things, but as you have come a long way I will not deny you my hospitality; I invite you to spend the night with us, if you wish? Just until you've given this decision some thought."

Rensmee nodded; around her neck I spotted the diamond necklace – and so did my father.

"You're wearing the necklace I gave to your mother." He sighed.

"She had no use for it… it's a shame, it's so beautiful… she gave it to me, but unlike her, I must say I adore it." She replied. I looked through her past memories and saw just how much she adored it – she cradled it almost every night, as it reminded her of me.

"I'm glad you love it. It complements your face so well, just as it did with your mother." He smiled. "Come, we'll find you a room… Ambrogio?"

Grinding my teeth together, I replied with cool controlled sneer. "Yes, Father."

I guided Renesmee to my room; and slammed the door as she walked inside.

"It's nice to see you too, Gino."

I glared at her, and yelled through my clenched teeth, "Renesmee, what the hell are you thinking?"

"I'm sorry but you gave me no choice; I told you that if you weren't going to stay then I would come to you." She replied, under her breath.

"Renesmee, you don't belong here! You belong with your family; I know you don't want this! You've never wanted this!"

"Only because I never had a reason to leave... but now I do. You just have to accept what is; I want to be with you!" Our voices were turned down a notch as everyone else could hear us regardless. "I know that you love me, I just don't know why you won't tell me. And know this; that I'm not leaving until you do."

I shook my head. "Well, then I hope you enjoy disappointment; because you'll be waiting a very long time." Turning around, I slammed the door in her face as I left.

I walked infuriated down the marble halls – ever since I left Forks I had confessed to myself everyday that I loved her more than anything – but this was a life I knew Renesmee didn't want, a life in the Volturi was something she was not suited to, but I was hoping that by leaving her she would have moved on. But my plan had only backfired on me; fuelling her love for me in my absence, now I was in danger of making her even more in love with me.

Suddenly then Father appeared behind a pillar, startling me a bit he was so silent; gracefully he came to me and comforted my hand.

"You are causing yourself so much pain, all of this for nothing; all you have to do is admit that you love her... as I very well know that you do. And then all of this will be resolved, my son."

"Father, you don't understand. If I tell her that I love her then she will stay; but even if I don't tell her, then she will still stay regardless – either way I lose."

"You're not loosing anything, Ambrogio." He encouraged.

I looked at him with doubting eyes, knowing that his encouragement was not only for my benefits, "Though truth be told, Father, I don't know why you faltered; in the past I knew you would have invited her with open arms, and without hesitation. What has changed?"

"You, my son," I paused and my eyes widened, "I have changed because of you – having you I have learned to love and to respect the wishes of others, and to understand what is best for those I most love. I am patient, and I will wait all eternity, if I have to, to get what I want."

"Father, she belongs with her family in Forks, and more importantly, she belongs with Jacob."

He brought my face to his. "Only if that is her choice – but she has proclaimed her love to you, and so she belongs to you no less than you do to me."

Gently he let go of my hand and left in silence. Moments later, I heard my cousins mentally calling me from the tower; I went to them and Mother asked me if everything was alright – Didyme and Orithyia had become upset when they heard Renesmee and I arguing.

"Yes, everything's fine now. Come on, there's someone I want you to meet."

As much as I didn't want Nesmee to be here; I might as well enjoy her company while it lasted, after all we were still friends. I brought my cousins down from the tower and took them into my room.

"Renesmee Cullen, I want you to meet the latest additions to the Volturi…"

Her face was shocked when she saw the young infants.

"These are my cousins; Didyme Amelia and Orithyia Erika. Girls this is my friend, Renesmee Carlie Cullen."

The two gorgeous girls smiled, and Nesmee took Didyme in her arms.

"Oh my goodness, they're so beautiful, they look so much like their fathers."

Together we walked around the palace; and I began explaining to Renesmee about what had happened here, she was impressed of how I was handling my job as a Volturi guard – though in the eyes of the coven I was more a prince than guard.

I knew her family would be on their way, they would be so worried about her, though I had to admit to myself it was a bit easier having her here; I didn't have to worry about her all the time and my cousins had grown so close to her.

That night as we went to bed, my father, as he did often every other night, had to lull Didyme and Orithyia to sleep; with the sound of my deceased aunt's music box playing in the background, he crooned the Italian lullaby while stoking and patting them to sleep. They were just so excited to have another of our kind in the home.