7. Options

By the following day, Wednesday, the snow had slowed down some. There was only a week and a half left until Christmas break and as much as Bella wanted to skip school all together, she knew Charlie wouldn't allow it. The day didn't turn out to be as bad as she had expected since Edward had been there with her. For the sake of those around her, however, she could not show the deep joy and love she felt because to them she was still in mourning.

She did her best to talk to her friends and even sat with them at lunch. She also sat with Alice and Jasper. Just because Edward was "gone" didn't mean she would cut off all ties with the Cullen's. Her human friends couldn't understand that. They believed that without the boyfriend in the picture, shat all ties with his family should be severed but it wasn't like that. The Cullen's were a second family to Bella and they would remain so no matter which direction life took them.

~*~*~*~

On the ride home from school, Bella sat in the drivers' seat, Edward sat in the passenger side, and a copy of her lullaby played in the recently fixed stereo thanks to Emmett.

"There's got to be some way I can be with you," she said to Edward.

He caressed the right side of her cheek. "You are with me."

"You know what I mean."

Edward nodded. "I'm not going to let my family turn you Bella."

"I don't want to turn old and gray Edward," she said as she pulled up in the driveway. "I want to be with you forever, at eighteen and not a year older. There has to be some other way. Edward sighed. "There is isn't there? Edward, if there's another way, please tell me."

"I'm not god but in this dead form I've come to know enough. You've heard of the Fountain of Youth?"

Bella nodded. The Fountain of Youth was basically as it was called, it was said to keep a person youthful for all eternity. Like all things, Bella believed it to be a myth but then again before Edward and Jacob, she had believed vampires and werewolves to be myths as well.

Edward continued, "Only the Volturi have access to it." A shiver ran up Bella's spine as they had been responsible for Edwards's death. "And getting access to it isn't easy. They themselves claim it doesn't exist. There's only one way to access it and that's by a pass code."

"So how do I get that?"

"Bella, think seriously about this."

"Don't you want me?"

"Of course I want you."

"Edward, this may be my only chance and what's better, I can be immortal and still be human but without the aging part."

"I agree it wouldn't be a bad idea…"

"But…"

"Do you really think you're ready to go up against the Volturi again?"

"I don't have a choice."

Edward nodded. He understood completely. The Volturi were vampires you didn't mess with unless you were desperate and Bella was.

"Carlisle is the only one with the pass code and getting it from him won't be easy either. Not even Esme knows where he has it hidden."

Bella reached into her backpack for a piece of paper and a pen. She quickly wrote a note to Charlie and then got down and placed it in the door where he would see it when he got home. She then got back in the truck and in silence they made their way to the Cullen's home.

~*~*~*~

Esme answered the door before Bella could even knock.

"Let me guess," said Bella, "Alice told you I was coming."

"She did," Esme said hugging Bella. "How are you?"

"I'm doing okay, actually."

"Really," Esme said not looking convinced.

Bella nodded. "Charlie- my dad," she corrected, "Is convinced I'll go off the deep end soon but I'm stronger than I was the last time." Bella left out the fact that Edward was still with her even now as she talked to his mother.

"That's good to hear," Esme replied. "Carlisle is in his office." Bella looked away feeling a little guilty. "It's okay," she said, "Alice told me that as well but you'll have to make it up to me. Stay for dinner."

"I don't want to put you out."

"It's okay Bella. We rarely use the kitchen and even though we don't eat I like to cook so it'll be nice."

"Okay," Bella said agreeing. She then took the stairs up to Carlisle's office.

Carlisle was studying one of his books so his back was facing the door. Not wanting to startle him, Bella knocked. Carlisle turned; when he saw Bella he smiled.

"Bella, so good to see you," he said to her.

"You too Carlisle," she replied.

"What brings you here?"

Bella, not knowing how to get started figured it was best to just get it out in the open.

"He's going to lie to you," Edward said.

"The Fountain of Youth," Bella said to Carlisle.

Carlisle took a seat behind his desk, "It doesn't exist. Some claim it does but no one has ever been able to find it."

"Tell him Aro found it but before he could get to it he was turned into a vampire by Claudius Leman."

"There was one person that did find it wasn't there?" Carlisle looked up at Bella curious and let her continue. "Ages ago I think. Someone named Aro but before he could reach it a Claudius Leman got him."

"He's gonna ask how you know this. Tell him you've been having a weird dream."

Carlisle looked at Bella, "How do you know this, there are very few that actually do."

"The past couple of nights I've been having this weird dream," Bella began, "It's always dark but in the center there is this bright light. It's some kind of fountain but I never can seem to reach it. Even though I can't reach it, there's this Italian phrase that circles around in the dream." Bella closed her eyes as she let Edward fill in her mind with the words and with her eyes still shut she said them aloud, "Finche c'e vita c'e speranza." She opened her eyes and looked at Carlisle.

"Where there's life, there's hope," he whispered.

"You used to be on good terms with the Volturi. Aro must have told you where it was hidden."

Carlisle stood. "Why is this so important to you, Bella?"

"It's my last chance at living an immortal life."

"Bella, I know Edward's death has been hard on you, it's been hard on all of us but you have a chance at a normal life, why not embrace it?"

Bella sighed, "Because," she said, "even though Edward is gone, you and your family are all that I have left and I don't want to get older knowing that eventually I'll lose you too."

Carlisle smiled at Bella's honesty and could even understand her reasoning. He went over and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"After you eat something, I'll take you to the location I've stored the pass code."

"Thank you Carlisle," she said earnestly.

~*~*~*~

Carlisle and Bella made their way down to the kitchen. Esme looked up and smiled. She wasn't alone. Alice and Jasper were there helping.

"Hi Bella," Alice said in her casual and cheery tone. "Dinner is just about ready for you."

"No rush," replied Bella. "Can I help I'm a pretty good cook."

Esme looked around, "No we're done actually."

Esme had gone ahead and made Bella a Mexican dish of red enchiladas, rice, a salad and raspberry ice tea. As she ate, she made pleasant conversation with them. Rosalie and Emmett had gone on a private camping trip.

Just as she had finished up Bella's cell rang. It was Charlie. She could hear the panic in his voice, most likely due to the cryptic message she had left him that said 'Visiting friends be back late.-B'

"Relax dad, I'm just at the Cullen's…I'm fine, I promise… I'll call you when I'm on my way home okay... No, don't call Jake to come check up on me…Charlie, I promise you I'm fine… yes I'm safe, I'm being well taken care of, I swear… okay, bye dad."

"Is he on the war path yet," Alice firmly asked.

"He threatened to send Jake and his buddies over to make sure I'm okay, so yeah."

"Well then," Carlisle said speaking up, "We should probably hurry. We don't want you getting into any more trouble than you all ready have."