Chapter 9

Forks, Washington, The Great Room at the Cullen Estate

7:00 a.m.

It had become a morning routine with the family. They would all sit down to watch Good Morning America. They all watched as the announcers went over the days events.

Robin Roberts: To start off our morning, there is news coming out of Dublin, Ireland. Yesterday the Crown Prince of Vrall was spotted coming out of a hotel with a beautiful young woman. Its speculated that she is none other than Bella Swan-Bannon, the former girlfriend of Edward Cullen.

George Stephanopoulous: Well it has been said he has been living the single life for over four years now. Since it has been that long then it must mean he is ready to finally give a relationship another go.

Robin Roberts: We also have a picture that was taken of them.

Then the picture came across the screen.

Robin Roberts: From the way he's holding her in this picture, it like he's holding on to his own life. You can almost see what he already feels for her and from what is understood, they have only been seeing each other for a few days.

Micheal Strehan: There is also a report from inside the Cullen camp this doesn't come as a surprise that this happened. Apparently Edward and Bella haven't been on the same page for months now. It can be safely said he let her go to a Crown Prince and one that has been known to treat the women he's with like they are queens.

He could hear voices around him. It didn't matter. The picture of the way Jasper was holding her was now seared in his memory. He nearly engulfed her. He remembered holding her the same way when they first started seeing each other. It was at that point where he was constantly reminded she was a full vampire and he was not. It still didn't stop him. He wanted to be with her and only her.

Slowly he got up from the couch. He could still hear voices and even felt a hand or two on him. Still he kept walking. He didn't know where he was going. He just felt something leading him. His feet were moving, his heart stopped. He knew was breathing, he just didn't know how. Then he felt the warmth on his face. Coming back to reality, if only for a micro second, he realized he was outside. He was in the garden his mother had so painstakingly arranged and cared for. It was there it caught his eye.

"Purple, beautiful. Freesias."

These were the only words to come out of his mouth. He remembered when they had been planted. He specifically picked this color out because it reminded him of her. These flowers had been planted as a first anniversary gift for her.

All he could at this point was helplessly watch his son. He knew that if he kept pushing Bella away the this would happen. He looked to Esme who was walking away.

"Esme, what's the matter?"

He followed her into his office that was just off from the great room. He closed the door as she stopped at his desk.

"I knew he had this coming because of things he did and what we helped him cover up. I even stood behind you after the affair with his mother. He could have been spared from all of this."

"Esme….. I have told you time and time again. I regret what I started with her. It happened during a time when we were not in the best place."

"We may not have been in the best place, but you didn't have to turn to her. The only reason you came back to me was because she was dying. You had no other choice!"

He was taken aback. Never in the time they had been together had she talked to him so harshly.

"Listen to me, I did what I did because we were apart. We weren't connecting like we used. Her and her husband were the same way. We turned to each other. Then things started to change between us. I wanted to be with you."

"Like I said you only wanted to be with me because she was dying. Edward will always be a reminder of that time. He will have a place in my heart because of the loss of his mother, but he will always be a source of contention for me."

"Don't think of it like that."

"Why not?! For all I know he could really be your son!"

"He's not. When her and I started the affair she was already pregnant. It was only after that she found out what we were."

"So she blackmailed you into to changing her son."

"Yes…she threatened to expose our affair. I couldn't take the chance that everything my father worked for would get tarnished."

She shook her head. She knew eventually it would come around to this.

"You risked our marriage for your family's political reputation and yours. I should have known better then to get involved with this world."

"What do you mean by that?"

She walked passed him and out of the room slamming the door behind her.

The Island State of Vrall,

Volturi Castle, Aro's Study, 1st Floor, East Wing

He knew this was going to happen at some point. He just wished Jasper would have given things with Bella more time. He, like the Cullens, had just finished watching Good Morning America. He looked over to Sulpicia who had a bright smile on her face.

"What's with the smile? I thought you would've been upset by this?"

"Why would I be upset? The smile on our son's face says a million things. He's happy. She makes him happy."

Aro sighed. He went to sit in a chair across from her.

"They have only been seeing each other for a short time."

"I'll admit he could have waited but, he's happy. He needs to have this. He needs her."

He smiled. He knew this had been a long time and coming for their son. Plus, he loved seeing the smile his wife's face, but he watched as the smile faded.

"What's the matter? Only a few seconds ago you were smiling from ear to ear."

"Our son is happy. They make each other happy. That was obvious in the picture that was taken of them."

"So….?"

"They need to protect what they are building. Edward isn't going to let this go."

"You know Jasper. There is no way he is going to let Edward or anyone else come between them. Besides after what happened with Kara, I'm sure they will protect each other."

Sulpicia shook her head. She thought back to what Jasper could have had with Kara until Jasper's duty to tradition and family came between them and tore their relationship to shreds.

"I think back to what Jasper had with Kara. There was so much there for them. He was ready to commit to her. He was ready to commit to eternity with her."

"He may have been ready for it, but she wasn't his soulmate."

"I know. Still they could have had the life he was getting them ready for."

"Had they still have been together, and he met Bella, things would have changed drastically. His world would have shifted with Bella being made the center of it. Kara would have had a broken heart in the end of it all."

Sighing she knew he was right.

"You're right. Kara would have lost out in the end. The main thing is our son is happy."

Aro smiled. Seeing his wife happy and content made him happy.

Volturi Castle, West Wing, Second Floor Peter and Charlotte's Apartment

There was silence in the room as the TV went off. The four of them were looking at each other, waiting to see if the other would say something. Maddie was the first to break the silence.

"To be a fly on the wall to see the look on Edwards face."

Charlotte began to giggle. Peter looked at her as if she was nuts. Felix and Maddie on the other hand knew why she was giggling.

"What's so funny?"

Charlotte composed herself while the others waited.

"This is karma. Edward is getting a dose of his own medicine. You guys saw the way Jasper was holding her. Not to mention this was deliberately done to stick it to him. It wasn't Jasper's intention, but it came across that way."

Peter looked over to Maddie and Felix.

"She's right Pete. Edward had no shame when it came to how he went about doing things."

"Not to mention that she knew about all of his visits to Monaco."

"What visits to Monaco?"

Felix and Peter looked at each other then back to Charlotte.

"Bella told us when she would take off for the summer with her parents, Edward would head off to Monaco to be with girl he was photographed with, Julia. He would spend the entire summer there. Then he would have to come back the week before she did. There were even times when they would come back the same day."

"How did she find out?"

"Rose was the one who told her."

"I thought Rose didn't like her?"

"Rose did like her. She just thought Edward wasn't good enough for her. You guys must remember; Edward wasn't born like we were. He was created. He's held to a different standard then the rest of us. Things were already stacked against them. This just pushed things to where they needed to be."

There was a moment of silence right before Felix thought of something.

"So then even if things were on the up and up between them, nothing could have come from it."

"You're right. Of course, now we know Bella is the one meant for Jasper. She brought forth his vampire."

"Speaking of which, where are the love birds now?"

"They went to seaside town of Wolfwater."

"That place is gorgeous. I suspect they won't be back until later on tonight."

They all smiled at what Maddie said. Still the four of them knew it was going to be different for them now. Jasper would truly be in control now.

Seaside Town of Wolfwater

Wolfwater Bay

They pulled up to a beautiful park. Jasper was the first to get out of the car. He went around to open the door for Bella. Helping her out of the car, he made she maintained decency. As soon as she was out, he closed the door and secured an arm around her waist.

As they walked around the park he got to know her a little more.

"Did you want to travel with your parents when the time came?"

"I did. It gave me a chance to see different parts of the world. Well the parts of the world from a hotel window or just sightseeing with my mother. The times I would go with them a tutor would come along. Then when I got into high school, things changed, and I stood home more. That was when I transitioned from a private tutor to the Cullens tutor. When the summers came I went back to traveling with my parents. It was at that time when Edward and I started seeing each other."

"Was it something you wanted to happen?"

"I don't really know. It just kind of happened."

"So, it was something you didn't expect but just fell into?"

"You could say that. I mean things were ok at first. We were like a normal couple. Then summer would roll around and I would travel with my parents. When we got back, it was like I didn't exist. I would have work my way back to him. After a while I just found it too troublesome. Since then it just seems like we aren't anything to each other."

They came to a stop at the end of the pier. She leaned against the railing where there two seagulls floating on the surface of the water the water. He came to stand next to her.

"Then are you ok with what's about to happen?"

"What do you mean?"

"By tomorrow morning the whole world is going to know about us, are you ready for it?"

Without even having to think about it, she responded.

"Yes."

His arms tightened around her. He was glad to know the whole word would know about them and she didn't mind it one bit.

Later on that Day

Jasper and Bella were enjoying a late lunch. He was glad he was able to reserve a private room for them. This way they could enjoy their lunch in peace. All while being able to enjoy her company.

"What made you want to come to Wolfwater?"

"It has been one place where I have been able to get away and think. Its also been said this is where the original Castle Volterra stood until a tsunami hit the island and nearly wiped everything out."

"I wish I knew more about my family. Every time I bring up the subject my dad always changes it."

"Why would he do that?"

"I don't know, but I would like to find out."

She got back to the food in front of her. Jasper on the other hand thought about what she just said. He knew there had to be more to it. The Bannon family was one of strength and integrity.

"We still have some time left here. If you'd like I can show you were the original castle stood?'

"I would like that."

They continued with their lunch. Of course little did they know they were being watched.