I woke to the sound of shouting. I could recognise the voice but I couldn't match them with faces. Someone near my head was shouting just now. I could barely make out what they were saying but the words were slowly become legible.

"-any idea what she went through?" Alec. Alec was here, and if he was here I was safe. Then a second voice agreed with him.

"Because of you she went through hell. And yet she pulled through, no thanks to you! If you had felt what she'd been through, you would have given up! You would have done the same thing as her! You would have come here to Italy but the Volturi would not have saved you!" Jasper...Jasper was enduring all of the pain to just be here by my side. Suddenly, all of the hatred I felt for him left like a light being switched off.

"It was not my fault we had to leave! It was yours! If you had only controlled your thirst we wouldn't have had to leave!" I felt my fist curl at my sides as Edward started his snide comments. I gritted my teeth. I still couldn't move from the weight of Alec's gift. I couldn't even defend myself by using my shield.

"But if I hadn't she would have went through an even deeper pain when she found out you loved Alice more than her! You really are sick, you know that?" Jasper growled menacingly.

"She's was only human! She would have only lived for a couple of years then I could have taken Alice without feeling guilty!" An extra couple of hisses echoed in the room at Edward's harsh words. Someone might as well have killed me then. I finally knew the truth. Edward had never loved me; he only had eyes for Alice.

"If you ever talk about her like that again I will kill you. You act as if she is some kind of doll that you can play with then throw away. You're a monster!" Jasper's voice was filled with disgust. Edward laughed.

"How am I a monster? She was nothing to any of us and you know it! Why else were we able to leave so easily?" As much as I hated to admit it, Edwards's words made sense. I was nothing but a human. To my surprise it was Rosalie who responded.

"We were able to leave so easily because we believed that she would be better off without any of us! We thought we were truly doing what was best for her. And she meant the world to us and don't ever forget that! But Jasper is right, you are a monster. You hurt Bella by leaving but you only added to that pain by taking Alice from Jasper. Why would you do that?" It was as if Edward had never spoken those harsh words. I felt a sudden fondness for Rosalie now. Again Edward laughed. I clenched my teeth. I hated that sound now. It used to be the nicest sound in the world, but now it was sickening.

"I love Alice and she loves me. She never loved Jasper and why would she? Look at him; he's a pathetic excuse for a vampire!" I could picture the sneer Edward would have on his face and then I lost it.

Alec's gift may have been strong but it was feeble compared to the rage burning inside of me now. Like an elastic band Alec's gift shot away from me and I was free to move. I jumped off of the sofa I had been lying on and flitted to Edward. Grabbing a fistful of his shirt I slammed him up against the wall. Silence fell in the room as all waited to see my next move. I bared my teeth in anger.

"How dare you? How dare you talk about Jasper like that? Like he's some peice of crap! He is a million times better than you. And if anyone is pathetic it is you! Now, get...out" I dropped his shirt and threw my hand to the side. As I had expected Edward flew with it into the wall. I glared at him and he flew from the room.

I turned back to the Cullen family. Or half of it anyway. Esme, Carlisle, Alice and Edward were all gone. "I'm sorry" All of the faces in the room stared at me in shock. It was Emmett who responded first.

"What for? You haven't got anything to be sorry for. If anything it's us who should be apologising!" Rosalie and Jasper nodded in unison. "We are truly sorry for the pain we put you through Bella. We thought we were protecting you from our world" Emmett laughed half-heartedly "seems we were wrong" Tears swelled in my eyes but none of the Cullen's seemed to notice.

I was lost for words when Emmett pulled me into a huge bear hug. I'd forgotten how big he really was. Jasper joined in on the hug a couple of seconds later then was followed by Rosalie who was hesitant at putting her arms around me. We all stood like that for a good few minutes before Emmett totally destroyed the moment.

"Ok soppy moment over" He chuckled loudly and I joined in quietly.

"Shouldn't you be going? Esme and Carlisle have already left" Alec directed the question at Jasper as he seemed the most mature. It was Rosalie who answered however.

"We aren't leaving. We've discussed the matter with Aro and we have decided to stay in Volterra with Bella. It seemed the only way we could possibly prove to her that we never stopped loving her" I opened my mouth but no words came out. They couldn't stay here! It was far too dangerous!

"Yes and Emmett, Rosalie and I have also assigned ourselves to the Volturi guard" that was the final straw.

"No! You cant do that! You have a family and friends and people who love you dearly. You're putting yourselves in danger joining the guard. Have you any idea the amount of vampires who wish to harm the Volturi?" Rosalie chuckled.

"Bella, we know the risks but we are prepared to take those risks if it means being with you" I knew there was only one thing that could possibly stop Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie from damaging their lives. I didn't want to say it but I had to.

"But I love you!"