Author's note: It took a while but finally I think I'm satisfied. Enjoy!

This is the last part of Next step. When/if inspiration strikes for a continuation I will post that as a new story.

I have another story to post before that, my B/C story are finally coming together to my liking…

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters etc, just a love to tinker with them.

Next step

Part 3 – Aro POV - Chapter 4

As we approached the house I could see my old friend Carlisle before me, surrounded by seven others. The lady next to him must surely be his mate and the six others all stood in pairs. Two in particular caught my attention. One was a blonde male with an astounding amount of scars. The other was one of the women. She was not the smallest in the group but clearly the most frightened. Looking at her I saw she was quite similar to Marie and concluded she must be her grandchild. I had received reports from various nomads that the Cullen coven had very talented members and I wondered briefly which of them could do what and if anyone of them would like to join the Volturi. The shocked reaction in the bronze haired male next to the grandchild made me think that the rumor of a mind reader was true and then Marcus touched my hand. I was amazed at the bonds I could see thru him. The strongest was naturally between the mates, but almost equally strong was the two other ones he perceived. One was between the various members of the coven and then the bond between all of them and Carlisle. It was the strongest bonds I had ever seen and I wondered if it was Carlisle's leadership, or their odd dietary choice that caused this. Their strange golden eyes regarded us solemnly until they knelt down as one before us. The tension could be felt in the air even if we had yet to announce our reason for coming. This was so very interesting and I had not been this excited in ages it felt.

"Buongiorno!" I started happily. "Please rise Carlisle, old friend! I would so very much like to know your illustrious family! And then I only have a few questions for some of them…" I finished to take the edge of the situation.

I was introduced to all the members and although I was curious I refrained from trying to touch them. The gifts mentioned were amazing indeed and I felt a slight jealousy that they had chosen to live with Carlisle rather than the Volturi. They were still rather apprehensive and the one named Bella still seemed very frightened even if Edward was far more relaxed now. To sooth her fears I decided to finally declare the reason for our visit.

"Let me introduce you to the newest member of the Volturi," I began and indicated Marie who took a step forward. "This is my brother Marcus wife Marie and we came here to locate her missing grandchild and to clear out what actually happened in a small farmhouse some years ago in Iowa. I do believe that Bella is that child albeit grown," I finished as I gauged Bella's shocked expression.

"Dear Bella," Marie continued. "I did not at first know I had a grandchild but even when I found out I had so much else to consider. I was satisfied with the knowledge that you were a vampire too and left it at that. Now my life has stabilized and I felt the urge to find out more about the mortal family I left behind. Demetri got some information shortly after the event," she paused and nodded at him. "Now I wish to find out more. Due to my role within the Volturi we had to bring the guard with us. I do apologize for the grandness surrounding such a humble request. Would you please do us the honor to tell us what happened?"

With Edward's arms wrapped around her Bella told us her life's story. I wished to touch her to verify some of the more amazing parts of her tale but I refrained as Edward seemed very possessive of his mate. I was strongly impressed at her tenacity and also her prudence, even before she knew of the responsibilities our one law stated. I knew Marie's mind well and saw the familiarity between them clearly. We still had to consider Edward's blatant disregard for the very same law. I knew my brother Marcus would not wish to punish him but Caius was far more stringent when it came to these matters. To prove this I felt Caius hand touch my own with a request to get to the point and make me declare my verdict. To form a better understanding I requested permission to touch Edward to see his side of the story and he consented quickly. As I reached for him I looked at the other members of the family before me. Somehow they were all touching each other. Bella was naturally holding Edward tightly, anxiety still clear on her features. Carlisle had one hand on Edward's shoulder and one arm around Esme. She held hands with Alice who in turn was held by Jasper and so on. They truly were a family and if I were to pass judgment on one of them I realized I would have to do it to all of them. Then my hand closed around his only to be met with complete silence. How curious! Before I could even begin to wonder how this could be he gently asked Bella to release him and as soon as she did his mind opened to me. The complexity of his mind was refreshing and he had swiftly realized that Bella had some sort of shielding gift. Seeing the events thru his eyes was fascinating and within seconds I had come to my conclusion. No punishment would be dealt for this. There had been no harmful outcome. I also knew that if Marie was displeased so would Marcus be and I could not afford another risk of losing my brother. I only had one request. I wished to touch Bella and see for myself if her mind was as closed for me as it was for Edward.

"Ah," I sighed as my touch brought nothing but silence again. "You must have a gift for shielding I presume." I told her gently. "How amazing!"

"But I'm not doing anything!" she pleaded and looked distraught between me and Edward.

"You are," I concluded as I released her. "You are also still very young to this life. One day you will perhaps learn how to control this gift of yours and it could be useful if you or your family should ever be under attack."

"We never have been," Carlisle informed me. "And we hopefully never will be either. We live our lives on the outskirts of human society and find contentment in that."

I shook my head at them all. Not in resentment or disagreement but in awe. This was the reason I had cherished Carlisle's pretense in Volterra. After so many thousands of years I had lived it was nice to find something truly new. Before our return I spent some time alone with my old friend just as Marie and Bella spent some time together. Finally I invited them all to visit us if they so wished. Having fulfilled our reason for coming there I gave the order to start our journey back to Volterra. Caius was slightly displeased of course, then again he usually always was. With a final glance over my shoulder I saw Carlisle and the rest of his family join in what I believe the humans referred to as a 'group hug'. Bless them and their strange ways I thought and then took my beloved Sulpicia by her hand. Her touch brought the old familiar warmth throughout my body and I could barely wait to be back home in our private chambers. Hopefully it would take a long while before we had to leave Volterra again. By the looks on my brothers' and their wives' faces they agreed completely too.