DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of these characters. They all belong to the great Stephenie Meyer. I am simply telling my story.
A/N: Ok-some issues that need to be addressed from last chapter. Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews!
1) For some reason, I did not get email alerts to any of your reviews for the last chapter, which is why I didn't respond. I am so sorry! I usually personally respond to all of them, but without the emails, I didnt get reply URLs. I really do appreciate all of them!
2)Someone asked why Aro and Jake didn't smell each other last chapter. I have an explanation. Jake didn't actually enter the house until Bella and Edward did, at which point, you will notice, Aro says they both stick of dog. That was Jake's scent too.
3)The question of Aro's entourage was answered in this chapter. I hadn't forgotten them!
4)The respect Edward showed Aro in calling him 'sir' wasn't intentional-I am reading Pride & Prejudice and the mannerisms have kinda snuck into my writing.
FINALLY-I am glad you all are enjoying this and I love that you all think I write as well as Stephenie. It really means a lot to me. It also means a lot to me that I have managed to surprise you all with the end of that last chapter.
I hope I can keep living up to expectations-NOW FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE, I PRESENT CHAPTER 11!
I was scared and confused. I looked from my husband (the excitement of recognizing this taking a backseat to the fear I felt) to Aro to Jake, unsure of what to do. I wanted to laugh just to ease the tension, but I knew the three other people in this room would find that behavior inappropriate, so I only clutched Edward tighter.
I soon heard movement on the porch and the next thing I knew the rest of the Cullens were standing around us, all of them still in the formal wear that made the protective crouching stance they had all assumed comical to an out observer, unaware of the danger this situation actually posed.
"Carlisle!" Aro said, clapping his hands together, seeming to be rejoicing in the new arrivals, as opposed to Jake who had stiffened on their entrance. I couldn't tell by the look on his face if it was because of the danger he now faced or the smell. "Now, now, now, no need to be so testy all of you, I was just chatting with Edward and Bella here – sharing my disappointment at finding you have not yet held up your end of the bargain. I am feeling better now that I hear that that situation is soon to be rectifying itself."
A low growl emanated from Edward's throat. I stroked his arm to calm him down.
"Easy Edward," Aro said, his smile not fading, "After all, we did agree to this. And you have just married her. It only makes sense that you two should belong to the same…species. However, I can see I picked an inopportune moment to come congratulate the happy couple. I will be back tomorrow. And I should expect you all to still be here. Because rest assured, I will find you wherever you run."
Before a response to him could be made, he was gone. The family now shifted their gazes to Jacob, who they had not noticed, or had not thought an immediate threat, until now.
"You know what it will mean," was all he said, his gaze not leaving mine before exiting the house as well. The Cullens straightened now and they all looked from me to Edward and back to me. I felt Edward's cold finger on my cheek, turning my face toward him.
"Are you all right Bella?" he asked, the concern in his eyes evident.
"Yes," I replied, unable to keep my voice from shaking in my response. I felt him scoop me back into his arms and carry me into the living room, setting me on the couch and then sitting next to me, moving my head to rest on his shoulder.
Soon, Alice was kneeling before me, taking my hands in hers. "I am so sorry Bella, for ruining your wedding day. I should have seen them all coming, but I was so wrapped up in the plans for the wedding, I must have just missed it. I let my guard down to give you the perfect wedding and wound up ruining it anyway. Forgive me?"
I smiled at Alice. How could you not? She seemed so at odds with herself for slipping up. It wasn't her fault. Even if we had known it was coming, could we have changed anything about it?
When I voiced this opinion aloud, Alice beamed at me and then hugged me tight. "Thank you Bella. I just would have died if I thought you were going to hate me for this."
"Alice, you just gave me one of the most beautiful weddings in the history of the world. I could never hate you. But out of curiosity, how would you have died?" A smile spread across her face, and I heard a chuckle come out of the direction of Rosalie and Emmett. I knew it was safe to assume it hadn't come from Rosalie.
"It would seem we have a bit of a problem ahead of us." Carlisle finally voiced. We all looked at him.
"What's the problem?" I asked innocently, truly failing to see the problem in this situation. "I mean, wasn't the plan always to change me after the wedding?" I looked down at myself and then at Edward. I raised my left hand to gesture to the set of rings now on it. "Well, the wedding's over. And I don't particularly mind putting off the honeymoon if it means everyone will stay safe and everything will be all right."
"I don't think the pack will be too happy with that plan now, Bella. With Jacob gone, I figured we might be able to get them to overlook it, but now with him back, it's pretty clear that they aren't going to let you go without a fight. And I am more than willing to bet that Aro isn't here alone, which means we have no choice but to do it."
"So we're damned if we do, and damned if we don't." Edward stated matter-of-factly.
"According to you, you all were damned already," I said trying to be funny. I quickly saw my attempt had failed and I mumbled a quick apology.
"What are our options?" Jasper asked from the corner of the room.
"Well-we can turn Bella and provoke the pack in La Push or we can not turn her and provoke the Volturi. The only thing obvious in this entire dilemma is that whichever side we don't anger in our decision will probably join us in our fight against the other side." Carlisle said.
"So, in the end, we essentially have to pick the lesser of two evils-" Rosalie offered.
"-That will come out on the better end of this fight, preferably," Emmett stated.
"Well, I think the choice lies with Bella in the end." Carlisle said. All eyes turned to me and I could feel my face go scarlet under their gazes. I could not meet any of their eyes and instead stared at my lap. I knew what was coming, even before Carlisle said it.
"Bella has the right to choose, as she always has, whether or not she wishes to become one of us."
Hmm-Will Bella become a vampire? That seems to be the question that has been on all of our minds since we first picked up Twilight.
I hope you liked it. And hopefully my email will start cooperating and show me all your lovely reviews I know you want to write!
I also just want to remind you all that this is what I THINK will happen in Breaking Dawn. I don't think I am anywhere near right.
