Hi everyone!

Sorry it took me so long to update. Most of you read the AN that was placed here before, so you understand why.

I was going to post this yesterday, but by the time I got home, it was almost one in the morning, so I did not think anyone would be around to read it.

Good news, I got a 100% on my hardest final, so it was worth not writing for a little while.

Also, all you readers of Resolutions, there is a note at the bottom for you. It is starred (*)

Hope you all had a good two weeks.

R&R

BPOV

It was after work and I was walking to a local restaurant to grab dinner. The sun was setting and flashes of pink and orange were lighting up the sky. It was warmer in the day, but the temperature was quickly dropping and I wrapped my arms around myself to keep my body heat near.

Despite the chill, I loved walking in this weather. It helped clear my mind and I finally could sort out the millions of thoughts that were mixed up. Lately, I had been thinking about my upcoming decision. I was teetering between becoming a vampire or not. This eternal seesaw was wearing on me, so I vowed that tonight I would have to think about all of the situations and come up with an answer to them. I couldn't keep on running from my problems; they were catching up on me like a 300 pound line-backer on a quarterback.

I saw a young couple on the other side of the street and that immediately shot my thoughts to Edward. Looks like I don't have the dilemma of where to start. I held so much hope that once I became a vampire he would want me back, but what if that wasn't the problem? What if he fell out of love with me? That happens all the time, right? Or what if Estella has been right, that I was just his toy and he was going to try to play with me again – that was Estella's new angle, that he was just toying with me. I wasn't sure if I could believe her or not, but some of the points she did bring up were valid.

But this was about Edward and I, and I had to tune out everything else but us in this decision. I reflected on our love story, and I felt like I was being drawn back to that time. If only. It did seem like the very instant we met the tides were turned against us, and they never turned again. All of the problems we had, not just with the blood, but with his family and with all of the other forces against us, proved that we were not meant to be. James, Laurent, and Victoria, did not help anything either. Maybe I would have been better off with someone like Mike. What a thought. I knew it would never work – normal, that is. I was too different to be normal. But just because I wasn't normal, doesn't give me the right to shove myself on Edward. He should have a choice whether or not he wants to be with me, and apparently he doesn't. If Edward really loved me, he wouldn't be strong enough to leave me. Or would he be? Would it be a King Solomon lesson? He loved me so much that he would leave me to save me. It seemed like an Edward thing to do, or at least the Edward I knew. What if Edward was a completely different person in actuality, and he was just putting on a show as a part of the ploy? What if he, and Tanya were actually mates, and when he went up to Alaska they plotted this whole thing for fun? No. That's just too sadistic. Not even Edward could be that cruel. But he would be better off with Tanya. He could even be with her right now; falling in love with her – true love. He has had six months and he hasn't come to find me; so obviously has moved on. . . Maybe it was time that I did too. If Edward wasn't pining, why should I? I did love him - actually, I do love him, but it was time to stop living in a fantasy and get back to reality. My fairytale was over, my prince was gone, there was no glass slipper left, and the clock finally struck midnight, turning me back into an ordinary girl.

I knew the decision I had to make. I had to move on like Estella said. A tear spilled out of my eye because I didn't want to give up on him. I wanted him to come running to me, wrap me in his embrace, and tell me everything was okay. When I looked up to see if he was running, I saw an empty side walk and the door of my restaurant, which finalized my decision.

I opened the door and went to sit at a table. I sat at a table by the window, like I usually do, and picked up one of the menus that were waiting on the table. Someone took my order and I quickly got my food. I looked to the kitchen and saw the owner and his wife arguing. That's why I loved coming to this restaurant. Every time you came here, you were guaranteed to get a show. Fabiano, the husband, would run around the kitchen with his short, spastic wife, Lucia, running after him with a spatula yelling at him in Italian. Even with the marital abuse from Lucia, you still knew that they cared for one another. After Lucia would finally get Fabiano with the spatula, Fabiano would sweet talk her again and Lucia would melt like chocolate for him. This is where I picked up a lot of my Italian phrases too. With all of the shouting mixed with the body gestures, I could pretty much figure out what they were saying.

Lucia and Fabiano went out of sight, and I was left with my thoughts again. I felt a strange mix of relief and terror. Relief that the decision was made, and all I had to do was follow through, and terror at what the decision was. I was soon distracted by a tapping on my shoulder and turned to see a face I recognized as a guard of the Volturi.

"Miss Bella Swan?" The guard questioned.

"Yes," I said confusedly. Why would they need me now?

"The Volturi request your presence at a important hearing, discussing your reason for employment," he said roboticly. I took this as my sign of their reassurance of if I wanted to become a vampire or not, which I still hadn't resolved.

"Okay," I responded quietly, getting up from my seat, and leaving money on the table.

The guard escorted me outside and to a shiny, black car. "When you get to the castle, go directly to the turret," he instructed. I nodded my head in response and turned my thoughts on overdrive. I had to make a decision by the time I reached the castle and it was only a ten minute drive.

Now that I chose to give up on Edward, it was logical of me to give up becoming a vampire too. But what would I do afterwards? They certainly wouldn't let me work at the castle, and I do know about their existence, which is the vampire world's only rule – that humans never know the existence of vampires. I knew the Volturi were very unpredictable from what I had seen from the past six months. For all I knew, they would decided to have me for dinner to keep their secret. Plus, I couldn't go home now. Charlie would lock me up for eternity and Renee would insist that I be surgically attached to her at the hip. Also, how could I explain any of this to them. Where I have been for six months. What I have been doing. Why I left. I'm sure they probably figured the last one out, but they didn't know the extent of it. Soon, we were pulling up the long drive, and I knew I only had about thirty seconds to make a decision. I was trying to see all the options I had as a human, and there was not many. The car lurched to a stop and the door was opened for me. I looked to the future as a vampire and I saw security at least for a few months before I was set on my own. I bet if I did a good enough job I could convince them to let me stay even.

My decision would have to be made in this moment and I knew what it was. I stepped out of the car and walked into the castle with a new confidence about me.

Reaching the turret, I opened the heavy, wooden door and saw the solemn faces of the Volturi posed in their thrones.

"Good evening, Bella. Sorry to pull you away from your night, but we need to talk with you. I think you know what about," Aro said void of emotion.

"It's fine, Aro. I didn't mind. And yes, I do know what you need to discuss, and I am ready." I kept my face stoic and folded my hands in front of my body. Aro lifted his head in curiosity and he was analyzing the look in my eye.

"Well, this will be fast then," Aro said lightly and then his face turned serious again. "Bella, the council asks, would you, or would you not like to become a vampire?"

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes before responding. "And my reply is . . . yes. Yes, I would like to become a vampire."

Aro's mouth turned up in a smile and he rubbed his hands together. "That's--"

"Are you sure?" Casius interrupted, looking sinister.

"Yes, I'm positive." I returned strongly.

"Like I was saying before, that's wonderful." Aro stood up from his seat and he glided over to me, wrapping me in a chilly embrace. "I can't wait to see what power you will have."

I smiled hesitantly at him and looked at the rest of the vampires gathered here. They were all still stoic and I returned to my unfeeling face.

"Well now, we have decided that if you would like to be changed we shall change you before the turn of the month. So, at the latest, you will have to wait three and a half weeks." Aro was still glowing and kept one arm around my shoulders, as if to make sure I would stay here and that I was officially his.

"Okay," I said nodding my head.

"Wonderful," Aro announced to the annoyance of his brother. "We will contact you with more of the details. Until then, welcome to the family, Bella." Aro released me from his grasp and I got the hint that it was safe for me to leave now.

I turned around and headed out the wooden door. I heard Aro's boisterous laugh before the door shut with a concluding thud.

APOV

I hadn't gotten anymore visions about either Bella or Edward, but I could feel change on the horizon. It was nice having most of the family back again, but there was an edge around without Edward.

Occasionally, Jasper and Emmett would get the idea of going and finding him, which Esme enthusiastically supported, but Carlisle and I turned down knowing he needed his space. We waited for him to come back, hoping that he would come home soon.

I walked into my bedroom, and when I looked out the window, I saw the turret of the castle in Volterra instead of the trees I was accustomed to. Inside of the turret was the Volturi. Aro was looking especially pleased and the others were looking bored of his eccentric behavior.

"Aro," Casius called. "You can calm down now. The girl has said yes, and that is all we needed to hear. Now, we need to talk about the other problem."

Aro's smile soon faded and he returned to business. "Right you are. The problem with the Cullens. I am not sure how they will take the news of the change but if I know Carlisle, I would be willing to bet he would not approve."

"That is just what I was thinking." Casius said seriously. "I they will try to bring us down, Aro. I know they will."

"Don't be so over-dramatic," Marcus intervened. "Carlisle is a peaceful man, he would never willingly enter into a war, especially with us."

"Marcus is right, Casius," Aro said supportingly. "Carlisle is too compassionate to hurt anyone. Plus, he is too wise to know that he could take us on."

"I don't know," Casius said cautiously. "Carlisle is smart and compassionate, but his family is not so. They could override Carlisle and get him to go along with bringing us down. I say we bring them down before they bring us down."

"Now, now," Aro pacified. "I say we only act if we need to. Marcus, what say you?"

"I say if the threat grows any bigger, we should take them down swift and fast, without warning." Marcus's words rang out before I was pulled out of the vision and back to the bedroom.

"Everyone," I yelled. "We have a situation."

Five vampires were soon at my side looking eager for the information.

"What is it, Alice?" Jasper said assertively.

"I just got a vision of the Volturi, and they were discussing whether they should take us down or not." The family froze in place for a moment before Emmett's voice rang out.

"If they want to take us out, I say we go and kick their ancient asses before they get a chance." His fists were clenched and his nostrils were flared.

"Now Emmett, they are the Volturi we can not just bring them down." Esme said reasonably.

"Why not?" Emmett protested. "We have the brains and the brawns. How could they stop us?"

"I don't know, Emmett, possibly with the army of super vampires they have," Jasper said resentfully.

"We are not going to war with the Volturi," Carlisle stated. "First, there is too much at risk. Secondly, we don't know for sure if they are going to take us out. Were they definite on their decision, Alice?"

"No, they are still debating."

"Alright," Carlisle said calmly. "I say we go to Volterra and see what is going on there. If they are ready to take us out, we will fight, but if it looks like everything is calm and secure, we will return home. Got it?" He looked at every one of us and could see the agreement in our eyes. "Good. Now, pack your bags, we are heading to Volterra."

A/N: How did you like it? Was it surprising to you, or did you already see this coming? Let me know what you think. Also, check out the new Red Jumpsuit Apparatus album on their myspace page. They are amazing artists. This album is more lyrical than the last, but the last one has better melodies, so take your pick. I listened to that album eleven times while writing this chapter, and I think some of the songs reflect the moods perfectly in here.

******Resolutions readers. Important note. I am going to be putting Resolutions on hiatus. This decision was made after the lack of response from readers and the fact that I am just to busy to carry on two stories. I will not leave it forever. I will probably use it as an outlet for when I get writers block. Therefore, you could get two updates in a day or no updates for two months. It just depends on when I get inspiration for it, or when I get writers block. Sorry so much, but if there were more readers, I would try to continue with it, but due to the fact that not many people do, I figured it wasn't a big loss.

Thanks to all the people who reviewed last chapter. Sorry I didn't get to respond to you. I am that busy now, but I will try to respond to some of the ones that come in, just not all. It takes too much time. So, I am only going to respond to the reviews with substance. Not just 'love it. update soon'. I don't have much to say to those anyway, except 'Thanks so much. I will try.' But please feel free to leave reviews, it lets me know how many people are into my story and it shows me how big a priority the next chapter should be.

Thanks.

~Bubbly722