Almost there….

*All cookies for Twilight characters go to Stephanie Meyer.

Chapter 9 edit

It was time to get to work. I couldn't save Renee, but there was no way I would let my existence damn the rest of the people that I loved. Demetri and the Cullens were vital to my life. I couldn't fathom a world where they did not exist.

The first thing I knew I needed to do was to make sure everyone's thoughts were safe from Aro. This was not going to be easy. I would have to manipulate Demetri's shield on their memories so that the memories of my change were hidden. I was pretty sure I could give them new memories to replace the one I didn't want Aro to know about. If he found out that Edward changed me so I could use my powers against him he would certainly have all of us killed on the spot. I was going to need to work out every angle of this meeting to plan my strategy.

I worked with Edward first; I had the closest connection to him. I had him project all of his thoughts to me about my change. I pulled aside the ones that would not expose us to Aro. I was able to find Demetri's shield and manipulate it around the rest. Then I created images of how I thought my change would have happened without help. It took all of my focus to give my created thoughts to Edward. It took several tries but it eventually worked. After practicing on Edward it was much easier with the rest of the family.

I decided having Eleazar stay was a good idea, since Aro respected him from his previous position with the guard. I had to work harder to manipulate him since our connection wasn't as strong. I discovered that Eleazar had a shield of his own and I had to pull it aside to give him new thoughts.

Eleazar thought it would be a good idea to have witnesses, just in case Aro decided to be difficult. He told me that Aro prided himself on his image among the vampires. Eleazar had the rest of him family come from Alaska. They would arrive a couple hours before Aro and his group.

Alice tracked down a few nomads that were in the area. I explained what I could to them and they all were very willing to do whatever they could.

I didn't want to make Aro feel threatened so I needed to talk to the pack.

Jake and Amanda came out to the Cullens. It was a little tense at first while Jake adapted to my change. Amanda helped tremendously with Jake's insecurities. She really had an amazing way with him.

The Denali clan, aside from Eleazar, and the nomads would stay at my house. I decided it best that Amanda go back to the reservation, since there would be too many vampires around that weren't exactly human friendly. Jake was very happy with that idea. As much as he loathed being separated from her, he certainly didn't want her in close quarters with vampires either.

Jake, Quil, and Paul would stay here out of site, but on patrol to ensure Aro wasn't planning an ambush. Embry and Seth would stay at our house with the witnesses in case they were needed. We mapped a route that would only take three minutes to get here.

Carlisle said that Aro and his guard wouldn't recognize the scent of the wolves so as long as they stayed out of sight unless a fight broke out they wouldn't be noticed.

I was able to see Alice's vision of Aro's group. I was able to make connections from the descriptions Demetri had given me long ago to the guard that would accompany Aro. I already knew what their powers were so it wouldn't be hard for me to lift them if I concentrated. When the Denali coven arrived I would work on using their powers before they departed for my house.

After a little bit of practice I was able to manipulate my shield around the members of my family in case Aro's guard decided to attack with their powers. I was most concerned with Jane and Alec. Demetri told me that they were the most terrifying and both of them were present in Alice's vision. I understood how they could be overlooked. Both Jane and Alec appeared to be no older than twelve or thirteen. They had beautiful cherub faces, only marred by their crimson eyes.

Felix would be along, as he was Aro's muscle. He was frighteningly large, but not as fierce as Demetri. I knew if it came to a battle I would have Demetri, so Felix wasn't a concern. There were six others that Demetri hadn't named, but they were all of the same bulky over muscled stature. They were only there in the event of a fight. My shield would do no good against them, but I had the pack and 20 vampires that could easily take them out if needed.

I was a little worried about my lack of combat training but Jasper pointed out that my powers would be more useful than engaging in physical battle. As long as we kept Jane alive I could use her debilitating powers on anyone I needed to.

I didn't tell anyone how I intended to persuade Aro. I knew that Edward would fight me on it. Alice of course saw it and gave me her seal of approval. That was all I needed.

Everyone was in agreement with my strategy. I relied heavily on Jaspers opinion since he had so much experience in battle before he met Alice.

It was painful to look at Jasper's scars while he told me of the horrors that he endured when he fought in the southern vampire wars. It wasn't hard to picture him physically engaged in battle, but knowing that he felt the emotions of every person and vampire that he killed; that was unimaginable.

Emmet and Rosalie seemed to be hoping for a battle. Edward said they would have to go away into the deep wilderness for a while to 'act like animals' if they didn't get to fight any Volturi. I felt my cheeks get warm when I realized what he meant. The mental picture of Emmet and Rose going at it like animals was too much.

Emmet caught our conversation and gave me a naughty grin. "You ever watched the Discovery Channel little sis?" as he made an obscene gesture. Thankfully Edward took that opportunity to tackle him. I could only imagine the mental picture that Emmet gave Edward when he gyrated his hips.

Alice was very confident in the way that things 'looked', so she decided to busy herself with wedding books. I had to roll my eyes at her enthusiasm over wedding plans while the Volturi were coming with the intent of killing all of us.

Carlisle and Eleazar spend most of their time in Carlisle's study; most likely discussing their theories about me, which I would most likely have to re-shield before Aro's arrival.

Esme stayed busy humming around the house cleaning every already immaculate corner. I couldn't help but wondering how crazy she would go at my house trying to clean up after six messy werewolves. That was a fun image I had to share with Edward. He got a big kick out of it.

We were starting to really enjoy our quiet communication. Edward really enjoyed when I was able to let my shield down so that he could hear my thoughts. He said that when he heard my thoughts everyone else's went away, he said that it was the quietest his mind had been since he was human.

I had some great fun with him and Jasper. Edwards's anxiety had Jasper pacing the floor with him, so I let my shield down to share some of the things I had in mind to do to him after this was over. They both turned to me with huge black eyes taking ragged breaths. Jasper couldn't see the images, but he appeared to be drowning in the lust coming off of Edward. For a second I was afraid they were both going to attack me. Alice stormed into the room and drug Jasper upstairs. Alice shot me a vision of Edward attacking me and tearing my clothes to shreds right in front of Esme. I had to hurry up and shoot him a vision of Emmet dressed in drag before he pounced on me.

It was rather strange not having to sleep. This was definitely going to make third shift easier when I got to go back to work.

Edward and I excused ourselves to go on a quick hunt and check on things at my house. We hunted quickly, but got a little distracted in a clearing on the way to my house. I don't even want to imagine the thoughts the neighbors must have had regarding the local wildlife during our distraction. My own primal nature had caught me a little off-guard. I couldn't help but giggle when I thought about my previous fears of never being able to be with a human. If there was any semblance of these instincts when I was still only part human I still would have torn a mortal to shreds. At least Edward didn't seem to mind my affinity for biting.

I did feel bad when I realized that the bite I had left on his left peck would probably leave a scar. Oops.

After we were done being 'distracted' Edward looked at me longingly and asked me where I had been his whole life.

I decided against my first remark which was that I had been making due with a werewolf. "Well Edward, until a day and a half ago I was still human, and I probably wouldn't have survived your first attack if any part of me were still human." I smiled coyly at him.

"Bella, are you accusing me of being rough?" he teased.

"Well why don't you go consult with the five trees that we just destroyed, then you can let me know what their assessment of your bedroom manner is." I snickered.

It was easy to forget about the impending meeting when we were together. I felt so free walking at a human pace with Edward's hand in mine. This was part of our practicing my human manners.

We got to my house just as dawn was breaking.

I didn't expect Edward to be so impressed with my house, especially with the extravagance that the Cullens enjoy.

I had to explain to him about my account that Demetri set up and the investments that I made. I gave him the tour and explained for him my inspirations for designing the house the way that it was.

"I always knew that I would have to move away, so I wanted to make sure this place was a perfect home for the pack." I explained; then filling him in on the decisions that we had made at our meeting for after my change. Little did we know that I wouldn't be human 8 hours after that meeting.

I wasn't really sure yet when I would move out. Everything had been happening so fast.

"Bella, don't worry about moving right now. We can sit down with Jacob and Amanda after this is all over with." Edward soothed me as though he had heard my thoughts.

Really looking around at the home that I had built it made me feel accomplished. I think that if I had met Edward before I had made anything myself all the things that he wanted to give me would have intimidated me. I used detest receiving gifts or having anyone pay for anything. Now money was just money. If Edward wanted to buy me a fancy sports car and jewelry that I would hardly wear, so be it. If it makes him happy I can be happy. Besides after the last seven years of being a pack mom, I wasn't entirely resistant to letting someone take care of me for a while.

Edward was lost in his own thoughts on my bed while I pulled clothes out of the closet. I was interrupted by Amanda's footsteps on the stairs. They need to get her back to the rez soon.

"Come in Amanda." I called before she knocked.

"Amanda, I love having you here, but you need to get back to the rez. Where's Jake?" I half scolded, though I knew my voice sounded musical to her human ears.

"Oh, you know Jake he's spent three hours giving orders for the two that he'll be gone. I just wanted to come and give you a hug before I leave. I already feel like I'm leaving my family." She said honestly.

What a beautiful person she is. I feel like she's my family too.

"Oh. My. God. Bella, what is that on your finger?"

I remembered that I had taken my ring off for practicing and forgotten to tell Jake and Amanda.

I turned to her, held my hand up and grinned. She made me feel like a school girl. "Oh, you mean this ring? The one on this finger? Oh, well, you know just something Edward had lying around for a century." I teased.

Amanda grabbed my hand for inspection and proceeded to jump up and down with squeals, unexpectantly causing me to do the same.

I didn't even notice Jake enter the room and join Edward in staring at us on the bed.

The sight of my Edward and my Jacob sitting beside each other on my bed was almost enough to floor me. They were sitting next to each other on my bed. They weren't trying to kill each other, and they weren't even glaring. Jake wasn't shaking and Edward's hands were relaxed in his lap.

I couldn't help myself. I ran at them and knocked them backwards wrapping my arms around them and squealing with delight.

"Yeah, okay Bells, I may not be able to smell you, but your rubbing my nose in his hair and that's just wrong." Jake whined, but I could hear the teasing in his voice.

I let them up and they promptly scooted away from each other.

"Amanda, we need to get going. You're going to have to let go of Bella's arm for a few hours." Jake teased. "I promise if you're a good girl I'll let you play with her tomorrow."

"Very funny Jake, such a comedian; hmph, as if you could stop me from playing with Bella if you wanted to, Alice and I have a wedding to plan!" she declared as she kissed me on the cheek and headed for the door dragging Jake with her.

Edward and I just shook our heads in unison at them.

"You know, you're in really big trouble when her and Alice get together again. I think I'll be excusing myself if Kate and her sisters decide to hang around too." He informed me.

I threw myself to my knees at his feet, "Please I'm begging you, take me too. I don't care if we go to a baseball game or a strip club. You wouldn't leave me with all of them."

"Oh, no, no, no Bella you're the one who gave Alice and inch. You're along for the whole road trip now." He giggled, knowing full well the torture that I was in for.

We decided to drive my truck back to the Cullen house so I didn't have to worry about not having my own vehicle to drive. I really was missing my car though.

We got back to the house just as the rest of the Denali's were arriving. I met Eleazar's wife Carmen, and then Tanya, Irina, and Kate. I had to quickly explain to Kate why she smelled her best friend all over me. She was elated to find that Amanda would be so close to family.

All of the Denali coven women were exquisitely beautiful. I caught Tanya looking at Edward longingly a couple times before I got fed up. I knew of their history and her multiple attempts to seduce him. She really was a lovely woman, I found myself surprised that he hadn't even taken her up on the offer of a purely physical relationship. He was mine though and I couldn't be distracted by her hungry eyes focused on Edward, so I did the first thing that came to mind, I shot her images from our 'distraction' in the woods.

Her face crinkled up and she had to look away. I couldn't contain my laughter anymore.

No one else understood our reactions and that made me laugh even harder. Tanya looked like she was going to be absolutely sick.

"Tanya I really am sorry. I'm sure we will be great friends; but if you are going to look at him that way you're going to be seeing a lot of me naked in your head." I sputtered through my laughter, but I was serious.

To my delight Tanya raised her hands in surrender and joined in my laughter. "Forgive me Bella. Old habits die hard sometimes. As beautiful as you are though I really do not want to endure another image of your breasts in my face. God, girl! That is a lethal gift you have!"

The rest of the family had caught on to our banter and were stifling giggles, well except Emmet he was beside himself rolling with laughter on the floor.

Edward seemed more embarrassed than amused, but it was a means to an end and it got the job done.

We ended our fun so I could practice 'stealing' Kate's gift. Edward was a good sport about being on the receiving end of the experiment. I only zapped him twice before I was satisfied.

Kate's gift worked much the same as Jane's, so I was thrilled to discover that I would be able to use the little witch's gift against the Volturi if I needed to.

I didn't need to shield any of their thoughts because they would only be there if things got ugly. The plan was to keep my powers a secret from Aro unless I absolutely had to use them.

I really had no ill intentions toward to Volturi. I respected their position in the vampire world, and I understood why Aro would feel threatened by me. I just needed to make him understand that I wasn't a threat to his power.

We cemented our plans and sent everyone to fall into place.

Alice made the announcement that they would arrive in five minutes. Her vision of the outcome was not clear yet, as that would depend on Aro's decision, but she saw them arriving peacefully.

Okay, this is it. We're at the point where I quit writing 2 years ago. I hope you're all enjoying so far. I haven't decided entirely how far this is going to go yet, but we'll see how well I've managed to get back on the Bella/Edward train. Reviews might help convince me….