"It all comes back, to you two." Aro said before letting out a sigh, and shaking his head ever so slightly. "Ever wonder why I never touched you before today? Because I trusted you two from the beginning, since you were Carlisle's...adopted children. He was always loyal to me, and I figured that you would be the same when you asked to joined the Guard. I didn't want to invade your privacy because of that, but now I see that was my mistake."

I saw that Jasper was having a hard time controlling his emotions. His eyes would fill with fear, then regret, then anger, then back to fear again. I couldn't feel sorry for him though, even if he did actually regret it, it was only because he got caught. He deserved what was coming to him, and I could only feel sorry for Alice. She had loved him once, and was more than a good wife to him. Yet he still pulled something so...selfish and cruel, after all the things they had been through together.

"Edward, you have broken the law by telling little Bella here our secret. Jasper, you may not have told Bella, but you are still guilty, as is Edward, for lying about why you were here. That does not go without punishment."

"I technically didn't tell her..." He tried.

"True. From what I saw, Bella had strong suspicions, but you still validated it." Aro pointed out.

That was true. I had really had just put everything about them together, and new the truth, but he did tell me it was the truth. Though right now, all I could do was stand there, listening to what was happening. I didn't quite know what was going to happen to me, but I knew I would most likely be luckier than Edward or Jasper.

"Edward and Jasper Cullen, you are hereby sentenced to death for your actions. Not only did you break the law, but you betrayed everyone who cared for you, including myself. I'm sorry that I have to do this." His voice was filled with genuine sadness. "I can, however, have Alec take away your senses, so it will be painless, it that's what you want?"

"Aro, I must ask that you reconsider. We all left Bella, even though we didn't know the real reason at the time, we still did." Carlisle interjected.

Edward took this distraction to his benefit, and blurred out the side door of the room. One of the guards sprinted after him, and within seconds, Edward was brought back into the room in a headlock by the tall, hulky man.

"Yes, Carlisle, you did. But, for you, I'm willing to look past it. From looking into Alice and Edward's minds, I've gotten to know Bella, and I understand that she'd wouldn't tell anyone our secret. Plus, she will be turned sooner or later, correct?" She asked looking at me.

I nodded. Like my decision would have changed? Yeah right. I know what I want.

"Then why must you kill Edward and Jasper?"

"I might have been willing to look past it, if that's all Edward was guilty for. But, not only did he leave for another reason, but they both came and lied to my face about why there were here. I'm sorry old friend, but this must be done."

"May we at least say goodbye? I know my wife would like to, and so would I."

Aro let out a deep breath, then nodded. "Jane?" He asked, gesturing to the door we came through.

She blurred over to it in less than a second, and opened it, saying something I couldn't make out to the others, then stepping aside to let them in. Esme was by my side in no time, hugging me, happy that I was okay, then letting her gaze go to Edward and Jasper. Carlisle took Esme in her arms as she started to sob, and I couldn't help but release a tear of my own. Not for Edward, not for Jasper, but for Esme. She was loosing both of her longtime sons in one day, and that, I felt guilty for.

Alice turned and hugged me to her, wrapping both her arms around me, holding me tight. I leaned my head on her shoulder as I let my tears fall freely, making her shirt damp quickly. When I turned my head, I saw Edward be released by the big man, and walk with his head down over to Carlisle and Esme, who had their free arms already out to embrace him.

"I'm sorry." He choked out as he fell into their waiting arms.

I knew by the sound of his voice, that he was truly sorry when he said it to them. In the time I spent with Edward, he wanted nothing more than to make Carlisle and Esme proud parents, and he let his bad judgment and jealousy control him. This was crushing him, and his adoptive parents, and there was nothing we could do to stop it. Yes, Edward was cruel for helping make the other leave, but I didn't think he had to die for it.

I looked over and saw Jasper standing still, hands crossed in front of him, and looking down at the floor. He looked like a soldier waiting to be executed, and in a way, that's exactly what he was. Just a few seconds later, Esme turned and beckoned him to join them, and he did, slowing walking over to them, keeping his eyes glued to the ground. They all had a group hug, Esme and Carlisle whispering softly to both of them, for a few minutes. The rest of us not really knowing what to do with ourselves.

I kept my head in Alice's neck this time as she rubbed my back for try and comfort me. Aro cleared his throat, and we all knew it was time to let them go. Esme squeezed them both one last time before she managed to tear herself away from them, and be escorted back into the other room by Carlisle, Rose and Emmett. After the door closed, Edward turned to us, and I could see venom, looking like it was about to spill over the brim of his eyes.

"I'm sorry. To both of you." His voice was low, and filled with sadness. "I never meant for any of this to happen. I just hope one day you can forgive me for my actions."

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out, so I nodded, hoping that would suffice. He smiled a little bit, then turned back to Aro. Jasper, on the other hand, said nothing to either of us, not even acknowledging our presence, before they were both escorted by the big vampire, Alec, and the blonde, and out the door that Edward tried to escape out of, and out of our sight...for forever.

Leaving Aro, Jane, the other two in their chairs, and a few still standing around the perimeter of the room, and with and I. Wiping the tears from my face, I straightened back up and pulled myself together, for the time being. Now I had to await my own fate. I had no idea what to expect with Aro, and frankly, I was scared at what he was going to say.

"Now, as for you two..."

My heart rate sped up at the sound of his voice.

"You are free to go, but I will be checking in every so often. And Bella, when you have been changed and have some time, I would like you to come back and see me. You have a gift, and I would like to learn more about it, if you'll let me?"

I do anything, I'm just happy that he's letting us go alive.

I nodded, and he gave a small smile.

"I hope you don't see me as a bad guy, Bella. We just have laws that must not be broken, or else the world as you know it, would be entirely different."

"I understand." I said quietly, even though I didn't exactly.

Why could they just imprison the vampires for hundreds of years or something, instead of death as the answer for everything?

"You can go now. Alice, thank you for letting me inside your head. And Bella, I'll see you again soon, yes?"

"Yeah." My voice was raspy now, tears in my eyes threatening to fall again.

"Jane, be a good girl and escort everyone out."

"Yes, Master."

/-/

After leaving Volterra, we headed back to the hotel Rose, Emmett, and I had stayed at, and the other got separate rooms on different levels, so we all could have some privacy. Alice and I shared a room on the top level, while Rose and Emmett were somewhere in the middle, and Carlisle and Esme, on the first floor.

I didn't really know what to do with myself, so I kept as busy as I could, taking a long shower, blow drying my hair, changing clothes, until I didn't have anything left. When I exited the bathroom, Alice was standing at the window, looking out onto the city of Florence, her posture stiff as she leaned against the wall. I didn't want to disturb her, so I took the bed closest to the door, leaving her to think while I laid on the bed, facing away from her, getting lost in my thoughts.

It wasn't long before I felt the covers behind me dip down, and a cold arm wrap around my waist, pulling me close. I relaxed into her body, letting her scent wash over me as I enjoyed the feeling of her cold breath on the back of my neck. I didn't quite know what to say, or even if I should say anything at all. We both lost someone today, because of me, and I didn't want to upset her. She's already been through so much.

"What are you thinking?" She finally asked.

What wasn't I think about?

"Everything." I answered. "I just...I feel guilty."

"What happened wasn't your fault." She said sternly.

"Doesn't feel that way. I mean, after I found out the truth, all I wanted was for them to be punished...I didn't know how, or even if I cared, I just wanted them to suffer the way they made us. But when Esme came in and had to say goodbye..." My tears started to fall again, making little sounds as they hit the pillow. "I can't help but feel guilty. Esme lost two of her sons..."

I sniffled before I broke out into sobs, and Alice hugged me tighter as I buried my face into the pillow. Every once in a while she would start rocking me, trying to soothe me while whispering sweet things in my ear, and even kissing my temple now and then. Even though I was emotionally exhausted, I couldn't go to sleep. Too many things we still going through me head to even think about that, not to mention I had a horrible headache.

Alice noticed when I winced and closed my eyes tight, trying to ignore the pain.

"What's the matter?" She asked.

"My head is pounding..."

Unfortunately, that always happens after I cry, no matter how much or how little, I was rewarded with a throbbing in my head.

"Did you bring any medicine with you, honey?"

"No..."

I never thought I would need it. But, before I knew it, she was up and on the phone, asking for, what I assumed room service, in a perfect Italian accent. I still find it impressive that all of them know so many languages. I wondered it I would learn some after I changed as well. Other than the required Spanish class I took in seventh grade, I hadn't taken it any further, even though I should have. It's always good to know another language.

"It'll take just a few minutes." She announced when she hung up the phone.

I nodded as I turned onto my back, my right side somewhat numb from the position we had been in the last hour or so, and looked at Alice, who was looking at me. Her eyes were soft and warm, but also with a hint of worry, as she reached out and pushed my hair back, away from my face, and tucking it behind my ear. For that moment, I forgot about my headache, forgot about what happened today, all I was focus on, was her.

I don't know how she did it, or maybe it was just my love for her, that made looking into her eyes so...therapeutic. I could stare at those gold orbs of hers for the rest of my life and forget the world around me. She gave me a small smile after a few moments, then caressed my cheek with the back of her hand before wiping what was left of my tears away with her thumb, before there was a knock at the door.

It brought me out of my trance-like state, and I sat up, the pounding in my head getting louder as I did. She thanked the person and came back over to me, holding a small cup with two pills in it, and another empty one in her hand that she filled up once I took the pills. They went down easily, and I was eager to be rid of this headache.

I fell back against the cool sheets after I downed the rest of the water. Alice, pulled down the covers, easily lifting me up and tucking me before sitting on the edge again. I turned to face her, pulling back the sheets, silently asking her to lay next to me, which she obliged. Once she got in and got comfortable, I put my arm around her, needing to be close. Doing the same, she hugged me into her as I nuzzled her neck, enjoying the cold body that I had missed so much.

It wasn't long before I started to doze off, much to my surprise. The last thing I remember was her cold lips kissing me on my heated forehead.

A/N: Thanks to azrael8919.