Bella was finally getting better. Acacia had helped her greatly, and her sarcastic humor was just what everyone needed. Bella started hunting on her own again, often dragging Alice and Acacia with her. Soon, our Greek/American friends had given up hunting humans as well.

Bella has gotten her strength back as well as her spunk. She's acting less of what the humans call pms. If she knew I was thinking that, she would definitely have my head. The girl was stronger in her mind that she was in real life; her throwing a rock at me with her hand hurt a million times less than if she did it in her head. She used her skill to hunt, often tripping her pray with sticks or killing them before she was even in the vicinity. Needless to say, I was very glad to see her bantering with Jacob and Emmett.

Today, we were all sitting in the living room. I had explained what Spiro had said to me, and we've been trying to figure out what to do since. In all honesty, our kind needs someone to whip us into shape. We could actually potentially destroy the world if left without rulers.

"Look, we can't just kill all those people." Carlisle shook his head.

"Well we have to. It's the only way. Bella doesn't even have to be in the vicinity, right? We can just go and stay somewhere, and she can just light a mach somewhere or something."

"No," Rosalie snapped. "What's the point of us taking over in order to be fair, but destroying everyone in the process?"

"She's right," said Dorian, pacing. "If you destroy those people, you will be no better than they are, because you will have destroyed them for selfish gain."

"Well we have to do something," protested Bella. "The news gets more gruesome every day. Yesterday, two people were found scrapped to pieces in a mall in broad daylight!"

"Yes, you're right. You're absolutely right."

"An the south is getting violent again. We cannot afford a repeat of the southern wars."

"We can't," Spiro agreed. "What do we do?"

"Edward," Bella tugged my sleeve. "can't we just do it from here?"

I looked down at her as she let down her shield and let me into her thoughts. We just have to prove that we can be authoritative enough. Once a couple of them are burned, they will see tat we mean business, and they will have to do what we say without burning Volterra. She is a genius.

Suddenly Alice jumped to her feet. "Yes! This will work, I know it will."

"What?"

"Edward, what did Bella tell you?"

"She was asking if we can't just rule from here. Once everyone sees that we mean business, they will be forced to obey."

"Well it will work. We will rule here, and the vampires from Volterra who don't want you to rule will bring the revolt here. And of course, I only see twenty-three of them coming. Then the whole thing disappears."

"It's perfect."

"What is?"

"Well, our friends that come around here a lot, Jacob and Seth... well they belong to a pack of shape shifters. They shift into wolves. Alice cannot see their kind."

"You're friends with werewolves?!"

"They aren't werewolves per se. they can shift at will and they aren't the classic freaky new moon and silver bullets wolves. When she was human, Jacob was Bella's best friend. When she came here, we had to rework our truce with them so they could still see each other."

"A lot has changed in your lives on account of her."

I smiled down at my Bella, whose answering smile was radiant. "Yeah. My life is changed completely, and for the better."

I love you, Edward.

I grinned at her. "Love you too, My Bella."

"You two are pathetic."

"Shut up, Jasper. When you and Alice get all lovey-dovey we're the ones that have to get a room."

"You're one to talk?" shot back Bella.

"Be quiet, you!"

"Aww, Emmy don't be mean to me." Bella pouted while throwing the vase Esme had replaced for the sixth time this month at his head with her eyes.

"Ouch!"

Dorian and Nikkos howled with laughter.

I sighed. "Bella, you're going to have to replace that vase for Esme."

"But Edward..." she pouted at me. Edward, don't be mad. Please? Her thought took on a childish begging nature. I love you, Edward.

I sighed my defeat. I could never say no to the girl anyway. When she got like this, it virtually hurt. "Bella... fine. I'll replace it this time. Next time, you're on your own."

Her pout turned into a happy smile and she kissed both of my cheeks and my lips. This was always worth it.

"Ahem." Carlisle raised an eyebrow. "Can we get back on topic, please? We have to handle this."

"We didn't ask for any of this, Dad," spat Rosalie.

"Well we've made an even bigger mess of it and now we have to fix it."

"Alice says this will work. The issue is how do we go about this? I mean the Volturi actually trained to destroy. They were so deadly because they were unmatched in power, strategy, and skill."

"So we can be that way too. We can ask people to help us that have talent and skill already. Jasper and Emmett... and we can ask Kate to help."

"I met these nomads once..." Nikkos looked at me.

"James and Victoria. He's a tracker and she has the uncanny gift of getting the hell out of anywhere, any how, any situation... I never liked them. They're too sinister."

"They're perfect," said Jasper. "Who else?"

"I don't know..."

"Well if only twenty-three are coming, then the other sixty-one can't all be rebels. See if any of them want to help control this disaster."

Rosalie jumped up. "I'm on that."

"Okay."

"Nikkos and I can look for James," I volunteered.

Carlisle nodded once at me.

"Hey, what about me?"

"You, my beautiful Super Bella, will stay here and keep the rest of our family safe. I know you can do that."

"But you won't be safe?" a little line formed between her eyebrows as they furrowed.

"I will be perfectly fine, my Bella."

"Promise?"

I grinned and kissed her nose. "Sealed with a kiss."

you missed.

I grinned again and kissed her lips. "Better?"

She nodded.

"Good. I love you, Super Bella. We'll be back as soon as we can."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Having been gone for a week an a half without seeing or talking to Bella, we ran back to the house with Victoria and James in tow. Of course, James and Victoria were running ahead of us and smacked into something invisible, followed by Nikkos and of course, myself.

Oh great. I forgot about Bella's little job. The one where she shielded the house from danger. "Bella, love?" I yelled, hoping that we were close enough for her to hear. I didn't know that she could push her shield this far out.

"Wait, your girl is going this?!" James sat up and angrily rubbed his head. "That freakin hurt."

"Shut up and let him talk."

"Dude, are you sure you can talk her down?"

"I can. You, however, need to shut up 'cause you can't. Bella!"

I reached out to touch the shield, but it was gone. A beautiful golden eyed angel stood in its place. "Hi, my Bella."

She jumped into my arms. "I was so worried!"

"I'm here now. This Victoria and James. They are going to help us."

She eyed them warily from the safety of my arms before looking up at me. "Okay."

"It's nice to meet you. Bella, right?"

She nodded and led the way home, never letting go of my hand. When we walked in, Jasper was sitting, talking to four men. Then I realized they all looked the same. What was going on? What had I missed?

"Oh, Edward. Our new friend, Octavius. He has the power to multiply himself."

"Hi I'm Octavius."

"Me too."

"Me too.

"Me too."

Bella laughed at the shock and confusion that must have been on my face. "Edward. It's fine. I promise Octavius is nice. All of them."

I nodded at her, still confused and freaked out. "If you say so, my love."

A woman appeared from the stairs. "If only every man learned those magic words." She had golden eyes too. That meant she was vegetarian. Why was she here?

Bella giggled. "This is Zaria. She was a pyromaniac in her human life... and now, ironically, she suffers from pyrokenesis."

"It's a pleasure."

She glared at the girl. "If you stare my husband to ashes, you and I are going to have to fight."

I studied her. She was beautiful, I guess, bu not like my Bella. She had auburn hair as low as her shoulders and her eyes glowed the color of liquid gold. Her skin was paper white and her lips were full. But my Bella was so, so much beautiful. She was also undressing me with her eyes. I looked away uncomfortably.

"The man smolders already," she said seductively.

"Hands off my man, bitch."

"Okay, Bella, that's enough." I put my arms around her waist in restraint.

"But she..."

"My Bella, please listen to me."

She stilled.

"I love you, Super Bella. Only you. No one will be able to stop me from loving you, okay? No one can take me away from you. She won't touch me."

She wrapped her arms tightly around me. "Don't be mad."

"I'm not mad. I'm glad you love me."

"Really?"

"Would I have married you?"

She smiled happily up at me. "I guess you're right."

"I always am, my Bella. Come on. We have work to do."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

James, Jasper, Kate, and Zaria made up the exterminating crew, as it was jokingly referred to. Emmett itched to go too, as did Nick and Dorian, but it was better to have them and Octavius with us for when the Italians came to attack.

When they finally did, Sam and Jacob were alerted. Of course, between them and Octavius, we didn't have much to do. That didn't stop Bella from hovering protectively over them with her shield, but the victory for us was easy, and they surrendered when they saw Octavius... all one fifty of them. No one was killed.

Carlisle called us to attention as we got ready to rebuild and move into Volterra. "I have something for all of you."Alice squealed and Carlisle gave her a look of warning before continuing. "Since we're to rule the vampire world, I thought it fitting for our family to have a symbol, much like the black cloak and crest of the Volturi. But, unlike them, our symbols is not one of bleakness and death, but of peace. Peace and justice, that's what we will stand for always."

"I have a question," said James. "Do we have to alter our diets?"

I shook my head. "No... we wouldn't force you to do that. But please, for godsake, no mauling people in the mall or any of that crazy stuff, okay? The rule is still the same; be discreet. We do have a secret to protect." the rest of our family nodded in agreement.

"Thank you. Wow, you really will be fair."

Carlisle smiled. "I have this. First for my beautiful wife Esme, my son Edward... you both made my existence purposeful. Thank you. Next Bella, Alice, Rosalie and Emmett... Jasper, my son." we all came forward as we were called, and we were each given a ring or a chain with a beautiful platinum 'C' shape, surrounded by ornately carved olive branches that were joined together at the bottom with the stone that marked our human birthdays. Of course, Bella hated flashy jewelry, so hers was a brooch.

"This is so thoughtful, Dad. Thank you."

"NO, thank you. For being our family. For being our friends. For giving us what we need to make this happen. For supporting us during the difficult times. Our friends: the Denalis of course. James and his mate Victoria. Dorian, Spiro, Nikkos... Acacia and Athena. Zaria and Octavius, our dear friends. You get one too." Carlisle smiled warmly at each of them as he handed them their gift.

They each gave him grateful hugs in return, Bella came to my side. I smiled down at her. "Do you like it?"

"It's sort of flashy... but I guess being it that we're royalty now, it fits."

I smiled at her. "The world doesn't matter as much to me as you do."

She giggled. "I guess you want to keep your title as Edward, King of Hearts."

"Am I still the king of yours?"

She smiled happily and nodded, cuddling into my arms and fingering her my new ring. I watched her fingers trace the delicate patterns and couldn't help but think back over the past year. I found love and lost it, I found the courage to fight not just for the woman of my dreams, but for my family and friends, and for my kind which was oppressed by selfish rulers for far, far too long. I then became a ruler myself. I found how selfish I had been, wallowing in my loneliness when I already had everything. I found that teamwork and loyalty always win the race.

My Bella smiled up at me again and I grinned happily back. Here in my arms was everything I'd ever wanted, and all the trouble I went through, in my life and in order to keep her was all worth it. Well if I was the king of hearts, she would have to be my queen.