Esme POV

As I held Bella in my arms, I tried hard not to blame Edward - but it was hard not to.

The poor dear was sobbing as if her heart had been broken, and who, really, could blame her?

What had Edward been thinking of when he got Susan to pretend to be his girlfriend? I mentally shook my head.

I rocked Bella, or what I could of her. "Shh, honey, shh." I whispered, kissing her forehead.

"Twill be all right, honey, you'll see. Why don't you tell me everything? Can you do that, Bella dear?"

So while I held her and comforted her, she told me everything that had happened in between the tears and the gasps for breath.

"S-so you s-see," - she sniffed - "I-I have t-to accept-t Aro's p-proposal I h-have t-to."

"You love Edward, don't you?"

"Yes.."

"How long?"

"Since I met him the first day.."

I smiled. "Honey, Aro can hurt us.. But you see, we, meaning my husband and children, still have vampire friends. And they would gladly stand up for us and, if it came down to it, this entire town."

Bella looked up at me with big brown eyes. "It doesn't matter, Esme," she looked down again. "I couldn't let that happen.. I won't let it happen." her hands came up and wiped away the wet from her eyes and cheeks, and she shrugged off my arms as she slowly stood up.

"No, Esme, I won't let it happen. Edward's made his feelings clear. I am, and always will be, nothing to him."

I didn't bother to correct her, she'd find out for herself, soon enough.

"I'll marry Aro." the look in her eyes frightened me; they were empty and soul-less.

"No, honey-" I began, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me. I turned around and saw Aro, staring at me with a glint in his eyes, but with a pleasant smile on his face. A very fake one.

Aro looked at me and then he saw Bella and smiled.. A very evil smile.

"Bella," he pushed me away, and I fell to the floor.

Bella glared at him. "Touch her again, you immortal bastard, and I'll-"

"You'll what?" he merely smiled at her. "You'll hurt me?" He laughed. "Bella, you can't hurt me. I'm immortal; a super man if you will."

Bella looked at me, and I looked at her. "I'm all right, dear," I told her, softly.

"So do you accept my proposal?"

"Ye-" she began, but I cut her off with a very loud "No!"

They both looked at me. I looked at them with a hardness in my eyes. "I will not let you touch my daughter, you bastard." Bella gasped; she'd never heard me swear before.

Aro lifted a brow, and smiled at me as if I were a child, as if I hadn't been alive for 22 years as a human, and 88 as a vampire.

"You cannot hurt me, Esme, dear. You're, how shall I put it? .. Weak." And as if to prove his point, he walked over to me and grabbed my throat, lifting me up. "I could snap your neck so easily.." He whispered, and I realized his eyes were red.

"Let her go, Aro." Bella pleaded. "I swear, if you don't hurt anyone in this town - including the Cullen's - I'll marry you."

Aro set me back on the ground, and released me. He quickly spun around, and walked towards Bella.

"It's time to go, my sweet, before you change your mind." He smiled at her..

Bella POV:

"It's time to go, my sweet, before you change your mind." Aro smiled down upon me, and then bend down as if to kiss me. My eyes darted to Esme to make sure she was alright, and then, seeing that she was, surrendered.

I closed my eyes as his lips met mine, and tried my hardest not to let the tears filling my eyes fall.

Aro's arms came around my waist and crushed me against him - literally.

I was in pain, but I didn't care. I'd gladly be in pain then to have the deaths of the Cullen's and of the entire town of Forks, on my conscience

I heard a noise, and apparently so did Aro, for he ended the kiss and looked up.

Edward stood in the door way, his eyes wild and his chest heaving.

I looked him in the eyes, letting him see my tears.

Forgive me, my eyes pleaded with his, as his replied I'll never forgive you for this, Bella, ever. before Aro smiled and snapped his fingers.

A small woman, obviously a vampire, came out of nowhere, and stood in front of me and Aro.

"Hold on tight," she warned, and then started to chant. I still stood, with Aro's arms around my waist, staring at Edwards eyes, when all of a sudden, he was gone, as was the room we'd been standing in.

I now let my tears fall, for I'd never forget the message Edward's eyes told me - it seemed to echo in my mind, making it harder for me to breathe and to see.

I'll never forgive you for this, Bella, ever.