I don't own Twilight!

A Victory

It didn't take Bella and me long to realize Rose and Esme needed our help more than Carlisle did. It wasn't that Rose and Esme couldn't fight; it was that Caius had a few more centuries of experience than they did. No matter how well they fought he was always one step ahead of them.

We closed in on them, and the four of us formed a circle around Caius. We looked at each other and with a silent nod we all pounced. Caius didn't stand a chance. Limbs and body parts went flying into the fire until finally all that was left was the head.

"Would you two like to do the honors?" I asked Rose and Esme, since it was their fight.

"With pleasure," Rose said as she and Esme picked up the head and threw it into the fire. Once Caius was truly gone we turned to back to Aro and Carlisle, who were still going head to head.

"He shouldn't be the one to kill him," Bella said from beside me.

"What?" I asked confused.

"I should be the one to kill Aro," Bella said.

"Why?" I asked.

"He has destroyed my life over and over again," she explained. "First he killed my parents and turned me into a vampire, then he had me kidnapped and took away my memory. I want to destroy him."

"Come on," I said as I pulled her forward, "We all want him dead, so we will do it together." Bella looked up at me and must have seen something in my face that told her how much I wanted to destroy him, because she nodded.

"Okay, I can read their minds, so I know what moves they are going to make," I explained, "When I nod I want you to kick the back of his shins."

"Okay," Bella said. I paid close attention to Carlisle's thoughts and didn't take long for him to decide to lunge at Aro's neck. When he did I nodded and Bella kicked Aro's shins while I jumped up and kicked his back. Luckily, Carlisle had a good grip when she kicked, and the result was Carilse holding Aro's decapitated head in his hand. Carlisle threw it into the fire, and Bella wasted no time disposing of Aro's body in the same manner.

Once Aro was gone everyone else in the room froze. I looked around and noticed most of the fights were already over. Chelsea and Demetri were gone, and Alice and Jasper were standing with their arms around each other smiling happily at us. Santiago had also disappeared, and Emmett quickly joined up with Rosalie. They were in each other's arms and making out heavily almost before I could blink.

Jane and Alec had finished their fights before Aro and Caius died, and they were now frozen in horror and awe.

Marcus was still standing at the head of the room with a smirk on his face. It was pretty clear he wasn't grieving for his now deceased brothers.

"Thank you," Marcus said confirming my thoughts.

"You're welcome," Carlisle replied and I could tell he was slightly confused by Marcus's gratitude. If Carlisle's could hear Marcus's thoughts like I could at the moment, and hear the hatred Marcus had for his brothers, he wouldn't be nearly as confused.

"My brothers and I haven't seen eye to eye on a lot of things in a long time," Marcus explained, "They were really big on punishment and pain, I am not, but I was always outvoted. It broke me to see the pain they inflicted on others, but I didn't have the power to anything about it. What Aro did to you, young Isabella, was despicable and I am truly sorry."

"You are?" Bella asked skeptically and after what she had been through I couldn't blame her.

"Everything he did to force you to become a member of the Voturi was horrific and I am sorry. It used to be a law that we couldn't force anyone to join us. If they joined it was because they wanted to. In recent years Aro has been passive and forceful, his desperation outweighed his morals. I hope you can accept my apology."

Bella stared at Marcus for minute, I assumed she was trying to decide if he was sincere or not, she must have decided that he was because she sighed and nodded.

"I accept," Bella said with a small smile before adding, "on one condition."

"Anything," Marcus said.

"You let us go," Bella said.

"Of course," Marcus said, "You are all free to go whenever you like."

"Will you be alright running the Volturi by yourself?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes, I will be more than alright," Marcus replied. In his head I could hear his plans I knew that he was more than capable of running the Volturi.

"Alright, then I wish you the best of luck," Carlisle said and Marcus nodded in gratitude.

"Good bye, old friend" Marcus said.

"Good bye Marcus," Carlisle said. We turned to leave and when we did I saw Alec and Jane standing behind us.

"Thank you for all of your help," I said.

"Yeah, don't mention it," Jane said, "ever."

"Are you staying here?" I asked.

"Yes," Alec replied, "it's out home, it's were we belong."

"Well then I have a task for you," Marcus said from behind us.

"Yes sir, what is it?" Jane asked.

"Put out this fire," he replied and I turned to look at the raging fire in the corner that really did need to be put out. I was actually quite shocked that it hadn't burned through the floor or the walls.

"Of course," Alec said and they ran out of the room to get water. We followed them out of the room and then quickly made our way out of the building. As soon as we were outside I took a deep breath of fresh air and grabbed Bella to bring her close.

Bella's arms wrapped around my waist tightly and we stood there enjoying our first moment of freedom in silence. Judging by their retreating thoughts, it was clear that our family backing off and giving us our moment.

"Edward," Bella said quietly with her face buried in my chest, "Is this real, are we really free?"

"It's real, love, it's real," I said and held her tighter.

Bella's grip on me loosened and I looked down at her just as looked up at me. That was all it took for my lips to come crashing down on Bella's. It was like the last few weeks caught up to us and we couldn't get enough of each other.

My hands were locked on Bella's waist as I held her close and Bella's were in my hair. Bella's nails gently scratched my scalp as our lips and tongues battled for dominance. I moaned before realizing we were still in a public place. I reluctantly pulled away and sighed at the loss of contact.

"I love you so much Edward," Bella said as she rested her head on my chest.

"I love you too Bella," I replied as I stroked her hair.

"Where did everyone else go?" Bella asked she took in her surroundings.

"They are giving us a minute," I explained.

"Edward," Bella said as lifted her head up to look at me.

"Yes," I replied.

"Can we get the hell out of here now?" Bella asked with smile.

"God yes," I replied as our family reappeared.

"Ready to go?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes," Bella and I said together.

"Good," Alice said, "because I managed to find us a couple of cabs."

We all walked over to where the two cabs Alice had somehow managed to hail were waiting. Bella and I climbed into one with Carlisle and Esme and while the other four climbed into the other one.

Once we were situated in the back I wrapped my arm around Bella and she rested her head on my shoulder. The cab started on we were finally on our way home.

AN: Thanks to my beta Jenn! Thanks also to: sujari6, Amineh1825, Bellaangel383, Iceblondie, Angelus Draco, sillygabby, the captains wife, spunkransom12, psychovampirefreak, Dixie.f.9.,twinicole, cullengirl08, twilight-saga-lover95, ahhleesaaa, swiftie121389, sandy4321, Flavia Ribeiro, lizakimiko, ellaryne, viola1701e, mayejrmorris, RobstenLover93 for taking the time to leave a review it means a lot.

PLEASE REVIEW! THANK YOU :)