Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to Mrs. Meyer. All new ones belong to me. The lyrics belong to Thrice.

Chapter 23- Making a decision

I know one day, all our scars will disappear, like the stars at dawn
and all of our pain, will fade away when morning comes
and on that day when we look backwards we will see, that everything is changed
and all of our trials, will be as milestones on the way

"You still haven't caught Victoria? Just what have you been doing these past couple of days Edward? Or is the better question, who have you been doing?" Aro asked, chucking slightly.

Edward bit back his growl. Pissing the Volturi off would do him no good. "We had her sir, but someone. . .intervened."

"And just who was this someone?"

Shit. Should he tell Aro? Of course, it wasn't like Aro wouldn't find out eventually. "We think it was the Three Fates."

Aro clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "I do have to say, it is never a dull moment when it comes to Bella and yourself."

"I agree, unfortunately."

Aro laughed, the sound like the running of a waterfall. "Let me speak with Bella."

"But, Aro-"

"That wasn't a question Edward. Remember, you still work for me. This whole trip has changed nothing."

"Yes sir, one moment." Edward put his hand over the bottom of the phone and looked at Bella. "He's insisting on talking with you."

Bella smirked and grabbed the phone. "I know, I could hear." She put the phone to her ear and smiled. "Hello Aro."

Edward listened intensely, his ear angled towards the phone.

"Hello Isabella, how have you been, my dear?"

"Oh, just fine. And yourself?"

"Good, good. Now, I know Edward doesn't want you to come to Volterra, but I have a proposition for the both of you. Something I'm sure would change both of your minds. I'm assuming he's listening?"

Bella chuckled. "Yes, we're both listening."

Edward walked over towards her and held her free hand in his. What proposition could Aro possibly have?

"Excellent. Now, I'm thinking that we could. . ."

Rosalie paced back and forth, her hair swinging back and forth. Emmett watched her from on their bed, a sigh escaping his lips. "Rose, I don't get what the big deal is."

She stopped, her eyes flashing to black. "How do you not get what the big deal is Emmett? The last time she got involved in this family, she drove our brother to join the Volturi!"

"Bella didn't drive Edward to join the Volturi, and you know it." He said, standing up. He tried to hug her, but she pushed him away.

"She's trouble, more than we should have to put up with."

"Sweetie, why do you hate her so much?"

Rosalie growled and waved her hand in the air nonchalantly. "I don't hate her."

"Uh, yeah, you sorta do."

She clenched her fists and said, "Don't tell me what I do and do not think."

Emmett looked at her in disbelief. "Come on Rose, you're blowing things way out of proportion."

"Oh I am, am I? Well how about you-"

A sudden knock on their door stopped them, and one of Bella's brother's stepped into the room. Emmett pursed his lips in thought. Henry, that was his name. Now, why was he in their room.

"I don't know who you think you are," he sneered, stepping closer to Rosalie. "But Bella is one of the most selfless, beautiful people I've ever met. And if I hear you badmouth her again, I won't hesitate to put you in your place."

Emmett snarled and stepped in front of Rosalie. "You'd have to go through me."

Henry tilted his head in laughter. "That would be no problem, trust me."

"Where do you get off threatening us?" Rosalie asked him, holding her head up high.

"Your family left Bella. Alone and vulnerable. If we hadn't saved her, who knows what might have happened. I don't know how she's forgiven you. I wouldn't. But that's just the way she is. And the only reason you hate her so much, is because she had the choice to turn to a vampire and you didn't. So, loathe yourself instead of my sister, because she did nothing to you."

And he left, leaving them speechless.

Edward shook his head and growled. "Absolutely not." He said. He grabbed the phone out of Bella's hands and put it to his ear. "Are you fucking kidding me Aro?"

"Not at all Edward." Aro replied. "Now, I believe it's Bella's decision to make, not yours."

Bella nodded and swiped the phone from him. "He's right Edward. This is my decision. You can't stop me."

"You cannot do this Bella. Please, don't." He pleaded, clutching her tightly.

She looked away from him. "And if I do this, you'll let Edward go, no repercussions?"

"None whatsoever. He'll be free to do whatever he pleases. Well, as long as it's within reason."

Bella inhaled deeply and replied, "Fine. I accept."

"No!" Edward snarled. "You can't do this!"

Bella clenched her jaw. "I'll see you in a week Aro."

"Sounds charming. Remember to bring Edward with you."

"I will," she whispered, then hung up. Her face softened when she saw the pain on Edward's face. "Edward," she breathed, trying to put her hand on his cheek. He shook his head and ran off, disappearing out the sliding doors. She groaned and walked over to the glass. "Damn it Edward! Stop running away!"

"What happened?" A sudden voice said.

Bella jumped in surprise and whirled around. Georgiano smiled softly, sitting at the table. She exhaled and put Edward's cell phone on the wood. "Nothing, Edward's just. . .having a fit."

"He seems to have those often."

Bella laughed. "Yeah, he does." She walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. When he flinched, she felt her heart lurch. She had never meant to hurt him. "Georgiano," she said quietly, putting her head next to his head. She took a deep breath; she'd always loved how he smelled. "I'm so sorry," she told him, her words muffled in his shirt.

He put his hand on her hair and petted it softly. "I know." He replied. "I'll be okay. The only thing I want is for you to be happy, you know that."

She moved and glanced at his lap. He chuckled and sat her down, holding her to him tightly. "Can we still be friends?" She asked him.

"Of course Isabella, don't be silly."

She just clung to him, needing the comfort Edward hadn't given her. She felt as if she'd sold her soul. In a sense, she sorta had. She licked her lips and said, "They want to join them. If I don't, they won't let Edward and me be together. They'll find a way to force us apart."

"I'm assuming you mean the Volturi." He stated quietly.

"Yeah. Am I doing the right thing? Edward. . .he wants me to just forget it. But I can't, I can't-" she stopped, aware that talking about her lover to her ex-lover was a tad odd.

"I know, you can't lose him. You're doing the right thing. I'd do the same for you, as would Edward. But what I know, that he may not, is that you're strong Isabella. You won't let them break you down, at least not without one fuck of a fight."

Bella chuckled. "Yeah. . .plus, I have one hell of a cool power on my side."

"That you do. Stop worrying about it, everything will work out."

She sighed. "Thanks Georgiano."

"My pleasure," he responded.

Edward wandered through the woods behind Bella's house, his heart figuratively pounding in his chest. They would destroy her, ruin her. At least, that's what he thought would happen. But then he'd remember the way she'd handled herself with Sophie. She was stronger now. . . he knew that. He just didn't want her by them, didn't want them influencing her. He was about to step over the root of a tree, when someone tripped him. He hit the ground with a thud, and looked up with a snarl on his face. The little girl stared at him, her eyebrow raised. What the hell was she doing here? And how hadn't he heard her?

"You're being childish." She told him, her delicate features stretched in a frown.

"What are you talking about?" He asked her, though he knew.

She bent over him and flicked the necklace above his clothing. "Don't make me regret giving you this Edward Anthony Cullen."

His eyes opened wide. Wow, she knew his whole name? "Why would you?"

"Because, you are doing more harm than good."

Ouch.

"You know Bella can take care of herself, you just do not want to admit it. And in the process, you're hurting her. Do you know the lengths my sisters and I have gone to, to get you and Bella back together? And you're just unraveling all of work with one stupid word or gesture. Are you really that thick Edward?"

Double ouch. He sat up on his elbows. "Listen, I don't know who you think you are but,"

And she smacked him. His head reeled to the side. Fuck, she packed a punch for a little girl. "Listen to me Edward, I can and will erase everything that's happened. Neither you nor Bella will remember a thing. She'll be with Georgiano, you'll be with Sophie. Nothing will change, and you'll stay miserable for the rest of your life."

He gulped. "Please, don't."

"Then you better take the time to change your mistakes. Go to Bella, tell her you trust her decision, that you'll be with her. And stop thinking she can't handle herself. That's what happened with Romeo, and you saw how that ended."

Edward's eyebrows furrowed. "Romeo and Juliet are. . .were. . .real?"

She smirked. "You'd be surprised. Now, go."

With a flick of her wrist, she was gone, leaving Edward to ponder just what the hell had happened.

"Stupid Fates," he muttered, standing up and brushing off his clothes. With a sigh, he headed back towards the house.

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A/N: Yeah, Edward got chewed out by a little girl, had to happen eventually haha. So, I was going to post this last night, but the site was being funky, so I had to wait to post it. Le sigh. Thanks to everyone for reading, hopefully you liked this chapter! I liked writing it. So, to everyone who reviewed, you get like. . .a million thank you's and warm chocolate cookies (right out of the oven!) haha.
So, I have to ask a favor of you guys, my oh so loyal readers. . .Would any of you be interested in checking out my original works? I know a lot of you have mentioned that you'd like to see an original story of mine, and I'd love to have you guys check them out. I mean, some of you have stuck with me and my stories for a long time, which you don't know how much I appreciate that. If you would, totally let me know and I'll hook you up with a link. I have a supernatural/romance story posted, a romantic cliche, and a romantic cliche that's m/m. I also have poetry and things like that. Like I said, I would so appreciate it, and I think you guys may like some of the stories.
Alright, I'm done with the shameless plugging. Review and let me know your thoughts on the chapter! Mwah!
Faith