Thank You For The Venom

Disclaimer: In case you haven't figured it out yet Edward Cullen still isn't mine. Today's song is Thank You For The Venom by My Chemical Romance.

BPOV

The time was coming to take our stand against the Volturi. Our three months were almost up.

As the days went by my control over my powers grew exponentially. I now felt confident that I would be able to make a positive difference when the time came. Not to say I didn't struggle with my control or with my emotions, I did, but Jake was never very far away. He was my constant companion, always challenging me and acting as my own personal sun to keep the darkness within me at bay. He, as well as our growing number of allies, kept me grounded and gave me hope.

Within the first week Jasper had succeeded in recruiting not only Maria and her army of newborns but also every one of her numerous allies in the south. He had stayed with her in order to help train and control her army and would help to transport them to Italy where we would make our stand. They had given the newborns limited amounts of information about the coming days in order to hinder Alice's visions and from what Jasper told us we were confident that they would make a rather formidable group of allies in the days ahead.

The others had been equally successful in their endeavors. Emmett and Rosalie had recently returned from their time in Africa where they had managed to recruit the Egyptian coven. The Denalis had also returned from their travels during which they had successfully enlisted the help of not only the Amazon coven but also of several nomads they found in both North and South America.

It seemed as though everyone wanted a piece of the Volturi. Each new coven and nomad that showed up was eager to fight and they were more than willing to share their stories about what injustices they had suffered at the hands of the Volturi. I was amazed at how long and how grossly the Volturi have been abusing their power.

Each day was filled with new arrivals and a chance to prepare for the attack. The only family members we were still missing were Esme and Carlisle and it was only a matter of time before we were all together again, if only for a brief time, before we met our destiny.

Two days ago, Esme had sent word that she and Leah had been able to recruit the assistance of the Irish coven and would be returning to Forks with them any day now. Carlisle, on the other hand, had sent Sam home to spend time with his fiancée Emily while he stayed behind. He was still searching for allies, concerned that our numbers were high but our talents and fighting experience came nowhere close to that of the Volturi.

Carlisle was currently making his way thru England and had called to request that I meet him in London as soon as possible as he was in need of my assistance. Apparently it was imperative that I be the one to come. That was how I found myself sitting in the overpriced seats of first class on the earliest flight out of Seattle and into London with Jacob by my side.

Jake had absolutely insisted that he accompany me on my trip even though I had assured him that I was more than capable of going at it alone. He claimed he was doing it to block Alice's visions of me but I knew he was really just worried about leaving me alone, he was incredibly nervous about my wellbeing. He was almost as concerned as Carlisle and that's saying something.

As I waited impatiently for the flight to be over I had to remind myself to fidget so as not to raise the suspicions of the humans seated around us. It would seem highly unusual for someone not to move even once during a thirteen hour flight over the Atlantic. It was normally fairly difficult for me to remember to keep up appearances around humans while being stuck in confined spaces for so long but Jake's presence proved helpful. He ate both my meals as well as his own not only because he is a bottomless pit but also to stop any nosey airlines attendants from making a fuss. He would also remind me to use the bathroom at regular intervals, something I always forgot about.

I found myself feeling very appreciative for his presence and all the comfort and peace of mind that came along with it. As the time attack drew nearer, I found myself turning to him for comfort more and more often. Jake was always ready to listen and hold me when I needed it and for that I would be eternally grateful to him.

At the moment I was being smothered by my overwhelming fears. I was not only worried for the safety of my family and friends but also about Edward and his reaction. What if he really didn't want me? What would I do? I believed what Jasper had told me about Edward's feelings for me but I still couldn't erase the memories of what he had said the last time we had seen one another and it tore me apart.

Jake noticed that I had tensed up and put a warm hand on my knee, silently urging me to relax. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath ignoring the burn in my throat while willing my muscles to relax. After a few seconds I was able to open my eyes and give him a wan smile of thanks. He put his huge arm around my shoulders pulling me in for a bone crushing hug before turning his attention back to his PSP.

I knew he was just as tense as I was, worried not only about me but also about the welfare of his pack. Never had they participated in a fight this big and it was a virtual suicide mission but all of the young wolves were eager to prove themselves and seemed to be fairly unflappable in the face of danger. Jake, on the other hand, had seen many battles during his centuries on Earth and was not eager to experience the losses that would surely occur. The pack was the only family he had and no one likes their family to be in danger. I should know.

In the hours before our flight we had spent as much time as possible revisiting all of our old haunts in both Forks and La Push with not only his pack but also with his tribe as well. When it was finally time to leave I couldn't help but wonder if I would ever see the shores of First Beach again or the dense forests of Forks and if I did survive who would be missing? I took comfort in the thought that even if I didn't survive Jake surely would, allowing my family's memory to live on and because of that I finally found the strength to board our flight and race eastward, toward the inevitable.

Before long we landed in London's Heathrow airport and I was stepping onto my native soil for the first time in over two centuries. Although Carlisle and I had moved around many times during my lifetime, we had never stayed in England. Not long after I had been changed we left England for good and hadn't returned until now.

There is something about coming home after a long time away that makes it impossible not to relax a little inside and although London had certainly changed over the centuries it was still home. I allowed myself to revel in the feeling as Jake and I quickly made our way to the baggage claim where my father said he would be waiting.

After several minutes of watching me jumping up and down, trying in vain to see over the heads of the humans around me, Jacob spotted a familiar head of blond hair moving toward us. As soon as I spotted him I barely managed to move at human speed before I threw myself into my father's waiting arms.

"Dad," I sighed in relief as I hugged him tightly.

"Hello darling," he greeted with a smile, his long hidden accent coming out to play. "Jacob," he greeted with a nod over my head.

"Dr. Cullen. It's good to see you again sir."

"Carlisle please Jacob, I dare say we are past the formalities stage now. We are now brothers in arms. Besides, you have taken care of the most precious thing in my life when I was unable to and for that I will be forever grateful. You have certainly earned the right to call me by my first name." He extended his hand around me and Jake shook it eagerly.

"Thank you sir, I mean Carlisle," Jake corrected with a grin.

After finally releasing my hold on him we quickly gathered our luggage before following Carlisle through the parking garage to the car he had rented. Before long were on the road and I was silent as I took in the sights around me. Everything about London had changed yet so many things were still the same since my time.

After stopping to get Jake something to eat, Carlisle asked to drop Jacob off at our hotel so that he could adjust to the time change and allow us some time alone. Jacob grudgingly agreed after unsuccessfully trying to stifle a loud yawn that betrayed just how much the jetlag was affecting him.

After dropping off my luggage and getting Jake situated at the hotel, Carlisle and I loaded ourselves back into the car. We only made minimal conversation as we drove, just enjoying each other's company while allowing ourselves to get lost in our memories of a time long since past.

After driving in silence for a few minutes, I began to recognize some of the older buildings under their new façades outside of my window and I turned questioningly to my father.

"I wanted to bring you back to where I first saw you Bella. I hope that's alright," he said quietly never taking his eyes off of the road. I nodded my head unable to speak. We were headed to Cold-bath Fields, the place where it all began.

After sometime Carlisle parked the car and made his way around the front of the car to open the door for me.

"We'll have to walk from here," he said quietly. "There isn't much left, just a plaque but I felt we needed to come here never the less." I nodded my head before taking his hand in mine.

We walked a few blocks in silence before coming to a stop before an old plaque all that remained of the hospital in which my human life had come to an end and my eternal life had begun. We were back, back to the place of my birth and that thought in itself was humbling. We were silent a few moments more before Carlisle broke the silence.

"I'm sorry Bella," he said sadly. I gave him a questioning look letting him know that I didn't understand what he could possibly be apologizing to me for. Sure he had done things over the years to piss me off but at times I had returned the favor tenfold. "I'm sorry I wasn't stronger, sorry I didn't give you a choice. I never asked you if you wanted this life and I can't help but feel responsible for all the pain you have suffered because of my selfishness."

I couldn't let him continue to blame himself for the gift he had given me, the gift of a life with people who love me. Sure I wasn't always happy with what I was but I never once regretted being changed and it was important that he know that.

"Please don't apologize," I interrupted. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Were it not for you I would have died here long ago and I would have been buried and forgotten under a crumbling tombstone."

"But Bella," he tried to interrupt but I silenced him once again.

"No Dad, listen. If it weren't for you changing me I would have never gotten the chance to fall in love, as ill fated as it may be. I would never have known what it was like to have a family who loves me and I certainly would have never known what it was like to have a father, especially one as caring and selfless as you. Has my life been all smiles? Of course not. But who's is? Are there things I would have changed? Absolutely. But given the chance to go back in time and choose I would always pick this life if it meant spending it with you, Jake, and the rest of our family." If he could I know Carlisle would have been crying. The look in his eyes told me that he understood that I didn't hold him responsible for any of the bad things that had happened to me. "I love you Daddy, no matter what."

"I love you too baby," he choked out before crushing me into his chest.

We stayed like that for awhile longer simply enjoying each other before we broke apart. "Was this why you brought me here?" I asked curiously.

"Part of the reason," he admitted sheepishly, "but I also need your help."

"Anything," I promised earnestly.

"I need you to talk to Alistair."

"Anything but that."

"Now Bella," he admonished, "you know how helpful he would be to our cause…"

"But Dad," I whined, my inner teenager coming out to play. "You know he drives me nuts."

"Don't be so dramatic Bella," he scolded as we began making our way back to our car. "I'll admit that Alistair is a little … different and a bit difficult to take in large doses but it's only because he's been alone for so long. Besides he adores you."

I let out a very unladylike snort and rolled my eyes. What an understatement. Alistair was a hermit, he was paranoid, withdrawn, and tended to avoid contact with other vampires like the plague. Everyone that is except me, joy.

Carlisle had run across him a few centuries past and tried to forge a friendship with him. My father found him fascinating and forced his company on Alistair for a time until Alistair, sick of the companionship and paranoid as anything, split. Carlisle lost contact with him for a few decades until a few short years after my change.

We were living in Ireland when we ran across his scent one day while out hunting. Carlisle immediately decided to visit his 'old friend' and dragged me along with him. Oddly, and much to my dismay, Alistair took a shine to me immediately. He followed me around as he prattled on for days and days unwilling to let me out of his sight or to get a word in edgewise. It seemed as though he had been saving every thought he ever had for centuries and had been waiting for just the right victim to unleash them on. Just my luck I was said victim.

When I finally couldn't take it anymore I convinced Carlisle that the locals were becoming suspicious of us and soon after we moved on leaving Alistair far behind. I had seen Alistair a handful of times since then when we were visiting the Irish coven or when he would unexpectedly drop in while we were living in one of our various housed scattered through Europe and each time I had to suffer through his attentions in silence. Carlisle always forced me to be polite no matter how badly I wanted to tell him to piss off after a week of nonstop chatter and now he wanted me to voluntarily do it again.

"Dad I really don't want to," I whined while jutting out my bottom lip and giving him my best pout. "Please don't make me Daddy," I pleaded.

"Isabella I'm surprised at you!" he scolded. "I should think you of all people would want to get as much help as possible to get the Masens back. With Alistair's help we might just have a fighting chance and you know good and well that you're the only one he'll listen to."

I let out a plaintive sigh of defeat. I knew he was right but I didn't have to like it. "Fine," I pouted crossly.

"That's my girl," he said with a victorious smirk and a wink as he unlocked the car and opened my door. Smug bastard. "I caught his scent yesterday and tracked it back to an abandoned building just north of here. If we can avoid the traffic we should be there in fifteen minutes."

"Oh joy. I can't wait," I mumbled dejectedly.

Okay just the last little bit of fluff before the Cullens descend on Volterra. The next chapter is entitled Uprising and will be from Bella's POV. Please review and let me know what you think about the story. I know you've all been waiting for the battle and your reviews help me write faster!

XOXO,

Bellarella