A/N: I have been thinking about the ending of this story a lot over the months since I wrote the new ending. And while it has more of a conclusion than my original ending, I don't think it is the best ending for the story. I am going back to my original ending because I think that is the best ending for the story. And who knows, maybe with a little more thought, the sequel will work out for me.

BELLA

"When and where, Damien?" I asked when Edward finally released me.

It was killing me to know that after early seventeen years of being apart, this was the only reunion we would get, so I had a pretty good idea of what Edward must be feeling at the moment. I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around him and never leave his side again. If it had been any other situation, I would've chosen to fight and risk everything, just so I wouldn't have to leave Edward, again. My daughter's life and safety trumped everything, though. It always had.

I wouldn't allow her to continue to suffer, not when giving me life could stop it. Besides, Rosemarie was in this position because of my choices and my lies. The only thing she was guilty of was loving her mother, and I would not allow her to be punished for that.

I was sorry that my decision was hurting Edward and everyone I cared about, but I couldn't allow myself to think about that. Not when my daughter's life was in danger.

"Aro's throne room and whenever you are ready." Damien answered. The sadness in his tone told me that he was terribly sorry this had to happen. "As long as you take Rosemarie's place, everything for her future will be back on course. It doesn't matter when it happens, as long as it happens."

"And what do I need to do?" I asked. The sooner we finished this, the better. I didn't want Rosemarie trapped with those monsters any longer than she had to be. More importantly, I didn't want to deal with a long goodbye that both my families would insist upon.

"We will talk about that later." Damien said. "I know you don't want to, but they have a right to say goodbye, Bella. They didn't get that the first time you left, and you won't be coming back this time. Let them say it, then we will talk tactics."

I swallowed hard but nodded. He was right. I had denied them this all those years ago because I had let my guilt get the best of me. Besides, somewhere deep down, I always knew I would be back. This time, I wouldn't be returning, no matter what Aro decided to do to me. I would just have to grit my teeth and allow them to say the goodbyes that I didn't want to hear.

"I'll give you guys some privacy." Damien walked out the door. "I need to consult with my friends for a moment." He walked out leaving me alone to face my families' sad smiles.

"Do you really have to do this, Ms. Swan?" Erick asked. He had tears rolling down his cheeks as Leah clung to his hand.

"Yes, Erick, I do." I sighed wishing I could cry. "It's the only way to get Rosemarie out of there, but I need you to help take care of her. I need you to keep her out of trouble." I smiled a little at the memories of Rosemarie and Erick growing up together. "You were always better at it than I was. I imagine the same will be true for her father."

"Don't worry. You and Rosemarie have always been my family, and I would go anywhere for the two of you. Besides, my family," He held up the hand that was clutching Leah's. "Is here now, too. I'm not going anywhere, and I will always take care of Rosemarie."

I looked at Leah with what I hoped were apologetic and pleading eyes. "Permission to hug?" I asked.

"Granted." She answered. Her tone was only slightly less hostile than it had been the first time she spoke to me. Perhaps she was as cold-hearted as I always believed.

Erick released her hand and wrapped his arms around me and squeezed me tightly. I squeezed him back as tightly as I could without hurting him.

"I've always considered you to a second mom." He said. "And I love you and will miss you."

"I love you too, Erick." I whispered back. We pulled away from each other, and I flashed Leah a grateful smile as she wrapped her arms around a now sobbing Erick.

"I'm sorry it has come to this Bella." Alice said hugging me from behind. "If I had any idea this would happen, I would've done more to convince you to stay. I'm so sorry."

I turned to Alice and wrapped my arms around her squeezing her so tightly I would've broken bones if she was a human. "It's not anyone's fault but mine, Alice. It was my stupid choices that brought us here. No one else's. I'm going to make up for it now. I'm just sorry I have to hurt all of you in the process."

Alice and I hugged for a long time before she released me to the hands of Rosalie. My goodbye with Rosalie was much more heartfelt than I expected it to be. I figured it had something to do with the way I was handling this situation as a mother, but I didn't know. I didn't think I could handle asking her about why.

The rest of the goodbyes were just as painful as I thought they would be, and all I could think about was how I wasted what could've been the happiest year of my life stuck in a pit of sorrow and guilt. If I could've just forgiven myself for what happened with Jacob that night, I could've raised my baby with both men I loved and been happy. Now, all I could do was walk away from all of them with thoughts of what could've been, and I hated it.

JACOB

I watched as one by one Bella's family and friends said their goodbyes to her thinking about what could've been. If only she had enough sense to see that Edward and I loved her enough to work out what had happened, we wouldn't be here. If she hadn't let her guilt consume her, we would all be in Forks, or wherever the Cullens had decided to live, smiling and laughing at something the other said.

I would've spent the last sixteen years raising my daughter without ever having contemplated death. There'd be no antidepressants or worried glances from Sam. Everything would've been completely normal and the world would've continued turning.

If Bella had stayed in Forks, we wouldn't be sitting here having to choose between Bella's life and Rosemarie's life. I wouldn't have tears streaming down my face, or a horrible feeling of guilt in my stomach. Was it wrong that only part of me wanted Bella to sacrifice herself for our daughter? Yes, I loved Rosemarie with everything in me, but I loved Bella just as much. Why did I have to lose one to save the other? It wasn't right or fair.

Then again, Bella's decision to leave Forks the morning after we had sex is what finally taught me the life wasn't right or fair. I just didn't think that Edward, Bella, and I should have to go through more pain than we already had. I mean, we had lost Bella three times in the last two decades. Didn't we deserve some kind of happily ever after?

I had been so lost in my own misery I hadn't noticed the room clearing out as everyone had their last moments with Bella. Perhaps they intended to Bella privacy as she said her goodbyes to Edward and I. Or maybe they just couldn't stand to be in the room with her any longer. I supposed it didn't matter, as long as they didn't see the blubbering mess I was about to become.

Finally, Bella hugged Seth making him promise to take care of her baby before he walked out the door wiping his eyes and nose on the sleeve of his shirt. Bella, Edward, and I were alone after that. I took a deep breath to prepare myself for the moment that I had been dreading for the last hour.

"Jacob," Bella whispered, coming over to where I sat on one of the beds. She took both of my hands in hers and knelt down so she was on my level. "I can't tell you how sorry I am for keeping your daughter from you. By the time I found out, I had convinced myself that you wouldn't want anything more to do with me after I left. It was easier that way, I guess. After she was born though, I thought that you deserved to know, and I kept telling myself that I was going to call or visit. I always talked myself out of it, though. I didn't think you needed the extra burden in your life. I had already hurt you enough."

"I could never consider that beautiful, wonderful girl a burden, Bella." I whispered. I wanted to be angry with her for having the audacity to think that, but I didn't want our last conversation to be angry words, so I swallowed down my anger and just went for pure love. "I loved her from the moment she showed up in my kitchen a week ago. It didn't matter that I had missed sixteen years of her life. She was there, and I loved her. And I will continue to love her for the rest of my life."

"I know you will. That's why I sent her to you in the end." Bella explained. "I knew she would need when I was gone, especially when Jane and the others showed up at my door. They were her first exposure to vampires and I knew it would only be a matter of time before the fever set in. I needed to make sure she was with you when it happened."

"I know." I said, remembering the horror of Rosemarie's first transformation.

I remember the helpless feeling of not being able to do anything but talk to her. I remembered the fear of losing her before we ever really had a chance to get to know each other, and I was grateful for Bella's decision. If she hadn't sent Rosemarie to me, Rosemarie probably wouldn't have lived through that first transformation. The beast would've torn her apart. I didn't tell Bella about any of that, though. She didn't need to think about her daughter like that. She needed to die remembering the good times they had together.

"I wish you could've seen her as a wolf." I finally said. "She's beautiful."

"Tell me about her. What does look like?" Bella asked. I could hear her voice cracking and imagined she'd be crying if she could. I removed one hand from hers and reached up to wipe a few tears from my eyes. I was crying enough for the both of us really.

"She has the prettiest white coat with flecks of gray in it." I said pulling the picture of Rosemarie's wolf form into my mind. "She has blue eyes with little patches of gray fur surrounding them. Her paws are gray patched as is her muzzle."

"She sounds beautiful." Bella responded. I noticed that her eyes were closed. Was she trying to picture our little girl as a wolf?

"She is. I wish you could see her."

"Me too." She opened her eyes, and I noticed there was an almost pleading look to them. "Take care of her, Jake, please? I don't let anything bad happen to her. She doesn't deserve anymore pain."

"Don't worry. Between Seth, me, and the rest of the pack, she's in good hands." I told Bella as I stroked her cheek. "Nothing bad is going to happen to her."

"I love you, Jake." She said. "I'm sorry it could never be as much as you wanted, but I do love you. I always will."

"I know." I told her, grabbing her by the chin and pulling her closer to me. "And I love you too." I then brought my lips crashing down on hers, not caring if the bloodsucker was watching. This was the only goodbye she and I were going to get and I needed to show her how much I loved her, and that I forgave her for anything. This was the best way I could do it.

She kissed me back with very little hesitance and I remember that day on the mountain just before I went to face the newborns. I may have manipulated her into it, but it was the best moment of my life and I had never regretted it. If it hadn't been for the fact that this kiss was goodbye, it would've been just as amazing.

I felt my heart clench as she pulled away from me biting her lip. I couldn't help but shake my head at the look of guilt on her face. Even when she was headed to her death, she couldn't help but feel guilty for being unable to choose between the two of us.

I supposed that was Bella until the very end. Everyone else's emotions were always more important than hers. God, I would miss that.

I wiped at the tears that were flowing down my cheeks as she turned away from me. I didn't think I could handle watching her say goodbye to the bloodsucker, so I walked out the door shutting it quietly behind me.

EDWARD

I was surprised to find that I felt no negative emotions as I watched Jacob say goodbye to Bella. Sure, I was sad, but that was more because of the fact that I was going to be losing her after finally getting her back. That thought killed me more than watching the two of them say an intimate goodbye.

They were Rosemarie's parents after all. They had a much bigger connection than ever before, and I knew that meant they needed each other now more than ever. Besides, I had always known Bella loved me more than she loved Jacob, and somehow, that knowledge was enough to keep me from wanting to kill Jacob, even when he decided to kiss her as if I wasn't in the room.

I mostly let that go because it was his last chance to do something like that, and I wasn't going to take it from him. Besides, I had to prepare myself for the goodbye that I knew was coming. I hated the idea of saying goodbye to her, after spending so much time apart, but I knew there was no way to talk her out of making this decisions. I couldn't ask her not to save her daughter just so she and I could stay together.

Needless to say, I was nowhere near ready when she turned to me and Jacob left us to have our epic goodbye.

"So there's no chance of talking you out of this?" I said half hoping for her to change her mind.

"Not this time, Edward. I'm sorry." She whispered, putting her arms around me and resting her head on my chest. "If it was anyone other than my daughter…"

"I know." I put my arms around her and held her close to me. "I just wish…"

"We had more time together." She cut me off this time. "I know, so do I, and I know it's my fault that we don't."

"You did what you thought was best at the time." I told her. As much as I hated it, I firmly believed that. As stubborn as Bella was, she never did anything unless she thought she had good reason for it. Seventeen years ago, she believed taking herself out of the equation would be best for everyone, so that's what she did. She was wrong, but she did it because she thought she was right. "I can't fault you for that."

"That's a crap answer and you know it." She whispered. "I screwed up everyone's lives, including my daughter's when I left."

"Maybe, but you had good intentions, Bella." I pressed. "That's what matters."

She shook her head against my chest, and I knew it would be useless to push the subject. She refused to believe what I had to say, and repeating myself would do no good. We would simply spend our last moments alone fighting, and I didn't want that. I wanted to remember the good moments.

"Let's just not talk about it, okay?" Bella said. "Just hold me, and love me."

"Okay." I told her and kissed the top of her head. I pulled her closer and she snuggled herself deeper into me. God, how I had missed this, and now I was supposed to give it up again. I didn't know if I could.

"Bella, I love you more than anything in this world, and I would do anything for you." I told her. "If I could take your place in this, I would in a heartbeat."

"I know, but I have to be the one to pay for my mistakes, no one else." She answered. "And I have never stopped loving you. God, help me, I tried, but I couldn't. You and Jacob made my life worth living again, and I've never been able to forget that, or move on from it. I hope you will be able to."

I opened my mouth to tell her I doubted it, but I knock on the door cut me off. Taking Bella's hand in mine, I opened the door to find Damien standing there looking panicked.

"I'm sorry to cut things short, but we don't have as much time as I thought. Felix saw us in the alley and told Aro. He is preparing to fight and use Rosemarie as leverage. We need to move, now."

ROSEMARIE

"Wakey, wakey, little puppy." Jane's voice and a sharp pain in my scalp pulled me out of the beautiful black oblivion of sleep. I opened my eyes to see Jane standing above me yanking on my hair. "Get up." She growled when she realized I was awake. "You're families are coming and Aro wants you to be ready.

My body was still throbbing from the torture it was put through earlier that afternoon, but I didn't want to give Jane a reason to hurt me anymore, so I crawled off the mattress as quickly as possible.

Jane walked over to a spot on the wall I was too exhausted to notice earlier. On it was an assortment of whips and chains. If I wasn't so worried about what was going to happen when my families arrived, I would've been scared of what she pulled off that wall. As it was, I couldn't make myself care. A fight over me was about to begin, and it was one that could get my loved ones killed. That took precedence over everything else.

However, Jane simply grabbed a chain from the wall with a metal collar attached to it. She clamped it around my neck.

"Just so you don't get any ideas." She said yanking on the chain which I assumed meant she wanted me to follow her. "And don't even think about trying to phase. I'll have you on your back before you can go two feet."

I bit back a snappy retort as I followed her down the hall. The sooner we got to Aro the sooner I could figure out what was going on. We walked down the same long hallway that led to the room where the tortured me before. I didn't think they would want to set a fight up in that close of quarters, but my heart skipped a beat anyway. I never wanted to go back in that room again.

Thankfully, Jane led me into the large circular room where I first met Aro and his brothers and it was like de-ja-vu. Vampires were gathered in a large circle around the room, and I felt my stomach churn as the sickeningly sweet scent of them hit my nose. My mind screamed at me to transform so I could defend myself, but my body refused to listen. It was too scared of the pain Jane would bring if I even started to tremble a little.

"Ahh, our lovely pet has arrived." Aro said with his sadistic smile. I cringed as Jane led me toward him. "I bet you are wondering why Jane brought you here."

I already knew why Jane brought me here, but I knew the answer Aro wanted me to give, and I was too scared to fight.

"Yes, Master. I am wondering why Miss Jane brought me here."

"Well, it appears that your family is coming to your rescue, after all. And we need to prepare for that." Aro answered, the sadistic smile never leaving his face.

"And how exactly are we going to prepare for that Master?" I asked.

"Well, first, I have a confession to make. A very important confession." He said. "You see, I kind of deceived you when we made our deal earlier."

My heart rate picked up and I resisted the urge to glare at him. What did he mean he deceived me?

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, you see, my dear friend, Stacy," He gestured to someone in the circle, and the girl who brought my mother in earlier stepped forward. "Is a unique vampire with a special talent." He turned to Stacy. "Why don't you show her m'dear?"

Anger rose in me as I watched Stacy transform into a carbon copy of my mother. He face broke into a sadistic grin as she stared at me.

"You bastard!" I yelled as I wished my body would listen to my mind. I needed to transform and kill this man in front of me, but my body was too afraid of the pain. "That makes our deal void!"

"Maybe, but considering you're the one in shackles, it doesn't matter, does it?"

His smirk is what finally caused the beast to burst out. I didn't care about what Jane would do anymore. I just wanted Aro to suffer for what he did to me. Unfortunately, Jane made good on her promise. Pain shot through my entire body before I could move two feet.

I fell backwards whimpering as my wolf body spasmed through the pain. Before I knew it, I was human again and Aro was standing above me with a strong foot pressing against my head.

"Now, that you've been put back in your place," He said pressing a little harder. "This is what is gonna happen next."

BELLA

"Are you sure about this?" Edward asked as we were standing in front of the drain that would lead us to Aro and my daughter.

We had left the hotel the second Damien told us we didn't have much time. It was decided that only Edward, Damien, Jacob, and I would go down this time. Damien believed it would look better if we didn't have an army behind us. Aro would be more likely to listen if we weren't hostile about it. Damien had explained exactly what needed to be done as we walked to the alley.

"No, but I have to save Rosemarie." I said. "That's all that matters right now." Edward's only response was a comforting hand on my shoulder. I sighed and reached up to grab it. "I just need you both to promise that you will take Rosemarie and leave. Go back to Forks and move on with your lives. Finish raising her, and don't return for revenge. Promise that she won't forget."

"The pack will make sure that she is taken care of her, Bella." Jacob answered taking my hand. "We will make sure she has a long a happy life, and we won't come back unless the Volturi give us a reason to. I promise."

"Thank you."

"And my family and I will continue to give Rosemarie the money Alice promised, every month." Edward told me squeezing my shoulder. "And if she needs anything that Jacob and the pack can't provide, we will make sure she gets it. We won't abandon her just because you aren't with us."

I nodded and took a deep breath.

"Let's get this over with then." I sighed.

Edward went down the drain first followed by me then Jacob and Damien. We walked the long path to the Volturi's throne room in silence Edward kept a tight arm around my waist while Jacob clung to my hand as if for dear life.

When we finally reached the circular throne room, I took another deep breath as we stepped into the room and found ourselves surrounded by vampires. Caius, Aro, and Marcus were standing in front of their thrones. Marcus had the same bored look I had come to associate with him on his face, Aro looked like Christmas had come early, and Caius had the same sadistic smile as always plastered across his face.

I hissed when I saw Demetri next to them. He was holding a naked and bruised Rosemarie in his arms. One arm was around her waist pinning her arms to her side while the other hand was holding her hair and pulling her head to the side giving him better exposure to her neck.

"Easy, Bella." Damien whispered. I could feel Jacob's hand trembling in mine. Perhaps we should've made him stay behind.

"When Felix told me what had happened, I thought for sure you'd be bringing an army to try to kill us." Aro asked sounding amused and a little wary. "So why are there only four of you?"

"We haven't come to fight." I said in a shaking voice. I had memorized the words Damien told me to say, and he been repeating them over and over in my head. "We've come to negotiate the freedom of my daughter.

Aro considered this for a moment looking me up and down.

"Negotiation is out of the question." He finally answered. "You and the Cullens need to be punished for the law you broke, and for thinking you could get with it. Keeping your daughter as my prisoner punishes all of you for that."

"I understand that, but I ask for a moment to make a case for my daughter."

Again Aro considered, but finally nodded. "Two minutes."

"Rosemarie Swan is guilty of nothing except loving her mother enough to die for her. She has not broken any vampire laws." I said just as Damien told me. "And as a werewolf, she is part of the supernatural world, and keeping the existence of vampires a secret benefits her race as much as ours, she is not a liability, either. Seeing as she is neither guilty nor a danger to the vampire race, why should she be punished for what her mother and stepfather have done. It hardly seems right? What would the other vampires think once they heard about this? Do you really want to risk them turning on you?"

I finished and gave Aro a moment to consider my words. Damien was confident the threat of Aro losing his powers would be enough to break him, but I wasn't so sure. I held my breath and prayed it would work.

"I see your point, but if I let her go, then you and the Cullens get away unpunished." Aro finally said. "I can't let the others hear about that, can I?"

"Of course not, that is why I am offering a trade." I said as calmly as I could. "I will stay with you forever and allow you to do with me what you want: rape me, kill me, make me do your bidding, whatever you want. I will be yours forever, if you let her go back to Forks with her father."

"No, mom." Rosemarie yelled.

"Shut up." Demetri growled yanking on her hair a little harder. I suppressed a growl as her whimper echoed through the room.

"Do we have a deal?" I asked stepping away from Edward and Jacob and holding my hand out to Aro.

He stood there looking between me and my hand for what seemed like forever, before he finally came to a decision.

"On one condition, these four," He pointed to Edward, Jacob, Damien, and Rosemarie in turn. "Have to stand here and watch you die. It's really the only way to drive the point home."

Damien had privately told me this was a possibility, and I hated the idea, but if it meant Rosemarie would live, I would do it.

"Done." I said, stepping closer to Aro. He shook my hand and yanked me closer. He turned me around and grabbed me around the waist, pinning my arms to my side.

"Let the puppy go." He ordered Demetri. Demetri shoved Rosemarie away from him. She stumbled a little before running toward me.

"Mom, please don't do this." She cried tears streaming down her face. "I can't lose you, again."

"I'm sorry baby." I whispered wishing I could gather her in my arms, but Aro's hold on my hands wouldn't allow it. "Go to your father and be strong over the next few minutes. Then go back to Forks and live your life."

"No." She shook her head. "Not without you." Tears were streaming down her as she reached for me. Aro pulled me away from her.

"A goodbye was not part of the deal." He said, and I could imagine the smirk on his face.

"Please." Rosemarie cried reaching for me.

"Jacob, grab her before she gets herself hurt." I cried.

Jacob went to Rosemarie and wrapped his jacket around her naked body. He then wrapped his arms around her and began pulling her away from me. She continued to fight and beg so hard, Edward had to come help Jacob to subdue her. It broke my heart so much that I couldn't watch. I closed my eyes and waited for Aro to end it.

ALICE

So many emotions washed over me as I watched the images of Bella's current future flash across my mind. If she continued on this path it would destroy our family, Jacob, and eventually Bella and her child. I couldn't let that happen.

"Alice?" Bella's voice pulled me out of the vision. I looked around my and realized the strange man who had showed me this vision was gone. I had no idea who he was, but there was no doubt in my mind that what he should me was Bella's future. I couldn't let that happen.

I blinked at Bella, standing at the foot of the stairs. She was holding the envelopes with the letters that I promised I would deliver to Edward and Jacob for her in one hand and a small suitcase in the other.

"Bella, please don't go."

A/N: Love it or hate it. I really do believe this is the way this story was meant to end.