Sorry there wasn't a lot of bonus chapters this week, life has just been super busy. BUT we always do our best to post on schedule, so here is your normal Thursday chapter. Hope you enjoy it.


Chapter: Twenty-Nine – Edward talks to Miss Honey
EPOV

I watch Bella carefully the whole time as Peter and Jasper bring in the Volturi. The last few hours have been odd. I don't think I'll ever get used to just how smart she is, but I wouldn't trade her for anything.

When we arrived at the warehouse, she asked Jasper to put some wristbands on Black's men. I was about to question her more, when Peter asked to see me immediately.

Having had enough of him, I agree to follow him out. "Remember who's in charge," I say and Peter glares at me. "I'm not saying you can't say your peace, just make sure you're respectful."

"I have kept her safe for fifteen years," he says again.

"I know you have and you haven't stopped saying it."

He shakes his head at me and my cocky replies, but I'm done playing his games.

"You know she has nightmares all the time?"

I frown a little, apart from that one time she's not had any when she's been with me.

"I would often run into the house thinking she's being attacked, only to find her shaking and crying in her sleep. I tried ... I tried so hard not to let her see to any of it. I tried to be the one that did the fighting, the one that killed. It didn't work out like that," he says with a chuckle.

"I failed her, when I let her dad get killed in front of her eyes. When I found her with those men, I lost it for the first time. I lost it and I killed them without a thought, until I heard her whimper. She still came to me willingly. I begged Aro to let me take her in. I have been working for him for years and did more for your family than anyone before, but he said no, that his family was too dangerous for her. So I took her to Maria, I thought that it worked. I thought she was safe." He shakes his head.

"She's lost too much and as Aro says, your family is too dangerous for her. So, tell me why is it that you want her and you get to have her? What makes you so special? You're not good enough for her," he says pointing at me.

I look at Peter for a few moments before starting to speak. "I get her, because I'm unwilling to take no for an answer. If she runs, I will follow. If she is taken, I will fight. She is mine, just like I'm hers. I'm sorry for what happened and I know my grandfather did everything he thought was right. And the one thing that lets me have her is she wants me as much as I want her. She loves me and I love her, no one, not even you can change that. I will protect her like I protect my kids. Now you have said your peace, kindly stop glaring at me all the time. I only give a little leeway and I have given so much already—to a lot of my family, even more so to your son—I'm not sure how much further I can be pushed."

"I can take you out right now."

I shake my head at him. "That would only hurt Bella and my kids if you do that. Not to mention you'd be signing you own death warrant and you know it. Are you willing to hurt them all like that, because you want to make her choices for her?"

Peter swallows, but says nothing.

"This stops now," I say and walk away.

It takes a few minutes, before I can hear and see Peter coming up behind me.

When we came back in the room with the others, we question Black's men. I will say I love her wristbands, and I know they'll be a great accessory when questioning people in the future.

Peter and I finish with Black's men in time to have Dot Matrix tell us the other men were waking.

We went to get Bella, only to find her and Jasper talking away like the best of friends.

I follow Bella and frown when she starts to tie the men down more than my men already have them. I look to Jasper and he shrugs his shoulders as she turns up the heat in the room.

"Okay, men, as much as I'd love to stay and chat, I've got stuff to do, so you're going to hang around for a bit. Hey, but don't worry, I'll be bringing your injections back with me when I come back. Bye for now," Bella says.

"Err ... are we not questioning them right now?"

"No," Bella says and I frown.

"I'll explain when we get back."

I nod at her and we start to walk out.

"Tell me when they go to stage three," Bella says.

"Yes, ma'am," Chaos says.

I look to Jasper who shrugs and then at Peter who grins away. I can tell he is happy she is keeping shit from me. Soon I'll have to put him in his place.

When we arrive back at my parents' house, everyone but Cassie, Cullen and Kate are up and waiting for us.

I move closer to Bella as Sasha gets up walking to her.

"Thank you," she says shaking Bella's hand.

Bella gives her a curt nod, but doesn't say anything back.

"I think it's about time we all talk about the Volturi," Bella says. "First of all, my real birth given name is, Remy Isabella Eclipse. My mom was called Renee. As many of you already know, she went to school with Esme, Anna and Eleazar. If I'm right, she dated you for a year?"

Eleazar nods at her confirming what she said.

"My mom was very smart and took an interest in the human brain after her father died from early Alzheimer's. My father, Charlie, was a soldier and infiltrated his way into the Volturi organization. The Volturi think they are above the law."

Bella scratches her head as if she's trying to think of a way to explain them.

"They're like the conspiracy theory gone wrong. They have their hands in everything that means anything. Their aim is to get the best of everything, from weapons, medications, cars, computers and people. They bring men like Stark into the group, so they have the best. Their men are soldiers. They are taught a combination of different arts and more than that—they get this," she places down a small blue bottle, "injected into them, every twenty-four hours. It's highly addictive and it makes them think faster and be stronger. They are hard to beat in a fight."

"You're saying this drug makes them super human?" James asks with a smile.

"You can call it that, yeah, but there is a downside of the super injection. After the first time, you're addicted to it and if you don't inject it again within a twenty-four hour period, you start to have withdrawals. Within six hours you're in pain and another twenty-four hours you're dead."

There a lot of gasps and everyone looks at Bella.

"I wouldn't recommend any of you taking this, but Beaker and Bones, maybe you should have a look."

My dad and Caius both nod at her in agreement.

"Why do they want you?" Sasha asks.

"I'm not sure, but as far as we've figured, it's all because I don't need this," Bella says holding up the bottle. "And even so, I'm faster and stronger than most of them. Or, they could want me because of my computers and computer skills, which I can say is better than theirs are tenfold."

"How do you know that?" Marcus asks.

"My dad had me hack in regularly when I was a child. He kept up their security, but it didn't work, it didn't stop me from getting in. I haven't hacked in for a few years, but I'm sure I can still do it."

Sasha nods at Bella, seemingly happy with what all she has said.

"What did their men say to you?"

"We've haven't questioned them yet," I answer. I'm met with frowns from almost everyone.

"These guys won't say anything to you right now. They have the ability to lie so well, even my wristbands couldn't pick up on all of them, some yes, but not all. Causing them pain to get information, won't work right now."

"What wristbands?" James asks.

"It's just a wonderful toy I designed, maybe I'll put one on you someday and we can play twenty questions."

Jasper, Hawk and I chuckle, and James looks slightly scared.

"Why haven't we just killed them?" Jasper asks out of the blue.

"Because ... in twenty-four hours, those four guys will tell you their life stories, all for this." She holds up the little bottle up. "As I said this changes a lot of things, we just need to hang tight for a few more hours."

"Won't someone have trackers on them to know where they are?" Jasper asks and I'm proud of him for asking, because it never crossed my mind.

"Remember the injections I gave each of them in my condo, before they were moved?"

"Yeah," Jasper and I both answer.

"That was a unique attack tracker that will disable any other trackers that have been implanted. It takes less than two full minutes to cycle, before it infiltrates and disarms any other tracker. Once it works, Chaos gets a green light. He would have never allowed transport if their trackers were operational. Now, I'm going to go and do a little work on my laptop. We have a little downtime."

I walk with Bella to my father's office. Dad and Caius come in to get a few things and the small vile Bella has to check it out. I chuckle when I see Guido following them, so he can tell them what to do.

"I'm going to check on the kiddos, and I'll meet you in our room upstairs in a bit, okay?"

"Yes, Stark, I love you."

"I love you, too, my sweet Albatross."

Walking out, I go up and check on the kids. Dad gave Kate something to help her calm down earlier. She was very upset. Cassie and Cullen are so cute cuddled together. I kiss them both and cover them up. I cover Kate and leave the room. In the hall outside the door is my grandmother.

"Well, well, Miss Honey," I say with a smirk. My Nana Masen has always been one of my favorite ladies.

"Cosa Nostra, I'm so proud of you my boy. I always knew you were the right man for my sweet Dolce Raggazza. I have something you are needing now, no?"

"You know I need it, Grandma, she is the one—she's the only—my other half."

"It's right here, my sweet boy. It is sized for her and cleaned. New pictures are taken and the new stones are already added."

"You had that much faith?" I ask shocked, because only the jeweler's family who made the ring is allowed by tradition to work on it. This means the ring has made the trip to Italy to be altered.

"Of course, my boy, this was done the day after you met officially."

I shake my head at her as I take the old wooden box from her hands. I open the lid to see it with our stones added. I see the large square golden yellow diamond. I see the clear stones along each side that represent several generations of Masens before me. This ring has been in our family for over two hundred and fifty years. I will be the sixth head of the Masen family to pass on this ring. I see the six small stones on the sides, each a diamond with an initial on the side. The last two are an E for me and a B for Bella.

"Thank you, Grandma, for this ... for everything, but mainly for knowing my heart all along and protecting it."


Chapter: Twenty-Nine – Bella gets a ring
BPOV

"Twinkle toes," I hear Hawk say.

I turn around to see him standing at the bedroom door looking at me.

I smile, walk over to him and hug him.

"How much do you like this kid?" I can hear the worry, even behind the harshness of his voice.

"I love him very much," I admit.

Hawk sighs and lets me go.

"Why him? You could have any guy. You're pretty, smart, kind, why him? He's eleven years older than you."

I nod at him and move to the bed patting it for him to sit next to me.

"I don't know. He just ... gets me. You know that I've always felt like a freak, like I was the odd one out. You're the only person that I could fight in front of without worrying that I'd scare you. You've seen me at my lowest."

Hawk nods in agreement with me.

"I'm the same with Stark. He sees me and he still loves me. At first I thought he was only seeing what he wanted—not seeing me, just the girl he wanted me to be, but he doesn't. He sees me and I love him."

Hawk groans and he rubs his forehead with the heel of his right hand.

"From the first month—the first month I was with you—all I've ever wanted was for you to be safe and happy."

"I am, or will be, once this done and over."

"If he hurts you I will have to fight with my son, because he will protect Edward. I'll make a move to kill the fucker. You know that, right? I love my son, make no mistake on that, but you ... you out of everyone I've ever met ... you should have that fairy tale happily-ever-after."

I tilt my head at him. "I just want to be happy and to have a home; a place I can call home. Hawk, I found that in Stark, Cullen and Cassie."

Hawk rolls his eyes a little.

"Dad?"

I wave my hand to tell Peabody to come in.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Mom's looking for you."

Hawk nods at his son and stands up.

"Are we starting the training tomorrow afternoon?"

I give him a nod and he grins at Peabody.

"Son, you should spend the night loving your wife, it may be a little time before you're able to do it again. She will kick your ass."

Peabody just looks between Hawk and I.

"She's really that good?"

Hawk nods happily, looking like the proud father.

"Why didn't you tell me about her? You've always been so open; why not about her?"

Hawk sighs, but before he can answer I cut in.

"He couldn't; just like I never asked about his family. I didn't know Stark was Guido's grandson, when he banged into me. I only learned that later. I knew of Edward Platt. Anyone with gun training and common sense has heard of him. It was always best I knew nothing, just in case I was ever taken.

"Where I am sure they have a lot of information, I didn't want to add to it. It's the same with Hawk. You are a lot closer to Stark. It would've been harder for you to keep me out of his view, out of the family view."

Peabody sighs exactly like his father, but nods in understanding.

"Well, I had better get to bed. I'm really looking forward to sparring with you," Peabody gives me his trademark half-smirky smile.

I grin at him. "And for the record, Peabody, I'm going to love kicking your ass for cock-blocking me."

"Good job, son," Hawk says.

I roll my eyes as Hawk pats Peabody on the back.

"Oh, yeah, Twinkle Toes, back to that ... who is IM?"

I cross my arms over my chest and look right back at him.

"He's her vibrator. It's an Iron Man one," Stark says with a grin as he walks in. "See, I should feel uneasy about coming to my bed and finding two men in the room along with my sexy woman, but I know she's mine. So who all is ready for bed?"

"Iron Man ... you've got ... hah, an Iron Man ... vibrator?" Peabody chuckles and gasps as he asks.

"Who in the sam hell got you that?" Hawk yells as I bite my lip.

"I would say Charlotte by the guilty look she had on her face earlier," Stark says still cheery.

"My mother bought you a vibrator? That just makes it a little grosser," Peabody whines.

I roll my eyes at Peabody.

"Yes, here we go again. I'm seriously thinking of changing your name to Sherlock. She got it along with the Hawkeye one she picked up for herself."

Peabody pales and Stark stands at the door with a stupid grin on his face.

"I think I'm going to go be sick or something," Peabody says, and I chuckle as he runs out of the room.

"Beating him will be easy, what a pansy," I deadpan.

"Goodnight, Peter," Stark says holding the door open.

"Yes, Edward, I'll walk you to your room."

Stark rolls his eyes.

"Okay," Edward says, "shall we?"

Hawk moves out of the room and Stark pushes the door shut as he goes.

"Well, that was easier than I thought," he says quickly slamming the door closed and locking it.

I chuckle as he looks at me.

"Edward?" Hawk yells as he bangs on the door.

"Goodnight, Hawk. Go see to your wife, before she sees to herself," I yell as Stark walks toward me.

I feel him starting to kiss me all over.

"You're going to really do this with him right outside the door?"

"I'm absolutely going to do this, and I will have you screaming my name. There will be no doubt about what we're doing."

I chuckle even more as he starts to remove my clothes.

"Stark," I pant out, as he touches, kisses and caresses my body, "they'll hear us."

"I don't give two shits. You're mine. It's about time this family remembers that I'm the head. What I say goes. You are the only one allowed to question me."

"She better have clothes on, Edward," Hawk yells.

"Nope, I've already taken them off and been sampling her fine body, now go away," Stark yells back.

"Goodnight, Bella and Edward," Charlotte yells and we hear her drag Hawk away.

"I knew I liked her for some reason," Stark says, before reattaching his mouth to my breast.

I nod in silent response and pull his mouth up to mine. I kiss the daylights out of him, as he sucks and licks and nibbles my lips. Suddenly, he pulls back and drops to one knee, kneeling on the floor before me.

"I have been lonely for so long. Then you came in with your quick wit, bright smile, astute intelligence and this amazingly ginormous heart. You light up my life. I don't feel alone anymore, not when you're next to me. Now, I only feel your absence when you're not with me. You asked me to marry you and now I'm asking you if you will become my wife, the mother of my children—of our future children. Will you spend the rest of your life by my side, and allow me to help to guide and support you?"

I feel my heart beating so fast at the way he's looking at me and the words he's using.

"Above all, will you wear this ring as a symbol of our love for each other?"

I look to his hands seeing the most beautiful ring I've ever seen.

"Miss Honey gave this to you for me?" I ask him, with a little sob.

"Ah, I take it you've seen this before then?"

I nod at him, because I am speechless right now.

"So, then you know the story behind the ring?"

"Yes, Miss Honey told me when she showed it to me."

I watch Stark as he smiles.

"Will you wear it?"

I let out a breath and look at him.

"Your family will be okay, Molly, Cinna?" I ask.

"Yes, she was still with us when they joined the family. The story or part you may not know, goes that this ring can only belong to one girl. This ring has been in the family a long time, and the only one who can wear it, is the woman who marries the head of the family, and that, my love, is you."

He slips it on my finger and it fits me perfectly.

"I love you," I say and he winks at me.

"I know and I love you, too. Now, some little birdie told me that after a good sparring with you, I won't be able to move for a few days. So, I think we'll need to get in some loving right now."

"I completely agree," I say as he kisses his way up my body. "In fact, I think I still owe you a little something special."

I pivot us and push him on the bed. I crawl over him, so I'm on top.

"So, dear fiancé of mine, lie back and enjoy."

Stark's eyes go wide as he puts his hands behind his head. Then he grins at me while wiggling his eyebrows.


A/N: Well we learned even more about Bella's past and about the Volturi this chapter. Bella may have proposed to Edward, but he did give her one hell of a ring, with more than just a little meaning behind it. I will have more chapters to post this week yet soon, so no worries you'll get some extras in here somewhere.