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Three burning piles of purple were slowly going out in the courtyard.
Victoria, Jane and Demetri were gone and only their grey ashes remained. There was no way they could get to us. We had killed them and they were gone. They had burned for a full day and the courtyard was closed for the day until they simmered out. No vampires could touch it and we needed to make sure they were really dead.
I pulled the drape back down to obscure the view of the smoke. Bella lay still in her bed. We knew she was still alive because she would mutter something every now and then. She hadn't been burned so she wasn't dead, so she would, hypothetically, eventually wake up.
We hoped.
Carlisle would check on her every other hour. The first time he came in he explained that he was stalling Aro and the rest so they wouldn't come after us. He had told them to wait until Bella woke to discuss our so called punishment.
There was a knock at the door. Carlisle stepped in. I hadn't realised it had been two hours. I wasn't really keeping track of time.
"No change?"
I shook my head. "She mumbled something incoherent earlier."
"Well, that proves she's still fighting whatever it is that made her faint. She's just over exerted herself, trying to do too much at once. She stopped her gifts when she fainted so I don't understand why she hasn't woken up yet."
The odd thing was she was still doing it. My blood lust left when she fainted and I hadn't felt it since. Yes, the burning was still there but there was no need for me to attack a human. For the first time in my damned existence I wanted an animal more than a human.
Carlisle shut the door quietly and left me to my thoughts.
If my blood lust had left and it still hadn't returned did that mean… that she was still holding onto it? Was that why she wasn't waking up? It was worth a shot, wasn't it?
I knelt next to her on my knees, nestling one foot underneath me to sit on and my left arm resting on the bed side table. She looked so peaceful when she slept and I realised it would be the last time I would she her sleeping. She wouldn't faint like this again, I wouldn't let it happen. I knew we still had to get around the Volturi but that would be easy. I leant forward.
"Bella…Bella, its Edward," she stirred. "My blood lust is gone. You don't need to use your gift on me anymore," she frowned but her eyes were still closed. "Bella, love, please wake up," her legs moved as she turned. I took her wrist and kissed where her pulse would have been. "I love you, Bella. Please wake up."
Her eyes flickers open and I couldn't hide the grin that had formed on my face. A small smile crept onto her face.
"How are you feeling?"
Her smile grew. "Fine now I'm with you." Her eyes swirled into that deep brown that went on forever. She was mastering her gifts so easily.
I leant closer to her face. "I'm glad my idea worked then."
"What idea?"
"Talk you into waking up."
"Well then," she leant a little closer. Her lips were inches from mine. "I think it worked very well."
"Mmm."
If possible, I had forgotten how soft her lips were. Kissing her was like kissing her for the first time. It started soft and sweet and turned fast and passionate when her tongue grazed my bottom lip. We broke away to take unnecessary breathes. I rested my forehead against her.
"I love you," I murmured.
"I love you too."
And suddenly I realised the position I was kneeling in and I grinned a lot harder than before.Yes, it had been praying my mind for a while now. Ever since I knew she still loved me but this was all too perfect.
"What are you smiling about?"
"Well," I began, taking her hands in mine. "I've just worked out I'm down on one knee."
Her eyes went wide and her breathing picked up. "You mean…You mean…"
"Yes." I stared into those infinite, chocolate coloured eyes that melted my cold heart. "Isabella Swan," I took a deep breath. "Will you marry me?"
She stared at me, disbelieving and in total shock. My mind charted off into why she would say no... I wasn't good enough for her, I wouldn't be good enough for her... Of course she wouldn't want to marry me, I was a total monst–
She cupped my face in her hands, making me look into her big beautiful eyes. "You're not a monster. I never want to hear you think that ever again. Of course I'll marry you!"
I could scarcely believe it. "You will?"
"Yes!"
The feeling was glorious. It felt like something had clicked into place. My life had been given a purpose and it was to make sure Bella was loved for the rest of eternity. I would spend the rest of my existence proving how amazing and beautiful she was.
My joy was short lived when I realised something. "I don't have the ring…"
"You already had one?"
"Yes…"
She planted a quick kiss on my lips. "See, you are perfect."
"I'm far from it."
"Don't make me argue back."
I smirked at her as she got out of bed. She was still wearing the beautiful gold and ivory dress from the ball. True, it was still beautiful on her and it had hardly any scratches on it but she was still wearing it.
"Yes, Edward, I am still wearing it. I'll go and change if you're that bothered."
"I'm not bothered, it looks lovely on you. And that's going to take some getting used to, you know. Not being able to read you mind but you being able to with mine."
Bella walked into the closet. "Well, we can try out defences in my mind when we get home."
"But…There's Aro…"
"Exactly, when we get home." Then my fiancé skipped into the bathroom and shut the door behind her. I slumped down so she could hear me as I spoke.
"That's not fair you know."
"What's not fair?" she called through.
"Making me wait out here when I've only just got you back and when we've only just got engaged." I heard her 'mmm' from inside. "What? You're just going to leave me out here?"
"I might…" She called.
"You wouldn't, would you?" Just then the door swung open and out stepped my Bella. I put on my best puppy dog eyes and made a little pout. I knelt down next to me and I added a small frown.
"You look adorable when you do that."
I pouted a little more.
She leant in, pressing her lips to mine, in another short kiss. I grabbed her head gently and made it last longer.
"Edward…" She warned and I just beamed up at her. "We have to go now…"
"I know."
I got up and placed another short kiss on her full lips and took her hand as we walked out of the room. It was a comfortable silence as we made our way to the throne room, each of us relaxed in each others presence. It was still unnerving to watch her put her defences up. Aro would be in for a shock if the walls I could see building were anything to go by. I knew it was for the best, it was just frightening to see my warm Bella turn cold.
We were almost at the door but she pulled my arm and I came to a stop.
I need you to keep an eye on Caius and Marcus. I can't concentrate on what they're saying all the time, Aro is the main problem. I'll listen out for you but, as we found out before, I can't do too much at once.
Um, okay. Why via my mind?
Well, I'm sure you've noticed. Vampires can hear through doors. She grinned at me.
Ahh, of course. I bow down to your superior intellect.
See, the worst part is… I know you do… A small frown accompanied her smile. Just stay away from Aro…or I'll make him. We'll see how it works out.
Her beautiful brown eyes gleamed up at mine, almost sparkling as she pushed the large wooden door open. Of course, it was just like before, just like the rest of the palace and just what I didn't want to see. Big and gold. I'm sure Esme and Alice would have had a field day wandering around, picking out colours to redecorate every room in the castle, not that Aro would let them though.
We caught the end of a conversation. It seemed like the rest of my, no our family were already here – and arguing to make matters worse.
"…would that make her feel better?! You know she's leaving and you can't do anything to stop it, no matter how hard you try, Aro. She'll always have the ability to stop you finding her! You'll never –"
Everyone stopped and looked at us. Alice had stepped forward a little and was still glaring at Aro when everyone else turned. I grabbed Bella's hand discreetly and started rubbing circles into it. She didn't look it but I could tell she was nervous. Alice caught our eye.
Guys, I've seen the outcome of this. All Bella has to do is use a little persuasion and reasoning and we'll be out before we know it.
I smiled at her and gave her a slight nod, Bella did the same and then all eyes were on Aro.
"Isabella –" Aro began.
"Her name is Bella." I growled.
She looked up at me, speaking a little over loudly, pointedly wanting him to hear. "No, love, I only let my friends call me Bella. It's Isabella to him."
"Well, that is the thing I'd like to bring up. Isabella, you've been here all of your vampire life and a very small amount of your human life too. I'm afraid, when we asked you if you wanted to be changed you neglected to ask whether there were any conditions. There was one, and that was that you'd become a member of the Volturi guard, here."
"I see." Bella's face was a mask of calm. "What's stopping me just walking out now?" For a moment Aro looked completely bewildered. No doubt something to do with Bella's many gifts.
That's you, isn't it?
Yes. Am I doing well?
As always.
She 'humphed' in her head.
No you are amazing. I never know what you're going to do next and –
"A valid point, you could just walk out of here." I'll finish later. She squeezed my hand in response. "But you can't protect the Cullens from everything. You can't walk them out."
I wouldn't be so sure Aro. I heard her send to him. Another wave of shock hit him, stronger than the last. Jasper flinched and asked what was going on. I gave him the 'I'll tell you later' sign.
"Um, I won't let you leave." Aro was getting nervous himself, probably something to do with again Jasper and Bella doing the same thing at the same time. The very idea of Aro being nervous was unheard of, I had to bite my lip to stop laughing.
"It's not about whether you let us leave or not, we're going even if you don't want us to."
"You can't, I –"
"We can and we will. Goodbye Aro." She looked at the other two and gestured to them. "Marcus, Caius. If any of you come after us, I will kill you." And with that she turned and walked out of the room. I followed silently behind her with the others, thinking about how, even though it was an empty threat it sounded so real.
It wasn't empty. I meant every word of it, Edward. She called into my brain. The idea of my sweet Bella killing someone was startling. I couldn't imagine her planning anything like that, let alone doing it. She squeezed my hand and gave me a look. I just pulled her close and kissed her temple.
Before we got to the exit someone called us back.
Felix.
He was wearing a warm smile. "I'd just like to let you all of you know. Your words really made me think, I can't spend forever here. I'm leaving Volterra."
My mind was a whirl. Why would Felix leave? I really needed to get the full story from Bella when we got back. I would have got it then but she was speaking.
"I'm glad for you, Felix. Don't you want to come with us? "
He smiled again and shook his head. "No, I was thinking I'd go out and see the world, you know."
"That's wonderful, don't forget to drop in every now and then. We'd like to know how you're doing."
"Fine by me. You've changed this place so much Bella, Aro just let me go when I asked. No explanation needed." Wow. Bella's coming here made the Volturi loose some of their best guards. He said a few more goodbyes as left to pack.
Everyone had smiles on their faces. Felix was getting a fresh start away from the Volturi. Everything was going right for us and Bella was mine again. There wasn't anyone trying to kill us or take her away from me – though I imagined I'd have to kick a few human boys off to get at her when we settled down somewhere else. She was so perfect.
When we got got outside, Alice screeched.
"I can't believe it! I mean, finally! How long would you take to ask and oh my gosh, Bella, we have to go shopping now! You have no excuse this time. There's no excuse when you're getting m–" Just then Jasper put a finger over Alice's fast - moving lips.
"Would someone like to tell us all something? We're a little in the dark over here." Emmett commented. I grinned and pulled her in front of me, resting my chin on her head.
"Well," I began…
Would you like to say it or should I? I asked.
You can. You are the one who proposed, aren't you?
"Well what? Spit it out!" Emmett yelled.
"Bella and I are getting married."
Exclaims and congratulations flooded from their lips and Alice squealed again and almost jumped on Bella. I picked her up and pulled her out of the way. She frowned and pouted at me.
"Alice, this is Bella's wedding. She can do what she wants with it and it can be when she wants. If you want one so bad, go have another with Jasper." Her frown turned into a scowl. She gave Bella a quick hug and went of to whisper in Jasper's ear.
We all got hugs from each of them, Esme and Carlisle's both short and loving. Bella whispered her forgiveness to Jasper, not that she ever blamed him. Rosalie's to Bella's shocked me the most.
"I'm sorry for being so horrible. I was awful to you. You must think me repulsive." She wore a grim smile.
"Not at all Rosalie. You must have had your reasons."
"I'll tell you about it sometime."
"I'd like that."
I smiled at them. Even though each of our pasts were horrible, everything would be okay now. I was engaged to the love of my life and my whole family loved her too. The Volturi wouldn't – I hoped – come after us and even if they did, we had Bella. More importantly, I had Bella.
Yes, you do.
I am never going to get used to that.
Nope, now…She trailed off, turned to the others. I was left with a frown. Would I ever know what she was going to say next? Would she always be a mystery to me?
Bella looked at each member of our family, watching their anticipation to get away from this elusive Italian city. A very playful smile crept onto her face.
"How many of you are opposed to teleportation?"
I knew the answer. Yes, she would be.
A/N: And they all lived happily ever after... literally ever after.
There you have it, this is the ending chapter. Edward gets Bella, Bella gets her freedom and Edward (she's rather too lucky, don't you think?) I know in the conventional New Moon, Bella says no but...well, she's been forced to change to help people and right now, she wanted nothing more that to be with Edward officially. The whole Victoria thing (I showed my friend that at lunch. I only let her see the bottom of Chapter 20 and the last lines are 'Edward was kissing Victoria' as you all know. I wouldn't let her read the rest and she was glaring at me - manically, may I add - and was fuming. Anyway, I'll close the brackets now) Still, Rosalie likes Bella, Bella likes Rosalie, I've given Felix his happy ever after, killed off most of the Volturi's guard and Aro may have gone slightly crazy. I can't be sure and I'll leave it to Marcus and Caius to work it out.
I hope you like this chapter because I almost uploaded my science homework by accident...
The next chapter is the last and will the THE longest chapter ever. The author note is about a mile long but well worth reading.
Weiver!
Emma
PS: Weiver is 'review' backwards... in case you didn't know.
