Chapter 30 (the repentance of Aro) six months after Carlisle's Pov

I did not like anything from knowing that Aro, Marcus and Caius demanded urgent presence of all my family in Volterra.
When I told Eleazar, he suggested that we get together all our friends together to go to Volterra.
Esme, Jacob, Renesmee and Bella stayed home with the children while the rest of us went to get all our friends.
The Denali were the first to arrive and Eleazar was surprised with the gift of Anthony, we've gotten used to it, everywhere Thony wanted something and we could not understand what he wanted, he projected the image of what he wanted in front of us. Several times when Bella was going hunting and he was hungry, Thony showed us a picture of a bottle before the bottle to appear physically in our hands. Eleazar said that Thony was a complete and was astonished when he noticed that William and Marissa had two gifts. Will second Eleazar could control the gifts of other babies, that amazed me, but Eleazar made it clear that the Will did not use this gift.
I was very happy to be back home, both Esme and Will welcomed me with love and affection, in the two weeks I was away the homesickness that I felt was overwhelming. Along with me were Amum, Kebi, Benjamin, Tia, Siobhan, Liam and Maggie.
I could hear from far the hearts of my wife and son.
'Carlisle are there humans in your house?' Benjamin asked me curious.
'All my grandchildren have a heartbeat, and Jacob, Esme and my son.' I could see, by the silence that followed that my news about the heart of the Esme was shocked, but it did not matter to me.
When I got home Esme was sitting in my chair while watching with the children, one of the many homemade DVD's that Alice filmed.
It was not easily explain the existence of this children, but once they understood our guests understand why we asked them to help.
Almost everyone had returned when Edward called me saying he was having trouble convincing Alistair to come, I was about to send him to give up when Will asked who else was with Edward.
'Why do you want to know this son?' I asked.
'I can help. Nessie know who they are?'
Even in doubt, I told Renesmee to show images of Charles, Makenna and Alistair, but Anita, a German nomad vampire who had joined Charles and Makenna was unknown to all of us.
'I know you can read minds and Marie have seen us all together here, use your gift and show she to me Thony.' I froze when I heard Will talking to Thony about a gift that the son of Edward had not.
Out of nowhere we saw a picture of Edward and the four nomads well ahead of us.
When I looked at my son he was totally focused.
'Best open space.' Marie warned us, and we have done so.
5 seconds after Edward and the nomads were standing in the middle of the room.
Will passed out and got 3 hours sleep, if I needed a confirmation that my son was able to manipulate those of the others, now I had.
After discussing our trip to Volterra and make it clear to the wolves of La Push that if in the need, Will would bring them to us. Alice chartered a plane and we embarked for Italy.
Once we arrived in Italy, we went straight to Volterra where Aro awaited us.
I wished from the depths of my being that no confrontation was waiting for us inside the walls that protected Aro, if he moved a finger against my family I would do anything to avenge them one by one.
'Count with me, Emmett and Jazz father.' Edward told me as we were crossing all the gates that opened onto the inner city.
I could wait for everything this morning, less than what I heard on the lips of Aro.
'I hope you had a good trip my friend.' Aro said as he saw us going into the throne room. I just nodded.
All we had decided I stood as the leader of our group and the children and their mothers would be in the center of our group under the protection of all the others.
'From what I see Carlisle, you have not returned to trust me.' It frightened me to hear the hurt in the voice of Aro, but I did not let this feeling show.
'The friendship and trust are achievements that comes with time, and as a wound the time needed to heal differs from person to person, Aro.'
'Carlisle I think you should be aware of how dangerous it is to bring humans to this court.' Aro's smile at all pleased and the comment drew furious growls of Esme, Bella, Alice and Rosalie.
'Aro, you called me and all my family that we were to Volterra with urgency and here we are, our friends have accepted my invitation to come with me to help me promote safety to the new members of my family.' I made it clear that we was only here because he called us.
'Peace my friend, I was just pointing to the fact that I heard 8 hearts and recognize only two of them. I think we have some presentations to make to each other. Jane, Alec bring Aria up here.' It was just what I needed, now that I have to tell my secrets, expose my family in exchange for knowing the new member of his guard.
It was very unexpected to see Jane and Alec go into the throne room carrying an already asleep girl , but by smell and hiss of Nahuel I noticed that she was half vampire.
'Carlisle this one is Aria, so to speak daughter of Marcus, a year ago, there were some rumors of people that were disappearing into the city, we killed the blame for the deaths, but it was annoying to clean up the mess. We note that one of the victims had survived and when we went behind her, Aria had done service for us. It was Marcus who found her and brought to us decide what to do, as she did not let go of him we decided to keep her.'
'She has no gift Aro, I can assure you.' Eleazar said taking a step forward.
'Yes, and she is not poisonous.' Aro said. 'But it was impossible to resist it. Now Carlisle, as I presented my, so to speak sleepy niece, why do not you present the owners of the hearts to me?' The tone of Aro made it clear that he wanted answers.
After a sign of mine the circle I have formed opened exposing the babies.
'My wife, Esme needs no introduction, the other five hearts belong to my son William and my grandchildren Anthony and Emmett and my granddaughters Marissa and Elizabeth, say for reasons of majeure force Esme again had a heartbeat. As you may have noticed all the children have vampires at their parents.'
'And how was this miracle possible?' Aro asked exitedly.
'My shield improved and with it I could protect the babies until they could develop by themself.' If somewhere within Bella she was afraid, she was dominating very well.
At this point Aro rose from his throne and came to me.
'I do not ask my friend for you to touch me, but I ask you to talk with me alone, in the name of our old friendship and I give you my word that nothing and no one touched your loved ones.' Aro said as he walked to the door.
"Edward if something hapen, take all of them off here." I thought when I followed Aro but I stopped when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
As I turned I noticed that William looked at me scared.
'I want to go home.' Will projected his voice to myself.
I understood very well what my son felt, since we get here none of the children smiled and joked. But the faster I had this conversation with Aro faster we would be allowed to go back home, so I caresed the face of Will and follow Aro no more looking back.
Aro took me straight to his room, so I went in Aro locked the door and gave me a set of armchairs upholstered in apple trees with black velvet. I sat in one and Aro in another.
'Why have you asked to speak alone Aro?'
'Because of all the things I've ever done I regretted many, but of everything I've has caused, what I more regret me was almost losing our friendship!'
'You even brought it Aro, you threatened my family.'
'I know Carlisle, I know.' Aro said with a clear tone of defeat in his voice.
'What do you want from me Aro?'
'Few things, you are not obliged to accept and no one else here in Volterra will know the secret of your children unless you allow me to share them.'
'And what things you want from me?'
'Carlisle, the vampires are many who doubt my intentions, but I must make it clear that Appendices my lesson, but there is a clamor for you to replace me and I know you never wanted power, my friend, I know how strong are the bond between you that feed on animals and from what I saw, leaving the power to govern all vampire with me, Caius and Marcus just no longer seems to be enough! "
'Aro please be a little more direct, I do not understand what you mean. "
'Carlisle, you were the first Vampire to refuse to drink human blood as far as I know, I believe that if you have to lead the vampires who have chosen your kind of diet they would accept willingly, but that's not what I mean.'
I nodded for him to continue.
'Carlisle, my whole existence, all that I am, come down to govern and keep our secret, so I beg you, for you to be representative of the vegetarian vampire with a Volterra!'
'Aro, you want me to join you to hide the disagreements we had?' This idea, pretending that nothing had happened made me sick.
'No, I want my friend back, I want to re-unite all vampires on the same bill, I can be sure not to risk losing those are precious to me, Carlisle, I love this here too! And in that clearing I faced my greatest fear.'
'You, Marcus, Caius, Athenadora, and Suplicia had all theguard your lives were not at risk as were the lives of all my family, my friends and wolves.'
'Carlisle you really believe that my fear was in the lives of my brothers, in the lives of my sisters-in-law or my own?'
'So what are you afraid to lose Aro?' I asked intrigued by the direction of the conversation.
'Jane and Alec!'
Aro noticed my doubts so continued.
'Children turned immortal are banned and they two, like it or not, are immortal children, I never told this to anyone Carlisle but I'll tell you, what I feel about they two are exactly the same as any parent feels for their children, when I send them to a mission I wonder, will they come back to me? Did hear them call me master again? Deep in my heart I wish I could take with them a relationship like the one you have with your children, my friend, it hurts me to think of losing my dear one.'
'Go ahead.'
'I had this conversation with Marcus and Caius, we have to decide from which age it is safe to create and maintain an immortal, we must also control the birth of the half-vampire and I believe that the new members of your family did not give us problems!' I nodded afirmatively.
'As long as I understand, Jane and Alec can keep the description even when away from the city walls, then from the age of thirteen I think is a safe age.' Since Aro asked my opinion about the twins, I say.
'One problem that is resolved then, the half-vampires will be permitted only if their mothers are also made turned into vampires, you agree with this point?' Aro asked.
'Yes I agree and I would add that a vampire could only concived the human who he really loved, to not cause unnecessary conflicts in the child.'
'You're right, the last thing we need is the resolve vampires to fight in front of such a child. Carlisle please I have an invitation for you to do.'
I straightened in his chair to stare into the eyes of Aro.
'Join with me and my brothers, be one of the kings, you need not give up anything, and the protection of Volterra will be yours and all who follow you, no golden eyed vampire will be touched without your consent and the same means to the wolves, to the half-vampires and your pure human children .'
I thought about the propose Aro already done to me, if he was serious I would have a way to defend my family, my friends and wolves at the same time, but there was something behind it.
'And what will you gain with this Aro?'
'The realization that Jane and Alec still exist, Marcus only have eyes for Aria and Caius only want to know about Athenadora and hunt werewolves, but the twins are so precious to me that I must protect them!'
'I do not know what went through your head Aro in recent years, but if your offer is sincere, I accept!'
As was customary we sealed our alliance with a handshake. I could not help smiling when the smile of Aro suddenly turned to shock. When Aro finally recovered from the shock, his eyes brightened fascinated.
'I see that you have much to learn, very much my old friend!'