SEEKING MY WHITE WITCH

Disclaimer: The Cullens, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline

"So, we are going to have a wedding to plan." He says with a smile.

"Holding on there, son. Before any wedding takes place certain traditions need to be upheld and neither you nor your family has done that as yet. Once you have done so, then I will follow through the same on my side."

"What are you talking about, Charlie?" Carlisle asks. Charlie just smiles while he gets up and walk away to rest for the trip home.

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Aro tells Caius and Marcus what he had seen of Talon's memories and of whom he speaks. The one thing that bothered him about the Volturi getting involved was the fact that Ankarra was there doing the judging. But, the fact that a child, a human child from all appearances, had been born of human mate and vampire was of great interest. That and the fact that the two human females stood against a vampire army, commanded a vampire army and defeated it. Too many infractions were being broken by all concerned. It was their duty to check into this and make a ruling. Both brothers agreed.

Aro gave instructions to get ready for the Volturi brothers, mates and certain element of the guard to travel to California in the United Sates. They are to leave within six weeks.

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A loud gasp from Alice is heard, just as a hiss sounds from Ankarra and Lee. The other vampires look to inquire as to the problem, just as Edward who is seeing Alice's vision tells them that the Volturi has decided to come.

CHAPTER 36: WEDDING OR NOT; THAT'S THE QUESTION

Ria and Bella were only gone for about an hour; however, it was a time period that had nothing but questions for Cullen family. All the women did was ride out a little ways and turned around, they never stopped or talked. Back at the Casa Carlisle asked the one question they were most curious about, "What did Charlie mean about 'before any wedding takes place certain traditions need to be upheld and neither you nor your family has done that as yet. Once you have done so, then I will follow through the same on my side?'"

"He's talking about asking for Isabella's hand in marriage for one. For another, a full disclosure of family dynamites, finances, and so forth. Things of this nature, plus species which he is pretty much aware of that now. Once you do that he will give you the same information concerning Isabella."

"Did you have to do the same with Ria's father?"

"Yes, but, he had asked me if I cared for Ria and wanted to marry her. I never dreamed of marrying anyone, not with being a vampire. But, the picture, questions and our private discussion convinced me that it was possible. We talked well into the night. I had even offered to change him, but, he refused. He said it was time for him to join his beloved, but, it was now up to me to take care of my beloved and he was giving me that opportunity.

"He made me the conservator of managing Renee's trust fund and to oversee both of the girls' money until they received their major at twenty two. The financial advisor I had in place to handle my affairs over the years were hired to help me with all three women's affairs as well. Neither Charlie nor Renee are allow a say in what is done."

"Who is going to handle all of the wedding details?" Asks Alice. She is vibrating with excitement.

"Alice, you are going to have to check with Bella concerning that." Edward tells her.

At that point Ria and Bella had returned from their ride and could be heard heading up to their respective rooms. The others were quiet while listening to them joking with each other until they closed their bedroom doors. Everyone looked towards Lee; he noticed this and asks, "What?"

"Aren't you going to spend some time with Ria?"

"You were told this afternoon that that was not going to happen. She rescinded the invitation into her bedroom. I can't cross the threshold just like Edward can't cross Isabella's."

"You mean that was the truth? I thought you were just having me on when Asia told us that earlier."

"No, it's true. No creature may cross the threshold of a white witch unless invitation issued. That invitation stands until it is taken back."

During this whole discussion Ankarra had stayed quiet, but, now she felt that she needed to remark about some of her observations in hopes to get this all headed in the right direction. For some reason she wanted things to work out for these two covens, or families is the term they preferred. Lee was taken in another group and they were all forming a complete family unit of in laws, grandparents, along with brother-sister type associations. Something that was totally rare and unheard of with their species, but, she was going to definitely encourage and help it along. She wasn't the queen mother, no, she was dead long ago, but, she was queen and these were all her children in a manner of speaking. One of the few civilized groups of their kind.

"If I may make a few observations know, perhaps, I can be of help to get things moving in the right direction." She offered, looking at Edward and waiting for him to acknowledge.

"Of course."

"From what I can gather, all of you have a history and you had a parting of the ways under difficult circumstances that not everyone was agreeable about. Now, we are at this juncture and a path has been presented to bring about a healing for all.

"It would be my suggestion to start at point A and then process to the next point. I believe that is what Isabella is trying to tell you. Make your confessions to her, but, at the same time do things the old fashion way with proposal and all. I, also, believe that is what her father was hinting at earlier, as well." With saying that Ankarra got up and walked off into the night. Lee followed and after he caught up with her they began a discussion of why the Volturi would be coming.

"I believe she is right. And it is up to all of us as a family to get things moving in the right direction." Carlisle offered. "I am going to talk with Bella first thing upon her rising in the morning."

The rest followed suit by agreeing with him. They each had an explanation that Bella was seeking so, it would be given. Hopefully she would recognize the truth of what they would say and understand the choice of their actions. And as each sat contemplating what they would say to Bella, Edward was trying to put everything that has been said and suggested into prospective. In fact he was so deep in thought that he unknowingly got up and wandered off to be along for a while. He wanted just his thoughts and not everyone else as company.

He began to look at all of his options and started formulating a plan to win his Bella back to him once and for all. He would talk with Carlisle and Charlie tomorrow morning to start putting his plan into action. Bella had listed her conditions and he had accepted them. So, now it was up to him to complete each one of them to prove that he could be trusted and valued her and her opinion above all else. With his decision made and ready to start putting words into action, he was impatient for the dawn to arrive for the new day and a new beginning.

As he returned to the patio most of the family had left the only person still seated was Carlisle, just the person he wanted to talk with. Carlisle looked up at him and motioned for him to take a chair. Edward did and then waited for him to say his piece. Instead, Carlisle waited for Edward to speak; he even motioned for him to begin first. So, he did.

"Carlisle, I need your help. I've done a lot of thinking tonight looking at ways I need to handle all of these conditions and how to prove myself to Bella. With that being said I have come up with the way I need to approach this. To start with what was appropriate by all standards?

"As our head, my father figure, will you represent me in approaching Charlie to court his daughter? To also, encourage everyone to help with the conditions she set forth so I can be with her?"

"Yes, Edward, we are all in this together as a family. We just have to convince Lee, Ria and Bella that we are all family. And, as family we support each other." Edward thanks him, gets up and heads inside to play for awhile on the piano.

A new day dawned and it felt good because it represented the start of a new beginning. Carlisle and Edward talked with Charlie and Charlie gave his blessing. He took the time to tell us his family history and what all Bella had inherited and from what. But, as he said towards the end the better person to ask about everything would be Lee since most of the money was handled by him and his advisory group. But, the most surprising thing that came out of this discussion was when Edward learned that Bella and Ria were a musical team. Bella did lyrics and Ria composed the music for them. Bella played the drums while Ria did guitar. Their music was in demand by every known artist in the music field. And, they had even done a movie or two. They were the owners along with Lee of the Twin Powers Recording Studios, Corporation and Foundation.

Time marched forward and all were ready to return to San Francisco and daily routine until such time as the Volturi showed. Lee had to fly out to be in San Diego for a performance that evening so, Ria, Bella and Jason all returned in her car they had originally arrived in. The rest followed suit with their actions as well. Everyone leaving at different times as they got ready. But, the biggest surprise was when Ankarra requested to ride with Carlisle and Esme.

As everyone was getting ready for the departure, Alice kept trying to talk with Bella about being able to plan the wedding. Bella would keep evading an answer. Finally, Alice planned herself right in Bella's pathway and demanded an answer. Ria overheard all of this and laughed out right. Bella just shook her head and told Alice to wait until they all got back home first. Then they would discuss it, but, no sooner. Alice accepted that answer.

Once everyone arrived back in the San Francisco area, things became a bit more rushed. Edward hardly saw Bella and only got to talk with her on the phone a little each day. She was studying for tests, working on a new set of lyrics he found out, and practicing for when the Volturi arrived. She had told Ria about the timetable on the ride back from Death Valley. So, they both kicked things into gear. Every moment was filled doing something to get ready.

It was about a week after their return that Bella called Alice and told her to meet with her to begin discussing the wedding. Bella with Ria's support decided the wedding was to be schedule to take place in three weeks time. It was to be kept small with mostly family members and close personal friends. Total the guests would number around two hundred.

With that being decided Edward had to start arranging the honeymoon. They knew that they would not be able to go too far, but, they were going to take at least three days along the coast. The actual consummation ritual had to be done with Ria being close to hand and that would take place immediately upon the conclusion and the last guest gone on their wedding night.

Time flew back on swift wings and suddenly it was the night before the wedding. Renee and Phil had flown in from Florida with guests from Forks, Los Angeles, Alaska and other point of none interest. Everyone was on pins and needles in case the least little thing goes wrong. Talk about nerve attack. Both the bride and groom were near panic at the thought of the next day.

One by one each of the Cullens had met with Bella and offered their explanation of why they leave her back in Forks. Edward still had his to do and he was to do that today. Bella was waiting for him to arrive. After Edward said his piece, Bella would declare whether that condition had been met or not. Ria was with Jason for the day since his nanny was off for the day.

The Cullens were surprised to learn that Lee, Ria and Bella were only a five minute drive down the road from Serenity. Ankarra were still with the Cullen family and enjoying herself. She would be attending the wedding, but, her blessing still had to be sought. No one had thought about it as yet, but, there it was.

All were really waiting to hear from Edward that he had spoken with Bella and to learn what the outcome of that was. After that if all was well, all of the finally touches would be completed. If not, no one knew what to even consider. It was a last minute holding pattern with bated breath.

A/N: We are to the wedding. Four weeks have passed since Victoria was defeated and the Volturi had been told about the battle. Will the wedding and the ritual following restore Bella to full powers? What can Edward explain to Bella about his leaving that she will find acceptable?

What is going to be the reception for the Volturi when they arrive and find Ankarra and Lee there?

Sorry, but, cannot always guarantee the length of the chapters. When all that needs to be said has been done, then it is time to stop until the next time. I will try to update at least twice a week for all of you on this story.

I welcome your comments of both good and bad as they show an interest. And wish you good reading on this story and many others that are just divinely outstanding.

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