(October 2006)

Bella happily exited her car as she welcomed Jake for an embrace. She hadn't seen him in just under a month. Over the summer Bella decided to enroll in a small community college in Seattle to study all her basic subjects. After completing them she hoped to have a clear path outlined for her life. It had been a hard decision but she decided to move to Seattle as well since the long commute would have killed her. The pack had not been too happy since she would be away from their protection but they had understood. She couldn't be expected to put her life on pause. She was however constantly called and had to check in with someone once she made it home. They didn't want anyone knowing she was away from the pack.

The Cullen's knew but they had made the choice to stay quiet on the subject. Alice and Jasper had decided to travel around Canada and the northern states for a while. Things were till awkward between them. Edward had been made to go with them or be sent to the Denali clan, he chose to travel. Emmett and Rosalie decided to move to Seattle with her to calm Charlie's and Jakes worries. (Jake would never admit to being happy Bella had them nearby.)

Rosalie decided to work in a clothing boutique near their apartment complex while Emmett went to the University of Washington. He loved to tease the coaches with his strength and speed. He only "exercised" in the indoor gym or outside during cloudy days. They would drool at his potential and tried futilely to get him on a team. He swore to them he heard the coach choke back a sob when he saw him lifting weights after telling them he wasn't into sports that much.

The Cullen's had tried to pay for her to go to college with Emmett but she had refused. She didn't feel comfortable doing so and Charlie would have had a fit. She did however agree to let them help her pay her rent partially. Charlie had bought her a used car in much better shape than her truck so she would get around safer. Rosalie would help her by being her mechanic if necessary. She did end up getting a job however to help pay for everything since Charlie was already footing a heavy bill. So she took a job in the same boutique as Rosalie but she mostly worked in the office in the back. She was sure she only got the job because Rosalie charmed the boss.

School for her would start in January so currently she only had to worry about saving money and working her butt off to have cash on hand to pay for her rent, car, college and other necessities. She had gotten some help with tuition but she still had to pay for some of it. With the new car as there was more to pay now so she didn't mind getting the job now. She was sure Rosalie or Emmett would sneakily help her some way too even if she protested. Already they paid for everything when they went out. They didn't let her pay for anything.

She managed to see Jake at least four times a month by going home every weekend. She missed him terribly and thankfully he didn't have patrols then so they could see each other as much as they could. Charlie was happy to see them making things work.

The only dark cloud was in September when Aro sent her a message saying that he was needed to see her. It had been roughly five months since she had last seen him and he told her he couldn't go on much longer. She spent a long time calming the guys down after the message and set up a meeting in the forest to see him. She did not under any circumstances want him knowing she lived in Seattle now. The Cullen's made themselves scarce and she went home for the weekend to get it all over with.

Aro and his guards arrived early on a Friday by private plane as soon as she set up a meeting. He was greeted by the entire pack surrounding her and Jake. Aro had looked worse for wear once she had seen him. It was the first time she had felt remorse for pushing him away so fervently. Seeing her made a drastic change in him. It was as if she was giving him life by just looking at her. Guilt had nearly consumed her.

They spent nearly an hour simply in each other's presence sitting on a blanket (for her comfort) while they were guarded by both sides. He didn't speak to her other than to enquire about her life so far. At the end he simply asked to hold her hand to help the bond. Jacob had been wonderful in restraining himself but it was a close thing. He did make it through though. They agreed to meet up once more the next day to do the same before he had to leave.

The entire weekend had been stressful and tense while he was there. He however seemed so happy to see her and hold her hand for a few minutes each day that it made her feel awful for pushing him away from her. The guilt didn't last long but it still made her feel awful.

For Aro it was a torture. The kind he would willingly put himself through repeatedly just to feel those few moments of bliss again. She had changed slightly. Her hair was longer. She had gained more color in her cheeks. She was obviously sleeping good as well since those heavy bags under her eyes had disappeared. It hurt him to see her do so well when he was miserable. But that happiness was worth it. She was happy. So long as he didn't think about who was making her happy he could maintain his composure.

(Aro departs) (September 2006)

The pack is able to relax once they are sure all leeches have left their land and surrounding area. It has hit them all a little differently. The situation was torture on one of their own and someone they saw as one of them. Leah made sure to suppress all pity she had for Aro Volturi. She had been in a similar position to him once and it destroyed her. She hoped it wouldn't happen to Jacob as well.

The majority of the pack felt hatred for the vampires and their continued presence. They wanted them all gone but held back since they were outnumbered and because there was a chance that killing Aro would hurt Bella as well. Sam was of the opinion that remaining their current arrangement was best. In the safe arts of his mind that he could block from the others he hoped Jake would imprint on someone else. He knew it was a wrong thing to hope for but he felt it was what was best for all of them. He just hoped the damage could be minimal.

Paul was all for a confrontation. He wanted to tear into the leeches with gusto. The only thing holding him back was common sense and the knowledge that instigating a war would not end well for anyone. For now he would simply continue on as he had in the past. But the moment he got an opportunity he would take it.

Jake was happy the leech was gone. It tore his mentality to shreds having that bastard so close to Bella. He wanted to kill him on the spot but held himself back. He kept reminding himself that Bella chose him. She could have pretended to want the leech and get anything in the world. He knew the bastard was loaded. But, she chose him. She loved him. She told him so every day. He held onto those thoughts as the weekend passed. If he made sure to take her body with more enthusiasm then so be it.

Bella was in her own personal hell. Seeing Aro had stirred up nothing but pity for him and guilt for her. He had looked terrible. It had honestly looked like he had aged in those few months apart. She hated feeling like this. She had done nothing wrong but knowing she was causing someone pain was eating at her. She made sure to never show it though. It would only send Jake into a panic and hurt their relationship. For now she would keep it bottled up and deal with it once she was back in Seattle.

(End of September 2006) (Volturi Castle)

Aro gazed longingly at the portraits surrounding him. One was of Bella in her graduation gown. The next was of the first time he had seen her. (Without any wolfs near her though.) The third was of her looking down and reading a book in a window seat. This he had drawn from his own imagination. The fourth was of her laying down in a meadow of flowers. While he had gotten this from Edwards's memories he had changed the location and types of flowers to that of the ones that grew wild in Italy. He wanted to imagine her closer to him.

These paintings helped him cope. Every day he would stare at them for hours. If he had duties to perform he did them but now he mostly spent his time in his rooms. Marcus had surprisingly stepped up and began to ensure of the day to day running of the coven more. Aro knew it was because of what he was going through. He was honestly touched by what Marcus was doing. He wished his sister was with them as well.

He had relished the soft skin under his own cold hands when he held her. It was like his body was awakening. He had to clamp down on his instinct to bite her. He was surprised at his own restraint there. He fantasized of seeing her skin paler and eyes bright red but he knew it could never happen. If he took away her choice he would be just like Edward. He would destroy any chance of her accepting him. So he controlled his urges.

He looked over to his bed where his jacket was now preserved in a vacuum sealed bag. Her scent still clung to it slightly. He would only open the bag when he was near a breaking point. Having it made him feel a bit creepy but it helped him. It soothed something inside of him.

He took a deep breath and relaxed once more. He would hold onto the feeling of her hand in his for as long as he could.

This chapter was a bit of a downer I know but I simply let my muse take me wherever it wanted.
I want to thank everyone who reviewed. You all honestly keep me going.
Any request? Keep in mind this is an Aro and Bella story. Anything else I will try to work it in as best as I can.