Hey everyone. How is this pandemic treating you? I hope you're keeping safe!

I hope you like this chapter. I think there is only one more to finish this story. I loved writing it.

Next, I plan on editing and continuing 'an unexpected change of events' a Jared/Bella love story (I plan to keep it short, but who knows.)

After that, or probably parallel to that I will start the Cullen adoption story. :)

Kisses.

The Butterfly Effect

Chapter 20: I do.

Bella was checking the last of her wedding arrangements set on the garden of the Castle. It was so beautiful. Her wedding planners -which included Felix- had outdone themselves. She was beyond excited. Only a few hours and she would be married to the love of her life. She wasn't going to lie to herself and say that from now on everything would go smooth and they would sail to the sunset happily ever after. Well, she knew she was going to live happily ever after with Felix, but they would fight, among themselves and with other people. But they would do it together and come out stronger, as they have ever since they met.

Caius approached her, not giving her any opportunity to escape him. She sighed, not caring he would hear her. "Looking for the runaway groom?" He asked maliciously. She couldn't understand what he had against her. But his statement made her angry.

"He is not a runaway groom." Why was she defending Felix? She didn't own any kind of explanation to this man.

"Call this circus out already, Isabella. We both know you don't belong here." There it was. He said it out loud. She had the suspicion he thought that way, but he had never actually said the words out loud.

She actually laughed. "Aro doesn't think so. And we both know he is actually the one in charge." She straightened her back, trying to look taller than that old man. She couldn't show him that she was very afraid of him. He opened his mouth to say something else, but Demetri showed up and he had no other option but to keep his mouth shut.

"It is time for you to get ready. Your maid of honour is waiting for you." He gripped her arm with a little more force than necessary, without hurting her but hard enough to send a silent message. Shut up and walk.

When they entered her room, Demetri stood there watching her. He las livid. She had been so stupid. "What were you thinking?" He growled.

"He was getting on my nerves. All he does is antagonise me. Terrorise me. Ever since I arrived he has had no qualms in showing his disapproval of me. He makes me mad." She defended herself.

"I understand that. He does that to a lot of people here. But you do not get to speak to him like that. You nod your head, shut your mouth, and walk away. You do not talk back at him and least of all in front of so many people!" He whispered yelled.

"He doesn't deserve my respect. He has never respected me!" She said back.

Demetri growled frustrated. "It's not about respect, Idiot. It's about survival. Aro might be the one in charge, but he has a lot of influence in here. And you do not want to know how much." Something in his eyes drained the fight out of her. He was pleading her to drop it. To not fight with Caius anymore. And for once she listened. He had been in that place for centuries; he knew detailly how Caius' mind works. For once she opted for being smart and stop trying to show everyone that she could speak. She remembered what Charlie had once told her. Sometimes it's better to stay silent and observe. You could learn a lot about someone that way.

"You're right. I won't fight him anymore."

"I'm very glad you decided to listen for once in your life, dummy." She smiled amusedly. He called her dummy when she was being annoyingly stubborn. She supposed he had picked that up from a tv show or a movie, because it was a very childish game.

"Don't call me dummy." She jokingly complained.

"You're so annoying. I don't know why I keep up with you." Bella smiled.

Alice was walking close and she could pick up pieces of the conversation.

"Yes you do. We're family." Alice heard that, but her mind processed it as an adoptive family. Like herself and the Cullens. She knew that Demetri and Felix were close friends. So her mind processed it that way. But, boy, was she in for the surprise of her life.

"That we are. I love you. Even when you are extremely annoying. You're still my little sister, or niece or whatever." He flinched inwardly. He didn't mean to call her his little sister. He had had one. But Bella was so like her in so many things, but in some others she was completely different. And in her own way she had managed to become his little sister. He loved her like one.

"I love you too. I've always wanted a big brother." He winked and opened the door before Alice could knock.

"I'll tell your maid of honour you're ready to get ready." She nodded. "And I apologise in advance. I assume by now your fiancé heard about your run in with Caius." Bella groaned. If there was someone who took her dislike of Caius worse than Demetri, it was Felix. He became livid, like a volcano erupting. And you couldn't interrupt until it was done erupting. She had learned the bad way. The worst night of her life.

They were lying naked in bed together. He had opened up a little more about his past. How he had been angry with Aro for making a choice for him, because of his greed he was condemned to a life he didn't want. His parents were dead and irrationally he blamed Aro. So he didn't want anything to do with him. When Caius offered him a place within his ranks, taking advantage of his resentment towards Aro, Felix had immediately agreed. Ignorant to what he had to do. Bella listened attentively. He had seen and done so many things. Most of the things he did for Caius he regretted. She sat on the bed taking the sheets with her. He remained staring at a blank space on the roof.

"Promise me something." He asked sitting next to her. His stare burning in hers. She nodded slowly, trapped by those red eyes. "If he comes near you again, you walk away from him."

"Is it really that bad?" She asked innocently. Not meaning to contradict him. She knew the Volturi 'brothers' weren't exactly kind. They had a reputation. But Aro seemed to have some of that reputation badly earned. Was it any different with Caius?

He started dressing at vampire speed. His movements angry and nervous. She put her underwear and her shirt back. She stood equally as fast. Was he going to run?

He started pacing, his steps angry. Bella didn't understand. What had she said to make him so angry?

"He is a bastard, Bella. Whatever you've heard of him; he is a hundred times worse. He is fucking malicious. He kills for sport, not justice. There's a reason he likes Jane so much, and why Aro has her strictly under his protection. She is a powerful weapon in the wrong hands. Fortunately for a lot of people, she doesn't take fun in hurting for sport." She doubted that a little, remembering her first visit, when she came to save Edward, Aro had asked Jane to try her power with her. And the other day when she tried to fry her, but it hadn't worked. She shook her head, that was not the point right now.

"I don't doubt it. The bastard has confronted me a few times. But I don't like to remain quiet when someone is being blatantly rude to me." Why was she arguing this? She knew he was right.

He stopped pacing. His stare was so angry that she actually stepped back a few steps, suddenly afraid. She had never been afraid of him, not even as a human.

"You will not speak with him alone. You keep your mouth shut, you look the other way, you avoid him like the plague. If he looks your way, you ignore him. He won't have qualms to hurt you. He is fucking dangerous Isabella. This is not one of those times when people seem to be something and then end up being something else because you talked to them. He is not Aro. He has no promise to Carlisle, he has no principles. Fuck!" He grabbed his phone and stormed to the door.

"Where are you going?" She asked hurt and stunned at his outburst.

"To my room. Alone." Bella felt as if she had been slapped. As if in a very cold day, someone had dropped a bucket of colder water on her. Ice ran through her spine. And she couldn't move. They had fight a few times, silly difference of opinions. Ha had never stormed out angry at her. He had never shut down.

"Why?" She whispered brokenly.

He turned around, his gaze softer. "I need to calm down. And I don't want to say anything I will regret. I'll see you tomorrow." At least he kissed her forehead. But it was brief, and she didn't feel his love.

He closed the door softly behind him, but he might as well have slapped it. That silence was even worse than a slammed door. It resonated in her mind. She wept without tears. She just wanted to understand. She wasn't questioning him. She would never question his experience or his opinion or his appreciation over something.

They made up the next night. He came to her after having avoided her all day. He explained again why he was scared, frightened of Caius vicious way, and obsession over Bella. She promised she wasn't going to confront him if he attacked her verbally.

Bella shook her head coming back from that painful memory. She hadn't fight with him again since that day a month ago. She still felt a sting in her dead heart when she remembered that stare. Felix wasn't going to be very happy with her. In her defence, what sparked her anger had been her attack at Felix. He had been nothing but the model employee. He was quiet, analytic and obedient -though not subservient-. She hated when anyone spoke badly of him. Yes, he had a past, he had done things he regretted. Who hadn't?

Demetri closed the door behind him. Alice just stood there, surprised at what she had heard. She stared at Bella, waiting for an explanation. But Bella didn't seem to notice. She was arranging the make up Alice had previously left at her room. She had never seen that much makeup. She was very glad she wasn't human anymore. She would need less makeup, and less time getting ready. That meant torture time was shorter.

"Are you Demetri's blood family?"

Bella looked at her friend's reflection in the mirror. "Yes. He is my uncle a few generations removed. He said I reminded him of someone, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly who. So he made some research and discover who I reminded him of. His little sister. Who is my great great something grandmother." She shrugged.

"Wow." Was Alice's answer.

Bella laughed softly. "Yes! You can imagine my face when he told me that! It has been a very few crazy months."

Alice smiled happily. "I'd say." She occupied herself with the girl's dresses. "I am really happy for you. You know that, right? I had nothing to do with Edward's call."

"I was disappointed in him. But I refused to think that you would condone something like that. You've always been open with your opinions, regardless of who they affected." Alice laughed remembering the first months of Bella's and Edward's relationship. He was very angry at her for sharing her visions and opinions. "In the end I concluded that if you had a problem, you would tell me directly. And you had expressed a few times that you were happy for me. And I trust you blindly, Alice. I know you wouldn't betray me." Alice ran at vampire speed and hugged Bella tightly. Bella laughed surprised and hugged her back.

Heidi arrived a few minutes later with Esme, Rose and a few other girls of the court. They all got dressed among laughs and confidences. A few dirty jokes directed at the future newly wed, that had she been human, would have made her permanently red. She treasured that moment. Her two families together for her big day. She loved it and it was going to be her second happiest memory, following her actual wedding, hers and Felix's 'I do'.

Carlisle looked very handsome in his Tuxedo, he had been extremely moved when she had asked him to take her father's place and take her to the altar. He considered Bella a daughter, and he had done many things to protect her. He will still do anything to protect her. He kissed her cheek and asked if she was ready. Bella smiled at him and nodded. She was a little nervous, she still didn't like to be the center of attention. But since this was a Volturi wedding, basically all of the castle inhabitants were attending. That made the ceremony bigger than she ever really wanted her wedding to be. But she found it hard to care. It was Felix waiting at the altar. Funny enough, Marcus was going to perform the ceremony. Aro had just asked to be notified when and where to appear. For a very theatrical man, his involvement in the wedding was almost nonexistent.

Felix's appearance took her breath away. He was so handsome. Dark hair and red eyes. She was so excited. She didn't care that she still had a lot to learn of him, she was completely in love with him and nothing would change that. The little things would come to place eventually. He smiled widely when Carlisle stood beside them and handed the bride to the groom. Felix winked and Bella winked back. The ceremony was short and quick. Neither of them were very religious, so they kind of skipped the religious parts.

When the congratulations finished, it was time for the party. Everyone relaxed visibly, and Felix and Bella opened the ball. She was still a bad dancer. But he didn't mind, at least she had enough coordination.

"I know what you did." He whispered. Not that it matter, everyone could hear them. "You promised." He wasn't exactly angry, but he was annoyed that she had broken her promise.

"He attacked you." She defended.

"It doesn't matter. I don't care. Promise me again you won't do anything like that again. Ever." His eyes were burning through her mind. His stare serious. He wouldn't let the subject drop. And she preferred not to fight on her first day as a married couple. She could keep her opinions to herself. She would do that for him.

"I promise." He nodded satisfied, trusting her words.

"You look beautiful by the way." Bella laughed at the change of topic. But she preferred this by far.

"You look extremely handsome." She winked, showing her intentions. One of the changes in her was her shyness. She found out she could be whatever she wanted with Felix. There was no need to be the shy, silent girl she's always been. He made her feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. He brought out her confidence. And she did wonders with her new found confidence. Felix enjoyed it extremely. "How long do we have to stay here, until it's considered rude to leave?" She was half-joking.

"At least two more hours." He kissed her cheek, very close to her sensitive spot on her ear. He was playing with fire. And she wouldn't be held accountable if he got burned.

He chuckled and lifted his head away from hers. "I love you".

"I love you too. Husband"

Not too far from the newlyweds were Carlisle and Esme, enjoying a dance as well. They were very happy for their daughter. She had found her other half. And the changes in her were outstanding. She had never been that open or confident with Edward. He was always so serious and reserved. They never doubted his love for Bella, but they realised now, he wasn't the right man for her. She needed someone who took her away from responsibilities that were far beyond her age. She needed fun, camaraderie, love, laughter and security. Edward couldn't offer her all those combined at every moment. Not like they had witnessed in the past week. They had discussed their concerns about Bella's relationship with a high-ranking guard of the Volturi, especially given her history with them, but after seeing them together, all those fears vanished.