Bella POV

I missed reading. I missed Jasper and Alice too. I was frustrated. I wasn't unhappy, I was always happy when Alec was beside me but life was changing too fast. I didn't like it. I did better when I had a routine.

Alec knew what was wrong. I told him everything, so the next day after I fed we ventured into the library again. This time there were no unwelcome surprises and I got to get myself a book. It was the first time I signed something out under my own name and that made me excited too. When we got up to our room Alec and I snuggled up on the couch and he turned pages for me as we read together. It made me feel so cherished and loved that my previous frustrations seemed to melt away. After we had read for a while, long enough for me to have my fill of it, Alec took me to the recreation room to see who was in there.

I was happy to see Jane and Felix. It felt like it had been a while since I'd seen them. I chatted with Felix while Alec caught up on what had been going on with his sister. From how happy Alec was to see Jane I knew I had to find a way not to keep them apart so much. He needed his family and newborn or not it was my job to make sure my mate had everything he needed to make him happy. From then on we spent a few hours in the recreation room every night, even if I brought a book with me to read and Alec had to turn the pages he could still talk to his sister and the rest of the gang.

The only ones missing were Demetri and Angela. I missed my friend but I understood. She was a newborn too and she and Demetri needed their alone time.

Time began to fly as I adjusted to the new routine. Feeding, training, feeding, recreation room, and then alone time. I was learning to use my shields and that gave me a sense of accomplishment.

It was three months later when Angela and Demetri first joined us in the recreation room one evening. Angela came up and hugged me and we finally got to sit down and talk about our changes and how being a newborn was treating us. I was glad to have my friend back.

I had thought that things couldn't get any better. That's when I was called back to the meeting room again.

I was surprised when I walked in only to see Alice and Jasper standing in front of Aro. They all looked entirely too serious. Alec seemed to pick up on their mood because his arms were around me in the next second.

Jasper was the one to walk over to me. I didn't want him to say whatever was about to come out of his mouth but he did anyway.

"Darlin', I don't know how to tell you this but Carlisle has killed Charlie in retaliation for you killing Edward," he said.

"My dad?" I squeaked.

"Yes," Aro said, "Your father. I'm sending guards out to guard your mother until we get to the bottom of this."

"My mom is in danger too?" I asked meekly.

"Yes Bella," Alice said solemnly.

I couldn't help it. I began to sob brokenly into Alec's shoulder. His arms tightened around me and my tear-less sobs echoed through the room. Alice came up to us and took my hand. Jasper patted my back.

When I pulled myself together I looked at Aro again. "What are we going to do about Carlisle?"

"He is going to be called here to answer for his crimes against you my daughter," Aro said gently. "It won't be long and this will all be over."

"Bella," Jasper said quietly, "Carlisle can fight so I am coming back to train you again. Me and Alice will see you through all of this."

"Thank you Jasper. Thank you Alice. I'm glad I can count on you along with my other family here."

"We have other matters to attend to." Aro stated but not unkindly. "Alec, show Alice and Jasper to the rooms they used last time they were here."

"This way," Alec directed and I went with them.

Alec POV

Every time my Bella got settled into a routine and we thought the drama was going to be over something else came up. I was frustrated, tense, and angry. I reminded myself that it wasn't Alice or Jasper's fault as I directed them back to their rooms. They got a suite very similar to the quarters for the elite guard up on the fourth floor but it was decorated extravagantly.

Bella's schedule had to change again. She was down to feeding once Daily so she fed, trained to fight in the morning with Jasper, worked on her shields in the afternoon with Renita then we went to the recreation room, which I made sure to show Alice and Jasper so they could use it this visit. At the end of a long day we finally got time in our quarters to ourselves.

My schedule was a lot laxer. I went to court for the day then joined Bella in the recreation room. Then went to our rooms together. The days we didn't have court I sparred with Demetri, Jane or Felix or worked on my gift.

Bella was pleased with the extension of her shields. She could cover all of the guard with it and I was proud of her. She never felt she was doing enough during her combat practice though. I wasn't sure what she was expecting of herself. She was improving steadily. Jasper saw to that. I could even watch now that I was able to control the mating instinct and I no longer saw the scarred man as a rival for her affections.

He was a big brother to her like Demetri or Felix. Alice fit in well too. She was her sister along with Jane and Angela.

Renita and Heidi fit into our little family as well. Those two were new but the girls invited them up for movies and video games often. I could see Heidi being more comfortable with us by the day, something I know that Felix appreciated. Heidi rarely got along with people because she was so beautiful. Girls tended to be intimidated by her. I knew dear Jane was one of those but they slowly warmed up to each other over time.

Because of the way our little family was growing we had to add some chairs and a new couch to the recreation room. It looked cozier now and when we were all in there it was still crowded.

Bella didn't really have tantrums anymore. She was finally gaining control of her emotions. She was also gaining control over her strength. I was finally able to return her phone to her and trust that she wouldn't destroy it. I felt better knowing she could call any of us if the situation called for it.

Demetri POV

Angela was trying to compare her improvement to Bella's and I told her time and again that it wasn't fair to compare like that. She was still trying to hold herself to a higher standard than I knew she could reach right now and that kept her frustrated. She was finally accepting of me when I needed to work and that was big progress in my opinion. She no longer had tantrums just because she had to stay with Williams. I was glad Williams had made the effort to befriend her. But how could anyone not like my Angela.

We spent time in the recreation area with everyone else sometimes, but not as often as Bella did. Angela still needed to feed twice a day and wasn't as calm as Bella. I wondered, sometimes if it was because Bella knew she wanted to be one of us for longer and was able to resolve herself to handling the bad parts too. Not that Bella was taking it easy. She'd definitely had her own challenges too. She worked harder than most of the guard on sparring and her gift. Like the rest of the team, I couldn't help liking Bella. I thought she'd be a good fit on the team when she was ready.

With Jasper training her Bella's fighting skills out-shined most of the guard on the rare occasion that she had time to spar with a lower level guard she almost always won. I admit I hoped, even though Angela was training in combat, I didn't really want her to be a member of the guard. I was a little selfish with my mate. I wanted her to wait for me when I got home from working. She had no need to work. I had been alive almost two thousand years and I knew I could care for my young mate's every need. Still, I wouldn't leave her defenseless so she trained in combat.

I wasn't looking forward to Carlisle's trial. I knew it would be hard on everyone especially Bella, Alice, and Jasper. Still, Carlisle was scheduled to appear in four more days. I would try to keep Angela away from him while he was in the castle.