Bella POV

Carlisle arrived the night before his trial and I went out of my way not to see him. I had nothing to say to him that wouldn't be said in court. We skipped going to the recreation room that night too.

Alec just held me on the couch while we watched movies alone. This was the first time since my change that I wished I could sleep.

After the movies, we went to the bedroom and I lost myself in the feel of Alec's body moving slowly and reverently in mine. We made love till it was time for me to go feed in the morning.

When I dressed I put on an outfit that Alice had chosen for the occasion. It was designer and a bit more formal than I would usually wear anywhere. After braiding my hair I felt ready.

We walked at human speed down to the court and took our places.

Carlisle had a guard on either side of him when he was brought in.

I met his eyes challengingly.

I didn't trust Carlisle so I put up my shield around me and Alec and put one around Aro, Caius, and Marcus as well. Aro raised an eyebrow at this but didn't comment.

"Carlisle my old friend," Aro said, "How it pains me to see you here."

Carlisle stayed stubbornly silent.

"Why don't you tell us what you thought you were doing when you killed the father or on of our guard."

As the silence stretched in the room I heard Aro sigh.

"You know we will get to the bottom of this one way or the other, my old friend. Talk to me."

When Carlisle still didn't speak Aro finally got frustrated. "Jane dear?" He asked.

"Yes Master," Jane answered and I thought she sounded eager. Perhaps Carlisle had aggravated everyone with first his actions and then his silence.

"Perhaps you can convince Carlisle that it is in his best interests to speak to us."

"Yes, Master," Jane said.

Carlisle began to scream and I admit I took more satisfaction in the noise than I ever had before.

"Now dear Carlisle," Aro said when the screaming stopped. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

Carlisle still didn't speak.

Aro got up from his throne and went to clasp Carlisle's hand. Carlisle attempted to pull his hand away but Aro held on with tenacious fingers.

"It seems, my dear ones, that Carlisle intended to kill everyone that mattered to Bella in her human life before killing Bella herself."

I turned in Alec's arms, inhaling his scent to calm me.

"So what should we do with you now?" Caius said.

I turned back around to hear the verdict.

"Let us council," Marcus said.

"Let us council," Aro agreed.

When they had turned their backs to discuss the case Carlisle lunged at me. Aro turned around and watched.

Carlisle was crazy, he just kept trying over and over again to get to me. Not seeming to realize that it was impossible, or maybe he just no longer cared.

"Felix?" Aro called.

Felix moved more quickly than Carlisle could. In seconds Carlisle was in pieces. Seconds after that the cloying incense smell of burning vampire clogged my nose.

"How I will miss my friend Carlisle," Aro said, sitting back down on his throne.

Jasper and Alice approached Aro then. "We would like to join you, Aro,"

"Of course young ones. Have dear Bella show you to a free room with the Elite guard."

I hugged Alec and left the room. Jasper and Alice following behind me.

As I closed the door I heard, "Call the guards back from Bella's mother Felix."

I smiled widely at them. So you joined the guard.

"This is more of a family than we had with the Cullens" Jasper told me.

"Would you like the room next to me and Alec?" I asked.

"Sure sis," Alice answered.

The following weeks were filled with helping Alice and Jasper furnish their quarters. Alice, of course, did a lot of shopping. We all had more than enough clothes for every occasion and their rooms looked fantastic. She even decorated the recreation room. I thought she was going a bit over the top but it now had a pool table in addition to the television area and everyone appreciated it.

Demetri POV

I was glad that Alice and Jasper had decided to stay. I was also glad Carlisle was dead. He was going to be a problem from the moment he wouldn't believe that Bella was where she wanted to be. I hate it when people refuse to listen.

I placed Jasper in charge of training the lower level guards but I got him alone after hours a few times and spared with him myself. I learned a lot from him and he learned some tricks from me too. No worries about ego thank goodness and he was more than willing to take orders from me. With only a few minor bumps it was like he'd always been there.

Alice was placed as an adviser to Aro, Caius, and Marcus. She fit in well there, working behind the scenes. It was surprising. Alice had always appeared to me as someone who liked to be front and center.

Angela had decided she didn't want to join the guard and I was pleased with that as well. Bella however was a natural and with her shield, her mating with Alec, and my promise to train Edwards killer for the elite guard, she was bound to be working closely with us. Eventually anyway. She still had a long way to go.

I was glad Alec wasn't trying to push me to involve Bella sooner than she should be. Actually I and Alec rarely discussed Bella at all. I'm sure he knew I was watching out for her.

Heidi joined us most nights now in the recreation room and I was glad to see it. She was friends with Angela and Bella. Felix was happier that his mate was included and I do try to keep my team happy.

I can honestly say that all of the guards are better fighters than they were this time last year and that makes me happy.

I'd been working hard myself but it didn't become a problem until I was required to leave for a few days to hunt down a nomad that wasn't being careful enough when he fed. Alec was required to come with me as well as Felix.

Alec POV

How is Bella going to do feeding without me? I went to Jasper and Alice, knowing that Bella would be most comfortable with them to see if they would be willing to help her feed then get cleaned up. Jasper didn't seem comfortable with it but Alice said she would right away. Then I remembered that Jasper was an empath. Why do I keep forgetting that at crucial moments? He was a 'vegetarian' because it was too hard on his gift to hunt humans. I felt like a jerk but Alice reassured me that she would take care of Bella.

The next morning after Bella had fed, I had to leave. Felix came with Demetri and I. The way I was feeling this guy would be lucky to make it back to Volterra to stand trial. I could see from Demetri's expression that he was feeling the same way. Every mile away from my Bella hurt. Luckily the nomad was making a mess in France not someplace further away.

I worried about my Bella the entire way there. We got lucky and found the nomad relatively quickly. He was mid feed. We got him on the plane and headed back home. He didn't speak on the way but that was probably safer for him. At this rate, it looked like Alice would only need to help Bella feed once.

Angela POV

Demetri left! What was I going to do with Demetri gone? I knew Jane was going to help me feed but What was I going to do besides that? I had Williams go down to the library with me but I tore the book I was trying to read. I put it back on the shelf very gently. Everyone was working right now. So what did I do? I went to the recreation room but that was just no fun without the other people there. I wish I could still sleep like a human. This would be the most perfect lazy day in bed.

I couldn't put in a movie without damaging the damn thing so what did I do. Eventually, I gave up and went to watch the others' combat lessons. It would at least get me through the day. Things would be so much easier when I wasn't a damn newborn anymore.

Watching combat practice was moderately interesting then I went up to the recreation room with everyone else. Bella seemed calm, except for occasionally rubbing her chest. We watched a romantic comedy since all the guys except Jasper were gone. Jasper seemed to enjoy it somewhat. He curled up close to Alice.

After everyone was finished, it was time for me to feed. Jane came with me and gave me some good tips on not making more of a mess than necessary. I still had to take a bath but that was my best feed yet.

After I had blood I started to calm although I did go in the bedroom and pretend like I could sleep. In the end, I found that meditation works to calm you down in the peace and quiet. I'm learning a lot of new things today.

Sometime later, Bella knocked on the door. "Want to call Demetri?" She asked. "I just got off the phone with Alec and Demetri is missing you as much as you are missing him."

"I'd break the phone," I admitted.

"We can put it on speakerphone so you can talk to him. What do you think?"

I was so grateful and my eyes must have shown it. Bella just started looking for Demetri's contact in her phone. She dialed, hit speakerphone and sat the phone down on the table.

I felt pitiful when he answered and all I could say was his name. I'd needed to hear his voice so badly.

We talked for close to an hour before he had to hang up. Something about messing with the plane's navigation system.

"Thank you, Bella," I said. "How did you know I needed him so badly."

"I was desperate to talk to Alec. I just figured you'd be feeling the same way. So how are you doing?" she asked. It seemed like she really wanted to know so I told her everything.