DISCLAIMER: All characters are owned by SM

Previously" "Of course, of course. Now, off you go! It's almost time for our meal and we wouldn't want any accidents to happen but please, I must demand that you stay at the front desk while the sun is still out. You may leave the castle as soon as the darkness allows you to" Aro waived us off and we didn't even think twice because just then, the thoughts of several unsuspecting humans could now be heard at the hallway. I grabbed Bella's hand and together with Alice, we quickly left the chamber.

I tried to drown out the thoughts of the humans, whose life would be over as soon as they enter that chamber. It was sick but it was something out of our control. Bella had stiffened when we passed by the humans on our way out and she had gripped my hand as hard as she could upon realizing what it was all about but she remained quiet.

We finally reached the end of the hallway towards a sitting room. Gianna, the human who worked at the front desk, looked between the three of us with interest but continued to work on her table.

"Stay here until night falls and then you can leave" Felix who was tasked to escort us out gave us one glance before turning back towards the chamber.

As soon as he was gone, Bella collapsed to the couch. I instantly scooped her up and sat down so she would be cradled in my lap instead. Right now, I just wanted to be as close as I can get. Bella curled her body and leaned her head on my chest.

"All those people…" Bella whispered. Her eyes were closed but there was a pained expression on her face. I felt sorry that she had to see that.

"I know" My hand caressed her hair and kissed the top of her head.

"It's sick that I know what's happening behind that door and I'm powerless to do anything about it" She buried her face in my chest and I could hear the sob coming from her chest.

"It's not your fault Bella."

"I know but I feel like I should have been able to do something, anything"

"Hush Love. You can only do so much." It's been a long time since I called her that and it felt so good and it felt so right. Bella raised her head and our eyes met. Her eyes held so much regard on me that I wonder what did I ever do to deserve someone like her.

"Bella… you were amazing back there" I knew she was already exhausted but I wanted so much to hear her voice. Now that any immediate danger has been averted, I wanted to savor this moment that we were finally back in each other's arms.

"I really didn't have any choice." Bella sighed and I closed my eyes. She was right. I tried thinking if there was any way to have avoided that situation earlier but there really wasn't. It was lucky for her that she was even allowed to get out of that chamber alive and it was all because of her. All I did was make it worse and if it wasn't for me, Bella wouldn't even think about coming here to get me… As always, I have put her in danger and yet, here she is, still willing to love me with all her heart.

"Stop doing that!" Bella grimaced.

"Stop doing what?" What did she think I was doing? Bella gestured her hand to all of me.

"You're doing that again. Edward, stop it with your self-loathing already! It's done. Stop blaming yourself for all the crazy things that's happening to me in this world!" I blinked. Was I really that obvious?

Duh, she's right you know Alice commented in her mind.

"But this is all my fault" I argued and Bella glared at me.

"It doesn't matter who's fault it is. We're alive, we're going home to be with your family, I finally get to be with you. That's all that really matters to me. I have you now and I'm not letting you go" I forgot how adorable her stubbornness was and I couldn't help but let out a smile which she returned with one of her own.

"I've missed that" I told her, holding my fingers up to her chin.

"How long was it since your last hunt?" She suddenly asked. So observant as always. I shrugged. It felt like forever since I last hunted but whenever I inhaled to breathe her scent, the accompanying burn no longer brings out the monster inside me.

"How long has it been since you last slept?" I asked her back. Although I could see that Bella was still alert, signs of exhaustion where slowly showing on her features. After all that happened earlier, she deserves a good night's rest.

"I can manage" She huffed. I should probably really hunt as soon as I can but it was hard for me to stay away now that I just had Bella back.

"As can I" She frowned. "Fine, I'll get my sleep as long as you promise to hunt before we leave for our flight" The thought does sound appealing. Hunting within Volterra was supposed to be forbidden but they didn't say anything about hunting wildlife outside the walls. I shouldn't have any problems if I try to hunt as far as I can from the city. I nodded in agreement.

"Good. In that case, I'll start taking a nap here. Wake me up when we leave?" Bella was trying to stop a yawn from escaping and smiled sheepishly.

"Get some rest Bella." She nodded and within a few minutes, I could already detect her slow, steady breathing indicating that she was fast asleep.

"She is quite a handful, isn't she?" Alice spoke quietly to avoid waking her up and that was when I turned my head to look at my sister.

"How is she really Alice?"

"You know it's hard to tell when it comes to Bella, but she is a very determined and stubborn woman. You know that. I did try checking up on her from time to time." Alice held up both her hands when I gave her a sharp look.

I know! I know! You said not to look at her future. "I can't help it! I've just been used to focusing on her especially when she tries blocking me out that it comes as an instinct to automatically look at her future. I love her too, you know. We all do and we're just worried. You saw when Aro read my memories. I would see Bella and she would be locked in her room or stay in your meadow and she had that look that all normal teenagers have when they're broken hearted." Alice's gazed turned to Bella's sleeping figure in my arms and I could hear the worry in her voice.

"And then my visions would start to blur. Not like when Bella would try to block me out because I couldn't see at all when she does that. This, it was like static, like some kind of interference that kept me from seeing her and then she goes back to blocking me altogether. Do you know how frustrating that is! I've never been this helpless when it comes to my vision" Alice whined and she was right. We had always been dependent with our powers that it was driving us crazy that Bella was able to blind us from our abilities and she was the one person whose thoughts and future, matters.

"What are you going to do about her when we get home?" Do you plan on changing her right away?

"No" I said rather loudly and I checked to make sure Bella was still sleeping.

You know it's been decided. They will make sure that we make do with our promise. You know the consequences.

"I know that… it's just…" I sighed. I really didn't have any choice in the matter and what's more, I wanted it. If I was selfish then yes, I'd change Bella right there and then so we can finally have our eternity together but this was not the life that I wanted for her and what's more, her memories…

Her memories. I realized her memories are what's been bothering me as much as changing her. If we change her, there would be no turning back and if she remembers and suddenly regrets her decision, I won't be able to forgive myself. If her memories would completely be wiped out just like Alice, then we would be left to wonder for all eternity about who she really is and where she came from. We need to make sure that we can get her memories back and that might be the best way for me to buy some time.

You're delaying until you can get her memories back? Alice saw the decision that I made.

"I need to know Alice, not just for her but for me as well." I need to know if her feelings for me would still be the same once she remembers. I didn't voice it out loud but Alice understood.

"What if she doesn't remember?" She asked tentatively.

"I'm hoping for the best. She's already getting some flashes of her memory before. Maybe we just need to find a trigger to get all her memories to surface."

"I hope you're right"

"Do you think we still have enough time before they check up on us?" Alice scanned the future.

"I don't see them making any decisions regarding Bella anytime soon so I think it should be good." I nodded. As soon as we get back home, we're going to find a way to get her memories back and maybe then, I might be able to find a way to stop her from turning into one of us. After all, the future can still change with just one decision. Alice knew that... but Aro didn't.

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The flight from Italy was, to our relief, uneventful and as expected, the family was already waiting for us as soon as the plane touched down. I could clearly distinguish their thoughts from the waiting area even before the plane stopped. They were all anxious to see us even Rosalie. I have to say, a change of attitude would be very much welcome at this time.

"Edward!" Esme grabbed me in a fierce hug the moment that we all saw each other. Her thoughts where full of worry, anger, fear and happiness. It was a mix of emotions and I felt bad for making her feel that way.

"Mom…I'm sorry" I ran my hand through my hair like a guilty kid.

Don't you ever do that to me again! I thought you were…

"I know… I'm sorry… I promise… I will never run away like that ever again"

"I'm glad to hear that son" It was Carlisle. He was holding Esme's hand while looking me straight in the eye.

"Are you okay?" I looked down at Bella who was smiling up at me.

"I am now." I smiled back at her and I know Carlisle could see the happiness in my face and he knew Bella was the reason for that.

"Bella" He started to say and she broke my gaze to face my father. I could hear a lot of things in his mind that he wanted to say to her. He wanted her to know how much it meant to them for bringing me back to the family in one piece.

"Thank you…" I smiled. That would be enough for her.

"It was nothing" She murmured.

"For us… it was everything" Esme answered and held Bella's hands.

"He would have done the same thing for me. I'm just glad to be back here with all of you"

"Too bad I've missed all the action but you have to tell us exactly what happened in Italy" Emmett stood behind Esme and Rosalie.

"Maybe some other time Emmett" I told him. I had a feeling Bella wouldn't want to discuss what happened in Volterra just yet.

Glad you're back still in one-piece bro. I nodded at him.

Rosalie kept silent but her thoughts were not.

The next time you put us all through that, I'm going to kill you myself you hear? Rosalie threatened but I could hear in her thoughts that she was worried for me and even for Bella when she came to get me and for that, I was grateful.

"Shall we go home?" Alice came up to us, hand in hand with Jasper.

"Where is home?" Bella clarified. We all left Forks so it was just right for her to ask where we were moving.

"Home to Forks, Bella." Carlisle told her and I could see the relief in her face. Forks was the only place she was familiar with and I can understand she would still want to go back there. Alice had already told them on the phone before leaving from Italy about my decision and even if they didn't say it, I knew they preferred to stay in Forks and continue with whatever life we already built there instead of leaving someplace new and starting all over again.

Alice went with Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie in Rosalie's car while Bella and I rode with Carlisle and Esme and all the while, Bella was silent during the ride. I was afraid of asking her if she was okay. I was afraid that the reality of everything that has happened would finally sink in and she would realize that she didn't want any of this.

Ugh! I shook my head lightly to clear the thoughts running through my head and I saw Carlisle staring at me from the rearview mirror.

Something wrong Edward?

I shook my head in answer. Bella was right. I should stop overthinking this. She was here. She forgave me just like that and she was willing to trade her mortality just to be with me forever. Although her mortality was something I wouldn't want her to trade just to be with me, it was something that I was still having a hard time accepting. She already chose to stay in this world and now, she was choosing to give her life away for me and even if that was something that I wanted for myself, it was an option that I preferred she wouldn't have to choose.