A few minutes later, the room fell silent and everyone turned to look at a door off to the side of the chamber. I was starting to lose control of my emotions and did everything possible to hold myself together. It was going to be so hard to not run right up to him and jump in his arms, surroundings and present company be damned.

Risking it, I pulled my shield back completely for just a few seconds so Edward could feel that I was unharmed, how excited I was to see him and my love for him. I replaced my shield quickly before Aro would have a chance to ask Jane or someone to experiment on me.

The door swung open and there he was. My memories and photos were nothing like the real thing. He was so perfectly handsome.

His eyes were black with large purple bruises under them. He had to be starving still. His bronze hair was a mess, but colorful as always against his pale skin. He was smiling in a way that made my undead heart flutter.

I barely had time to register a movement even with my new vampire senses, and I was in his arms.

I held him just as tightly as he held me, overcome with pure joy and relief. This was what I needed more than anything. Edward.

We were both trembling and holding each other, taking in each other's presence. He smelled heavenly, as he always did.

"Bella." he whispered, his voice velvet, kissing what he could reach of my face.

I pulled back just enough to look in his eyes and let out a tearless sob as his lips met with mine. This was worth all the risk in the world, just to be with him again.

As much as I didn't want to pull away, we had business to take care of. Edward kept his arms around me tightly and I kept mine around him as well. The Volturi didn't seem to care or try to interfere, and I was grateful.

"How lovely! Isn't that sweet brothers?" Aro asked clapping, and smiling, delighted with the turn of events. "Jane dear, would you - ?"

"No!" Edward shouted before I could calm him down.

"Shh, it's OK Edward. I won't let her hurt us. Trust me." I said, looking into his eyes so he would remember the thought I was projecting earlier, hoping it reached him. He nodded and we turned back to face Aro.

Jane stepped forward and stared at us smiling, her red eyes glowing with intense concentration. She focused for a minute and then her smile changed to an evil glare, first at me, and then at Edward. I knew that Edward had likely been hearing Aro's thoughts when I revealed my powers to him earlier, so he knew exactly what was happening and that Jane couldn't hurt us.

It was Edward's soft chuckle beside me that made me laugh a little in return. It was such a lovely sound.

Aro clapped again and looked thrilled. "Don't feel bad, dear one." he said reassuringly to Jane. "She has a shielding power. Quite a strong one it looks like." He turned to address me now. "Will you consider joining the guard, Bella?"

"I will consider it as I know you saw in my thoughts, but I'm not prepared to give an answer just yet. I'd like to fully get past my newborn years first so I can give this honor the careful consideration it deserves. Edward may not want to join you but maybe someday I will. And there is no denying that he will go wherever I go. I know Marcus can see that with his power." Marcus nodded at Aro, following the conversation. Edward kissed my head, giving his silent agreement.

I continued, "You might lose your mind reader now, but if you let him go and treat us fairly, one day you might hope to gain a mind reader and a shield. I have no intention of leaving here without him or joining you some day without his freedom today. I know you also saw in my thoughts that no crime took place. I found out about Edward's nature due to an old Quileute legend. I am also now immortal myself, so there is no risk to our kind."

Aro looked around at his brothers and after a long pause, he turned to back to face me and Edward. "Very well, you both may go now that the matter is fully resolved. Please remember that we are merciful leaders and we would welcome you both to join us with open arms at any time."

"Thank you, Aro." I said, holding back a sob. "I look forward to seeing you all again."

I gave a sincere smile and Edward and I both started walking quickly out of the room, still holding each other tightly, which made walking a little awkward. We couldn't let go.

I could feel his huge grin without even looking over at him. "Let's get outside to the car before I lose every bit of control I've managed." We were laughing as we ran at a human pace to the doors.

Emmett had the car running and was waiting in plain sight for us. He had a massive grin on his face and was laughing heartily as we jumped in the back seat together.

"I knew you'd give those punks a taste of their own medicine, Bella! Eddie! I missed you so much!" Emmett teased, making kissy faces and smooching sounds as he sped us away.

Edward and I were holding each other so tightly that we had no idea whose limbs were whose. We were both smiling non-stop and couldn't take our eyes off each other. I was vaguely aware of Emmett calling someone and telling them that we all made it out alive.

Simultaneously, Edward grabbed me in a passionate kiss causing the electricity to surge between us, and I lifted my shield to let him read my thoughts. He gasped, surprised as I showed him how much I love and missed him and how excited I was to have him with me finally. I felt so complete and overwhelmingly happy.

I was barely aware of hearing Emmett say "Yeah they're fine. They won't keep their tongues out of each other's mouths." and hearing his booming laugh echoing around the vehicle.

I took one hand from Edward's face to flip Emmett off, which made him laugh way harder and caused Edward to pull away laughing as well, having seen my intention in my thoughts.

"Hey, come back." I whispered, pulling Edward's full attention back to me with a big smile. Edward leaned his forehead against mine, his black eyes sparkling with joy.

"Bella." he smiled at me. "You're more amazing than I ever gave you credit for. That was so brave. You just outsmarted the Volturi." he was laughing and so was Emmett.

"We couldn't just leave you there."

"No, suppose not." he said, stroking my cheek lovingly. "I've waited months to tell you how much I love and adore you. Words just aren't enough." He leaned in to capture my lips in another kiss and I shivered with pleasure at the contact, happily giving myself over to him.

Edward and I very contently held each other, kissing, and getting re-acquainted, for a few hours as Emmett drove us away from Volterra. Finally, he pulled over in a small park near a large forested area.

"Edward, you need to hunt." I said, causing him to tighten his arms around me and his smile to falter a little.

"No. I won't leave your side."

Now it was me who couldn't help but laugh. "You don't have to go without me." I said playfully, smiling at him. "Don't tell me you didn't notice my new eyes or my now perfect figure? Were you so intoxicated by my presence that you didn't pay any attention to the fact that I'm a vampire?"

"Sorry, old habit." Edward said, kissing my cheek and returning my smile. "Of course, you are still the most gorgeous creature in existence." Together, we got out of the car and walked into the woods to hunt.

We quickly came upon a group of lynxes and each grabbed one and then another. It was a sensual experience watching him crouch and then pounce on his prey. I was feeling pretty aroused and was glad Emmett stayed in the car.

Edward dropped the large cat when he was done and turned to face me, his eyes golden and his face absolutely glowing, looking much healthier.

I pounced on him and he erupted with laughter as we both fell to the ground, holding each other. With my face hovering inches above his, I nuzzled his nose with mine. "I missed you so much. At first, I wasn't sure how anyone as amazing as you could possibly love someone as normal and boring as me, but your family convinced me otherwise. And I definitely don't feel normal and boring anymore. Not now that I have a superpower." I was giggling, something I hadn't done in a long time.

"You have never been anything short of amazing to me, Bella. You have always been my everything, even when I left, from the second I saw you, even when I thought you were sent to torture me with your delectable scent. I have so many apologies to give you, but for right now, know that I love you more than anything and I'm so happy to have you in my arms again." he put a hand on my face and his lips on mine.

He brushed his tongue along my lower lip, and I didn't hesitate to tangle my tongue with his. His hand ran through my hair, holding me even closer to him.

Edward didn't hold back like he did when I was human. This kiss was passionate and fiery. The usual sparks that we felt every time we touched were intensified by our position on the forest floor and the feeling of kissing each other with no restraints now that he could no longer hurt me.

Wanting to get even closer, I laid down resting my full weight on him, knowing that it wouldn't hurt him. I gasped a little, surprised, when I felt his erection for the first time, pressing against my leg. His eyes were now black, but not from thirst.

"You are an absolute goddess." he practically moaned, "But right now, I think we should work on getting home and far away from here."

I couldn't agree with him more. Reluctantly, we stood up to head back to the car.

Edward surprised me by pulling me into an embrace, grabbing my butt and gently pushing my front to his so I could feel his erection against me again. "I don't ever want you to doubt how much I love and desire you again, my love, my mate." he whispered, his eyes still the blackest I had ever seen, as he leaned down for one more passionate kiss before we headed for the car, holding hands as we ran through the forest.

I thought I was confident in his love for me going into Volterra, but now, there was not even the slightest trace of doubt. He loved and wanted me. He was letting me know, in his own way, that he would never leave me or reject me again. Any remaining worry I had was dissipated with that realization. He had told me with his words, but also showed me in a way that was entirely mine, and completely vampiric.