A/N: Sorry I've been a major dick. Seriously. I never forgot about it I swear. I just didn't realize how hard it was to write endings. Maybe I just didn't want it to end myself. But alas, this is the final chapter. It truly has been a great ride. Thank you all for your continued support and love.
Chapter 44: Today
Bella POV
"Go. Now." Alice stuttered in alarm, her nightmare coming true.
"Just let me find my pants!" I scattered everything that was just thrown at me around in my search effort.
"THERE IS NO TIME FOR PANTS!"
"I'm not dying with no pants on!"
"YOU ARE NOT DYING TODAY!" Finally, I found a pair of jeans and stumbled into them, sliding into a pair of shoes just as quickly. Automatically I ran towards the door but was immediately shoved back. "I told you to go."
"I'm not going now! If this is the last stand then I'm going to be involved." Alice drew in breath to argue, but suddenly a large section of the floor we were standing on collapsed and we were thrown into a pile of rubble. "Jesus fuck!" I yelled articulately. "Alice are you ok?" The dust was settling, and I could vaguely see the scene of the first floor in disarray.
"Yes. Where are the others?" It did not take long for another loud crash to alert us to an ongoing fight nearby. We both scrambled out of the debris and ran towards the noise, still not knowing exactly what the situation was. However, we had a very strong inkling. "Bella please phase and run. I can't risk losing you."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Can't you just do what I ask for once?!"
"Not when it involves leaving everyone I love!"
"Stop being stubbor –!"
"WOULD YOU TWO STOP FIGHTING AND PLEASE COME AND HELP ME?" Alice and I jumped at the sudden call for help and looked around to find Emmett struggling with an even bigger bear of a man than he. The two of us jumped in, Alice climbing his shoulders and Emmett and I disabling his arms so she could rip his head off.
"Who the hell was that?" I asked Emmett as he lit the body ablaze quickly.
"You know I don't know Bella. I didn't really get a chance to introduce myself when he jumped me."
"Alright enough." Alice put a hand to my chest as I started to rebuttal. "What's going on? How many are there and who is here?"
"No idea." Emmett panted and looked around to gain his bearings. "There were at least eight in the house before I got smashed out of it. I didn't see Aro but I'm sure this is his doing. Have you seen Rose anywhere?"
"Oh god no." Alice glanced back to where we came from. "You were the first fight we ran into."
"Shit!" He was rightfully panicked. Rosalie was already injured and now with the attack it did not look good. "Come on let's go." We ran towards some noises coming from a bit away. Upon our arrival, we found Jasper locked in a battle with three vampires at once. On the ground lay a helpless Rosalie, whom Jasper was obviously guarding.
Jasper was good. He was keeping all three vampires at bay. But they were no match once Emmett, Alice, and I got involved. We again made quick work of them. From the way they were fighting, the vampires all seemed to be newborns. Inexperienced but strong.
"God Rosie are you ok?" Emmett fell to his knees by her side while we set fire to new bodies. She moaned a little and nodded.
"Leg fell off again." She said weakly. I knelt down next to her and pushed the leg back together for a second time. She yelled a few curse words at that.
"Here Rosalie please." I offered my wrist to her desperately. Now was not the time to worry about long term affects.
"No." She croaked at me. "You need your strength. He's around here." Her words were ominous. Alice grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.
"For the last time, you need to run."
"Not on your life." I turned to the rest of the group and tried to think strategically.
"Ok we need to get her out of here. Emmett can you take her somewhere safe?"
"And leave you? Hard pass. I can protect her and stay here."
"Emmett she can't even move!"
"Bella, we do need him." Jasper cautioned against my plan.
"Fuck! Well, what else can we do?"
"I can take her." A pathetic call came from behind us. Esme limped towards her children; her arm was nearly detached. Carlisle was following close behind. He smelled of the pungent smoke which let me know at least their enemy was destroyed.
"Yeah, and then we'll have two injured in one place with no hopes of defending themselves." I was starting to grow alarmed with the rising amount of injured Cullens.
"The wolves and Denalis are on their way. We can go with some of them. They'll protect us."
"That'll work." Jasper and I nodded, and it seemed we were finally starting on a viable plan.
"Bella!" Dread filled my mind at the sound. Edward now emerged from the woods, carrying a slumped over Liam. "They shot him with something." He threw a small dart towards Carlisle, who took one small sniff and his eyes grew wide.
"It's a strong tranquilizer."
"Really?!" I cried at the ridiculousness of this day. Was everything going to go wrong?
"I can't shift." Liam collapsed onto a tree. "I've lost my strength."
"If they are shooting those out, the shifters won't be of much help. Bella if you get hit with one -" Carlisle started to say with anxiety all over his face.
"I know!" I impatiently interrupted him. Now was not the time to start going over all the what-ifs.
Everyone was staring at me with true fear in their eyes. I was absolutely certain I was going to die today.
"Ummm." Rosalie tugged at Emmett's sleeve. "Is it a bad thing that we're all in the same place right now?" Almost as soon as the words left her mouth did something small and sharp come flying at my back, hitting my left shoulder dead on.
"NO!" Alice tackled me to the ground to make sure nothing else was shot my way and pulled the dart out immediately.
"Ow shit." My muscles felt weak and I knew instantly that I would not be able to phase.
"Carlisle what is it?" She threw it to him, fearing it had been covered in Aro's venom.
"Tranquilizer again."
"Could be worse." I tried to push Alice off me so I could stand.
"IT COULD BE WORSE? STOP GETTING FUCKING SHOT BELLA!"
"Ok we need to face up to the fact that we will not win today like this. It might be best to think of a plan of retreat at this moment." Jasper finally spoke what was on everyone's mind.
"Not today son." If I could jump with glee, I would. The Denalis came to our rescue just when things were about to be disastrous.
"Where are the wolves?" Jasper questioned Eleazar.
"They're taking out a small group of vampires about two miles back." He gestured behind him. "Tanya stayed behind with them as well. A few of them got shot with something that turned them back into their human forms."
"Well, that answers that question." I was still feeling pretty defeated. But that may have been the sedative talking. Suddenly I felt Alice freeze up beside me. Terrified, I immediately went to aid her, but found her locked into a vision. This only increased my concern. It had been some time since she had gotten a vision with me around her, and they always only came when I was not going to be in the near future.
"Retreat or fight?" Emmett asked Jasper and I. Jasper wasn't sure. He was fully aware of mine and Liam's states, along with Rosalie and Esme's. Alice was still glassy eyed and staring straight ahead. Maybe I should have done what she said and ran…
"I don't know. Does anyone know how many are left?" But at the second Kate went to reply, every vampire in the vicinity fell to the ground, clutching their heads and screaming in pain.
"Just two." The bone chilling voice which haunted my nightmares replied. Aro walked into the clearing, stepping over Rosalie without care. On his side was a vampire I didn't recognize, but by her stance and face of obvious concentration, I assumed she was the one causing the vampire deactivation. Aro smirked when I looked at her. "Like the new upgrade? This one can get multiple at one time."
Liam and I made eye contact. We both knew that we did not have the power for a shield now. We were completely helpless.
The second-long look we shared felt like a goodbye. He struggled to crawl his way towards me, fearing I would be alone in my death.
"Poor Jane could only do one at a time. Fascinating little thing though." Aro had his proud father face on. "It's not a pain illusion. It is just a very high-pitched noise which causes anyone with superhuman hearing to double over. I'm told it is…" Aro observed the area round him with gleeful eyes, "quite painful."
There was no clever thing left for me to say. My fate was entirely sealed.
Alice was towards the side of me, and I looked at her to say my final goodbye. But as I glanced her way, she surprised me with just a simple twitch of her lips and wink. I was about to die, and Alice winked at me? Even with the quite literal death coming my way, I must have had confusion written on my face because she twitched her lips again ever so slightly and mouthed to me: I got this.
Aro, with all the time in the world, slowly pulled a large syringe out. Just looking at it I knew it was filled with venom.
I could accept my death. I could go peacefully into the night without even a struggle. But the thought of everyone I loved having to witness it, caused a great rush of anger in me.
How dare he? How dare he torture them like that. He had now proven himself as the most sadistic being on the planet. I could end him. If only I could just manage some strength.
Not like this. I kept chanting in my head. You can't die like this.
"No second chances this time. This goes in your heart." Eyes gleaming, Aro raised his armed hand back and brought it down with all his force.
Expecting the excruciating pain I've already felt once in my life, I closed my eyes in preparation. But instead, there was a rush of air and a loud clashing sound just above my head. A gasp emitted from Aro.
"What the - ?" His surprised question was cut off with another thunderous clap of vampire striking vampire. At this point I dared to open my eyes, and to my amazement saw Alice and Aro locked in a death struggle.
How in the hell she was doing it, I didn't know. I just knew she couldn't keep fighting him alone forever. My muscles, already protesting from the tranquilizer, were now burning in agony at the exertion it took to stand up. But instead of doing the illogical save-my-girl kind of thing I usually did, I thought of the better option.
Aro's new puppet was too absorbed in her task of torture that she didn't see me stumble her way, nor did she have enough time to comprehend when I mustered my remaining strength and tore her head from her body.
And then I collapsed into black.
My ears were ringing and everything hurt. The black that had enveloped me was slowly fading away. While I tried to begin to comprehend my lack of a fatal wound, I recognized that the sounds of pain from my family died out and a distinct crunching noise replaced them. My brain was still a little bit behind when the familiar vanilla and peppermint scent surrounded me and cradled my body up.
"Your heart is still beating." Alice whispered so soft even I could barely hear. Her gentle hands felt around my skin, looking for any indication of my impending death. "Bella? You're alive." Relief and question were laced in her tone. After what seemed like forever my mind finally meandered back into present and I looked up into her overwhelmed face.
"I told you I wouldn't die without my pants." It was definitely one of the more stupid things I've ever said, and the words were absolutely wrong for the situation. However, it was the only thing I could gather to say. I expected Alice to hit me or something, probably furious that I would say something so crass. But to my great surprise, she broke out into a fit of watery laughter.
"And I told you that you wouldn't die today. I guess we were both right." She smiled down at me and I mirrored her.
"What happened?" I asked after our little moment. The muscles in my body refused to move, so I had no idea how the events unfolded which caused my life to be saved.
"I got your shield." Alice beamed proudly.
"But the vision? I thought I would..."
"Not ever." She squeezed herself tightly against my extremely sore body.
"I'm still very confused." My head did not seem to want to comprehend all of it. Just minutes ago we were alone in our room together. "What did you see?"
"Exactly what I needed to do to keep you here. I don't know how. How I saw you or how I got your shield."
"My blood." I stated quietly. "It's gotta be my blood." She nodded happily at me. Alice could not care less about how the results came to be, just that they were. "You did it." I whispered fiercely, so proud of the woman I loved. Alice leaned down to give me a kiss, and then supported me up into a standing position. She did so gently, very wary of my failing body. And once we were up, all my weight was propped against her.
"Anyways, I figured you would like to do the honors." Alice stated as she let me survey the scene.
The vampire who had previously incapacitated everyone in the vicinity, now lay in a heap of broken parts next to Edward. Carlisle sat tending to Esme, Rosalie, and Liam who were sitting huddled together. Upon noticing my position, Carlisle looked up to Alice with concern in his eyes. But Alice simply raised a calming hand to let him know I was still in good health.
My eyes scanned the rest of the scene. The Denalis were together, each assessing their minor wounds as any family would after a battle. Lastly, Emmett and Jasper stood on either side of a restrained Aro, still very much alive. Alice's comment finally made sense, and I had a rush of gratitude towards her for somehow controlling herself to not kill him before I had the chance.
But instead of the rage I felt towards this man just a few minutes prior, a new emotion replaced it. Pity. Pity on a great king who fell to his own demise. A man who used to have quite literally everything, and now nothing. I pitied him, and I also felt cheated. I was cheated out of being able to defeat a king. Now I had to settle for killing a shell of a man who used to have power. It was just not something I wanted anymore. Not the thing I so thought I craved.
"I don't think he's worth my effort." I scoffed at the sight. Alice looked quite taken aback at my statement, but one shared look into my eyes she seemed to understand.
"Well, I guess you won't mind if he's worth mine then?" She quipped, tightening her fists as she did so. I chuckled and gave her a reassuring squeeze. No, he wasn't worth my effort, but Alice definitely deserved some revenge. I had no need for it anymore.
"All yours." She smiled and slowly approached her prey. Calls of Aro's begging and subsequent death followed me as I turned to a nearby Carlisle and Esme. "Sorry about the house." I muttered gingerly, sitting down to regain my strength again.
"It's just a house." Esme said sweetly, even under the pain I knew she was under. "Besides, I think we were due for a geography change. Maybe Alaska? What do you think Carlisle?" She patted her husband's free arm for his opinion.
"I'm not sure sweetheart. Bella? What say you?"
I looked around once again and took a deep breath of the fresh Forks air. This was my home. It would always be my home. But it was just a place I was born. Just a place I fell in love with a girl. The girl was my forever.
"Wherever the old lady takes me." I said happily as Alice wandered back to me.
"I hope you're not calling me an old lady. Or maybe I won't give you a present." She had the biggest grin on her face I had ever seen.
"A gift? Alice I'm not hanging Aro's head on my wall." She laughed and tossed something at me so small I barely was able to catch it so quickly.
"Nope. Just something lost." I knew what it was before I even opened my hand. The smooth metal had finally found its home again. I glanced down to the wedding band in my palm, just as perfect as I remembered.
"How'd you -?"
"I knew he'd have it on him. Figured it would be best to look before we go burning the body." Alice came over and plucked the ring from my hand so she could gently slide it onto my awaiting finger. "Assuming you still want to remain married to me?"
"Always."
No, I did not die today. We were ok today, and we would be ok for the rest of our long, long lives.
Some Time Later…
"What's her name again? Hannah?" I called to Alice after stepping out the shower. She was busy rummaging through the closet to plan my outfit.
"Anna! Dammit Bella I swear I've told you ten times already!" She cried out in exasperation. My lips curved to a slight smile at her fit.
"I know I know. I'm sorry. I'm just – "
"Nervous. I know." After she seemed to have picked my clothes and put them on the bed, Alice came in and grabbed the comb from my hand and took over my head.
"Is this really necessary?"
"Yes. I let you do it last time when you met Darren for the first time." I chuckled as I reflected back on meeting Jasper's mate Darren a while back. Alice was twitching the entire night.
"What was wrong with my outfit then?"
"Nothing really. But you tend to wrinkle clothes when you're nervous." Satisfied with my hair, she motioned me to put the clothes on. "Why are you so nervous anyways? You know they're more scared of you than you are of them."
"I don't know." I shrugged and buttoned my jeans. "Darren wasn't bad because Jasper and I are cool. But I mean it's Edward's mate this time. Anna right?" I panicked about probably forgetting her name again so fast.
"Yes." Alice smiled at my flustered appearance. "You'll be fine Bella. You know you'll always be Esme's favorite."
"Right." I nodded dumbly and kept fumbling over the buttons of my shirt. What if I frightened her? What if we didn't get along? What if Edward and I got into another fight? Our past was behind us sure, but there were always little worries going around in my head. Trying to remember what Alice said about the wrinkles, I smoothed out the black button down before turning to get her approval. She burst into a fit of giggles. "What?"
"I just have no idea what you'd do without me." She flashed a grin and leaned in to fix all the buttons I had screwed up. Shit.
"Nothing. I couldn't do anything without you." I pulled her in tight after she finished fixing my shirt and kissed her nose.
"Mmmmm." She sighed contently before shaking herself out of her trance. "Come on. We should leave if we want to make it on time."
"Alight alright." I let her drag me to the garage. "But we're taking my baby out. I just upgraded the engine."
"Sometimes I swear you love that thing more than me." She scoffed as I ran my hand down the body of my 1957 Corvette, a gift from my wife months ago.
"Maybe some days." That earned me a small punch to the arm which I feigned injury over.
"Come on dear. The in-laws await."
The road ahead was clear. Alice curled up to my side as I drove and rested her hand on my free one. I don't know what caused it, but my mind wandered over the past several years and all the events that unfolded in my life. It seemed nothing short of a miracle that here I was today, alive and well, married to a perfect girl, a wonderful and accepting family awaiting our visit, and years of amazing memories of travels. Yes, somehow the road ahead was very clear. I craned my neck and leaned into kiss the small black spikes on top of Alice's head.
"Thank you." I whispered into her hair.
"For what?" She sat up at my random act of gratitude.
"Saving me."
