I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.

Cheryl, Noles, and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.

Ch 19

EPOV

It went against my instincts to be in Volterra, everything in me wanted to take Bella and run far away from here. She and our daughter—words I never thought I would say—were the most important things to me. However, Bella was more determined than ever to protect our baby.

And I knew as much as I hated it, this was the way it had to be. Bella laced her fingers through mine and looked up at me with golden eyes. She and Charlie had altered their appearance to look more like vampires to fool everyone outside of the family.

Speaking of the new duo who traveled with us, they were creepy—even by vampire standards. They walked ahead of the group, more than willing to take out the Volturi—they had wanted their revenge for centuries. They didn't care to know the reason why we wanted them to become leaders, only that we were willing to fight behind them. Little did they know they were pawns and wouldn't do any of the actual killing.

Emmett and Jasper were quiet and alert as we walked. Emmett flanked Charlie as Jasper brought up the rear. From outward appearances, Emmett seemed to be taking this seriously. However, in his head he was loudly humming the Mission Impossible theme song.

The darkness opened to a brightly lit lobby. A female human receptionist stood up from a desk to greet us. Bella glanced at me out of the corner of her eye to question what to do about the human.

"Do you have an appointment?" she asked.

Charlie stepped forward to alter her mind, so we didn't set off any alarms too soon. But Stefan flashed forward and snapped her neck before biting it. I felt Bella take a sharp intake of breath and turn her head.

"A snack to build our energy before the big fight?" Stefan hissed and was then joined by Vladimir.

They drank her dry and let her drop at their feet. My brothers kept straight faces, as they had seen the sight before. Bella shed one tear, but she managed to hide before it was noticed by anyone else. We had toyed with the idea of turning Stefan and Vladimir to vegetarian vampires but knew it would be harder for the rest of the vampire world to accept the lifestyle.

"Shall we?" Charlie looked at the human sadly.

We took a few steps toward a pair of large doors when Bella froze suddenly and tilted her head. She tugged my hand to stop me and squinted her eyes.

"Wait," she ordered.

Stefan and Vladimir turned in irritation that she had given them orders, but she ignored them, staring at a blank spot. She lifted her hand and flexed her fingers. A vampire suddenly appeared inches from Vladimir, encased in one of Bella's bubbles. He had to be the one known as Afton. Vladimir jumped back in shock.

"The brothers—" Afton was silenced by Bella instantly.

"How did you know he was there?" Vladimir demanded.

"We were warned about his power. I was able to sense him," Bella said.

"Interesting… I sensed nothing at all. You'll have to share more about your power." Stefan eyed her with interest.

"Of course, after everything is done," Bella lied.

I held Bella's hand tightly when we entered the throne room. There were a dozen vampires drifting around who instantly became alert when we entered. Several of the guards crouched, ready to attack on the brothers' command. The wives stared at us with curiosity, not alarmed because they felt safe.

Caius responded first "What is the meaning—"

He was cut off when Bella released Alec's ability, a dark fog wrapped everyone in the room, including the Romanians. The only ones who remained untouched was our family and two individuals on the far end of the room.

Aro sat on his throne, wide-eyed as he looked around the room in a calm manner. Renata gripped his shoulder, so he assumed he was safe. But little did he know she was already plotting how to save herself. She knew who we were the instant she saw Charlie.

"Nothing will help you now, dear sister. You've burned too many bridges," Charlie spoke first.

"Sister? Ah…yes…now I remember. You must be Charles Swan; I must say it is hard to keep track with how you keep changing your appearance. I've been waiting for the day you'd appear. Perhaps you'd care to join us?" Aro suggested calmly.

"I don't think so. We've come here to put an end to you once and for all." Charlie smirked.

Aro tilted his head back and laughed. The sound was ear piercing and made me cringe. "Rather small army. Especially since we've beaten those two before." He gazed at the Romanians.

"They don't need an army, they only need me." Bella let go of my hand and stepped out from behind Emmett.

"Isabella! At long last, we finally meet." Aro's greedy eyes lit up. "Are you doing this? It's a remarkable power, you've grown so strong."

"More than you know." My mate raised into the air, her eyes glowing, looking more formidable than when we found her in the meadow. "I suppose I have you to thank for that."

"How so?" Aro's features started to crack as his nerves started to show.

"Well, since you couldn't leave me be, and kept sending more vampires after me, the more powerful I became." Bella smirked.

"I knew you stole powers." Renata snarled.

"She didn't steal. Think magnetic amplifier," Charlie said proudly.

Aro immediately started calculating. He knew Bella had the upper hand and he scrambled for a way to come up on top.

"Then join me, Isabella, you could sit at my side. We could rule together. You could be a queen among vampires," he said, thinking she could easily replace Caius, as he had no use but to be a figurehead.

Bella looked at his hand in distaste. "I'm very happy as a witch, thank you. All I want is to live in peace with my mate."

"Your mate is certainly welcome to join us too." Aro looked at the rest of us, eyeing Emmett especially. He was hoping it was him since he'd lost his muscle. If not, he had no qualms about getting rid of Jasper or me like he did Didyme, his sister and Marcus' mate.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but you'd only gain another mind reader and that is only if I was interested—which I'm not." I smirked.

Behind Aro, Renata was angry that after years of loyalty she was being passed over. She did everything she was asked. Including turning over her family and killing Bella's mother. In her haste, she forgot Bella could read her thoughts.

"Edward." Jasper was staring up at Bella.

Bella was glowing bright purple, she was furious. Even more than when she thought Carlisle had stolen me from her. The wind started whipping around at tornadic speed. We were encased in a bubble shield that had cut off my telepathy from anyone outside of it.

"Oh shit, she's going to blow," Emmett mumbled.

"You should be more careful what you think in front of a mind reader." Charlie chuckled darkly.

With a flick of her hand, Bella sent Renata flying halfway across the room and she landed in a heap. Aro's eyes widened in disbelief as he lost his protection. Before Renata could move Bella froze her. She looked panicked and her eyes widened. There was a sickening crack and her body exploded into pieces then burst into flames.

"That was for my mother," Bella hissed.

I glanced at Charlie, knowing he had wanted to be the one to take her down. His arms were crossed as he watched with satisfaction as Renata became ashes.

Aro watched on in horror, pale even for a vampire. He knew he wasn't going to win but he had to try. "I implore you, perhaps we can come to a deal."

Bella answered him by turning Jane's powerful shockwaves on him. He screeched in pain. His body withered on the floor and fell down the steps. After a few moments, she stopped and Aro was on his knees in front of her.

"No deal. You killed your own sister for power, and you think I'd ever trust you. Your tyranny over witches ends now." Bella glared at him.

"I can explain, Didyme was nothing—"

He didn't get to finish as Marcus had flashed forward and beheaded Aro before he could finish speaking. I hadn't realized Bella had released him from the fog to hear Aro's confession of betrayal. Marcus tossed the head to the ground then looked up at Bella with heartbreak in his eyes.

"Please," he muttered, stretching out his arms.

Bella hesitated for only a moment before she hit him with a fireball, then Aro. She floated back down to the ground and the air calmed around her. The safety bubble popped around us and I was able to go to her. I laced my fingers with hers, but before I could say anything, she turned to her uncle.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Charlie. I know you wanted to be the one to end her. But I saw…" Bella closed her eyes and tears ran down her face. "She tortured my mother, and I lost my temper."

"You don't have to apologize. I wanted to see for myself that she was gone. Watching you destroy her was good enough for me," he answered her.

"Remind me never to piss you off. That was awesome." Emmett grinned.

Jasper rolled his eyes. "Ignore him. What now though? I thought Marcus was going to be a leader?"

"I thought it was only right that Marcus knew how Aro betrayed him. He wanted to be with his mate again. It was Chelsea and Corin who made him stay for so long. But he wasn't happy here. He wanted peace so I gave it to him," Bella explained.

"You did the right thing." I kissed her forehead. "Any ideas to replace him?" I asked her.

Bella glanced around the room and her eyes settled on a female vampire with light brown hair. "How about Chelsea herself? I think I have found a reasonable explanation as well. Marcus found out about his mate, and I can also plant in Chelsea's head that Aro wanted hers gone as well. Together they implored to the Romanians for help."

"So simple it would work." Jasper nodded in agreement.

Emmett pounded his fist into his hand. "Great. Which one of these mother-fuckers do I get to disassemble?"

"Language," Bella scolded, shooting him an annoyed look.

"Sorry." Emmett gave her a guilty grin and took a backward step from her.

Jasper snickered. "Come on, let's play tug-a-war with Caius."

Once they took off, Bella turned to me. "I owe you an apology too. I knew you wanted Aro, but Marcus wanted revenge for his mate, as well."

"I'm glad he got the chance. Are you okay?" I tried to pull her into my arms, but she resisted.

"Not at the moment, but I will be. I want to fix these minds so we can go home. I don't think I can heal the woman out there." She glanced sadly at the corridor.

"She died quickly, I don't think she felt any pain," I tried to reassure her, but she just grimaced.

"I'll go take care of her." Charlie frowned before walking away.

Bella started with Stefan to alter minds. I noticed not only this time the process seemed to go faster than with Laurent, but she didn't even have to touch them. It was fascinating to watch her shift through their minds. It didn't take her long to finish with the ones that needed altering. All that was left was taking the fog off everyone.

When she was done, she looked tired. She wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her head against my chest. I stroked her hair and was worried if she was too spent to transport everyone back to Forks.

Charlie was on the same page as he looked at her fondly. "How about I bring these two jokesters home. Isabella, are you able to bring you and Edward to your cabin?"

"Yes," she mumbled.

"Okay we will catch you two later." He nodded, then looked at me. "She might need a day or two rest."

"I'll make sure that she takes it," I promised, worried about her and the baby.

They left moments later, and I let her rest for the moment. I thought about taking her somewhere to relax as soon as we had a break from school.

"Where is that beach?" Bella whispered.

"Esme's Island. I was hoping we could go soon; Esme already gave us permission." I kissed the top of her head.

"Can we go now?" She looked up at me with big eyes.

I smiled. "Well, you're supposed to rest—"

I didn't get to finish before we were on the beach. She giggled and stepped away from me. She walked across the sand barefoot and tilted her head up to the sun.

"It is so peaceful here." She spun in a small circle.

"It is," I agreed. "What would you like to do first?"

Bella bit her lip and smiled sheepishly. "Sleep."

"Then allow me." I swept her up into my arms and carried her to the house.

A/N: The worst is over, pretty much a one-sided fight with Bella there. We are approaching the end. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me.