Two months went by. Two months of repairing the damage Edward and his family have done and two months of holding onto the hope of her promise to Aro. After her encounter with him, she could not get the dark-haired man out of her mind. The way he held her hand, the comfort in his voice. She felt like he had a grip on her even after one encounter, it was starting to drive her mad.

In the past two months, Bella felt her mood improve almost instantly after their encounter. Her friendship with her friends at school began to repair itself as she started to hang out with them more and participate in activities again. In anxious preparation, Bella requested to complete her final exams early as she wanted to spend her final month in Forks spending as much time with Charlie.

Her father already had a feeling that she was getting antsy. To his knowledge, she got accepted into a school in Italy and was going to be leaving after graduation to familiarize herself with the country. He was thrilled for her, excited to see for the first time in months that she was excited about something and the look in her eye when she mentioned 'beginning anew'.

All she wanted to do was to cherish the next month and make her way toward Volterra not only to start her new life but to see Aro again.

One morning, Bella awoke feeling lighter than she has in the past few months. As if a burden was lifted off her shoulders. She was finally able to take a breath. Her encounter with Aro shifted something. It was a feeling she couldn't shake but it brought her peace to know that she would be getting her wish of eternal life and a small part of her was pleased that Aro would be a part of it.

Laying in bed, Bella tried to think about her upcoming day. It was only early morning on Sunday and Charlie is already halfway done with his early shift. The whole day was at her disposal and she thought maybe it wouldn't be the worst idea to contact Angela and invite her over to finish some last-minute homework.

Not long after her morning stretch in bed, a heavy and urgent knock on the door made her jump. Getting up and looking out the window of her bedroom, she saw an unfamiliar black luxury car parked in front of her home but couldn't see who was knocking.

Rushing down the stairs, the only possible person Bella could think that it was would be Jacob but she knew that he was awol for the past few months. Opening the door, Bella froze at the sight of the person who stood before her.

Alice…

Alice's face expressed her emotions clearly. The wrinkle created from her eyebrows pushed together in worry, her mouth slightly ajar and eyes almost pleading. The small brunette threw herself, Bella, into a tight hug but Bella was still frozen by the sudden reappearance of her former friend.

"Bella, I think Edward is about to do something stupid."

She snapped out her shock, "What are you talking about?"

"I had a vision you were in Volterra. Edward saw and he left instantly. I think he believes they have you." She pushed.

Bella was shaken by the vision Alice had.

Did she know?

It was hard for her to form her next sentence. It felt like she was a fish out of the water with her mouth closing and opening as she tried to speak but couldn't think of anything to say.

Alice took Bella by her wrist and dragged her up to her room and pulled out a bag telling her to put items in it.

"Wait wait wait…Alice, I can't just leave."

Alice was starting to go through her dresser and pile some items into the bag. In frustration, she threw her hands up and said, "Bella listen I know Aro was here. I saw. Well…I had a vision of it. I know that you were supposed to leave after graduation. Trust me, I am lucky that I was out on a hunt while I had that vision or else Edward would have done something sooner. I tried to close off my mind just in case but the last one just slipped and I wasn't paying attention."

Bella was dumbfounded but started to get some things together as well.

"You knew?" It was more rhetorical than an actual question.

"Yes, Bella. And trust me, it will all work out in the end. There is a reason you felt the way you felt when he was here. And there's a reason you felt the way you have felt over the last few months. I want you to figure it out on your own but I don't want my brother hurt in the process."

That shut Bella up. She slightly grasped the meaning but was intentionally blindly overlooking it. Maybe she misinterpreted what Alice was saying about everything working out. That would be foolish to think, she must have meant something else. Bella hated that her mind instantly went to a fantasy she most likely knew would never happen. She chalked it up to a teenager moment.

In the back of her mind, she was still heartbroken about Alice leaving her as well but she knew that the pixie has a reason for doing everything and that deep down she wouldn't do anything to hurt her. It wasn't time to argue anymore, it was time to get her things together and to get going.

"Will Charlie be okay?" Bella just wanted to know if her father would understand her leaving.

Alice zipped up the bag and slung it on her shoulder.

As if perfectly times, which probably was the case because of Alice, the front door opened and Charlie shouted, "Bella are you home? Who's car is out front?"

Alice and Bella headed downstairs and Charlie was clearly shocked by the sudden reappearance of a Cullen again.

"Hello, . I was just helping Bella pack."

"Pack?" He asked.

"We got an early invitation to join the summer semester at school. Just this morning actually. I invited Bella to join me since I was in the area so we can reconnect." Alice responded.

Charlie was suspicious. Bella hadn't mentioned Alice going to the same school or any summer semester.

Bella covered, "I know this is extremely last second and I didn't know that Alice would be going. Funny how things work out…" A nervous unintentional chuckle left her mouth. She continued, "I just thought that since I was technically done with school I would head off early to connect with Alice again."

She was about to start rambling and thankfully Charlie interjected.

"This is sudden but if that's your choice, I want you to be safe and contact me as often as you can. I know you will do fantastic and I am so proud of you. Hopefully, you and Alice can restart your friendship again but don't give her pigshit brother another opportunity if you see him again."

His comment towards Edward made her giggle and she threw herself at him in the biggest hug she could give. Both teared up in their embrace and whispered I love you before she let go and started heading out towards the door, giving her father one last smile and wave before getting in the car.

They were off. Heading out of Forks and towards the airport. The last thought Bella had before closing her eyes to rest was how she would miss the forest and her father.


Alice pumped the gas on the bright yellow sports car as they made their way through the streets of Florence and finally onto the open roads of the Tuscan countryside. Bella watched the scenery roll by, beautiful farmland and winery along the rolling hills with a cloudless sky to pair. The closer they go to their destination, her nerves started to ramp up for a reason she couldn't detect.

She worried that Edward would try to stop her. She worried about how she would feel when she saw Aro again. She worried about every little aspect of the encounter including if it would end in someone being hurt.

In the distance, a town that was built on a hill. It looked like a fortress front the outside with its tall walls that probably dated centuries back and miscellaneously scattered ancient old buildings throughout. Alice rolled up the gates of the city and towards the center.

Bella's heart started pounding in her chest with worry as the beautiful landscape turned into slim streets.

"We have to go to the plaza. We have time, it will all work out." Alice reassured Bella.

They pulled up to the empty plaza and parked on a road right at the entrance of the open space. Alice led her across to the massive wooden doors at the base of the clock tower. Before Alice could push it open, another vampire opened the door and stood aside to let them in.

"Hello, Felix," Alice said lightheartedly. She tried to seem innocently kind to help defuse as much as she could. The massive man that would put Emmett to shame towered over Alice and Bella.

He smirked and replied, "Your coven mate has just arrived as well. Perhaps you could have coordinated a carpool instead?"

The joke threw Bella off. This mammoth of a man that looked like he could topple a house if he wanted to was joking about carpooling meanwhile Bella was getting more and more uneasy by the moment. She wanted to walk past him and try and find her way toward Aro but she knew that would just end up being a failed mission. Felix's eyes set on her for a moment but quickly tore away back to Alice.

"Can you take us to him please?" Alice asked politely.

Felix turned and started leading them down the endless hallways and downward until another massive set of doors that looked like they weighed a ton. With ease, he pushed open the door with a single hand and received a room that would put the Roman Parthenon to shame. Although a massive structure, Bella couldn't focus on a single detail.

Her eyes locked straight with Aro's. She almost overlooked the fact that Edward was standing right there but right now all she wanted to do was to feel Aros touch again.

Aro walked forward in absolute amazement that Bella stood before him. Stopping just short of a foot, Aro's eyes lit up and smiled at her.

"Dear Isabella, such a delightful surprise." For the second time, Aro offered his hand. This time she knew why and it wasn't because he wanted to read her mind but simply because he wanted to feel her touch again. She obliged eagerly.

That touch made her feel bold. She wasn't going crazy, it was exactly as she remembered. That same rush, that same feeling of safety, that same comfort.

She placed her hand onto the one he placed in hers, this time she enclosed his hand like he had done to hers prior. For that moment, they were alone in their own little world as both tested the waters of this new sensation. As quickly as they fell into their own world, they were torn back to reality as a deep growl came from nearby.

By the time Bella turned her head, she was already pushed behind Aro to block her from the danger.

It was Edward.