Chapter Twenty-Two

Bella did not leave Atticus's side, nor did she see a reason why she should.

No one dared to ask or even mention the events that had led to this.

There was also the fact that if they had asked or mentioned the events that led to this they would have to deal with the rage of a three-month Newborn vampire. No one wanted the wrath of a Newborn vampire, Lady Isabella Volturi included.

Rosalie Hale had almost abducted Bella's son from his nursery and could have easily gone and destroyed him. Demetri had already gone from the castle, and so had Carlisle so there was no way that Demetri would be able to follow their trail and Carlisle would not be able to have his daughter see reason. So, she was currently contained within one of the cells of the Volturi Castle dungeon, Jane visiting sometimes in order to use her ability to cause the most pain as she could.

Each day that Carlisle and Demetri were gone was a day where Bella felt as though she was going to tear every single piece of her hair out of her head. She wanted nothing more than to destroy anything that was in her path, she wanted to go down to the cells and destroy Rosalie, but she wouldn't go against the three kings, and they hadn't decided in the end what they should do. They would wait until Carlisle would come back so that the kings could tell the family all together what Rosalie would have happened to her (her mate Emmett was in the adjoining cell with Rosalie since he demanded he be in the same state as his wife).

It took three weeks for Demetri and Carlisle to finally get Joham so they could bring him to Volterra.

He was not being brought here just to give answers but to be executed for his immoral experimentation on human women.

His eldest daughter, Serena, had been with him and she had been grabbed just as well so she would give her own explanation of being what she was. She would decide whether she would respect the Volturi or if she were going to continue her father's footsteps and keep experimenting on halflings, luring vampire men into impregnating human women.

The day they arrived back Bella had Aunt Athenodora take care of Atticus because she didn't want him to witness the eventual execution that was going to happen to Joham. She dressed in one of her more extravagant gowns that had real diamonds and rubies spread throughout the silk. The skirts of her gown trailed around her a few feet and was a deep black-green hue. Her hair was pulled up in a high bun with strings of pearls spread throughout the bun, along with some jewel clips.

Alec was dressed in one of his more intimidating guardsmen armors, which not only filled out his muscles and made him even more desirable but also proved how high up he was in the Royal Guard. Jane was dressed similar to Bella, but she had on some armor like her brother, despite the fact that the two looks were almost too clashing, but Jane Volturi wasn't someone who cared more about fashion than they did on intimidation. The twins looked perfect for the trial and execution of Joham.

Bella and Alec arrived in the throne room, where she noticed that Carlisle would be the only Cullen that would be in attendance. Well at least for the trials of Serena and Joham. When the trials of Rosalie and Emmett would happen the other Cullens would come into the throne room so they could show their support towards whoever they wished to (Esme had already declared she was on Alec and Bella's side, since Rosalie had tried to snatch Atticus).

It didn't take long for her uncles to enter the throne room and sit down in their thrones. Marcus motioned Bella and Alec to come up to them without saying anything. Bella stepped forward and went up to him, noting how Aro's bodyguard, Renata, gave a stern nod towards her. They never became close to each other despite the fact that they both were shields. She could only protect one person at a time, and it had to be when she was touching or only a foot away from the said person. Still, she held respect towards Bella and Bella held respect towards Renata.

Bella kept one of her hands intertwined in Alec's while the other hand was resting against the arm of the marble throne next to Marcus's arm. Marcus gave them a reassuring smile, but it wasn't enough that took all the worries away. It just let them know he and his brothers were on her side and he would protect his distant descendant with all that was in him.

The throne room doors opened, revealing Demetri along with Felix, and Carlisle stepping into the room with two vampires being pulled into the throne room ruthlessly by other members of the Royal Guard. One of them was a man in his forties, who was actually wearing a doctorate coat over his nice and stylish scholar clothes. The other was a woman in her early to mid-twenties.

When it came to the man his oxford button up shirt and shoes reminded Bella of the outfits Carlisle wore most of the time, but while Carlisle went and helped humans all Joham seemed to care about using his vampiric seed for wrongness. His hair was thick and a mess around his head, there were a few pieces of his face that were actually missing, a part of his jaw was missing and actually some of his left arm and the right foot. He had been ripped apart enough that he had to give up.

The woman on the other hand resembled just like her father, with the same dark hair as her father's but instead of it being long and flowing it was chopped and feathered around her head. She must have cut it in hopes that she would have the Volturi not think she was a woman. Her curves were too thick for her to get away with being a man and she was dressed in scholarly clothes just like her father had. Her eyes were a deep brown, border lining black and she had the same amount of arrogance that her father had. She didn't see what her father had done was wrong.

Demetri and Felix knocked both daughter and father down, so they were on the ground and brought their hands around the father and daughter's throats to keep their heads up. A pair of crimson eyes along with a pair of brown eyes were peering up at the three kings. Bella stayed quiet and kept her arm around her husband, trying not to think too much as the interrogations began.

Bella barely paid attention to the fact that Joham had been turned into a vampire by a woman, or that he had an insatiable appetite towards having sex. Having sex with human women never seemed to bring anything to fruition when it came to children until he had sex more than three times with Serena's mother. Serena was born, her mother died giving birth to her, and Joham raised Serena on his own. His plan was to have her raised up so when she would become an adult and stop growing, she could go pick up her siblings after they would be born, and their parents killed.

"How old are you, Serena?"

"I am 196 years old. I was born in 1810, in Norway. I was given my mother's name," Serena explained, making Bella swear her heart had skipped a beat in her chest at the age Serena had claimed she was. She opened her mouth and continued, "I am not lying, either. I find there is no need for me to lie, nor does my father. We just don't tell things to others unless we feel the need to do so."

Joham nodded his head this time, letting them know that it was true. Some might think they were lying to cover things up, but some people would know information and others wouldn't. They were careful with their secrets but in the end those that they had given information to about their research and projects ended up giving them up in order to live. To say the least Joham wished he could end those miserable traitors' lives, but his life was forfeit the very moment he had created Serena.

"Where is the child?"

Joham probed, only for Bella to step forward and hiss at him, her eyes darkening to let him know she didn't want him to mention Atticus. He almost chuckled but the hands that held him happened to belong to Demetri and he tightened them enough to create fractures across the marble essence of his smirk.

"Well, we know who the mother and father are," Serena spat out, she thought this hilarious.

"He managed to make her into one of us. Congratulations."

Aro turned his attention towards Jane and nodded his head, enough for Jane to focus her attention on Serena in order to send out large bouts of pain upon the Raveonette. The younger vampire screeched in pain at what she was experiencing while Joham merely sat there with no emotion towards what was happening to his daughter. It seemed as though Serena was just another pawn to him; within time he must have had whatever shininess that was upon his daughter rubbed away to show the true material she was. She wasn't as special as he originally thought she was, he had other children to replace her with.

Aro brought his hand up and Jane pulled her power away from the trembling vampire. She kept her hands behind her back, clasped together. Her face was bland of any emotions, but it was obvious she was more than livid at the comments Serena had made and false respect. She would not allow the girl to do that again towards her sister-in-law, brother, or her uncles and father. She especially would not allow her nephew to be spoken about in that manner.

One of the vampires came forward in the back, one of the mid ranked vampire guardsmen that had gone with Demetri and Carlisle to be an extra eye and ear for the Volturi, and pulled out what looked like files upon files of confidential material from the pockets of his robes.

Bella didn't pay that much attention to what the vampire looked like, but the fact that he must have gathered as much intel as he could about Joham's research. He held the papers out for the kings and Caius stood to pick up the material before handing the copies over to his brothers, in order for them to read as much as they could about halflings and Joham's opinion towards the whole vampiric world.

Aro nodded his head a moment later before he turned his attention towards his brothers, they both nodded their heads too.

"Very well, there will be no need for you anymore. Demetri, Felix, you know what to do."

Before anyone could blink (well if vampires could blink) the two vampires had their heads decapitated and their bodies slumped forward before they fell onto the stone floor. There was a drain that was in the middle of the throne room. Bella observed them as they moved the bodies to the middle of the throne room before lighting the bodies with some of the lighters, they carried in their pockets in case they needed them during missions.

Lavender came traveling throughout the room and allowed them to know that the deed was done. Joham and Serena were no more, they would not be able to add anymore halflings into the world, their reign of terror and disrespect towards the world of vampires and humans had been finished. It was no more. It made everyone in the room let out unneeded breaths in relief, as the bodies burned and became nothing more than marble ash.

"Santiago, please go and bring the Cullens into the throne room. Alec and Felix go down to the cells and bring up Rosalie Hale and Emmett Cullen. We shall go ahead and carry on the trials for them," Aro mandated, earning bowed heads from both vampires before they left the throne room. Santiago was already gone when he had gotten his instructions.

Bella almost wanted to go and find Atticus before hugging him and squealing in happiness. It seemed as though the halflings ended up freezing in their twenties (if what she could see from Serena) and could live forever. Yet she knew the last thing that Atticus needed to see was the two vampires given their sentences and possibly executed.

The Cullens entered the throne room first, confusion upon their features except for Alice Cullen. She looked as though she herself was going to enter to be executed instead of her surrogate siblings. She shot a desperate look towards Edward as he entered the throne room also and went towards Jane, but it seemed as though even he knew what Rosalie had done was wrong. Not that he really had a relationship that was kind and healthy with Rosalie Hale.

Edward stopped next to Jane and reached his hand out to take his mate's, surprising everyone when Jane allowed him to hold her hand. She must have known he was in for the long run when he did not defend the actions of Rosalie nor tried to tell them not to put Emmett into the cells down in the dungeons along with Rosalie. He could read their minds, and know their reasons, if Rosalie was going to die then that meant Emmett would follow suit.

Rosalie and Emmett were pulled into the throne room, though Rosalie had her head held high and no regret upon her stunning features. Both she and Emmett had been taken care of with the bare minimum and were fed animal blood despite the fact that Bella and Alec wanted them to both starve. They feared that the mates would go and attack the secretary and any human staff that were in the castle when they would be led to the throne room for their trial.

Carlisle had sadness that came from him. If it were possible and he was a fourth king, he would have asked them to not kill them.

Yet he did not hold that power, and so he was to deal with the consequences that came from the blonde and brunet. He shot hopeful looks towards Alec and Bella but neither of them showed any sign of asking the three kings to not execute Rosalie and Emmett. They were most likely one hundred percent behind the two of them dying.

"Rosalie Lillian Hale and Emmett McCarty Cullen you two have been imprisoned for attempted kidnapping and child murder of Crown Prince Atticus Oliver Volturi along with accessory to attempted murder. I shall have each of you come up to me so I can read your mind and know if you had different thoughts while you were in the cells. If you are truly repentant you will not be executed–"

Bella and Alec growled lowly at this, a rumble from their throats, the parents not liking even a tiny percent chance of them not being murdered. Marcus turned to the parents and gave them a look, which in return made them silence their growling.

Bella and Alec kept their arms wrapped around each other as though they were gaining strength from their spouse. They had each other and knew if they were separated and only one of them there, they would most likely strike Rosalie and Emmett due to the anger and inability to have calmness from their mate's presence.

Emmett was led up the dais first, while Rosalie stayed still with her head still tilted up. She was still as stubborn as ever though Bella could tell there was a little bit of weariness at the thought of Aro deciding to decapitate the male in order to further punish the woman. The weariness was barely there but it was still noticeable.

Aro focused his attention on the thoughts that Emmett had before he shot an understanding look at him. He most likely was going to accept whatever punishment would be handed to him for being accessory to attempted child murder. He knew the moment Rosalie had said she would kidnap Atticus and murder him in revenge of a Volturi being able to have a child and her not being able to have one he would have his life forfeit.

Emmett went back to the spot that he had been at before and Rosalie was led forward so she could have her hand put into Aro's. Bella didn't have to have Jasper's empath ability to know there was complete hatred from Rosalie towards the Volturi, and most of it was directed towards Bella and Alec. It was a good thing she most likely was going to be executed, since Aro was Atticus's adoptive grandfather. They would have justice.

Aro pulled his hand away from Rosalie with anger radiating from his crimson eyes. It was apparent she did not regret the decision she had made.

If she had, he would not have killed her because she was the adoptive daughter of Carlisle. Otherwise, he would have killed her on the spot without checking her thoughts to see what she had thought when she had been imprisoned. Still, he owed Carlisle even though others thought he didn't, and now he was finished. There was no need for a nice facade anymore.

"I ask you one last time, Emmett McCarty Cullen, if you do not want to be killed along with Rosalie Hale."

Emmett didn't hesitate to kneel on the ground and duck his head forward as though to let them know he had placed his head in the proper place on a guillotine in order to be decapitated.

Aro let his eyes flicker towards the adoptive parents of him, noting how Esme had her hands up to her mouth as though she had hoped he wouldn't decide to do this after all. Carlisle had sadness but he also knew mates would do anything for each other, if one of them was walking to the valley of the dead the other would follow next to them without hesitation.

Just like what had happened to Joham and Serena, Rosalie and Emmett were soon ripped apart and had their limbs thrown into the fire of the other two bodies. Esme cried in the background and held her hands up over her face, the venom escaping her tear ducts and going down her cheekbones.

It would sting and hurt, and cracks would appear on her skin before they would disappear moments later. Alice had her head dipped down and Bella knew she would never forgive herself for allowing this to happen, even though she would only know at the last minute. She knew that Rosalie deserved what had happened to her, her mental health deteriorated the moment that Bella had become pregnant with Atticus. She was not the same Rosalie as before she had met Bella.

The Cullens walked out of the throne room a moment later, except for Edward. He stared forward at the fire, not even noticing that Jane had reached her hand up to place upon his cheekbone until it happened. He turned his head towards her, his eyes widening at the fact that she had initiated something other than hand holding.

She stood on her tippy-toes and kissed him on the cheekbone as though to thank him for siding with her. He reached his hand down and placed it onto her cheekbone, merely whispering, "of course. I do not regret my decision."

Bella turned her attention away from her sister-in-law and her mate before she turned her attention towards Alec.

As though he was thinking the same thing, he took her hand.

They rushed out of the throne room, both of them laughing with giddiness at the fact that Atticus was safe. He was not destined to only have a few decades with them. He would live for centuries and even a millennium later just like both of his parents would. He would live and he would be loved, he would be able to be the Crown Prince of the Volturi.

Aunt Athenodora was currently sitting in the living quarters that belonged to Alec and Bella. Atticus was sitting on the comfortable rug, reading one of the books aloud to his aunt. She was listening to him with rapt attention, not having to correct him with the pronunciation of the words. He was a little genius and was probably one of the smartest children in the world. He was the family's pride and joy and that would never change. His intelligence only added to his adorableness.

Bella appeared next to Atticus and scooped him up, spinning in a circle while holding him high over her head. The skirts of her gown rustled around her, and she reminded others of a goddess that was playing with her son instead of a simple vampire celebrating the long life her son would have. She heard happy squealing from not only her son but from Aunt Athenodora, she had heard the news that she would have her precious nephew in her life forever.

It didn't take long for Aunt Athenodora to stand up and hug both her niece and nephew with so much strength that her nephew grunted. Bella was able to deal with the strength due to the fact that she was still a Newborn. Alec on the other hand grunted from the strength he had received from his aunt, which in return made Bella giggle only for her husband to give her a look. She shot him an apologetic smile though it didn't reach her eyes.

Aunt Athenodora stayed for a little while longer but eventually she left them so they could bond together for the first in three months (going on four) without any issues.

It had been stressful since the moment they learnt that Bella had been pregnant and finally they knew that they would have Atticus forever. He would eventually stop aging and wouldn't grow old or die. He wouldn't have to experience what humans had to all because his mother had been human when he had been born.

The next few days saw both parents never leaving Atticus's side.

They made sure to spend as much time as they could with him, though they would have to hand him off to other family members when Alec would go training and she would go with him in order to continue her training. Each time she trained she had her shield grow stronger, unbreakable. She would be able to protect as many people as she could without any hesitation or too much power.

When their six-month wedding anniversary arrived, Jane had said she would babysit Atticus with Edward for the newlywed couple. Bella had smothered her son with multiple kisses while Alec merely ruffled his son's hair, making their son blush and shoot an embarrassed look towards his father. His blue eyes were so brilliant and at peace. He was never safer than he was right now. He would never have to worry about anything for the rest of his life.

Bella dressed in her favorite black dress that almost seemed to stick to her skin like glue. Her breasts were more prominent now and her hair was styled in one of the most complicated hairstyles that would be a nightmare for a human to attempt. It would take them hours to be able to get the hairstyle correct but Heidi had helped Bella, being able to style the hair within thirty minutes.

Slipping into her black high heels, Bella glanced up when she heard a sharp masculine breath.

She brought her eyes up from where she pulled her skirts back down to cover her shoes only for Alec to be in front of her with those sultry crimson eyes.

His hands came up and ran against the sides of her face in a gentle and almost faint manner. She fluttered her eyes closed and focused on how he made her feel, and how even though she had been a vampire for five months she still felt like the blushing human bride she had been those months ago. She couldn't wait until she would have years upon years to celebrate her marriage with her husband. It would still feel like yesterday when she would marry him.

She couldn't wait to continue the rest of her forever with Alec and Atticus.

THE END

AUTHOR'S NOTE: and there we go, the end of 'Handle with Care'. I hope that you enjoyed the fanfiction.

as always: Twilight doesn't belong to me

-Emmy