A/N… An extra post for you guys. Enjoy.

~oOo~

Chapter 7

BELLA

Two bags were partially packed on our bed as Edward played the piano from the front room and rain spattered against the windows. The thought of our anniversary coming up made me shake my head and smile as I folded jeans and shirts, tossed balled-up socks onto the bed, and stared into our closet for what was next.

In a week, Edward and I will have been married for eighteen years. I remembered my thoughts on marriage back in Forks, back when I was human. My own parents weren't exactly an example for marital bliss, so the idea of it had been terrifying. They didn't last four years. And during the two years that Edward was gone, even the word marriage would've made me laugh bitterly. However, Edward and I would never not be married. Ever. We were always and forever. And silently and shielded, I was reveling in that feeling of comfort.

Memories of those eighteen years flew through my mind. I'd been immortal when we'd said "I do," so every memory, from the letter he'd written to me on our wedding day up until now, was perfect and crystal clear. I glanced over to the box on my nightstand that he'd given me in Caribou, Maine. The wooden box with Cullen carved into the lid held every letter, every note, every loving word. They'd been passed to me in classes – both high schools and colleges. They'd been left on pillows, in my car, inside lockers, pressed into my hand, and tucked into my jeans' pockets. They were all the words Edward wrote to show his love, and he showed so much love. They ranged from sweet and funny, to deadly and sensual. They filled pages upon pages of notebook paper in his gorgeous flowing script.

As much as we were happy to be back with the family, a day spent alone in our home getting ready for our flight out in the morning was just a perfect day. We'd hunt later, going no farther than the woods behind us. But for now, it was just the two of us inside on a rainy summer day.

The scent of honey and clean linen met my nose, and I smiled, not even bothering to stick my head out of the closet. "Hey, baby. I'm almost done. Promise."

His chuckle was sweet and deep. "I figured I'd better check on you, since you're closed to me."

Grinning, I shook my head, thumbing through hanger after hanger of clothes to find what needed to be packed.

"Spoiled, Edward."

"So you keep telling me."

I turned around to find him right behind me. "Considering I'm the one who spoils you, then I have the right to call you out on it."

His grin was stunning and highly amused. "Indeed, beautiful. Need help?"

"Nah. I'm almost done, actually. And the only reason my mind was shielded was because of two things. One, I can't let you see everything I packed – as in colors, handsome." I raised an eyebrow his way, and his eyes darkened. He licked his lips almost instinctually at the mere mention of lingerie. "And second… Oh my Lord, I have a song stuck in my head. An earworm. I can't get rid of it!"

A laugh escaped him, and he cupped my face to kiss me quickly. "It happens to everyone. Imagine sitting in a classroom with forty radio stations playing something completely different."

"Oh, God!" I gasped, gaping up at him. "Edward, I honestly don't know how you haven't just snapped after this many years of that mind reading of yours."

Grinning, he shrugged. "I almost snapped the day you stepped into biology, and that was because I couldn't hear you."

"And I smelled tasty. Yes, I'm aware."

He bent to kiss my neck, his tongue swirling lightly over my skin and behind my ear, where he left open-mouthed kisses as he whispered to me. "You still smell tasty – only now I know what spots on you taste the best. That guy in the biology lab was a colossal idiot. He would've missed out on the most delectable parts of you."

My laugh escaped me before I could even think of fighting it. "If only that guy in biology knew just what a sex fiend he'd truly turn out to be."

"Mmm, insatiable. And he wouldn't have believed a word of it."

"Don't I know it," I said through a happy sigh. "He was quite the stubborn thing."

Edward smiled against my skin, finally pulling back to kiss me again. "Yeah, but he learned."

"He did." I stood up on my toes to kiss him, and I opened my mind to him.

His head tilted as he caught the lyrics I couldn't seem to remove from my mind. "Bette Midler?"

"Don't judge me!" I said with a giggle, turning to face our clothes again, and I pulled out a few things to pack. "I honestly don't know where it came from. It was just there." I walked to the bed and set the clothes down. "I don't think it's been on the radio or TV. I just…" I waved it off, turning to finish packing.

Edward stayed quiet. He didn't even tease me; he simply helped me zip up the suitcase and the garment bag. Instead of setting them by the front door, he took my hand and led me back to the piano.

"C'mere, sweet girl," he whispered against the top of my head, guiding me to sit beside him on the bench. "Sing it, love. Maybe it'll help get rid of it."

Grinning at his shamelessness, I nodded in acquiescence, because why not? Maybe it would help get it out of my head. It wasn't a bad song, until it had been playing on a loop in my mind for almost two hours. He started the notes softly, and I gave in, singing "The Rose." It was a sweet sound we made – piano, voice, and eventually, his soft humming harmony.

When it was over, I smiled up at him when he pressed a kiss to the middle of my forehead. I stood up, and he pulled me until I was straddling his lap on that piano bench.

"Better?" he asked me softly.

"Yeah, thanks." I raked my fingers through his hair, smiling at the soft purring growl he let loose. "This position on this bench brings back memories, baby," I said, wrapping my arms around his neck.

His brow furrowed in a falsely serious expression. "You mean when I came home."

"Mhmm," I hummed against his sharp jawline. "Looking back, I can see it was our connection that brought me downstairs to you."

"I've thought that too, my love. The pain, the anger, even the guilt… It all disappeared when you showed up in front of me," he admitted softly, reaching up to tug my ponytail down and raking his fingers through my hair. "Hell, it might've been why I was singing 'Wild Horses' in the first place. Our connection was calling me to simply…keep you."

I studied his face and smiled up at him. "I'm glad you kept me."

"I'm glad you kept me," he countered, dropping his forehead to mine.

I turned my head just a little so my lips could meet his, and what started as something sweet grew and bloomed like a fire taking hold of a forest. It burned hot and fast, seemingly coming from nowhere. Hands gripped to pull closer and urged me to grind. Tongues twisted and tasted as heads turned again for deeper kisses. We pulled apart only long enough to shove and tug at clothes. My shirt shredded in his hands, and he only let go of me long enough to reach back to wrench his off over his head.

Edward's eyes swirled black, and he leaned me back against the keys of his piano, causing a strange, sharp chord when my shoulder blades hit several keys all at once. A wicked smile curled up his lips as he started to whisper the lyrics of "Wild Horses" against my skin.

Words about broken faith and tears that must be cried were breathed across my chest, over each nipple, and pressed into the sensitive spots just below my breasts. My legs couldn't be still, though. I writhed in his arms and sought out friction as he essentially held me pinned to his piano keys as his tongue did things that made my brain come to a screeching halt.

He made the rest of whatever I was wearing disappear, and honestly, I couldn't remember my own damn name, much less what I'd been bumming around the house in all day.

A wicked grin slowly curled his lips. "Your name is Mrs. Isabella Cullen."

"Oh, yeah," I panted, unable to not smile his way as I clawed at him to kiss me, to end the ache between my legs that he'd started.

Edward pulled me up from the keys of the piano, and I kissed him, hoping that I could distract him enough to get to the button of those jeans of his. His moan came out growly and a little desperate, especially when I pulled his hard length free of those jeans.

"I want you here," he rasped, kissing me hard and deep as he lifted me up. "I wanted you here that night. I would've…"

"I know. Me, too," I answered as I cupped his face, and my breath caught in my throat when he slid me down over him.

I would've given him everything that night, the first night we were truly back together. It had been at the Cullen home in Forks. I wanted to keep him, wanted to take away whatever made him sad, and I wanted to revel in the fact that in his presence, there was no pain. There was only the need for more, for him, for us.

We moved and shifted together on that bench, and Edward's head fell back as I licked and nipped up his neck. We both growled softly when our connection kicked in, sending a spark of electricity over our skin. It seemed to skate down us from head to toe.

"Fuck," he breathed, burying his face in my neck. "Baby, I need you to…" His hands gripped my ass, changing the rhythm and the angle, which cause my clit to brush just right where it needed to be. "Let go. Come for me. All over me."

"Right there, right there…" I panted, letting him take me over.

"Here?" he asked evilly, grinding me against him. "Or here?" His fingers lightly brushed against my other entrance, and that caused everything about me to explode and shatter.

Edward fell over the edge with me, heavy breaths pushing out against my neck as he stayed buried there. He pressed kisses over and over, finally pulling back to kiss my lips softly.

Tucking my hair behind my ear, he smiled down at me. "I love you, my sweet, beautiful girl."

"Love you, too, Edward." I snuggled into his chest, and he wrapped his arms all the way around me. "I need to hunt, baby. Before that flight in the morning."

"Okay, we can go now." His words were whispered against the top of my head. "It's probably a smart thing for both of us."

Nodding, I stayed in his arms for a few more seconds. I remembered the night that we'd been talking about, which started all of this, and Edward smiled against the top of my head. We didn't stay on the bench; he'd carried me to his bedroom. I'd been having a nightmare, but I couldn't remember what it was about.

"You couldn't remember it then, either," he said softly into my hair, pressing another kiss. "You just kept calling for me, begging me to stay."

"Mm," I hummed against his skin, turning to press a kiss to his chest. "And look at us now."

His chuckle was deep and sweet. "Mm, I know. Just look at us."

I snorted into a laugh, because he was all things loveable and insatiable, but we were still connected and wrapped around each other on that piano bench. I pulled back to gaze up at him, and I couldn't resist raking my fingers through his hair. I pushed it off his forehead, reveling in just how handsome he was, but even more at just how much his love came through those honey eyes.

Smiling, he shook his head. "Like a neon sign, Bella. C'mon. We'll go for a hunt."

~oOo~

I fell down into a seat at a table by the window, gazing out over the airport as Carlisle told the pilot we didn't need a flight attendant for the private flight. I glanced up when she sighed in disappointment, because she was surrounded by tall, handsome immortal men. Of course, she didn't know they were anything other than the humans they were pretending to be.

Jasper and Emmett were teasing each other about some game they'd been playing all night online. Adrian and Kevin were excitedly discussing all the places they might go while in Italy. Archie and Edward were quietly stowing away bags and a guitar case in overhead compartments, and the latter gave the disappointed flight attendant a side glance before meeting my amused gaze across the plane.

I couldn't fathom what she was thinking, and I didn't want to know. It was even funnier when all the girls stepped into the seating area. Rosalie could make a girl cower with her steely gaze and stunning looks, and it was no different this flight than any other flight we'd ever taken. Alice's eyes glazed for a split second, and then she simply let out a small giggle, shoving a laughing Edward on her way by him, because apparently, the would-be flight attendant set her sights on Carlisle until Esme stepped up.

Caroline was a little bundle of excited energy as she took Archie's hand and tugged him to a seat. Their dynamic was so very cute to watch. He was quiet and reserved, and she was a chattery thing. Everything she did or said was received with sweet smile and a nod. Remembering the Archie we first found, I shook my head. He didn't utter a word for several weeks before he trusted us. Now, he was soft conversations and an easy laugh. For a moment, I wondered if the rest of the family viewed Edward and me like that in our beginning.

Edward chuckled. "A bit" was all he said before taking a seat beside me and leaning in to kiss my cheek. "They were way more accepting than I was."

"Stubborn old man," I teased him with a giggle.

"Very much so," he agreed with a grin.

Once the disappointed airline employee disembarked, the pilot gave a brief speech about seat belts and safety, and we all obeyed to keep up the pretenses. Alice and Jasper took the seats across the table from us. The flight would be long, with stops in Dallas and Amsterdam before we landed in Florence. We'd be in the air for almost twenty hours. As we slowly lifted off, a spiral notebook slapped down in front of me.

"Hangman or Tic Tac Toe?" Edward asked, smirking at me.

A huffing laugh escaped me, and I met his silly sweet gaze. Every long flight would probably always remind us of our honeymoon. We'd been newly married, completely head over heels in love, and couldn't do a thing about it on airplanes filled with humans, so we'd played games on paper.

We ended up playing Hangman against Alice and Jasper for the first few hours, but Edward and Jasper decided to pull out their guitars for a bit and play. Rose and Caroline joined Alice and me at our table to play round after round of Uno. We were in the middle of one of those games when Edward's voice caught my attention.

"No, I'll sing the part in Italian."

"Okay, I'll start it off, then," Jasper countered, starting a song that currently resided on my bedroom playlist – "Perfect Symphony" by Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli.

Alice and I froze, both of us with cards in mid-air. Rose cracked the hell up, glancing between us. Caroline caught the giggles too, gazing around the table and then turning in her seat to watch the boys play.

Jasper did indeed start out with Ed Sheeran's part.

I found a love for me
Oh darling, just dive right in and follow my lead
Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet
Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me
'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
And in your eyes, you're holding mine

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight

Edward took the next part in perfect and stunning Italian. He sang it his own way – softly, smoothly – while picking on the guitar he'd had when he'd come home to me. He sang to me, his eyes meeting mine from across the plane. He sang about knowing his dreams, but even more his secrets, about my kisses bringing him back to life.

Sei la mia donna
La forza delle onde del mare
Cogli i miei sogni e i miei segreti molto di più
Spero che un giorno, l'amore che ci ha accompagnato
Diventi casa, la mia famiglia, diventi noi
E siamo sempre bambini ma
Nulla è impossibile
Stavolta non ti lascerò
Mi baci piano ed io torno ad esistere
E nel tuo sguardo crescerò

Ballo con te, nell'oscurità
Stretti forte e poi, a piedi nudi noi
Dentro la nostra musica
Ti ho guardato ridere e sussurando ho detto:
"Tu stasera, vedi, sei perfetta per me"

"Shit," Alice and I breathed at the same time and pretty much stopped the game completely because we knew the next part was sung together.

By now, her head was on my shoulder, my cheek resting on her head. We were complete and total suckers for their singing, but it couldn't be helped when the lyrics spoke of how long they'd waited for us, that we were angels and we were perfect to them.

Ballo con te, nell'oscurità
Stretti forte e poi, a piedi nudi noi
Dentro la nostra musica
Ho creduto sempre in noi
Perché sei un angelo e io ti ho aspettato
Quanto ti ho aspettato
Perché tu stasera sei perfetta per me

"You know," I murmured, shaking my head as everyone clapped. "One day, I'll just melt into a puddle, and then where will be we be?"

"No shit," Alice grumbled under her breath.

Rose fell the fuck out, throwing her cards at me. "Shut up and deal."

~oOo~

EDWARD

We were a caravan of three rental cars heading toward Volterra. Archie and Caroline were in the back seat in our car. Kevin and Adrian were riding with Carlisle and Esme. Rose and Emmett had their own car.

Caroline had her nose practically pressed to the window, and Archie was chuckling at her, but he was no better. This was their first time out of the country since she'd been a newborn on Isle Esme. They'd traveled with Kevin and Adrian through the Midwest and a bit with Rose and Emmett into Washington and Oregon. Both of those trips were for hunting.

It was just shy of an hour and a half drive to Volterra, and as we drove through the old city, Caroline gasped, her mind on how old it was along with what the castle truly held.

"Yes, it is the home to the government for our kind," I answered her silent question.

Archie and Bella both looked my way and then to Caroline.

"But… How does that work? I mean, there has to be hundreds of us – maybe thousands. How can one place monitor an entire planet?" she asked me out loud.

All three of them were actually waiting for the answer, so I chuckled a little.

"Okay, so originally, it was the three brothers – Aro, Marcus, and Caius. They controlled immortals for really only one reason – to stay secret. We absolutely must remain hidden from humans. They ruled from here for thousands of years. They'd catch wind of some nefarious activity and send their people out to investigate.

"As time moved on, technology allowed immortals a chance to monitor the world through the internet – headlines, videos, social media. They'd still send someone to investigate, but they were able to clear up the issues – overfeeding, horrible displays of hunting, being seen for what an immortal truly was, and newborn armies," I explained, shrugging a shoulder. "For centuries, they only allowed or promoted the vampire diet of legend."

"Even when Carlisle stayed with them for a while," Bella added, and I nodded her way. "They respected him because he's always been what you see – smart, respectful, and kind. They didn't understand his diet, but they respected his conviction to it."

"Yes, exactly, sweet girl," I agreed with her, looking to the two in the back seat through my rearview mirror. "They do it now by still monitoring the internet, and sometimes, things will be called into question by immortals living all over the world. They no more want exposure than Marcus does."

"What were the other two brothers like?" Caroline asked. "I mean, I've met Marcus, and he's great."

"Aro was the leader, and he had a talent similar to mine. Where I see what you're thinking at the moment without touch, he had to touch a person, but he could see every thought you'd ever had. He was a little pompous, and he grew to like his power. He liked talented vampires, and he'd always wanted Alice and me. There were no talents like ours in the Volturi.

"Caius, however," I went on, wrinkling my nose, "was the more aggressive of the three. I've seen Carlisle's memories of this place, of how they worked backed then. Caius was the one who wanted a fight or a war. He'd call for someone's death way before his brothers. He didn't want fact or testimony; he simply wanted blood and chaos."

"He sounds like a peach," Bella muttered, rolling her eyes toward the window.

Chuckling, I picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles. "The dynamic between the three was interesting. Marcus wasn't like what we see now. He wouldn't say much unless asked his opinion or if something was blatantly wrong. Aro's goal was to be the most powerful – over everyone. No coven could be too big or have too many talents. He showed no respect to anyone other than his brothers. Caius would pit immortals against each other for sport, just to watch the fight, and he continuously searched for reasons to bring someone in for trial. Anyone, even the ones who worked for them.

"And that was probably the reason for their downfall," I continued. "Members of the Volturi started to plot against them. Marcus could see the loyalties start to shift, and even though he tried to warn Caius and Aro, they didn't listen. Their pride, their egos were too big, because they were sure that no one would dare plot against them."

The car went quiet as I turned into the underground garage for the castle. Once all three cars were parked, I got out, opening Bella's door, but the sight of who was waiting for us made me smile.

"Oh, my God! I've missed you guys!" Carina said excitedly, walking with Agosto – one of Marcus's personal and loyal guards.

Bella squeaked softly, rushing into Carina's arms. "It's so good to see you!" my Bella whispered to her.

"Agosto," I greeted the man who always seemed to have a wry smile on his face.

"Edward, welcome," he replied, shaking my hand. "Your timing might be fortuitous. Demetri is dealing with a situation with Marcus in the throne room."

Carina chuckled, hugging me quickly. "In other words, your mind reading could help."

Grinning her way, I nodded. "Sure. Not a problem."

Agosto smirked, waving a hand toward two immortals. "Leave your things. We'll have them taken to your rooms."

"Thank you, Agosto," Carlisle replied, glancing to me. You sure you want to get involved?

I shrugged because it wasn't really an imposition to help Marcus if I could. He'd always been there for us, and vice versa. He wasn't Aro, who would've connived and plotted for my talent. He wasn't power hungry like his brothers. Marcus truly wanted to keep things as easy and fair and secret as he could in the immortal world. And if reading someone's mind helped them find a solution to a problem, I was okay with it.

We followed Carina and Agosto into the throne room, and it was Demetri's wide, happy grin that made the girls laugh and rush to him. He was shameless when it came to the love of my family, specifically the women. And they loved to tease him right back.

"Demetri!" they all called, and he practically hugged them all at one time.

Marcus chuckled from his pacing on the riser. "Welcome, my friends," he greeted, coming down to hug the girls and shake the men's hands. "Edward, I hear you and Isabella have an anniversary coming up."

"Sir," I said with a nod. "Eighteen years married."

"Salute!" he cheered, tapping Bella's chin lightly.

"Congratulations, you two," Demetri added, gripping my shoulder briefly, but his eyes went back to the terrified immortal kneeling on the tile floor with Stephano – Marcus's third in command, with Demetri as his second – standing guard. "I might need your help."

"Sure. Whatever you need," I agreed easily.

Marcus used his thoughts to tell me what he needed from this immortal. Edward, this one was found in Dresden, Germany. He'd been feeding recklessly. He's the fourth one we've caught in the last few months. We think he's a part of a rather large coven. We just can't pinpoint who or where they are.

I nodded once to him and then turned my attention to Demetri, who stepped in front of the shivering immortal on the floor.

"What's your name?" he asked him.

"Yannick Kirchner."

All three men looked to me, and I nodded that it was his name.

"Who turned you?" Demetri asked him.

"I… I don't know!" he yelled in answer, and my brow furrowed as I could see that was the truth as well. "I was… A few months ago, I was on a train from Prague. I passed out drunk. I woke up as this."

I nodded that he was telling the truth again. Even his blurry, drunken memories didn't recall anyone who seemed different or strange on that train. He passed out in a seat but woke up in the woods, miles from his destination.

Jasper stepped up beside me. "His emotions are everywhere. But he's honest."

Marcus smirked at that but gave poor Yannick another glare. "Did anyone approach you after you made your way to Dresden?"

Yannick frowned, shaking his head. "I… I saw more like me. If that's what you're asking."

I held up a finger as I studied the faces he was remembering. He'd made his way home, but as soon as he neared humans, his bloodlust overpowered him. He tried to fight it, but he couldn't. And he didn't exactly know what he was at that point. The faces of three immortals flashed to the forefront of his mind. I didn't recognize them. But it was two women and a man.

"Three. Two of them women," I told them, studying Yannick again. "They explained who and what he was, that he couldn't be seen feeding, couldn't go in sunlight, and to wait in Dresden for someone to come for him. Who? Who's coming for you?"

"They didn't tell me."

I nodded again. "Did they tell you anything? Names? Places where there are more?"

Yannick, who wasn't quite sure what his fate was, found me easier to answer than a pacing, angry Demetri and Marcus, who could order his death. And Demetri and Marcus let me lead, since I could see what they couldn't – they trusted me that much.

"They told me I could never see my family again – my parents, my girlfriend." His lip trembled, and his brow wrinkled. "I… I think they were planning something? They said something about it coming soon."

Tilting my head, I read his mind more than I listened to his words. "Soon…" I trailed off, shaking my head. "They said a war is coming soon. With whom? Why?"

Demetri growled low, and Marcus frowned down at Yannick. "Who were the three immortals?"

"Salvo, Sulpicia, and Athen…Ath…"

"Athenodora," I finished for him, my gazed snapping to Marcus. "Aro's and Caius's mates? They both survived the fire here?"

"Apparently. I mean, I survived it," Marcus replied, looking to Demetri. "Mmm, we may have a problem."

Demetri glared wryly his way, thinking that he was the master of the understatement. "I'd say so, Marcus."

Yannick really started to fret, and Marcus saw the shift of his loyalty.

"He doesn't want a war. He doesn't even want to be immortal, but he's terrified to die," I explained to them. "He hates that his diet consists of killing humans, so if you want to teach him the other way, he may be grateful."

Grateful enough to spy? Demetri asked me silently, raising an eyebrow my way.

"Maybe. If given enough time and mercy," I answered him aloud.

"We can show 'im, Marcus," Emmett piped up from the back of the room. "Rosie and I need to hunt anyway. We can teach him the other diet."

Rose was nodding in agreement. She had no problem with it, and Carlisle and Esme smiled their way in pride.

"Fair enough, Emmett," Marcus agreed, turning to Yannick. "There is another diet, my young friend. We'll be happy to show you."

Yannick nodded vehemently, standing from his kneeling position on the floor. He was nervous but was happy with the turn of events.

Marcus, though, smiled my way. "Thank you for your help, Edward. And I'm glad to see you all. Make yourselves at home. I look forward to your company while you stay with us."

Carlisle and I chuckled. "Thank you, Marcus."

~oOo~

A/N… This was just an extra post, because I just wanted to. ;) And because I need to catch you up.

Some of you already have your theories on the whos and whats. Hang in there. It'll all be revealed.

Added to the playlist:

"The Rose" by Bette Midler
"Wild Horses" by The Sundays (which is just the reason for this whole series)
"Perfect Symphony" by Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli

Okay, next update will be Monday. Until then… Mooches, Deb ;)