I do not own Twilight
"Aro! This is all your fault! You need to do something about this!" Caius snarled as he pulled his hair in exasperation!
"What would you have me do, brother? We took Isabella from the Cullen's and changed her because of her shield which has proved to be remarkable!" Aro sighed and leaned back into his seat rolling his eyes as the sound of Bella's voice floated into the throne room.
Marcus sighed, "Really Aro, I don't think any of us can take much more of her constant singing. We don't get a break from it now that she can't sleep."
Demetri stepped forward raising his hand for Aro to read, "Master, if I may?"
Aro motioned Demetri forward and clasped his hand. He sighed heavily as he sorted through the memories of all the complaints about Bella's hobby. He released Demetri's hand and nodded, "Thank you for your thoughts."
Aro clasped his forehead with his hand and drug it down the sides of his face wearily. He sighed again in deep thought, "Who is the youngest vampire in the guard besides Bella, Demetri?"
"Even in the lower guard the youngest turned is one hundred fifty-one and there is only one other American here and he was turned before the revolution so that doesn't really count," Demetri responded.
"So, there is no one that appreciates this," he hesitated, "infatuation then?"
Caius slammed his hand down on the arm of his throne, "Of course no one appreciates this, Aro! It is bad enough she listens to that horrible country and western music on her iPod but she insists on singing along to that vile music in what might be the worst fake country twang I have ever encountered."
Marcus sighed and nodded, "It really is worse than Dike Van Dike's cockney accent in Mary Poppins."
"Fine I will say something to her," Aro rose from his throne and headed to Bella's room. He listened wearily to one of the songs he had been unfortunate enough to hear her often singing along with recently.
But don't tell my heart, my achy breaky heart, I just don't think he'd understand, And if you tell my achy breaky heart, it might blow up and kill this man….Whooo hoooo!
He rolled his eyes as he pushed her door open ignoring the convention of knocking before entering and what he saw in her room both horrified and vexed him. Bella dressed in tight jeans and recently acquired red cowboy boots had her laptop open and was attempting to learn some type of stomping dance to this horrible music. She lifted one foot up in front of her and slapped the boot then brought it behind her then slapped it again. All the while her horrible singing continued. She wiggled her hips in time to the music then turned around and jumped in surprise as she saw Aro in her room.
Bella quickly flipped the laptop cover down and pulled out her headphones. She turned back to Aro and smiled. "I'm sorry, Master! I didn't hear you come in."
"I'm sure you didn't," Aro muttered as he rolled his eyes. He took a deep unnecessary breath and plastered a wide practiced smile on his face. "Whatever are you doing in here, my dear?"
Bella smiled brightly, "I'm learning how to line dance! I never could when I was human because I was so clumsy! Now that I can I thought I would learn. Renee went through a line dancing kick for about a year when I was nine."
Internally Aro groaned with this revelation, "When I read your young Edward it seemed that you enjoyed quite a lot of music together. Especially classic but he had nothing in his memories of you listening to country and western music together."
Bella nodded, "When Edward left, I quit listening to anything he would have liked. When he left, I began to listen to country music again because it reminded me of my mom and the Southwest where I grew up. Plus, they sing about a lot of different emotions which I enjoy." She smiled widely at Aro as she told him these things.
Aro groaned internally. Knowing that he had already taken away so much from this young vampire in front of him he hesitated to take away something she enjoyed and brought her comfort. He paused bringing his fist to his lips in thought, "Isabella," he took a breath and began to slowly pace her room. "You are aware that you can hear loud noises throughout the castle?"
Bella nodded, "Oh yes, that is why I listen to music so often. There are quite a few noises I have no interest in hearing all throughout the castle. This way I don't have to hear them"
Aro's shoulders slumped, "Yes but are you aware that means everyone in the castle can hear you singing along to your music?"
For a moment Aro could see that Bella would be blushing if she were still human but just as quickly her face brightened, "I hadn't really thought of it but I guess if I have to hear them then they will just have to hear me." She wrinkled her forehead in thought. Then nodded wide eyed, "Vampirism has really improved my singing voice."
Sighing, Aro ran a hand through his hair. He knew that he could just order her to stop listening and singing to this music but if she was miserable in Volterra there was no way he could keep her happy since Corin's and Chelsea's gifts didn't work on the young vampire. She had also not broken any rules in all of this. She kept this activity to her room where she had been told she was able to do what she wished. He sighed not able to find a solution that would make everyone happy. His thoughts were interrupted by Caius and Marcus barging into the room.
Caius huffed and grabbed Aro's hand letting him read the conversation he just had with Marcus, Athenadora, and Sulpicia.
Aro nodded his head, "It seems that we have decided that your time here in Volterra has come to an end. We do not wish for any of our guard to be forced to be here. You came to save Edward and as a human we needed to change you. You have done that and fulfilled any punishments we would have meted out to the Cullen's. Pack up your belongings and we will have Demetri drive you to the airport. I will call Carlisle to come and pick you up.
Bella grinned and threw her arms around Aro. "Thank you so much, Master! I really missed my family! If you need me to do anything for you, please don't hesitate to call me!"
Aro nodded grimly, "If we need anything we will send you there. There will no reason for you to ever come to Volterra!"
"No reason at all!" Caius chimed.
"We will call on you," Marcus nodded.
Within the hour, Bella was on her way home from her short six-month visit to Volterra. The Cullen's all met Bella at the airport with hugs and dry sobs. They had all missed each other and this was a joyous reunion. Once she was safely in the car and on her was back to their new home, Bella smiled, picked up her phone, and sent Peter a text message.
"Peter, I'm home from Volterra! Thanks for the tip about the music! B."
