Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or anything associated with the books/films. The only claim I have is on my original character's and the inclusion of the Fey World.

AN: Hello *waves*, sorry for the massive gap in updates. I've had a lot of personal issues to deal with. I'm also on holiday from the 17th of March for a week. Plus there will likely not be any updates in April as I'm due to have surgery ~ Hannah

AN: Happy 200,000 words! (I know it's longer on because of all the AN's etc. But I'm so happy to have finally reached that word count on my story document.)

Chapter Sixty-Three – Wedding Bells and Italy

It took a little longer than I planned to get to Italy. It wasn't because people were stalling but because a world wind of activity had been happening recently. If having Christine and Angela move in wasn't excitement enough, Dad had to go the extra mile.

I can remember it ever so clearly, we'd been sitting in the family living room, Bella, Angela and I when Dad and Christine returned from wherever they'd been with big smiles upon their faces. I was prepared for a long drawn out speech of what they wanted to tell us or even a guessing game – which was Dad's style but I was not prepared for the outburst of casual excitement.

"I asked Christine to marry me and she said yes."

If I was a squealing person, I'd have squealed like Bella and Angela did but, I was not a squealing person, so I smiled and clapped instead.

"Congratulations Dad, Christine. That's fantastic, I'm happy for you."

Despite sounding like a cliché with my words, I really did mean them. I was ecstatic for my Dad and Christine. It was clear to everyone that they were made for each other and the fact that Christine was a witch which would prolong Dad's life was an added positive.

No sooner had the congratulations gone around the three of us, did Alice whizzed into the house quicker than any of us thought possible. In her arms, were multiple folders that looked one second away from breaking.

"I'm so excited! I got here as fast as I could, oh I hope I have everything that's needed."

"Alice, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"Oh…did I interrupt? I was just so excited."

"Of course, you would know our news," said Christine.

"Sorry…I should go."

"It's alright Alice, now what did you burst in for?" asked Dad.

"I bought wedding folders. I have so many, for every single occasion. I, I was hoping you'd let me plan yours or at least help out?"

From the smile on Christine's face, I knew she was going to allow Alice to help but from the uncertainty on Alice's face, I knew she was genuinely worried that she would be asked to leave and not allowed to help. I found it amusing that for someone who could tell the future, she was incredibly ill prepared for things that should be obvious for her.

"You can help Alice but the final decisions will be mine," said Christine.

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! You don't know how much this means to me, oh we have so much to do!"

I laughed at Alice's hyper attitude. She really was a force of nature and someone you should give a wide berth to in times like this. When she was this hyper, she became a danger to others because she tended to forget she was a Vampire and dance around, throwing her limbs out as she did. Getting hit unexpectedly by a Vampire limb really hurt.

With Alice taking on some, if not all, of the wedding issues, it freed Bella and I up from doing it. I knew Angela would want to help but neither Bella or I wanted that kind of responsibility or pressure lying on my shoulders. I'd rather just turn up on the day and enjoy it. There was, a favour I was hoping to ask Dad and perhaps while he was giddy with excitement from Christine saying yes, it was the perfect time to ask.

"Dad, can I ask you something?"

"Sure Kiddo, what is it?"

"Can Bella and I take a trip to Italy?"

From the excitement chatter, the silence that followed was deafening. I suddenly wondered if I'd put my foot in things.

"What?"

"Sorry, it's just…the I do have a standing invite to Italy. I know Jane and Alec would love to see me. Lauren could see the city she hopes to study in. I could meet the Kings and just have a bit of a break. I'm not trying to remove myself from the happiness of your engagement, I'm very happy that the two of you are getting married and do want to be involved in that process. I just think I could use a break. I mean, with everything that's been going on, I haven't had that chance and with school out, it seems like the best opportunity."

"I feel like I should enter 'strict Dad land' and come up with an argument as to why you cannot go, but luckily I am not that kind of Father and I know you'll be safe and you'll be happy if I let you go."

"Really?"

"Really, but you have to take an adult with you."

"Carlisle will come, I'm sure," said Alice, weighing into the conversation. "In fact, we'll all go and then Adrian and Tyler will want to come and Angela will want Ben with us. With Lauren as well, we'll be quite the group. It'll be fun, there is so much of Italy to explore, not just where the Volturi live. I can already tell the visit will be a success, nothing will go wrong and the girls won't be in danger."

"Alright, go run the idea by everyone. Make sure you speak to Lauren's parents, if they know she's going on holiday with the Cullen's they'll be hard pressed to say no," said Christine.

"What's wrong Dad?" I asked, looking at his pout.

"You're going to miss the Easter Egg Hunt."

"Dad, I wouldn't miss that hunt for the world. We can do it before we go or after we return. As long as we have it."

It was not childish to continue to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt. Well, I suppose if you cared for what others thought of you, it could be embarrassing to be caught participating in one. I didn't care, Dad's Easter Egg Hunts were legendary. Even when we were little and didn't always get to visit at Easter, Dad would put them on as soon as we could visit. It was a Swan family tradition and one I was glad to see continued.

Since it was my idea to visit Italy, I should have been the one to tell everyone of the plan and to ask Lauren's parents if it was alright for her to join us. However, all those actions somehow got transferred onto Bella's shoulders. I got stuck with Alice and that mountain of wedding folders. Don't get me wrong, being involved in the wedding was something I really wanted but there was such a thing as too many wedding folders. I knew, because I was looking at them. I mean seriously! Alice had folders for seasons, sizes, themes, species etc. You name it, it probably had its own dedicated section.

It was sweet really, that Alice had such a passion for something. It did however, make me cringe a little when I thought of how manic she'd be when Bella, Angela, Lauren or I got married. All the rumours were true, small people could be scary as hell! I guess it just proved that when you could live indefinitely, you really did become an expert in the passions your carried with you.

Heaven forbid though, if I ever got as obsessive as Alice was, I'd want someone to slap me one.

"Don't you dare Ella," said Alice.

"Wait, what?"

"You're thinking about slapping me one."

"No, I wasn't."

"You can't lie from me, I see everything."

Alice marched over and stood before me, hands on hips and expression drawn into one of mock fury. Intimidating she was not.

"Seriously Alice, I said nothing about wanting to slap you. It's not like slapping you would do anything other than hurt me. I mean, why would I risk it?"

Her eyes narrowed, almost like she was trying to gauge whether I was telling the truth or not.

"I'll let you off this time Ella but I'm watching you. What are you doing down here anyway?"

"Doing through wedding stuff with you and Christine."

I eyed Christine out the corner of my eye while I talked to Alice like she was a toddler. Christine seemed to be ready to laugh while Alice seemed ready to explode but I couldn't find the reason to why.

"No, you should be upstairs packing."

"Alice, we aren't going today, why would I pack now."

"Because I'll have to double check everything you pack and you're in my way, now shoo!"

Clearly Alice didn't want to share the wedding organising details as much as I thought. Or maybe she had things to talk about that didn't include me. Either way, I wasn't offended by it. I knew a command when I heard one and in the case of Alice, I was likely to follow it. Did I mention how scary she was?

[x]

"What are you looking at?"

Edward's voice broke my concentration. He was holding my left hand and stroking the back of it. I'd almost forgotten where I was, gazing so intently on the view before me. It was just clouds really but they were beautiful. I'd never been on such a long-haul flight but flying with almost everyone I cared about really made the time fly by. We had been packed and organised within a week of settling to go. I was getting nervous the further we flew towards Italy but I knew I would be safe wherever I went. These people were my family, I'd almost lost them all on countless occasions but we were slowly learning, we were better together.

"The clouds. Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you, I always like to look out the window and sometimes I forget about others I'm travelling with."

"No need to apologise Ella. I just wondered what was making you smile so."

"I was smiling?"

He nodded.

"I didn't realise."

Edward turned in his seat so he could cup my face in his hands. It felt nice, warm and comforting. The kiss that followed was filled with love and fire.

"What was that for?"

"Do I need a reason?"

I shook my head.

"Sometimes I just want to kiss you. You make life so special Ella and you see it as something special. Sometimes I have to remind myself how lucky I am."

"I think I'm the lucky one."

"I might have to disagree."

"Are you excited?"

"Excited and nervous."

"You have nothing to be nervous about."

"I know, that's what makes me nervous."

"You're not making sense Ella, please explain."

"The Volturi rule your world for a reason, they're known to be feared. I don't fear them but I understand the implications of being invited and what this could mean for all of us. I don't want one part of this holiday to go wrong. I'm afraid I might hug someone and accidently insult them. I wouldn't want to do that. What if the Kings don't like me? What if something bad happens? What if our arrival sparks something more dangerous?"

"Firstly, how could the Kings not like you. Alec and Jane are known for being some of the most dangerous among the elite guard and yet you have them wrapped around your finger. It's true that the Kings can be dangerous but I don't think you have anything to worry in that respect. Aro will be able to read every thought you've ever had from one touch of your hand while Marcus can see relationships. Caius is the one who is quick to temper but I believe you'll be able to win him over. As to something more dangerous, I thought we agreed to leave those thoughts behind in Forks. This is a chance for us to have a break from running from danger and have a holiday. Let's focus on that and if something happens, it happens. There is nowhere safer for us to be attacked that Volterra."

"I'm definitely the lucky one," I said.

There was really nothing else I could say in that moment that wouldn't have me in tears over Edward's passionate speech. I settled on a warm kiss and then lay my head upon his shoulder. Our entwined hands were proof that everything would be ok. The world around me may fall apart but Edward would always be there to help me build it back up.

[x]

I couldn't put what I thought of Volterra into enough words. I think I have found my home away from home. How was it that I had never visited Italy before? Now that I had seen just one small corner of it, I never wanted to leave it. Just looking at the sun-kissed buildings made me think of the passionate people that lived inside. I knew they were passionate because I could see it in their steps as they walked around me. I'd been forewarned that Volterra were known for putting on fantastic carnivals and celebrations, the carnival for the celebration of St Marcus ridding the city of vampires was one of their most famous. I was sorry to have arrived at a time where no carnival seemed to be happening but it would give me an excuse to come back another time.

In the opposite of the bright and bubbly city, the Castle of the Volturi was dark and foreboding and stood as a grand structure to the right of the centre of town. The walls seemed almost burnt but whether that was from time or fire I couldn't tell. Iron clad windows with bars adorned the walls of the Castle and there was clearly no way to get in unless you knew what you were looking for.

I could only hope that the inside of the Castle didn't reflect the outside or this holiday would be a gloomy one. I felt my hopes dashed as we were led into a reception area – I couldn't tell you how we got there as I had been blindfolded upon entry. Humans apparently, weren't to know how to return to the Castle. The reception area was dark with a long red rug running down the centre. There were candles lighting the walls but otherwise it was incredibly bland.

The squeal of delight I heard knocked me for six and left me questioning what had happened until all I saw was blonde hair in my vision. Jane.

"I'm so happy you're finally here!"

If I didn't know Jane, I would have thought her impossible of squealing and smiling but here she was lighting up the room with her happiness.

"Leave your bags here, you have to come meet them first."

"What now? I was hoping to settle in first."

"You can settle later. They really want to meet you."

"Jane…what have you told them?"

"Nothing," she said in a voice that convinced me she'd told them everything.

I gulped as I was led into the lion's den.