Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Author Note: Thanks for all the support! I was so excited to finally write the last chapter and be able put it up! I wanted Bella to have a choice in staying and Edward give her the option of leaving. Edward also realized it's love that he feels!

Happy Friday to everyone! Here is today's chapter and I will see you all on Monday!

CHAPTER 12

EPOV

I groaned as my body tried to wake up. I rolled to my side to face Bella. When I opened my eyes there was no Bella. Was she avoiding us waking up together? Too much sexual tension? I don't know when we would get to the stage of becoming intimate in that way. But I do know I wanted to do more than fuck her. I wanted to make love to her. And that was a first.

I rolled to my other side to face my clock. 11:00 am

No wonder Bella wasn't in bed. She had been up with Liam for a few hours at this point. I immediately showered hoping it would help wake me up. After getting dressed, I stepped into the hallway and I heard voices other then Bella and Liam's. One high pitched, soprano, song like stood out. It couldn't belong to anyone other than Alice.

I made my way to the living room as quickly as possible. Had Alice finally broke down and taken it upon her self to see Bella? No, Jasper would have alerted me. Well if he had any self-preservation he would. Could Bella have invited her?

Stepping into the living room, I greeted everyone with a hello.

"Well hello to you sleeping head!" Alice said.

Bella just smiled. Liam was playing with Alice's two children and seemed to be enjoying himself.

Bella whispered something to Alice and then got up and made her way to the kitchen. I followed suit.

"You want me to make you any food?" She asked.

"I'm okay. How did Alice end up here?" I preceded with caution.

"I invited her." Bella said casually.

"You invited her?" I was a little surprised.

"You said she was eager to meet me. We also agreed that when I meet the rest of your family I can do so by myself or with you."

"That is true" I said, "but I also said I preferred if I was there when you meet them."

"Preferred but not required." She said with a devilish grin. That grin was a turn on….

"Bella, Bella, Bella." I said letting the word play on my lips.

"For what it is worth I do really like your sister-in-law. She is very hyper and a little like the energizer bunny. She swears the kids have slowed her down, but I don't see how that's possible." She said with a laugh.

They were getting along so that was a relief. But the challenge would be introducing her to Rosalie. Rosalie was always wary of outsiders and new people.

"We've been talking wedding plans." Bella said.

I arched an eyebrow at her.

"What? She's done this before and I can use all the help that I can get."

"Okay. But we warned she be a little much at much at times." I said with a laugh.

"Trust me I'm definitely figuring that out." She said playfully.

"Well I'm happy that you two are getting along. I'm going to go get ready as I have business to attend to. I'll try to be home for dinner. I will call you either way."

"Okay." She said with a smile.

I kissed her on the forehead and then left to get ready. On my way out I had an idea.

BPOV

Alice was a piece of work that was for sure. Who knew someone so little could have so much energy? Her kids and Liam played great together. Her son Elijah was four and her daughter Mary was going to turn 2 in 3 months. Mary was closer in age being 21 months old and Liam 18 months. Even though Elijah was older he still played well along side them. He liked to show them "cool things" to do and they tried to mimic it. Edward seemed fine with me inviting Alice over without giving him notice. Honestly, I wanted a genuine first impression from her. I really liked her and she helped make sense of the wedding planning.

"Alice how is a mafia different from a regular? And Edward there is something about introductions to the families?"

Alice pondered for a moment. "The wedding varies form family to family. Some families, the ones who use barbaric means to get their wives, don't truly have a wedding ceremony. They get the necessary paperwork and have a officiant to make it legal but the women don't have a lot of say. Some families have a huge wedding and combine the wedding with introduction to the families. That to me is a bad idea since the introductions can be stressful." Well that's just great as if marrying a mobster isn't stressful enough.

"How do they Cullens do it?" I asked.

"Rosalie and I both had small ceremonies with just the Cullen family in attendance. None of us . We had a photographer so that we would have photos and they are great to show case at the introduction to the families. It makes it look more official with the photos also since the other families know we marry for love." She stopped. She knew me and Edward's situation was different from his brothers and made the comment without thinking. Yes, I did feel a pull towards Edward and a connection. I knew I was falling for him, but it was still a little difficult to admit to loving him to another person.

"Bella, I…"

"Alice it's fine. I know what you meant. Edward and I may be different from you and Jasper and his other brother and wife, but we still care about each other. He gave me the option to leave and I chose to stay…"

"HE WHAT?!" Alice looked like she was about to have an aneurism

Oh shit. I wasn't suppose to say anything. "Alice you can not tell anyone! Not even Jasper!"

"I…."

"Alice if you are my friend, you will not say anything." I said with pleading eyes.

"Okay, I won't say anything, not even to Jasper."

That was a relief.

"But Bella I am also just surprised he would let an opportunity arise where he would lose you. He was so desperate to have you, worrying about your safety, trying to figure out how to include you, and the mess with the Volturi happened. He hated having to take you but he only did because he cared as messed up as that sounds. But I guess it shows that he really loves since he gave you the choice to stay or go."

"Before that he gave me a key card and a phone, which you knew about the phone because that's how I got in touch with you."

"He trusts you a lot! And Edward is sparse with his trust." She said.

There was a moment or two of silence.

I decided to break it. "So back to the wedding and families, what exactly is the introduction to the families?"

"It's the first time you will meet everyone outside of the Cullen family. All of the mafia families apart of our circle attend. It is a way for the husbands to show off their wives. They also "approve" of you per say but that is just for show. Since Carlisle, who is the Don of this family approves, then you're technically approved. It is also a time to strengthen alliances and see if there are any disloyalties. There is a lot of meeting and greeting and making sure you stay on everyone's good side. For you and Edward that is especially important."

"Why?" I asked both curious and worried.

"Because Edward is the oldest and next in line to be Don of this family."

Shit that was right.

Esme had told me Edward was the oldest.

"So there will be a lot of pressure on me." I said suddenly feeling like I was about to panic.

"Yes but I will help you prepare. We all will help you." Alice said reassuring.

I tried to even my breathing so I wouldn't go into panic mode Then it hit me. The Volturi family will be at the introduction. They are apart of the mafia families so they had to come. From what I knew them who tried to kidnap me and they were involved with my attempted rape and on guard did rape me. Edward said he was working on a lead, but wanted it concrete before he told me names. I would have to come face to face with them if they weren't dealt with sooner. I thought I was going to be sick.

"Bella are you okay?" she asked.

Shit she was now worrying. I had to keep it together better. I was pretty sure she knew nothing about my past and the Volturi involvement. If she did she didn't show it.

"Yeah, it's just a lot to take in. Edward said both the wedding and introduction will need to be done within a month." I said reassuringly,

Alice studied me for a moment, probably making sure I was actually okay. "Yes, it would be best to have the wedding in two weeks and then the introduction in three weeks."

Deep breaths, Bella. Deep breaths.

"Alice, I am going to need a lot of help planning all this."

"I already said I would help. Have a little faith in us. Plus Esme is great at this kind of stuff."

"Thanks." I said with a smile.

Alice and her kids had lunch with me and Liam. We continued to plan and they left shortly before I started dinner. Edward called and said he would be home in time for dinner. The evening passed by quickly. Liam went down early for bed. Playing with Alice's kids had worn him out. Once Liam was down for the night I headed into the living room where Edward was.

"Edward have you told anyone about my past? Like the rape and Volturi involvement?"

"I had to tell Jasper and Emmett." He paused probably gauging my reaction. I'm not sure what my facial expression, but apparently it gave him the ok to continue. "They needed to know to be able to help him track down who was responsible for hurting you and getting you answers. I told them not to tell Alice and Rosalie, that you would tell them when you were ready." Then his expression got angry. "Did Alice say something? I will rip Jasper's head off if he told her.."

"No, no, No!" I said quickly and then continued, "She didn't say anything. I'm pretty sure doesn't know. I was just asking because we were talking about the wedding and the introduction to the families. She said all the families would be there and then I thought about the Volturi being there.." I trailed off.

"I won't let them hurt you or Liam. I'm going to try to settle this before then but if I can't I will deal with them during the introductions."

I looked at him questioningly. "How would you deal with them at the introduction."

"It's hard to explain, but I will give you more details once I know more."

"Okay." I said putting my trust in Edward.

We went bed later. It wasn't as awkward sharing a bed now. Now after the wedding it would probably get a little awkward. Edward wasn't pushing the whole sex thing and for that I was grateful! But I knew sex would eventually need to happen. Also I was attracted to him. Like Damn he was hot! I just wasn't sure how things would progress….

The next morning….

I was surprised when I woke up. I was surprised that I actually woke up on my own. I was usually woken up by Liam via baby monitor. I looked at the time. Shit Liam had to be awake. Why didn't I hear him? Where was the baby monitor? Edward wasn't in the bed with me. I usually always woke up first because I got up to take care of Liam. Was Edward with Liam? That had to be the answer. But why hadn't he woken me up if Liam woke him up?

Questions were swarming around in my head, but they did me no good.

I quickly got out of bed and into the hallway. I immediately went into Liam's room across the hall.

It was empty.

I went into the living room.

I gasped at what I saw.