AN: Just a quick one to say thank you to Guest reviewer Lisa for all your comments. I love reading them and your thoughts on what's happening in each chapters! Edward is definitely ruled by his eternal teenage tendencies, ahah.

Thank you for the new favs and follows too!

Happy reading,

Ada.

BPOV

We walked at human pace back to the throne room and I was able to admire the ancient beauty of the place, appreciating the coolness of the corridors after the slightly too warm evening air.

I had laced my fingers with Marcus, finding it more comfortable to walk. I had missed his hold around my waist almost immediately and, as my brain seemed to have slowed down from the high our mating bond had thrown it into when we first met, I started to realise that this felt like a dream, vivid and oh so believable in its intensity and clarity. Though I also knew that I was very much awake. At least I really hoped so, I didn't think I would be able to recover from it crumbling down.

We entered from the back of the room this time, through an impressively carved door that, despite being five times smaller than the main gates, remained imposing in its appearance.

Marcus led us to his throne on the right of Aro's. We didn't sit, remaining standing as his brothers did. A few of the guards were back in the room, less than ten, all wearing dark grey or black cloaks. Most were openly looking towards me and I tried to ignore the attention, brushing my hair behind my ear as I looked forward at the gates, expecting that this would be where Alice and Edward would enter from.

Finally, the tall guard that I now knew to be called Felix pushed the doors open and walked in regally, followed by the Cullens. Alice and I locked eyes immediately and the sad smile she gave me tugged at my heart.

Edward looked tense, I could see restrained anger marring his beautiful face as he looked up towards the brothers, no doubt reading their minds.

Aro moved forward. I could not see his expression as we stood behind him, but the glee in his tone was evident. "Dear Alice, Edward, welcome back! I hope your rooms were to your taste?" He continued without leaving time for an answer. "You are here today as one of you plotted and indeed, almost succeeded in exposing our race to the humans of Volterra. Given that technology is what it is nowadays, this would have spread beyond our beloved city's wall before we would have had the situation under control. We understand grief, Edward and had already offered you a generous alternative to your pain. Still, you chose to betray your kind. How do you plead?"

Edward looked at Aro, an air of coldness on his face. "Guilty. I am ready to pay the price, I only ask that my sister and Bella be spared."

I couldn't help the faint gasp that escaped me, understanding his intentions through his words. He still wanted to die. My throat tightened and I felt sick, my breath shallow.

"Now, now," Aro placated in a tone reminiscent of an adult talking a child down from a tantrum. "No need for dramatics, young Edward."

Patronising, much? I thought, but then I guess he had lived for over 3000 years so it did make sense. Suddenly, it felt like the age gap between me and Edward had been nothing, and really, it had. I couldn't wrap my head around how old the brothers, and therefore my mate, were.

"We have discussed your situation," Caius stepped in. "And there will be a price."

I couldn't help the shiver that went through me at his tone and Marcus' hand started drawing soothing circles in my back again.

"However!" Aro put a finger up in a universal call to attention. "However, there are… attenuating circumstances that need consideration and the fact that the lovely Isabella prevented your foolish attempt. Therefore, you will be given a week to consider your options; your sentence is 50 years either in a cell in isolation, or the same time as a willing member of the Guard." He gestured to the guard present.

"Consider carefully, boy, as I do not think the diet you would have to follow in our dungeons would agree with your family's… oddity" Caius sneered and I looked as defeat took over Edward's stance. He looked broken. I wanted to say something but a warning head shake from Alice convinced me otherwise.

They… Edward wouldn't go back to drinking human blood willingly, would he? This would destroy him even more than he appeared to be now. I wanted to argue but Alice's silent warning told me not too. But the alternative… would being in the Guard mean that he would be living in Volterra, seeing the constant reminder of who I now belonged with, heart, soul and body?

Edward looked at all the Kings in turn, stopping on Marcus and me for what seemed an eternity before bowing his head in acknowledgement of his sentencing. What he heard in the brothers thoughts, only them knew.

"Thank you, I will think carefully." He turned around and walked out, Felix behind him.

I let out a slow breath, realising I had been holding it ever since he had looked directly at me and Marcus. Alice was still there, standing alone in the middle of the gigantesque room where my life had changed course dramatically barely three hours ago.

"You are free to go stay with us while your brother makes his decision, lovely Alice," Aro invited. "You are welcome to stay and join too, if you desire to stay by his side and Isabella's." His eager smile looked predatory, knowing he had the upper hand.

"I will think on it, Master Aro," she offered politely and I could see that her use of the title pleased him.

"I wonder… What do you see in this precious mind of yours?"

Aro was standing in front of Alice before I could register his movement and she was offering her hand to him. He took it eagerly and for what was definitely a few minutes, I held my breath. I couldn't see Aro's face, but Alice had her eyes closed and emotions changed so fast on her angelic face that I barely had the time to name it before it was gone. From what I understood of Aro's gift, he must be looking through all her memories. Or maybe he was too lost in her visions to escape them? Whatever it was, was making me anxious and I was pulling on my sleeve nervously.

"Breathe, beloved." Marcus' voice came in a soft chuckle near my ear and startled me out of my thoughts.

"I can't," I whispered back. "Why is it taking so long?"

"I believe your Alice has one of the most intriguing minds he has come across. He does usually come out in half the time or less."

"Great," I laughed nervously. I wondered what he saw. I remembered a few conversations that I would have rather kept private. But I guess nothing is quite private in the supernatural world. Just look at the wolves.

"Oh! Beautiful! What a beautiful mind you have, dearest Alice." Aro exclaimed as he finally let go of her hand. "I thank you, for showing me its intricacies and possibilities. This… this is one of the most fascinating experiences of delving into a mind that I have ever been gifted with. Oh, you must stay with us for now! But of course, you will," he smiled conspiratorially at her and she bowed her head in agreement. Aro laughed happily and just like that, the mood shifted. The guards that bad been standing frozen on the sides started to move and start their own conversations, Caius and Aro sat on their thrones, observing. Alice kept standing where she had been, looking at me.

"Come, dearest, let's go somewhere quiet so you can talk to Alice. I believe she has a lot to share with you." Marcus said, and Alice suddenly appeared by my side as we passed the back door to the corridor.

Before I could say anything, I was engulfed into Alice's embrace and I held onto her as if my life depended on it.

"Alice," I said, and the knot in my throat made me realise that I had started to cry.

"Shh, Bella, shh, it's okay. Everything is going to be okay," she promised. "Oh, Bella, sweetheart, don't cry."

"Let's retreat to my quarters," Marcus' voice seemed distant as I was still holding onto Alice for dear life. She lifted me up into her tiny arms and followed Marcus.

"Alice, I can walk," I tried to protest but she had a strong hold on me and I couldn't move out.

"I beg to differ, you stumble a lot, even for a human." She tried to look serious when saying this but the amusement was clear on her face and she laughed that laugh that reminded me of tiny little bells.

She put me down and instead linked our arms together.

"Bella, I am sorry, I had not seen it happen, it… it wasn't a decision and I never though to look for… I thought you were meant to be with Ed…"

A deep warning growl came from my mate, who was walking a few steps ahead, giving us the illusion of privacy. Well, it's about the intention they say.

"Apologies, Master Marcus," said Alice, properly chastised. "I only meant that I had never seen this possibility and I think it's because if I had, it may not have happened."

"What do you mean?"

"It doesn't matter anymore. The reality is here and I want you to know that I will never leave you again. Never like we did. This was… Oh, Bella, I missed you so much. I am so sorry."

"Alice, I already told you, it's okay, I understand why you had to leave. All that matters is that you're here now. I've missed you so much it still hurts to think about it."

And it did. Thinking about it, the hole in my heart, the one that I had patched up and had started to heal when I first saw Alice again, that hole felt like a burning knife trying to rip its way out.

I took a deep breath. "Just, stay here for now, okay? We need to talk about what's going to happen here and what we'll do once we're back in Forks."

Marcus had come to a stop in front of a set of beautifully carved doors, which he opened to reveal a darkened living space, only lightened by the light coming from a crackling fire on our left. He moved vampirically fast and the room was suddenly bathed in the sunset light.

I looked around and smiled. This looked… comfortable.

"Take a sit," Marcus gestured to the cushions spread near the fire and I sat down, bringing Alice down with me.

My mate sat next to me and I instinctively leaned into him, letting his arms settle around my waist as I looked at Alice.

"Are you planning to come back to Forks?" She asked, as if there had been no interruption.

"Bella wishes to finish her high school education," Marcus explained before I could. "This will give her the time she needs to say goodbye to the people in her life that can never know of her secret."

Alice nodded.

"What will the story be?"

"Isabella Swan will receive a fully funded scholarship to attend university in Athens. She will have an unfortunate accident on the way to the college however and this is what everyone will believe."

"That should work, but will you be coming to Forks with her? I can't imagine it would be possible to be away from your mate for months when the bond is so new."

"It would be like trying to reject it." A look of horror passed on Alice's face and I didn't need to hear Marcus' next word to imagine how it would feel; "excruciating."

"I will call Carlisle tonight, see what he thinks of it all," she said, standing up.

"I apologise, I want to talk more, Bella, but you must be getting tired, she bent, squeezing my shoulder lightly. I will visit in the morning, if I may?" The question was directed at both of us.

"Go and see your brother, Alice. He will need your help to see reason. Come back in the morning as I believe my mate needs her sister by her side." Marcus dismissed her.

Alice smiled in such obvious happiness that my heart felt lighter instantly.

"Good night, Master Marcus, Bella."

And just like that, she was gone.

AN: I always loved Alice, who's your favourite Cullen?

I have worked quite a bit on this story and I think it should be about 20 chapters long, it all depends on what the characters make me write. ATFY was supposed to a 2000 word OneShot and it's already turned into near 5 times that, ahah :)

A little review to make the author smile? (; I'd love to know your thoughts on Edward's sentence.

See you at the weekend!

Ada x