Title: A thousand Frozen Years

Author: Ada McRose

Previously: After Bella saved Edward from exposing his nature to the humans of Volterra, they were taken for an audience with the three vampire Kings. When Bella and Marcus see each other however, they discover that Fate always meant for them to meet that day and we learn that they are mates. Edward is given a choice for his crimes; 50 years in isolations with only human blood for feedings or 50 years in service to the Guard. After the audience, Bella and Alice are reunited for a little while.

MPOV

I watched as my mate tensed after Alice left us.

"Are you alright, beloved?"

"Yes, I… hmm. You called her my sister," she shifted in my lap, once again pushing a lock of hair behind her ear and I couldn't help myself but reach for her hand and kiss it tenderly, inhaling her beautiful flowery scent as her heart beat a little bit faster at the gesture.

"This is the nature of your relationship and how it appears to me. Similarly to me and my brothers, it is not our parents that made us family, but on so many regards our bond of brotherhood is greater than the one I have seen in many families. You share such a bond with Alice," I explain, still holding her to me.

I could see a content smile on the side of her face at hearing that statement and it said how much this meant for her.

"You mentioned them leaving you. Could you tell me what happened?" I asked cautiously, unsure if it may be too soon to do so. She tensed but started her tale nonetheless. She kept her back nestled into my chest, her eyes lost in the flames in front of us as she talked. And I listened, not interrupting as I felt that if I did, she may not continue.

Sorrow and anger on her behalf surged through me. The foolish boy. He had hurt her to the point that she had lost her will to live her life. She had been frozen in a state of pained passivity, only imitating the motion of life that kept her, if not alive, present enough for the satisfaction of others.

The 50 years that I had convinced my brothers to sentence the boy to, instead of the 105 they had wanted - to match his lifespan - suddenly felt insufficient. In my mind, I started plotting 1001 ways to make the boy suffer during his service or imprisonment. I hoped he could hear my thoughts right now. I wanted him to see. When I wasn't plotting his suffering, I was imagining ripping him into dust and spreading him across the Earth, his life never ending as he would never be burned. This seemed most fitting as what he had done to my precious mate, my very young, very fragile human mate, had put her through a torture I was way too familiar with.

"This is why the Cullen boy was never your mate, precious Bella." I whispered a moment after she ended her tale. "Leaving you when you were so vulnerable would have been impossible. Ripping away the family he had given you… He must have known how you would suffer l, and still, he did it. This is simply impossible to knowingly and purposely inflict such pain on your own mate as they are, truly, the other half of your soul."

I turned her towards me, erasing the silent tears that ran down her face. "Your family, your friends, you will leave them behind, for their safety, but they will never be alone. We will watch after them, we will ensure their happiness. For their well-being as much as yours," I promised fervently.

She said nothing, exhausted from the day's events. I brought her into my arms, holding her close so she would know that she was not alone anymore. She would never be again.

"Thank you," she whispered. A few minutes later, I felt her heart slowing down, her breathing becoming even.

I kissed the top of her head, careful not to move so as to not wake her up.

Against my desires, I left Bella to sleep on one of the sofas in my rooms. She had been tired, and after three hours of holding her as she slept, relishing in the proximity of my mate, I had convinced myself to go in search of my brothers. I hoped they might be together so we could talk. I also had a score to settle with Caius.

I was at Aro's door when his voice started to be clear to me, coming from the soundproofed office.

"Ascertain that your pet friends understand that if they even sniffed their way, it will mean not only their end but their whole tribe's as well, Carlisle." Aro was saying as I entered his office without a sound.

"I understand, Aro. It will be as you requested."

"This is not a request, Carlisle. We have conceded much as we care for you, but this is non-negotiable. Make sure they behave or they will be exterminated. I know Caius would delight in leading the expedition."

"We will protect Bella with our lives, Aro. We have considered her family ever since meeting her and this will always be. Her mate falls under the same title. Even more so with him being your brother. We may not think alike, but you know my respect for your mission and how deeply I value our friendship."

"Very well. I will still send Felix with them. With the six of you, it will make a Guard of 7, this is most appropriate."

"It is. Thank you for your trust, my friend. I know he is in isolation but could I speak to my son soon?"

"Once he has made his choice. In a week, if he chooses wisely. Longer, if he doesn't."

"I understand. Thank you. I will be making preparations."

"Gianna will send you the details you need. Good bye, my friend."

"Good bye."

Aro put down the receiver and raised an eyebrow. "I did not expect to see you without your mate so soon."

"She needs her rest."

"Ah, humans."

"Humans indeed. Aro, she is…" I had wanted to tell him how precious she was to me, how despite just finding her, losing her would truly be the end of me as I knew that no soul, even one as eternal as mine, could survive the torture of losing a mate twice. But before I could formulate the thought, Aro interrupted me.

"I know, brother. No need for words, she will be cherished and protected and soon will join us in immortality. This should make her much less fragile." He chuckled at his joke and I returned half a smile.

We both knew that even as an immortal, there were risks. I had spent three thousand years learning that lesson, while he and Caius hid their own mates away in their ivory tower.

"Did you make all the arrangements?"

"You will leave tomorrow. Seleucia and Tyron will reside in Seattle, and I have called back Louis from his assignment in Louisiana. He will stay in Washington for the duration of your stay. All three will answer to you and then Carlisle if needed, though Carlisle assures me it will not be so. Felix will stay with you at the Cullens' property. You should not need to hunt more than a couple of times, a couple more for Felix, and I have assured Carlisle this would happen well away from his territory."

We talked some more and I felt immensely grateful for my brother's careful plotting. I shared this with him by placing my hand over his for a second and sadness reflected in his eyes as he felt my thoughts.

"I have mourned my sister more than you will ever know. But having you come back to us, how we saw you today, this is one of the only things that can dull the ache I still feel at her loss," he confessed in a rare display of honesty and vulnerability that only Sulpicia, me, Caius and Athenadora had ever witnessed.

"I will get back to Bella. You are right in saying that I wish only to be by her side right now."

"Savour her, brother." He said and the multiple meanings behind his words wasn't lost on me. I shook my head and chuckled at his antics as I sped away, back to my precious mate.

AN: 2 or 3 more chapter before we head back to Forks, including a little conversation between Edward and Bella that is probably one of the trickiest scene to write rn. Expect some swearing.

Carlisle, Jasper and Emmet came up as your favourite Cullens from your comments last chapter. It seems we have a little bias towards the male Cullens ;D I admit I am in a Carlisle phase - do you have any recommendations?

To Guest reviewer Lisa: I guess that the Cullens went along with Edward's desire because of having to stick together over the decades. It would take much sacrifices and compromises to stay together for so long, living in secrecy. They had only been in Bella's life for about 8 months, and away for 6 when Alice came knocking. It wouldn't seem so long to them. I hope you enjoyed Marcus' comment on how Edward could not have been her mate in this chapter :)