Family

I have had some nerve wrecking experiences in my life, but the trip to Volterra has to top the bill.

We were crossing the Atlantic Ocean when I suddenly became aware of my mother searching for me. I remembered the dream and how I had tried to tell them I am fine. I shut my eyes and try to do just that. Bella had once mentioned how she was able to send a message to Alice by concentrating on a word. I'm fine, I'm fine, I chant. Just like in the dream it's like screaming into the void.

Felix is sitting next to me, staring ahead. While a curious Demetri watch him with a disbelieving frown and then glance at me with a wondrous smile. Demetri has never seen him like this, me neither. He is quiet; not teasing, disagreeing or angering anyone. Even the blaze Jane looks at him with a strange expression once. The memory pulsing out of her, make me smile. They were walking and he was teasing her right after she had stared him into submission. She hated the way he always acted like she didn't hurt him all that much. I must admit surprise at seeing that she admired and even love him, he is her family. She glares at me for changing him making Felix stiffen even more. Her bored expression returns but not before clearly having decided to hate me. Her twin brother who waited for us just outside the wood seems less inclined to hate me. He is comparing me to all the other hybrids they have found. I am thankful to see that they all survived discovery and one chose to stay with Aro, though Alec do not think she will last long, she had no special gift. The Volturi seem rather proud of their gifted status. I swallow realizing that so far only Nessie and I are gifted hybrids. Alec spent some time pondering Nessie and her gift, as far as he could tell Aro was truly fascinated by her.

I am thankful when the private plane – yeah, that was a surprise but then again not at all – lands and everyone has to stop staring at me. A chauffeur picks us up at the small airport and drives us to Volterra. He seems oblivious that his passengers aren't human. He is far too busy remembering al the sport events in Italy, comparing scores and talent. We get out in a plain where a huge clock tower stands proudly. My eyebrows raise slightly when I see it etched in the twilight sky. It is beautiful. I wanted to come to this old Tuscan town some thirty years ago as I was traveling thru Europe but decided against it. I wish the choice was in my hands once more, I have been away from my new home for two days, and miss it terribly.

We make our way thru a series of tunnels, sticking to the same formation as before. I take a deep breath when we walk into a foyer with beautiful paintings of the Tuscan country side.

A young woman rises behind a desk and greets us in Italian. A memory clouded with lust and love hits me in the face, I almost back away with surprise. She had missed Felix and his flirting. I bite down hard so I don't growl or hiss at the woman and I let go of his hand making him frown. I give my best death stare to the woman who is oblivious to me having only eyes for Felix, I see out of the corner of my eye how he puts the pieces together. He opens his mouth to speak and then shuts it without uttering a word. I am grateful for this, feeling hurt and betrayed, yet understanding that he probably never even meant anything by flirting with her, except perhaps to enjoy her misplaced enthusiasm.

'Jane, dear one.' Someone calls softly sounding pleased. 'It has been so long.' We follow into a large cavern and I see Aro with my own eyes for the first time. He has taken hold of Jane's hand and looks up at us subtle surprise on his features. His eyes zooms in on me. Memories of my mother flares vividly in his mind, they are tainted with desire to have her gift. I remind him of her. Nothing new.

'You found another hybrid, how wonderful.' He motions that we should step closer. Felix seems unsure making Aro's eyes darken somewhat, Jane obviously filled him in on what was what. I take a steading breath and take the few steps necessary to reach him.

'What is you name young one?'

'M.A.' I answer slowly raising my hand to his outstretched one. He is eager in taking hold of my hand and then his face is filled with wonder. I am surprised when Felix places his hands on my hips as though he wants to yank me away from Aro.

'What a fascinating girl you are Mary-Alice.' He says blinking and letting go of my hand. 'Gifted. Unique.' He smiles gently. 'Yes, very fascinating and the child of Alice no less.' He tilts his head to the side. 'So you were the one who held her memories.' I nod. 'A remarkable gift. Yet you do not fully understand it, you fear it.' I purse my lips together, he seems genuinely concerned for me, his voice soft and melodic. 'There is no need to fear your gift Mary-Alice, it is magnifico.'

He looks up at Felix behind me. 'My dear child.' He holds out his hand. 'It has been too long.' Felix clenches his jaw before resigning himself to the situation.

Aro hunches over his hand ever so slightly, seeing all. He gently sucks on his teeth when he lets go turning his back on us and walking toward the truly bored looking vampire – really he is worse than Jane. Marcus if I am not mistaken. He gives his hand to Aro before leaning back in the chair, looking miserable. A memory now tainted with sadness and longing oozes out of Marcus like a festering wound. The memory of how he met his mate. Seeing her thru his eyes is beholding pure beauty and a gentle heart. Didyme. She stole his heart with one look, him being her willing victim.

This memory is just about all that is left of his soul. I cringe when the memory of her demise follows. A memory so vivid and frightening it almost robs me of balance but doesn't even make him blink.

'Interesting.' Aro muses before walking back towards us. He once again looks at Felix with what must be affection. 'Felix doesn't think you truly love him, Mary-Alice. But Marcus can see true love between you.' He says shifting his gaze to me. He tusk's softly, shaking his head. I blink startled. Of all the things Aro could have chosen to speak about. My eyes seek Felix's before I can help myself. Is it a trick? Neither one of us say a word. 'He fears that the human part in you cannot love as fiercely as a vampire.' He shakes his head ever so slightly. 'I have met a human before that showed the same strength in love as you; Isabella.' For a nanosecond I cannot fathom who he is talking about, then I realize. 'She was willing to die for her Edward.' He walks back to me. 'And so are you for your stalker. You are willing to die or live however I see fit so your loved ones can remain safe.'

I square my shoulders, this is what I was waiting for. 'Yes. So long as everyone stays safe.' I acknowledge. Aro nods his head, looking at me with sadness. 'I fear you have a bad impression of me. In all honesty my dear I only seek peace. The humans are dangerous, you have firsthand experience. Soon there science will endanger us all.' He brushes a strand of my hair behind my ear. 'Do not fear Mary-Alice, I mean you no harm.' He takes my hand in his and kisses it tenderly. Then he turns to Felix the expression on his face that of a scolding father. 'You fear I will take this special one away from you? Why dear one? All these long years you have been in my house I have wished for you to find love. Someone that will stir your heart as this half mortal half immortal has. You have always been one of my favorite children. For that is how I see you. You were one of my very first sons. I myself turned and learned you.' He takes Felix's hand in his as a gesture of friendship. 'I will not be cruel towards you. No, I will show mercy.' He holds out his hand to me. I stand closer, unsure. He presses our hands together, joining us in some odd way. Is this a vampire union?

Taking my hand again he slips and I see a dreadful truth. Aro was the one who killed Marcus's mate. She was Aro's sister, his true sister but he had her killed so that Marcus and his useful gift would stay with him. He stiffens when he sees me read it, then he swallows ever so slightly. Marcus doesn't know, it is dangerous for me to know this, I straighten my back.

'It makes me happy to see you together. Hold true to one another.' He continuous as if nothing has passed between us.

He lets go of our hands and stand back. 'Send the Cullen's my love, for I give them one of my strongest sons. You have my blessing. Carlisle my beloved friend has my peace. '

I stare at him dumbfounded.

'You doubt me Mary-Alice?' he asks, accusation in his voice. 'You think I'll trick you?'

'I think you're much older than me and that you have been playing games for millennia.' I am stunned by my honesty. Felix, Marcus and the scary blond one on the third throne seems to think the same. Aro tilts his head back and laughs joyously. 'It has been an age since someone has been this honest with me.' He claps his hands together. 'When you get tired of the Cullen's I beg you Mary-Alice to join my family.'

'I'll keep it in mind.' I say making him smile deviously. Felix wraps an arm around my waist and leads me out the large room.

'Do.' Aro calls softly after us. 'You will be a wonderful addition to the family.'

Something we feared and dreaded for so long has come and gone. We're still alive. Felix hasn't let me go since when left the huge throne-like cavern. Demetri is quietly walking ahead of us in the long corridor. Felix grip on me tightens even more when we push thru large double doors.

'You know the way.' Demetri says simply and stand to the side. Felix comes to a standstill looking at the long haired vampire with a strange expression. He extends his hand and it is a heartbeat before Demetri takes it smiling amused.

'She has changed you. I hardly recognize you.' They shake hands.

'Take care, visit when you can. Alone.' Felix say making Demetri laugh.

'I doubt we'll very soon be visiting the Cullen's brother, we all know how shaken our master is about their strength.'

Felix nods his face looking somber. 'I feared for a moment that I may have given him the much desired opportunity to rectify that humiliating day.'

Demetri shakes his head. 'The Volturi have lost its power. We all saw its true nature that day. Many of us stick around because of Chelsea and her gift.' He sounds sad. 'But soon brother I too shall be free.'

'I wish it for you, may she comfort wounds unwittingly inflicted.' His voice is low. 'Forgive me.'

Demetri blinks appearing confused and surprised before suddenly understanding. 'I never blamed you.' He steps closer. 'We both know who gave the order for her death.' Felix lets go of me and they embrace swiftly. Demetri smiles broadly and turns to me.

'I would've liked a chance to know you better.' He softly kisses me on both cheeks. 'Take care.'

'You too.'

Felix wraps his arm around me again and we move further down the corridor and out into the loving fresh air. I inhale deeply, savoring the taste of freedom and live.

'Can we sightsee?' I ask jokingly.

'I know all the best places.' Felix laughs softly.

'I need to call my mother first. She is crazy with worry.'

'How do you know?'

'Our bond. I sensed when she discovered we're not in Forks anymore.' I frown. 'I had a dream about it.

The same as when Lucy was killed.' I sigh. 'I was scared to leave her that night, having had some disturbing nightmare about her bleeding. I went outside to try and find you, believing it was you making me uneasy. When I didn't find your scent anywhere I went to buy us some take-away.'

He kisses me softly on the head. 'There is a phone service in there.' He whispers pointing the direction. 'Make the call I'll wait here.' He says taking a strange stance. He is still not at ease, he is in his fighter mode. I quickly duck into the small alcove and start dialing the number. It has been a few months since I had used one of these. I hear the dial up after placing the collect call.

'Mary-Alice?' my mother's voice sounds both hysterical and relieved.

'Mom, how did you know it was me?'

I hear her sigh of relieve. 'Because I did not have a vision. Where are you? Are you alright?'

'I'm fine.' I exhale loudly. 'I'm in Italy.'

'Yes, I heard you. You insisted I do not come.'

'You heard me?'

'I had to choose to see you, it gave me quite a headache, but yeah I could hear you like from a great distance.'

'Oh!' I sigh relieved.' Well all is fine and Felix is bringing me home.'

'We found Demetri and Jane's scent. Are you alright?'

'Yes Aro gave me and Felix his blessing and sends his peace to his beloved friend Carlisle.'

'Oh, he does?' Alice sound sarcastic to the point of nausea, I can only imagine the look of anger on her delicate features. 'Hurry home.'

'I'll call you from the airport.'

'We'll be waiting.' She laughs softly.

'What did he say?' I could not quite make it out but I know it was Emmett.

'Nothing.' She tries to suppress laughter.

'Emmett you coward, what did you say?' I talk loudly into the receiver. I hear a scuffle, laughter, a growl.

'I was just wondering about the underwear?'

'Underwear?' I ask confused.

'Yeah, we picked it up close to some water hole.' Oh. My stomach drops and an out of control blush rises. 'Tell me, do I need to teach that Italian a lesson. Ooh your dad would like to join me in this, hey Jasper? Or should I finally congratulate that big Italian on a deed well...' I look at the receiver with surprise. I had just hung-up on someone for the first time in my life.

Felix is standing right next to me, a murderous look on his face. 'Why did you stop me when I wanted to teach him a lesson, when was it yesterday morning? He has been asking for it, he's been begging.'

'Rosalie would have torn you to pieces.'

'I wasn't going to kill him, pleasing as that sounds. I was simply going to show him the faults in his behavior.'

'Rosalie will return the favor.' I point out as I start dialing again.

'What are you doing?'

'I'm calling Alana.'

He raises his eyebrows surprised. 'You are?'

'Yes, I do from time to time.' I frown while pursing my lips together. 'She is sort of my mother too and ...' I swallow. 'She's family.' I press the receiver to my ear.

'Hallo.'

'Hi Alana it's me.'

'Mary-Alice.' she answers joy evident in her voice. 'How are you?'

'I'm well.' I pause and look at Felix. 'I just wanted to talk to you. I had one hell of a day.'

'What happened?' worry.

'You'll never guess where I am. I'm in Volterra. The Volturi tracked me down.'

I hear her gasp. 'Are you alright?' she sounds like my true mother.

'Yes, I'm wonderful actually. I have found my mate. He protected me today and I'll be going home soon.'

'Where is that?' she asks cautiously.

'I found my true mother.'

Deadly silence. 'What?' I hear fear in her voice.

'She survived the transformation. We kind of stumbled into each other.'

Silence.

'I'm living with her in a huge family.' I laugh slightly hysterical. 'Sometimes I want to kill some of them but mostly I love them.'

Silence.

'I'm happy.'

Still no word.

'I buried a close friend of mine the other day.' I sigh heavily. 'How are you doing? How's Gendry?'

'We're fine. We are currently in Japan. – I'm happy for you my dear.'

'Thank you. I just wanted to let you know.'

'Will I ever see you again?' sadness. 'I would like to meet your mate.' Forcing happiness in her voice.

I look up at Felix. 'I'd like you to meet him too. I'm sure we'll run into each other at some point.'

'I would like that.'

'Bye, take care.'

'Be safe.'

'You to.'