Author's Note: This was not intended to be longer than a one shot. Seriously. I had hoped it would get everyone to go back and read the best part of New Moon (in my opinion, that is) the reunion of Bella and Edward. If someone asks for another update, I probably will. It's not planned, so don't get your hopes up unless you ask for it in a review. There is a quote from Bella's point of view in New Moon in here, see if you can spot it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or New Moon. No characters, places, etc. are mine. I am not making any money off this, this is for fun. Enjoy if you will.

Council Decision

Aro stood from his chair and looked at the expression on Edward's face. His first thought was to say "No" and leave it at that, but this had to be done diplomatically. When he'd touched Edward's hand…the boy's potential had flooded him with possibilities. They could use his talent so much. It would be better than having to touch a hand, despite the lack of what was heard. "I will discuss this," he nodded at Caius and Marcus and every Vampire left the room. "Wait here, Edward," Aro said as Edward stood to leave as well.

He nodded. Alec blinked at him but then turned sharply on his heel and walked out. Edward took a seat on the floor, where he'd knelt previously. He passed a hand through his hair, realizing that he hadn't run a comb through it and it was messed up from his frantic journey. Now, his rushing seemed a bit superfluous. They were just going to talk it out.

There was a good chance that they'd give him what he wanted, but still…a very good chance they'd say no. He wouldn't beg any more. He couldn't afford it, and it was so easy to turn down a begging Vampire when you are one yourself. What can they do to you when you are more powerful than they? No, the Volturi would not be persuaded by mere begging. He would have to force their hand if he hoped to succeed.

Hell, he was going to succeed. There was no point in staying without Bella! Life, love, meaning…over. All of it. He suddenly remembered his cell phone. Probably one of his family had tried to contact him. He realized that leaving the phone in Rio was probably not the best idea. He'd thrown it away just before boarding the plane. He'd forgotten about that, it had seemed so insignificant compared to his journey. Now he wished he had it. Alice, at least, probably had tried to call him. Once she realized that he was never going to answer, she would go insane. She'd tell everyone who she thought would make a difference.

He would have to die, or whatever Vampires did when they weren't the animated dead, before they arrived. They would do whatever they could to stop him and that would just cause the pain to be deeper. Ever since he'd left Bella it felt as if every swallow, every drink, every breath-even every blink!-was a razor blade in his heart. His heart, that hadn't had a single beat in over a century, felt palpitations whenever Bella had been near him, would never feel right again. Though, the feeling was probably his imagination. Over a hundred years of being alive made one's imagination run wild. He felt guilty about being the indirect cause of Bella's death.

His eyes closed as he imagined Bella with his family just before prom. Once again, his hand slid to his wallet. He'd kept it because he hadn't known who he would've had to bribe to get past the Volterra security. He slid the picture of Bella and him out and studied it. His family had had a great time getting Bella ready for prom. Jasper had helped blow dry her hair, the only chance he'd felt safest to be around her without his thirst getting the better of him. Unlike the birthday party…

His remorse filled him. His own brother! And he himself had shoved her into a pile of glass plates! What kind of man was he?

A monster.

He squeezed his eyes shut. I don't want to be a monster. I don't want to be a monster! I NEVER WANTED TO BE A MONSTER!

Edward stood, a roar ripping from his chest. He never would've imagined pain like this. The pain he'd felt when Carlisle had bitten him was nothing compared to this!

Carlisle…

Carlisle would never let him go without a fight. Neither would Emmett, who lived for rough housing. Jasper would sooner give up food than let Edward go without a fight. Rosalie would feel horrible instead of laughing over Bella's demise. Alice…

What would Alice do? What would Esme do?

He would disappoint his family, but he could die with that.

---

"We can't keep him, Aro, he's not a pet!" Jane snapped. "I say we kill him."

"He could be a great use to us." Aro said, "He hears when I cannot. He knows things. He could be such a great help to us."

"If we do not aid him in his quest, what makes you think he will assist ours?" Marcus questioned. Aro sighed. Sometimes, they truly could not see potential.

Heidi looked questioningly at her coven. "Jane, I've never heard you say you'd give a man what he wanted before." Jane glared at her but Heidi continued. "We've gone too long without food, let us begin the hunt and decide after when we aren't driven by hunger."

"I say," Demetri agreed, "we hunt, but we also tell him no. Perhaps he too is hungry and not thinking straight."

Aro felt like rolling his eyes even though he was above such childish things. "He is not crazy, in fact, his eyes aren't black. He's thinking as straight as someone can. He truly wants to die."

Heidi stood, "If we kill him, which I highly do not recommend, it will take too long! We won't have adequate hunting time. What, are we going to kill him and drink his blood?! That will not sustain our needs. Keep him prisoner if you must, but allow us to drink first."

Aro raised a pale finger and placed it against his cold lips. "Hush, Heidi, you will disturb our guest. No doubt he is already feeling anguish. Hunt if you will, but do not alert attention. The festival begins in a short while. Go and find food now, Heidi, but tell me, what will you wish me to tell him?"

"No, of course," Heidi pushed her chair away and strode from the room.

"Well now, Jane, what is it you were going to say?" Aro asked.

Jane sighed, "I say we kill him. Then when Heidi returns from hunting, we eat."

"Demetri?"

"Not to kill him." Jane glared at him. "Don't give me that look, Jane, you know as well as I that Carlisle won't let us live this down. His coven will attack."

"They haven't yet," Jane snarled.

"But that doesn't mean they won't," agreed Aro suddenly. "I saw his family in his mind. Emmett and Jasper, his 'brothers', will attack. There's no way that they would let him go if they get here in time." Everyone looked at him. Jane waved her hand as if pushing that fact away.

"Then let them not get here in time, kill him now." Jane snarled. "My vote is the same, kill him."

Aro turned to the rest of the group and they voted.

---

Edward glanced at the door, and a low growl escaped his clenched jaw. They had decided 'no'. Aro opened the door and the rest of the coven walked in.

"Before you say it, let me tell you I will force your hand!" Edward roared.

Aro didn't even flinch, instead he smiled. "Oh, Edward, perhaps you will understand one day why we chose this. But we can't kill you. Our answer is no."