For several days, the only thing in my life was pain. Worse than kicking, worse than getting your blood drained. Worse than running up a mountain with the Cullens strapped to your back. Whatever it really was, I didn't know. I was practically paralysed, and I couldn't see a thing. I could hear, though. On the first day, I could hear Gianna, the human receptionist for the Volturi, cooing. "Aww, would'ya look at that! Such a cute little Gracey! Such a beautiful baby!" She carried on fussing. I would have wondered who, till I remembered Grace was what I was going to call my daughter. Suddenly, Gianna spoke again, voice a lot colder, sharper. "Do it now, Heidi." And that's when I faded out for real. That was when I lost all my senses, except from being able to feel pain. It shot through my bloodstream and nerve system like fire arrows. I must have cried out a few times; there was no way I could endure it in silence. There were a few things I knew for sure: First, I was no longer pregnant, and I should be dying now. I was still at the Volturi castle. I hurt like flames were scratching through me... No, no NO! They had changed me! There was nothing I could do. I willed my body to reject the change, but it was no use.

It seemed like less than three days later when I sat up, tired but angry. I didn't want this life. Gianna, Heidi, Renata and a lot of other Volturi women were in the room, but none of them noticed me waking up. They were all bunched in a circle, swooning over... over my daughter.

A sharp, snapping snarl exploded from me, like a dog restrained on a leash. It shocked everyone in the room, especially me. My vocal chords stung, but the women obediently shuffled out the way. "Wait." Renata commanded them, and they all moved back into place again, looking slightly confused. "Bella..." She drawled in her mocking voice. "What do you feel toward Gianna?"

Everyone shifted their gaze to look at the beautiful human in the room. I wondered what Renata meant. Was she expecting me to be attracted to her? I mean, with my heightened senses I could see her a lot better, but... I suddenly got what she meant. Gianna didn't look afraid; rather she raised her head, further exposing her neck, but she was. Her heartbeat sped up, and there was a natural feeling of fear around her, an emotion she tried to hide every single day. I could smell her blood – all my senses were alert to it – but it held no interest to me. I knew it was there, and I could easily drink it, if I felt like it, but there was no desperate need to dive for her veins. Like it wasn't my favourite food, but I still liked it. "Nothing different." I said apathetically, switching my attention away from the human to look at my Grace. Grace Swan.

"Nothing at all? But she is human. Does her blood not affect you?" Renata persisted.

"Renata," I raised an eyebrow at her, and though it was a mocking expression, everyone could feel the threat.

"I'm worried about having you around your daughter, seeing as she is human... ish." She wasn't mocking me anymore, she was serious, with that motherly concern in her voice.

"I feel fine," I pouted, trying to look over the crowd of women now, as they had advanced into a semicircle, cutting me off from her. I stood up, and pushed through them effortlessly. There was a cry of alarm as they fell over each other, but I ignored them. I looked at Grace, and nearly took a step back. She was beautiful. Beyond belief; prettier than Rosalie, or Heidi, or any other vampire. She had large, stunning green eyes that seemed to pierce through my heart in a gaze. They were so full of knowledge and understanding, like she knew everything about my life. Her skin was pale like magnolias, and seemed to sparkle, like she'd just been sprinkled with confetti. She had hair; brown, just like mine. It flowed to her shoulders in soft, shimmering ringlets. There was no way she was three days old. "She can't be mine," I didn't ask them, I just stated it. There was no way I was right; of course, I was there in her hair, her glowing blush. As I spoke, there seemed to be a nervous shuffling in the group.

"Well..." Heidi started, "That seems to be one of the things quite strange about her. Her appearance has advanced greatly, as you can see, in the space of those three days." She spoke matter-of-factly.

"She looks like a three year old!" I gasped.

"Can't you see yourself in her? Can't you see the father?" One of the other women piped up, and I recognized her as Isadora, one of the wives. I could see myself... and, I could see her father. Memories flooded back, and all those days I had lost with the Cullens had returned. It was Edward's green eyes she had. And her features, though more feminine and childish, were practically the same as his. I smiled sadly down at her. She looked up at me knowingly, and I could almost see the sympathy in her eyes. The others noticed that, too. "I'd say she's a week off being able to speak," Isadora grinned, refolding her muscled, manly arms. Wife or not, she was a warrior more than anything.

I could hardly speak, suddenly, I was overcome by grief. It was just me and Grace, from now on. I had absolutely no intention of staying here, and I couldn't go back to Charlie, or anyone else I used to know. I was living with my own piece of Edward. I wondered what he would think if he ever met her, or me, now. I don't think I'd want to see that, really, I can't imagine his discomfort, seeing what he' left behind. No, he shouldn't feel obliged to stay with Grace and me. I reached out to hold her, and everyone held their breath. Did they seriously think I would bite her? She did smell wonderful, but not tasty. As soon as my skin touched hers, I felt that same connection we once had. The one where she channelled her emotions to me. She didn't shudder at my touch, even though her soft skin was several degrees above mine. Used to it, with all these cooing harpies. Right now, she felt relieved, and there was disbelief there, too. She didn't think it was me. Not until we had the connection, of course. I didn't know if the connection was two-way or not, so I tried sending her my happiness and love. She smiled up at me appreciatively. "My little Grace." I said to myself, still smiling.

That was when things started crumbling. Sienna and Malcolm –Volturi guards – burst through. The action seemed very serious, but their faces were calm, unruffled. Sienna cleared her throat; an odd action for a vampire, before speaking, "Master Aro would like to request a meeting with you, since you have awoken, Isabella and Grace Swan." She said formally. Her gaze settled on the two of us, Grace still in my arms, and there seemed to be a quick flicker of emotion, before she became emotionless again. I didn't hesitate.

We got through to the main room, which had been decorated since I'd last seen it, when I'd first arrived. I could see everything; the texture on the walls, the lice in Jane's hair (kidding). I could hear everything, too; the other rooms, even what was going on outside the castle. I was a vampire. It seemed ridiculous to come to that realization so late, but I guess that was just it hitting me now. I was going to live forever, going to need to drink blood, keep out of sunlight. It was my dream – and my worst nightmare. In the main room, Aro, Caius and Marcus were sitting in their 'thrones'. There was an increasing fear coming from Grace, and sadness, as though she was expecting something terrible.

"Bella!" Aro cried happily, setting down the book he was reading. "And Grace," He practically sang cheerfully.

"Haven't killed the little half-breed, I see." Caius snickered. Nobody paid attention to him, except me. That was a question; why wasn't I affected by the need to drink blood?

"You're a little early up, we weren't quite ready for you," Aro said, with a thespian sorrow, "That might explain why you can bear to hold her."He nodded at Grace again.

"Personally, I'm almost at the end of my restraint," Jane muttered, receiving a glare from me.

"So, that's why? Does that mean I'm immune to blood?" I said hopefully, the idea of having to run from it annoyed me.

"Goodness no!" Aro laughed uneasily, avoiding my gaze. "This makes things worse, actually," He murmured, still looking away. He took a deep, sad breath, before looking up at me. "You see Bella, 'immunities' happen often. When you finish the change early, some effects are withheld for a while, thirst being the most common. Therefore, you will get the thirst, but it will be stronger, and you will never know when it strikes. You see the problem?" He said sadly. I just shook my head, confused and scared of what he was saying. Grace knew, I could feel it. "Well, we expected you to not be able to bear being near your daughter, so you wouldn't have time to be around her." I looked at him blankly, though I could guess what he was going to say. "So you do love your daughter? Well... I'm afraid you will be unable to keep her, if you want her to live."

AN: Oooh, cliffie :P

Sorry it's short, sorry it's crap, :/

I'm going on holiday in 2 days, so I'll try jam in another chapter, cause I got a good plan going on with this story, and I'm actually kinda tempted to tell you now, but I won't cause that'd ruin it :/

R&R? Cheeers,.

Thankies to all you reviewers, already reviewing, you're starssssss (:

Rachee (: xxx