Chapter 15: Explanations

"Where do I begin?" I asked her sheepishly, bowing my head and lowering my gaze to her feet. She was wearing stiletto heels. Hardly the type for being on a tour.

"How about how you are still alive?" She was so angry I imagined puffballs of smoke coming out of her ears and her face turning a bright red.

"I…I didn't know everyone thought I was dead…" I lied. I couldn't tell her I was a vampire, so I tried to make the story sound as convincing as possible. I searched my brain for anything that could help but I found nothing.

"Don't lie to me. Why do you look so strange then? Why do you look like him?" she asked, flashing her angry eyes at Edward for the slightest second. She sounded like she hated him…he was my suspected murderer after all.

"Mom, I don't know how to say anything that won't freak you out," I said, hoping with all my might she would just drop the subject.

"I'm a big girl, let me handle it." All of a sudden, I had an idea.

"Mom, do you remember the huge fire scene at that ballet studio?"

"Of course I do…"

"Well, it wasn't a 'crime scene', so to speak. Someone…someone really bad, was trying to murder me. In that very place, I was almost killed. But Edward saved me."

"Then why is your skin really pale, and your eyes a golden shade?"

"I was all torn up from my almost murderer. And I suffered from being burned. I had to get some new skin, because from all the burn damage. And I have contacts in…you know to change the color." I gulped, hoping that my mom would fall for it. Her incredulous expression wasn't helpful. "I like gold," I finished lamely.

"Honey, I'm not buying any of that. I'm not as stupid as you may think. Those people over there…all resemble your boyfriend…and you. Only they look more evil, and they have red eyes. And they looked like they wanted to eat us! Even if your story were true, that still needs to be explained…"

"Mom…I'm so sorry. I didn't want to tell you what I was." I looked at Edward with anguish in my eyes, and he came to wrap his arm around my waist. He kissed my temple, and I turned back to my mother. "We're sort of…I'm a…"

"We're vampires," Edward said calmly. I heard Phil gasp, and then he protectively put his arm around my mother's shoulders. Tears were rolling down her cheeks, but she wiped them away, trying not to show it.

"Honey, this is the honesty I would have liked! You were believed to be dead! For over a year!"

"Mom! Please forgive me!" I ran over to her and hugged tightly, but it was a bit awkward because Phil never let go of her.

"You will explain this won't you? I'm so confused, I could die!" She smiled shyly, most likely from the shock of her daughter becoming a vampire.

So I quickly explained every detail to her that I thought wouldn't freak her out too badly. I left out how you become a vampire, and how painful the process was, but I proudly revealed to her my diet.

She looked at me with such admiration after I told her my choice to live off of animals instead of humans, and seemed content with all the information I gave her. I could tell she was still wide-eyed though, so I tried changing the subject.

"Now you owe me an explanation," I said. "How did you end up in Volterra?"

"Oh," she said, a bit shocked by the direction of our discussion. "Phil and I wanted to take a vacation, so we went to D.C. Then we saw someone gathering a bunch of people to take a cheap tour to Volterra! I was so excited I was almost jumping out of my feet! I'm not sorry I came though, or I wouldn't have found out you were alive! Anyways, I wanted to know more about your…ability."

I sighed and impatiently explained it to her in the best of my knowledge. I finally told her that I had some business to take care of. She stopped pestering me with questions and allowed me to take care of my duty.

Using my power, I commanded all of the vampires to become "vegetarians". Aro laughed, and nodded his head. I wanted to see them try to hunt another human…

Then, I turned to the crowd of people that cowered into each other, trying not to meet my gaze. They heard everything I told my mom, and they were terrified.

I laughed to myself, and erased their memories, to the point of before Aro said anything to them. I let my mother and Phil's memories stay, because I didn't want to have to pretend to be dead anymore, and I didn't want to explain everything again.

I winked at my mom as the cowering people straightened up and started gaping at the surroundings again.

Give them the tour of their lives. If there's any problems of any sorts, come find me. I'll be in the rainiest place in the world, I told Aro. I winked at him too, and then turned to face Edward.

"You have an explanation to give too, Edward. Why did you decide to just show up a year later?"

His brow furrowed and he looked into my eyes sincerely. "Bella, I came every day. I came, hoping you would show up, but you never did. The Volturi wouldn't show me where to find you. I kept trying to join the Volturi, so I could be with you. They wouldn't let me because they thought we would be too powerful together. It turns out you didn't need me after all…"

"Oh," I said plainly.

He smiled his crooked smile and commended me for my accomplishments today, hugging me snuggly. "So what are we going to do now, my queen?" he teased, beginning to walk away from the scene before us. Nice change of subject.

"Go find a new home," I said calmly, beaming up at him. He chuckled and kissed me on my lips. It was a little uncomfortable, kissing while walking side by side, but I wasn't complaining. Even though it wasn't necessary for me to breathe, I was out of breath when we finally pulled apart.

"So, where are we going to live?"

"Hawaii…Mount Wai'ale'ale…" I grinned up at him and he chuckled under his breath.

"May I ask why?" he inquired.

"I googled it and it looked cool," I said, giggling like a little girl. He laughed heartily at my remark and tightened his hold on me.

"Is someone of your power just going to make important decisions like this so unprofessionally?" he asked, winking at me.

I shrugged my shoulders and leaned my head on his shoulder.

"Why not? You have a better place for us to live?"

"Yeah, how about somewhere where you could finish school, and go to college? Our queen has to be better educated, you know. You missed high school while you were here becoming powerful. Shame on you."

"Nah, I like my idea."

"You know, I have an even better idea!" His enthusiasm made me laugh harder.

"Oh yes, and what would that be?"

His face turned serious. I tried to wipe the smile off my face, but I was still giddy with delight. "You could always marry me, you know."

The smile on my face was gone. "Are you…proposing?" I asked frantically. I was sure my face was three shades paler than before.

"Not today, this is hardly the place. But it's coming. Don't let your guard down."

I didn't like the sound of marriage at my age. Sure, I couldn't imagine ever living without Edward, but I didn't think that marriage was even necessary. However, it did seem better because Charlie still thought I was dead. One less person to hurt. And my mom knew the deepness of our relationship…she would understand, wouldn't she?

I shook all those thoughts out of my head, and smiled warmly at him. "We don't need to find a home yet, right? Let's just relax for now. We did it!"

He laughed again, and picked me up off my feet. He carried me effortlessly, out of the city gates, and into the twilight.

Yes, maybe marriage wouldn't be such a bad idea.

A/N: Thanks for helping me and encouraging me to get through this story! I think I'm done…I'm sorry if you're not satisfied with this chapter. I don't know whether or not to make an epilogue or not, so if you want me to, tell me in either the review, or message me. Also, I want to know what story you guys want me to write next! So please look at my poll! Thanks!

Elizabeth