Chapter 13

Nothing is Permanent – Not even Death

With my heart was pounding in my temples, fading into the background of sounds as I raced over to them – Paul quickly dragged the newborn's body over to the fire – it felt so daunting to look down at Renesmee's bleeding body as it covered my father's. Edward and Bella were right at my side; my hands shook violently as I rolled her over, and to my relief she took a shocking breath in as her eyes opened.

Watching the bit marks quickly heal, I pulled Renesmee into my arms and kissed her fiercely, "Renesmee! I love you… I love you so much!"

She was embraced by her parents and family but then I looked down, tears rained from my eyes as I gazed down at my father's tranquil face, my eyes and mind traumatised at the sight of his broken body – his waist having been completely separated from his torso. There was no thought running through his mind what so ever, I grasped his hand but nothing was being absorbed; unable to support my own body any longer, I collapsed upon my hands, trying to breathe as I struggled to even touch the hand resting on his chest.

Everything just went silent, I didn't even notice my family standing around my father's corpse; Didyme stammered before falling to her knees, Jane's hand came to her shoulder, and my Mum knelt down and cushioned my father's head in her lap.

"Aro was a good leader," began Carlisle. "He was a dear friend, a loyal brother, and above all a loving father to the very end."

Through the steam of tears, my father's face was so peaceful; you could almost swear his hysteric smile still coated his lips, but I sat with protest in my heart.

"N-no. There has to be something we can do!"

"Gino, I'm sorry-" started Carlisle.

"No!" I defied. "He can't die. He's my father." I looked down upon him, comforting his hand, as he had done with mine ever since I became a part of this world.

Marcus knelt down beside me and brushed the hair from my father's closed eyes, with Caius behind my mother; their faces were deep in sorrow.

"Father, this can't be the end. You're the most devoted vampire I have ever known – you devoted your entire existence to help the vampire world. Come on, Father, wake up; I lost Mum... don't let me loose you too..."

Marcus and Caius pulled his hips up to meet his waist. Renesmee, Didyme, and Orithyia were all shedding tears but nowhere near as much as I was.

"Father, I love you so much, and I could have never asked for a better family; I'm proud to be your son and I've never been more proud of anything than to call you my father... wake up!."

Finally I just collapsed onto his chest, my tears melted into his clothes as Mother began stroking my hair; I struggled to feel the comfort that came from being with my father – the comfort I had felt ever since I was a little boy. Everything was still but then I felt something.

"And I've never been more proud to be your father…"

When those words that came into my mind, I looked up, and I watched my father's eyes open with his heart-warming smile across his lips.

He held me close, "The greatest treasure I'll always possess," he whispered, "Is having you for a son."

His body had reattached it's self – I completely forgot – vampire skin had healing powers. With overwhelming relief I forced myself into his arms with Jane, Didyme, Orithyia, and Alec piling on top of me, but after helping Father to his feet, Mum kissed him passionately; followed by the embrace of the entire Volturi coven.

"I thought we lost you, my Love." Mum whispered.

"I thought I lost you too." He replied.

Father was then embraced by his loved ones; his nieces, his brothers.

Carlisle smiled fondly, "Welcome back, my friend."

And then finally Renesmee came to him, "You saved my life." She panted.

Carlisle and Edward thanked Sam's pack for co-operating as we started the short journey back to the Cullen's house; but my mind was still lingering the very nerve of the Romanian coven to even have the ghoul of doing something this dangerous and suicidal.

"I swear," I spat, "If I see any of those Romanians I'll-"

"Fret not, my son, their insolence will cost them dearly." Insured Father.

That night we celebrated at the Cullen's house, Alice in no time at all had the house looking upbeat and entertaining – the house was lit with light blue, purple, pink and white fairy lights and upbeat music playing – Carlisle kindly brought out a few glasses of human blood for my kin; and believe it or not we danced to the music, though I saw Demetri and Heidi kissing out on the balcony, and Father had a dance with Alice before he lovingly danced with my mother.

Jasper came to me and shook my hand followed by a brief embrace, "You did well, Ambrogio. I'm proud and thankful for what you did for Renesmee."

"Thank you so much, Jasper."

The shape-shifters were having their celebration somewhere else – other than Jacob's lot – as the three families celebrated together, I saw Jake dancing with Nesmee; they were having fun, so I left them for an hour or so before I walked over. Jacob's face went from happy to annoy in one-eighth of a second.

"Gino," greeted Renesmee.

I turned to Jacob, "Jake, may I borrow Renesmee for a while?" though it was really not a request.

I took her into the living room, twirled her in my arms, and we began swaying to the music but the expression on her face was not really happy.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Her chocolate brown eyes swept the room for a moment before meeting mine again, "So... it only took all of this to happen, a near death experience, just for you to admit that you love me."

We slowly stopped swaying; and cupping her face I delicately kissed her. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry," I confessed. "I suppose I should do this properly." I then got down on one knee, almost instantly all eyes slowly turned to us.

"Renesmee Carlie Cullen, I have loved you all of my life and I promise to love you with all that I am for the rest of this life and beyond eternity." I then pulled out a little box from my pocket. "So would you do me the extraordinary honour of becoming my wife?" Opening the box it revealed an opal engagement ring, with small diamonds around the glowing gem.

My father's face was overjoyed as he smiled through his fingers, Carlisle, Esme's and my Mother's expression was almost as overjoyed; Jane, Alec, and Jasper's faces were happy and content, others such as Alice, Rosalie, and Bella were shocked in a good way, but Jacob's mind was so blank that I couldn't hear a thing. A smile on her face and tears in her eyes, Renesmee looked around the room, even though I already knew what her answer was.

But then she yelled, "Yes!"

As I placed the ring on her finger a round of applause echoed around us, and, from the top floor, Alice, Jasper, and Emmett began throwing pink and white rose petals; but then Edward slowly approached us smiling.

"You have shown true loyalty and compassion, Voltago, and I know that she will be safe with you. You both have my blessing."

We shook hands. "Thank you, Edward... Father."

My father came to me and hugged me; Renesmee received welcome-to-the-family hugs from Didyme, Orithyia, and even Jane, while I went over to a distraught Jacob.

"Jake?"

Jacob was trying his hardest not to cry, "Y-You saved her when I couldn't have. You kept her safe during the battle, when I couldn't have. So thank you." He then firmly shook my hand.

"I promise we will visit very often." I replied.

He nodded, but his mind was shattered with disappointment. "She's just like her mom. But I suppose she knows what she wants; and I'll always be there if something goes wrong."

Tears were in Jacob's eyes but he toughened up for the rest of the party and for Renesmee.