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Chapter 17: Fate

Bella was warming up a little now. I was grateful for that fact, but my mind still lingered on if this was our last hour. The only reunion we would get.

We were lead into an elevator by Jane. This would take us to the main level. As soon as we were all in the elevator the three of them relaxed. I pulled Bella closer to me. Knowing they were not as under control of there thirst as I was. Bella's scent was an over powering thing, especially in such a close confinement.

I heard there thoughts, and knew how much the scent was enticing them.

I was thankful when we stepped out of the elevator into a lobby. The same one I had been in yesterday.

I saw Gianna behind the desk. Poor human, I was slightly happy they hadn't seen her as useless yet. Bella seemed surprised when she saw Gianna was human.

She was not the least bit surprised to see us all enter, she bid Jane a cheery hello.

We waked through the lobby and past her desk. They led us through the doors I had just passed through hours ago.

Alec, Jane's twin brother was on the other side who greeted us. He was surprised to see all of us though.

"They send you out for one and you come back with two ……and half." He glanced at Bella, It made me worried. What was in store for us. "Nice work."

He must have been warned to block his thoughts. I couldn't read them clearly.

"Welcome back Edward, you seem in a better mood." A better mood? How could I be in a better mood? Was he being funny? I thought I had lost Bella, hence the poor mood. And now I may be leading her to death. How was that better?

"Marginally," was my reply because I guess after everything at least Bella was alive, for now.

Alec turned from me and gazed at Bella, looking her over. Trying to see what all the fuss was about. He finally deemed Bella as nothing to die over. Worthless.

"And this was the cause of all the trouble," he said with a dark chuckle.

I wanted to inform him of just how much trouble I would go through for her incase he had missed any of my pleas from the day before. He did not know the depth of emotion and love Bella stirred in me. I smiled at him.

He would never know what love like this felt like.

Felix's thoughts hit me. Threatening Bella.

Threatening me showing me the torture you wished to do to me was one thing, I would not let even the slightest thought about Bella being tortured. I turned to him, a low growl worked its way into my chest.

He held his hand up and called me forward with his finger. Beckoning me forward. I was about to move when Alice reached for my arm.

"Patience," she cautioned. It was rather handy having Alice with me after all. She shared her thoughts with me on what might lay ahead for us and it seemed that Aro truly didn't want harm to come to me, however he still didn't know about Bella being here or Alice for that matter. As much as I wanted to put Felix in his place, I had to think of Bella's safety first. There was still a chance, a small one, that we would make it out of this. We had to, I would not allow this to be the last of Bella, take me in her place if they must. But don't take Bella. I couldn't allow it or bare it for that matter.

"Aro will be so pleased to see you again." Alec replied

"Let's not keep him waiting," Jane suggested with excitement in her voice.

The fear rose up in me again. Bella still clung to me tightly and she seemed less fearful than before. How I wish she would learn some sort of self preservation. I wasn't really sure if she understood the danger that was present. I held her close to my bare chest; her warmth was so soothing to my cold skin. Now was the moment of truth.

We walked down the long hallway. I wondered which room we would enter.

We stopped in the middle of the hallway. Alec slid open a panel hiding the plain door that lead to the feeding room.

My worst fears were beginning to come true. This was not the place I wanted Bella to be. This was the room they brought humans to in order to feed. Alec held the door open for us to enter.

It was cold and damp. My body tensed when I saw how many vampires awaited my arrival. Our arrival.

Everyone turned toward us when we entered the room. Aro was pleased to have Jane return to him.

"Jane, dear one, you've returned!" As Aro moved forward I noticed Bella's mouth drop open. She was obviously surprised by Aro's movement, or as he got closer, his appearance. I was thankful that he hadn't yet realized just who Jane had brought back.

He gently planted a kiss on Jane, "Ah, Jane you are such a comfort to me."

His thoughts went to me. He was happy to have me back, alive. He felt it would have been such a waste If I were to be destroyed. Plus he did not wish to hurt his friend Carlisle.

He finally turned to see the rest of what Jane had brought back.

His thoughts were almost gleeful and surprised when he realized that both Bella and Alice were with me.

"And Alice and Bella, too!" Aro clapped his hands in pleasure. "This is a happy surprise. Wonderful!" He seemed truly delighted to see us all here. I was unsure as to why he held such great pleasure to see the two of them. Hell I was unsure of everything at this point. Aro would not let me into his mind. Knowing I would see what was coming. It was like dealing with Bella's invisible force field. Completely left out of the loop.

Bella just stared in shock at the warm welcome we received from Aro. I hoped she was holding up ok. This must be a great deal of shock for her. More so than James.

"Felix, be a dear and tell my brothers of our company. I am sure they wouldn't want to miss this." Felix skulked off to retrieve the others all the while his thoughts were on our demise and the pleasure he would have in destroying me.

Aro turned to me. "You see, Edward?" he had a tone of matter of factly. "What did I tell you? Aren't you glad I didn't give you what you wanted yesterday?" Aro was very pleased with himself.

"Yes, Aro, I am," I winced at the memory of what I had asked and why. I unconsciously tightened my grip around Bella. She was with me now. This was all I had dreamed of the last few days. I just hoped this dream would not become a nightmare.

"I love a happy ending," Aro seemed truly happy about having us all here. I wasn't sure where he was going with this but the mention of a "happy ending" filled me with some hope. If we were just in another room I would feel a little bit better. Aro continued," They are so rare. But I want the whole story. How did this happen? Alice?" He turned to her, for the first time, with a curious stare. "Your brother seemed to think you infallible, but apparently there was some mistake." Aro seemed to have a need for gossip almost like a teenage girl. I wondered if this was what happened living an isolated life for centuries.

"Oh, I am far from infallible." Alice showed no tension in her voice but there was some concern in her thoughts. She thought she would be blamed or possibly punished for such a mistake. She was, of course, already punishing herself and cursing Rosalie. "As you can see today, I cause as many problems as I cure them."

"You're too modest. I have seen some of your more amazing exploits, and I must admit I've never observed anything like your talent. Wonderful!" Again Aro was giddy. He truly seemed to be enjoying himself. I hoped his good mood continued and we were released soon. Alice shot me a nervous glance she was unaware of how Aro knew anything of her talents. Aro being observant caught the questioning look from Alice.

"I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced properly at all, have we? It's just I feel I know you already, and I tend to get ahead of myself. Your brother introduced us yesterday, in a peculiar way. You see, I share some of your brother's talent, only I am limited in a way that he is not."

The envy was clear in Aro's voice and thoughts. I thought it would be the perfect time to pay him a compliment. I wanted to keep him in his good mood and feed his ego a bit. "And exponentially more powerful," I looked at Alice to explain, "Aro needs physical contact to hear your thoughts, but he hears much more than I do. You know I can only hear what's passing through your head in a moment. Aro hears every thought your mind has ever had." I was pleased to hear that Aro appreciated my humbleness. Alice had questions of her own though.

"You showed him everything? He knows all about Bella, James, and the rest of the family?" she was shocked and a bit scared.

I inclined my head slightly at Alice. Aro noticed our conversation and the envy was back in his tone. "But to hear from a distance…" Aro sighed heavily showing his frustration with his perceived inadequacies. "That would be so convenient."

Then everyone in the room turned to face the door and the others entering. Marcus and Caius had arrived with Felix. Neither Marcus nor Caius looked pleased to be here. They did not share the enthusiasm of Aro about our presence.

"Marcus, Caius look!" Pure excitement oozed from Aro. "Bella is alive after all, and Alice is here with her! Isn't that wonderful!" Aro's excitement was clear but did not spread to the others. Caius and Marcus drifted towards their seats. As Marcus passed Aro he reached his hand out and let his thoughts pass to Aro. Marcus was surprised by the intensity of mine and Bella's relationship. I tried to hold suppress a laugh.

I explained swiftly, "Marcus sees relationships. He is surprised by the intensity of ours."

"So convenient," Aro repeated to himself. "It takes quite a bit to surprise Marcus, I assure you." Aro changed the topic suddenly. "It's just so difficult to understand, even now. How can you stand so close to her like that?"

"It is not without effort," was my reply. I honestly wanted to wisk her away and hold her in my arms forever. She was what I had desired for the last six months.

"But still- la tua cantante! What a waste!" Aro was amazed by my restraint.

I let out a humorless chuckle at this. Aro really didn't understand just how much Bella meant to me. "I look at it more as a price." Aro would never be able to comprehend the love I have for Bella. She is my life, the reason for my whole existence. He would always be preoccupied by her scent and as much as I loved her scent, her presence in my life was so much more important. I would forever pay the price of not drinking from her if it meant keeping her in my life.

Aro was still unsure. "A very high price"

"Opportunity cost." I would give anything to spend time with Bella and I would give my life if she no longer lived. Aro was missing the point completely.

"If I hadn't smelled her through your memories, I wouldn't have believed the call of anyone's blood could be so strong. I've never felt anything like it myself. Most of us would trade much for such a gift and yet you……."

"Waste it," I finished for him. He was obviously stuck on how I could not just take her life to feed my need for blood. He didn't realize Bella filled so many other needs for me, all more important than her blood. The rest of her called to me more than her blood.

"Ah, how I miss my friend Carlisle! You remind me of him only he was not so angry"

"Carlisle out shines me in many other ways as well."

"I certainly never thought to see Carlisle bested for self control of all things, but you put him to shame."

"Hardly," I replied impatiently. This meaningless chat was becoming old. It held no value. I needed to know our fate. Aro had existed for so long that time tended to be irrelevant for him.

But to me the minutes since we entered this room. The feeding room. I shuddered slighty at the thought. The minutes had past quickly, but the time, felt like an eternity. Stuck in a constant nightmare. Where you had no choice but to stand and wait for death.

I needed to know our fate. Mainly Bella's fate. As long as I got her out of this, alive and well. My fate meant nothing.

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