"So, not only do we have an amazing Ball organized, but tonight we can introduce a new member of the Volturi, changed not but a day ago. She is no doubt a beauty but her power is one we have only, without any other word to use, dreamt of. One with the ability to stop your own," Aro paused to survey the room as others cried out in shock and awe. "One with the ability to turn it against you. It is a power we have waited for. So long it has taken to find someone like this… So, may I present, Miss Isabella Swan."

The doors swung open and my breath caught.

Never before had I seen her so beautiful. I didn't think I could see her so stunning but, again, I was proved wrong. The gold and ivory dress clung to her body showing her striking curves. Her mask was elegant, just like her and the diamonds around her neck signified her change, and the fact I wasn't there for her.

Oh my gosh, it's Bella! We so need to take her on a shopping trip when we get back… I hope you heard that Edward…

Bella smiled as Alice's thoughts struck a chord in my dead heart. I'd missed that smile so much it was unreal to see it again. It looked genuine but she must have been thinking of something else. No, she hated me…Love...She doesn't love me. How could she? Not after what she saw.

Bella looked to the floor, as if she was suppressing tears. What in the world did she have to cry about? Nothing could have hurt her more than me. She was probably thinking about me… and how much I'd hurt her… Her red eyes trailed over my family, behind her mask, taking each of us in. She winced as her eyes came to me. I truly had hurt her.

Aro summoned her over and – I hoped, though I couldn't tell – she reluctantly came.

Isabella, I heard echo in his mind. Why would he call her that? She hates that name…or have I changed her so much that she likes it now? You are to sit on this chair and each of us will come up, state their name and their power. You will then try it out and they will give you tips. Why did she just sigh? It needs to happen. We have some of the most elite vampires here to date, Isabella. They have brilliance. Some of which we need double.

I turned to Carlisle, about to tell him what is going on but Aro called our attention and beat me to it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, for Isabella's gift to work to the best of her…ability, we require you to come up, one by one, and introduce yourself and what your gift is. We shall start with those alone and then move onto covens. Please form a queue." Bella frowned and took her seat. How I wished I could read her mind, now more than ever.

Esme went to talk to Tanya, Kate and Irina, bringing Carlisle along with her. Us 'siblings' were left to our own devices. Mine wasn't the most brilliant. All I could think of was Bella, I could only look at her and my heart was frantic. I just wanted to hold her... I wanted to but I knew I couldn't. She wouldn't let me.

"Edward," Alice grabbed my wrist, getting my mind back to the present. "You're making Jasper giddy, please try and calm down. I know it's hard but try." I nodded.

Emmett clapped me on the back. "We all miss her, y'know. She was like a sister to us."

I had no reply to that. Yes, they did love her from what I could tell and they did all miss her but they, if they could get near her, wouldn't be told to leave. Getting near her was a problem in itself, even now. Jane had moved around, floating around her shoulder, watching each vampire that came up to her like a hawk.

A few women asked me if I would like to dance but, each time I had to politely decline. Most would stay away from seeing my face that reflected my empty heart. Thankfully, I was saved when Aro called the larger covens up.

Denali was up first but I noticed how silent they all became when they got to the queue. Perhaps it was Jane or Aro but it felt like it was something else. Tanya introduced herself as the coven leader and the others presented themselves. Then, it was us.

"Carlisle Cullen and my gift is compassion." Carlisle began but Carmen caught my arm, distracting me and pulled me down so she could whisper in my ear.

"She is a wonderful girl, Edward. Do not loose her over a stupid misunderstanding." She then linked arms with Eleazar and went to dance with the rest of her coven.

I had tuned out for most of the introductions but I heard the end of Jasper's. "…and manipulate the emotions of those around me," and as if to prove his point he sent out a wave of happiness.

Maybe I wouldn't have done what I did without Jasper's awkward help. "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen. My gift is the ability to read minds." I bent down, taking her hand and pulling it to my lips.

Electricity raced up and down my fingers and my lips felt like they were catching fire, as if I and she were still human. I heard her gasp. Seconds later Jane was on the floor next to me, crying out in pain as Bella was turning her gift against her. I was still holding her hand and my eyes were trying to show how much I loved her. Jane was about to go after me and Bella…Did that mean she didn't hate me?

Bella fiddled with the flower on her dress and handed me a small piece of paper.

Then she ran.

I stood glued to the spot for I don't know how long. It felt like years but when I came to my senses Jane was still on the floor and had only just stopped crying out. Slowly I opened the paper, taking deep breaths as I realised Bella had just ran from me. The rich paper held her unmistakable handwriting.

Don't forget.

I frowned at the two simple words. Those two words held more puzzle, mystery and confusion that the Volturi itself.

Then it hit me.

She was going to provoke the Volturi into killing her.

"Alice, where is Bella going?" She just looked at me like I was crazy. "Alice!" She shook her head and shut her eyes, trying to concentrate. I dug into her thoughts.

Bella standing at the top of the clock tower looking down on Volterra, waiting for the sun to come up. Rain starting to fall from the sky but the clouds don't block out the sun. A rainbow forming and the light shining though, hitting her, making the whole square light up. Humans gasping from the square below in the early hour of the morning.

Alice's breath caught and I raced out of the room, pushing vampires out of the way as I heard Jane curse. She was coming after me, or at least trying. Another reason I liked being fast.

I sped around corners and narrowly avoided opening doors but soon I was out in the open morning air. It wasn't as windy as I expected it to be but the rain was already starting to fall. Inhaling as much air as I could, I sprinted towards the doors that would lead me to the top of the clock tower and my love. My only love. I would never love anyone else. I couldn't...

Grabbing the door handle and skidding slightly, I pulled it open and made for the stairs, not bothering to shut it behind me. It didn't matter, Bella was the only thing that mattered. Everything seemed to slow down when the stone steps glided under my feet. I was practically floating up the stairs that kept turning.

I was at the bell in under a minute and I realised I needed to be on the roof. Bella wasn't in the bell room in the vision. She was above me. I pushed myself out of the window, thankful there wasn't glass blocking my way or that I wasn't afraid of heights. Using vampire speed I sprinted up the wall.

Bella was looking down on Volterra. Her eyes were sad but her posture was strong, like she was trying to hold something on her shoulders that she didn't have to. I didn't like seeing her like that.

"I saw you coming…" She blinked slowly.

"Bella –"

"Don't Edward."

"Bella, why? Just tell me why you'd do this to yourself. I'll go."

"Why?" She turned to face me. "Isn't it plainly obvious why? You don't love me or want me. You only loved me as a human, clearly not as much as I love you. You love Victoria… Now Aro has his claws stuck in me. There's no point to this life, Edward."

"Where in the world did you get the idea I didn't love you? Or love Victoria for that matter?"

"Well, you were kissing her."

"I wasn't kissing her, Bella!"

"What would you call it then?! Trading DNA samples?!"

"Bella," I sighed. "Why would I kiss Victoria anyway? After what she and James almost did to you? If you'd stayed there a second longer you would see she was kissing me and I wasn't doing anything."

"That still doesn't explain why you didn't move or push her off."

"Jane."

We both stared out on the now wet Volterra. I realised we were both getting soaked.

"You'll get a cold –"

"I can't anymore, which brings me to my other point. You can't still love me."

"Why not?!"

"Not as in you're not allowed…As in you don't. You only loved me as a human."

"What?! –"

"Let me finish, please," she waited and I stayed quiet. The very idea that I didn't love her was idiotic. How could I not? "You only loved me as a human. You wouldn't change me, no matter how many times I asked. It was as if you only wanted me for about 80 years if that, not forever. Even though you kept saying you'd love me forever, it was my forever, not yours. You didn't really love me…" She blinked as a raindrop hit her eyelid.

"How can you say that? I've come half way around the world for you and I'd gladly do it a thousand times again if it would make any difference. I hate the idea of not being with you and it hurts to be without you. Each second apart feels like something is trying to pull my heart out and the only thing that can stop it is you, Bella." She gave me an odd look and stepped a little closer, though I didn't notice.

"I hate Victoria. She is the vilest thing I have ever come across in my long life. What she did to you made me so angry I was lashing out at each member of my family. Jasper had to stay away in case he got too angry himself and Emmett could hardly hold me down. Just thinking about what she did to you make me mad." She was right in front of me now and I took her hands. She surprised me when she didn't flinch away.

"I can't stand anyone hurting you, Bella, and I hate myself so much because I hurt you first. I started all this and if I hadn't we'd both still be in Forks, happy, together and in love! It hurts so much to know we could have had that and it's my entire fault. One giant, stupid mistake caused you to loose your humanity when I was trying to save it. I left, trying to save you. Give you a happy, normal life without vampires getting in the way, interrupting everything. I wanted you to go to college, get married, grow old with someone, and be happy… I just hurt you more by staying away. I got you into this mess when I could have stopped it by staying with you. And I hate myself so much because I can't take it back and I would. I really would if I could but…"

Her hands touched the sides of my arms and I felt the pleasant burning from her touch I had missed. "But…" She pressed.

"But I can't and there's no other way I can show how much I love you apart from this." I hadn't noticed until now, how close we were.

"What are you really saying?" Her eye brows pulled together a little, showing her confusion.

"I am saying, Isabella Marie Swan, that I love you and only you."

"Edward," she looked to the floor and I wondered if she still doubted how much I loved her. Then, as if hearing my doubt, she looked straight back up again. "I'm just trying to understand everything. How you could possibly still love me. I'm not worth any of this. I don't deserve you. Not after what happened with Jacob…"

I frowned. "What d'you mean with 'Jacob'?"

She sank to the floor and started mumbling words. "Jacob…werewolf…"

"He's a werewolf?!" My rage was building and she could see this. How in the world did I leave her with a werewolf? The idea was that I left her in more danger – even if Victoria hadn't taken her – hurt.

Bella just looked up with saddened eyes. "That's not the worst of it… He kissed me…"

"He…" Normally, I would have been mad with fury but after everything that happened I felt totally worn out. The fury vanished and I just sank to the floor next to her. My mind was trying to work out what that meant. Eight months would be long enough to forget about me and fall in love all over again…

She got up onto her knees and took my hands. "I don't like him in that way, Edward. He's always only been a friend to me and I wanted it to stay like that… But… he didn't…"

"Do you love him?" I murmured. If she did, I knew I wouldn't stop her. If she didn't want me she didn't have to have me.

"No! I…"

I looked up to see her staring at the stony floor. Pulling myself up onto my knees, I gently removed one of my hands from hers and lightly pulled her chin up so she was looking at me. "Bella…"

"I…I love you."

I didn't need telling twice. My lips crashed down on hers and all the boundaries were pushed away. Our lips moved feverishly together and I kissed her properly for the first time ever. In that moment, I didn't know how I ever lived without her. We didn't notice the rain that had become wild around us. I only cared for her and would only ever care for her. When we broke away for unnecessary air, I pulled her close and whispered her name. We didn't notice Aro, Marcus, Caius, Felix, Demetri, Heidi, Alec and Jane appear where we climbed up. Well, not until Caius coughed.

We jumped up and I realised that Victoria was in the shadows behind them. I pulled Bella closer, wrapping my arm around her waist, refusing to let any space form between us. We were both in danger now if Victoria's thoughts told the truth. Bella tensed beside me as Aro stepped forward.

"Well, isn't this a lovely reunion." Neither of us spoke. "Were you planning on putting on a light show for our city?" Again, neither of us spoke. "Spit it out, we haven't got all day!"

I was about to let a growl out but Bella spoke. "I was going to wait till dawn and when the sun hit me, you would all come and get me. I didn't see a point in living if Edward didn't love me," I squeezed her hand trying to point out I never stopped loving her. "And I knew you would kill me. The Volturi don't like to look weak and I would have violated your only rule."

Aro raised his eyebrows. "I admit, Isabella, you know us well. If that were the case we would have killed you, despite how precious you are to us. However, looking at how close you and Edward are now, I imagine you have had a change of heart."

"I'd like to go with him."

"I'm afraid we can't do that."

"Why not?" Bella's temper was growing.

"Well, I'm afraid you're a member now. You can't just leave without our blessing."

"Why would I need your blessing to leave somewhere I don't belong?"

"Oh, but Isabella, you do belong here."

"I do not, Aro. I belong with Edward."

"I beg to differ."

Then came the staring contest. Each superior member of the Volturi glared at us. Jane, glaring intently at Bella, instead of flickering to me and back to her, like the rest of them. Victoria slid from behind them to in front and I understood that the Volturi were definitely not on our side.

"Two lovers together at last, how sweet." She cooed. "Pity it can't last."

I couldn't think of anything to say to that so I stayed silent. Bella, on the other hand, had a different plan.

"So you say, Victoria. I'm not sure how that will work to your advantage seeing all the things Aro's plans have taught and shown me." A small smile played on my angel's lips as she tilted her head a little. "A few days in this castle and I already know the hierarchy perfectly. We are up on the clock tower and all this time you could have got to us before now but they didn't let you because they wanted to see this play out. Victoria, you are only a bit of fun to them. It means nothing whether you survive this."

"She is lying, Victoria." Aro whispered beside her. "We want to see you win this fight."

"You are aware," I interjected. "That your thoughts say the exact opposite, aren't you Aro?" His glare on me increased immensely.

Victoria waved her hand. "No matter, my plan works perfectly whether they chose to help or watch. Though, after seeing all the mayhem you two have started, I think they'll be happy to help."

"Do hurry up about it, Victoria. The sun is almost up and the rain isn't blocking it." Marcus mumbled. He wasn't pushing her, he just didn't want humans seeing diamonds coming from the top of the tower, or so his thoughts said.

"Not to worry. They can't escape up here, no matter how hard they try. It won't be long now." She said with a smirk and stepped forward. "No where to run," I felt myself step back and my foot almost slip from the roof and my angel pulled me from falling. "No where to hide. Bella, Edward, its over."

I could see it now. Her thoughts showed everything about her plan she had hidden vigorously. Nothing I could do would stop what was going to happen to us. Her murderous plan couldn't be stopped.

Or at least, that was what I thought.

"Edward, you trust me don't you?" Bella asked, apprehensively.

My eyebrows pulled together, showing my anguish. "Of course, my love."

She took a deep breath. "Trust me with this then. Okay?"

I nodded unsure of what was going on. What was she going to do? "Bella –"

I couldn't finish my sentence because she pushed me off the roof. I was falling and I knew even a vampire would perish in the fall.

I love you, Bella. I'm sorry was my last thought.


A/N: C'yeah!
They are (were) finally together! Whoop! I realised with this chapter how much I've missed writing about Edward's crooked smile and butterscotch eyes. I, personally, needed to get them back together because I was missing the old Edward... Y'know, the epitome of romance itself... -sigh-

I know I updated and it said that chapter 22 was up but I really uploaded the preface. I thought it was about time for one of them.

Still, that was that and now Edward is falling to a stony death. Ain't I lovely?

Update for...More chapters?

Emma