'Izzy, calm down,' Alice sighed as we tried and failed to plan the engagement ball.

It had been three days since Alec left on my father's orders and I had been worrying my head off. At first I paced, my half human side shining out, and I fidgeted, I couldn't sit still but then I turned more to my vampire side: I grew stiller and stiller. Today, however, it was coming and going in phases and it was driving the poor Cullen women, who were still helping me plan, insane.

'We've got a party to plan,' Rosalie said but to no avail.

'Izzy,' Aunt Esme sighed, all the Cullens with the exception of Edward had gotten used to my new name. 'I've been a vampire longer than Alice and Rose, and I know better than they do the reputation your fiancée and his sister have.

'In the Volturi, they're seen as invincible. Many people have tried to kill them but haven't managed either being torture by Jane or having their senses removed by Alec - together those two are deadly and they will stick together.'

I stared at my Aunt shocked by what she had said - I had forgotten about their deadliness, in my mind those words couldn't be connected with my soon to be family because they were so different when they were actually in Volturi and the secret of us wasn't at threat. She was right, though: together no one could get at Jane or Alec, they would be perfectly -

'Principessa Isabella!' a loud voice yelled from outside my door before I had a chance to finish my thought. 'Principessa!'

'Coming,' I called in return as I rushed to the door, Aunt Esme, Alice and Rosalie walking slowly behind me.

'What is it?' I asked before the door had even swung open fully.

'You must hurry,' a guard I recognised as Santiago rapidly said before speeding off

'Santiago!' I yelled running after him, leaving the Cullens calling after before racing after us.

Doors swung open as we flew through the castle- mainly the male Cullens who were obviously recognising the voices. I ignored them all following Santiago all the way down to the throne room, its big doors suddenly seeming rather ominous.

'Deep breathe, Principessa,' Santiago said as we stopped outside.

I did as he asked and glanced behind me.

The Cullens were there, all of them including Edward, who had been avoiding me for the last few days since he had seen Alec and I, they were all obviously curious or worried as to what was going on. I turned back around as the doors flung open. I took two steps in and froze.

'Alec,' I managed to mutter through stiff lips.

My fiancée was lying on the floor near my throne looking as weak as a vampire can and, with a sharp intake of breath, I saw his fore arms lying not too far away. I tried to swallow but couldn't. I couldn't move either but I didn't want to, couldn't, look at Alec anymore.

Glancing around, I saw two of my uncles, the third one being behind me, standing behind the thrones looking at me with grim expressions on their faces. My father was keeping Jane away from Alec and there was a man, who I knew was called Afton, a low guard member and Chelsea's mate who, although his power was mental invisibility, usually reattached limbs as well as tended to other injuries.

Alec hadn't turned his head in my direction but I knew he heard me and was aware of my presence in the room as his shoulders relaxed marginally as my voice washed over him. Without and conscious thought on the matter, my feet began walking towards him; I expected someone to try stop me, as was happening to Jane, but they didn't, their eyes just followed my progress across the room. I knelt at Alec's head and as I ran a hand threw his dark brown hair he relaxed even more.

'Izzy,' he breathed.

'I'm right here,' I murmured.

'Good thing too,' Afton said looking up at me, I felt his gaze and returned it. 'This is going to hurt.'

Alec and I both winced. I pressed a kiss to his head, stealing myself; I hated seeing Alec in pain. I squeezed my eyes shut as Alec grunted in pain while Afton began to try and attach his arms back on to his body.

He screamed at one point so loudly that I buried my face in his thick hair to comfort both him and myself. Jane had squeaked in my father's arms while the Cullens and guard watched on in sympathy, which from Aunt Esme's look I knew wasn't just for Alec. I cringed and flinched every time Alec made a noise which reflected how much having limbs reattached hurt. Luckily, I didn't think he noticed since I was behind his head and his eyes were squeezed shut tightly.

When I had noticed that I had felt a well of panicked worry well up inside of me; Alec hardly ever showed he was in pain because he preferred to suffer in silence - something that Jane and I hated - the fact that he was obviously and visually suffering meant this hurt more than I could guess.

'Nearly done,' Afton said, causing both Alec and I to sigh in relief - much more of this would give my still-beating-heart a heart attack.

I heard Jane and my aunt also breathe out in relief.

Glancing around me, I sent Jane the most comforting smile I could manage at the moment before glancing up at my father. He was smiling at me proudly, as though proud that I loved Alec, maybe that I loved a good guy but it was a proud smile none-the-less. I return his smiled before return to my love.

'Last time,' Afton said.

Alec reached a hand up towards me since Afton had put one arm back on and was nearly finished putting the other one back on. I took Alec's hand tightly in my left one, feeling my ring press against both out skins, and pressed a kiss to it.

'Nearly there, my love,' I whispered into his palm.

Alec opened his mouth to tell me something but instead he let out another grunt of pain, I kissed his palm again.

'Nearly over, love,' I repeated, smiling at him as best I could.

A few minutes later Afton spoke again.

'Since you've already tested you right arm,' he chuckled, looking at our joined hands, 'would you care to make sure the left is okay?'

I waited fearfully as I waited for Alec to move his hand.

'Alec,' I muttered. 'It's okay, try moving your hand.'

'I am,' he murmured in reply a frown marring his handsome features.

Jane let out a squeak as I froze once again. Nobody said anything as Alec frowned down at his arm angrily.

'Alec,' I spoke again as he sat up.

'Hush, Izzy, please,' he said softly and I pressed my mouth together, I knew I better list to him now.

After a few minutes of complete silence I was going to tell Alec, who was still frowning at his arm, to give up, nothing was going to happen or change but he seemed to know what I was thinking and told me no.

'Al-' I went to try again when his fingers twitched slightly, I bit my lip causing my words to stop.

He turned to look at me with a triumphant smile on his face causing me to smile softly back. I watched as he twisted his whole body to face me and pressed his left hand on my cheek, his triumphant smile shining on his smug face.

'Thank you,' I said turning my face slightly toward Afton but keeping Alec's hand on my face.

'My pleasure,' Afton chuckled in reply.

'You, my love,' I said, turning back to Alec, who's smile now turned into my beloved cheeky one at my annoyed tone, 'are going to give me a heart attack.'

'My apologies, Izzy, my dear,' he laughed before he became more serious. 'I gave myself a bit of a scare as well.'

I smiled sympathetically at him, before kissing him due to the adorable look he had upon his face.

'Stop pouting, love,' I smiled, causing him to chuckle and kissing me again.

'Excuse me,' Jane laughed. 'I love you both and the fact that you're together but I don't want to see it.'

Alec and I broke apart to look at her.

'Sorry,' we laughed together as Alec stood up and pulled me back onto my feet.

I glanced around at everyone. The guards had left at some point leaving the Cullens and my family, both future and present, alone in the throne room. Aunt Esme and Uncle Carlisle were smiling at us while Rosalie and Alice looked on from their own mates' arms, who were smiling widely at us in relief. They all looked relieved and happy with the obvious exception: Edward. Edward was standing with his family, eyeing them and me carefully, although the looks he shot his family were more disbelieving and mine disgusted. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, he made his choice and I was not his mate, therefore I was within perfect rights to kiss my fiancée in my own home. As for his family, they were just happy to see their friend and cousin, or niece in Uncle Carlisle's and Aunt Esme's case, happy even if it wasn't with him.

As if sensing my annoyance Alec tightened his hold on me or maybe it was just Edward's looks, and the fact that Alec did so caused Edwards eyes to narrow.

'What happened?' I asked looking from Jane to Alec, but my father spoke up.

'I think we all,' (he gestured to him, my uncles and the Cullens) ' would like to know the answer to that question,' he smiled.

'The guard can inform you of the journey in the way they usually do, Master,' Jane said, now she was able to, moving out of my father's arms and to my side placing a hand on my arm. 'As for Alec's injury, he was being an over protective idiot.'

'Was not,' Alec replied childishly, causing me to smile in amusement: it was always funny when these two started. 'You were torturing the creator while the rest of the guard took care of the newborns and I kept an eye on your back while watching his ... friend.' (he now turned to me and my father, since my father had pulled me towards him as Alec had been talking and my two uncles in the Volturi stood beside us) 'One new born got past the guard and neither of us was expecting it or were ready for it.

'He was aiming to Jane, who had her back to him, so I did the only think I had time to do: I jumped into his side pushing him off to the side. The creators "friend" joined the fight between me and the new-born so it was two against one until Jane came to give me a hand.'

'We got them together,' Jane said, mainly speaking to my Uncles and Father now, 'but they both put up a fight. The friend was old and was better trained than the creator while the new-born wasn't as old or trained but was still good.'

'The new-born somehow managed to take a bite of Jane' - Alec was speaking now and his words made me flinch since I knew how much bites hurt - 'and, during my distraction of trying to get the new-born off of Jane, the other one managed to take my arm. He got the other one when, once we killed the new-born, Jane twisted the creator's "friend's" head in my arms to remove it.'

Jane flinched, 'Sorry, brother.'

Alec waved a hand, ' no harm done now, sister.'

'Carlisle,' my father now spoke after nodding in thanks to Jane and Alec, 'would you please tell Isla to send the rest of the guard back. Izzy, my daughter' - he spun me around to face him as my uncle left - 'your uncles and I have to speak about a small matter, would you greet the guard?'

'Of course, Father,' I curtsied.

Father smiled at me before he and my last two uncles left.

'Cullens,' I said, turning sharply to face the family, 'you may stay or go.'

I watched them as one by one they left until only my Uncle Carlisle, who had returned quickly, and Aunt Esme were left standing by the doors. My uncle no doubt being his curious self and wanting to see how things had changed, I smiled at how little he had changed over the many centuries since I knew him well, instead of him being there as Edward's father.

5 minutes later the Volturi guard came trickling back in as the message they were required spread like wildfire through the castle. I turned from where I was standing to sit on my throne as Jane and Alec moved down in front of it. Once the room was full again, I spoke.

'Welcome back,' I smiled brightly at them all, watching out of the corner of my eye as my Uncle and Aunt moved slightly to see what was happening. 'The masters are busy now so I'm here to welcome you home, once again.

'First of all is anybody hurt?'

'Besides a few bites, Principessa,' Felix grinned. 'We had no other injuries except Alec's.'

I once again resisted the urge to roll my eyes: trust my Alec to be that one - my brave, stupid Alec. He must have known what I was thinking as he shot me a small teasing glare.

'And I trust I'm not actually talking to less people than my family sent out?'

'We're all here, Principessa,' Jane said and I grimaced slightly at the title coming from her mouth.

'The jobs been done?' Completely?'

'Ci, Principessa,' Demetri spoke.

'And Jane,' I said, turning back to my soon-to-be sister-in-law, 'you said you dealt with the creator.'

'Jane nodded, 'and together Alec and I got her friend.'

'How many new-borns were there?'

'About 100,' Alec told me causing my eyebrows to rise in surprise.

'100?' I repeated, not really doubting what he said, I trusted him irrevocably, but just wanting to be sure I had heard correctly. 'And you're positive you got all of them?'

'Positive,' the guard said as one.

'Excellent,' I exclaimed happily, grimacing inside at how much I sounded like my father, I saw my uncle chuckled silently so he must have noticed as well. 'Well done. Remember the masters will need to you about what happened - probably play-by-play' - I added under my breath causing Jane and Alec, the closest people to me, to smile - 'you may go.'

A minute later the room was empty except me and Alec. I stared at him, standing up from where I was seated on my throne but making no move toward him.

'I'm sorry,' he said abruptly.

'You promised, Al,' I said. 'You promised to come back with limbs intact.'

'I know I did,' he sighed taking a wary step towards me but only one. 'He was aiming for Jane: she's my sister and I won't lose her.'

'I don't want you too,' I sighed heavily, copying his movement. 'I love Jane and don't want to lose her either but I also don't want Jane and I to lose you.'

'You won't,' Alec said strongly, taking another step. 'You won't, Izzy. I wasn't focusing completely on the fight -'

'Jane is perfectly capable of keeping herself safe,' I said safely, taking another step towards him. 'She doesn't need or want help from anyone - and neither do you when you focus.'

'I know,' Alec sighed, walking forward slightly slower than usual and pulling me back to my chair. Pushing me down in it, he knelt down in front of me and continued 'I know, Izzy love, I do.

'I also know you understand, I don't need you to say it because it shines through you gorgeous golden eyes and I know you'd never want Jane hurt because I listened to you and kept my promise but ... I don't understand what has you so upset.'

'I know you weren't dead,' I managed to say, shaking my head slightly, 'but ... it really scared me.'

'I know,' Alec chuckled, pacing a hand on my heart. 'I could hear you abnormal heart: it missed a beat.'

'Exactly,' I murmured, turning our hands together, ignoring the word "abnormal". 'I'm not annoyed and what you did, really quite proud actually but although, I knew you couldn't be dead the sight just scared me - I've never been so scared in my life. I can't lose you, Al, I can't.'

Alec removed his hands from mine to take my face and tilt it to look at him square in the eyes.

'I told you,' he murmured, although his voice was full of conviction and thickened by his English accent, 'you won't, I won't let that happen, I won't leave you.'

'You can't control the world, Alec,' I mumbled.

'You're right, I can't,' Alec shrugged, 'but, Iz, I will do my best to control this ... nothing I say will convince you will it?'

I shook my head.

'Can I do anything?' he asked a little desperately.

'Yes,' I nodded causing his face to light up. 'You can show it through time.'

'I can do that,' Alec grinned up at me, his eyes so filled with love and determination that I returned it with full confidence that he would never leave me so long as it was in his power.

'You have a beautiful smile,' Alec said his own smile still on his lips.

'Shut up,' I muttered, leaning forward to kiss him.

One of his hands moved to my waist as he pulled us into a standing position. I pressed myself against him as well as pulling him toward me with the collar of his shirt so he was as close as possible while the other had went around his neck to play with the hair at the nape of his neck.

'Argh, for god's sake,' a voice groaned.

'Edward,' I growled against Alec's lips, couldn't we have any time alone?

'Can't you get a room?' Edward yelled.

'Edward, shut up,' Alec hissed, pulling back from me and glancing around.

'And we had a room before you decided to walk in,' I said coldly, although I was really glad he didn't break something this time.

'Okay, fine, but can't you do ... that,' Edward waved a hand towards us and I realised both Alec's arms had snaked around my waist while mine were resting on his chest, 'somewhere were people won't walk in.'

'You just seem to have bad luck,' Alec chuckled.

'So do Felix and Demetri,' I added giggling.

'Bella,' Edward groaned.

'Izzy,' Alec and I corrected together.

'Whatever,' Edward growled. 'Look, I get that you love Alec and that he loves you but I did as well so I just don't want to see it, please.'

'For god's sake, Edward,' Alec frowned. 'When we started kissing there was no one in here - we are careful about flaunting our relationship, even more so with your family here, so just give us some slack, okay?'

Edward stared at Alec's annoyed expression warily as though expecting him to suddenly use his power.

'Why?' Edward asked a few seconds later.

'Why what, Edward?' I asked tiredly.

'Your relationship - Alec said you didn't flaunt it.'

'Well, to begin with my father and uncles, especially my father and yours, would kill Alec if they saw us kissing too much and believe it or not Alec and I haven't been "together" much around you and your family out of respect.'

'What?' Edward frowned confused.

'Izzy and I decided, before you came, that it would be cruel to be outright in our behaviour near you,' Alec sighed, taking his arms from around me and placing just one arm around my shoulders. 'I may not like the fact that you dated Izzy, but you did, and when we learnt there were only seven, not eight, people coming, we thought that maybe you still cared about Izzy that way, which I'm thinking you do but not as much - it feels dull, doesn't it?'

Edward nodded in a slightly dazed way while looking at us as if we had suddenly grown two heads but also eying Alec's guard uniform causing my eyes to narrow dangerously.

'Just because we're Volturi, does not mean we're cold hearted monsters,' I growled dangerously, stalking out of the side door to mine and Alec's left.

I hated how people though my family is cold hearted - just because we enforce the law doesn't mean we don't understand why people do it, why they break those laws in the first place.

The immortal children, for example. God, I knew why people created them, despite the risk; they were adorable and just had you wrapped around their little fingers from the first time you saw them. I had killed my fair amount of them and I still couldn't help hating myself for it - they were just children, barely having lived life.

The exposure due to over hunting I could understand as well, even though I only hunted animals. I had never slipped up but when all the humans came through with Heidi, my throat burned with desire, a desire I hated.

I took a deep breath before just allowing my feet to guide me round the castle on their own accord.

Yes, another chapter done. Thank you so much for reading this and for those people who come back when I post a new chapter, thank you so much for continuing to read. It would really help if you could fill out the poll on my profile.

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