I heard their car long before I saw them. Whoever was driving was obviously enjoying the empty, winding roads over the hills to the ancient church which I sat on an old bench outside off, soaking in the sun and being glad I didn't sparkle like the normal vampire but sad over the fact that I would always be vampiric pale.

My eyes were closed when I heard the squeal of breaks in front of me and I smiled opening them to see a blue BMW M6 Convertible parked not 10 meters away from me. It was its M TwinPower Turbo 8-cylinder petrol engine that I had heard and it was Rosalie, unsurprising, stepping out of the driver's seat which a large grin on her beautiful face while Alice jumped out of the back by leaping gracefully over one the sides and my aunt elegantly got out of the passenger seat, smiling brightly at me as she removed her sunglasses. All three of them were sparkling in the mid-day Italian sunlight.

An amused grin spread on my face as I watched my two cousins, it was so easy to call them that now, remove their own large, dark sunglasses, Rosalie shaking her long pale blond hair back as she did so. I, however, pulled my sunglasses from my much darker hair so they were covering my eyes causing Aunt Esme to raise an eyebrow at me.

'You're all so bright and sparkly,' I grinned, rising from my seat and brushing my white knee-length dress, which was created from a mixture of Italian Jersey and lace, down. I had no desire to wear my cloak when there was no one who cared about it around. 'You're hurting my eyes.'

My aunt Esme shook her head as I laughed and rushed towards her, catching her in tight hug.

It had been few months now since they had left, since we found out that the Volturi was actually in danger but nothing had been done. It had been months but we had done nothing despite all the revelations we had discovered. Victoria was still out there and I was sure I could feel her watching me at times, the Romanians were still planning with her but we had no idea what because we couldn't get close enough and they were doing it so silently that we couldn't just attack them because it would ruin what we worked for when no other vampire seemed to know what they were doing.

'How are you?' I asked, pulling back from my aunt but she kept a grip on my arms to keep me close.

'Wonderful,' she beamed at me, kissing me on the forehead before letting me greet Rosalie and Alice.

I leaped at my cousin's happily. Of course, I had all the guards to keep me company and I loved them but I liked being around my family, and, in Italy, only one member of my family is female so I craved some girl time. Jane and I had been going crazy, it wasn't until we had had some more female family members around did we realise how much we enjoyed it and it wasn't until I had spent some more time with Alice and Rosalie that I realized how much I had missed Alice and how much I could've liked Rosalie, so this time when they left I missed them far more.

'Hi, Izzy!' Alice shrieked as the three of us hugged each other, laughing crazily.

I could hear Esme laughing softly in the background at us as we squealed, hugged and jumped all the while talking at vampire speed. We were still laughing crazily when I saw Heidi's private jet circling the skies causing me to stop jumping and start issuing instructions to my family.

"Rosalie, move your car,' I said, still looking at the plane in the sky. 'Aunt Esme, Alice, I need you to get your stuff.'

They glanced in the direction I was looking and seemed to understand my change in demeanour as they swiftly did as I said. Once Rosalie had hidden the car behind the church, which I would move for her later into the underground area where all of Heidi's vehicle props and all the Volturi's cars were hidden, we all grabbed handfuls of stuff – I shook my head at the amount Alice had brought, they were in Italy there were plenty of amazing shops I'm sure she'd never been in before - and entered the church, just as Heidi's plane began a downward descent toward the private runway.

'How are the boys?' I eventually asked as we entered the antechamber by the throne room, but instead of entering it we turned towards another door and began to walk down the corridor towards the lower castle with living space.

'Annoying as always,' Rosalie said but the grin on her face said otherwise.

'They wanted to come,' Alice laughed, 'but we told them this was a girl trip.'

We all laughed at that. I couldn't help imagining what my male cousins would get up to with Aunt Esme not around to keep them in line. Of course, my uncle would probably be able to handle them but I was sure Emmett, at least, would cause some havoc for him.

'Well, I'm afraid you haven't you haven't come away from annoying boys,' I grinned over at them as, as though to prove my point, two male guard members – Jordan and Santiago, low of members of the guard who were both part of the guard because they were physically imposing but they were transitory - can rolling out of a room.

I cleared my throat as Jordan became sprawled at my feet after a particularly good aimed kick from Santiago. Both their heads snapped towards me and Jordan jumped to his feet as fast as he could, they backed up against the wall after a short bow in my direction.

Shaking my head, I continued walking past them with my aunt, Alice and Rosalie following me, the two latter laughing quietly. I left them to it as my aunt came forward to walk beside me, linking my arm through hers, I lent my head on her shoulder.

'How's Jane and Alec?' she questioned and I felt a smile pull up on my face as I thought of fiancé and sister-in-law to-be.

'They're great, as they always are,' I said. 'Jane's out at the moment doing something to do with the Romanians and Alec's gone as well. He, Demetri and Uncle Caius along with some others went to Mexico to check on the vampires there … there's been talk about a child and –'

'They think it may be an immortal child?' Aunt Esme guessed a frown marring her face.

'Yeah,' I nodded. 'That's what they've gone to check on, anyway. So I've been abandoned.'

'You've got your father and your Uncle Marcus along with the rest of the guard,' my aunt laughed lightly.

'It's not the same,' I replied joining in. 'Although, I love my father and Uncle Marcus, I prefer the castle when Alec's here.'

'I can understand that,' Aunt Esme sighed happily and I grinned at how much she loved my uncle.

They were so perfect for each other that it was like magic; so magical that I had liked just watching them interact when they were here and when I was in Forks but I don't think they ever knew I was. The littlest things became beauty and the littlest gestures seemed far bigger with them. They seemed to exist in a world of their own at times, a world were nothing mattered but the other …

'So, what's first on the agenda?' my aunt's voice interrupted my thoughts.

'We can't do much until Jane gets back,' I smiled over at Aunt Esme lifting my head from her shoulder, 'so really we can just have fun for a day or two. She'll be back soon then we can start thinking about the dresses and things…'

'I hate being blind,' Alice suddenly grumbled causing us all to glance at her. 'I can't see you meaning I can't see the dress you've going to choose because it's your decision and your decision only! I also can't see much to do with the wedding now because it relies on you so much.'

'You can't see me?' I asked surprised causing Alice to shake her head with an annoyed glower.

'Your uncle believes it because she's never been a hybrid,' Esme explained. 'She can see humans reasonably well because she was one, which is why she could see Bella's future, and she can see vampires because she is one but you're a blind spot.'

'Interesting,' I frowned curiously as I opened the door to the room Alice would stay in.

'For you,' she muttered and I laughed quietly.

Once I left my aunt and cousins at their rooms to unpack and relax, I began walking the castle, cringing as I heard the screams coming from the throne room. I didn't judge my family for their diet, it was natural for vampires and I couldn't imagine not being as close to some people in the castle as I was just because of what they ate. It was their decision and I would not interfere although I did prod at my father a bit on the subject.

After a while, I decided they did have the right idea of what I needed to do. Shredding my pure black cloak, I slipped out of the castle to go hunting

Half an hour later I returned to the castle and was dragged quickly and silently toward the throne room but my uncle Marcus.

'Uncle?' I asked as we walked quickly through the corridors, him a few steps ahead with a gentle grip on my wrist.

He said nothing in reply and just continued guiding me. When we got a bit closer however I picked up my own pace to match his longer strides when I smelt a scent that I hadn't smelled since my return to the castle. Uncle Marcus smiled gently.

My father was talking as we entered the throne room but quickly stopped as one of our guests turned away from him.

'Isabella,' a Spanish accent delightedly exclaimed. 'How I've missed you!'

'Carmen!' I beamed, walking quickly towards her and Eleazar. 'What are you doing here?'

'Felt like a visit,' Eleazar grinned as Carmen kissed both my cheeks.

'We'll I'm glad,' I grinned, hugging him tightly.

'Carlisle told the news,' Carmen beamed and I laughed. 'Where is your fiancé?'

'Out,' I said deflating a little but Eleazar wasn't having that.

'Congratulations, though,' he smiled almost as wide as Carmen, leaning forward to kiss my cheek. 'You should have come to tell us!'

'No, it's your turn to see the sun for once,' I shook my head: vampire or not, I was a sun girl. 'Did the other's come?'

'Non, they were too busy but they really wanted to see you,' Carmen said, her smile settling into a soft one.

'I can't believe you two are though, I haven't you since 1982!' I gleeful said, still not over my joy at them being here.

'About 40 years since you left Alaska,' Eleazar nodded and I shook my head in amazement – it felt like it had been so much longer since I'd seen them.

I had met the Denali clan in 1980 and stayed with them for two years before moving on. I had known Eleazar when he was part of the guard – it was him who discovered that I was a mental shield – and I had grown quite close to him then.

Back then, Eleazar had caught my sent when I was pacing through their area of Alaska and had obviously recognised it because he came after me. He had dragged me back to the Denali's home and introduced me to everyone. I had really connected to Carmen: she was kind, motherly and we both shared the same compassion. I had also met Tanya, Kate and Irina, I had found it hilarious as they, all flirtatious by nature, flirted with the unsuspecting human men but I loved how loyal Kate was and how laid back while Tanya was so playful that we could mess around together. I had fitted in really well there and they knew who I was but I hadn't finished exploring yet so I bid them goodbye with a promise to return and left to continue roaming the world.

I had expected to see them at the engagement ball but the Denali clan wasn't present.

'Oh and you'll never guess who's here!' I said excitedly, remembering the Denali's were considered extended family to the Cullens. 'Esme, Alice and Rosalie are here to help with the wedding.'

'Not the boys?' Carmen chuckled as she and Eleazar grinned at the news.

'No, they were banned from coming,' I laughed quietly

Kind of just a filler chapter, took my ages too post because I couldn't decide if it was just pointless but it giving some of Isabella's story of while she was away from Volterra, filling in a few of those blanks.

Hope you like it, thanks for all the reviews x