Author's Note: I do not own Twilight. Twilight and all of the characters are the creation of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.
Sorry it took me a while to update. The holidays are, well... the holidays.

Chapter 26: Ecstatic
-oOo-

When we arrived back at our small hotel room, we packed quickly. We had almost all of our suitcases ready to go when...
Alice's phone began to ring on the table.
"I got it!" I shouted, dashing to grab the phone.
I was extremely happy, so I thought I'd play a little joke.
"Hello?" I asked quietly, adding in a little sniffle.
"Alex? Is that you?" Rosalie asked. "Everyone's on speaker."
"Yes, it's me," I said quietly.
"Is everything... ok?" she asked hesitantly.
I sniffled. "My face is in pain."
I heard muffled chatter.
"What happened to you?" Parker shouted.
"Did something go wrong?" Edward asked.
"Did someone hurt you?" Emmett bellowed.
"Why is your face in pain?" Rosalie asked frantically.
I was suddenly loud and vivid. "I've been smiling too much!"
"And the Oscar for best actress goes to-" Emmett began.
"Alex, don't do that to us!" Rosalie interrupted, her voice a mix of relief and frustration.
"Is everyone safe?" Edward asked.
"Everyone is in one piece and accounted for," I said cheerfully.
"Good!" Emmett said. "Can you put Carlisle and Esme on?"
"How about I put the phone on speaker?" I suggested.
"Sounds good!" Emmett said.
Esme sat down on the couch, Carlisle on her side. I sat down next to Esme as I put the phone on speaker. She wrapped her arms around Carlisle's waist.
"Hello everyone," she said sweetly.
"Grandma!" Nessie shouted. "Is Grandpa there too?"
"I am right here, darling," Carlisle said.
"Thank god you two are alright!" Rosalie said.
"Yes. You should have seen Alex, though. She really saved us," Esme said, giving my shoulder a little squeeze.
"Although she sold her soul to do it," Alice murmured.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Parker and Edward asked at the same time.
"Why don't you tell them, Alice?" I said with a sigh.
"The date of Alex's transformation has been set," she said. "She made a promise with the Volturi."
"What?" everyone on the other line shouted.
"A transformation... from human to vampire?" Parker asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"Why, Alex? Why did you do it?" Rosalie asked, pain evident in her voice.
"What else could I have done?" I said. Everyone was silent for a moment.
"When? When is this going to occur?" Parker questioned.
"Three weeks after my eighteenth birthday," I said. "That would be August 8th, 2013."
"That's... That's so fast, though!" Rosalie said.
I knew she was going to hate this idea. It was obvious that she disapproved of the idea the most. It's not like I can do anything about it, though.
The deed is done.
The date has been set.
No going back.
"Okay, this happy mood we originally had has gone south. I, for one, am starting to get depressed," Emmett declared. "Alex has made an important decision, but it was a decision that saved lives. Now that we know everyone is safe and in one piece, can we hang up so they can get their stuff and make their way home?"
I smiled. "Well said, Emmett!"
"Yes. Thank you Emmett. That speech was very... dignified, if that is a good word for it..." Esme said. "We will finish the small bit of packing we have left to do and catch the next flight we can to get home."
"Sounds good," Edward said.
"I don't know about you guys, but right now I am positively ecstatic!" Emmett boomed. "When you guys get back, let's celebrate!"
"Epic Rockband jam session?" I suggested with a huge smile.
"Excellent!" he replied.
"Goodbye you guys," Rosalie said, then hung up the phone.
Esme grabbed my hand and assisted me off of the couch.
"How about we finish that packing?" she asked with a smile.

-oOo-

As we entered the airport in Rome for a second time, there was a different feeling in the air. This airport no longer terrified me. Walking in, I felt relief that I was heading home to be with my family. My amazing, wonderful, unique, crazy, lovable, vampire family. If I had gone back to June and someone told me what would have happened to me as the year went on, I wouldn't have believed them. Now, I wouldn't have wanted my life any other way. I have a home and a family that loves me.
Esme wrapped her arm around me, and I couldn't help but smile. Esme is, and always will be, the perfect mother. She is kind, caring, sweet, and just down right awesome.
"You seem very happy," she said to me.
"How could I not be?" I said.
"True, true," she said with a laugh.
We went to the ticket desk but we found out the next flight to Seattle would not be for another hour. We didn't care; we could wait.
Alice stood with Carlisle and Jasper at the windows while Esme stood with me.
"We are finally going home, huh?" she said.
"Yes. All of us. Together," I said.
"You were very brave," she said. "I have never seen you like that. You had such an air of power and strength."
I blushed. "Thanks. I guess I felt brave. What I was doing just seemed... right. I didn't plan what I was going to say, I just had an idea when I walked in there. After all of that, Aro listened. He agreed. As I watched him ponder the idea, I chanted in my head for him to agree, to please agree. I was glowing when he said yes."
Esme looked like she was in thought.
"What are you thinking about?" I asked.
"A lot of things," she replied, looking back at me.
After a few moments of silence, I said, "Esme, can I ask you something?"
"Anything dear."
"If you don't mind me asking... How were you feeling while you were being held prisoner?"
She gave a sad smile. "I had a lot of emotions on high. A lot of thoughts were running through my head. I mostly thought about the family and what would happen when Carlisle and I were gone. I knew that you and Nessie would be safe with everyone, but it left me wondering what the children would do. Would you and everyone end up moving somewhere else? Would you go to Alaska? You'll learn more about our friends in Alaska at a later date...
"I then thought about Nessie, and how I was only there for three years of her life. Those three years, where I could see her grow and mature, I would cherish forever. That led me to think about Edward and Bella, then Rose and Emmett. I could not imagine the pain on their faces when you, Alice, and Jasper told them we were not coming home.
"I looked over at Carlisle, who sat on a cot with his head in his hands. I realized how much I loved him, at that very moment, and how brave he was. He is the bravest person I have ever met.
"Lastly, Alex, I thought about you. You, along with the rest of our family, have touched a special place in my heart. It made me wish that I had had more time with you. I wish that I could have just been to Port Townsend, years before, and taken you under my wing, to see you grow into the amazing young lady you are today. Sadly, I replayed the moment you were taken out of the throne room over and over again. I saw your tear streaked face and your blue eyes that were widened with fear. Seeing you on the floor being tortured by Jane broke my heart. I had a burst of strength and was able to get to you, but the perfection I was wishing for didn't last long..."
Esme wiped a tear off my cheek that I didn't know was there.
"But now you are safe, and we are all going home. I could not be happier."
I wrapped my arms around and gave her a hug. Someone put a hand on my shoulder. I looked up and it was Carlisle. He sat down next to me and allowed me to lay my head on his shoulder.
"You are my youngest daughter, by far. I feel very protective over you."
"Are you sure it doesn't have to do with the fact that I need the most protecting?" I asked quietly.
"That could be a factor," he said, planting a kiss on my forehead.
Alice came over with Jasper and smiled at me.
"Do you know how cute you look?" she asked me. "The perfect little child."
"I'm not a child," I said with a smile. "I'm a lady."
"Alright, ma'am," Jasper said with a bow. "Allow me to escort you to the plane." He took my arm in his as he rolled his suitcase behind him and I did the same with mine.
"Hey!" Alice said as we walked away. "You're leaving your wife behind, you know!"

-oOo-

I thought that ending would be cute, so I added it. Hope you enjoyed that chapter! Please read and review. Sadly, there are only going to be a few more updates. I'd like to reach 100 reviews before the story is over...
Happy New Year!

~R. C. Cullen 888