Chapter 5

I don't own Twilight.

Phone conversations

Recap:

"The shifters are okay with that." Aro said to his brothers.

Recap end

"Good, so how are you going to deal with Sulpica?" Caius asked snidely.

"Who is Sulpica?" Bella asked her mate.

"She was my companion before I found you." Aro answered her gently. "I believe she left nearly a century ago, Caius, so why did you bring her up?" He asked his brother slightly upset.

"She is back and demanding your presence at the castle." Caius answered with a groan.

"You married her, didn't you?" Bella sighed, already knowing the answer.

"Unfortunately. You are taking this well." Aro answered looking grim at his mate. "Also unfortunate fact is we were married under the Catholic Church, and they don't grant divorce." He added to Bella.

"And seeing as we were married 400 years ago, we can't just ask them to look up our paperwork." A woman's voice came over the phone causing Aro to release an angry growl.

"I believe I told you never to return to Voltarra." He snarled into the phone.

"Okay, Everyone out." Bella ordered, clearing the room. "And no listening in on the other side. Caius, Marcus, Clear your end as well." She commanded just like a Queen.

"Who is that bitch, giving commands?" Sulpica asked angrily.

"Oh, I am Isabella Swan, called Bella for sort. I am Aro's mate." Bella answered as Aro snarled at his former companion's comment towards his mate. "So are you going to fight me over being with him or are we good?" She asked with a light growl in her tone.

"We are good. I have also found my true mate and wanted to speak with Aro about a divorce. I know it will be hard but-."

"Wait." Bella said to the other woman. "Carlisle, don't you have a priesthood passed down from your father?" Bella called out to the Cullen leader.

"Yes, and I see where you are going with this." Carlisle said from the doorway. "If you want to do this properly we need the marriage certificate to burn it. Then a paper must be sent to the official office of the one who married you or his successor to be notarized and signed to be successful." Carlisle informed them all.

"Well this is ironic, the priest who married us was your grandfather." Aro told his old friend. "Any idea how to get the certificate?" He asked looking confused.

"Oh, I got it!" Bella shouted. "You call the office and say you are a descendant that is looking into the validity of the marriage of your ancestors and they should pull the file and you can send a guard to steal it." Bella explained. "And since you are a direct decedent, Carlisle, you can do the rights." Bella said jumping up and down at her idea. Aro smiled at her happiness.

"Is your mate jumping for joy?" Sulpica asked Aro in shock.

"Yes, yes she is." He answered her. "Isabella." He called to his giddy mate. "Isabella stop distracting me." He said lightly from behind her, taking her into his arms and whispering in her ear so low she barely heard him. "Your bouncing is making your chest look even more enticing than normal." His voice was like a purr in her ears. H breath caught in her throat, and her head fell back onto his shoulder.

"This is not the time to do that." Carlisle sated dryly from his place in the doorway, sounding amused. Bella smiled sheepishly at her friend and moved away from Aro blushing heavily.

"Sorry Carlisle." She apologized, trying to clear her throat. Aro grinned at her flushed face and her embarrassment.

"It is natural, Bella. We all respond to our mates similarly" Carlisle stated with his own grin.

"Getting back to the matter at hand..." Sulpica reminded them of her presence on the phone. "Do you think that will work?" She asked Carlisle, worry evident in her voice.

"It should, Bella usually has good ideas that almost always works out." The former priest said smiling at the resident danger magnet.

"And what plan did I have that didn't work?" Bella asked shocked.

"James." Carlisle answered causing her to blanch and sit down quickly, her face pale.

"Isabella, what is wrong?" Aro asked concern showing on his face.

"The way things occurred with James were horrible, I almost died." Bella answered her mate, moving back into his arms. She held up her left arm, moving the native bracelet out of the way to show the scar on her wrist.

"Who bit my mate?" Aro growled out angrily.

"James did. Edward kept her from turning by sucking the venom out. James also broke her leg, severed one of her femoral arteries, and she got several cuts all over her body from being thrown around a ballet studio." Carlisle answered looking at Aro sadly. He offered his and for Aro to see his memories. Bella turned away in shame, remembering how pathetic she looked during her recovery. When she heard Aro's sharp breath she flinched, knowing that he had seen it. She was shocked when she felt his hands running over the old wounds.

"Never fear my reaction for your body or safety." Aro purred in her ear. She flushed at her bodies reaction to her mate's close proximity.

"So do you think this plan has merit." Sulpica asked Aro.

"It does, I will send Alec for the paper." Aro answered her.

"I will fly over with the others tomorrow." Sulpica said before hanging up the phone.

"I will find everything I need to preform the ceremony." Carlisle said leaving the couple alone with a chuckle.

"Thank you Carlisle." Bella called to the golden-eyed man. Aro pulled her close and nuzzled her neck.

"Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to control myself when you do that?" He asked his mate.

"Do what?" Bella asked blushing again.

"Smell so good and then blush while snuggling into my arms." He answered placing a kiss on her pulse point.

"That is not what I want to see or hear about my daughter." Charlie said walking into the room.

"Dad, you need to get use to the idea of us being together." Bella admonished her father.

"We will need to worry about the Romanians more than your father's reaction to us, Isabella." Aro reminded her.

"I know that, but he needs to realize that he won't change my mind about you." Bella answered her mate. "Dad, if you try to separate us you will never see me or Selene again. We will disappear forever." She warned her father, her eyes shining with her conviction.

He sighed knowing she would do it. "I may not like it, but I will not lose you." Charlie responded gently to her.

"And you never shall, she will live forever and that offer is good for you as well." Aro pointed out to his mates father. "You will be meeting my brothers tomorrow."

"Along with your wife." Charlie pointed out stiffly.

"We have been separated for over 2 centuries." Aro retorted getting upset. Bella placed a hand on his shoulder, calming him down instantly.

"Mate outranks Wife." Jasper said entering the room with Peter and Charlotte.

"How did you meet Peter and Charlotte?" Aro asked his mate, bringing everyone into the room again.

"I met them when I went to visit Mom and she wandered off to look at some art. A random vampire 'chose' me for his dinner. He pushed me up against a nearby wall. When I noticed his red-eyes and old fashioned southern clothes I called him on it." She explained to everyone.

"Vampire, let me guess, you must be Peter Whitlock, Jasper's friend." Charlotte said taking over the story.

"He bowed to me and asked how I knew about him, so I told him about my time with the Cullens." Bella added with a smile.

"You must be Isabella Swan. Sorry about trying to eat you. Pleased to meet you." Peter sounded in, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. Bella giggled at his repeated actions. Aro shot the male a glare as Charlotte slapped him upside the head.

"Don't antgonize her mate, Peter." Jasper admonished his oldest friend. "They are newly-mated and you know what that means."