Author's Note- Hey, Twilighters! I hope you guys are doing well. I just wanted to thank those of you who have stuck with my story since it's beginnings and to those who have favorited and who have set up alerts! Also, thank you very much to those of you who have reviewed my work, especially Tamora Pierce Junior, who goes really in depth with her wonderful, detailed feedback. You have no idea what this means to me! I'm so happy. I will be taking requests for Twilight/Forever Midnight short stories, so please (I'm begging!) tell me what you would like to read. Again, thanks everyone!

Time

"It's a strange thing, but when you are dreading something, and would give anything to slow down time, it has a disobliging habit of speeding up." - J.K. Rowling, "The Hungarian Horntail," Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

I woke up with my brown hair twisted around my face. A huge lock was in my dry mouth, it's ends of each piece touching the lump that was my gross morning tongue. Hacking out horrible coughing noises, the hairs escaped from the inside of my mouth as the realization that I was downstairs on the sofa hit me. Darn it. I must have fallen asleep there while watching an old Reese Witherspoon flick from the last evening. A comfortable heated blanket was wrapped around my body, a fluffed up pillow underneath my skull. Aw, that was nice of whoever did that, I thought. I stretched my arms and legs out like a sleepy tabby cat. As my tired joints popped, a warm breakfast scent roamed about the room. Groggily, I tried to decipher what was cooking in the kitchen. Mother fixed me up a plate of pancakes, crowned on the top with whipped cream and fresh strawberries and blueberries that created a face smiling up at me. Mom greeted me as I walked into the delicious smelling kitchen, pecking my forehead sweetly. She sat by my side as I ate my breakfast in a slow manner, savoring the taste of the warm cakes and ripe berries. Father walked in on us shortly, his usually peaceful face looking stressful. He ran his nimble fingers through his unkempt hair, his eyes resembling dark black orbs. Mother strangely turned grim.

"Edward, did you--?" she began, her voice timid.

"Yes, love," interupted Father, quickly as he ceased from messing with his bronze hair.

Mom gave out a tiny sigh of what sounded like relief.

"Thank goodness," Mom muttered.

Father grabbed a stool next to Mom, touching her cheek with tenderness for a moment. He turned his dangerous eyes toward me, looking thirsty and ferocious. Dad looked like a true vampire, like the ones in the old Hollywood movies. I wasn't frightened; I had been use to my hungry family members for so long. Breakfast time for the vampires.

"Mother and I are going to visit Italy in a few days," he explained to me, his voice calm and velvety. "For our second honeymoon."

I smiled widely, hoping that no signs of breakfast showed in my teeth.

"Italy? Woah, that's really cool," I mused, excited for my parents. "I know you guys will have a fantastic time together."

Father gave me a crooked smile while Mom turned her lips slightly up.

"I hope so," my mother said.

"Make sure to bring me back something good," I teased.

"Anything you want you can have, darling," replied Father.

--

Edward held me close on the plane ride to Italy. We sat next to each other in the first class section, lounging on the leather seats. The flight attendents asked us countess times if we wanted any cocktails and fancy dishes that belonged in five star restaurants. Obviously, Edward and I passed on the kind, expensive offers. Food was far from appetizing. Nothing, well, to only me really, was appetizing anymore. But I knew that if I were human still, I would have just settled for a bag of dry peanuts and a lukewarm Coke. I would have been perfered if we sat regular, too. It didn't matter much to me still. I liked to keep things simple and plain. I was still the same Bella, expect for the fact that I was an immortal tammed vampire.

A beautiful piano piece entered melodiously through my ears, creating a peaceful, lulling feel in the atmosphere. Edward hummed the tune of the song whispery, so low that I, with my vampire-ish hearing, was the only one who could hear his chants. The two of us shared the same iPod headphones; I had the right bud, he had the left. The fancy plane was now dark and quiet as the humans slept. Playing the role right, Edward and I pretended to be drifting off into dreams, our topaz eyes closed shut. If I were able to sleep, I probably would have at that very moment. The music was just so serene. At some moments, I found myself forgetting about my stressful worries. Edward was trying to calm my nerves, not wanting me to think of what we were about to do in a few hours. I wasn't as stressful as I was before Carlisle informed us that he would be meeting us in Volterra. Hopefully, with his connection with the Volturi, things would change for the better for our daughter. Our Cecilia. Our little girl.

The streets of Volterra brought back strong memories of the previous time I had visited. It was a memory that I could never forget, even if I lived to be a thousand. A stolen yellow Porsche, citizens celebrating dressed up as a cliche vampires, a tall tower clock ticking, fear. Fear of my reason for living dying. Edward remembered as well as I did. I could tell easily by the huge hint of regret in his eyes as we walked down a darkened alleyway. I gave my husband's hand a squeeze, preparing myself mentally for what was about to happen.

In the end, our trip was completely no use. Though Cecilia was granted a little more time by the Volturi, do to the help of Carlisle, it did practically nothing. Cecilia had to be turned into a vampire (or be put to a death penalty) once a few days after her sixteen birthday passed. That was going to be in about two months.