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Chapter 9: Problems

Bella's Point of View

Max's words scared me so much, but I knew I had to help him. What was family for? And, just over a year ago we had basically asked the same thing from much less than family.

"Bella, I messed up, I really did. I love you and your family, I really do, but at first I didn't know I could, and I was ready to change to be a part of your family. I thought they would let me, I was so stupid."

"Who is they?"

"The Voultri."

I was silent for a moment, almost too shocked to keep my bubble around us. I quickly snapped out of it, reminded of our danger, and now I knew it was a serious danger. The Voultri.

"Oh, Max, Max. What, no wait, who are you, really?"

"I'm… I'm a member of the Voultri guard, but I don't want to be anymore. I want to be a Cullen. I understand if you guys won't want me after all this, but I just have to tell you I want to be a part of a real family again more than anything, except maybe… having my human family back."

"Explain."

"I was born, as a vampire, 10 years ago when the Voultri were looking for a talented human that may have a great power when they changed them. They found me and thought I was quite interesting. I was on my death bed when they found me."

"My wonderful wife didn't even have a body to burry."

I slowed almost to a stop, wanting to comfort him.

I gave him a hug, but he quickly pushed me forward, making me run even faster.

"They told me that they were basically the good, honest police force for vampires, and that with the power they assumed I had, I would be a great tool for seeking out 'risky' vampires and breaking apart powerful covens. They trained me for many years. Your family was my first and main mission, and I had a feeling they made me just for this exact reason, to defeat the Cullens, in a way that the other vampires wouldn't get suspicious. They informed me of when they went to see you in Forks, but kept me in Voltera. They told me a new, very powerful member had been added to the ranks, that was you, Bella. They told me you would be the prime target, the newest addition, the easiest to break off…"

I gasped a little as things started to get clearer, like when Max was staring at me, when Max was trying to get close to me.

"When I was sent on the mission, I first observed your family from far away, for many weeks, I even took on your practice of feeding on animals during this time. I fell in love with the emotions around you guys. I didn't want to destroy you, but I assumed that the Voultri were the good guys and knew what was best. After talking to you guys, and hearing your stories, I heard the other side of the story. How the Voultri are sometimes unjust, and unfair, and only good in some respects. I knew I could not destroy you, and I realized that I was breaking up you and Edward. That's when I ran away."

We had arrived at a little private jet parked in the middle of a forest. Max hopped in and quickly took off, flying the plane… I wondered where he had stolen this from.

"Continue the story, I would like to figure out where exactly you are flying me to, Max."

"Right, so just yesterday, someone was sent to find me and check to see if I was completing the task of breaking up the Cullen's emotional ties. What they didn't realize was the only tie I could break up in the family (because of how tied up you all were in each other's love) was one that would fall under my test, and the only one possible was you and Edward. All of your emotions of love were much too knotted up for me to break apart, it was impossible, and I hope all of you know just how beautiful your family's web of love is. It really is something. The only thing I could break was in a way I couldn't control and I'm so sorry for whatever pain I caused you and Edward."

"It's okay Max, you could not help it. You did all you knew how. And, it's really not me you should apologize to, I think we both need to talk to Edward…"

I smiled thinking of our reunion… wishing I could be with him, wishing it would be sometime soon.

When Max continued his voice sounded like he hated himself.

"I foolishly told the vampire who came to check on me that I wasn't coming back, because I would like to stay with the Cullens. I still thought that the Voultri had somewhat of a heart, and would grant me my wish. But I was dumb, of course they would not let me stay. The real reason they wanted the Cullens destroyed is not because you are evil, but because they are scared of your strength, and if I joined you, of course they would only be more scared, so today, they sent a tracker, Jane, and her brother to come kill me before I could pose any damage."

"Oh, no…"

"Yes, and they are after me right now. Now, we are going to Volterra, because I have always known Marcus to be one to reason with, and I figured if I bring you to him, maybe he won't go after the rest of the family. See, Marcus and I have spent much time together with our similar talents."

I thought of the last time I had seen that man with his weird, old skin and cringed slightly. I did not understand how anyone thought they could reason with him. He seemed so… far away… like he wasn't living in the moment.

" It is really you he is after, Bella. I beg of you to do this for me. It is the only way to save my life, and it might be the only way to save you and your family. I know it's all my fault, but Bella, please, say you will help me?"

"Max, of course, you are family." He smiled and gave me a hug, for considering him family, or helping him, I do not know. I have grown to believe he meant both.

"Okay, so when we get there, here is the plan. We get there, and I tell him I have successfully broken your ties with Edward. Now, I can block out the parts of my mind that I don't want Aro seeing, it is a very important skill I developed, that he taught me, so that I could avoid Edward. What he does not know, is that I can also help others."

His face turned up into a dark smile, and then he was thinking back again.

" See, there was once this lady who was about to be killed for telling a human that she was a vampire, and he was about to have her killed. I did not think this was that big of an offense, and before Aro could touch her, I mentally stretched my gift to her and didn't let Aro see one illegal thought."

"Okay, so you want me to take away my bubble, like I do for Edward sometimes, and let him see my mind with your help at blocking out the part where I love him again?"

"Exactly."

"Okay, and then what?"

"Well, there's one more thing, Bella."

"Oh, no. Max…"

"Um, if you want I can turn around and take you home right now, but… he sort of expects me to have convinced you to join the guard."

I knew my family would be at so much risk if I went home right now, Aro would be after us, thinking us much too powerful. Not to mention, Max, my brother, would be dead before I could walk into Edward's arms.

"Take me to Aro, I have a plan." I immediately took away my bubble, hoping Alice could see me as we landed in Volterra.

Edward's Point of View

At the same moment that the call dropped, I knew there was something wrong. She was going to say she loved me again. I could hear it in the way she said my name. She was with Max. As much of a comfort as it was to know that she was with someone, it was a discomfort, because I did not trust Max.

Alice came in the room, just as I was about to make a run for my Bella. I saw the image in her head as she explained it in detail to the others.

Max and Bella hugging in the forest. Max and Bella on a jet. And then… landing in Voltera.

"I-I think Max is a member of the Voultri guard, and he has convinced Bella to go back with him. She is not fighting against it, and she knows what is going on, I see it on her face, she looks very, very sad. I think Aro is forcing them to go, under the threat of death because there was someone chasing them in the forest, but Bella had the bubble around them for the most part so they were having a hard time tracking, since it was Demetri, who uses the mind."

"Also, Max is close to Marcus, because they have a similar talent… only Max's power is much, much more powerful. Maybe they think they can reason with the Voultri using a combination of their powers… I wish I knew why exactly they were in trouble!"

Alice was getting frustrated and it was just making it harder for her to concentrate, Jasper sent a wave of calm air through the room. The calm made me think more rationally, maybe I should have my family come with me to Voltera, surely they would want to help Bella as well, and if I wanted to plan on saving the reason for my existence, then I would want as much back up as I could get, in case anything happened to me.

I was suddenly so grateful for having Jacob with us all the time. It was like have a round the clock baby sitter that I knew would not fail in protecting my daughter.

The weight of the moment fell on me. It felt like a year since I had last seen Bella at the house, and much longer had it been since I had felt her in my arms, perfectly content. I wanted that at this moment so badly, it hurt to imagine it. Just have her here, in my arms, safe. Why couldn't she see my absolute devotion? That I would do anything? I thought that we were passed the doubt. The only thing was that I was a little protective and clingy. I was going to work on that for her, but it was so hard to not be next to her every chance I got. It was all my unbeating heart desired, the only thing that mattered. My light, that young comet that once zoomed over my starry sky was a sun, and when she was gone, like she was now, it was like one long dark winter's night.

I thought of the artist, Van Gogh. When people read about him, he seemed like such a weird guy. Chopped his ear off, was in a mental asylum. I thought of his most famous panting, A Starry Night. I thought of it with a totally new fascination, there was something more to it, he wasn't crazy, he must have just been crazy in love. I knew I must have looked like a crazy man to my family, muttering these things under my breath, pacing around the family room.

All the eyes were on me, as if waiting for me to decide what we should do about Bella and Max.

"I'm going to Voltera," I announced, and opened the front door, pulling out my cell phone to make a few calls for plane tickets.

I heard Renesmee let out a wail, "Daddy, where are you going? You and Mommy can't both leave me, that's not fair. Stay here."

"Honey, I have to go save your mother. I have to." I looked down at my darling daughter, the second biggest star in my universe.

" I love your mother so much, sweetheart, I can't let anything bad happen to her. It would ruin me." I thought Renesmee might be a little too young to understand the intensity of my words, but she understood quickly, I saw her make a comparison to her attachment to Jakey, and I nodded, "It's similar, but a lot more." I said to my daughter as she showed me her feelings towards Jacob.

The whole family headed to the door, minus Jacob who was now holding Renesmee a few feet back from the rest of us.

"What, am I supposed to stay here?"

"Yes, and keep Renesmee safe, okay? Please, Jacob, I'm sure you don't want to come and put her in any danger? The Voultri don't appreciate werewolves." He nodded in understanding and waved us off, Renesmee with rolling tears coming down her rosy cheeks, for her family. I didn't know if I would see her again, the thought hit me hard, but I knew there was something more important to me in Italy, and in a lot more danger than being home alone with a werewolf.

All eyes were on the seven of us as we walked a little too fast through the busy airport. Alice was in the front, leading the way.

"Bella, she's asking for us, she wants our help… what are we going to do? I think Max has gotten himself into some serious trouble and Bella has gone to help him. They cannot do it alone. They need help, somehow. But, she's not ready for us to come yet." Alice stopped muttering as they made the call that our airplane was now boarding.

We all picked up speed a little. The world was staring.

"Oh, I wish I could just read her mind, dammit. UGH. I – I think they want to … take over or… take control of the Voultri, something absolutely crazy like that. I wish I could tell her to stop, but her phone is disconnected or something. WHAT IS SHE THINKING?!" Alice was now talking a little too loudly and a man next to us in line looked at us warily, like someone would look at a susceptive terrorist with a big bomb and dark mask over his face.

My thoughts went crazy. She was thinking of overthrowing the Voultri.

"Oh my…" Alice said. She was very atuned to Bella, she could sense almost anything she did. The bubble would blur her visions a little, but Alice had learned to work around that too. With the amount of trouble Bella got in to, I knew it would be a good idea for her to work on.

I saw the image that made Alice stopped. It felt like my heart had stopped for a second time.

"I think she or actually we will win." Everyone froze in line. The lady at the counter asked Alice to please step forward.

She snapped out of her trance and handed the lady her boarding pass.

How in the world could 9 vampires over throw the Voultri, and more importantly, why would they?


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