Well, I know it has been a while but I would like to thank the following people. After remembering your reviews and patience I was reminded to finish: twissessed, KyF777, chutzpah117, BCullenE, ftwmomof3, and georgiana cullen.

Thank you!

Here's a summary for all of you who have been with me since I started and have probably forgotten about the beginning of this story. It might also clear up some questions and fill in some holes I may have left in my writing (as to what was happening to Max before Bella met up with him) , it explains a lot, but, it's long, so read only if you need/want to:

Max, who we now know was working for the Volturi, was asked to destroy the Cullen family from the inside. He was unsuccessful in disrupting any of the couples except for one. As he spent time with the Cullen family he grew to love and appreciate them and their lifestyle. He decided he would stay with them, and thought the Volturi would let him without question once he told them there was nothing that posed a risk in the family, that they were truly good vampires. After a short time with the Cullens he noticed one of the couples, Bella and Edward, the very couple that Aro had suggested tied the family not only to each other but to their pack of werewolves, and would be most essential to break apart, was indeed falling apart. He wondered if perhaps his power of testing relationships had actually worked on them and discovered it had because of Bella's youth and the lack of time that glued the other couples together so firmly.

Max thought the only way to end what he had started would be to get out of there, to leave the Cullens alone, despite being so loved and accepted in their house, he knew it was better to go and leave things to return to how they had been without his unintentional interference. Once gone, he discovered he was wrong and that his absence was not only making things worse, but outside of the protection of the Cullen home, the Volturi had come to make him return to Volterra. When one of his friends came to escort him back to Italy, he told him that he did not want to return and he had chosen to live on his own.

Unbeknown to Max, the Volturi didn't not take this news well. Quickly, the Volturi reacted and began to plan to destroy him. He was given a tip that there were others after him and he soon knew he couldn't return empty handed. Not to mention, the Volturi knew where he had been, so it was certain if he did not return with some sort of peace offering, the Volturi would kill him and his new family, without warning and without hesitation. The decision would be so quick, it might even slip past Alice until time was out for them to build up some sort of defense.

After an uncharacteristically angry Bella stormed out of the night club where her husband had found her, Bella had run into Max. His prayers had been answered. He knew Bella would do anything for her family, and that her family would do anything for her. If Max could just bring Bella there for a little while... and then maybe they would let her go after a little, if she obeyed.

Max then explained to Bella everything, like why she was suddenly so anti-Edward, why she had started to move away from him more and more and that Edward's reaction was only natural... wouldn't she go crazy-jealous-protective if Edward started to pull away from her? He also explained how his test was working only on her because of her youth. She obviously agreed to help her brother.

While the Volturi allowed them to settle in, and hunt (vegetarian) Bella and Max came across a wildly disheveled Edward in the forests around Volterra, and because of Max's enlightening and Bella's and Edward's deep love for one another, they were able to break the test and pass with flying colors. And what's a good test without a reward? Bella then acquired Edward's gift, when she concentrated solely on him. However, she was only able to read his mind. But that wasn't much of a hold back, considering he could read everyone's mind at any given moment. Edward knew that the Volturi would never let Bella go once they had her where they wanted her, so together Max Bella and Edward came up with the fool proof way to get out of the Volturi's grasp once and for all.

Chapter 15: Homecoming

Rosalie's Point of View:

"Aunt Rose, are my Mom and Dad ever coming back?" Renesmee asked aloud, for the first time. Even though she had been thinking about it since day 1 of their 5 day absence. Her thoughts were not easily kept secret, since she preferred showing us her mind to talking.

It was the morning, and I was dressing Renesmee, per her request. She was tired of Alice's outfits and Alice's fuss over her hair. The little girl was tired and annoyed because even though everyone in the family cringed at the thought of cutting off Nessie's beautiful red-gold ringlets, the weight of her hair was simply getting to be too much (no one had allowed her to receive a hair cut yet). Most of her family are vampires, who never allow their never-growing hair to go near a hair salon, so clearly her first hair cut would not be easy.

She liked it when I was in charge of her hair, letting her tie it up and put it in a bun so as to keep it out of her face. Even though Alice's intentions for busying Renesmee with dresses and hair, keeping Nessie from worrying over her parents, had been good they had ultimately failed.

As Nessie looked up at me, waiting for my answer, Alice burst loudly through the door.

"They're returning home! They'll be here tonight! They might still be in some danger, or they're hiding something, because Bella still has her shield up, but she opened her shield for a moment on purpose so we would know. I saw a flash of your Mom, Dad and Max buying tickets home!" Alice said her last sentence only to Renesmee who jumped from the floor, only half dressed and still wet from her bath, into Alice's waiting arms. Her excitement was infectious.

"Truly, Alice? And they're all safe? How can this be? What were they doing there anyway? If they really were bailing Max out of trouble, why couldn't they let us know so we could help... and most importantly, how did they manage?"

I knew I sounded like Emmett at the moment, question after question without giving a moment for Alice's reply. Alice only shrugged in response.

"But, if it was only small trouble, they wouldn't be hiding things from us. And they would have come home first before running off. If it was a big problem... how in the world did they possibly stump the entire Volturi and their guard... it's not possible."

Renesmee had thrown on a dress she had worn a few days ago, and already hurried out of her bathroom. Alice didn't even flinch when Renesmee walked back in to the room with her "used" dress on and told us to hurry downstairs to tell the others.

Edward's Point of View:

Bella leaned into my shoulder as the plane took off. I put my arm around her and rubbed little circles into her shoulder.

"Bella, we can't change everything about them... yet. We can only do our best. We don't want anyone to become suspicious of anything quite yet." I whispered reassuringly into her ear.

Max, sitting on Bella's other side, also in a hushed whisper, said "And besides, just think of all the humans you all have saved just be converting me!"

The last of all the tasks that we had had to complete before leaving Volterra, was seeing that someone was bringing in their meals, and it was hard to convince Bella that it had to be this way, that it would lead to much more suspicion if someone were paying a visit to Volterra only to see everyone munching on deer and bears.

A small smile appeared on Bella's lips. "I suppose. Do you think the vampires will ever accept what we have done... who we have become? This is a huge responsibility and I've only just begun to understand all that the Volturi did."

We were quiet for a while as the stewardesses walked by, asking if anyone needed anything, wanted anything to drink or wanted a blanket, pillow or pair of headphones. When most of the plane was quiet, and drifting to sleep, Max pretended to sleep, and I looked down at Bella. She was staring absentmindedly at the in-flight romantic comedy that was playing on the screen in front of her.

She, too, looked up at me. I whispered, "Bella, you do know what this means, right?"

"What?" She said, looking confused as I tapped her head gently, as if she had forgotten for a moment about our new found gift of conversing.

"You're the Queen of Vampires," I thought, when she finally opened up.

"You're ridiculous," she thought.

"I'm being perfectly serious. When you... wounded Aro with your force field and the guard froze unsure if this was real, and then they whispered. I don't think you were focused on me enough to read my mind and therefore theirs but they weren't just gossiping, or standing in shock. They were all saying the same thing. They were all frozen, in awe. In awe of you, Bella. In that hushed whisper they were all saying, 'La Nuova Regina', which means, the new queen. The Volturi have their very own myths, myths about 'La Nuova Regina', just like the Quilette tribe.

It is known that they had a psychic with them, back when they first began. She did not give much advice. She only spoke of things that would be of danger to them. She warned them that the Volturi, although strong, could not last forever, that one day they would turn corrupt, and a new leader would come, a woman, who would bring more honesty, peace, and forgiveness into the vampire world. She would be more worthy, and her, alongside her family, would be the true royalty of the vampire world. 'La Nuova Era Pacifico' they called the story.

Many of the vampires were waiting for that day to come. It won't be too long before we can tell the world what we have done. Don't worry, love. Eventually, our passion and reverence for human life will not be looked down upon, but rather looked up to, as an example, a model of excellence, self control and peace. Our ways cannot be ignored for long."

"What does, 'Capo Della Polizia' mean? When they bowed to us, upon our departure, the whole guard, they all said that,"

"Head of the guard, or policemen. You know, you really should freshen up on your Italian, Ms Head of Police and Leader of the Vampires"

"The police... like Charlie" she thought.

"Father like Daughter. I suppose it is in your nature, then, to protect others, love."

Bella's Point of View:

As Edward finished his sentence in his mind, 'it is in your nature then' is when my mind buzzed with understanding. I couldn't control my thoughts, and my head slipped away from Edward's; I couldn't concentrate on him. No one was getting through to me. I finally understood the jumble of things that I had been through, and why I did things the way I had; so clearly different from every one else. My life made sense.

Fate.

What was my fate, my destiny, my ultimate reason for being? Two days ago, if someone has asked me the same question, I would have answered without a doubt: Edward. But no.

It was so, so much more than that.

I was born from an unlikely couple, a couple not meant for each other. But they had been meant for one thing: me.

I was to be born, and then eventually, after a few years of a normal life, to come to Forks at the perfect time. A time when I was the same age as Edward, where I would find my soul mate, my reason. In that time I would live with my father who was a policeman, who would instill protection and a desire to see the law maintained within me. And in good time, when I had learned all I could from him, I would become like Edward. I was meant to. Everything about the beginning of my vampiric existence screamed destiny. I had more self control then anyone had ever witnessed. And being tested by Max and having his special help and developing a special power between my husband and I, had all been to help me to my place as 'La Regina' .

It was meant to be... and I was, well, Queen.

"Bella!" Edward called loudly.

"Is she all right? Is she breathing?" A concerned female voice said her footsteps coming closer every second.

I opened my eyes, and looked around. A stewardess, and Edward were standing over me. And Max was to the side, our one small bag in his hand and a worried expression tainting his face.

Edward looked close to tearless sobs, and the stewardess was looking at me strangely. I took a deep, unnecessary breath and the stewardess smiled in relief.

"Bella, are you okay, love?"

"Oh, I'm fine I just-" I stopped myself because the stewardess was still there, hovering, "fell asleep. You know how I get when I'm really tired." I said, smiling and standing up. I noticed we were the last ones on the plane.

"Maybe I should get you a wheelchair, Miss, just in case," I was about to protest, when I saw Edward's desperate expression.

"It's okay, I'll just carry her." He picked me up from the seat effortlessly, and there was no way I was being put down, considering the worry etched deeply into his face.

He must have watched me daydream for at least an hour, in the meantime I probably wasn't breathing or moving at all. That must have been weird for people to see, and horrible for Edward to witness. He probably could have woken me up, but that would have drawn even more attention to us.

As he carried me through the plane, bridal style, behind Max. He looked down at me, concern reaching every part of his face. I noticed a lingering look of grief in his eyes as well.

"I was in deep thought, I'm sorry, Edward. It came at me really unexpectedly."

"Isabella, don't you ever zone out like that again, do you understand me?"

"I'm a vampire of course I wasn't dead or anything, don't overreact." I saw a flicker of remembrance as he recalled his promise to not overreact, or overprotect me anymore. He threw that thought away, at least for the moment.

"Well, you've done some pretty crazy things in your time, things I never thought possible. I wouldn't put it past you if you somehow went into a vampire coma."

"I'm sorry-"

"I would have gotten up, and forced Max into driving the plane back to Volterra, just so I could find a vampire to finish me off if you weren't muttering to yourself while you were daydreaming. You kept muttering things like: fate, and my destiny, over and over, what was that about? Anyway, at least I could know you weren't completely gone."

"I guess my sleep talking finally came to good use."

"I've always had the greatest admiration for your sleep talking. This is only a confirmation of that."

Edward continued to carry me, even when we found our family waiting impatiently for us in the airport.

I chose to stay out of Edward's mind as the onslaught of questions came to us. I pulled out, but not before I heard the screams of: WHAT'S GOING ON? DID YOU SERIOUSLY DEFEAT THE VOLTURI? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH BELLA? DID SHE LOSE THE ABILITY TO WALK IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR LIFE, LIKE IN THE LITTLE MERMAID... oh wait, wasn't that her voice for legs, same thing, right? (the last, more odd questions were asked by Emmett, naturally).

The first real voice I heard was my daughter's. She screamed in delight and in a high soprano, "MOM! DAD!"

A few heads turned, but otherwise it went unnoticed. She gracefully jumped onto Edward and we both hugged her tightly as Edward held me.

We were crushed into different embraces, all of them telling us how glad they were we were safe and demanding an explanation the moment we were home. "Jacob will drive you home, and Max can come with Carlisle and I. But, please we will discuss everything when we our whole family is safely at home, where they should be." Esme said as she kissed my forehead and looked meaningfully into Edward's eyes.

The last to come up to us was Jacob.

If I were standing on my own two feet, I might have expected what came next. I certainly was not expecting Jacob to come up and embrace Nessie, (who was attached to us from the moment we had walked into her sight) Edward and I (who was still not allowed to stand) in one awkward hug.

"I'm so glad you are okay."

"Both of us?" Edward asked, jokingly, as Jacob took a step back from us.

"Yes, both of you. You have no idea how crazy Nessie got without you two, and her pain is my pain, you know?"

Renesmee, who had been the first to scream and run to us, was clinging safely to Edward's back, and staring down at me, as if she had never seen me before, with her hand she continued to ask me why Daddy was carrying me.

"He doesn't trust me to walk," I said to her, as Edward walked us out to our row of parked cars. I knew we looked strange, my daughter and I attached to Edward as he walked effortlessly to the car, but Edward didn't care. And it appeared that no one really paid that much attention to our exuberant reunion and our departure.

She flashed more pictures to me, still questioning: Does he think you're going to run away again? She showed me his reaction to the last time I had left him on his own. His stunned, expressionless behavior, his desire to come after me. At last she concluded: Mommy, he only loves you way too much. Don't be mad.

Edward and I chuckled as Jacob got in the driver's seat of Edward's Volvo.

"Renesmee made me drive it here, by the way, so don't get angry with me."

"Jacob, it's fine." Edward said, as he settled me Renesmee and himself into the backseat.

"I told you so!" Renesmee said, smiling wildly, squeezed between her two parents in the back.

Edward took my hand, across Renesmee, and we settled our hands on her lap. She put her two small hands on both of ours, and held our hands together.

As Jacob pulled out of the parking lot behind Carlisle's car, and Rose's, Renesmee smiled at our entwined hands.

"I missed you," she said, tears forming in her eyes.

"We missed you too, sweetheart, so much."

"Next time you go on an adventure, take me with you! After a while my aunts and uncles and grandparents become ... annoying!"

Jacob, Edward and I all laughed, but she was perfectly serious. "I mean it!"

"I know you do, Renesmee, don't worry, we will do our best to take you with us if we go somewhere next time."

"But, Nessie, I wasn't annoying like your aunts and uncles, right?" Jacob asked glancing at us in the rearview mirror.

She hesitated for a moment, "No... you were!" This time Jacob was silent and the entire back seat erupted in incontrollable laughter.

Edward and I kissed Renesmee's cheeks at the same moment and we stared lovingly at our daughter.

She had inherited more from her parents then I had ever thought.

Thank you for reading!

I think there will only be one or two more chapters left. Tell me if you think that's a good idea or not.

Sorry for the delay in getting this out!

Questions? Comments? Concerns?