Disclaimer: Stephenie owns the names, I own the plotline.

Finally, Marcus makes his appearance!

Absolutely

The test was scheduled on the next day. Aro left immediately after announcing the schedule but not before telling Bella that he is also looking for a partner. As soon as Aro was out of the door Bella was ambushed with questions by the whole family.

"How Bella?" Edward was the first one to ask. She turned and looked at him, his eyes held compassion, hurt and many other emotions. Bella sighed and sat on the couch. Just as the others were about to open their mouth she raised her hand to silence them and motioned them to sit. When they kept standing she spoke.

"Take a seat, this is a long one." They slowly took seat. Emmett and Rosalie sat on the loveseat while Alice and Jasper sat on the couch opposite. Esme and Carlisle occupied the single chairs as Edward sat beside her. "Alright, I am going to start from the beginning." She said with sigh. "When I was sixteen, I moved to New York for my high studies. I did a major in English honors. After school, we were given a project to write about the life of someone else. Mostly people chose to write about businessmen and politicians but I decided to do something unique. With the name of my father I pulled a few strings and started to work alongside Marcus Volturi, the youngest of the Volturi brothers. At that time the Volturi brothers were not as known as they are now. Marcus was easy to work with." Edward felt some new emotions stir up within him as Bella mentioned the name of her ex – partner with such adoration. "He was very professional unlike Aro and took his job pretty seriously. I was not his partner but I managed to go on some missions. I had dreams to become an author for as long as I can remember. In any case, I used to spin the stories and make them look sensible. My work with the FBI ended within three months. I submitted my report and scored the highest in class for my uniqueness and content. Anyway, till that time Marcus took a liking to my work just like Caius, the middle Volturi brother, who was the chief of the branch at that time. They requested their director to keep me on work since I had potential. I was not trained but I learned a few things here are there. I worked with him for five years until dad forced me out of it." at this Alice opened her mouth but Bella raised a hand to silence her. "Not now Alice, later." Alice nodded in understanding. "Where was I, yes, so after working five years with Marcus I went back to Forks, where my family lives. There I met up with Angela, my old schoolmate, she told me she was working for a publishing company but was thinking of starting her as soon her time with the firms finished. Angela and I came to New York together; we shared my apartment until she found her own. I came here to become an author and she came to start her own publishing company, today we are doing what we wanted to." She finished. "Alright Alice, you can speak now." She motioned for Alice who was having hard time to keep quite.

"Why did your dad call you back?" Alice let out a breath as she finally asked the question. Bella laughed a little at Alice's expression before answering.

"My dad called me back because I was shot during an encounter." Alice's eye went wide.

"Dude, Tanya has no chance in hell to win!" Emmett exclaimed.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Test went really well, let's just say Bella passed with flying colors leaving a pissed Tanya behind. During the combat she ran into Marcus Volturi, her ex- partner, and Edward, her future partner, didn't like it at all.

"Bella?" Marcus said in an astonished yet fond voice.

"Marcus?" Bella matched his tone. "Oh my god! It's been so long." She said while sprinting in his direction and hugging him furiously.

"I didn't know you were back in New York." He said as he pulled back.

"I came back long time ago but have been keeping low profile. Sorry, it's just Charlie's getting all sorts of paranoia and this was my last shot coming back and I didn't want to blow it off. I really am sorry." She completed with apologetic expression.

"It's alright honey, I understand. The way he reacted when you got, err, injured was enough to tell us how much he cared about you." The case was very tough and because of someone's stupidity Bella had gotten shot. They tried to keep it far away from any conversation. "I'm surprised Charlie let you come back." He joked, trying to change the topic.

"Yea, well it took a lot of convincing but at the end I won!" she followed his lead to ease the conversation.

"Of course you did." Marcus teased her. "The news is Bella Swan's getting a new partner. It is true?" ever since the news started, Marcus has been wary about the possibility of it.

"Yes, it's completely true." She confirmed.

"Charlie passed it?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Not asked yet, but I will." She said before he could question her.

"And how are you so sure about this?" he challenged.

"Because I'm working under Carlisle." She replied in a confident voice.

"Carlisle Cullen?"

"Yea, but I'm his son's partner." She confirmed. Just as she was about to say something her eyes fell on someone who was watching their exchange with intensity. "Edward! Come here!" she called onto him. Edward had been standing there the whole time, watching Marcus and Bella flirt with each other, and he didn't like it. Not at all. "Marcus, meet my new partner Edward and Edward, this is my old partner Marcus." She introduced them with a wave of hand.

"Nice to meet you." Marcus said, outstretching a hand which Edward caught and shook it with power.

"Nice to finally meet you." He said in the politest way possible.

"Marcus, darling, who is it?" a female voice said from behind.

"Guess?" Bella said.

"Bella?" she said in astonishment.

"Yea, how are you?" she said as she went forward and hugged the female.

"As fine as I can ever be. Tell me about you, honey. How are you?" the woman said as she squeezed Bella one last time before releasing her.

"I'm perfectly fine."

"And who is this young man?" the woman said pointing towards Edward. That's when Bella noticed the uncomfortable expression on Edward's face and decided to put him out of his misery.

"This is Edward, my new partner and Edward this is Didyme, Marcus's girlfriend."

"Actually honey, it's fiancée now." Didyme corrected Bella at which Bella squealed and hugged her fiercely.

"When did this happen? I mean the last time I checked, he didn't even have the guts to ask you out, let alone a marriage proposal?" she teased, earning a glare from Marcus.

"Oh yes! I remember!" Didyme recalled. "He was so shy back then." She said in a fond voice. "You know Bella had to ask me if I'd go on a date with Marcus." She said as she turned towards Edward who naturally smiled. All his foreign feelings had vanished the moment Bella introduced him to Marcus's fiancée.

"Wouldn't that be a shame for such an excellent FBI agent, eh Marcus?" Edward said as he teased along.

"I already like him." Didyme said as she high – fived Edward.

"So do I honey, so do I." Marcus said as he put a hand around his fiancée's shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze while pulling her into his side.

"Oh, well, we have to….." Bella started speaking but stopped when she heard some familiar voices arguing.

"But it's supposed to be me. I mean I'm his girlfriend!" she girl aka Tanya screeched as she dramatically, like a five year old, stomped her foot on the ground to show her irritation.

"Well Miss Denali, you just gave me another reason to not to partner you with Mr. Cullen." The calm voice of Aro answered. "You see, any kind of relationship between partners is not acceptable and I'm sure Miss Swan and Mr. Cullen know the seriousness of this rule." He completed and walked away showing that the conversation was over. Tanya stood there for a minute before stomping towards another direction.

"Pissed girlfriend, calm Aro, both of your names being used. Let me guess, she wanted to be your partner but Bella won, crushing both Aro and that girls expectations. Am I right?" Didyme raised an eyebrow at Edward.

"Absolutely." Bella said grinning ear to ear.

Alright, I know this is a short one but this needed to be a separate chapter for the individuality of it.

I promise for a big update next time!

As for the reviews, I am really disappointed. As if writing is not one of my favorite things, you guys discourage me by not giving enough reviews. Please review.

Bella