17 years ago.

Bella looked into a pair of bright red eyes and remembered Edward telling her about vampires that fed on humans and not animals as Edward and his family did. Vampires that fed on humans had bright red eyes. Just like this one. It was more apparent than ever to Bella that she was in the company of a predator.

"Isabella, so we finally meet" the man with the red eyes said.

"Who are you?" she asked carefully.

Taking a walk in the woods on her own was something she used to do. Ever since Edward had left it seemed that it was the only thing that prevented her from going crazy. But today, she wasn't alone. As she had reached her favorite spot, a meadow where she and Edward used to go, the pale man was there seemingly waiting for her.

The man smiled and took a hold of her hand. Bella didn't dare to move as he brought up her wrist to his nose and took a deep breath with his eyes closed. He looked as if he was thoroughly enjoying it and Bella was strangely fascinated.

"My name..." the man began still with his eyes closed.

Then he opened them and again it struck Bella how bright red they really were.

"... is Aro" he finished his sentence.

Aro.

Bella recognized the name. Edward had briefly told her about The Volturi, the largest and most powerful vampire coven. They see themselves as guardians: they enforce and protect the laws of the world of vampires. The most important law being to keep the existence of vampires a secret. A law Edward had broken as Bella knew what he and his family was, but then again she had reached that conclusion on her own. She didn't think the Volturi cared much for that though. From what she'd heard they preferred to act instead of asking questions.

"It is unusual for a human to be involved the way you are" he remarked.

Without thinking about it Bella cradled her stomach as if to protect it from Aro's glance.

"Oh I know, dear one" Aro said smiling.

"May I?" he asked reaching out.

Without daring to say no Bella watched as Aro's hands got closer. She closed her eyes and begged that he would not touch her baby, for what it was worth. When she opened them she noted that Aro's hands were nowhere near her stomach. Instead he looked intrigued.

"Peculiar" he commented as he once again tried to touch her, but it seemed as though there was an invisible shield in between them, a wall of air that prevented him from getting closer.

Aro stepped back and chuckled amazed.

"It is much more than what I hoped for" he said cryptically.

Bella didn't ask what he meant as she felt far too frightened suddenly. Aro looked utterly concerned frowning as if he was in pain.

"Isabella, I have heard that the Cullens left you here, alone and unprotected" he said.

"I'm not alone" Bella retorted.

Aro nodded again concerned.

"Maybe not alone, but certainly unprotected" he said.

Bella didn't know what to say as she had no idea what possible dangers there could be. Edward had left her claiming their world was too unnatural for her, too dangerous. Would that not mean that the danger had went away with them? Aro raised one eyebrow as if he knew what she was thinking.

"Well you are a part of our world now whether you like it or not."

He paused.

"And some might say what you and our dear Edward have done would be against the rules" Aro said raising one eyebrow smiling slightly.

Bella suddenly realized what Aro was saying. He was implying that she needed protection from them.

"What exactly are you here for?" she asked him.

"I have come here with an offer, dear Isabella."

He paused.

"I invite you and your unborn child to Volterra where you would stay under my protection."

A strange request, Bella noted.

"What's in it for you?" she asked feeling a stronge dislike for the man.

Aro chuckled slightly.

"You are not stupid, Isabella. I have wandered this earth many years and seen many things, but a vampire and a human mating... This" he said, gesturing to her stomach. "is something entirely new and I admit I am eager to see what you are expecting."

Bella didn't buy it.

"So you want us to move to Volterra to live with you?" she asked incrediously.

Aro nodded mutely, his eyes gleaming at the prospect.

"Or I could simply send you a card" Bella suggested dryly.

Aro laughed delighted.

"A sense of humour!" he exclaimed happily clasping his hands together. "Yes, you are not stupid Isabella" he said once more. "One with your intelligence, and your... talent. We would be delighted to have you join us."

By talent Aro Bella could only guess he was referring to the inexplainable fact that he seemed unable to touch her and perhaps was referring to the fact that Edward had not been able to read her mind – although Bella wasn't sure if Aro had heard about that or how he had heard about it if he had.

"You would make me one of you?" Bella asked carefully.

Aro nodded smiling. He could tell this was something that intrigued Bella, but he was fooled by her moment of curiousness at the prospect. Because it had been something Bella had wished of Edward when they were still together, that he'd make her one of them so that they could be together forever. But with Edward gone what was the point of it? And raise her child in Volterra far away from Charlie and the people that she loved? Feed on humans? That didn't sound very tempting. Also, she couldn't see why Aro would want to do this, considering.

"That would be breaking your own rules" Bella pointed out thinking of how Aro would turn her into a vampire. That couldn't be supported by the Volturi.

Aro chuckled.

"For a great exception" he filled in.

Oh right, he was the Volturi meaning he could do whatever he pleased.

Bella shook her head at the thought.

"While I thank you for your offer, I have to decline" she finally said.

Aro's smile faltered only a little as his bright red eyes still boored into her.

"Think of your child, Isabella" Aro cautioned and let his eyes briefly flicker down to her stomach and then up to Bella's eyes again.

"That's what I'm doing" Bella said slightly annoyed now that he'd interrupted her day out in the woods. Who did he think he was?

Aro's smile faltered for real now and he looked disapproving.

"Do you not find it peculiar that they left you knowing you were expecting?" Aro asked.

Bella shook her head determined not to let mindgames get to her.

"They didn''t know" she said.

But Aro looked at her intently.

"How could they not know, Isabella? Alice Cullen has the gift of foresight" he pointed out.

While that thought had struck Bella many times she didn't want to listen to Aro as she knew what he was trying to get across. Why would Bella stay in Forks when no one cared about her? When the ones she'd thought cared about her, just left maybe even knowing her fate? But Aro was forgetting something. While the love of her life had left her along with his family and the person she'd considered her sister had done the same, Bella still had Charlie and her baby: that was enough to keep her in the world.

"It doesn't matter the answer's still no" Bella said looking him steadily in the eyes.

"Then you remain unprotected" he answered coldly.

Then the smile returned.

"We will meet again, Isabella" Aro said before walking away.

Bella looked at him disappearing more deeply into the forest. It wasn't until she was sure that he'd left, a half hour later, that she let her tears fall. She cradled her stomach and wept.

"You are not unprotected" she told her unborn baby.

"I would die before giving you to them, but I will not let them take you. I promise."

Again she couldn't help to wonder if Alice had known.

I got my first review! Guest you semed as thrilled as I was when I saw you were the first one to review haha :D thank you so much for commenting and to answer your question if Bella is a vampire.. We'll see what happens after hers and Jane's meeting.. (Du du du dun...!)