Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: This story is rated M for "Mourning the fact that there's only two chapters after this *frown*" Please don't read if you're under 18.

There's been a few questions about Rosalie's decision to eat people. Just remember this story is AU/OOC, so she's not canon Rosalie.

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Chapter 23: There is Nothing That I Lack

Approaching the Cullen estate, Bella lowered her shield, hoping Edward would hear her.

I'm here. It's over.

No sooner had the words rushed through her mind than she saw Edward and Rosalie dash through the door and down the steps. Their parents stood in the doorway, warily watching the scene unfold.

Bella froze twenty yards from her lover, watching his stunned reaction as she let him see in her thoughts that the rogue was truly gone. As Emmett ran past her and into the arms of Rosalie, Bella remained in place, Aro's hand on her shoulder.

Now that he'd seen how vengeful, how calmly lethal she could be, she wasn't sure he'd still want her. She may have sworn off the hunt, but she would still kill without remorse. For him. For her father. For her new coven.

Edward walked slowly toward her, her shield still lowered to allow him to know her doubts and her nature. When he reached her and placed his hand on her cheek, she looked down, waiting to hear the reaction she could not bear to witness.

"Fair maiden, I've missed you." His voice was never sweeter, his touch never more tender. Looking into his eyes, Bella saw nothing but love and acceptance.

Aro dropped his hand and leaned to whisper in her ear. "Talk to the boy. You can meet us inside." His fingers lovingly brushed her elbow as he walked away.

Restoring her shield, Bella gazed at Edward's waiting, earnest face. She turned her face and placed a single kiss on the palm of his hand. "I've missed you, too, my champion."

"Not today. Today you were the one to fight for us, for our family."

As Edward's arms encircled her, Bella relaxed against him. He'd found her in another man's arms. He'd seen the horrible things done to her. Now, in the vivid details of her perfect memory he'd seen her, ruthless, vicious, and merciless. Still, he held her, proving his love for her with every touch and whisper. She tried not to think of the lost years, both of them so heartbroken and lonely, and instead tried to concentrate on the years ahead of them.

Her lips placed a soft kiss at the center of his chest. "Seeing what I'm truly capable of, how are you not pushing me away? You must think I'm a...monster." The memory of Edward's sharp, angry words as she lay in the dirty street crashed into her, and she shuddered.

Grabbing her shoulders, Edward lifted her and pushed her just far enough away to force her to look into his eyes. "Isabella, of all the horrible things I said to you, that is the one I wish I could take back the most. Believe me, please, I don't think you are a monster. You are brave and loyal and willing to do whatever it takes to protect those you love." Pulling her back into his embrace, he brushed his fingers through her hair. "If I'd been more like you, maybe we wouldn't have been apart for so long."

Gently tugging her hair, he brought her lips up to his and kissed her, his lips slow and insistent. She melted into him, as she always did, accepting his wet, wandering tongue into her mouth. His taste was once a precious memory, and she reeled from the reality of it. The kiss communicated everything between them: longing, forgiveness, and deep, abiding love.

Pulling away, Edward sighed. "I may still get a chance to be your champion today. They're all waiting inside to speak to us."

She grimaced. "Is it truly that bad?"

"Aro is completely on our side, surprisingly. Carlisle and Esme, on the other hand..." He chuckled, wrapping his arms more tightly around her waist and pulling her closer. "I think the Spanish Inquisition might be preferable."

"How lovely. Do they know about Rosalie yet?"

Edward shook his head. "Not yet, but I suspect they'll announce it during our little get-together."

"Won't that just be the icing on the cake. Edward, what are you doing?"

Edward's hands were moving over her body, becoming rapidly more greedy in their exploration. They unbuttoned her blouse and cupped her bare breasts.

"I told you I missed you," he said, groaning.

Tilting her head back and arching into his hands, she purred. "But they're waiting..."

"And they'll continue to wait until we go inside." He gently pulled her hardened nipples. "Follow me, and then we'll go face the firing squad, I promise."

Bella giggled, a sound she hadn't made in 91 years, and allowed Edward to drag her into a thick grove of trees.

~*~

Bella was still adjusting her clothes, Edward pulling leaves from her hair, when they entered the formal dining room. Aro sat at the head of the massive cherry table, Demetri on alert behind him, and Carlisle and Esme sat Aro's right and left across from each other. Aro pointed at the two chairs at the far end of the table, and Bella and Edward sat quickly. Emmett and Rosalie stood behind them in positions similar to Demetri's.

"Dearest Bella," Aro sang, his voice smooth and melodic, "I am so happy to have arrived in Chicago to find you and your beautiful boy reunited."

Bella clasped Edward's hand. She saw the shock on Carlisle's face; he had surely never heard Aro speak to anyone other than his mate so lovingly. She hoped maybe someday Carlisle would come to see Aro in a different light.

Aro's gaze shifted between Carlisle and Esme before he continued. "However, there are concerns about how you both, having such different backgrounds, will manage to co-exist under one roof."

Bella smiled as she felt Edward's grip on her hand tighten. It was time to say, out loud, what she was sure Aro already knew. But he needed the words, and Carlisle and Esme needed to know what she was willing to do to be with Edward.

"Aro, you saved me from a horror I thought would never end and showed me I could live with dignity. I will be forever grateful for you care, and I will always be devoted to you as my father." Looking to Edward, she tried to absorb his determination and let it steel her. "But I am going to adopt Edward's lifestyle. He doesn't want to give it up, and I don't want to give him up."

As Emmett's hand rested on her shoulder, Bella sighed. It was a sign of his acceptance and support, and she loved him for it. She worried about Rosalie's diametric decision and hoped Rosalie and Emmett would be able to make a life of their own together.

Carlisle and Esme exchanged worried glances, and Carlisle then began to speak for the Cullens. "Bella, I appreciate your love for Edward, but I don't believe you truly understand the difficulties of the road you wish to take."

"I believe you completely underestimate Isabella," Edward said, neither his voice or his face concealing his irritation. "I've seen her past, and she is the strongest creature I've ever met. She is already able to withstand long periods of time around humans without feeding conspicuously."

Esme sighed. "Abstaining when you know you will eventually feed is completely different than total sobriety. Will you be able to look into her red eyes without horror when she slips?"

"Edward, it's been a long time since you've dealt with human death, and it almost destroyed you." Carlisle fidgeted, and it seemed completely out of character. "While she may not hunt, it doesn't change the fact that she doesn't view humans as we do. She views them as food, not as soulful beings deserving of respect."

Bella tensed as she heard Emmett growl lowly. His fingers were digging into her shoulder, and Rosalie's hissed warnings did nothing to calm him.

"So let's see if I've got this straight," Emmett angrily bellowed. "She's denying her basic nature and committing to a lifestyle we find completely abhorrent all for Edward, but she gets no fucking credit for it because she isn't doing it for lofty enough reasons. Is that what you're trying to say?"

The room fell silent except for the sick grinding of Emmett's teeth. Aro looked proudly upon his daughter's protector, and Bella couldn't stop the inappropriate grin that spread across her face. Even Edward, who had every reason to dislike Emmett, whispered his approval.

While Esme remained stoically silent, Carlisle nodded slowly. "Touche, Emmett. I suppose we are asking for a great deal of change rather quickly."

If looks could kill, Esme's visual daggers would have pinned Carlisle to the wall behind him.

While Bella wanted Carlisle and Esme's acceptance, Aro's approval was the only one that truly mattered. His dark, sparkling eyes had lost none of their love for her.

"Aro?" she whispered, knowing no other words were needed.

"You know you have my eternal love, no matter what you do." Aro paused, locking eyes with Edward. Bella was sure he was allowing Edward to read his thoughts.

After a few moments, Edward turned to Bella, kissing her tenderly. "I told you he was on our side." Leaning further, he nipped her earlobe. "I didn't really have anything else to say," he whispered. "I just needed to taste you."

Aro chuckled. "You two make the perfect pair. You have my complete blessing, children. Please, Edward, consider coming to Volterra soon so that the others may welcome Bella's mate." He nodded to Emmett and Rosalie. "You two must come as well. Such a happy time must be shared with our fellow Volturi."

Just as Bella and Edward began to smile in relief, Esme's unhappy voice echoed through the room.

"I just assumed you would release them from their obligation to the Guard, Aro."

Bella shook her head vehemently. She was Volturi, through and through. She never viewed her Guard responsibilities as an obligation; it was her duty as a vampire, as Aro's daughter. Edward had not asked her to turn her back on them, and she wasn't going to allow Aro to cast her aside. She looked at Edward beseechingly, praying he was not of the same mind as Esme.

"The Volturi are my family, Edward. Please don't let them do this."

Edward wrapped his arm around Bella protectively, and she leaned into him, needing his strength and love. He kissed her temple, a simple, loving gesture she remembered from their first months together so very long ago. It had always made her feel safe, even though he'd been a fragile human unable to protect her. Now, however, he was a strong, glorious vampire whose embrace could shield her from anything.

"Isabella doesn't wish to be released from her obligation, Esme. She could turn away from the Volturi no more easily than I could turn away from you and Carlisle. I understand that, and I ask you to understand as well." Edward looked to Carlisle, the need for his blessing clear on Edward's worried face. "Isabella and I will remain in Chicago, but I will leave to share a home with her. I hope that we both will be welcome back into this home as we will welcome you into ours."

Carlisle stood and moved to Esme's side, resting his hands on her shoulders. "Edward, you and Bella will always be welcomed anywhere we are. You are our son. Bella, as Edward's mate, you are now our daughter. While we worry about the hardships you will face, we can see that you love Edward deeply, as he does you." Carlisle then turned to Aro, extending his hand. "Thank you so much, Aro, for supporting Bella and opening your arms to our son."

In a gesture of goodwill, Aro shook Carlisle's hand firmly. "Of course, old friend. We both love our children, that is obvious, and I want nothing but their happiness. I would like to make an offer, a present to the happy couple, as a sign of my friendship with you and your family.

"The building Bella currently occupies is too far away from your home. I own another building less than a mile from here containing three lofts. Edward and Bella would have one, Emmett another. The third? Maybe guest quarters for when I come back to visit. I'll make the arrangements to move Bella's things there and furnish the two other lofts immediately. I can have your things moved as well, Edward."

Aro's eyes lit up, and his pale face almost flushed with excitement. His generosity once made Bella uncomfortable, but now she understood it for what it was: an expression of his love. She mouthed her thanks to him, and his smile widened.

"Could you move my things, too?"

Everyone turned to face Rosalie, shocked that she'd actually spoken.

Esme's face fell. "Rosalie, what do you mean?"

Rosalie smiled weakly at Emmett before taking the seat next to her mother. "Esme," she whispered, taking Esme's hand, "I'm going with Emmett. He's the one I've been waiting for. He's my life now."

"But he's a newborn. There's no way he will adopt to our lifestyle, even with Bella."

"I haven't asked him to live that way." Rosalie stroked the back of Esme's hand with her thumb.

Carlisle knelt on the floor at Esme's other side, lowering himself to make eye contact with Rosalie. "What are you telling us, Rosalie?"

Rosalie slowly turned her gaze to Emmett, who smiled and nodded in encouragement.

"I'm going to hunt with him."

Jumping to her feet, Esme yanked her hand free from Rosalie's. "No! You've never fed from humans, not even Royce." She hissed the name, her face twisted in disgust. "Why would you now? And for some wild newborn you barely know?"

Rosalie ran her fingers through her long locks, pulling them in frustration. "I never viewed the lifestyle as you did. I prided myself for the strength of my restraint...that's all it was. Almost everyone here...even you, Esme...has tasted human blood." Confidently looking Esme in the eye, Rosalie squared her shoulders. "I want to know that power."

Esme chuckled, the sound dark and angry. "There's nothing powerful or natural about taking human life. It's not something I look back on with fondness. You don't know how black it will make you feel...or how hard it will be to stop."

Still regal in her sad disappointment, Esme held her hand out to Carlisle, who took it immediately and allowed her to lead him out of the room without another word spoken.

Aro waved at Demetri. "Come, let's get the building ready for Bella's coven. We shall make sure you are settled as well, dear Rosalie."

My coven. Bella marveled over the words and their meaning. In such a short time, she'd gone from a lonely existence, mourning her lost love, to a strong leader of her own coven...her new family.

She remembered how, each time she told Carlisle she was protecting his coven, he'd gently correct her, reminding her that they were a family. She now understood his meaning and how they were connected much more deeply than a motley crew of assorted vampires. This realization stopped her cold.

In building her family, she was destroying theirs.

When Emmett went to comfort Rosalie, Bella motioned Edward to come with her as she followed Aro outside. As they stepped onto the grass past the front steps, Bella called out to Aro.

"Aro, please, I need to talk to you."

Aro spun around effortlessly, gliding to a stop. "Yes, children, what is it?"

"We can't do this." Bella took Edward and Aro's hands in hers. "We can't pull their family apart. Carlisle and Esme will be destroyed."

"Dearest Bella, this is part of what it means to live forever." Aro soothed her by stroking her cheek. "Very few bonds last for eternity. Mates may stay together, but covens break apart and come together every day. No one knows that better than Carlisle."

Bella shook her head. "But Esme..."

"She doesn't understand," Edward explained. "She's only been with Carlisle and me, and losing one of us scares her. But she'll realize that she's not completely losing me. I'll always be nearby. And, one day, they'll take others in, just as they did Rosalie."

Rosalie was another issue entirely. Bella had been oddly pleased that Rosalie was not betraying some deep-seated love of human frailty, and she was secretly jealous that Rosalie would hunt while she would not. Still, Bella brought Emmett into all their lives, and he, at least in Esme's eyes, was leading Rosalie astray.

"Esme is very disappointed in Rosalie. I hate that Emmett and I are the cause of that."

Aro laughed. "Rosalie is quite the succubus, isn't she? She would have eventually learned that feeding from humans can make you feel... invincible. She seems like a woman who enjoys strength." Aro turned thoughtful, his eyes squinting as he inspected Edward. "Don't you ever miss it?"

Edward took a deep breath. "Sometimes I remember the taste and how satisfying it was, but it was always a fleeting satisfaction. Instead of powerful, I felt demonic."

Bella briefly wondered if he'd have felt the same way had she been there to guide him when he woke. That was neither here nor there, and she let the thought die.

"Just talk to them, Bella. They will see how special you are. Everyone does." Aro turned and began walking to the limousine with Demetri. "We'll return a soon as preparations for the building are made."

Blowing Bella a kiss, Aro and his minions disappeared into the limousines and drove away.

When she turned to face to Edward, he was frowning deeply. "We are leaving; we are going to live together as man and wife under a new roof. This is not up for discussion." His voice matched his stare: hard. "Do you understand me, Isabella?"

"Yes," she said quietly. "But what happened to this being my coven?" She tried to hide a teasing smirk but failed.

Edward's clear amber eyes glowed as he winked. "What's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine."

Rolling her eyes, she wrapped her arms around him. "They're right, you know. This new life of ours is going to be hard."

"Isabella, when has anything been easy for us?"

He was right. They'd made it through centuries of pain and sorrow, but still they were together, just as they were always meant to be.

Brushing Bella's hair over her shoulder, Edward kissed her neck. "Let's go talk to my parents...help them understand."