Chapter Fourteen: Let Me Go! And look Who's Coming To Dinner.

(Edward's POV)

There she is! "Alice wait up!" I called to her. As I started walking toward her she took off! That was not going to be a problem. I could out run her on my worst day! I quickly caught up with her and grabbed her arm.

She spun around and growled at me! Alice has NEVER growled at me. I Could hear her thoughts. She was mentally shouting at me.

"Let me go! This is all your fault! You made me leave my best friend, then without consideration for how any of the rest of us would feel you come here to kill yourself!?! Because of your selfishness I had to endanger my best friend and my love Jasper! Yes Jasper! What did you think would have happened if we had not suceeded, did you think Jasper would have just accepted my death, and let me go with out doing something to exact revenge? Sure it would be futile, but he would have none the less. Then Bella got changed, not surrounded by those she loves but by Marcus! They left her all alone Edward! She was brave though! She endured in silence just like Carlisle did. Maybe that is the key to their control, I don't know but because of you Bella us here suffering, she is heart broken. She may never love again.... Because of you and what you forced on her, the choice you denied her! Now let me go or I will do to you now what you came her for originally!!!"

I released her immediately and stood there in shock as she ran off. I had a lot to think about. I had to approach Bella carefully. I need to find her. I went to the lobby to ask Gianna where her room was. Everyone else here was blocking my thoughts. When I got to the lobby I could see Gianna, but I could not hear her thoughts.....

"Hello Mr. Cullen. I was told by Ms. Bella that should I see you that I should explain that she has included me in her shield." Well that explained that. I guess Bella being able to block the mental gifts of others as a human became a shield she could include others in.... "Yes, thank you that explains a lot. Speaking of Ms. Cullen, could you please direct me to her quarters, I need to speak with her about an urgent matter."

Gianna looked fearful. "I am so very sorry Mr. Cullen. I was told specifically that I was not under any circumstances to share that information including the cost of my life..." Her arm flinched to under her desk.

Behind me I heard Jane come out into the lobby. "Is there a problem here Gianna? Edward?"

I turned to face her. "No, no problem. But perhaps you could help me I was looking for Bella's room?"

Jane laughed and shook her head "Not in a million years. Not only is she immune to my power, but she is bigger than I am and a newborn. I like my arms, legs and head being attached... But don't fret, she mentioned something earlier about joining your family in one of the lounges for a movie night. Her and Gianna made a short film that is all the rage around here! Isn't that right Gianna?" Gianna turned pale again "Yes Ms. Jane!" "Well thank you Jane, it was nice seeing you again, thank you Gianna." And I walked past Jane and to my families suite.

I walked into the common area and Carlisle and Jasper were sitting there playing chess. "Hello, Edward. Where have you been off to?" Carlisle asked without looking up from his game. Jasper was blocking me. He was thinking about chess, but I knew when he was blocking me. It was weird seeing him in the uniform of the Volturi guard. But he was a soldier through and through, so I suppose it shouldn't be that much of a surprise. "So, Jasper. You joined the guard too?" He looked up from his game and his look was a lot less friendly than I was accustomed to. "Yes. Alice Joined so she could be close to Bella, to support her friend, and her choice, and you know wherever Alice goes, so go I." I felt bad. Jasper was another unintended consequence of my stupidity.

"I'm Sorry Jasper this mess is all my fault." Jasper glared at me instantly "No, you imbecile! How could you be so blind stupid! This is not a mess it is a set of circumstances brought about by choice! Bella chose to be one of us! All along she chose her love of all of us over any concern for her own safety, her family, any other consideration. But you made us all lose sight of her right to have a choice in her destiny, her choice of what she wanted for herself. And you hurt her Edward...."

Carlisle interrupted. "Boys, stop arguing. Edward, Bella has invited us to watch a short film tonight and she is going to take us to the new feeding area that they have set up for those of us who choose our diet." A panicked look crossed my face. "Don't worry Edward Bella has chosen our diet as well, she is really remarkable. The most interesting newborn, she has calm and reserve like no one I have ever encountered. Aro told me her change she did not cry out even once." Carlisle reassured.

I passed the rest of the afternoon being scolded by Rosalie and Esme in the next room who told me I had better not screw up their chance at reestablishing family bonds with Bella, or they would "tear my arms and legs off and make me watch while they threw them into the fireplace." Is how Rosalie phrased it.

Finally as my family got up to head to the lounge where Bella was going to screen her "film" I asked "do you suppose it would be alright If I came too?" Esme answered. "I am sure that will be fine, but remember what we told you earlier! You had best be a gentleman!" "Yes mom...." I replied.

We walked into the lounge and Alice, Bella and Jane were sitting over in front of a popcorn popper making popcorn. I shook my head doing a double take. Alice saw my reaction. "No we aren't going to eat it Edward. At the first screening of this film one of the guard brought some popcorn, it smells nice, and the smell kinda fits the occasion, that's all." When Alice mentioned my name Bella turned around quickly glaring at me then looked back at Jane. "Do you want me to zap him until he goes away Bella?" Jane said with an evil little smirk. "No, I suppose he can stay, just because he is my ex, doesn't mean we can't be civil to each other I guess...." My heart dropped into my stomach. She was over me.....

We all took seats Bella flanked by Jane, and Alice. I wanted to try to get closer, but couldn't so I just sat off to the side and tried to look nonchalant. Bella stood up in front and began "OK everyone, I am glad you all could come. It is nice to have you all here. I missed you all and am really glad to have you back in my life." She glanced my direction briefly, and if my heart could beat it would have jumped out of my chest. "As you all know, I woke from the painless process that is our changing" everyone chuckled at her obvious sarcasm about the horrible pain she went through. "I was in control of my nature. I have been blessed with control almost as good as Carlisle's. So it was suggested that I participate in a practical joke on Gianna! We cleared the lobby leaving her alone, Demetri and Felix hid in the closet behind her, just in case, and Alice and Jane were in the security office recording the whole thing. Without further delay here is the footage of our goof!"

She sat down and Jane dimmed the lights and we watched as Bella scared Gianna so bad she fainted. Even though it was kinda mean, it was funny. Emmett laughed so hard the screen shook. Rosalie threw him an elbow in the ribs and whispered for him to calm down. Bella then stood up and began "I know that was funny right? But I also felt kinda bad, so this next bit of footage is me apologizing" She sat back down and we watched some footage of her walking in and having a very nice conversation with Gianna. I am now really beside myself Bella lost nothing of her kind, loving and giving nature when she became one of us. How could I have been so stupid to ever let her go? Jane flicked the lights back on and Bella told everyone to follow her Alice and Jane to the zoo.

We came out of the tunnel into a fenced in area overlooking a grassy prairie. It looked like an African savanna. Bella turned to everyone. "Sorry Emmett the forest habitat is not finished yet, so no grizzly bears for you tonight I am afraid.." Everyone laughed. "But they stocked my favorite here, so I hope Mountain lion is OK with everyone?" As she said Mountain Lion she looked right at me. What was it in her eyes? Was she making the grand gesture? I was going to try to talk to her while we were all hunting.

We followed her into the enclosure, and everyone took off except Bella leaving us alone. I opened my mouth to speak but she put her finger on my lips. "Shhhh! Don't ruin the moment by saying something stupid Edward. Yes I like mountain lion just like you, who am I kidding... because of you. Have you learned your lesson?" I was dumbstruck "Lesson, what do you mean?"

"Boys can be so thickheaded!" She said exasperated. "Edward, Alice let me in on what happened, and I know you love me for some inexplainable reason, you love plain old nothing special me. And I love you so much it hurts. But you hurt me Edward, you took what was best in my world and just ripped it away from me. I want you forever too, but I want a forever where we treat each other with mutual respect and understanding, not you making decisions unilaterally wholly ignoring what I want."

I didn't know what to say right away, so I just nodded. "Does that mean you want that too?" she asked looking hopeful "Bella, as soon as I left you, I regretted it. My whole family was angry at me for making them leave you. You know they love you as much as I do. But more than that. You complete me. I was alone too long. I doubted your decisions because I doubted myself. How could you want me? I am a monster Bella, I hate what I am. I feared that If you were changed because of me you would grow to resent it and me. I was afraid to risk that...."

"Like I said boys can be so thickheaded." She smiled at me. "Well you have no choice now Mr. Cullen. I am a vampire like it or not, and you are going to have to deal!" I smiled at her, and asked "Does this mean we can pick up where we left off?" She shook her head sadly "No, I am sorry, I am under strict orders from the most high queen pixie. Alice said I had to make you work for it...."

I got down on my knees in front of her. I took her hands. "I will work for it for the rest of eternity if that is what it takes to win your love again Bella. I would miss her blush, I knew her face, she would have been blushing if she were still human. She pulled me to my feet. "Since I am now safe from your evil monster ways, do you suppose you could start by letting me watch you hunt?"

I laughed. "Sure, I would like nothing more than to hunt with you by my side Bella!" We took off into the field and over a hill toward dinner.

A/N This is not finished. But the meat of the story is done. I am going to have some fun and write some more chapters about courting and resolve Alice and Edward, and the family relationship etc. And if I get enough reviews a royal wedding!