A/N: I don't own the original story or characters. They are the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original plot is mine, and don't steal it!

I am soooo sorry that this has taken so long. My in-laws were here for 2 weeks. I haven't had a single second to myself for the past two weeks with the exception of an hour last Wednesday to post the last chapter. Updates will be more frequent now I promise! In fact you should have the next chapter before the end of the week :)

Thanks to all my reviewers… the reviews I got the last couple weeks were the bright spot in what was otherwise a stressful and strained and way too long visit.

I also apologize for any errors in this chapter, had trouble editing this time…

And after a huge A/N… here ya go!

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Chapter 21- Home

The plane ride was excruciatingly long. Ness laughed at me periodically as I fidgeted restlessly in my seat. I was the only restless vampire in history. Now that I was headed home to Edward, I could hardly hold still. Part of me thought that it would have been better to run and swim home. I knew it would take longer, but at least I would be doing something besides longing to have Edward's arms wrapped around me –finally! Once Ness fell asleep, I smiled down on my beautiful daughter. I wished I had allowed Edward to be there for her growing up. He had missed so much. I wondered if he would blame me for not giving him the chance to know his daughter until now. I should have contacted him and given her a chance to know her father sooner. However, if he had come to Volterra would Aro have been able to resist conscripting him into the guard? The idea of it made me shudder. I had considered this many times while I was still in the guard and rejected the idea for the same reasons. I knew I had made the right decisions in that regard, but I couldn't help but feel like I had cheated Edward and Ness from having the father-daughter relationship they could have had. I hoped that Ness and Edward would not hold it against me. After all, we had eternity to make up for that. Of course, now Ness would be marrying Jacob, which would change things drastically. I flinched at the thought. I knew and trusted Jake, but the idea of anyone loving my daughter that way was hard to cope with. In my eyes, she was still the little girl that I loved more than my own life. I knew she was an adult now and she needed to live her own life, but it was still hard as a mother to give her up to someone else. I just hoped that Jake would be willing to have us as part of her life. I began to wonder if Jake knew who I was and how he would react to the fact that he was marrying my daughter if he was unaware.

Ness woke up next to me as we began our descent into New York City. We would only be here for an hour to have the plane checked over and refueled before we were off again. We would be remaining on the plane. If I left, I knew the temptation to run the rest of the way would become too much. Instead, I decided to ask her about Jacob.

I took a deep breath and said, "Ness, does Jacob know who I really am?"

She looked at me for a moment and laughed.

Then she said, "No, Mom, he had no idea who my parents really are. I believe it is going to be quite a shock for him. Thank goodness, imprinting means unconditional love. He won't be able to leave me, no matter how awkward it is for him when he finds out that he had a crush on his future mother-in-law."

I looked at my daughter in shock. How had she known that Jake had a crush on me? Ness looked into my face and burst into giggles again.

Then she rolled her eyes and said, "Mom – he told me he had only fallen for one girl before. It took every ounce of my composure not to laugh when he said your name. After dad found out who I was, he was so tempted to tell Jake the truth, but I convinced him it would be better coming from you. Jake will have a bigger problem with the fact that Edward is my father than he will with the fact that you are my mom I think. They two of them kind of despise each other –still."

I laughed at that. Edward had always disliked Jacob immensely, but he had never liked any of my male friends, because he knew their intentions were not exactly honorable.

I turned to Ness and said, "Telling Jake is going to be a blast. You'll have to let me handle that one, however I'll have no problem with an audience."

I winked at Ness and then buckled my seatbelt even thought I knew I had no need of it. One of those left over habits from my human days. I could burst open the material like it was a thread anyway, if I needed to.

As the plane took off again my thoughts began to focus back on Edward. There was so much to be said; so many things needed to be fixed between the two of us. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I couldn't wait to see him and tell him for the first time in so long that I loved him completely with nothing holding either one of us back. I was finally getting my happy ending with Edward.

When we finally landed at the airport, Ness handed me my Volturi robe.

She giggled and said, "Aunt Alice thought it would be better to surprise them this way. Everyone will be there, except dad. They are all going to stay away from the house for a couple days. We are all going on a shopping trip to give you guys a chance to reconnect."

I smiled at my daughter and was suddenly overwhelmingly grateful for Alice's visions. I knew she had planned all this. I just wondered what she had seen that would mean everyone would have to leave town. I felt like I could blush at that thought, and was happy that everything was going to turn out okay in the end.

As we walked out of the terminal, I saw a huge crowd waiting for us. Everyone was there, all of the Cullens and most of the werewolves as well. I was curious as to the presence of the wolves but figured it had something to do with Jacob and let it drop. I stood back as everyone threw his or her arms around Nessie in turn. Then I picked Alice out of the crowd. She was buzzing with excitement. I smiled at the little pixie that could hardly contain herself. Then, suddenly she was running at me, throwing her arms around me.

Once she had me in a vice grip, she squealed into my ears, "Finally!"

Jasper stepped back and let out a loud laugh at his sweet and silly wife, however even he had no idea why Alice was throwing her arms around me. One by one, every eye was on me.

Finally, Carlisle cleared his throat and said, "Alice, would you like to tell me why you threw your arms around Marie?"

Alice giggled and murmured to me, "It's time."

I smiled widely down at the pixie and looked towards my family. Then, with a deep breath, I put my hands up to my hood and slowly brought it down.

I heard gasps all around me in odd intervals. I looked into all their shocked faces with a smile beaming across my own. Esme finally stepped towards me. Once she was inches from my face, she said my name so softly only I was able to hear it. I looked into her loving face and nodded as my smile became even bigger.

Then Esme squealed out, "Oh sweetheart, welcome home!"

The shocked looks intensified at Esme's response to me. Carlisle looked at me with concerned eyes and walked towards us.

Then, turning to his wife, he softly said, "Esme, I see the resemblance too, but it can't be who you think my dear, as much as you want it to be her. This is Marie, Renesmee's mother."

I smiled at Carlisle and then the whole group. I took a few steps, into the center of the group, never letting Esme go. Alice joined me, grabbing me on the other side.

Finally, after looking into all their faces, I said, "Ness, would you tell them your full name and the reason behind it? I think they would find it interesting."

Ness smiled at me and then said, "Sure, Mom. You know my first name is Renesmee. It is both of my grandmother's first names put together. My middle name is Carlie. It is both of my grandfather's names put together. My full name is Renesmee Carlie Masen Swan Cullen."

A huge smile spread across my daughter's face as she watched her family's reactions. Carlisle was the first one to break the silence by whispering my name.

I threw my arms around him and whispered, "Hi," into his ears.

As I broke Carlisle's grasp, I saw Jasper out of my peripheral vision. He was completely overwhelmed. I could see the intense battle going on in his face. Quickly, I moved towards him and wrapped my arms around him. After a moment of shock, Jasper returned the gesture. It was the first time Jasper did not have to hold back around me and I was thrilled to be able to show him the brotherly affection I felt.

Finally, he choked out, "Bella, I'm –I'm so sorry."

I stopped him immediately and saw Alice beaming out of the corner of my left eye. Jasper, after all this time, still felt guilty for what had happened. He felt that Edward leaving me was his fault. I knew better. Edward would have found a reason eventually even if Jasper hadn't tried to have me for dinner. I wasn't about to let a family member carry this kind of guilt around if I could do anything about it.

I hugged my brother back fiercely and said, "Jazz, none of this is your fault. Edward is just an idiot. I love him with all my heart but he would have left one way or another. He would have found another reason to leave eventually. Once it came to his attention that I was in so much danger, he would have left. Don't you dare blame yourself for your idiot brother's stupidity. I am just glad to finally be able to hug my brother."

I pulled back slightly and saw a huge smile spread across Jasper's face.

Suddenly from behind, I felt someone pull me out of Jasper's arms and throw me in the air. I growled slightly until I realized that Emmett was the one who had grabbed me.

Emmett crushed me against him with all his might and fiercely said, "Welcome back, little sis. I've missed you. Seriously, this family has been completely boring without you around. Welcome home."

I laughed, hugged him back and said, "Em, I've missed you too. I can't remember the last time someone teased me. I thought I was going to go nuts. It's good to be home."

Suddenly, the extremely hot hands of a werewolf replaced Emmett's cold ones. I felt a growl building up in my throat but then I looked at his face and I saw Jacob Black staring back at me with a huge smile.

I giggled and said, "I missed you too – dog."

Jake laughed and so did the rest of the wolves.

Jake grinned from ear to ear and said, "Well mom, it's good to see you too – even if you are a leech."

I laughed uncontrollably. Jacob was calling me mom? This was really over the top. Suddenly, I felt another pair of hot arms embrace us both.

Ness was hugging us both and said, "Well at least I know you two won't kill each other."

After a few seconds, I couldn't take it anymore and said, "Jake, you really do stink, I need some air."

Jake's nose wrinkled up and said, "Yah, seriously, Mom, you reek too. I'm letting go now."

Ness laughed and showed me an image from her head. Well, she was right; she was not going to ever have to worry about her husband crushing on her mom now that his nose burned when I came within ten feet of him. I joined in on her laughter and gave her a quick squeeze.

Then, I felt someone lightly tap me on the shoulder. I turned my gaze to see Rosalie looking back at me. I slowly released my hold on Renesmee and turned to face Rose completely. The look in her face was one of total agony. Something was killing Rose about my reappearance. Then suddenly, I felt two ice-cold arms wrap around me with our speed and it took me a moment to realize that Rose was the one grabbing me now. I felt her body shaking against me and I realized that she was crying. What was going on with her?

Finally, she composed herself and brokenly said, "Bella, I am so sorry you had to go through everything alone. It's all my fault. Tanya –Tanya did call the house to let Edward know you were there. I told Tanya that he was in South America chasing Victoria but I-" I stopped Rose and said, "That's why Kate put it that way." Rose's head hung in shame. After a moment she continued, "I'm so sorry Bella. If –if I had just told someone to come, none of this would have happened. Oh, Bella, I am so very sorry. If I had known, I would never have done this to you. I was so horrible to you and I caused you so much pain. I'm so sorry."

Then Rose began to shake again. I stood there in shock. The conversation that Tanya and Eleazar had ended because they had decided to call the Cullens, however Kate had no idea that Tanya had called them. She had just heard from Tanya that Edward was chasing some girl around South America. I had left for no reason at all. I sobbed in Rose's arms for a few minutes. Then I forced myself into control and looked at her. The shame and guilt was evident in her eyes. I realized that so many things could have changed what had happened but then some of the benefits would not be in place. The Volturi would have still come after us and I would not have been in a position to protect them. It would have meant the end of the Cullens. This was the only way that everything was going to be okay.

Finally, I took a deep, calming breath and said, "Rose, stop feeling guilty. I understand how you feel and why, but you need to understand something. If you had not done things exactly the way you had done them, what do you think would have happened when the Volturi came? Right now Edward, Alice, Jasper, Nessie, and I would have been members of the guard and no one would be there to stop the former council."

Suddenly, all the faces were looking at me in shock. Apparently, the news of what had happened in Volterra had not reached them.

I smiled slightly and said, "I guess you don't know what's happened. Marcus is the only original member of the council remaining. Aro and Caius are dead. When we returned to Volterra, we confronted them. I had to kill Chelsea immediately to keep them from stopping us. Once I killed her, Marcus was able to separate himself from the other two. Aro admitted to killing Didyme-"

At this, I heard Carlisle gasp in shock. He knew that Marcus had lost his mate long ago and he knew the magnitude of my statement. He had known Aro had a sister.

At a volume level that only we could hear, he said, "I remember Didyme. She was sweet and Marcus adored her. I have only seen love like theirs repeated once in my lifetime. Aro loved his sister dearly, but I could see the separation from the council beginning to happen. It was the reason I left Volterra. I did not want to be there when Marcus attempted to leave. When I heard about Didyme's death, I never thought that her own brother would be the cause. I was shocked when I found out that Marcus had agreed to stay on, until I heard about the most recent acquisition to the guard, Chelsea."

I looked at Carlisle for a moment before I continued my story, "Marcus killed Aro, Carlisle. He was furious when he found out the truth. Then Jane and Alec took out Caius. He was just as cold and cruel as Aro had been, Aro was just better at hiding it. Marcus agreed to remain on the council as long as two others were appointed. They wanted me to do it, but I refused. Jane and Alec are now the other two leaders of the Volturi."

Everyone looked at me in shock.

Finally, Jasper said gravely, "Are you sure they are good choices Bella?"

I looked at him with equal gravity and sincerity and said, "Jasper, I don't know what kind of dealings you have had with them, but they are the ones who were at the core of the conspiracy to save your family. They were my dearest and truest friends while I was part of the guard. They looked out for and protected me in every way they could. I do not know all their crimes of the past, but I know their hearts. They are worthy of their current position."

Everyone stood there in stunned silence. I could tell they were all attempting to process all the new information they had been given. Occasionally, someone would break their reverie and wrap their arms around me in a quick embrace.

Finally, after a few agonizing minutes of this immobile silence, I took a deep breath and rushed out in excitement, "We are drawing unneeded attention. There is a strange woman over there staring at us quite oddly and I need to go home. Edward is waiting for me and I think that he and I have waited long enough, don't you?"

As I finished my statement, a huge smile broke out over my face. Slowly I felt all their faces focus in on mine and as they did, they broke out into equally thrilled smiles.

Rose finally quipped, "Finally, my brother can stop brooding and stop driving us insane!"

I laughed and nodded, and then we all quickly moved out to the car.

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Okay I'm evil I know… but I promise that next chapter is the Edward and Bella chapter!

Please review… please?