I know, I know, it's been a long time. This time I have no excuse except I started college a few weeks ago and I'm still adjusting to the different hours and work loads so I haven't had a lot of time to write… and thanks for all the reviews. AND thanks to a good friend of mine, Whats his face and the other guy, I got my 270 reviews that I asked for. Special tribute goes out to her, cookies when I see you lol. Thanks for adding me to your lists, though if I must say I get A LOT of those, more than reviews, and it's almost as easy to write down a little bit in a review as it is to add me to lists… think about it. Let's try for 300 this time, not asking a lot. Thanks again. Enjoy

CHAPTER 27

"That's not important right now Edward!" Esme chastised him. "We're all just glad she's safe and back with us."

"But that's the thing isn't it? She shouldn't be back with us! Don't you guys think it's weird that she's hear? How could she have escaped? That's right, she couldn't, which means Victoria has something up her sleeve, and you're all just standing there being all emotional!"

Jake took a step forward, a contemplating look on his face. "If I didn't know better Edward, I'd think you weren't happy to see Bella, I'd say you were….surprised and maybe a little upset?" he said questioningly.

Edward frowned at the young werewolf. "I have no idea what you're talking about Jacob. Why wouldn't I be happy to see her?"

"I don't know, but the first thing you say is 'how did you escape?' To me, that sounds like you're mad that she's safe. Unless…no it couldn't be…" he shook his head but I could tell that he left that sentence hanging because he wanted someone to ask about it.

"What Jake?" I asked.

"Well, it's obvious isn't it?" he asked, looking at me quickly before glaring back at Edward. "He was in on it. He was in league with them Bella."

I sensed more than saw everyone's head turn in Edward's direction; my focus was completely on him. I felt myself getting more and more mad as he just stood there, neither denying it, nor acknowledging it.

"Edward, is it true?" Carlisle asked softly.

Edward looked at his father, "you can ask me that? After all these years you can ask me if I'm trying to sabotage my own family?"

Carlisle closed his eyes and opened them again, looking at Edward with a slightly hard expression, "Edward, just answer the question."

"I don't know what you want me to say," Edward replied, avoiding the question.

"Yes you do Edward; you do know what I want you to say. I want you to tell me the truth. Were you in on the plot to kidnap Bella? Knowing that she would be part of the family by that time and in full awareness that there was a great likelihood that she would be killed?"

"It's not fair Carlisle. It's not fair that I took care of her, I protected her, and she gets to be with Emmett!" Edward burst out, practically screaming his guilt.

Though I wanted nothing more than to rip him apart right then and there, I held myself together, knowing Carlisle will handle it.

"It is fair Edward, it is fair that she ended up with Emmett. You left her remember? You broke her heart, told her you never loved her, ran out on her and hooked up with your brother's wife. Believe me, it is more than fair," Carlisle's voice was dangerous now as his growing anger permeated his tone and his body. "If you'd wanted her so much why did you leave her?"

"I…I didn't think…I thought she was lying when she kept saying she wanted to be like us. I thought she was joking. And it was too much work for me to keep watching out for a klutzy human. But then I come back, and she's there, a vampire, beautiful, perfect…and I wanted her back…"

Finally my anger burst forth and I couldn't stop it, "you did this because you thought I was pretty? I was…what? Just another pretty girl who was stupid enough to fall for you more than once? You thought that because I was now a vampire you were free to come back and mess up my life again? Mess up your brother's life even more? You are a selfish bastard Edward Cullen!" I yelled.

"Bella, settle down—" Carlisle started.

"He ruined my wedding day!" I screamed. "The most important, special day of my life! He ruined it because he was a jealous prick! Settle down? Oh no Carlisle, I am so far beyond settling down! This…jerk has messed up my life enough; I won't let him keep doing it. Emmett, I'll understand if you feel that you need to stay with your family and if you choose that I will always love you, but I can't stay here if he's here, I just can't let him keep doing this. I'm going back to the house and packing my things, I'll be leaving tomorrow." I was looking at Emmett with pain and love mingled in my eyes. I didn't know how I planned to live without him if he chose to stay, but my love for him would never leave.

"Bella, you aren't going anywhere," Carlisle said. And then he glanced at Esme. She looked like she was in so much pain that she would burst, but nodded silently. "This is now a family council. There is a decision to be made. By a raise of the hand each of you will decide something that will affect the whole family. If majority wins, there is no going back, there is no negotiation. Nod your head if you agree to this." He said this very diplomatically, even though I could tell from his tone that it hurt him to say it.

The whole family nodded, except Edward, who was still seething. Jake and my father, who'd so far declined to being a Cullen, just stood there watching.

"Alright. Then the decision is thus, Edward Cullen has exhibited behavior unfit for this family. He's lied, manipulated, and assisted in the kidnapping of one of our number. So my question is, should he be allowed to stay with us, get away with his behavior, or should he be banished from the family?" he paused to let us all think this over, though Esme was crying dryly beside her husband. "A show of hands, who believes that Edward Cullen should be forgiven, his actions ignored for the good of the family."

Edward's hand rose immediately. And then, hesitantly, Rosalie raised her hand. Carlisle waited a moment to make sure no one else was going to do anything.

"Who believes Edward should be banished from the family?" he asked quietly.

I looked around at the family who was standing immobile and raised me hand. Slowly Emmett and Alice and Jasper raised their hands. Looking down at the ground, Carlisle put his own hand into the air. I couldn't help but look at Esme. She'd sunk in on herself, when Carlisle tried to coax her out, telling her she had to vote she shook her head. "I can't Carlisle! I can't vote one way or the other! I know he did wrong, but I can't do that to my child!"

Carlisle sighed. "Majority rules, five to two. Edward Mason, you are henceforth banished from the Cullen family. You may return only when and if we allow it. You have one hour to gather your things from our house and leave our territory."

Edward glared at him. "How could you do this to me?! I'm like your son! What about Victoria? She was just as much to blame as me!"

"We could expect such a thing from an enemy Edward; we would never have thought you would do this. Not to mention Bella has forgiven her, she is no longer our enemy. I do not believe Bella will ever be able to forgive you."

"Jasper? We've always been brothers, closer than blood could be!" Edward said.

Jasper shook his head. "Edward…you've gone too far this time. No brother of mine or Emmett's would do what you have done. I have made my choice clear." Jasper took a step back and looked down at his clasped hands.

"Esme?" Edward pleaded; looking to the only person he might now be able to sway.

"Edward, please," she sobbed. "Don't…don't make this harder for me. I will always love you Edward. But…I agree with the rest of the family, you…what you have done is unforgivable. I can no longer help you out of your problems. You have brought this on yourself. You knew when you did this that there would be consequences."

"You have one hour Edward, use it wisely," Carlisle reminded him, sounding completely devoid of emotion, though I knew deep down he was being torn to pieces. With that he turned and walked away. The rest of us followed slowly, Emmett slinging one arm around my waist and taking my dress in his other to fling over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I glanced back once to see Edward on his knees in the clearing, Rosalie's hand on his shoulder. And as I looked, the sun came out and hit the two motionless vampires, turning them into a big dazzling light.