Chapter Twenty-Two

Charlotte's POV

I was terrified of what was bound to happen. I was in a foreign country with vampires, going to see some vampire Master. The only good thing about this was that I had Demetri.

Sure, he was one of the vampires that kidnapped me, but we had just shared the most passionate kiss I'd ever had. I'm so drawn to him. It's like he's my missing half.

It's madness. I don't even know anything about him, but I'm already falling for him? I know nothing of him, other than that he is a vampire. He could kill me. But I felt safe in his arms.

As we walked through the dark and deserted streets of Volterra, Demetri's home, he held onto my hand. I had a feeling of being whole when he touched me. Like my life was finally perfect. Even though I was heading down a dark street leading to my death, I felt whole and perfect.

How could I possibly be in love with someone I had just met? I didn't have the answer to that question, but did love ever need a reason? It just happened and it felt good.

I didn't know what he was thinking but I hoped he was thinking about me.

I wanted to tell him that I loved him, even though he'd kidnapped me and that I had only just met him. But if I were going to die soon I'd want to tell him.

" Demetri." I whispered his name as we entered a large stone building. We went straight to an elevator.

" Shh Charlotte. Please don't speak." His voice was hard, like his skin, but I could tell he was struggling with something. The elevator went down, down, down. I didn't know how many floors down, but it seemed like a lot. We were really under ground a ways.

When the elevator finally stopped and the doors opened, I was restless. What would happen to me? I didn't get to tell Demetri that I love him. Would I ever get the chance to? The room we stepped into, once we got off of the elevator, was large, and had multiple people in it. I could tell they were vampires. I may have only seen four before then, but they all had the same skin. Chalk white and smooth.

" Charlotte Benson. Good to see you." A rather older man stepped toward me, and a young girl followed close behind him, he held his hand out as if wanting to shake my hand. " Please, come forth closer." I looked to Demetri, who nodded slightly, and I took a step forward. My hand slipped out of Demetri's and I felt a little panicked. I touched the man's hand and it was hard, not really surprising there. Demetri had hard skin also.

He closed his eyes for a minute before opening them again and then he smiled at me.

" Quite interesting. You're relationship with Isabella Swan seemed to be strong at one point. But she pushed you away." I raised an eyebrow and was about to ask him how he knew that, but I caught myself, remembering what Demetri told me.

" Yes. And then our Demetri has gotten cozy with you. I see you will be a perfect match for him. You've already fallen in love with him, have you not?" He didn't wait for me to answer before he continued. " And your childhood. I've seen many cases like yours before. Your mother shouldn't have done that to you. You've been through a lot of therapy because of what she did to you, yet you're still holding onto that grudge.

" Yes, yes. You will make a perfect member for the Guard." He then spoke Italian to someone behind him. There was a reply, then Demetri stepped forward coming to stand next to me. His hand was out stretched and the old man took his hand.

" Ah yes. Of course you can change her Demetri. She is your mate after all." I believe he spoke in English just so I'd understand. I was Demetri's mate. His love. I would have thought about that even more, but what the man said about my mother and how she had hurt me. No one knew about that. I'd never told anyone, other than my therapist, and he swore not to tell anyone.

I felt Demetri's hand slip into mine, and I looked up to him. He was smiling at me, and I smiled back, detached. I was still thinking about what my mother had done.

" Master Aro, I was wondering if I could take Charlotte to our room. I need to fill her in on what will happen soon." Ah. So this was the Master they were talking of. Master Aro, Demetri had called him, nodded and kissed my hand before allowing us to leave.

When we finally made it to the room Demetri had talked briefly about, I was shaking.

" What is it, my amore?" Demetri asked me, sitting me down on the large bed. " There is no reason to be afraid." He took my hands in his and kissed them.

" I'm sorry, Demetri. I'm just thinking about what Master Aro spoke of." I wanted to cry, but I held them in. I didn't like showing weakness, and I already was. I didn't want to make it worse.

" About your mother?" He asked. I nodded, I couldn't find words. " Was she cruel to you?" I nodded again. " How?" He pressed. I shook my head. I couldn't talk about this.

" I'll tell you some other time." I whispered. My voice was hoarse and it hurt to speak, I was trying to calm the sobs that wanted to escape.

" Of course." I looked into his eyes and felt the world shift slightly.

" Tell me. What did Master Aro mean about us being mates?" I asked. Demetri laughed gently before kissing me lips softly, gently, and shortly.

" It means we are to be together once you become one of us."

" One of us?"

" A vampire. My amore, we are destined to be together. Please agree, or the Master will resort to killing you." He pleaded. I could tell what he was saying was true, and really when had he ever lied to me?

" I don't have to think about it, Demetri. I want to become an immortal."

Bella's POV

It had been four days since I found out about Charlotte's kidnapping. I'd finally been released from the hospital yesterday, and I was glad to be home.

I tried not to worry about Charlotte. But I couldn't help it. She was in the hands of a huge coven of vampires, and the way Edward had explained them, it seemed as though it was either immortality or death.

I couldn't see Charlotte as a vampire or dead. It hurt to think of her as a human drinker. I've had some bad experiences with that type of vampire. And her being dead, well I couldn't picture anyone dead. It was too hurtful.

Taking care of Lizzy took up most of my time. Lizzy and I spent most of our time at the Cullens, but we lived with Charlie still. We'd decided two months after I told everyone I was pregnant, that I would live with Charlie until Edward and I got married.

Edward and I got Alice to plan the wedding. We told her we wanted to get married after graduation. It seemed like the right time to get married, especially after have a baby.

Lizzy was so talented after only four days. She was bizarre, supernatural to say the least. She could grab things already. It was quite terrifying. I was afraid to see her change in a month's time. I could just see it now. She'd have all her teeth by the time she was three months, she could walk at the age of six months and could talk a sentence at the young age of eight months.

Just thinking about her becoming so advanced made me have nightmares. What would she be like in ten years? Or even just five?

I couldn't think about Charlotte when my daughter was growing up right before my eyes, literally.

Charlie seemed surprised by her growth also. I couldn't blame him though. He had no clue that Lizzy's father was a vampire. But Charlie didn't seem to care whether or not she was gifted, just as long as he could hold her. Charlie had called Renee and told her about his granddaughter. He said she was reluctant at first but he talked her into coming up for a visit.

So, the day after I got out of the hospital I was still ordered to be in bed, and I was expecting my mother to show up any minute.

Of course Edward was there, helping me with Lizzy. He'd barely left my side. He helped me to the bathroom, and helped me bath. I wasn't aloud to shower yet; they didn't want my incision to get infected.

Charlie was changing diapers and cleaning the house while Alice helped too. They were all pitching in to help me get ready, though I wasn't really helping. I couldn't.

I was worried about my mother seeing the granddaughter she rejected. I didn't want her thinking everything was perfect between us. She'd left me with no help when I needed her most.

I crossed my arms and huffed as Edward rocked Lizzy to sleep after her feeding, and Alice and Charlie fleeted around the house, getting things ready for Renee. It didn't seem like Charlie, for him to be doing housework. It was comical.

" She's turning onto the street." Edward whispered to me before going up to my room, where Lizzy's crib was set up. He joined me back down stairs as Alice skipped to the door. Just before she reached it there was a knock on the door.

" Renee." Alice said, not as excited to see her as Alice usually is.

" Alice." Renee used the same tone. It was so strange. Hearing my mother so stiff and awkward. She was always so childish, so outgoing.

" She's in the living room." Alice said again, this time it was more clipped. Edward sat down next to me and held my hand as I waited for Renee to turn the corner. When she did she stopped short at the sight of me.

Was I that bad? Did I look that bad?

" Bella." She smiled before walking faster over to me and hugged me. I didn't hug her back. I didn't want to, and I felt so weak.

" Mom." I whispered. She pulled back noticing the detachment in my voice.

" It's good to see you, Bella. It's been a long time."

" It didn't have to be a long time, mom. You could have called anytime, you could have some up anytime."

" Don't start with me Bella." She said sighing hard. She looked at Edward then at our intertwined hands.

" I see you stuck around Edward." She said, her voice was like ice.

" Yes, Renee. I'm not going anywhere. I won't turn my back on Bella." He said it in a polite way, but the words hit Renee. She narrowed her eyes, and folded her arms.

" Is that why Charlie asked me to come up? So you all could be cold to me?"

" No. I wanted you to come up to see our granddaughter." Charlie answered, coming in from the kitchen. He had a little apron on around his waist. I cracked a smile and hide my face in Edward's chest, trying not to laugh. It was so comical. I heard Alice's tinkling laugh from the kitchen, where she had snuck off.

" Well, where is she then?" Renee looked around impatiently.

" She's taking a nap. They only last for three hours, mom. You can wait a little longer." I said sarcastically. I felt short when she was around. My temper was flaring and I hated to see her some mean to my family.

" Three hours? Ugh." She looked around the house again, before looking back to me. " I'm going to go out and get something to eat." She turned to leave.

" Mom, Charlie and Alice were nice enough to cook you something. Why don't we all sit down and eat here?"

After some more coaxing, Renee agreed to eat there with us. Edward helped me up and helped me walk to the dining room.

" Can't even walk on your own." Renee said under her breath, but we all heard it, even the humans in the room. I felt Edward stiffen as he helped me sit in a chair at the table. Alice had set five places and even went out and bought Charlie a new chair for the table. It was mismatching and everything.

" Please mom. Don't push me. I'm sore and I've got a real short temper when it comes to you. Don't. Push. Me." I glared at her. She flinched under my gaze and looked away, not looking anywhere but at her food.

I took a bite of the food and smiled.

" This is really good dad, Alice." I said surprised that it really did taste good.

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When Lizzy finally woke up Renee was restless. Alice left shortly after the meal started, acting like she got a phone call. Edward stuck it out, and ate some food. I heard him a little later out back puking it up. When he came back in I smiled at him sympathetically. He just smiled back.

Charlie had gone up stairs to check on Lizzy, and came back down with her on his hip.

" Here's little Lizzy!" He said in a big announcer voice. Lizzy scrunched her face up in a big smile and smack Charlie's face. Edward, Charlie and I laughed along with her, while Renee just stared at her.

" This is the four day old baby?" She asked incredulously.

" Yes." Charlie said, his face and tone proud. " This is Elizabeth Rose Cullen."

" Elizabeth Rose Cullen?" Renee asked. I sighed and rolled my eyes.

" Rose as in Edward's sister Rosalie, Elizabeth as in Edward's mothers name, and Cullen as in her last name."

" I see." Renee looked at Lizzy before stomping out of the house.

I turned to Edward.

" She's mad that she's not included in the name." Edward explained in a whisper.

" I never thought she'd be so immature about this. I thought once she saw our little girl here she'd get over her resistance. I'm sorry Bells." Charlie sighed sadly.

" It's fine dad. I'm fine without her. I have you after all."

Five minutes later it was time to feed Lizzy, and the whole ordeal with my mother was set in the back of my mind. For now, Lizzy needed me.

11 ½ pages people. I think that's the longest chapter there has ever been in any of my stories. This story is now 109 pages long on Microsoft Document! WOOHOO!! Lets celebrate by sending me really good, long, detailed, reviews!!!! YAY!!!! No, really. Send me some good reviews. Please. I thrive with them.

Also. I'm not sure if I approached this yet, so I'll do it now.

A couple of chapters I made a mistake by saying that ALL babies were born with blue eyes. I got a bunch of grief on that, so I'm here to say sorry. My bad people. My bad. Just please, stop yelling at me for it. I'm a dumb dumb. That's obvious now. So… yeah. Sorry.

Bye. Now. Bye.

-Jackie

Oh! OH!! I forgot to say that I'm planning on doing a sequel to this story, one about Charlotte and Demetri… I hope I don't loose the spark. Also I'm starting two new stories. I already have one done. The first is a one shot, about eight or so pages long. The second will somehow tie into the first one. I won't say how, but it will. I hope you all will have the time to read it.

Ok for real this time.

Bye bye!!!

- Jackie