A/N- Hey everyone! So I'm getting more and more excited as we get closer to the end. This has been quite a journey, huh? But… only 3 reviews for this last chapter… C'mon guys! I'm not going to stop updating, but reviews are appreciated!

Romance4ever- I'm happy you're enjoying it and don't have to reread BD for this story!

MainlyMaddison- Updated!

BirdieInABox16- Don't worry, you'll find out what happens (other than the events in BD) in this chapter!

I collapsed onto the Cullen's couch as soon as I entered their home. For once I was more than happy to be on the cushiony pillows rather than the hard bark of a tree. I closed my eyes and pinched my nose as I let out a low sigh. I wish I could sleep. I felt tired almost. I hadn't tried to sleep in months though and I wasn't planning to do so now. It took too much work, too much effort.

"You look tired." James said as he walked in with the rest of the Cullens. Kate and Tanya had already left once more for Denali and James and I would most likely follow them in a few hours, a day at most.

"I feel it." I muttered.

"We're vampires, love. We don't get tired." James said.

"I still feel like it." I replied. James came over and sat down on the couch next to me. He picked me up so that I was now resting on him more than the couch. I didn't mind the change from soft to firm as much as I thought I would.

"That went better than I think anyone could have imagined." James said.

"It really did. I'm still surprised Aro didn't try to find some way to fight us." I said. "I figured he'd pull every trick in his old book to get Bella and Nessie and Earth Boy."

"He couldn't, not with Carlisle's reasoning or with the testimony of the other half and half." James shrugged.

Flashbacks

"This is such a surprise!" Aro exclaimed as his eyes locked onto James and me. I kept eye contact with him, not trusting him for an instant. Aro had just been trying to sweet talk all of the others. Bella had allowed Nessie to touch him, but Aro wasn't satisfied… not that he ever was. Now he was turning his attention to others in our small group.

"What is, Aro?" Marcus asked. His eyes were constantly scanning our group, waiting for an attack.

"Cerys and James! They've been holding hands the entire time!" Aro smiled. "So you were able to reconnect afterall?"

"Chelsea's power is only temporary." James said. "I'm sure you know that and I'm sure you have her go through the guard and retie them to you until they don't know any better."

"I wouldn't know what you're talking about. You two are the first case I've ever seen to overcome the separation." Aro scoffed. "But that must mean you're strong! Cerys, how is your mirror? And James, how are your tracking instincts? I hope they're still as acute as when we last met."

"My mirror is fine and James is hunting better than ever." I replied with a snarl. "And if your little home wrecker tries anything with anyone in this group them she won't know what hit her. I won't let anyone feel the heartbreak we went through!"

"We? James, you did not return to your little trophy when you remembered your love?" Aro asked.

"I was getting to it when we… ran into each other." James replied. "It's not so simple to ask forgiveness to the one you love. Of course you'd never know that. You just tend to do the breaking."'

Aro tried to act innocent, but just shrugged. He quickly turned to the next person in the group he was going to target. James and I were still holding hands as he watched Aro move on. I looked up at James and noticed him glaring at someone in the guard. When I followed his line of sight I noticed it was Chelsea. He pulled my hand up to his mouth and left a long, lingering kiss on my knuckles. Before he dropped our hands I stopped them and left a kiss of my own on the back of his hand.

When I looked back up, Chelsea was openly appalled. Apparently this was the first time someone actually threw it in her face that her powers weren't as strong and lasting as she thought they were. Hopefully after today, she won't mess with any other lovers.

End Flashback

Of course I had been wrong. Chelsea had ignored us after we openly defied her. Instead she turned her attention to Bella and Edward and the rest of the Cullens.

Flashback

I finally noticed the slinking lights, looking for a way into the shield. Alec and Jane were looking for a way around the shield. It didn't take long for Chelsea to join them. They first encountered Bella's shield. I knew she had noticed it and putting more effort in the parts of the shield that the attacks were coming from.

"Edward." I thought. He glanced over at me, acknowledging my thoughts. "On the count of three, tell Bella to drop her shield." He glanced at me curiously, but nodded none-the-less. "1…2…3!" Edward's head bent down and Bella's snapped to mine. I watched as her shield fell.

The three attackers thought they were finally able to get in. Their powers shot forward. I let them grow in intensity before dropping James' hand and raising the shield. The three lights instantly reflected back, hitting various people in the group. I was able to aim a few of them at certain people. I sent Alec's at Chelsea. Jane's power hit the wives, momentarily distracting everyone. Caious nearly took Jane out when he realized it was her power hurting his mate. I didn't aim Chelsea's power. Instead I let it hit anyone. Hopefully someone would be realizing they had will power and would be leaving soon.

"Edward, tell Bella to bring her shield back up!" I screamed in my mind.

Within a few seconds Bella's shield was back up and I slumped back, leaning into James slightly. Bella looked over at me for a second and smiled. I returned the smile before focusing my attention back on the Volturi.

"That wasn't very nice." Aro said, a slight growl hidden in his tone.

"It wasn't very nice to have them attack when we were talking peacefully ." I replied. Caious and Marcus both growled at my audacity, but Aro just studied everything before turning back to negotiations.

End flashback

The attack had taken a lot out of me, but after a few minutes I had my energy returning to me. James and I had relinked hands and didn't let them fall for the rest of the talks.

The best part of the entire night had been when Alice and Jasper returned. Life seemed to surge through everyone when we heard them coming. Alice's name echoed off everyone's lips, mine included. Both sides had been quiet when she returned with Jasper and two others.

It was the other two that surprised everyone the most. It was the other two that saved us. Nahuel was like Nessie, half vampire and half human. If it wasn't for Alice finding him, then Aro's witnesses probably would have allowed a fight, or at least given Aro the go ahead to take Nessie. Luckily, that didn't happen and the witnesses, both on our side and on theirs started to leave.

That's when Aro had known it was no use. He had not lost. No, in time he'd return. He'd find some other reason to come back and try to take Nessie and Nahuel away from everyone. When that happened, I know we'd all stand together.

"Jacob, let me talk to her!" Nahuel argued as he followed Jacob through the house. Jacob was holding Nessie protectively against his chest and growled at Nahuel every time he stepped too close.

"No!"

"Jacob, I need to talk to her! I need to tell her what she should expect. It's not exactly easy to grow up this fast!" Nahuel argued.

"I don't care!" Jacob roared. He tore out of the house, setting Nessie down and changing. Nessie climbed onto his back and the two took off into the forest.

"Is he always like that?" Nahuel groaned.

"I wouldn't know. I haven't been around him long enough." I said. James nodded in agreement. "I would let him cool down though. He lost Bella to Edward, who he was sure he loved. Then he imprinted on Nessie. He doesn't want to give anyone the chance to take her away from him."

"Imprinted?" Nahuel asked.

"He fell in true love." I replied. "You can ask Bella later. She knows what's really going on between them, even if she doesn't like to admit it."

"I think I will." Nahuel said. "Thanks."

I nodded and listened as he left the room. I'm assuming he went to find Alice to figure out what he was supposed to do now. Go back to where he had been found or stay here and try to learn the ways of a mixed breed with Nessie.

"James?" I said softly.

"Hm?"

"I miss Irina. I miss Laurent." I said softly so only he could hear. "I don't understand why she had to go do that."

"I don't think we'll ever know her true reasoning. We'll just have to think of happier times with her. Like when we went clubbing or hunting with everyone back in Alaska." James said.

The last look in Irina's eyes, terror and sadness swirled into one, was forever burned into my mind. It hurt when I watched her die, she had become a part of my new family and it was like I was learning about Laurent's death all over again. Before she died she looked at me and the rest of our family, as well as Cullens. Her eyes said it all… she was sorry. She had never meant for this to happen. She just wanted her Laurent back.

We all wanted Laurent back. Now we all wanted Irina back as well.

Although I'm immortal now, I've come to realize it means I have to learn to deal with heartbreak so much more. I know I'll never see my mom or dad again since I won't die… or at least till a bit later than expected. I'll watch friends grow old and die. I'll watch humanity take this planet and kill it.

I've also realized that now I'll hopefully never have to feel the emotion of losing the one I love. I'll never have to watch James die or watch him watch me. I won't have to face that heartbreak at least. And my new family… hopefully we'll remain strong and together. No… I know we will. We are a clan now, a coven, a family and we always will be.