DISCLAIMER: I GOT A LOT OF THE INFORMATION AND SOME QUOTES FROM BREAKING DAWN WHICH UNFORTUNATELY STILL BELONGS TO STEPHENIE MEYER!!! FOR PROPER MLA CITATION SEE THE END OF THE CHAPTER!!!

REMEMBER REVIEW IF YOU WANT A SPEEDY UPDATE!!!

Chapter Seventeen

B.S. = Bull…. Sh!

Bella looked around at the ridged formation the vampires had placed themselves in. The front line consisted of the Cullens and the Denali coven, Bella herself stood in the second line with Jacob on one side and small wolf from Lucien's pack on the other. He was incognito as on of the Quileute wolves. The rest of the Quileutes were fanned out on the back line around Zafrina, Senna and Benjamin. The witnesses, not necessarily interested in fighting were off to the side.

Bella kept her mental shield wrapped around all of them. She only had cover Sam for her protect all of the Quileute wolves which Bella was thankful for. It saved energy that could be better used in the argument to come.

Portia and Layla were hiding in the woods behind the formation. Waiting for the proper moment to make their presence known. Portia believed that the event would play out simply. First the Volturi would stop, stunned by the numbers the Cullens had amassed and the horse sized wolves bringing up the rear. Second they would charge the Cullens for their 'crime.' Third they would 'listen' and 'consider' the evidence and arguments the Cullens had. Forth they would 'question' (i.e. trick) the witnesses into believing the Cullens were guilty. Fifth they would fake a deliberation. And sixth they would convict them as they had planned to do in the beginning.

Portia was sure that nothing the Cullens had to say would sway this course of action. Both Alice and Layla had confirmed that those were the steps the Volturi would take, only Portia knew when she would interfere. She hadn't quite made up her mind about it, but according to Alice she was debating between making herself known right away or butting her head in before the Volturi got a chance to attack. She was leaning more towards the latter because she wanted make a show of it.

Bella sighed. She used like making a show of things. The more dramatic the defeat the better. That way she made an example of her targets. It was impossible to make a martyr after Bella Swan finished with you and she rather liked that. It made people think twice before hiring her for a job. That and the huge amount of money she charged for her services. People thought a lot before forking over half a million for a hit.

Edward turned to Bella quickly. He pulled her into his arms fiercely and kissed her hard on the lips. Allegra squealed unhappily. She didn't like being squished between her parents. Edward released Bella and soothed Allegra with a kiss. Her tiny baby wiggled happily in her arms and smiled toothily up at her Daddy. She had a good idea what was going on, but failed to see the seriousness of the situation. She was only one after all. But she did understand what was expected of her which was good because it meant there wouldn't be unnecessary fussing when it came time to showing her thoughts to Aro.

Bella sighed again when Edward turned back. A low hiss came from between his clenched teeth. He looked straight ahead and everyone else stared the direction he did except for Allegra who was squirming in her Mommy's arms, trying to get her Daddy's attention. Jasper glanced at her for a second and calmed her down enough for Bella to shift the child onto her back. Allegra leaned her chin on Bella's shoulder, with her hand pressed into her cheek. She wasn't showing her anything, merely holding on.

Bella smiled at her baby when the Volturi appeared. She had never seen the ancient vampires before and was rather disgusted by their appearance. Portia was older then them but by far more beautiful. She had told Bella during their argument on the balcony a week before that 'her boys' had become lazy and had paid the price with their looks. Bella hadn't understood what she'd meant at the time, but she did now.

Aro, Caius and Marcus were as pale as pure white paper and seemed just as delicate. Their eyes were filmed over, like the eyes on a blind person. Bella didn't doubt their strength, but they looked like a strong wind would knock them to the snow covered ground.

The show they put on when entering the field made Bella want to roll her eyes (she didn't, but she really wanted to), the perfect formation of the guard put their rag tag group to shame, but in the end that wouldn't really make much of difference. In fact their unnecessary show of strength made Bella wonder if she should have connected James. He owed her and never missed the chance to show off his massive army. It might have been just the thing to put the Volturi in their place. Nothing put one in one's place like an army in the hundreds of thousands, Bella thought idly.

Jasper gave her a curious look, obviously confused by her calm. The Volturi had stopped about ten yards away from the front line, with Victoria sneering at them from behind Aro and Caius, who were looking across the lines of defense. Aro seemed pleased to see both Alice and Edward were there and was intrigued by the vampires he didn't recognize.

"Edward?" Carlisle whispered.

"They're trying to figure out what to do next. This might be our only chance to get a word in," he muttered, equally quiet.

"Aro, my friend," Carlisle called pleasantly, taking a few steps closer to the Volturi. "It's been too long."

The silence that followed was long, thick and probably uncomfortable to anyone who thought they were in danger. Bella was just bored. She hated people who thought they were so important they didn't need to respond right away. It was disrespectful and Bella had it in her mind to teach these white faced bastards who was who. No one challenged Isabella Swan's honor and got away with it. Simply assuming that she had broken a law was insult she would have punished by death under different circumstances. As it was, her fury simply made her shield stronger, thicker and bigger.

No mental weapon would penetrate her wall anytime soon.

"Those are nice words, Carlisle," Aro said. Bella squinted at his voice. It was as thin and airy as his appearance. Maybe a light wind would take him down? "They seem too kind, I think, when one considers the force you've brought together to destroy me."

"That was never my intention, Aro," Carlisle countered quickly. "You have only to touch my hand to know it isn't true."

"How could your objective possibly matter when one thinks of what you have done?" A shadow of faked grief flitted across Aro's face. Bella rolled her eyes.

She'd seen that look on the face of many of her enemies during the war. Plenty of people she used to trust and work with had joined the other side and all had feigned sadness when they met in hand to hand combat. They had all be so sure that they would win. None of them had. Aro's pretend grief told Bella that he was very confident, overly so.

It was pathetic.

"I haven't committed a crime, Aro," Carlisle said, patiently defending himself.

"Then stand aside so we may punish those who have broken the law. It would make me very happy not to destroy you, my old friend."

"No one has committed a crime."

Caius came forward before Aro could say anything more. The ugly look on his face did nothing to make he seem more substantial in Bella's opinion. He just looked like a bully and his words proved her right.

"You have created so my unnecessary laws for yourself, Carlisle," he hissed. Bella had the strangest urge to laugh at the sound. "How can you defend breaking one that actually matters?"

"The law you are alluding to has not been broken. If you would just listen-"

"We can all see the child! Do not treat us like simpletons!"

Bella tried very hard to hold in the snort threatening to break the tension of the moment. He sounded so serious, it just made her want to laugh. They had no idea what they were up against. They didn't stand a chance and yet they were acting all high and mighty. It was hilarious… for Bella anyway. She seemed to be the only who thought so.

"She is not an immortal child. She's not even-"

"If she is not forbidden, why have amassed an army to protect her?"

Because we love her, you big ape! Bella thought. You know love? That four letter word you need a heart to experience? It would explain why you've never felt it before…

"They are witnesses, Caius. Just as like the witnesses you've brought." Carlisle waved at the hordes of horse sized wolves edging their way out from between the trees. "They are friends that have agreed to witness Allegra's humanity. Or you could just study her for a moment. Can't you see the flush of blood in her cheeks?"

"Artifice!" Caius snapped. Bella did snort at that, but Allegra managed to cover it with a very well placed and genuine sneeze. Bella pulled a tissue out of her pocket and wiped her baby's nose. Aro watched all of this with careful interest. Caius merely looked outraged. "Where is the informant? Victoria! Come here now!"

Victoria slinked to his side, upset that Allegra had sneezed all over her accusation.

"I got a fursy up my nose, Mommy!" Allegra exclaimed. Jasper reached back, placed a finger on her cheek and she settled back onto Bella's back.

"Curious," Aro said, while Caius barked at Victoria. "Be calm, my brother," Aro advised drifting to Caius' side. "It is simple. Show me what was told to you again, sweetling." He held his hand out to Victoria, who took it without question or hesitation. "It seems we have a mystery here, Caius," he said after pulling away from Victoria's hand. "The description Laurent gave her was clearly that of an immortal child, but the one in front of us has shown an impossibility in a vampire. Sneezing."

"That's what I've been trying to say," Carlisle said, his voice thick with relief.

Bella thought it was bit soon for relief, even though she also felt there was no need to be upset in the first place.

Carlisle held out his hand to Aro, yet again. The ancient vampire looked skeptically at it for a moment, before shaking his head. "I'd rather hear this tale from one of its main characters. Was I wrong to assume that the crime was not of your making?"

"There was no crime."

"That may be so, but I would still like to possess every possible piece to the puzzle." Aro's voice hardened in a way that Bella knew he thought was menacing. "The best way to glean this truth is to hear from you talented son, is it not? I can see how the child clings to his mate. I assumed that Edward must be involved."

Edward reached behind him. Bella placed her and Allegra's hands in his and he squeezed them, before venturing forward. She unwillingly pulled her shield away from Edward, it felt unnatural to leave him exposed, but she knew she had to. Behind Bella she could hear a low whimper coming from Esme as her horror broke through.

That little squeak of terror did it for Bella. She wasn't amused anymore. She was pissed. These bastards came into her home town, planning on killing her baby, managed to scare the living day lights out of her future mother-in-law and their ring leader was about to hear every thought that had ever raced through Edward's head. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right. And for the first time since she'd told the truth to the Cullens about her past she wanted those bastards to pay. They needed to pay for what they were thinking about doing. It wasn't the sort of crime (in her book anyway) that one was given a second chance for.

They had disrespect her, they had disrespect her family, they had disrespect her baby. It was all too much.

Bella's palms itched. She wanted to hurt someone, preferably Caius. She wanted to hit something, preferably Caius. She wanted bloody violent revenge for their slight against her honor, preferably against Caius. She wasn't fond of Caius. She wasn't fond of any of them. The smug looks on the faces of the guard made her blood boil. Particularly the disturbingly beautiful faces on the two youngest of the guard. They must be Jane and Alec, Edward had gone over all the guard he was familiar with before this event had taken place. Their gifts were mental, sinister in nature and absolutely useless with Bella's shield up.

Aro eagerly took hold of Edward's hand as soon as he was close enough. His eyes squeezed shut and he bent his head over Edward's hand. Bella clenched her hand on the eleven inch blade sheathed at her side. As the minutes passed, her anger became more pronounced. The shield rippled with every spark of irritation that ignited in her mind, pulling closer to her allies then pushing out again, just pull closer once more. It wanted to wrap itself around each individual, so that Bella could feel the people she was protecting more thoroughly.

Bella pulled the razor sharp blade out and started twirling it in her hand, fantasizing about gutting Caius with it. And those two little pretty vampires. She didn't like the looks of them at all.

"Oooh," Allegra whispered catching sight of the blade. She showed Bella an image of herself holding the shiny thing. She liked shiny things. Esme put a gentle but firm hand over Allegra's mouth before the pint sized trouble maker could say anymore. No one told Bella to put the blade away.

Aro straightened finally. His clouded red eyes snapped open, awed and upset. He refused to release Edward's hand when Edward tried to pull away, proving that while he looked weak he was anything but. Bella grinned, she liked a challenge.

"Do you see now?" Edward asked, calmly.

"Yes, I do see," Aro agreed, the amazement clearly evident in his voice. Bella didn't like that amazement. There was curiosity and determination behind it and that couldn't mean anything good. "I doubt whether any two among gods or mortals have ever seen quite so clearly." (see work cited at the end of chapter for proper citation)

The guard looked on with disbelief, showing them not to be as disciplined as they liked to appear. Bella watched them closely, eyes narrowed, blade gripped tightly in her fist.

"May I meet her?" Aro pleaded, his eagerness pulling Bella from her murderous thoughts. She growled unhappily in her head, wishing that Portia would just get it over with and make herself known already. She had obviously planned on the more dramatic appearance.

"What are you thinking, Aro?" Caius demanded. It didn't sound like the first time he'd snapped something to that effect at Aro, to Bella.

"This is something I would have never imagined, my practical friend." Aro said. "Take a moment to think, brother, for the justice we came to deliver is no longer necessary."

Caius hissed at his words. Not in surprise but in anger, Bella decided. The idea of gutting him was become incredibly appealing again. Then Aro's careful word choice dawned on her. 'Take a moment to think…' Aro was instructing Caius to come up with a new reason to destroy her family. Bella nearly screamed in frustration. She really wanted to hurt somebody. And this time she wanted Aro.

"Will you introduce me to your mate's daughter?" Caius was not the only to hiss and spit at the news. Aro moved forward with Edward's hand still clasped in his own. The guard moved forward as well, far more anxious then Aro appeared to be. "Peace, my loves," he whispered to them.

"Maybe you should bring a few with you," Edward suggested. "So they won't be so uncomfortable."

Aro nodded obviously unhappy he hadn't thought of that solution first. He snapped his fingers a couple of times and called, "Felix, Demetri."

The two vampires were at his side simultaneously. Both were dark and menacing as any medieval weapon, but unlike them Bella knew how to use those weapons and she could just bet that they'd never bother with them. The thought made her smile. It wasn't a pleasant smile. The five of them stopped half way between the parties.

"Bella," Edward called. "Bring Allegra… and a few friends."

Bella considered her options for a moment. It would be very dramatic to call forth Portia and Layla from the forest, but she doubted that they would come. The wolf from Lucien's pack was tempting, but she needed a show of brute strength. In the end she nudged both Jacob and the other wolf and nodded them forward and grabbed Emmett as well for good measure. That was the best show of strength she could muster under the circumstances.

Bella cradle Allegra in her left arm and kept the blade gripped in her right hand as she slowly made her way forward. Those vampires needed to see that she wasn't afraid of them. The blade was her way of communicating that point.

"Fascinating company you keep," Demetri murmured to Edward. Edward didn't respond but Lucien's wolf snarled abruptly, making Demetri jump.

Aro leaned his head to the side. "I hear her strange heart. I smell her strange scent." He turned his attention to Bella. "Immortality does suit you perfectly, young Bella… May I meet your daughter, lovely Bella?" he asked sweetly.

Bella squinted her eyes at him, unhappy. Someone she liked could call her lovely all he/she wanted, but this man… She wanted to hurt him, hurt him bad. Instead she pulled her shield away from Allegra so the child could communicate with Aro. It felt unnatural but Bella suppressed the feeling with calming thoughts of what she'd do to anyone who tried to take advantage of her daughter's momentary vulnerability.

"She is beautiful," he muttered. "She looks so like you Edward… Hello Allegra."

"Hello Aro," she answered in the most formal way she could manage.

Aro's eyes were bemused.

"What's going on?" Caius hissed. He was infuriated that he had to ask.

"This spectacular child is an entirely different species. Bella was turned into this species herself sixty years ago, or five years ago for us. It seems she was living in a different universe where time moved faster then it does here. She became pregnant with another man and through sheer force of will made the child Edward's."

"Impossible," Caius scoffed.

"So you think they've fooled me, brother?" Aro's snapped, Caius flinched. "Is the heart beat trickery?" Caius scowled. "Carefully now, brother. I know you love your justice, but there is no justice in acting against this unique little one because of her parentage. And to think how much there is to learn! We came here only expecting justice and the sadness of false friends, but look at what we've found instead! New possibilities we never would have dreamed of."

Aro held out his hand, which Allegra ignored. Her face was firm and determined as she reached up to touch Aro's face. His smile widened when Allegra settled back into Bella's arms.

"Pease, Mr. Aro," she said.

"Certainly, precious Allegra, I have no desire to hurt your loved ones."

Edward and Maggie, one of the vampires witnessing for the Cullens, both hissed the lie. Bella rolled her eyes. She hadn't believed him for a second. Aro didn't notice the outrage his statement made or the disbelief evident in Bella expression. Instead he turned his attention to the wolves flanking her.

"I wonder," he said, vaguely.

"It doesn't work that way," Edward snapped. He pulled himself free of Aro's hand and went to Bella's side. He wrapped his arm around Bella and Allegra before turning his gaze back to Aro.

"Just a wayward thought," Aro said, looking over Jacob and the other wolf openly. Whatever Allegra had shown made him suddenly very interested in the wolves.

"We're not their owners, Aro. They don't do what we tell them to. They came here as a show of support. To us and to Allegra," Edward said, firmly. Jacob growled to affirm the point.

"They seem very attached to your family, though…. Loyal." His voice caressed the word.

"Loyal," Bella snapped. "Like you know the meaning of the word."

Aro's head turned slowly to Bella. He just smiled.

"They're committed to protecting human life, Aro. That way they can coexist with us, but not with you. Unless you plan on rethinking your lifestyle," Edward said, quickly trying to pull Aro's attention away from Bella.

"Just a little random, unconscious thought. None of us can control our subconscious, Edward." Aro didn't take his eyes off of Bella and she didn't do anything to break that eye contact.

"I know that is true, but I also know the difference between that kind of thought and the kind with real purpose behind it. It would never work, Aro."

Jacob whined quietly.

"He was intrigued by the idea of… guard dogs," Edward murmured.

There was a second of silence. Before the Quileutes could make a sound, Lucien's wolf let out a horrifying, loud and angry roar. It was so powerful that Aro stepped back, finally breaking eye contact with Bella and his guards stepped forward, reluctantly. The Quileutes added their own snarls but it didn't add much an effect after that initial roar.

"I suppose that answers that question," Aro said, laughing. He clapped his hands, then rubbed them together. "So much to discuss. So much to decide. If you and your furry protectors will excuse me, I must confer with my brothers."

"I'd like to confer with your brothers too, Aro," Portia called.

---

Work Cited

Meyer, Stephenie. Breaking Dawn. New York, Boston: Little, Brown and Company,

2008. 679- 700.