A/N: Here is the new chapter I promised. It is kinda short, but I have the next one already in progress, and it'll be the last one as well, as only one scene of the movie remains after this.
Once again, I have taken some creative liberties here with this section of the movie and adding something that was not shown, but I had always remembered it vividly from the book.
When Bella insisted that I take her to my family's home immediately, I was hesitant for obvious reasons. She was already in enough trouble with her father because of me, grounded for an indefinite measure of time due to her sudden disappearance, and the fear and worry it had rendered within Charlie. I was also aware that if she was caught leaving or returning to the house without his knowledge, and with me no less, the consequences would be even worse for her.
Most of all, however, was the intention that I knew was behind it. With one look, I saw that she could tell that I was just as unrelenting as before, regardless of what bargain had been made with the Volturi. Her soul and life was far too precious to be stripped away and stolen from her; what could I do or say to make her understand? She needed to see that there was nothing romantic in being eternally damned.
My thoughts continued to torment me as we pulled up to the house. Bella got out first and stormed straight inside without a word, and I heard my entire family greet her. They had been waiting, from the moment that Alice had picked up on Bella's decision. All eyes turned to me as I walked in, each with varying degrees of emotion within them, and I moved across the room to take my stance on the stairs.
"You all know what I want. And I know how much I'm asking for," Bella began, the slight tremble of nervousness in her voice and breaths clearly audible. The only certainty she had in the outcome of the entire scenario was Alice; she had made her intentions clear in Italy. The remainder of my family, however, were not openly displaying their feelings on the matter. Aside from Rosalie's thoughts stating that Bella had no idea exactly how much she was indeed asking for, that only I could hear, the other occupants of the room were still and silent. Her eyes moved rapidly between them, and the beating of her heart increased exponentially as she continued. "The only thing that I can think of for it to be fair is to just vote."
My head began to shake, the dread of the outcome of her endeavor filling me more. "You don't know what you're talking about."
Bella turned her head to look back at me, her annoyance with my muttered words clear. "Shut up."
Alice's amused smile infuriated me. There was nothing light or humorous about the situation lying before us. It was actually the most serious circumstance we had ever faced as a family; taking a human life, initiating a change in a girl who was not on death's door, taking her away from others who cared for her, annihilating a treaty we had held fast to for decades without issue. So many detrimental factors rode on that one decision. Yet, it seemed that, despite it all, it was worth it to turn my beautiful Bella into a monster like us, if it meant not losing her.
It appeared that it held true for Bella as well, as she turned first to her one firm ally. "Alice?"
"I already consider you my sister," Alice replied, moving forward immediately to hug her, which Bella returned with an equal amount of affection. Then my sister pulled back to give her awaited response. "Yes."
"Thank you," Bella murmured as Alice stood to her side, keeping hold of her hand in support.
"I vote yes," Jasper interjected, to practically everyone's surprise, particularly Esme's. Her head rose and turned abruptly toward him, followed by the remainder of my family. "It would be nice to not want to kill you all the time."
"I'm sorry," Rosalie interjected before Bella had even finished acknowledging Jasper's statement, shifting everyone's attention to her. Even in such a somber moment and what seemed to be a hint of true remorse in her tone, I could not look at her, although I felt her eyes on me. I would never forgive her for what had transpired in Italy, no matter how much she apparently wanted me to. "I'm really sorry to both of you for how I've acted, and I'm really grateful that you were brave enough to go and save my brother. But this isn't a life I would have chosen for myself. And I wish that there'd been someone to vote no for me. So, no."
I could almost understand and relate to her statement; yet, it still angered me. I did not want Bella to be subjected to our "life" any more than Rosalie did, but not because I myself wouldn't have wished for it. It had nothing to do with me or my opinion of my own existence. Imagining her in that pain, the sheer agony those three days would bring, was excruciating. I refused to be so carelessly selfish, regardless of how painful it would be to lose her in the end.
In surprising contrast to his mate's view, Emmett stepped forward. "I vote hell yeah," he said and swept Bella into his embrace, spinning her around before setting her back on her feet. "And we can pick a fight with these Volturi some other way."
"I already consider you a part of the family," Esme added before Emmett had even completely stepped away and gave Bella a gentle smile as she came back into her view. "Yes."
It was now the moment of truth, although the vote had already swayed in Bella's favor. Carlisle's input would undoubtedly hold the most weight in the conversation, given his firm belief and practice in the past to never subject a single individual to our form of existence unless there was no other way. He also knew, and at least somewhat understood, my views and desire to never inflict that eternal damnation upon Bella, so I had foolishly hoped that he would at least be on my side. Yet, I know that possibility was dashed before he sighed and stepped forward, and his gaze met mine. His thoughts were louder than any words he could have spoken, although his eyes were apologetic.
I stared at him in disbelief. "Why are you doing this to me? You know what this means."
His expression instantly shifted to that of firm determination, and I knew that fight was lost as he gave his final words on the matter. "You've chosen not to live without her, which leaves me no choice. I won't lose my son."
Both anger and despair coursed through me as Bella stood in stunned disbelief, and I knew I needed to remove myself from my surroundings before my thoughtlessness risked further harm to her again. I retreated up the stairs to my room, grabbing the first thing within reach—which happened to be my television—and smashing it against the wall. I could not be certain why I had thought that the outcome would be any different. I knew how much Bella meant to a majority of my family, to the extent that they even still harbored some anger toward me for the events of the last several months. However, if there was one thing that we could all usually agree upon, it was that existences such as ours should never be administered to others so lightly. It was not a simple or wholly pleasant lifestyle, even in the best of times, and I could not imagine that any of them would have wanted that for Bella any more than I had.
Yet, my only "ally", if I could even call her that, was Rosalie—and even her motives were not selfless, or even necessarily in concern for Bella's welfare, but born out of her own resentment for not being given a choice.
Bella deserved more than what she was willing to throw her own life away for. I could not be without her, that was true…so I was not completely selfless, either. I needed her with me but condemning her to our existence was not something that I could take lightly. I loved Bella with everything that I was, and I would give her the world if she only asked for it—anything but ending her precious life.
Edward, you need to get Bella home before Charlie wakes and notices her missing, I heard Alice's voice in my head, and I thrust my head back against the wall, leaving a large hole. Please, don't trash your entire room. You're freaking Bella out a bit.
After taking a moment to calm myself as much as I could, I headed downstairs and held out my hand for Bella's, which she hesitantly took. "Come on, let's get you home."
