Patience is a virtue

Edward, Jasper and Carlisle were with Bella in her bedroom. She was still very upset with her dream. Jasper watched her concerned and regulated her emotions as he always did after and during her dreams.

'I saw a girl.' She said softly.

Carlisle and Edward listened intently. The content of this dream could be significant for their survival.

'She was like me.'

Their shocked eyes were on her face.

'I was under the impression that you are one of a kind, Bella. What do you mean exactly when you say she is like you?' Carlisle asked.

'I am not sure, but Aro wanted her almost as much as he wants me.' Her eyes went down. 'She looked a lot like me, though I could not see her face clearly.'

'You think she is your sister?' Edward asked incredulously.

'I don't know, but she has gifts just like me and Aro was looking for her.'

'Does that mean that he found her?' Jasper asked.

'Yes and he changed her.'

Jasper gasped aloud.

'What?!' Jasper shouted. 'Aro made an immortal child himself?'

Bella nodded slowly, her face full of emotion.

'It is the same thing he intends to do with me.' Her voice trembled slightly with fear.

Edward growled. He would sooner die than let that happen.

'Aro took a great risk by making the immortal child.' Carlisle said thoughtful. 'If word gets out about this, the Volturi will lose face and risk a rebellion.'

'I can't believe he would take such a risk. He must think that changing the child is the only way to gain power.' Jasper said.

Bella shook her head.

'He doesn't care about the law. He thinks he stands above it.'

They were all silent for a moment and Jasper turned his attention back to Bella.

'Bella,' he said gently, 'you are very upset. What else has happened?'

Her eyes went straight to Jasper and then to Carlisle and Edward.

'The girl was all alone and she was so afraid. She was living in a cave like a savage. There was no one to take care of her. I can't help but think that it could be me. If I weren't so lucky, if I wasn't found by you, I could be just like her.'

They all stared at her confused.

'I am the lucky one and I will never forget that. I will never stop being grateful for what you did for me when you took me in.'

Her praise was heartwarming, but it still hurt Edward. She was growing up so fast. Carlisle hugged her tightly.

'No need to be grateful, sweetheart. I wouldn't want it any other way. You are my daughter and I love you.'

'There is something else.' Bella said tensely, when Carlisle let her go. 'Aro feels confident that he can find me now that he found the girl. I am afraid we can't hide from him any longer.'

As if her words were doomed to come true, Jasper suddenly tensed. Edward hurried to read his mind.

It is Alice. She is very distressed.

Edward tried to read her mind, but her thoughts were chaotic and the images flew through her head. He needed her to focus so he could understand. Jasper was struggling at the same time. He felt a great need to run to Alice, but his thoughts were also on the other person he loved more than he loved himself. He was battling between the need to protect Bella and to be there for Alice. Edward had his own reasons to go to Alice as fast as possible. He grabbed Bella.

'Let's go!' He called to Jasper.

They ran downstairs with a very concerned Carlisle on their tail and were at Alice her side in milliseconds. Alice was frozen in the middle of the room. Her eyes big with her panic and her lingering visions. Edward shook her and Jasper tried to calm her with his powers.

'Alice! What do you see?'

'They found us!' She whispered.

Edward had never known what it was like to love someone so completely, so unconditionally. He had also never known the pain such a love could bring. He stared in Aro's eyes.

'She was never yours to begin with, Carlisle.'

Though the words were directed at Carlisle, Aro looked towards Edward. They had come in through the window, which they had shattered, exactly as Alice had foreseen in her visions.

'You had no right to take her as your own.' Aro accused.

Edward was standing behind his entire family, holding Bella's hand in his. He pulled her closer to him as if Aro could take her with his eyes alone, which was probably the case with Jane by his side. He cringed away from Jane's vicious look, towards him and towards Bella. In her evil mind Edward read that she ached to attack, to use her powers on them. Carlisle stayed calm.

'There was no taking, Aro. We found a child in the woods alone and we took her in, nothing more and nothing less.'

Carlisle waited to let his words sink in. Aro gave him an incredulous look.

'But be warned, Aro. She belongs to our family and we will defend her with our lives.' Carlisle's voice was true.

Bella made a little protesting sound, but Edward shushed her. All of his family would defend Bella until their last breath. Aro was not impressed. He had destroyed many covens that protected something or someone they loved. This was no different.

'I would not like to waste your lives, Carlisle, but be assured that the girl is worth more than a thousand lives, the least of all your own. You will hand her over or you will die.'

Aro meant his threat that was obvious from his thoughts, but he also meant that he would rather spare their lives.

'I'll give you five minutes to decide.' Aro said generously.

Carlisle's calm tone followed immediately.

'Give us five minutes or five days, our answer will be the same. We will never abandon Bella.'

Aro watched them for a moment.

Brave! And it is such a shame to kill Carlisle, but he built a strong coven and maybe they have gifts. Better to destroy the competition now than when they become a real threat.

'So be it.'

The attack came quick. Edward had barely time to brace himself and protect Bella. Emmett and Jasper had thrown themselves on Jane and were both lying on the ground writhing in pain. Rosalie was jumping towards Jane with a fierce growl and Carlisle protected Esme from Demetri. Alice tried to help them, avoiding Felix on her way. Bella froze Alec with her gift, as they had discussed beforehand to make sure they had a chance at all. Jane could be overthrown, but with Alec they would have had no fight at all.

Edward read in Felix's mind that Felix intended to attack him. He had no choice but to shove Bella away and to stand ready. He was not afraid of Felix. With the advantage of his gift, the strong but stupid vampire was not really a match for him. He growled fiercely and sidestepped Felix's attack, throwing him into a wall, which broke in several places by the force of the collision. Before Felix could recover he was ready for the kill, when he suddenly felt the piercing and blazing pain of torture. He fell on his knees and had to give everything not to scream his lungs out. Through his own silent scream he could hear Bella's real screams, muffled by the pain. His instincts were to close his eyes, but he forced them open to see Bella standing between him and Jane and Felix. All the other fights stopped to watch Bella.

'Bella, no!' Carlisle shouted.

'Stop hurting them.' Bella yelled with a commanding voice.

Felix lost his patience there. He was humiliated by Edward's quick defeat and he wanted nothing more than to kill Edward. In his mind Bella was just an obstacle between him and his prey. Felix shoved her aside in one sweep. The pain Edward felt when he saw this happening was nothing compared to the pain Jane was giving him. Bella flew across the glass-filled floor and her yelps pierced his ears. Suddenly the room was filled with the overwhelming scent of Bella's blood.

All the vampires froze. Jane momentarily stopped torturing him and Edward was on his feet immediately, ready to restrain any vampire that had the urge to drink Bella's blood. Aro was not pleased at all. He gave Felix a disapproving look.

Felix, you fool! I told you no harm could come to the girl. I will punish you for this!

Bella's eyes were on Edward and without thinking his eyes were drawn to hers. She stared for a very short moment and Edward saw something change in her look, like a glint of some unknown strength. She pulled herself up and gave Aro a fierce stare.

'You will not hurt my family anymore.'

Her voice was suddenly filled with power. They all watched her with strange expressions.

A light blue semi-permeable shield was suddenly surrounding each of his family members including himself. Edward stared at it with unfocussed eyes. He was for a moment not aware of the others until he realized Jane was using her powers on him. He didn't feel a thing. His eyes went back to Bella immediately.

She was still standing in the exact same spot, her body fierce and with a concentrated look on her face. He took the few steps that distanced himself from her and to his surprise his shield moved with him. She took his hand but didn't look up to him, her eyes focused on her enemy.

Jane's smug smile was wiped from her face and was replaced with sudden fear now that Emmett and Jasper were surrounding her and she realized the apparent ineffectiveness of her ability. Carlisle, Esme and Alice were staring astounded at their shields and at Bella.

'It appears we are too late.' Demetri said to Aro in alarm. 'The child is already too powerful.'

Aro analyzed the situation and Edward followed his thought pattern.

We are not too late, we are too early. Look at the child, she is straining herself.

Edward quickly pulled his attention back to Bella. Aro was right. Bella was trembling and he checked her face. Blood was seeping from her eyes, leaving tears of blood on her cheeks. Her body was trembling with the immense amounts of energy this was costing her. Edward couldn't stand it. He didn't care of the consequences.

'Bella! Let go of your shield!' He urged, pulling her hand.

'No!' She answered. 'I will rather die.'

Her voice was strained by her heavy breathing and trembling.

The child will kill herself if I force the situation now. It was a mistake to come here too soon. I was impatient, too impatient. An arrogant mistake to think I could bypass the prophecy. "The other child will be the means..." She was not ready and this child is also not ready.

Aro watched the frightened faces of his servants. Their fear did nothing to him. He couldn't care less if he had to sacrifice all their lives to get the child, but the one thing he did care about was going to die if he didn't decide soon.

I could find them every moment I want, with the help of the other child and Demetri. They cannot hide. I can wait a little bit longer.

He decided.

'Retreat for now.' His voice was calm and rang with authority. 'We return to Volterra. The girl wishes to stay with this family and we should respect the wishes of the child.'

They all felt the sting of their failure, but Felix especially. He knew he was going to be punished for his rash actions. One by one they disappeared. Emmett wanted to follow together with Jasper, but Carlisle stopped them. Carlisle's eyes turned to Bella. The brave posture she had kept up crumbled before their eyes. Her lips were white and her body was covered with blood. She sighed and her body gave out. Edward had her in his arms before she could hit the ground.

'Carlisle!' He yelled.