BPOV

"Edward is on his way back." Rosalie said softly. That only meant one thing; my dad was undergoing the change and it was now my turn. I faced the door with bravery I did not feel and waited for my husband to walk through it. He came in and walked straight to me. He scooped me up and politely asked everyone else in the house to leave. He ran us up to our room and I found myself on our bed. He hovered over me and kissed me.

"I will miss the sound of your heartbeat and the feel of your blush." Cue the blush.

"I will not miss the scent of your blood, nor will I miss having to constantly restrain myself around you. I wish there was a way to make it less painful for you to transition." I palmed his cheek.

"I know. I wish there was a simpler way too." I leaned up to kiss him.

"Can we…one more time while I'm still human?" I asked softly.

"I planned on it. That's why I asked everyone to leave. I was going to inject you at the moment when you will feel the least amount of pain because your attention is otherwise engaged." I smiled; he was so thoughtful. I nodded.

"Excuse me for just one moment, love." He stepped into the bathroom and retuned a minute later with a syringe in his hand. He set it on the nightstand and shed his clothes for me. Next he stripped me of my own and I lay naked beneath him.

"I will change you into one of my t-shirts and your gym shorts. It will be more comfortable for you and they can be thrown away after your first hunt." I nodded.

"You know I would have preferred to lay naked with you during your change, but I know that Aro will insist on seeing you and I'd rather he not see you naked." He growled possessively and I lunged at him.

I was in heaven with the man I loved and as I was coming down from my high, I started to feel it; a rapidly increasing burn in my chest. I gasped and clutched at my chest and then Edward. He cuddled me to him and talked soothing words, but I could not hear them. I was working hard to keep quiet and focusing on my memories as a distraction. I never noticed when Edward left the bed to get us dressed. I only noticed that he never left the room.

EPOV

If I could sleep I would surely do so now after this emotional day. First I had to change Charlie, who faced it head on. I was truly honored that he had asked me to do it and I appreciated the sentimental reasoning behind it. I knew I left him in the capable hands of Carlisle and Esme. Charlie's death would not be faked until Carlisle was back to work and could sign the death certificate. Jasper and Emmet were ready to torch the police cruiser and set up the accident with a dummy driver to make the remains unrecognizable. His car was reason enough and when he wasn't seen for a few days, the natural conclusion would come to pass. It was then that the urn full of ashes would be created 'from the remains' that were still in the car and given to Renee. Esme would be able to grieve with her and I would have to detach from Bella as well for a day or two to be the grieving son-in-law. There were enough mature vampires in this house to keep track of two newborns for a few hours. I lay with Bella as she fought to keep quiet and still. Only her breathing relayed how much pain she was truly in. She was stronger than I was because I remember screaming at least until my voice gave out. Rosalie was a screamer. Emmet shouted and cursed, but didn't scream. Esme moaned in pain non-stop. Carlisle was beside himself with her change; anxious for her to wake up so he could be with his mate. I now knew how he and Rosalie felt. There was nothing I could do to make her more comfortable; all I could do was lie next to her and wait.

I heard Charlie being moved to the room across the hall. He grunted in discomfort during the move, but otherwise kept quiet. He and Bella were currently fighting the same battle. I shared their pain as I relived my own experience. I was sure that every member of the house was currently in the same state of mind that I was in. I paid it no mind until the bell tolled ten. Aro was here and he was not alone. Felix, Demetri, Jane and Alec were with him beside his personal guard, Renata. Alice escorted him in and he was led up to my room while everyone else was asked to wait in the living room. Carlisle left Charlie's side to greet him in the hallway. I regrettably, left the bed and waited by the door. It was my personal space, he needed my permission to enter it.

"Aro, it has been a long time." Carlisle said.

"Indeed it has old friend. I am assured that your Edward is following my request?"

"Yes, he and Bella are in that room. He pushed the venom into her a few hours ago. Her father is in here, undergoing the change as well."

"Really? Why have you told her father?"

"Bella guided him to the answer. He learned of us the day before she met you. He had been made aware of your arrival and was given the choice. He chose to join us. Edward injected him this morning, by Charlie's request and Bella was this afternoon."

"Edward has been a busy boy today."

"Yes, he has; he's not intending to leave Bella's side until she wakes. Esme and I are taking responsibility for her father. I know that Alice, Jasper, Emmet and Rosalie will help out. Having two newborns in the house will make things difficult, but we can manage." Carlisle assured Aro as Aro was worried about the exposure risk two newborns would carry with them.

"I'm glad that everything is under control. Are you sure they have been injected with venom? They are so quiet."

"I witnessed Charlie's injection for myself. Edward asked for privacy with Bella's. He wanted to try something to make the initial injection less painful for her. When she is under control, he and Bella will leave us for an extended honeymoon."

"Ah, yes, I did receive word that they had married. How wonderful." I hated his false enthusiasm. He was itching to see for himself that Bella's transformation was underway.

"May I see for myself that her father is in the midst of his change?"

"Right this way." Carlisle was good, he did not intentionally allow Aro to touch him. Aro was accepting of the unexpected addition to our family. Carlisle led him to my door, where I had stood waiting. I opened it.

"Ah, Edward, how have you been these last six months?"

"Well, thank you."

"My how the time does fly. Might I have a look at Bella to be sure that you are keeping your word?"

"If you don't mind, you can see her quite clearly from here. Neither she nor I is comfortable with anyone else in our private room." I refrained from his touch and waited for his answer. He was irritated that I would not grant him entrance, but did understand the protection I had over my mate in a vulnerable state.

"Of course, Edward. I will stay put." I moved enough that he could see her and tell that she is in pain. When I thought he'd looked long enough, I moved back into my former position.

"It's remarkable that they are able to stay so quiet. They must have extraordinary gifts. I insist that if you or Bella or even Alice would like to join the guard, there will be a place of honor for you."

"I don't think Bella will mind me speaking for her in this case, but she and I politely decline your offer. We would like to stay with our family. You'll have to ask Alice for her answer."

"It's such a pity that so much talent is being wasted away in order to remain a family."

"None of us believe that it is a waste to stay together. I am loyal to my sire. All of us choose to be here. We all know that we are free to go at any time." I explained.

"I commend such loyalty; my compliments to Carlisle for creating such a talented family." He told me in a falsely sweet tone; it was honestly starting to grate on my nerves. I was done.

"Thank you. If you will excuse me, I need to attend to my mate." I internally cringed at the harsh use of the word, but it was true. Bella is my mate and it was my job to meet her needs. However, for Aro and any other male that shows an interest in her, I needed to use the word in a very possessive manner in order to warn them how much I was willing to defend her. I used it with her in the most affectionate way I could, just as softly as I used the term, 'wife'. I treated her with the reverence that she deserved.

"Of course, I look forward to speaking with her when she wakes."

"I will take her hunting and get her cleaned up first, then we will speak with you." Again, my urge to defend her was rearing its ugly head. Aro was all too eager to speak with her, sure that he could convince her to join him. He thought that since she was a newborn, she would be easily swayed by tempting her hunger. Of course, the choice was hers, but not before I put my two cents in. I had my own way of convincing her and I was fairly sure that it would work.

"By all means, tend to your mate." I looked past him to the door Carlisle was behind.

"Carlisle wishes me to ask you that you respect our home and abide by our diet while you are here, or leave the area to feed."

"Of course, we are grateful to the invitation to stay and naturally, we would abide by your wishes. I do not wish for our visit to cause any trouble." He had said it in a manner that the members of the guard he had brought with him, would have no choice but to obey. I nodded at him and closed the door. I stripped mine and Bella's shirts, hoping that my cool body would ease her pain, at least for a little while. She made no sound while I gently rolled her over to face me. I hoped that breathing in my scent would also help to calm her. I had no intention of moving for the next three days. I could hear Alice voicing my decision to be left alone until further notice. I whispered my love and devotion to her and thanked her for giving up her humanity for me. I praised her for all of the gifts that she had selflessly given to me and there would never be a way for me to repay her kindness. I read to her from her life story, hoping to implant the memories in her brain while she lay still and quiet. It was going to be a long three days, but I was going to be there for every second.

Finally after three days, I'd heard Charlie wake. Jasper and Emmet were there to calm and restrain him if necessary. He listened while Carlisle explained the rules to him and then he and Jasper took him out for his first hunt. I turned to Bella and listened to her heart accelerating. Emmet and Alice joined me in my room after I had redressed her and myself. We listened and waited until her heart finally stopped and her eyes opened.

To be continued…

A/N: In the next story, we will learn more about Charlie's new life as a vampire and decisions that he will need to make. Aro will be around to talk to both him and Bella. There will also be choices that Bella needs to make that will affect her life with Edward as well as her life with the Cullens.

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