Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, any of the characters in Twilight, or anything related to the books and/or movies. If I did, I would be way too busy- doing dirty things with the Cullen boys- to sit down at my laptop and write this story. The scenes that I did borrow from Stephenie Meyer have been revamped to fit my story.

Learning to Live Again

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Bella's Idea

We were all seated in a circle in the living room. Carlisle, Esme, and Alice were all on the couch while Edward was sitting in front of it. Emmett was sitting in the loveseat while Rosalie was seated across him in their oversized chair. Jasper was sitting on the coffee table, and I was curled up against him in his lap.

"I saw Victoria standing at the edge of the forest behind your house, watching you brush your hair in your room. She looked behind her and nodded to someone, but I couldn't make out who she was with. There was so much animosity and jealousy radiating from her. She was holding Jasper's wristband in her hand, but he wasn't anywhere to be seen," Alice explained.

I tensed in the strong arms around me and felt my lip quiver. She wouldn't stop until she had destroyed me, and that meant destroying Jasper. If she had been watching me for two days now, she must know that he was the most important person to me. He was also the person responsible for killing James, even though it had been to protect me. It was all centering on hurting him in order to hurt me. She would know that my idiotic human emotions would fuel my reaction to want vengeance as strongly as she did.

"I won't let her touch Jasper," I stated through gritted teeth. I felt my arms tighten around my boyfriend's waist.

"What are you planning on doing, Bella?" Edward asked. His tone was mixed with anxiety and disbelief. I don't know why; he would know better than anyone how I felt about sacrificing myself.

"I have an idea, but I need you all to be very open while you listen to it. You have to promise, each of you," I said adamantly while looking at each of my family members. They all nodded and I took a deep breath before beginning.

"First of all, I know that none of you made the decision to become a vampire and I respect that. But I have already made that decision, and nothing will stand in my way." I paused to gauge their reactions. Alice, Emmett, and Esme remained silent but I noticed that their mouths all lifted in the corners. Carlisle and Jasper both kept blank expressions on their faces, trying to remain open-minded per my request. Edward's eyes darkened as he stared in disgust at me, which only made me sit up straighter in my love's arms. Rosalie's face was the most confusing. She looked hurt but not surprised at my announcement.

"I am sick and tired of not being able to protect myself and of having to rely on you all. It's not fair to any of us. One of these days, there will come a time when one of you gets hurt trying to take care of me. How do you think I would feel then? Not only helpless, but responsible for your injury or much worse." I took another deep breath, stopping the wetness from overflowing from my eyes. It hurt to think that one of my family members could be killed by this new threat.

"I know in my heart that I will spend the rest of eternity with all of you. You're my friends, my family, and my heart. I couldn't imagine existing without you. I'm tired of putting this off. I'm tired of feeling helpless all the time and lesser than the rest of you. I know that I can help. She wants me, she wants to hurt me. And I would love nothing more than to take her out myself. But I can't do that with just my newfound power. We all know how inexperienced I am with it."

"I want to be turned so that I can take care of her. Newborns have incredible strength, and with all of your help I'll be able to find my control. I know that I can do this, but I need your support." I relaxed against Jasper's chest, having finished my reasoning.

"Bella, there are seven of us and therefore no need for you to be turned so quickly. We can handle Victoria with no trouble. We just need to know some more information about who is working with her," Carlisle stated.

"It's silly to put any of you in danger, though. I'm the one she wants," I answered.

"I don't care who she wants, Bella. You are not fighting her," Jasper told me through clenched teeth of his own.

"It's not your fight," I smugly replied.

"If it involves you then yes, it is. We haven't even discussed you turning into one of us yet," he said.

"Whose fault is that, Jasper?! Every time I try to bring it up, you change the subject." I turned to look at him, our faces only an inch apart.

"I don't want to make your decisions for you," he defended himself. His tone was growing frustrated, matching my own.

"What do you think you're doing right now by arguing with me?!"

"Dammit, Bella!"

"Both of you shut up!" Emmett yelled from his where he sat. We all turned to look at him in surprise. "There's really only one way that will resolve this conversation. We all just need to put it to a vote. If it gets turned down, we're back to square one and come up with another plan."

"Good idea, big brother," I said cheerily with a smile directed to him. "I'll go first. One vote for me becoming a vampire."

Emmett was next. "I vote for Bella becoming one of us now. I don't know how much you'll actually be able to do up against Victoria, but I understand that you have the right to protect yourself."

"Of course I want you to be a part of our family, dearest Bella. I already consider you a daughter," Esme stated as it was her turn. She clutched Carlisle's hand, motioning for him to state his answer as well.

"While I don't agree that you should go up against Victoria, there is no doubt in my mind that you do belong with our family. My vote is for you to become one of us, but I'm not voting on when that will be." I nodded my head and smiled at him.

"Yes," Alice said simply. I could tell that she was trying to get a vision to see the outcome of my plan, but it looked like she was having no luck at the moment.

"Of course not," Edward said with a harsh tone. "It's ridiculous for you to be so adamant about fighting a deranged vampire when any of us can do that. Victoria may not be as strong as James, but she is incredibly intelligent. That in itself is too much danger for you."

I stuck my tongue out at Edward as he finished and then turned to look at Rosalie. "I do want you as a sister, Bella, and I hope you understand that. But I have to vote no, because I don't think that you understand what you're truly giving up for this yet."

Jasper was last. I knew that the votes were already in my favor, but it was important to me to know what his answer was. I could see him thinking it over in his head. He looked in my eyes before answering. "No."

I don't know if I gasped out loud or if it was just the feeling of my heart dropping to my stomach. He didn't elaborate on his answer, and I was too dumbfounded to question him. The others must've noticed my shock and hurt, because they all immediately tried to jump in to save me from embarrassment.

"Well, dear, it looks like we've come to a decision. There are obviously things that need to be ironed out, so why don't you and Carlisle discuss this further in his study?" Esme suggested. "I'm sure that you have some more personal questions."

I slowly stood without acknowledging Jasper. He tried to keep a hold of my wrist, but I jerked it away from him. Carlisle came to stand next to me and put his arm around my shoulder, guiding me wordlessly up to his study.

"I'll get you a glass of water, Bella," Esme said, excusing herself to go into the kitchen.

I sat in one of the empty desk chairs across from Carlisle, the large desk the only thing separating us. Esme joined us in a moment, handing me a glass of water to calm my nerves. I took a few slow drinks from it before looking at Carlisle and nodding to him that it was okay for him to speak.

"Bella, are you sure that this is the route you would like to go?" he asked.

I nodded again, still unable to find my voice. Esme patted my leg gently, reassuring me that she would stand behind me in whatever decision I made. I smiled softly at her before turning back to Carlisle.

"It's your decision, Bella. I am able to turn you, but I don't want you to regret anything. There's the matter of when and who to deal with. But there's also the matter of your father. You'll have no control over your thirst, and it would be dangerous for him to be near you for at least your first year as a newborn vampire," he explained.

"To be honest Carlisle, I haven't work out all of the details yet. I just know that this is what I need to do. This is what I want." I shrugged my shoulders and slumped in my chair, unable to control the tears that had been threatening to spill since Jasper's vote. "I just don't understand why he doesn't want it, too," I whispered.

Before Esme could reach over and take me in her arms, the door opened and a different pair of cold, hard arms was around me.