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beta'd by melanieintn

BPOV

I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed; Edward was so sweet and caring last night. We really needed that alone time. I still can't believe the day we had yesterday. I used my power for the first time, and we destroyed Aro, Caius, the guards loyal to them, and then Tanya.

I felt bad for Irina and Marcus; they were victims just like we were. They had been deceived by the ones they thought they could trust the most, but I believed they would find some semblance of peace with each other.

I thought about Eleazar and Carmen; they would be fair and honest leaders. They were well-respected in the vampire world, so maybe the transition would be smooth.

"You have an awful lot on your mind this morning, love," Edward said as he moved my hair out of the way and began sucking on my neck.

"You keep on doing that, and there won't be for long," I moaned out.

Just then, my stomach growled embarrassingly loud. My face turned red, and Edward chuckled.

"It is just as well, baby," he said and sighed as he got off the bed and started getting dressed.

"I hear everyone returning anyway," he explained.

"You get up and get ready, and I will go down and fix your breakfast," he said as he kissed the top of my head.

"Okay, thank you baby; you are so good to me," I told him with a smile.

"I am just doing my job!" he said and smiled and winked at me, then he was gone to fix my breakfast.

Twenty minutes later, I was dressed in a strapless blue wrap around top and dark skinny jeans; it was supposed to be warm today. I headed down to the kitchen; and when I got there, Edward was taking my plate to the dining table where everyone was gathered.

I sat down to start eating, when I noticed Emmett had a piece of paper in his hands. I looked closer and saw that he was reading my letter from Jacob. I had forgotten all about that in the excitement of the Volturi coming.

"Emmett, why are you reading that letter? It is ridiculous and isn't worth the time," I said aggravated at being reminded of it.

"This is pretty sick Bella. He actually thinks there is a chance you will leave Edward and be with him," he said seriously.

"I know Emmett; I don't know what his problem is, but he just can't stand the fact I am with Edward. But do you want to know what I think of his letter?" I said as I held my hand out for it.

"What is that, baby sis?" he asked as he handed me the letter.

"This!" I said as I wadded the paper up into a ball and threw it in the trashcan with perfect aim. Something I never would have been able to do six months ago.

Emmett laughed while everyone else clapped.

"Nice shot, love, and I couldn't agree with you more," Edward said kissing me on the cheek.

I didn't want to think about Jacob Black anymore, so I changed the subject.

"So, Eleazar and Carmen, now that you are our leaders, are there any of the old rules you are willing to change or at least make not so strict?" I asked, thinking of my mother and father.

"What did you have in mind, Bella?" Carmen asked.

I looked at Edward, and he nodded his head that I should tell them.

"Well, my father knows about us. I would also love to tell my mother so she can be more involved in mine and her grandchild's life, without fear of punishment," I said looking at them pleadingly.

"Bella dear, we trust your judgement. If you think your parents or any other human can be trusted, I see no reason why they can't be told. But you have to be certain they can be trusted. I still believe we need to keep the secret," Eleazar said.

I was so thrilled; I ran around the table and gave them each a hug.

"Oh thank you! I was so worried about my father knowing and leaving my mother out. We wouldn't have been able to be around her much; she notices things like I do, and she would have known something was up," I said as I went back to my plate of food.

"If I might ask dear that if you were worried about your father, why did you tell him?" Marcus asked.

I giggled, and Edward looked sheepish. He then explained how he had lost his temper in front of Charlie at some errant thought he had when he found out I was pregnant.

"The poor man ended up passing out; he had such an information overload that day!" Esme giggled out.

"But, you will not have to worry about Charlie Swan I assure you," Carlisle said. I appreciated that. I knew Eleazar said he trusted my judgement, but it was good to have Carlisle's assurance. I smiled at him to let him know I appreciated what he was doing, and he winked at me.

Everyone stayed another day, and then they were all going to Denali. From there Eleazar, Carmen, Chelsea, and Corin were going to Italy. Kate was going to roam around for a while and travel a bit. Irina was going to stay in Denali with Marcus, Demetri, and Heidi. Eleazar said that once they had tied everything up in Volterra, and it was known they were the leaders now; they would come back to Denali to live.

After everyone left, I decided I wanted to go grocery shopping. Emmett had convinced Jasper and Edward to go to the backyard for a wrestling match since it had started to rumble thunder. Esme and Carlisle went to his library to be alone, and Rose and Alice wanted to do some shopping online.

Edward gave me a kiss and told me to be careful after Alice assured him she didn't see anything happening. My sweet overprotective husband was always worrying. He swatted my backside at that thought as I turned to grab my keys. I needed to remember he could hear me now and keep my shield up. He chuckled at me, and I headed to the Thriftway.

JBPOV

I was driving through town and sitting at a stop sign when I spotted Bella's expensive new car ride by. This was perfect; it had been almost a week since I had sent her my letter. She was probably just waiting for a time when she could get away from her controlling husband. I followed her to the Thriftway, and I watched her get out of her vehicle. She looked gorgeous; she had on a sexy tight top that revealed her shoulders and hot tight jeans. What I wouldn't do to be able to come up behind her and wrap my arms around her and suck on her beautiful creamy shoulders. I got out of my car planning to do just that, when she stopped and her nose wrinkled up and her shoulders slumped.

"Jacob Black, are you following me?" she said, snarling at me.

As I got closer, I noticed her scent was different, sweeter; I figured it was due to her being with the leeches all day and the baby she was carrying.

"Don't pretend like you aren't happy to see me Bella. I know you loved my letter. I can take care of you Bella; when are you going to realize this? I can take care of both of you," I said as I reached out to touch her growing belly. Suddenly, I was frozen; I couldn't move an inch.

"Don't you dare touch us!" she growled out.

Then, I saw the leech tear into the parking lot in a fancy sports car. It was an Aston Martin, figures, stupid rich bloodsuckers. He got out of the car and walked over to us. When he saw the frozen state that I was in, he relaxed and chuckled.

"Hello love, it is a force of habit to run and find you when you disappear from Alice's vision," he said before kissing her temple and wrapping his arm around her bare shoulders.

"It's alright baby; I understand," she said and smiled up at him. It killed me that she looked at him that way. Why wouldn't she look at me that way?

"She doesn't look at you that way because she doesn't love you, and you try to force yourself on her every time you see her," he glared at me.

"It looks like you have things under control here though," he said, turning back to her. Bella was doing this to me? But how was she doing it?

Bella must have seen the confusion on my face.

"The baby is slowly changing me. My power is manifesting itself; I am a shield. I can use it to paralyze someone, if I feel they are a threat to me," she said. So that explained the difference in her smell and how she was holding me frozen. She looked so proud that her baby was turning her into a monster. Her face suddenly turned angry; she walked up to me and poked me in the chest. I winced; it actually hurt.

"My baby is NOT turning me into a monster. That is another thing; I can use it to tap into another vampire's power and borrow it. I can now hear every depraved thought flowing through you mind. I want you to remember this is what I want, what I choose. Even if the baby wasn't changing me, I would still become a vampire. There is nothing you can do about it," she hissed at me.

"Leave us alone, Jacob. You forfeited your rights to care the second you forced that kiss on me. I am no longer defenseless Bella Swan. I am now Bella Cullen, and I will put up with you no longer. Now leave!" she exclaimed and released me from her shield and shoved me, knocking me to the wet ground. The leech was watching me with a smug look on his face.

"I will never give up Bella; I will always love you, even when your heart stops beating. I will find a way to make you mine," I said and turned around and ran off before she or the leech could say anything. As I got in my car, I heard her growl in frustration.

BPOV

"I am so proud of you, love. You handled him so well," Edward whispered in my ear and gave me a kiss.

"I just want him to leave us alone," I said back, leaning my forehead on his strong chest. He put his arms around me and rocked us back and forth in the parking lot.

"School on the rez will start soon, and he won't be able to be in town in the middle of the day. It will be simple to avoid him, and we plan on leaving a few months after the baby is born. I know you want to be near Charlie when she comes and now we can have your mother here too. Just a few more months and we will be rid of him," he said.

I smiled when I thought of my mother.

"Speaking of mom, we need to figure out a reason for her to come up here. I think it would be easier on her if she figured stuff out on her own. But now is not the time to discuss this in the middle of the Thriftway parking lot," I said and laughed.

Edward agreed, and we went in the store with our arms wrapped around each other and did my grocery shopping.

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