Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight


Chapter Forty-Two

Two Years Later….

*Lizzy's POV*

I carefully looked in the mirror before me. When I first came here, I was a strong headed, confused, fourteen year old girl. I was short, had short hair, and a short temper. Only one of those things are still around, my unfortunate short temper that I inherited from my father. Instead of that sweet, innocent, little girl, there was a young girl of sixteen. She has long bronze hair reaching to her mid back. She looks fantastic in dresses and has developed some sort of style. She didn't look like she belonged in a middle school. She's stubborn and determined, like her mother. She was brighter, prettier, and fiercer. She wasn't afraid anymore.

It's been a little over two years today since I've seen my family. I didn't think I would be here for this long. In my mind, I thought maybe a year…But another has past and as the months grow longer I fill with more dread.

"Lizzy!" I brushed out my hair before turning to see Wesley running after Boniface down the corridor. Stefano was just behind them.

"Hey boys," I said, giggling. Bo immediately launched himself into my arms and with one swift move I fixated the energetic six year old so he was resting on my hip.

"What were you up to?" Bo asked me curiously.

"Oh," I responded lamely. I smiled at the boys though, "I was just helping your fathers and uncles. That's all."

"Reading minds for them?" Stefano questioned.

"Yes as a matter of fact I was reading minds," I confirmed, nodding towards the boys. A shiver did go down my spine at the mention of my new job. In the last year Aro's made me his personal mind reader, so with every new person they come across Aro has me scan their mind. It's quite daunting and I know he'd never actually know if I lied about anything, but there is the small risk of him finding out and hurting someone I loved, so I wasn't going to take that chance. Not unless I was confident enough to do it. "Anyway, what are you boys up to?" I asked, reverting the topic.

"We just completed the legos you gave us," Wesley told me proudly.

"Nice guys!" I told them.

Wesley and Stefano grew up a lot in the last two years. Wes looked about eleven or twelve while Stefano was around thirteen. Not only that, but since our relationships have blossomed I've come to know their powers. Stefano had a similar ability to his father where he could see your memories via touch, except in Stefano's case he didn't need to touch someone to see their memories. He has the ability to read someone's memories, not their mind, but their past thoughts and experiences. Meanwhile, Wes has a more fun power if you will. He has the ability to talk to animals, hence why he has so many.

Then, there was the newest addition to the Addams Family which would be Bo, or Boniface Marcellus Volturi. He was a cute little boy with curly brown hair and a smile always on his face. He looked about five and was born earlier this year. His ability was like his older brother's. It's very similar to Zach Williams' power, however unlike Zach's power, Bo's seemed dangerous. I've never seen Zach use his power, but I know his memory manipulations were easily undone and controlled. Bo's can get out of hand. Aro had him practice on a human once and the man came out all distorted. Bo can manipulate them, confuse people, and torture them to just think of the same memory over and over again. Yet, he has no idea how destructive his power could be. It's made him the prized jewel of Aro's mind and I've become terrified for him.

The boys reminded me so much of my family back home. Wesley had spirt and guts, making me think of Lily and Jen at times. Meanwhile, Bo was always curious and thoughtful, like Aidan. Lastly, Stefano reminded me so much of Renesmee and Masen, always watching out for the younger ones and being their leader, even though he was technically younger than Wes.

I paused thinking about Masen. I had a dream about him the other night. It was a good dream, nothing like the one I had where I was actually communicating with Ness. It was just the two of us. It felt as if he were nearby, a presence I haven't felt in a long time. A presence I yearned so desperately for.

"Where's Abby?" Bo asked, looking around for his big sister with wide eyes.

"I was going to try to find her myself" I said, placing him down on the ground. "You guys want to help me find her?"

"Let's! Abby deserves a good surprise," Stefano chimed in.

Since we've been here, we've had some influence over the boys. Aro's been wary of this, but we've found ways around it. Anyway, they're kids. They obviously hate doing everything their parents do, so we introduced them to toys and books and stuff children like. The brothers couldn't deny any of the guards from getting us these supplies because we weren't technically corrupting them.

I can tell Wes at least isn't one hundred percent happy here. He wants to leave these castle walls and explore jungles and all sorts of different terrains. Being that he can talk to animals he loves the idea of seeing the species in their natural habitats instead of studying them. I've watched the brothers order for various different times of animals be brought to the castle and even though Wes loved them dearly he'd always order the guards to put them back because he never wanted them to be trapped like he is here.

Besides Wesley, I think Stefano wants to leave too. However, unlike Wesley he's loyal to his father and feels obliged to stay here. He's very protective of Bo though who is another story. That little boy is wild and half the time he just wants to jump on a pirate ship and have some wild adventure.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Demetri exclaimed, running over with Heidi. He immediately picked Wes up and threw him over his shoulder.

"Hey guys," Heidi chirped, placing a hand on Stefano's shoulder. "What's everyone up to?"

"We're trying to find Abby," Bo explained.

"Oh of course! I'm sure we can help with that," Heidi said, turning to Demitri. "Right Demo?"

"I don't see why not," he chuckled. "I need to give that kid a few pre-birthday noogies. What is she now- twenty-five?"

"No! She's gonna be four!" Bo exclaimed.

"Abby's an adult," Wes informed them.

As the boys kept babbling on, I couldn't help but notice that in the corner of my eye I could see Antonio. A shiver went up my spine seeing him. He was one of my least favorite guards considering he's the reason I last saw Grace with blood spilling out of her neck.

"You should not cause too much trouble for the masters," Antonio mentioned warily. He's become a new favorite of the brothers. I don't know why considering there's nothing that special about him.

"We'll be fine," Heidi insisted. "Anyway, I believe Chelsea and Afton are looking for you. Something about the new members."

"If you say so," Antonio murmured before leaving the area. Heidi sent us a sympathetic smile before going back to talking to the boys.

I worry. In the past two years this place seems to grow stronger. More and more vampires are joining the guard and I can only hope that my family is doing the same by gathering as many allies as they possibly can.

"What's happening?" Dru asked as she came walking over with Iris. The couple were hand in hand as they approached us. "Is the birthday girl missing?"

Dru and Iris have never been stronger. Since that night in the dungeon they haven't been able to keep their hands off each other. After a year, Aro even let them come up to be with the rest of us so I guess they didn't feel like prisoners anymore.

"She isn't missing, she's probably just hanging out somewhere in the castle," Iris concluded, leaning against Dru's shoulder. "After all, today is the big O-Four."

"Right, she's an adult now," Stefano said.

"Let's go find her," I said, placing Bo down on the ground.

"We'll split up," Demitri exclaimed, exciting the kids. For his day job as stiff Volturi guard, he really did have a soft side. Over the last two years I got to learn that he's not such a bad person. Neither are some of the vampires here. The only ones I ever really stay away from are the three brothers and the freaky twins. We never see the wives come out of their tower. I've met them a few times, but nothing drastic. Aro and the brothers are quite abusive if you ask me.

"Dru and Iris you go that way," Bo declared. "Heidi and I will head down this way, while Wes and Stef go with Demo."

"Alrighty," Demitri said, rubbing his hands together. "But who's gonna go with Red?"

"I'll go," said a voice from behind me. I look to see it's Felix. He has an amused look on his face while I playfully bump into him.

"Sure you can handle it?" I teased.

"I'm never sure with you, Little Cullen," Felix said.

The two of us both laughed as we all began to spread out. We walked up the hallway, talking and laughing at jokes. Oddly enough, Felix has been quite the emotional support, believe it or not, the last two years. Suddenly my guard became one of my closest friends. He never failed to make me smile or laugh.

"Nice dress," Felix commented at the green dress I was wearing.

"Oh, thanks," I said, touching the hem lightly. "Heidi got it for me."

"Matches your eyes," He mentioned.

"True," I said, nodding my head. I chuckled, "Anyway…How's life being a big bad Volturi guard. You guys were gone longer than the usual business trip."

Felix shrugged, "We went to the states. Just the usual routine visit."

"You didn't happen to see my family? Did you?" I asked him via my power, something I've been accustomed to doing here. Something I haven't used this much since I was a baby.

"Little Cullen-"

"What, I'm curious," I responded to him, shrugging. "They're my family…Let me remind you how I ended up here. Anyway, I can tell if you're lying. I've done it before."

"Yes…I know…" Felix trailed off, looking at the floor. "And no, we didn't see them."

"Okay," I said, nodding gently. "I…I just miss them. That's all."

"I know," Felix said, placing his hand on my shoulder. He bit his lip, "Let's go find, Abby."

"Right…" I said, trailing off. The two of us walked along the corridor and went back to conversation. What I learned with spending so much time with Felix was the fact sometimes he tried to avoid all sorts of difficult questions. Being with him reminded me of being with Seth and it did make me miss my wolf more and more everyday.

Suddenly, as we walked down the hall, I could hear the thoughts of Abby penetrating my head. I grinned and turned to look at my friend, "I think I know where she is…I think I'm going to go in there alone."

"Alright," Felix said, nodding his head. Before I could go, he touched my shoulder gently. I looked up at him in surprise and suddenly, he placed something in the palm of my hand.

I blinked at it, touching it gingerly. I tilted my head towards Felix, but he was long gone. I swallowed hard, knowing what this meant…But it would have it wait.

Swiftly, I placed the object into my pocket and walked into the room to talk to Abby.

*Abby's POV*

I leant my head against the window and sighed. Volterra was beautiful on this fall day. The sun was shinning and I could see the people walking out and about in the town. Meanwhile, the castle confines of the castle prevented us from ever leaving them. I took a deep breath and basked in the fresh air leaking through the window. It's been two years and my fourth birthday was coming up in a few days. This marked my transition into adulthood and my parents, my true parents, weren't here. I missed my family so much it makes me ache thinking about them.

I was angry. Angry with the fact they still haven't rescued us or the fact we haven't been able to reach them. It wasn't entirely their fault anyway. In the last two years security around this place has become tight and trying to make any sort of contact is impossible. Aro's luckily never found out about our first and only true form of communication with Renesmee we've had. We tried multiple times after, yet he always seems to figure out ways to catch us. Dru told Lizzy and I to stop since it would only make things worse. So…Here we are…Two years later and I feel like they keep slipping from me every day.

"Sparky?"

I blinked and turn to see Lucas Rider in the doorway. His arms are crossed against his chest while his body leant against the doorframe.

"Go away," I mumbled, pulling my knees close to my chest.

"Eh, I don't feel like it," He said lightly.

"Don't make me fry you," I growled, looking up at him with narrowed eyes.

Lucas put his hands up in the air, "Look, just because you've perfected your power, doesn't mean you can be throwing it at me all willy nilly. What if Aro walked through these doors right now?"

"He's not. He barley leaves his throne room," I said, rolling my eyes.

Lucas sighed and took a seat beside me, "What is it, Abby?"

"It's nothing," I said bitterly.

"I don't think it's nothing," Lucas said. "Now come on, tell old Lucas what's going on in that big brain of yours."

I shrugged, "Nothing…Just…"

"This is about your birthday, isn't it?" Lucas said.

"Maybe…."

"Look…Sparky…"

"I don't want to talk about it," I said, standing up. "I…I just want to leave this place. Leave and never come back…You know what I mean?"

"I know," Lucas said, nodding his head. "Look…Come on, why don't we go practice fighting. Kicking my ass always puts you in a good mood."

I chuckled, "That it does."

"Come 'ere ya mess," Lucas said, bringing me into a hug.

"Rider!" I chuckled while he picked me up. I squealed as he twirled me around. "I swear to God! You get more and more childish everyday!"

"Hey! We all need a little immaturity around here once in awhile," Lucas replied, putting me back down on my feet.

I smiled and then rammed into him. The two of us began to play fight. Oddly, my relationship with the irritable Lucas Rider has improved in the last two years. He went from pestering idiot to my friend the pestering idiot. Sometimes this dumb luge was the only person to put a smile on my face all day.

"Damn, you have a grip!" Lucas chuckled as I pinned him down on the ground. The palms of my hands pressed down against his arms, locking him in a position.

"I know I do," I replied with a smirk.

"But, you're way too cocky," Lucas said, switching me around so now I was beneath him.

"I let you do that!" I argued playfully.

"Yeah right!" He said. The two of us looked at each other and for a brief pause, it felt…Odd. My chest heaving up and down way too close too Lucas.

"Umm…Guys?"

Lucas and I both turned to look at Lizzy who was standing in the doorway. She had raised eyebrows and was starring at our position with curiosity.

"We were just fighting!" I cried out while Lucas and I scrambled to get away from each other. My cheeks were on fire at this point.

"Not what it looks like," Lucas added.

"Yeah…Sure…." Lizzy trailed off, her facial expression still startled.

"What's up, Liz?" I asked, finally composing myself and pretending like I wasn't embarrassed.

"Well, everyone's trying to find you," Lizzy explained, taking a seat besides me. "The boys and stuff….And well, it made me wonder if you were upset."

"I'm fine," I stated, earning a snort from Lucas. I turned around and narrowed my eyes at him, "Shut up, Rider."

"How about I just give you girls some time alone instead," Lucas declared. Before I could protest or even roast him the slightest, he left Lizzy and I by ourselves.

"What's up, cuz?" Lizzy asked, nudging me gently.

"I just miss them…That's all," I confessed, shrugging. "Doubt they'd even recognize us now."

Lizzy nodded and ran a hand through my hair, "It's funny…I forget you're a lot younger than me yet you act so much older and look older not to mention."

"Oh yeah," I said, chuckling a bit to see the difference between the two of us. Lizzy looked about sixteen. She had grown, but I was definitely different in comparison. I looked well into my late teens or early twenties. I was almost done growing. Instead of the young fourteen year girl I was- I'm an adult. I have long brown curls and I grew a couple of inches. Not much, I'm still on the shorter side, but I didn't look as tiny as my mother. "I look like your older sister," I told my cousin.

"I'll get there soon," Lizzy teased, playfully nudging into me. "I wonder how I look to Nessie."

"I'm sure when they see you they won't even recognize the young woman before them," I said, chuckling. "You've grown up a lot too, Liz."

"We both have," she concluded.

I laughed bittersweetly as I laid my head against my cousin's shoulder. She laid hers on top of mine as the two of us looked down at the castle we were stuck in. Without another word, Lizzy placed something in my hand. When I saw what it was…I gasped.

"How?" I asked, sitting up with wide eyes.

"Felix," she explained softly. "We've been talking to each other…I just needed a sign and he brought it."

"Oh my god…" I whispered. "Does this mean what I think it means?"

Before she could explain to me what exactly happened, we were interrupted. "Abby!" Bo squealed, causing the two of us to turn our attention to the three boys in the doorway. "Lizzy!"

"Ay! Bo, Wes, and Stef!" I cried out in mock fear as the boys swarmed us. Quietly, I shoved the object into my pocket.

"I decided to cut the boys some slack," Lucas declared, walking through the doorway with Dru and Iris.

"Whatcha guys up to?" Bo asked.

"Oh nothing much," I said, looking back at Lizzy. She sent me a small smile while I turned back to the boys, "So…What about you guys? Care to tell us what you want to do?"

"Well, we want to build a fort in the library," Wes whispered. "But Stef thinks that our fathers will not like it."

"How about we go build one in my room!" I said to the boys enthusiastically. "I'm sure they won't care if it's there. I know I don't care."

"Let's go," Lizzy exclaimed as Bo grabbed her hand and I grabbed Wes and Stefano's.

"Oh! I have some really good ideas for a fort!" Dru exclaimed happily as we all headed down the corridor. As much as I was pretending to be okay right now, a million thoughts were racing through my mind and all I could do right now was hope for the good.


A/N: So I'm taking a different approach. You're all probably a little confused like what did Felix bring Abby and Lizzy? Well that'll be answered soon, don't worry. This chapter was very focused on what the girls have been up to the last two years, however the next few chapters will be focusing on none other than our lovely Cullen family who've been up to a lot in the past two years so buckle your seat belts and get ready!