Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight
Chapter Fifty-Nine
*Abby's POV*
We almost made it out. Almost. That was until my good old father decided to get us all together and have the guards round us up.
Lizzy had just joined the unfortunate party when Rowena cast a spell that caused the castle to rumble throughout the premise. It was like an earthquake and all I could do was hold onto Lizzy like a life raft. The two of us trying to collect what happened as we supported one another.
"What the hell is wrong with you!?" I screamed, looking back and forth from them to Lizzy.
"You are not leaving from this castle!" Aro roared angrily. Soon, there were guards galore. I noticed Demetri and Felix amongst them along with Heidi and so many other familiar faces. When my cousin saw Felix, her breath hitched. I quickly grabbed her hand as we watched with caution.
"I'm not staying here any longer, Aro!" I shouted. "You kept me here for two years and what have I done? Nothing! So you better let us go if not, I rather die!"
"You silly child!" Aro snarled, his red eyes blazing even brighter.
"We're not the silly ones here, father, because you will never, ever have any of us," Dru spat viscously.
"You will never have my mind and you will never have Abby, Dru, Cordelia, Bo, Stefano, Lucas- anyone's here because unlike you we are all pure and good!" Lizzy added. "All you're filled with is hate and jealously. I think it's time the world put you in it's place!"
"You and what army?" Aro stifled. "Don't you understand, the fighting down there hasn't begun yet. I haven't given my orders for my guards to kill! It's my word that will cause the heads to roll and my guards do not have any issue tearing your precious family to pieces!"
"Well we're ten times more powerful than you'll ever be," I said, stepping forward. "And I'm done. Done with you, done with this castle, done with it all."
"I'm done as well," Lizzy said, standing by my side.
"You heard what little Red and Sparky said," Lucas said, stepping forward with Dru and Iris right beside him.
"Time you learn a lesson, father," Dru spoke icily.
"Well, at least I still have my sons," Aro growled, turning to Stefano, Bo, and Wesley. "Come on, boys. Come here! Now!"
"No," Stefano answered, causing his father to be taken back.
"No?" Aro repeated.
"No!" Stefano growled, coming to our side. "You almost killed Bo! You took Abby, Dru, Lizzy, and Lucas from their families! There's a whole world you refused us from and we've done nothing but be loyal! I'm through father!"
"You don't know anything, you're just a child," Aro snarled. "Now, come here."
"No!" Stefano refused, grabbing my hand. "I stand with my siblings."
"Wesley," Caius tried to get his own son to follow lead.
"Not happening," Wes said, standing beside Iris and Dru.
"Boniface?" Aro inquired, looking at the youngest boy. I watched as Bo shook his head and ran straight into Lizzy's arms. My cousin held him close to his side as he shook his head.
"You're a mean man, father," Bo muttered into Lizzy's side.
"Well then, I guess we'll have to do this the hard way," Aro said, a smile appearing on his face. "Felix! Demetri! Take your pick!"
I felt a jolt rush through me as I watched the two guards emerge. Lizzy's eyes widened, her gaze not leaving Felix's. The big vampire easily snatched Seth and then Demetri grasped Stefano.
"Hey! Take your hands off!" I growled, but the guards blocked me from getting to him.
"Stefano!" Bo and Wes shrieked, their eyes welling up with tears.
"Let me go! Father! Please!" Stefano cried out, trying to reach us, only to be held down tighter.
"Are you serious!?" Dru roared, throwing Wes and Iris behind her protectively. "He's a child! Your child!"
"And he defied me," Aro reiterated.
"Seth," Lizzy breathed, seeing her wolf for the first time in two years. Her green eyes welling up in tears as her entire focus was on the person kneeling before her.
"Lizzy," Seth whispered, looking at her in awe as if she was some mythical long lost creature. Lizzy's fixation with Seth soon lifted as she turned to Aro with angry eyes.
"Let them go!" Lizzy snarled. "Let him go, please! Please, don't hurt them!"
"Jane and Alec will be the judges of that," Aro remarked, bringing the twins forward.
"You know my shield will just deflect the two of them," Lizzy hissed. "I have my brother with me, we're more powerful than ever. Don't you realize that you stupid, stupid man?"
"Oh yes, don't worry. I understand what you're cable of, young Elizabelle. Which is why if you do try to do any sort of thing I'll have Demetri and Felix snap their necks," Aro stated simply.
"What do you want?" I asked, clearly exhausted. "If it's us, this isn't going to work. Nothing you do works, Aro! I don't know what else you could possibly want! What this is all about?"
"Power, my dear Abrianna. Power," Aro said venomously. "It's all about power and being on top. I can't be on top if you Cullen's keep growing more and more powerful. This needs to end."
I prepared myself for the worst. I was ready to fight, but all I could think about how my family was all going to die because of us. Because of this stupidity of my biological father, a man I never asked to have in my life.
"Stop!" a familiar voice cried out.
We all turned to the sound to see it was Meredith. She was being helped by Violet and Hazel as she entered the room.
"Meredith?" Aro questioned, eyeing the witch.
"Don't even think about trying anything Aro," Meredith warned, trying to keep herself steady. "If you do, I have no problem exploding this place with you and everyone in it. You know my abilities. I can kill everyone in an instant and end this problem just like that."
When she said that, I felt my blood run cold. I immediately reached out for Lizzy's hand and waited for whatever was going to happen next.
"You are mine," Aro said, narrowing his eyes. "You have no choice over the matter. You may be powerful, but let me remind you who brought you back to life!"
"Which I never asked you to do!" Meredith snarled, gripping to her daughters. "Now, you may think you'll win this, but this will only end in the defeat of both sides if you continue."
"And how do you know, witch?" Caius challenged.
"I've foreseen it," Meredith stated coolly.
"Meredith is psychic?" Dru whispered to us with wide eyes.
"She is," Hazel confirmed.
"Only a few witches can really see into the future like Alice, but we all have premonitions. Clairvoyance if you will. Ways to tell some outcomes," Grace explained. "Aunt Ava's been trying to teach me. I can't do it quite well, but I believe Meredith can because of her linage. Meredith isn't a witch to undermine."
"So, you've seen the future," Aro questioned.
"Here, read my palm. I promise, I won't bite," Meredith said, reaching forward.
Aro watched her carefully as he then grasped the pale hand of the all powerful witch. We all watched with bated breath as he scanned her mind.
"Is it true, Aro?" Caius asked curiously.
"It is," Aro whispered, placing Meredith's hand down. "All of it."
"Which is why I must tell you that I foreseen one final battle," Meredith explained. "A year from now, when the first snow touches the ground of Forks, Washington, you will arrive with your army and the Cullen's with theirs and we will see who survives."
"Even so, I want my children then," Aro hissed. "If that is the final battle, then I want to pick my pawns."
"You must let them go," Meredith explained. "If you don't, then everyone here will fight for them. And if they fight, someone will die, which means two very powerful creatures cannot exist. If you let the Cullen's and your children go, and if you win the final battle, you will be the most powerful creature in the world. You will have the people and creatures you want…And two cannot exist while you stand before me."
"What do you mean?" Caius inquired.
"What I mean is that two children will be born in the upcoming year," Meredith explained, gesturing to everyone around her. "They will be extremely powerful and you will never have the opportunity to have them if you don't let the Cullen's and your children go."
"So there's a chance?" Aro asked, his eyes full of greed. "Of us winning? Of us becoming the most powerful creatures in the world?"
"Yes," Meredith answered. "But there's also a chance the Cullen's will win. This is something you must decide a year from now. So, with that, let the Cullen's escape and we'll decide this later. You've done enough damage, Aro. Now let us settle this once and for all. Have each side build up their strengths and then let the one who is stronger come on top."
Aro paused for a moment, looking at his brothers and guard members. My biological father's lips pursed before he finally said, "Alright. Deal. A year from now, when the snow first falls to the ground, we shall have our final battle. Until then you are free to go, but mark my words, the next time we see each other, you will be bowing down to me."
"A deal is a deal," Renesmee said, causing Aro to watch her suspiciously.
"Ah yes, young Renesmee," Aro crooned. "It started with you, let us see how this will end."
"We will," Renesmee replied, her eyes dead locked on Aro's. My cousin looked exhausted yet filled with such determination.
"Let them go," Aro ordered Felix and Demetri. I watched as the two men we called friend throw Stefano and Seth to the ground.
"Stef!" Bo sobbed, jumping out of Lizzy's arms and running straight at his older brother's chest. Wes followed right after while Dru and Iris made sure the three were all okay, dotting upon the tearful brother.
"Seth!" Lizzy cried, throwing herself besides the wolf. He was kneeling on the ground as Lizzy grabbed his face in her hands. "Oh Seth…My Seth."
"I'm so sorry, Liz. I'm so sorry," Seth whispered, the tears falling down his cheeks.
"No, I'm sorry," Lizzy whispered, bringing him into a hug. He slumped against my cousin as she did the same. As his face buried into her shoulder, I watched Lizzy's green eyes look up at Felix. He looked at her with such anger and disgust. Lizzy blinked back the tears before burying her face into Seth's shoulder, taking in everything about him.
"Now leave!" Caius bellowed, causing the room to fill with silence. "Before we change our minds."
"Come on guys," I whispered, ushering the younger boys and everyone towards the exit. Lizzy helped Seth up before turning to look back at me.
"To the rendezvous!" Aidan shouted as we rushed out of the building. I grabbed Stefano's hand while Iris snatched Wesley and Dru grabbed Bo in her arms. Lucas and Lily were busy carrying Ethan; who was in and out of consciousness.
In my entire life, I don't think I ran as fast as I have ever in that moment. I guess I was so blinded by escaping that the moment we ran down into the tunnels, everything was such a blur.
But the moment we stepped out of the tunnels, I could feel my lungs fill up with new air. We were on a vast field, far away from Volterra. It was early morning now. Dawn, and even though the sun wasn't shinning that bright, I could feel the warmth soak my skin up as if it were noon. The wind blowing, the smell of freshly mowed grass, birds chirping, and this feeling of independence. After two years I was finally free rom it all. Free from a life I never wanted to a life I never thought I'd get back.
We all followed one another to where there were some boats waiting for us. It was crazy as Lizzy, Seth, Dru, Wes, Bo, Iris, and I climbed into one and followed the others. I turned to look at Lizzy who was hugging onto Seth again. They were both sobbing at this point, Seth just gripping to her while Lizzy ran her hands soothingly through his hair.
I looked to Dru and Iris who were holding on tightly to the boys. Stefano squished in between the two girls while Wes curled up on Iris's lap and while Bo laid his head against Dru's chest. The boys all with red rimmed eyes as they tried to receive comfort.
When we reached land, Lucas and Lily were the first off scrambling to get Ethan to lie on land. The rest of us flew off in masses. I wasn't sure where we were– somewhere in Africa, I believe.
"We did it," Lizzy whispered to me, her eyes filling with tears as she turned to look at me. Her bronze hair flying through the sea breeze. That's when it all hit her and I could see her growing distraught. "I…Abby…I took his memories away and I…"
"I know," I said to my cousin gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I know." She then wrapped me up in her arms and the two of us just cried and held one another, feeling the sweet release of freedom.
"Lizard!"
We were brought out of our moment by Aidan. I smiled as he ran over to us and picked Lizzy up in his arms. She let out a squeal as he swirled her around.
"Aidan!" Lizzy cried, burying her face into his neck.
"Oh Lizard, never do that to me again!" Aidan sobbed, holding onto her tightly. "I didn't have my best friend! How am I supposed to function without my little know it all, Baby Einstein!"
"I'm not a baby anymore, Aide," Lizzy said through her tears.
"Ah, I know," Aidan said, cupping her cheek. "But you'll always be my little Lizard."
"You're an idiot," Lizzy teased, causing the two to hug once more.
"Pass her to me you big oaf!" Jen cried, coming over and bringing Lizzy into her arms.
"Abbster!" Aidan exclaimed, noticing me and bringing me into a swirling hug. "Oh little Abby, you are such a bad ass! That was amazing!"
"Thanks Aide," I said, chuckling through the tears as I held on tightly to him. "I missed you, ya dufus."
"I missed you too, shortie," he said, hugging me tightly.
"And now, give me my niece," Jen said, causing me to look up at the blonde. It is rare for May or Jen to call me their niece for I'd always seen Jen as a friend or a sister and I never really had a relationship with Maysun to be begin with, but in that moment I saw the tears in Jen's eyes and realized how much I did miss her.
"Jen," I whispered, hugging my aunt tightly as I possibly could.
"Rissy!" I looked over Jen's shoulder and saw Jo seeing Iris for the first time.
"Jo!" Iris sobbed, running towards her sister at full force. The two falling to the ground as they hugged and cried with one another. Caleb and Dru watching with admiration.
"Meredith!?" A new voice called out. A man, I've never seen before in my life, came rushing up the shore line. He had curly dark hair and bright blue eyes. "Mer!?"
I then watched as Meredith weakly stood up from where she was hugging her daughters. Suddenly, recognition hit the poor witch right in the face. Her body visibly shaken as she walked forward in her ragged robes.
"Jamie?" she cried out softly. "Jamie…My husband…Is that you?"
"Meredith," he said, running forward to catch her in his arms. I watched as Meredith, the used to be ghost like zombie, come back to life for real. The two began to sob openly and before you know it, another male, who looked like his father but with his mother's eyes rushed forward.
"Danny!" Meredith shouted, bringing the boy into her arms followed by the father. "Oh, my sweet Danny, you've grown up!"
"Momma," Danny whispered, holding on tightly to her. The twins soon joined after, causing a family to be whole again after decades. I could never imagine their pain of being apart for so long. Two years away from my family almost destroyed me.
"Hey there little sis!" I turned to see Cordelia running at me. Without skipping a beat, she wrapped me up in her arms. I could feel the tears streaming as I clung to Cordelia and she held me like she would a baby.
"I missed you so much, Cordy," I whimpered.
"I missed you too, my brave little Abrianna," she said, pressing a kiss to my temple. "You've been so brave, sweetheart. So brave. I'm so proud of you."
"We're all together now," I heard Dru's voice say as she wrapped her arms around me and Cordelia. The three of us mushing into a group hug.
"Don't forget me," Robert said, chuckling.
"You too, Bertie," I replied, causing him to laugh as I launched at my brother in-law with a hug. The four of us Volturi children swarming around one another in excitement like bees in a bee hive.
"I'd like to point out, we can't exclude a certain few from this happy reunion," Dru mentioned, motioning to the younger boys. "Our brothers."
"I know," Cordelia said, looking up and smiling at Stefano, Bo, and Wes who seemed completely out of place.
"I think it's time we introduced ourselves to the family," Robert said, looking towards Cordelia who now nodded in enthusiastic agreement.
"You're a lot more beautiful than I expected," Renesmee's voice said. I lifted my head to see my cousin approaching Lizzy who had just finished hugging Lily. Ethan, who was resting against her knees, seemed to be waking up and had joyfully greeted Lizzy.
"Ness," Lizzy whispered, tears welling up in her eyes as she ran into Renesmee's arms. I watched as my two cousins hold onto each other for the longest time, Lizzy sobbing in Renesmee's arms while Ness sobbed as well, running her hands through Lizzy's long bronze hair.
"Are you two forgetting someone?" Masen quipped, causing the sisters to break up. When Lizzy saw her brother, her Lux Lamia twin, she sprung from Renesmee's arms and rammed herself into his chest.
"Mase!" Lizzy cried, hugging onto him. Masen chuckled, picking up his sister in his arms and cradling her.
"Thank you," Masen whispered into her hair, tears streaming down his cheeks. "For taking Tyler's place. I'm so sorry we didn't get you sooner, but thank you. For everything, Liz. Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"Don't thank me," Lizzy sobbed, hugging onto her brother. "I'm sorry about everything that happened with Grace."
"It's okay, Lizzy," Grace whispered, coming over. Lizzy gave a watery smile at the girl before bringing her into a bone crushing hug.
"I'm so glad you're okay," Lizzy whispered as they hugged.
"Lizzy!" A new voice shouted. We all turned around to see Aunt Bella and Uncle Edward running into the area. Behind them a slew of the people from Volturi, all running against the coast. "Lizzy!"
"Momma!" Lizzy yelped, looking at her mother wide eyes. "Daddy!"
"Lizzy!" Aunt Bella dry sobbed, rushing with her vampire speed so she could cradle her daughter into her arms. I watched as Lizzy erupted into a sob as she gripped to her mother like some life raft. Uncle Edward threw his arms around the two while Renesmee and Masen joined in. I felt love swell in me watching the family reunite. Lizzy was squished in between all of them, Aunt Bella's arms around her form and now Renesmee's. Uncle Edward bringing Masen in who wrapped his arms around his sisters. They were all entangled with another and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes.
"Touching, isn't it?" Lucas said to me. I chuckled, looking up at him.
"Very," I replied through my tears.
"So…You kissed me?" he said, wiggling his eyebrows. "I didn't think you like-like me."
I smirked even though I could feel the blush creeping in my cheeks, "Well…I do."
"Well good, because I like-like you too," Lucas said, chuckling. "But before we discuss that any further, I think you should turn around, Sparky."
"What?" I questioned, wiping the moisture from my eyes.
"Just do it," he said, chuckling. I rolled my eyes, my footing jumbled as I looked towards the direction where my aunt and uncle just emerged from. That's when I felt the breath leave my body. On top of the hill was none other than my pix of a mother who was starring at me hungrily. My father at her side, a wide grin on his face.
"Abby?" My mother asked softly, her voice sounding like bells.
"Mom," I said, my eyes brimming with tears. She looked at me and without warning I felt my mother's arms engulf around me like a tidal wave. That's when the tears started pouring from my eyes.
"You're so grown up," she dry sobbed, running her hands through my hair and cupping my face. "We missed you so much, Abby. I'm so sorry it too so long baby. We were trying everything and anything. I'm sorry. My beautiful little princess."
"Don't," I said, hugging my mother even tighter. "It's okay, we're together now. We're together now."
As we broke apart, I then looked at my dad. The calm, collected, usually witty Jasper Hale looked at me with sad, puppy dog golden eyes. "Abbs, I…"
"Daddy," I cried, hugging him by his midsection with my face pressed into his chest. That's when dry sobs wracked his body as he hugged me tightly to him so I could never leave them again. I then felt my mother's arms wrap around the two of us and for the first time in such a long time I felt at home. I was home and no one was going to take that away from me. No one.
*Bella's POV*
I didn't actually believe it to be her when I first saw the stranger starring back at me on that beach. But the moment I saw those green eyes, I knew she was my baby. She and Renesmee were the same height now and they still have very similar features from their noses to their lips and to the way they both smiled.
I remember watching Abby reunite with her parents and not recognizing my sweet little niece. The same little girl that would run around our townhouses in New York, laughing out of her mind as she played in her fairy princess costume. She was all grown up and practically a different person, but the same Abby we love so dearly.
We didn't stay long after the reunion. The moment everyone regrouped we rushed to our various forms of transportation before the run could rise, and now, we were back here in Forks and everything was well.
"What a good ending to a wild day," Emmett said. "Now that that's done with."
"It's not over yet, Em," Rosalie said, walking over towards her mate. "Remember what the kids told us."
"We have one more year until this is finally resolved," Carlisle added, his voice strained as Esme came to his side.
"Right now, let us enjoy the rest of today," Alice spoke up, looking back at her husband and daughter. Jasper was now holding the sleeping form of Abby, who seemed so exhausted as she peacefully slept in her father's arms. Her head resting against his chest while her hands gripped tightly to his shirt. She was curled up like a baby who hadn't slept in years.
"We're going to our room if anyone needs us," Jasper added softly.
"Jazz and I are going to enjoy some time with our daughter," Alice explained, smiling fondly as she brushed some of Abby's hair.
Before they left, I pulled Alice aside. Her topaz eyes shinning at me. "We did it, Ali," I whispered to my sister.
"That we did," she agreed, pressing a kiss to my cheek before following her husband and daughter up the stairs.
"We'll need a place for the boys to sleep tonight," Dru mentioned as her mate, Iris, came to her side. I looked in the backseat of the car to see Stefano had both boys snuggled into his side.
"Carlisle and I will take them," Esme offered, walking forward. "You and Iris rest up with Cordelia and Robert. I'm sure your sisters want some quality time with you."
"Thank you, Esme," Dru said thoughtfully. I watched as Esme carefully took up Wesley and Bo in her arms before heading up the stairs while Carlisle carried Stefano to their bedroom.
"And I think our kids should really be heading to bed," Rosalie said before heading over to where Lily was getting out of the car. At her side was Ethan, who was also being supported by Lucas Rider. A blood stain on his shirt. The poor boy looked horrible.
"We're gotta nurse him back tonight," Aidan declared as Jen clung to his side.
"Which I'll help with," Rosalie said, coming forward to help the poor boy, being that she was the only one besides Carlisle, Edward, and Renesmee who was medically trained.
"Don't worry brother, there's a warm bed awaiting you," Lucas said, rubbing his brother's shoulder.
Ethan just painfully chuckled at this while Lily pressed a kiss to his cheek, holding onto him protectively as the Hales and Riders all followed one another into the main house to help Ethan.
"And that leaves us with our kids," Edward said. I grabbed my husband's hand as we then headed over to where Renesmee, Lizzy, Masen, Grace, Jacob, and Seth were.
In the backseat of the car, Lizzy's head rested on Renesmee's lap. My eldest ran her fingers through her sister's bronze hair in a soothing manner, treasuring her like she would disappear at any moment.
"We're going to head back to my house. Grace is going to check on Tyler and I need to see how the parents are doing," Seth mentioned to me.
"Alright," I replied, giving him a side hug. "But stop by in the morning. I'm sure Lizzy would love to see you, Aidan, and Jen tomorrow. She's going to need you guys."
"Of course, Bells," Seth replied, smiling as he then patted Edward on the back. My future daughter in-law, after kissing her fiancé goodnight, came to say goodnight to Edward and I. Both of us kissing her on the cheek before she left with the wolf.
"And I'm going to check on my dad," Jacob told me, looking at the scene before him. "I think this is a Cullen family moment."
"I think you're right," I replied, causing my friend to smile as he gave me a hug and Renesmee a kiss before leaving into the dead of the night.
"Let's go back to the cottage," I suggested to everyone. "That way we can all be together tonight…If you want."
Renesmee and Masen shared a look before turning back to us, "I think that'd be nice for all of us."
Edward then picked up Lizzy in his arms while the rest of us followed suit. By the time we reached the cottage, I took my youngest daughter from my husband to go change her into something more suitable with Renesmee. Lizzy didn't even notice she was too tired to wake up as we placed pajama bottoms and a new top on her.
"I can't believe she's back," Renesmee whispered to me, her eyes glistening with tears. "It's a miracle."
"I know, baby," I replied, kissing her forehead. I then brought Lizzy over to the master bedroom where Masen and Edward waited for us. I proceeded to place Lizzy in the center while Renesmee and Masen curled up on respected sides of her. With that, Edward and I took the ends so we could be surrounding all three of our children. Renesmee's arm slung protectively across both of her younger siblings while Masen let Lizzy use him as a human pillow, her head resting on his chest while Renesmee's rested on his shoulder.
I wrapped an arm around my son while my husband around our eldest daughter, our two hands meeting in the middle where we proceeded to watch our children fall asleep like they were children again. The only sound that could be heard was the soft even pattern of their breathing and a Debussy song playing on the CD player Edward put on. All was well again in the world and I couldn't be happier.
A/N: Ahhh! Two more chapters left, and epilogue, and then Eternal Dawn! Crazy- I know! Anyway, if you all love my series then I have a surprise for you! One of my readers, The Original Twilight Diaries, was nice enough to reach out to say that they've created an Amino for the Sunrise Saga! If you have an Amino and want to check it out, go to this link /c/SunriseSaga or just search "sunrisesaga" in the amino app and it should work. Anyway, thanks to The Original Twilight Diaries for making it! As for the rest of you, my lovely readers, thanks for reading and reviewing, and keep out on the lookout for the next update!
