Welcome to another Friday Night! Thank you for joining me on this journey.

Thanks go out to me BFF, idea bouncer and pre-reader Pienuniek. I can tell you, if it wasn't for her I wouldn't be writing. Thank you Fran for also picking up your red pen and doing what you do best.

Disclaimer: You know who owns what and who doesn't.

Let's catch up with Bella and Edward in the year 2843 BC...

Chapter 23 – Best for the Future

The difference between flying in our time and flying back in that time was staggering. In our time, there were asphalt roads between towns; buildings made of stone, brick, wood, and tile; and deforestation due to overpopulation.

Back then, it was open land dotted with small dwellings, the beginning of settlements and many individual huts dotted along in between. You could see the tracks made by the horses, and of course, the many different trails that people walked on to get to their destinations. It was so much greener and the air was fresh because there was no pollution. No wonder Mother Nature needed help to keep the earth running after what the human populace had done to it.

As Bella began to land in the forest surrounding the hill Volterra would eventually sit on, you could see where the start of a settlement had taken shape. This would be where modern day Volterra would be located. The buildings were rather rustic compared to their modern stone counterparts; made of straw, wood, mud, and other easily harvested materials.

We, however, needed to head out into the forest for the Volturi encampment that had been made before the town was completed.

'We need to go this way, Bella.' I thought to her. 'Marcus and Didy had a hut separated from the rest of the Volturi. They liked their peace and quiet.'

'Okay, Edward. I'll follow your lead.'

I pulled her hand to my mouth for a kiss before leading her in the direction of their home. This spot had always been theirs as far as I knew. They started with this hut until they built it up to the beautiful villa it had become.

I let my mind roam out as far as I could hear, to make sure that we weren't going to run into any surprises before reaching our goal.

Once we reached the three-mile point I started to pick up on Didy's thoughts, she appeared to be alone.

'I don't like how they feed. No, not at all. I wish they would change their ways. Couldn't animals suffice? Why is it so hard to fathom that they shouldn't be murdering innocent people? Okay, granted most of these people aren't innocent but that doesn't mean that they can't repent. I'm glad that Marcus made the change to animals but even he doesn't like it. What can I do?'

It seemed that Marcus had adapted to the vegetarian diet but was not liking it, which means that he wouldn't stick with it in the future.

'Bella?'

'Hmm?'

'Didy is home by herself. As much as I dislike approaching another's mate while they are alone, now might be the easiest time to convince her.'

Bella looked up at me with eyes full of trust and love. 'Yes, Edward. I think you might be right. Then, with Granma on our side, convincing Grampy would be easier. It's just a hop skip and a jump from them to the rest of the Volturi. Before we get there, I think you should change your eye color to gold. The fewer questions, the better.'

I nodded to her and changed their color before I started to lead her up to Marcus and Didy's door.

'Who is that?' I heard Didy wonder. 'That is a familial connection. There's an Angel outside my house and one that is related to me.'

Before I had a chance to knock, Didy was there, flinging open the door. I wasn't sure who was more startled, us because she'd gotten to the door so fast, or her, because it was almost like looking in a mirror for her to see Bella.

Didy recovered first. "Who are you?" She demanded. "What are you?"

"My name is Isabella Swan." My brave girl started. "You are Didyme, and you have just run from an abusive marriage to an evil man by the name of Balail…"

"Shh," Didyme hissed as she looked around. "You can't say that out loud, he may be able to hear you."

'I can't tell her the truth at this stage.' Bella lamented in her head. 'Some things need to happen the same so that we can get to this point. We've only been told to tell them about their feeding habits and no more.'

I squeezed her hand in silent support because she was right. To change too much would change the fabric of time, and that wasn't a chance we could take.

"Come in here before anyone else hears you!" Didy scolded.

We walked inside their living space where a fierce fire was roaring in the middle.

She offered us one of the logs placed around it.

"Now, how do you know this? Nobody knows of my past." She fibbed a little, hoping to throw us off our game.

Bella looked at me asking if she should divulge it all. I nodded, letting her know that this was the best way to proceed. Be honest right from the get-go.

"Okay," Bella sighed. "Let's start at the beginning. As I said outside, my name is Isabella Swan. Your name is Didyme and you've recently been able to escape from an abusive marriage. You are now mated to Marcus of the Volturi – who happens to know everything about your past – and has become one of the rulers of the entire Vampire world."

Didy was stunned. So stunned in fact that she didn't counter anything Bella had said.

"This is my mate Edward Masen. He's a vampire, just like Marcus. Although you can see that his eye color is different, the golden color indicates that he has been feeding only from animals." Didyme gasped at that information, now knowing that not only was it possible, but she had the proof in front of her. I sighed longingly in my mind; I knew that I could trust in my mate to get me some food. However, I hated that I had to hide a part of myself.

'It's only for a little while. I promise to look after you, my love. You will have some food before the day is out.' Bella looked sympathetically over at me before she turned back to Didy.

"You are an Angel and you have a son in Eden by the name of Amos who you had to leave behind in your escape because you were unable to bring him with you…"

Before Bella could go on, Didy had come out of her stupor. "Stop. Just stop." She sighed. "Please. How do you know all this about me?"

Pulling the photo album out of my bag, Bella held it out to Didy.

"This will come as a shock to you and I'm hoping that these will help to explain. I am your great granddaughter and the only other Earth Angel to be born up to the year 2015 Anno Domini or AD, as we know it. We've come back in time to this date about four and a half thousand years."

Didy let out a shocked gasp, covering her mouth with her left hand. She reached for the album with a bewildered look in her eyes. "What's that?"

"This," Bella started, "Is what we refer to as a book. Inside is a collection of drawings of your family members…all of them."

She sniffled a little before asking a question that Bella and I knew would come.

"Please, just for my peace of mind, before I look at this. Show me. I know that the connection is there but please show me your wings."

Bella nodded and we stood from the log. Bella twirled around lightly, already pushing against the flap with her budding wings. Lifting the fabric away, I watched in fascination when she unfurled her magnificent wings. I couldn't help reaching out and straightening up a few of her feathers while she stretched her wings, as much as she could in the little hut. Bella smiled at me with love, when she felt my touch and while I placed a sweet kiss on her forehead.

It was in that one moment between Bella and me that Didy laid all her faith in us. She didn't know what we were there for or what needed to be done but seeing the connection that we had, the one that she shared with Marcus; she knew that we were there to help. And she hoped that we were the answer to her prayers.

'My love, I think that you should leave out your wings. Just in case.' I suggested to Bella.

She peered up at me with a questioning look as we sat down to face Didy again. 'Why, Edward?'

I looked around their quaint little home, hoping against what I thought, but I knew how I'd react if there were a strange vampire in the home of my human-appearing mate.

'Oh.' Bella thought after seeing my thought process. 'Well, then, I think you may be right.'

Didy had taken to looking through the album leaving us to our conversation. She was so happy to see that her son had thrived even without her. What I found amusing was that while looking through them she was comparing the earlier drawn pictures of her family with the later taken photographs.

'The quality of the drawings in their time is truly amazing. I wonder how they get them so accurate. I can't see the lines from the pencils at all.' She thought as she flipped backward and forwards between them. 'I know that she said she's the only Earth Angel to the year 2015 – What is a year? So many questions. I wonder what they can answer.'

It was such a shame that we wouldn't be able to tell her all she wanted to know. She'd have to find out on her own. Suddenly I saw her words spelled out in my head and realized that Angels thought in the language of the Gods, the same one Marcus taught me during my first visit to Volterra. I would never have been able to understand my love if he hadn't. Or been able to participate in the conversations concerning this journey. The leaders of the Volturi had implemented this language so that none of their guard could overhear a conversation that they shouldn't.

We hadn't added any pictures of her Volturi family; we just wanted to provide her with enough evidence of her Angel family to convince her that we were telling her the truth – as if Bella's wings hadn't been enough. Before looking through it a second time she offered us – or Bella at least – a cup of milk and some food.

I'd wait until we showed them my tattoo before I'd tell them that I could eat. At that moment, Didy came back with a wide rimmed jug with some goat's milk for them to share. She scooped them both a cup before going back and collecting a woven platter ladened with bread. Before she took her own, Bella watched as Didyme ripped some bread off the loaf and dipped it in the milk to eat. Didyme sat a little closer so they could share.

"I want to thank you for this," She said, holding up the album. "You don't know how it has plagued me. At least, I won't miss all of his milestones."

"You're welcome Granma," Bella replied looking up to make sure it was okay. With Didy's nod, she continued. "You do know that we cannot tell you any more than what is in that album, right?"

Didy nodded while she took a sip of tea. "Yes, I realize that. Why have you come such a long way back in time, to now?"

I was just about to explain to her when Marcus' thoughts came into range. I held up my finger asking her to wait a minute.

'I don't think I can sustain on this diet. Having to pick fur out of my teeth after every meal is just ridiculous. And god the taste is unbelievable, it's so abysmal. I don't know how Didyme expects me to convince the others when I'm not conv...'

It was mid-rant that he figured out that there was a strange vampire in his house and with that, he reacted, just as I thought he would. He bolted towards the house snarling and growling, prepared to defend his mate against any and all vampires and perceived threats. He burst through the door, pulling it off its leather hinges with the intention of landing on top of me and ripping me to pieces without any explanation whatsoever.

But with one look at Bella and her wings, he pulled up short. He stopped mid snarl and rubbed his eyes to make sure that he wasn't seeing things.

It was that action alone that pulled Didy out of her stupor. From what I gathered, it was the same reaction she had received from him the day she escaped from Eden. Although she found it funny, she was not going to let him off easy for his abrupt entrance to their home.

"Marcus," she said in an admonishing tone. "Just what do you think you are doing behaving in that manner in front of our guests? And what have you done to my door!"

He looked at her in surprise while Bella and I tried to hide our smiles so as not to anger him again. Though it mustn't have worked so well because he turned belligerent towards all of us.

"Well, what did you expect me to do when there was the scent of another vampire around our home? Did you expect me just to go 'Ah well, things should be okay,' and just wander inside?" He accused.

"No," Didyme said with force, to which he smiled thinking he had won the argument. "I expect you to use those extra vampire senses of yours and determine whether I'm in trouble or not before you come barging in here! Did you even think before losing your temper?"

He stayed quiet hoping that she'd be done, but it seemed like Didyme had quite a head of steam on her. He must have been bugging her for a while. I'd seen Didyme do this quite often during my time in Volterra years ago, she'd let it build and then let it all out at once.

"Did you even listen to hear what we were talking about? Or how about trying to sneak in here without taking my door off its hinges? We've only had this place for a little while; I don't want it to come down around our ears before we can make it a home! Not only that, did you wipe your feet before you kicked down the door, because if I have to sweep the floor smooth one more time because of your big feet, you are going to lose them for a week! Didn't you promise me that you would find some flat stones, anyway? All because you cannot walk around without messing up my perfect floor! And learn to put your dirty clothes in the basket I provided, I am not your maid!"

By the time Didy was getting into the best part of her rant Bella and I were snickering and getting louder by the minute. I could see that Marcus was becoming upset that she was berating him in front of someone that should acknowledge him as a leader of our kind. What he didn't know, though, was that I saw him as just, Uncle Marcus – and he wouldn't know that for another four thousand, four-hundred-odd years.

Once Didy had settled down from her rant, she turned back to Bella and I. "I am sorry you had to see that, my dears. He thinks just because he runs the vampire world that we all have to cater to him…"

"Now that's not true, love." Marcus interrupted. Both Bella and I could see she hated that. In fact, if he didn't know it by now, he'd know it soon. "You know I don't like being waited on, but I thought you were in trouble. Our instincts kick in and we can't help what we do when that happens…"

Seething, Didy turned on him again. "Yet, when you saw her wings," she pointed at Bella, "you were able to stop dead in your tracks. So tell me why you couldn't think before barging down our door and making a fool of yourself?"

'Edward.' Bella called. 'I think you'd better interrupt this before it gets out of hand. You explained it to me before, I don't think that Granma is all that trusting.'

I watched them for a little bit longer thinking that Bella may be right. 'Maybe we aren't here to spend that month just to gain their trust?' I thought back to her. She looked up at me with questions in her eyes. 'Maybe we're also here to help Didyme. Help her become who she's supposed to be? Going through what she went through would leave a mark on anybody. Modern day battered women get counseling when they leave so that they can get better and have healthier relationships.'

Bella nodded in agreement. 'I agree. She does need help, but she's going to need it mostly from me.'

I waited until Didy had taken a breath before starting in again on poor Marcus. She really needed to settle down. "Uh, excuse me Didyme?"

She turned to me and flushed. She was embarrassed on top of everything else. "Yes, Edward?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt but I'm going to have to make an observation." I sighed because Marcus had better appreciate this. "I'm not sure if your mate here has spoken to you before about vampire instincts?"

She shook her head a little while Marcus looked down at the floor. He was embarrassed that he hadn't told her, it was in an attempt not to scare her after all that she'd been through. I thought, though, that he had done her a disservice.

"Well, he is, in fact, stating the truth. Once our protective instincts kick in we can't help what we do. Moreover, our protective instincts are always at a high when it comes to our mates. What happens… it's like a red haze covers our vision and we are only able to see what is detrimental to them. In this case, Marcus smelled me and his instincts took over straight away. The reason that he was able to stop was because he got a big enough shock when he saw Bella standing in the room with her wings on display.

"In fact, it shocked him so much that he thought he was seeing you and had to do a double-take before hurting the one that he loves the most. It's hard to fight our animal instincts because, after all, that is what we are. At our base core, vampires are animals, and like any living thing, we have instincts; ours are just a little more violent than most." I finished my explanation.

"To you Marcus, I would like to apologize for coming to your home without warning and while you were not home. At the time, we believed it to be the best decision because we have limited time. We needed to explain to Didyme her family connection to help us in our endeavor to help the Volturi."

"Oh." Didyme gasped. She then turned and ran into Marcus' arms. "I'm sorry, my love. I don't know what came over me. I didn't know that it was something that you couldn't help. I was mad and embarrassed and all over the place, please say you'll forgive me?"

While Marcus was comforting Didyme, I turned to Bella and helped her sit back on the log. We gave them what room we could to apologize to each other. I knew that there would be a long talk in the future for them because keeping things to yourself, even when you think it's in the best interest of someone, is always detrimental to a relationship. Honest communication was the way to go.

~*~HS~*~

A short while later Marcus and Didyme sat on the log opposite us together. Didyme had given him the run-down of what we'd told her earlier and showed him the album that we'd brought with us.

"First things first." Marcus started. "You are my Didy's family?" He asked Bella.

She snorted a little indelicate. "As if the wings don't say that, but yes. She's my Granma," Bella paused after her start at addressing Didyme because Marcus had sucked in a breath at the name she used. "You need to trust your instincts too, especially the one telling you that we have a familial bond. But in saying that over the time that we are here, I'm going to help you with all those things that have been…altered, due to your relationship with Balail."

Didy knew, thanks to the display earlier that Bella was right. While she wasn't sure she wanted to tell her everything she knew that something had to be done.

"You're right, Bella, I do need help. Thank you."

Bella nodded then continued. "In answer to the next question you're going to ask, yes, we have come from the future. Very, very far into the future. Four and a half thousand years to be exact."

"My turn to interrupt you, but may I ask, what is a year exactly?" This was from Didyme.

I looked at Bella, how did we explain this without giving too much away. Oh, the seasons! We both thought at the same time.

"You must understand." I started. "That we can only tell you so much, there will be things we cannot say because it will upset the fabric of time. But in answer to your question, let me ask one of my own. You count the time by the changing of the weather, correct?"

Both of them nodded to that.

"Okay, well then a year is one full rotation through the changing weather. We call them different seasons, so a year is one full rotation of the seasons." I concluded.

"And you have come back in time four and a half thousand of these years?" They both asked, looking incredulous.

"Yes." Bella and I answered. Bella continued on, "we've been given a task that needs completing to stop what will eventually become the destruction of the entire human race, of all species, and of the world. That destruction would start right here."

With those two sentences, we had their attention.

"What do you mean?" Marcus whispered. He thought that maybe he should have taken Didyme's warnings a little more seriously. It seems that she had tried to convince him using a similar tactic but he didn't believe her. This would make convincing him a little easier.

"Am I to presume that Granma has told you about our history and the Gods, Marcus?" Bella asked to which he nodded. "Well, then this will be much simpler than I thought.

"Granma has been praying to the Gods for help. I believe she has talked to you about her beliefs on your 'feeding habits'?" She asked with a sarcastic tone. Bella was nothing if not protective of the world and all in it.

Marcus was ashamed that he had not taken her warnings to heart and had not tried as hard as he should have – at either the diet or convincing the others. He thought that they were invincible and that nothing would bring about the end of the Volturi. I guess some of Aro's arrogance was in him before, as well.

He had looked down at his hands in his lap after Bella had asked her question, trying to think of a reply, but what could he say?

"Hmm, that's what I figured." She admonished. "Well, then you'll be happy to know Granma, that your prayers have been answered. It just took the elder Angels a little while to figure it out. They have sent these letters for you. Marcus, I believe you should read the one addressed to the Volturi first."

As he reached out for the letter, he looked to Didyme in askance. Apologizing to her for not taking her concerns more seriously. She nodded to him but knew that they'd have to talk about it later as well.

Marcus unrolled the paper, which I could smell was made of bamboo and looked at it through Marcus' eyes. Even though I had read it, I wanted to see it new. What I just noticed though was that it was written in ink similar to that of my tattoo.

To the Volturi,

It has come to our attention that you have not been living up to your full potential as guides of the Vampire Community. As the guides of the entire world – human, vampire, werewolf and other creatures – it is our duty to guide you to the correct future for your race. Not just your race, but the entirety of the earth, all races and species included.

You have one of our most sacred creations living amongst you and not one of you has taken her warnings to heart. Not even her own mate. He has been lackluster in attempting what she knows is right and in doing so, he has been detrimental to you all.

She has been praying, asking for guidance to help you and to lead you all on a better path; one that will, in the end, save your souls. Do not be argumentative – All creatures big and small have one. This is why we have sent our beloved messengers to you, because she has asked and she deserves to be helped.

We had to search long and hard to find messengers worthy of this task, so long in fact that they had to come back in time. This letter and our two messengers have come from far in the future. The first is related to Didyme and is another of our most sacred creations and the second is her vampire mate. He is worthy of the post he has been given so treat them both with the respect they deserve. They have come with a way to change your diet, but you must prove to them you are willing to become what you need to be. Prove that you want the best for the entire earth and we will entrust you to take care of all of the other species and creatures. We will continue to support, guide and take care of the humans.

We have foreseen that if you continue on the path that you are on – the earth will not be able to sustain your diet. Due to the vast amount of vampires that you will have in your employ, the covens, as well as the nomads, or the fact that other species and creatures are real; the truth would be to hard to contain. World wars would be started to try to take you all out, and in the process, the earth would be damaged beyond repair.

When we say employ, we mean it. There is to be no killing of covens to gain access to their powers, there is to be no unnecessary turning or the stealing of humans to make talented vampires. If we can see what will happen in the future, don't think we can't see you in the present. We will know, and there will be repercussions.

Make the Volturi something to be proud to join, not something to be done out of fear. Offer incentives, be the first on the earth to do this. Make it a guard for all of the earth's creatures; a place they can come to for help and support and not the power-hungry mob that you were on the path to becoming. We let you win against the Dacians for that very reason. You had a vision we liked – stick to it.

Make the earth's creatures you are guarded to protect, Mythical. They need to become a thing of storytellers, something that people will no longer believe in because it will be part of the earth's downfall if this doesn't happen.

The earth will be obliterated by your own hands, trying to protect yourselves from other creatures and humans. There will be no future to be had if you continue down this path.

It will be a war to end all wars.

Didyme will be given the guidelines on how to help with your diets. However, she will be instructed not to do anything until our messengers have given her the go ahead; until they are satisfied that you will do what is best for the entire earth.

Be the guides we know you can be.

Regards

The Gods.

I heard Didyme sniffle, "Oh, they were listening. My prayers have been answered." She stood and came over to Bella and me. As she reached us, she pulled us into a hug. "Thank you. For everything you have or are about to do. Just… thank you."

We hugged her back as tightly as she was hugging us. "You're welcome Didyme. We have the other letter when you are ready for it. It'll explain more about what you need to do."

She nodded. "Yes, well… I'm not ready for that yet and neither are they." She pointed to Marcus but meant all of the leading class and the Volturi. "I'm going to get a start on dinner. Bella, would you like to help me?"

Bella nodded when Didyme let go of us and followed her to the other side of the hut. We knew she was attempting to give Marcus someone else to speak to for a few moments. That was after he came out of his shock. I sat back down on my log and waited to see what he would say.

While we had been talking, Marcus had lost the fight to hold up the letter and placed it down on his lap. He was unsure where to start.

"So…" I started, wanting to get his mind going but not willing to divulge that I was a mind reader just yet.

I could hear Bella and Didyme talking and it sounded like my beautiful girl was already trying to help her Granma with her past. She didn't waste any time.

Marcus looked up at me with what could only be surprise on his face, but I watched as it morphed into disgust and then disappointment. "She was right and I never listened. I placated her and never took her arguments to heart. I mean, sure, I tried the animals but never thought I'd stick to it. I didn't listen or believe that it could be possible…"

I snorted in disgust at the so-called Mighty Marcus from my day. He looked up at me again, a little angry this time. "Oh yeah, because her being an Angel wasn't enough proof that there was a higher being, or in our case, beings out there," I said, "You thought you were invincible and above all the rest of them. As do the other 'leaders' of our kind. Had I been on a diet of human blood I would have changed the minute my Angel fell into my world and told me that I shouldn't be doing what I was doing.

"Because there stands proof of everything." I pointed at my Angel, who had her wings still out. "And if she had wanted me to live on a diet of bread and water I would have done it because she is the embodiment of eveything good. The fact that she is mated to me means that I have not been forgotten as all the stories state; that I still have a chance at the afterlife with her if I live one that is good and brave.

"Now Marcus what will you do?"

I can't wait to hear what you think!

I'm going to just recommend the one this week, and it's a little different from your average love story.

A Father's Love by Vancouver-Canuck-Girl. FFN ID: 11482851

A different kind of love story.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Thank you!