Sorry I haven't updated in so long! I was on holiday. Thank you so much for the dozens of reviews I got for this chapter. They made me smile so much.

This next ones a little short but I can't just squish everything into one chapter, and I need to do this right.

Here's our fave couple, enjoy.

Chapter 35-It Gives Us Time

BPOV

My eyes searched Edward's face, looking for any tell-tale hint that this was a joke. I didn't find one.

"Edward-" I breathed, staring at him, tears forming in my eyes.

Edward shook his head and turned away.

"Don't cry."

I would have been hurt if his own voice hadn't broken. I blinked away the tears, a numbness possessing me.

"Why are they doing this to us?"

Edward shrugged.

"Boredom. Intrigue. A combination of the two."

"I-" I had nothing to say. A sense of disbelief overpowered me.

I slid slowly to the floor and crossed my arms over my legs. Minutes past.

"They can't make me do this," I said quietly, staring at the stone floor, "They can't make me stand there and let him do this to me."

"It might not work, Bella."

"And it might."

Another silence hung between us. I could take all the physical pain in the world, but not this, and we both knew it.

Then something crossed my mind. I looked up at Edward, he was sitting on the bed, his head buried in his hands.

"There's something I don't understand. Why are you here?"

Edward slowly lifted his head.

"Aro doesn't want this to happen. It's Cauis and the rest of the guard. They think the…assessment of you should be nothing but thorough."

"So…killing that vampire…was unnecessary?"

Edward nodded grimly.

"I didn't realize at first. Aro's thoughts were very controlled. But I extracted the information from that vampire with my mind. And if I could have done it, Aro could have. He just used it as a ploy to get me here. So I played along."

"He's on our side?"

"Yes and no. As much as he wants to test you Bella, he doesn't want you to end up with Demetri. We're a stronger power couple to him. A mind reader and…whatever your power could be."

He is a fair man. He appears to be ruthless and cruel, because that's what he needs to be in order to rule over our kind, but although he doesn't show it, there is a heart there." Was it possible that what Camilla had said was true?

But then something Edward said clicked into place.

"What do you mean end up with Demetri?" I asked suspiciously.

At this Edward snarled unexpectedly and I jumped.

"It means, that Demetri is pretty damn attracted to you Bella."

I inhaled sharply. This day could not get any worse.

"He wants you so badly," Edward continued softly, "Aro's had to restrain him some of the time."

Nope, the day definitely just got worse.

"Don't let him take me."

Edward's eyes darkened, if that was even possible.

"I would rather die than see you with him."

It felt so good to hear him say that. He wouldn't let it happen. He would stop it.

"So why isn't this little experiment with Demetri already taking place?"

Edward smirked for the first time.

"It just so happens the members of the Volturi guard can't congregate due to a certain event…"

"What event."

"It's kind of a formal, if you will."

"A dance?"

"In a twisted way, yes. It happens once every year. It's the most extravagant party. And it's happening tonight."

"How convenient."

"It gives us time, Bella."

I blinked. He didn't say he had a plan. But he said we had time. And that's the most I could ask for at this point.

I nodded.

"Although, we're also invited."

I raised my eyebrows.

"Oh great. A vampire party. Can't wait," I muttered sarcastically, then, "I'm not going."

Edward sighed and shook his head.

"You don't have much of a choice."

I groaned and tilted my head to the ceiling, counting backwards from ten, trying to control my temper.

There was a silence that hung between me and Edward. The tension from our prior fight was still there.

"So…my fiancée, eh?" Edward broke the awkward silence.

I blanched. Edward was gazing at me steadily, his expression unreadable. My mouth went dry.

"Is that a yes, Bella?"

Everything started to go fuzzy around me as I tried to stop myself from panicking. I didn't want to hurt him. I couldn't.

He broke out in the first smile I'd seen since he got here. He looked so perfect.

"I know, sweetheart. You can't."

My heart skipped a beat and I swallowed, thinking I must have misheard. Shakily, I stood up.

"Understand, it will always be you. I'm yours. I'm just so young."

He tilted his head.

"Yes, Bella. You are so very young. Sometimes I forget. I shouldn't."

"You can forget with some stuff. Like it when it comes to sex," I stated matter-of-factly. He chuckled quietly, his whole face lighting up, despite the situation. Typical man.

The topic of sex was a welcome distraction which I could indulge in all day. However, my anger hadn't dissipated yet, and I'm sure his hadn't either. Then I noticed the darkness of his eyes. I sighed.

"Edward, how many times do I have to tell you not to starve yourself on my account?"

Edward's jaw flexed.

"Do you think I'm going to go and hunt now and leave you here with that fuck walking around?" He snapped.

"I just thought you'd be uncomfortable," I whispered, my eyes downcast.

"The thought of you in Demetri's arms makes me more uncomfortable." The edge had disappeared from his voice. I felt a lump in my throat and I quickly ran to the bathroom.

"Bella-" Edward said, having his metal grasp around my upper arm before I had even managed to get there. I turned my head, the tears silently cascading down my face.

"Please-I just need a-minute-"

Edward looked pained.

"I want to help you," he whispered.

I shook my head, forcing a fake smile.

"Just one minute," I repeated. He let me go and I stumbled into the bathroom where I slammed the heavy mahogany door, grabbed a towel, shoved it into my face and allowed my muffled screams to reverberate off the walls.

Okay, so I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to do this whole Edward/ Demetri face off thing yet, so any ideas are welcome!

Thank you for reading, and leave me a little something. Cheers all.