Chapter 127

Bella

Time seemed to pass slowly when in truth the years flashed by, everything changed yet everything stayed the same. The terrible ordeal Kat and I had gone through in that cellar was a distant nightmare but only because of Jazz and our family and friends. Sometimes I wondered if the outcome would have been different, more tragic, if I hadn't met Jazz when I did but when I voiced this thought he just shrugged,

"But we did meet, just as we were fated to and it brought happiness to more than just us two."

He was right there, I thought back to the damaged girl who I had shared the cellar with and looked at her today. She was beautiful, confident, radiant even. I remembered Kat's first birthday party with Peter and Charlotte. The way she had looked in awe at the presents, the cake and decorations. She'd never had a party with guests and music, a pile of presents and a dad playing the fool on a bouncy castle. The highlight of the day had been Felix who astounded us all with his magic skills. The white rabbit he conjured from a top hat and presented to her, the flowers that grew suddenly from his huge fist and the pretty necklace he drew from behind her ear and presented to her as his gift for the birthday girl.

Since then Kat had grown and matured and through it all were Peter and Charlotte with seemingly endless patience. She had gone through the rebellious stage, dyeing her hair, staying out late, playing heavy metal music loud enough to burst ear drums and Peter never lost his temper once. The other person constantly in her life was Felix, the Volturi's chief enforcer who also had endless patience with Kat who tested him to the very limits just like her adoptive parents. Then at the end of it all she became the most beautiful and loving creature with just a hint of the rebel she had been.

We heard even the great Aro Volturi met his match in Kat who was afraid of no one after Mendoza. She refused to live in Volterra and eventually she and Felix were given a villa outside the town on the understanding Felix would work a year on and a year off for the guard. Guests at her wedding included not only Aro and Marcus, Caius being away on business but Sulpicia and Athenadora too. I wondered if it had anything to do with the story I had told Kat about the wives and their gilded cage, it was just the kind of sweet thing she would do.

Esme's new house had been gaily decorated specially for Skye's eighteenth birthday party and I could hardly believe it had been so long since I held her as a newborn. Rose had blossomed as a parent losing her regret of becoming a vampire as she became a mother at last. Emmett, the eternal teenager matured too as a father although he would never be the serious authority figure in the family, that position Rose filled admirably. She and Edward had become closer when Rose discovered Skye had a love of music and a talent for playing first the piano and later the guitar. We had all expected him to try bulldozing his way into Skye's life knowing what she was to him but he had stepped back and let her be a child enjoying all the immature things he didn't really understand. My admiration for him grew seeing he really only wanted his mate to enjoy her human life before becoming an adult and a vampire with all that entailed.

After today Skye and Edward would be traveling to Milan for a short holiday before going on to Volterra. They had opted for her to become a vampire before they married, a good idea as Edward was still unsure he could control himself well enough to have a sexual relationship with his mate while she was still human. Instead they would spend two years in Volterra marrying there once she was controlled enough and Aro had asked Rose and Emmett to organize the ceremony in Italy at Skye's request. The baby had become a strong minded, mature woman who loved us all just as we loved her.

Occasionally as Jazz and I lay watching the stars after making love in our favorite spot, the meadow beyond our house I wondered what it would be like to be a mother, to hold in my arms Jasper's child but I pushed such thoughts away, they gave me a tiny glimpse into Rose's life before Skye and I both pitied and envied her. I know Jazz guessed what went through my mind at such times but he never said anything, what could he say? I was a vampire and my body frozen in time could not bear a child of our own. Chances of another Skye or even Kat entering our lives were almost nil but I could still dream.

I was brought back to the present by Skye's squeal of delight when her parents gift of a new car was revealed. Apart from music her other passion was speed and the bright yellow Porsche that the keys she held in her hand fitted was perfect for her. Emmett had taught her to drive by the age of twelve and Rose to tune an engine by thirteen so we could expect the car to go faster than it's spec after a few weeks tinkering. Her next present was from Marcus, or rather from all three brothers, some unknown compositions from Strauss, one of her favorite composers. Jazz and I had bought her a new puppy, her old dog having died a few weeks ago and "Jazz" as she had named the black Poodle puppy followed her everywhere sporting a silver and pink ribbon around her neck in place of a collar.

Marcus found us later while the others were listening to Skye play the new composition accompanied by Edward.

"Well Bella, it seems all your friends are now settled into our world. I hope you will visit Skye once she has transformed."

"Of course but I understand Charlie will be there to help her through it just like he did Kat."

"Yes, your father's gift has been very useful both to your friends and in saving us from losing any of our valuable soldiers. I never thought he would accept Aro's offer of a command in the guard."

"Me neither but he sees it as a continuation of his human career as a police officer. It's just the nature of the criminals that have changed."

"Yes, a most unusual man and his mate, well it would seem she has stirred up the wives, I hear they are planning a trip to the opera in Milan, something they would never had contemplated before meeting yourself and Jenna.

Of course Charlie will be in charge of their security along with Felix and I imagine Kat will be a part of the group. Perhaps things are changing in Volterra and not before time. We needed fresh blood with new idea's, the Volturi have stagnated for far too long, it's what ruined the Romanians and I did wonder if history was going to repeat itself at one time. I have a feeling Volterra will be more..."fun" in the future all down to you and your friends from the cellar. I wanted to thank you for that although I rather fancy my brothers will find it all a little daunting, they aren't used to being questioned, especially by their wives. I look forward to then next few centuries with anticipation, something I haven't felt for the past few. Still I think we are missed."

We turned to see Skye gesturing for us to join them as she blew out the candles on her cake and made a wish. As I watched her I wondered what she had wished for, after all she had everything she could ever want now, after having nothing at all the day she was born.

THE END

Well folks its that time again, the end of another story. I'm going to be away for a week from Sunday so I wont be starting another story until I get back. Thank you to everyone who joined us on this journey and to those who reviewed, we appreciate the time you took and your thoughts.

Love Jules and Kat xx