With One Look

Chapter 19

Epilogue

Carlisle's P.O.V.

I was on my way home from my shift at the hospital when I felt the pain from my chest start to lessen the closer I got to home. Could it be possible? Could Isabella be at the house? I asked myself this, hoping with all I have that she was. Before I pulled into the driveway I stopped, seeing many others standing there surrounding my Bella. I pulled the car over to the side of the road and hid myself in the cover of the trees, gazing out to see what was going on.

As I looked over at the vampires that stood in my yard I realized that I recognized all of them. Peter, Charlotte, and even Garrett must have come back with my Isabella, for there they stood facing Edward and Alice. I was shocked when I heard what Edward and Alice was saying to my true mate.

I guess our little talk yesterday meant nothing to my two troublesome teens. I would have to find a proper punishment for them, and even as I thought that I heard what Isabella said about how the two had also placed an allure on the others. I was shocked to hear this, and not only that but Alice had somehow come in contact with Chelsea and had her bond Jasper to her. I sighed, as I was beginning to fear I might have to end Edward and Alice's existence.

What they had done was so irresponsible, they even sounded dangerous to me. Their actions sounded as though Aro himself had raised the two of them, with how much power they sought. I was sure if they could manage to take over our coven then they would one day plot to take on the Volturi, which I figured would definitely get us all killed. It seemed, though, that Isabella had a handle on the two of them. Jasper seemed a little the worse for wear after finding out that Alice had trapped him in a relationship that was manufactured. I saw Isabella release Alice and Edward from the hold she had on them and then saw Alice lunge for Jasper as he took her down with little trouble. It looked as though he used his gift on her, for she wasn't moving. Then Edward started, which landed him in the same boat as Alice. I took this as my time to step up and let Isabella know I was there.

I came up from behind her, knowing she could feel it was me approaching her, and wrapped my arms around her waist pulling her up against me. I whispered my apologies for my behavior yesterday and kissed her on her shoulder. She turned and kissed me more passionately than I have ever been kissed before, which sent a shiver down my spine, and when she pulled away we got lost staring one another in the eyes. She told me she loved me so very much, which sent my dead heart soaring, and then I found her lips on mine once again leaving all others from our thoughts as we drowned ourselves in one another.

Aro's P.O.V.

We ran from the airport once we landed, not wanting to alert any of the Cullens of our presence. I had been keeping a close eye on Carlisle's coven for many years now. A coven his size was dangerous to have around for the Volturi. I kept one of my guards watching from a distance to make sure no plans were made involving an attack on us, and so far all has been quiet on that front.

But something did rear its ugly head one day when I became concerned over Marcus's actions as of late. I called Chelsea to my office to ask her if she was letting her control over my dear brother slip. Of course I didn't believe her when she said that she hadn't and asked for her hand to see what was going on. Not only did I see that she had indeed let her gift slip with my dear brother, but I saw something else that gave me reason to pause. I saw that she helped Alice Cullen trap Major Jasper Whitlock in a mating bond. She assured me it was for the good of the Volturi, telling me that once Alice and Edward took over leadership of the Cullen coven that Isabella and Carlisle would come join us once again. I was shocked to learn that Isabella had found her true mate in none other than my good friend, Carlisle Cullen and wondered why the bond chose now to show itself and not when he was living among us. I let that thought go rather quickly when I heard that Isabella would be among us once again. My soul purred with excitement at having her back.

Caius, with the help of Marcus, had alway stopped me from calling Isabella for certain details I constructed to check on covens that were being other than secretive among the humans. They said she wasn't needed for those missions and if I kept calling her for minor detailed missions, that she would stop coming altogether and what would happen if we found ourselves in dire need of her assistance? I knew they were right, but I just wanted Isabella back with us. I was so mad at Caius for letting her leave in the first place.

The possibility of Edward and Alice taking over the Cullen coven had me a little worried. Those two were a dangerous pair when working together to begin with, and what would stop them from trying to take over the Volturi at some point? Yes, when I had heard of their gifts I wanted them for myself because they would make the perfect addition to my guard, but cohorting together they could be a force to be reckoned with, and that had me worried. It also reinforced my need to get Isabella back under my control. If Edward and Alice were strong enough to use their allure against their own coven, what was to stop them from taking my throne? Something had to be done.

I had overlooked their bending of our laws, because although what they were doing was indeed against our laws, it's not one we've ever given any great effort in enforcing. Now that I saw what was in Chelsea's memories, the fact that Isabella was Carlisle's true mate had changed things. I must go and see for myself what was going on. While there, maybe I would find something that would help me gain my desires - getting not only Isabella back, but also Edward and Alice, and Carlisle would just be a bonus. I missed our little conversations, and with him here we could spend many evenings conversing, something I would look forward to. And with Isabella back with us, she would be here to keep a close watch over Edward and Alice to make sure they weren't trying something to move against us. After all, they were no match for Isabella's gifts.

Once we arrived at the Cullens' territory, the guard and I hid in the woods just beside their residence. I was happy to see Isabella there confronting Alice and Edward about their actions towards the Cullen coven, and she wasn't alone. I was also happy to find that she had aligned herself with the help of the Captain and his mate who fought side by side with Major Whitlock during the southern wars. They were also accompanied by another vampire I had never met.

I learned quite a bit standing there taking in all that was said, and I found what I was looking for. Although the charge of using allure against another vampire may not hold up during a trial, separating true mates was another story. That one alone would get them the second death penalty, and that's what Edward and Alice were doing - trying to separate Carlisle from Isabella, which confused me after seeing that Alice had promised Chelsea that once Carlisle and Isabella were together as one they would join me in Volterra. So why were they trying so hard to separate the two?

After standing there listening to what was going on I finally figured out what Edward and Alice must be doing. They didn't want Carlisle to leave their coven. He was their cover as a father figure and they wanted to keep him as such, knowing that having Isabella there could stop them from leading their coven as they had been doing for some time. Little did they know that breaking their promise to Chelsea would make them enemies of a powerful vampire. They would find their stay in Volterra miserable, not only from Chelsea, but her mate Afton who would probably be working closely with the two of them. I truly couldn't feel sorry for them at all, especially with Isabella being there to add to their torture. I grinned evilly at the thought.

Once I saw Carlisle and Isabella together I thought it was time to make an appearance. I made myself known and agreed with all that Isabella had said and was backed up by Carlisle. I delighted in sensing the fear that ran through Alice and Edward. I would not only have Edward and Alice, but Isabella and her true mate as well. I was floating on a cloud and there was nothing Marcus, and especially Caius, could do to change a thing. I would finally get my just desserts I had longed for for so many years. Of course Isabella fought me on most of it, but I threw my weight around, not showing any fear and letting her know that I led the vampire world, of which she was a member, and she would just have to suck it up and do my bidding.

When she took Carlisle's hand I knew she was using her gift, talking silently to Carlisle. I loved watching her use her gifts. It excited me to see that all that power belonged to me as her leader, as her king. When she smiled and looked at me and said she had a proposition for me it gave me reason to pause, but being the vampire I am I wanted to hear what she had in mind so I begged her to continue.

When she said what she said, it shocked me at first. She wanted herself and Carlisle to be Regents of the Americas. At first I thought it was an asinine thing to ask for, but after giving it some thought, I realized she was right with her assumption of us having problems controlling what was going on here in the new world. It was hard to keep track of things here, and it was also dangerous for us, meaning for the kings and our wives to travel here, and when we did send a few of our elite guardsmen here to check something out it did leave us with less protection until their return.

So maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all. Plus Isabella would be part of the Volturi as I wanted, and we would have her guaranteed protection. I didn't like it when part of her bargain was to take Edward and Alice away from me, but she was right in that she would need them as part of their guard. I knew Isabella would be able to control them and I had to worry less about the two of them making plans to take us over, but then again if they tried I could blame Isabella and Carlisle and end their reign here and pull the whole coven back to Volterra, which would be a win, win scenario.

I didn't want to seem too confident in showing her that I loved the idea so I let her know that I would talk to my brothers and let her know what was decided, but in truth the decision had already been made. I think she knew this because she said she would draw up the plans and present them to me when they were ready. I chuckled a little in my head at her presumptuous actions. She was truly made to be a Volturi.

Isabella's P.O.V.

It had become a big decision what to do with Alice and Edward. So while we decided, we placed them under arrest, This was a bit premature, since we hadn't even been given permission to be the Regents in America yet, but if I knew Aro like I thought I did, his decision was made the minute he left us earlier.

So we locked Edward and Alice in the stone covered, windowless basement and assigned Emmett, who took his guard duties seriously, to guard them. Emmett found he loved being made an elite guardsman of Carlisle and my reign, and so did Rosalie. Carlisle explained that she was always afraid of the Volturi, and feared they'd come for us at some point. With Carlisle and myself in control over this large an area she wouldn't have to fear them any longer and she could keep to her diet of feeding from animals. We all could without worrying about being around human drinkers - well, with the exception of Peter, Char and Garrett - but they wouldn't be bringing their food home to digest as the Volturi did.

Speaking of Peter, Char and Garrett, they had decided to join us in this endeavor as did the Denalis. Of course we had to find a new place to live, and it was decided in a group effort to move to Texas on Peter and Char's property. They owned a vast amount of land and we could build our own homes around one another and build a containment or jail, if you will, that could hold vampires. Edward and Alice would be the first occupants until we were sure they had given up their desire to rule the world, so to speak, and who better than I to know if they were telling the truth? Until then they would stay locked up until I knew for sure they were stable enough to join our little group.

The Denali's didn't wish to leave their home, seeing they had been there a very long time, but they did agree to stay with us part time and when not with us they would travel to us for important meetings that couldn't be held over the phone. They would also be available at the drop of a hat if need be to go on certain missions. This was all drawn out and presented to the brothers, who okayed it. This was also the first time I had spoken to Caius since I left the Volturi.

"How are you doing, Isabella?" Caius asked.

"I'm doing really well, Caius."

"I'm glad to hear it, I'm glad you've finally found your true mate and are happy, sweetheart. I'm also sorry about Aro's appearance this last time. I didn't know he was leaving the castle. If I had known, Marcus and I would have stopped him, but by the time we found out he was long gone," he told me.

"Thanks, Caius, I am happy with Carlisle, and don't worry yourself about Aro, I learned to deal with him years ago," I chuckled. "So how are you and Athena getting along, are you happy?" I asked.

"Yes, we are happy as you now know, nothing can compare to how one feels when in the presence of one's true mate," he said happily.

"You're right, Caius I do know that now, and I'm thrilled that you've found your happiness."

"So you will become the Volturi Regent of the new world," he said.

"Yes, I guess Carlisle and I will." I chuckled once again.

"And after Marcus and I fought so hard to keep you away from all this, you will become a Voturi anyway, just not in our area but thousands of miles away," Caius said.

"It's ironic, is it not? Aro has fought so hard to keep me in his control and now I am - well he thinks I am anyway," I said with a laugh this time.

Caius laughed as well, "well, we'll let him think that if it keeps him in his place for a while," Caius said still chuckling.

"Well, I guess I will let you go, we have so much to do before we settle in our new home. I guess we'll be talking again soon with our new responsibilities," I said.

"Yes, good luck, Isabella and if you need anything, and I mean anything, please let me know. I will do my very best to get it for you," he said earnestly.

"Thank you, Caius, I appreciate that. Take care of yourself, and I hope to speak to you again soon," I told him and hung up with a smile on my face, finally feeling free of the connection I had with Caius, at least in a romantic way.

Carlisle came up to me and wrapped his arms around me and kissed my shoulders. "Is everything alright, my love?" he asked.

"Mmm...everything is perfect, Carlisle," I said as he picked me up and carried me to our bedroom where we finally made passionate love to one another. I swear I felt our souls join together with our physical joining. Who would have guessed that two humans who glanced over at one another during a spring dance would end up here in this position, in love and Regents of the whole United States of America - ruling over the vampire population in this area, second only to the brothers, the kings of the vampire world. I was happier than I had ever been in my entire existence.

The end.

A/N: Sorry I didn't get into the romantic end of Carlisle and Bella, but it will give you something to dream about...lol. Thank you so much for reading and for all the reviews, I loved reading them. I hope you enjoyed my little story, please leave a review and let me know what you thought of it, until next time...bigg huggs. Peggy