A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing! ~ M. x

Hook, Line, and Sinker

"Why did you come to Volterra seeking death?" Marcus asked suddenly.

Edward looked at him in surprise. "Alice called and told me Bella had died."

"Yes, I'm aware of that. But by the time you got that call, you had been out of Bella's life for fifteen months," Marcus said. "Why such a dramatic response to a situation you were so far removed from?"

"I felt it was my fault she was dead."

"Why?" Caius asked.

Edward hesitated for a moment. "I was under the impression she committed suicide. That she was so devastated by me ending our relationship that she took her own life."

The laughter from Bella, his former family, and the Whitlocks had him glaring daggers at them. "What gave you that idea?" Bella laughed. "Is that what Alice told you?"

"No," Edward snapped, but left it at that.

"You certainly have a high opinion of yourself and your importance in this world," Aro sighed. "Did you see anything in Alice's mind before she was shielded that gave you the impression that your assumption was correct?" he asked. When Edward stayed silent, Aro nodded. "I thought not. Are you aware that Alice hadn't looked for Bella's future more than three times after the family left Washington? And all three of those happened within the first four months after your departure? The last time she used her visions for information about Bella was just after their divorce, in order to see that Jasper would never connect with his mate."

"Then why would she tell me Bella was dead?" Edward asked in confusion.

"She was annoyed by what she considered your 'moping' and hoped that you would snap out of it and rejoin the family permanently, rather than only in sporadic visits," Aro told him. "When she saw your attempt to have us 'relieve you of your suffering' she looked at Miss Swan's future only long enough to find her, then used emotional blackmail to convince her to accompany Alice to Italy. Her assumption, and hope, was that we would kill Bella."

"Do you understand what Aro is telling you, Edward?" Marcus asked. Edward shrugged and shook his head. "Alice manipulated you just as often as she manipulated the rest of the family. While you thought the two of you were the brains of the family and enjoyed using Carlisle to get your own way, Alice saw herself as far more intelligent than you. Did you never see this in her mind?"

Before Edward could answer, Rosalie laughed. "Edward can only hear the current thought in the forefront of someone's mind. His gift is ridiculously easy to get around."

Edward scowled at her but again kept silent. So far acting remorseful was harder than he'd thought it would be and he was starting to doubt whether he could pull it off.

"So both the gift and the boy are far less important than he believes them to be," Caius smirked. "Does anyone have any more questions at the moment?" he asked. When everyone shook their heads, he turned back to Edward. "You've been charged with several very serious crimes. Exposure, keeping a mated pair apart, and attempted regicide. And before you protest that last charge, we have discussed it and are willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. That still, however, leaves the first two charges. Is there anything you'd like to say regarding those before we break for the evening?"

Edward nodded and swallowed his pride. Time for the most important acting of his life. "I'd like to address the exposure first. I do understand that I broke the law, and I'm aware that when my family decided to leave Forks she should have been killed or changed rather than left behind with knowledge of vampires. But I loved Bella, regardless of what everyone else thinks. There were numerous reasons why I wouldn't allow her to be changed, but I also couldn't see her killed. As for the other crime, I know that what Alice and I did was wrong. I was so desperate for a mate of my own that I was blinded to how despicable our actions were," he said, then turned to look at Bella and Jasper with his best remorseful face. "I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you both, and I want you to know that I've learned my lesson. It was a terrible mistake I won't ever repeat again."

While Edward had to work at that remorseful expression, Bella and Jasper's skeptical faces were absolutely genuine. Even if they didn't already know he was lying, they wouldn't have believed a word he was saying. His attempt at sounding sorry for what he'd done only made him sound like an overly-dramatic actor repeating lines someone else wrote for them in an entirely unbelievable way. They were just waiting for him to clutch his heart or his hair and dramatically plead with them to believe him.

Edward watched the two, keeping his repentant expression on his face, but feeling confusion. Why did they look like they didn't believe him? He was a remarkable actor, he'd just given an Oscar-worthy apology. Well, they obviously needed more, so Edward clutched his heart. "Please," he begged with a fake sob. "Please, you have to believe me."

He couldn't quite interpret the look on Jasper's face, though it looked a little bit like like he was holding back laughter. Edward smiled internally. It was probably tears. He was so moved by Edward's apology that he was trying not to embarrass himself by crying in front of the whole room, including his mate. When Edward looked at Bella, he saw she was biting her lip and had tears in her eyes. Yes, he'd nailed that. Move over, Anthony Hopkins.

Bella was biting her lip and had tears in her eyes, but that was because of how hard she was working to keep from laughing. She exchanged a quick look with her mate, who was struggling just as hard as she was.

Jasper tried to ignore the astonishment and amusement in the room so that he could open his mouth and come across sufficiently moved. He cleared his throat, and started to speak, then had to stop and clear his throat again, swallowing down his laughter.

"Well," Jasper started. "That was…" he cut off to clear his throat again, forcefully shoving all his amusement away. "That's very kind of you, Edward. I appreciate such a heartfelt apology."

Bella, unwilling to open her mouth and ruin their whole charade, gripped Jasper's hand a little bit harder and nodded her agreement.

Aro, fighting his own laughter at the ridiculous boy in front of him, forced his expression to remain neutral. "I'm glad to see that you recognize the error of your ways. My brothers and I need to discuss this amongst ourselves, so we'll adjourn for the day and reconvene in the morning."

As Edward was escorted back to his cell, he had a huge smug grin on his face. Those fools had bought it hook, line, and sinker.

The throne room was absolutely still and silent for a minute, Bella's muffled huffs the only sound, and as soon as the telepath was out of hearing range, the entire group burst into hysterical laughter. It took a few minutes for everyone to get it out of their system, and then Caius looked at Jasper.

"Well?"

Jasper gave him a wide grin. "That fool bought it hook, line, and sinker."

Bella was standing in the kitchen making a vegetable omelette for dinner and picking at the small bowl of blueberries on the counter when she started giggling again. "Man, that was… seriously awful," she laughed. "How has he survived for this long?"

Jasper smiled where he was washing more berries at the sink. "Carlisle protecting him, no doubt. And the Cullens have always been pretty isolated from the rest of our world," he shrugged, then moved to stand behind his mate. He put one hand on her hip and slid the bowl of raspberries on the counter before slipping his hand under her shirt and resting it low on her stomach. He leaned down and left a few kisses on the side of her neck. "Our little one is no longer a wee blueberry. She's a raspberry now," he whispered and pressed another kiss behind her ear.

"It's a girl, huh?" she smiled as she tilted her head to the side.

"Don't act like you aren't convinced of that, too," Jasper laughed.

Bella smiled and shrugged. Jasper had taken to having long conversations with her stomach every night and had himself convinced they'd be having a daughter. Bella would be happy with a boy or a girl, though the idea of Jasper being Daddy to a little princess always made her smile.

"What's next week?" she asked as she took the pan off the burner and slid the omelette onto her plate.

Jasper smiled and grabbed both bowls of berries and a glass of water and set them on the table. "A grape. Or a green olive. Depends on which chart you use."

Charlotte walked in just as Bella started eating and plopped down across from them and dropped her head on the table with a dramatic sigh.

"Missing him already?" Jasper smiled.

"Yes," Charlotte whined, then picked her head up and propped her chin on her hand with a smile. "He's gonna be so pissed he missed that performance."

"From what I've learned about Caius since we got here, I'm about ninety-seven percent sure there's a video of it in his office right now," Jasper laughed. "Maybe when Peter gives him the video of Kristof's demise, they can do a swap."

"Do we still think this whole charade will be over with tomorrow?" Charlotte asked with a sigh.

"I do," Jasper nodded, then noticed a little bit of hesitation and melancholy in her emotions. "You wanna head out?" he asked. "Caius doesn't need Peter to hand deliver the proof, he can send it to him just as easily."

Charlotte shrugged a little. "I kinda do, but I also feel a little bad about wantin' to cut out early."

Bella reached over and took her hand. "You guys have already put your lives on hold for two weeks to be here for us. If you want to go meet Peter back home, I think you should. I won't think any less of you that you want to be with your mate. If I was separated from Jasper I'd feel the same way."

Charlotte looked at her brother with a little bit of hope bleeding into her emotions, and he smiled at her. "You won't hear a complaint from me," he assured her. "I'm beyond grateful y'all even came out in the first place."

Charlotte gave them both a brilliant smile and hopped up from the table, pulling out her phone to call her other half. Jasper smiled as he listened to their conversation. The love between the two of them was something Jasper had held onto all these years in an effort not to give up hope for his own future. He wasn't always successful, life sometimes felt like an endless sludge through quicksand, but that awareness was always somewhere inside him and he'd hoped and prayed that he would find that kind of love someday.

He turned back to his mate with a smile and leaned in to kiss her. Even with a little bit of raspberry at the corner of her mouth, she was still the best thing he'd ever tasted.

"You know I love you, right?" he murmured softly against her lips, which tipped up in a smile.

Bella nodded and let him feel her love. "I do. And I suppose you're alright," she said with a casual shrug. "You're hot, so I guess I can tolerate you."

Vamps moving at top speed were nothing but a quick blur to human eyes, so Bella wasn't even aware he'd moved until she squealed in shock as he dumped her glass of water right over her head.

Everyone was gathered again the following morning. There was so much satisfaction and glee in Edward that Jasper knew he was firm in his belief that he'd given a convincing performance. Jasper couldn't deny being slightly confused, though. Edward wasn't even attempting to camouflage his true emotions in order to trick Jasper into thinking he was truly sorry. It was like Jasper being an empath had just slipped his mind.

"My brothers and I have discussed this situation at length," Aro started once everyone was settled. "Before we make a final decision, however, we'd like the input of all those harmed by Edward's actions. Esme, would you like to begin?"

Everyone had discussed this the night before just as they had when it came to Carlisle, and the consensus was similar. While both responses would be a blow to their egos, the blow to Edward's would be even more insulting to the telepath. Where their silence as Carlisle was destroyed was a tacit acknowledgment that they wanted him killed, they planned to let Edward know that he was so far down on their list of worries, and such a non-threat to their lives, that they couldn't be bothered to care what the Volturi's decision was.

Esme looked at Edward for a moment, then turned to the kings. "I have no opinion on what sentence you chose. Edward Cullen means nothing to me, dead or alive. I'm happy to leave it in your hands."

Aro nodded. "Emmett?"

"Kill him, don't kill him, it's no skin off my back. It's not like we'll have to worry about him coming after us," Emmett shrugged. "Not successfully, at least," he added with a laugh.

"And you, Rosalie?" Aro asked.

Rosalie glared at her former 'brother' for a moment, smiling on the inside that he already looked outraged at their indifference. "I don't like you, Edward. I never have. I think you're a pompous asshole and you're too enamored with yourself to realize the world finds you detestable. Having said that, I don't give a damn what happens to you. You can rot in hell or roam the earth alone until the end of time. It means absolutely nothing to me. When I walk out of this room, it'll be the last time you ever cross my mind."

Aro nodded with a small smirk. "Jasper?"

Jasper waved a dismissive hand, not even giving the telepath a glance. "Couldn't care less."

"And Bella?"

Bella looked at her ex-boyfriend for a moment and then smiled at the kings. "I'll be happy with whatever you decide. I have my mate, a true family, and a little raspberry. There's more love between all of us than ever existed inside the Cullen home. In my eyes, that means we've won."

Aro nodded, as did his brothers, all having to bite back their smiles at the indignation on Edward's face. "Thank you, everyone. Edward, my brothers and I have decided against the death penalty," he started, then held his hand up when Edward smiled smugly. "There are a few conditions to that. The first is that I will read you before you leave. Jeremiah, Jane, and I will escort you to the walls of the city, where Jeremiah will unshield you. That is nonnegotiable. If I find that you have some revenge scheme up your sleeve, you will be executed. No additional trial, no witnesses. Just you dying a lonely death with no one to mourn your exit from this world. The second is that you will report to Volterra in six months time for me to read you again. If there is even a whisper of you putting your toe on the wrong side of the law you will be executed. No additional trial, no witnesses. Just you dying a lonely death with no one to mourn your exit from this world. If you have kept your nose clean, you will be free to leave. You will travel here every six months until Marcus, Caius, and myself believe you have been sufficiently rehabilitated. That will be at our discretion. Do you find those conditions agreeable?"

Edward couldn't decide if he was insulted or exultant. Both, probably. How dare they all imply that he's unimportant! Good thing he was such a great actor and everyone bought his fake apology so he could make them all pay dearly for it. Edward was a little worried about Aro reading his mind, but he was fairly confident that he could hide his true thoughts sufficiently.

"Yes," Edward nodded.

"Very well. Do you have any questions?" Aro asked.

"No questions, but I would like to thank you for clearing my name and—"

Marcus interrupted him. "Your name has not been cleared, Mr. Cullen. We have neither dropped the charges against you nor declared you innocent. We are simply choosing not to execute you for your crimes, so long as you commit to following the law from here forward."

Edward gritted his teeth at the patronizing tone, simply nodding that he understood.

"Fine. You will be returned to your cell until I come to escort you out of the city," Aro said, then looked around the room. "Thank you all for your cooperation. We are adjourned."

As Aro walked down to the cells, he turned to look at Jeremiah. "And you're sure you can keep my thoughts shielded while still allowing my gift to work?"

"Yes, sir," Jeremiah nodded.

"And Jane's thoughts are shielded?" Aro asked.

Jeremiah nodded again. "Yes, sir."

Aro was curious to see how Edward was going to attempt to hide his true intentions. He'd spoken to Jasper a few moments before and had been told that Edward's predominant emotions by far were anger, indignation, and determination - exactly what one would expect from someone who was planning an act of revenge. He knew Edward was aware that Aro's gift was far more powerful than Edward's, that Aro could read every thought in his mind, so how was Edward planning to fool him?

Well, he'd find out soon enough.

Aro motioned for the guard to release the prisoner. "Are you ready, Edward?"

Edward quickly stepped out of his cell and nodded. As they walked through the maze of tunnels below the castle and then stepped out a small door hidden from view, Edward worked on putting his plan in the back of his mind so Aro couldn't access it. When they came to a stop, he couldn't keep from fidgeting nervously, though. He knew he was smarter than the king - than everyone, for that matter - but he still felt a tiny bit of doubt that he could pull this off.

"Before I forget, Esme has been working on liquidating the entire Cullen portfolio. Stocks, property, jewelry, money, investments, all will be sold or cashed in. The funds will then be distributed evenly between the former members of your coven. She has kindly allowed you to retain what is in your personal savings account, as well as the jewelry and home you inherited from your human parents, of course," Aro informed him, pleased when it brought a petulant scowl to the boy's face.

"And I'm not entitled to Cullen money?" Edward snapped. "I was the very first member of Carlisle's family."

"As Carlisle's wife, the decision is hers. Everything became hers when he died, Edward. I'll add that my brothers and I counseled her to leave you with no financial reserves because of the grave crimes you committed. That is why I included the word 'kindly' which you appear to have ignored," Aro said coldly.

Edward clenched his jaw and forced a suitably chastened expression on his face and nodded. He was almost free, so very, very close. He couldn't risk losing his freedom or his life just because that selfish, cruel woman was leaving him penniless.

Aro held out his hand expectantly, and Edward took a deep breath, pushed all negative thoughts from his mind, and placed his hand in the king's.

Aro kept his expression impassive as he delved into the arrogant boy's thoughts, though inwardly he was incredulous. From reading Edward on his arrival in Volterra, Aro already knew how self-centered and egomaniacal he was, but his thoughts in the time since then honestly stunned the king. Not only was Edward every bit as arrogant, petty, and small-minded as he appeared, but he had also genuinely deluded himself that he could keep Aro from seeing things he wanted to keep hidden simply because he wanted to. He had no strategy to keep his thoughts hidden aside from his attempts to push anything unsavory to the back of his mind.

When he saw the bare outline of Edward's revenge scheme - and that's all there was, simply an outline with no details - he had to work a little harder to keep his face free of any traces of his true feelings. What a stupid, stupid boy he was. As Aro was preparing to remove his hand, he heard Edward smugly assure himself that he'd done it, he'd successfully beaten Aro's gift.

When Aro snatched his hand back, he couldn't help discreetly wiping it on his cloak. The boy's mind was a toxic mess of condescension and disdain for the world and people around him, nothing but a disgusting miasma of arrogance and self-importance.

"We'll see you back here in precisely six months, Mr. Cullen," Aro said coldly, then turned around and strode back into the castle, Jane and Jeremiah a step behind.

Edward turned and sauntered away from Volterra, a cocky smirk firmly in place. He couldn't help chuckling as he thought about his supreme acting skills. What fools they all were. What absolute fools. Hook. Line. Sinker.