Chapter 44

Song for this Chapter: I Can't Live Without You by Ashley McBryde

LAST CHAPTER

Charlie's POV

It turns out that being the father of Izzy Mea Swanson was a good thing. Over the last winter, we'd set up a year of traveling. Bells didn't do anything half-assed. So, we had private planes and comfortable hotels everywhere we went.

She'd shown me all the dives she'd once worked at while on the run from Vickie, the Cullen homes and properties she'd once owned, and we even found her old Red truck in a salvage yard near NOLA.

It turns out Peter and Jasper love working on old cars, so that's what we were planning to do over this coming winter. We bought it back and had been towed to the house in Texas. Parts were already being held at the post office upon our return.

We'd seen Big Ben. The rolling green hills in both Scotland and Ireland. We walked through so many old churches in Spain. We visited the Colosseum at night while in Greece. These are places a man like me never dreamed of entering.

We were once again seated in a very posh private jet heading to our last destination before our return trip to the US. Everyone was nervous and antsy. Why we left Italy as our last stop I'll never understand. If we'd gone here first maybe our other destinations would have felt more freeing.

"I feel like John Coffee from that movie," I said to no one in particular. "I'm walking the Green Mile…" It got a snort from Peter, and the others just nodded their heads in confirmation.

After landing our bags were taken to our rental van. Jasper drove, and with him being here before it just made it easier. Bella rode shotgun. Peter and I were in the middle seat and Char was in the back. It took about an hour from the airport to Hotel De Vampire. AKA Volturi.

I was used to everyone talking at once. Chaos. Laughter. The occasional fistfight. This somber tone didn't sit well with me. I knew that we were walking into the lion's den, but we hadn't done anything what-so-ever to spawn the Volturi's wrath.

We were here to give our testimony on our turnings. Nothing more. We'd spend a few days in Rome and be on our way back home. That's all there was to it.

Or so I thought.

Once in the city itself, it took us a little while to find parking for a van as large as this one. Jasper quickly parked and we walked into an old church. There was a door hidden behind a pillar. Once inside it, it led us through a maze of old underground tunnels.

When we reached what looked like a reception area, a human woman called down to the King to let him know we were there to see him. He'd known we were coming. Jasper set up a time and date before we even left the US.

After several minutes of waiting, we were led to a huge room with a glass roof. There were vampires all over the place. Some were working on computers, while others just stood there waiting to be seen.

"Oh, if it isn't the Whitlock Coven, come to Italy to make their testimony," a man in a long black robe said as we stood in the middle of the room. "Jasper, how nice it is to see you once again, my friend."

Jasper just nodded his head towards the gentleman before saying, "Marcus, this is my mate, Isabella Swan. My brother and sister, Peter and Charlotte. And my father-in-law, Charles Swan."

There was a resounding growl from the side as my girl was introduced. I looked to my right only to be met with the face of Edward Cullen.

Everyone within the room must have heard it because Edwin became the center of attention.

"Mister Mason, do we have a problem?" the King asked.

Though his now red eyes were on my daughter, the shake of his head was not his answer. I'd seen at my pre-wedding party how Jacob's obsessed eyes never left Bells, and now this schmuck was doing the same damn thing.

"La Tua Cantante is not a mating bond, Mister Mason." I do believe the King didn't like getting shown up by one of his underlings. Edward's eyes finally met those of the King, and he lowered them towards the floor.

Bella and I both gave our accounts of our lives. Our preferences on our diet. Who each of our sires are. Dates. Things of that nature.

The King and his people seemed to agree that our turnings were warranted and filed. We were asked to stay for a private meeting with the King. So we ended up hugging the walls like many other vampires were doing. We were standing there for about two hours when I watched a beautiful woman walk into the room.

She was small in stature. Long red hair flowing down her back. One could tell by just looking at her that she was shy and didn't want to be there. However, she walked straight towards the King like she'd been doing for years.

I watched as she turned to our group and eyed each one of us individually. When her eyes met my own, I knew then and there that she was to be my forever.

I couldn't stop myself as I walked towards her. My actions caught the eye of the King. We didn't break eye contact as I heard the King laugh at what he was witnessing.

I grabbed her hand and didn't let go. I would follow her to the ends of the earth if need be. She'd be with me forever, and I couldn't wait to start our lives together.

I heard the King clear his throat, trying to get our attention.

"Charles Swan, let me introduce you to Renata. Renata, this is your mate."

The two of us, the rest of my family, and King, went to a room behind the one we'd just been in.

And we talked. She was turned in 1240BC, she'd been 20 years old at the time. She had the gift of driving away pursuers. For years she'd been the personal guard to Aro himself. She was shy, beautiful, and mine.

I introduced her to my family, and she made an instant connection with my Bells.

The King talked to Bella and Jasper, Charlotte and Peter, and Renata and myself about our mating bonds. He talked about what a pleasure it was to witness our connections and he wished us well.

When a Volturi guard finds their mate, they are released from the King's service instantly. My mate had been in the service of the Kings for most of her vampire life and was hesitant to leave.

It was Bells that told her about our lives. How we were as a family. If she wanted to return here, we'd figure out a way to do it. But she needed to be open to new possibilities.

We ended up staying in Italy for much longer than anyone ever thought we would. Over several weeks, my mate was finally open to the idea of trying out the US.

There had been some trouble with Edward, but my son-in-law took care of it. The boy left my daughter over 6 years ago; he wasn't her mate, and he still had this stupid vampire claim on her.

Once back in Texas, it was decided that 2 smaller but nice homes would be added to the property. Peter and Char would have the main house. Bells and Jasper would take one of the new homes, and so would Renata and I.

Our lives weren't perfect. I knew that Bells and I had just begun to truly live our lives. I didn't know what the future held, but I knew who I'd be holding in the future.

Life as a vampire was totally worth it!

I'd like to thank each of you for taking the time to read this story. I've read each review, and I loved them all!

Mama4Dukes and Frannie Walsh were my Beta's and I can never thank them enough for helping me out.

I've got several other stories floating around in my brain. If I ever put them down on paper, I don't know. FaFL took me 12 days to write from start to finish. I really hope that each of you enjoyed it!

Hugs~ Revel Rose