Aro’s Point of View
“Aro, you have a phone call,” Gianna said as she came into the throne room.
I walked over to the intercom system that had been installed in the throne room and pressed the speaker button. “Hello, this is Aro speaking,” I stated.
“Aro, this is Alice Cullen. I have a favor to ask of you.” Her voice floated throughout the throne room. Marcus and Caius both looked at me and shrugged. Jane, Alec, Felix, and Demitri all smirked. The Cullens never call here.
“Okay Alice, how may I be of service to you?” I asked the question on everyone’s mind.
“Actually I was wondering if we could visit Volterra? We, well um, we just want to check in with you before we tour? Uh…” She started to stumble on her words and was hesitating, something I knew Alice Cullen was not used to doing. “We are going to be heading off to college in the fall and wanted Bella to get a little overseas travel in before starting.” She is keeping something from me but I am willing to let them come here.
“Yes of course Alice, just make sure when you get to Italy you come to visit us, so we can welcome you in a better fashion this time.”
“Thanks, we will call you as soon as we touch down.” She hung up the phone immediately after saying this.
“Brother, this will be your chance to prove your pet’s place with us,” Caius said as soon as I turned around.
“Caius, don’t doubt her place among us, for she is still a child. Look how long it took Jane and Alec to warm up to us,” Marcus said defending her. He is more of a loving uncle to her then I ever could imagine he would be.
“I will go talk to her and see if she is ready to help us out, brothers.” With that I turned around and walked out the door, leaving them to feud over her place among us.
What a great benefit all of the Cullens’ powers would be to us. Not to mention Bella’s power if they have changed her. If they haven’t, that will be the first thing we will do. Either they can change her or I will make sure she gets changed. This visit is going to change our future.
Alice’s POV
Bella and I were walking across the yard and headed into the forest. God, how was I going to tell her about my vision? I saw when she and Jazz almost kissed and well, if it were two months ago, I would have been furious, but today, today I was so happy. Especially after the vision I had.
“Bella, stop worrying! I’m not at all mad at you!” I knew she thought I would be. She relaxed a little. I stopped, held out my hand and smiled at her, “Shall we??”
“Shall we what?” She looked confused.
“Well I know you don’t care if you sit on the ground, again, but I would rather not get my pants all wet.” She rolled her eyes and laughed, “We’re going up. The branches are much drier than the ground,” I stated as she finally put her hand in mind.
“Lets go, not like I have a choice, right?” she smiled.
“Nope!” I slung her on my back and climbed up the tree. I stopped near some sturdy branches. The weather is perfectly cloudy without the rain.
“Alice, what’s going on? You should be angry with us, but instead you seem like you couldn’t be happier. I don’t understand.”
“Well, Bella, I know you and Edward have been having problems, and well honestly, so have Jasper and I. Not problems, really, rather we have just been growing apart.” She looked down.
“I’m sorry Alice. I know you guys have been trying to help Edward and me. And for what? We’re not going to get married, and now I’ve managed to ruin your relationship too.”
“No Bella! Don’t you see? I am going to tell you everything. Don’t interrupt. Just listen and take everything in, okay?” Bella nodded.
“Bella, I have fallen in love with Edward. And, well, I think he is falling in love with me too. I’m not saying he doesn’t love you, because I know he does. He’ll probably be the one to take the longest to adjust to all the changes. Anyway, about me and Jasper, well, I’ll always love Jasper, but not in that way. Bella, I have never seen this side of him. He is so comfortable and happy when he’s with you. Why would I want to keep him from that? I see how you are with him too. Mmhhmm, I know you love Edward, but Bella you know your heart is pulling you towards someone else. Am I right?” Bella nodded again.
“Bella, if you would have called off the wedding two months ago, you would have been devastated. I probably wouldn’t have been able to stop you from crying. You probably would have jumped off that damn cliff again.” Bella rolled her eyes and smiled. “But now, look at you. You called off your wedding and in the same day almost made out with Jasper.” I raised my eyebrows at her and she smiled and blushed, while looking down.
“Bella, I want to be honest with you, I had a vision today. I saw us in Italy, Volterra to be exact, and it is sometime soon. I have made arrangements and we should be there by the end of the week. While I still don’t see everything clearly, Bella, I know I did see three weddings.” I paused to gauge her reaction. She snapped her head up and looked at me bewildered.
“Whose?!” She was excited and scared all at once. Thank god I’m not an empath. I don’t know how Jasper does it.
“Well, I saw Emmett getting married, but it was very unclear. I saw your wedding and, well, I saw my own. But the exact times are still very fuzzy.” She was speechless, and well that was odd. I just told her she was going to get married and she didn’t say anything. Maybe I should wait to tell her that she would be one of us very, very soon. She is really going to make a great vampire.
“What do you mean, Emmett’s getting married? To whom?” Of course she would wonder that. He has always been her big brother.
“Well that’s the unclear part. I don’t know who yet. I’m hoping once we get there, I’ll be able to figure it out. Come on, the guys are getting restless. Bella, trust me when I say everything is going to be fine, and so is Edward, I promise.” I smiled at her and she rolled her eyes.
“Good, I’m glad he will have someone now. And I couldn’t imagine a more perfect person for him.”
We got down from the tree and began to walk to the house. “Oh, and Bella, I should let you know, Jasper is not as patient as Edward. You won’t be aging for much longer,” I whispered to her as we got to the front lawn. She smiled and gave me a big hug. I just know Jasper is going to be perfect for her.
Edwards POV
Jasper and I just stood there watching our girls walk into the woods.
“You should have told them to fetch my boot while they were out there,” Rosalie sneered as she came down the stairs. She has been more than irritating the past few months.
Bitter much, Jasper thought. He didn’t even acknowledge her any more. You all are a bunch of fools, hopeless, desperate… That was all I got from her as she walked through the kitchen and into the garage. Emmett just sat at the top of the stairs with his head in his hands.
Sorry guys, was all Emmett thought over and over.
“Don’t apologize for her actions. It’s not your fault, Em,” Jasper said, sensing his remorse no doubt.
“Hey maybe later the three of us can go hunting, get out for a while, what do you say?” I offered. Jasper and I just stared at him, and he nodded. Thanks guys, was all he thought. He sighed and got up and headed down the stairs.
“Where are the girls going?” Emmett said and motioned at the retreating Alice and Bella.
“To talk. So, are you going to tell us what is going on?” Jasper turned and looked at me. Come on Edward just spit it out.
To talk? What happened? Emmett was worried.
“It’s nothing, well, nothing bad anyway. It seems as though we are going on a little road trip.” I was trying not to think of what happened earlier with Bella or the talk I had with Alice. Things are changing so quickly it’s hard to get perspective. “Alice saw us in Volterra by week’s end. We’re not sure why yet. I guess we can start to get ready to go. She already called and spoke to Aro, to inform him we will be there soon.”
“Oh, okay,” they both said in unison. Jasper turned to stare into the woods again. He was thinking about Bella and the kiss they almost shared, I saw how he teased her at the end. I was sad that we broke the wedding off, but I knew Bella was unhappy and, well, it didn’t feel right to me either. I saw how she looked at Jasper and I could hear how he felt about her. They both got along so well together, who would have thought, I laughed to myself.
Emmett looked confused as he sat on the couch. What’s up? You okay? I kind of over heard what happened, between Rose’s rants, want to talk about it?, he asked. Is Jazz okay? I just shrugged. There was so much to say, so much has changed in just a few minutes.
“Will someone please tell me what’s going on? You guys are making me go even crazier!” Emmett was on his feet staring at us. Jasper didn’t move. Ugh, I thought, here goes nothing…
“Bella called off the wedding, and then almost made out with Jasper. Alice saw all of us have weddings in Italy. I’m in love with both Bella and Alice it seems, and Alice loves me too. Jasper is falling for Bella, and in return she is falling for him. Carlisle is getting a divorce next week, but Alice says he’s going to be fine. She blocked some things out there, but apparently there will be lots of fun in his future. He will be joining us next week in Volterra. Oh, and Bella will be a vampire within a month’s time, if not sooner.” I glared at Jasper at the end of my outburst. I didn’t want them to interrupt me, so I just laid it all out there.
Nothing, no thoughts, no feelings. I even saw Carlisle just standing at the top of the stairs just staring at me like I was a leper. After a few minutes Emmett finally spoke up.
“Oh, thanks for clearing that up.” Emmett sat back on the bottom of the stairs. “So, who is marrying whom?”
“Well, it seems you will be getting married first although Alice couldn’t see to whom. And Jasper here will be marring our lovely Bella. As for me, I will marry Alice.”
Carlisle joined Emmett on the steps and Jasper and I were leaning on the back of the couch. I saw a brief picture of Alice on our wedding day and it made me smile. I was looking forward to being with Alice, even though I have known her for years. Now thinking of her in an intimate way was exciting and different. I saw Bella in Jasper’s thoughts, and I couldn’t help the envy I felt. Just this morning we were planning a wedding. I saw them happy and saw Alice and me happy. Everything was just happening so quickly.
“Everything is going to be great Edward, trust me,” she softly stroked my cheek, “Look for yourself, Jasper is going to take good care of Bella, and I will be here for you. I know this is going to take time for you to adjust to, but trust your feelings. Just let things happen. You can‘t control everything.” I kissed her hand and smiled. She was right. Everything was going to be great. “I would like to talk to Bella first if that’s ok,” she said softly,
“Of course. I think she will appreciate that.” She smiled and jumped up.
“Let’s go tell everyone!” I smiled and she placed her hand in mine as we headed back to the house.
Everyone was still quiet and lost in thought when I heard Rosalie coming in.
Oh gag me, she thought and let out a big sigh. She was getting ready to pass Emmett and Carlisle on the stairs.
“Pack your shit, we’re going to Italy in a few days,” that was all Emmett said to her. She paused, and then kept walking past them. Maybe she’ll get laid and leave me alone. I had to laugh at that thought. All of a sudden Jasper was at the window. I joined him just as Bella and Alice came out of the woods. Alice whispered something to Bella that caused her to blush and give her a big hug. Emmett and Carlisle joined us as we watched them walk back up.
“Well, things sure are going to be different. Good, but different. Be good and take care of them in Italy. Don‘t let Aro get our girls.” We heard slamming upstairs, “Well most of them any way. Good luck Emmett. You’ll find your happiness. I know it.” And with that Carlisle retreated to his study.
Alice and Bella were walking up the porch when they stopped suddenly and looked at the three of us watching them.
“That’s a little creepy, right,” Bella whispered to Alice, though we could all still hear.
“Yeah, just a bit,” Alice looked at us confused. What’s wrong, what happened, did everything go okay?
I just smiled and she smiled back at me. Emmett was between them with his armed wrapped around their shoulders in no time. “So, we’re going on vaca! You guys excited?” Emmett could never stay down for long. He had always had a great vibe to him, I hope whoever he is going to marry does too.
“Yeah, I need to go make reservations! Bella, I’ll pack for you. Don’t worry, I know what you like.” She glanced at Jasper. Bella looked at Jasper and blushed, as he smiled at her too. “Come on Em, help me get the luggage from the attic.” They disappeared upstairs.
Bella stood in between Jasper and me. If there was ever a time I wished to hear her thoughts, it would be now. She looked at me and then to Jasper, and then back to me again, and then looked to the floor as she blushed. I looked at Jasper, confused.
He just chuckled, she’s, umm, turned on right now. Oh, I rolled my eyes and smiled. Aye, Bella. She walked to the couch. Jasper followed her and I just turned to look out the window.
“Hey, you okay,” he asked, suppressing his laugh.
She sighed, “Yeah, I’m fine.” She was still embarrassed. She looked up at him, “I’m going to go talk to Alice for a few, and I’ll leave you two alone to talk. See you in a while?”
“Yeah, I’ll come find you in bit.” She smiled at him. He began to walk up the stairs, and paused, Please be nice, and don’t make her cry.
“I won’t,” I said so only he would hear me. And he was gone.
“Bella,” I didn’t know how to talk to her. She just looked at me with her big brown eyes. I walked to the piano and sat down. “Come sit down, love.” She did as I started to play.
“Edward, are you okay with all this?”
“Yes, I am. While I am still getting used to it all, in time everything will be as it should. Jasper is a good man. He‘ll take good care of you. I know he will. Are you okay with everything?”
“Yeah, I mean, it’ll take getting used to seeing you and Alice together, but I think we’re going to be just fine.” She smiled and with that I remembered everything good I loved about her. Now, I love her like a friend. Bella and I will be great friends, and she was going to make my brother a very happy man.
“Likewise, watching you kiss my brother is going to be interesting, isn’t it?” We both laughed and nothing felt awkward. She turned and gave me a big hug and I hugged her back. “Go, go find Jasper.”
“Thanks Edward, you’ll always hold a special place in my heart.” She kissed my cheek and ran up the stairs. I heard Alice and Jasper talking. Their conversation went the same as ours. I went to find Alice; Jasper was on his way to his study, where I heard Bella waiting for him.
You better take care of her. Just because we are only friends now doesn’t mean I won’t kill you if you hurt her, he smiled.
I nodded. “Likewise,” was all that needed to be said.
Now I guess we are off to Volterra. This should be interesting.
