(A/N: Revised and edited.)

Chapter 1

Just close your eyes, the sun is going down

You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now

Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound

-Taylor Swift, Safe and Sound

Bella's PoV

Alice's laugh died and her smile melted from her face, her eyes dilated as she slipped into a vision, "Edward, they're coming. We have no time." She whispered, falling to the couch. Jasper stood, his lips pursed and eyes angry.

The previous joyful mood evaporated and a deathly, chilled quiet settled over the room.

They? Who's they?

Edward's body ceased all movements while watching Alice's vision. He grimaced before his face twisted in rage, "There are no alternatives? There must be something!" He roared in desperation.

She shook her head slowly, her eyes wide and unfocused as she ran through different decisions, "None."

His eyes squeezed tightly together and a defeated whimper slipped from his mouth as his head fell to his hands. The outline of his body blurred as he trembled.

The rest of the family, who apparently knew who they were, started fidgeting in very human ways. Carlisle's hands clenched tightly together as he shifted his weight from foot to foot. Esme's hands knotted restlessly in his shirt. Rosalie sat in Emmett's lap, her hands running through her thick hair as she stared at the distant wall. Alice's fingers drummed across her thighs. The atmosphere was thick with anxiety. Everyone was pensive and on edge.

I looked to Jasper. If he wasn't calm things were bad. I sucked in a breath as I met his eyes.

Well we're fucked.

Jasper was pacing, which was never a good sign. His stance rigid, his black eyes matching his severe face, "We can't fight them." He said tersely, "Mind yourselves and maybe we'll be spared."

Who's them!?

A collective nod of heads answered him. Edward groaned again and I was left wanting to yank my hair out. What the hell was going on?

I glanced to Carlisle again. The calm and gentle leader straightened, trying to gain his composure. Esme, forcing her hands from his shirt and to her sides, stood beside him attempting to give him silent comfort and support, "We did break a very policed law." He shot a glare at Edward. "They gave us a second chance!"

Oh. The Volturi. Shit.

Edward seemed to shrink into himself.

"When?" Emmett asked, his voice unusually quiet. He snaked his huge arms around Rosalie, his nose at her neck.

"A few hours. Maybe less." Alice murmured.

Emmett hugged Rosalie tighter and she wrapped herself around him. My thundering heart jumped to my throat. I swallowed thickly, nothing, not even the battle with Victoria, unsettled Emmett or Rose. Nothing.

Oh god, we're going to die.

Jasper halted his pacing and turned to face Edward. His fists tight at his sides, his stance shoulder width apart and commanding, "Under no circumstances are you to say or do anything Edward. This mess is your fault." His voice was calm, but I could hear the slight edge he tried to hide.

Edward's head snapped up and he growled, "I will not let them take Bella!"

Oh, so they're going to take me? Gee, thanks for telling me guys.

Jasper's lips curled back, baring his teeth and a vicious growl ripped from his throat. I'd never seen him so furious, so feral and dangerous and for the first time, I saw the monster that lurked beneath his calm human facade, "You will do nothing! Or would you sentence your entire family to death?"

Edward's face dropped and he bowed his head, "No. I will not." After a few moments he looked at me, "I just wanted to keep you safe."

Something snapped inside as I stared back at him. Realization hit and I truly saw him for the first time. It had been nothing for me to give up everything for him. I proved that when I choose him over Jake when I flew halfway across the world, paying no mind to Charlie, to save his life, even after he had so thoroughly destroyed my own. I never questioned him or his motives. I blindly came back to him like nothing had happened. I gave him total forgiveness for his manipulations. The only thing I ever asked for was met with excuses and bargains. All he had to do was fucking change me, that's all I, and the Volturi, ever asked of him. But he still wouldn't do it and he had selfishly put mine and his family's life in danger of annihilation.

"What's going to happen, Alice?" I asked, finding my voice for the first time that night. It sounded strange, confident. It did not reflect the total chaos that I felt churning inside me. Jasper knew though. He walked over to me, dropping his large hand to my shoulder, flooding me with calm. He looked down at me but he didn't smile, his face revealed nothing. There was nothing good coming. There was no hope.

Alice gazed at me with glassy eyes, her eyebrows and face pinched together as if she were trying not to sob. She probably would though. I stared at her with confidence and resolve, with need. I needed to know what was going to happen.

"You will be taken… along with someone else but they haven't made their decision yet. We can assume it will be me or Edward." Her voice cracked as she bit back a sob, "But they haven't decided what the punishment for the rest of the coven will be."

Shock? Was that what I felt? Perhaps. I swallowed the bile that was rising and took a deep breath. Unbridled anger rose, completely taking me by surprise. Apparently it had taken Jasper by surprise too, because he yanked his hand off me like he had been burned. It was Edward's fault. All of this.

My fury harnessed, I turned to Edward to unleash it, "Why couldn't you just fucking change me? You knew we were on a deadline! You risked everyone for your own stupid hang-ups about my mortality!"

He looked back at me shocked, his mouth gaping at me. He tried to speak but I held my hand up.

"No. Just don't. No more excuses. You're the one that got the Volturi involved. You're the one that promised them. How careless and selfish are you, Edward? Did it ever occur to you that your family was placed in the line of fire when you revealed me to Aro? Why did you assume he wouldn't come after Carlisle and the rest of your family? No matter the amount of respect they have for Carlisle, they won' tlet this go! They gave us another chance and you still refused to do anything about it!"

I got up and paced, my anger rolling off me in waves, "What if they decide to execute all of us Edward? Why did you do this to us? To me? You have done nothing but dictate my life and stolen my choices!"

Jasper walked up to me, stilling my frantic pacing and placed both of his hands on my shoulders. I was less angry now, but it was still there behind the veil of false calm he fed into me.

"Breathe, Bella. Stay calm. Being upset, as justified as it may be, will do nothing for you now." Jasper commanded. His eyes were still hard, glinting black pits of anger.

I nodded and took a deep breath, releasing my tense muscles. I looked back to Alice, "I won't see Charlie ever again, will I."

She hesitated as she searched the future, "No. But decisions always change. The distant future isn't set in stone yet."

"Just the near," I muttered. I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth, "Edward, you do realize by not changing me, you spit in the face of the very people who told you they'd kill me if I wasn't changed?"

He nodded, "I thought we'd have more time. I thought that I would have time to hide you."

I narrowed my eyes, "You weren't ever going to change me, were you?"

He looked ashamed, his pained eyes searching mine, begging me to understand, "No."

My nostrils flared and my teeth ground together. I fisted my hands in Jasper's shirt as I tried to rein in my anger.

"You've damned us all." Rosalie hissed, her lips curled back in anger. Emmett sat rigid, his muscles tense and jumping against his skin. His chest expanded as he inhaled Rose's scent, which I'm sure was the only thing keeping him from leaping across the room to snap and rip Edward apart.

Carlisle sank to the couch, his stare vacant. He pulled Esme onto his lap and she clung to him. I watched as my family cracked and crumbled before me. Their whole world crashing down, ended by the selfishness of one.

Alice looked at Jasper as unspoken words crossed between them as they were prone to do. Before I could tell Jasper to go comfort her, Alice sat ramrod straight, her eyes unfocused as she was thrown back into another vision. All eyes on her, Alice spoke finally, "Leniency will be shown."

The mood in the room lightened from suffocating to barely breathing. Leniency from the Volturi wasn't always so lenient. There was always a catch.

Forgetting my previous plans of sending Jasper to comfort his wife, I huddled myself against him. His calm nature grounded me. I relaxed into him as he wrapped his arms around me. His cool breath fanned against the top of my head and I was finally able to think clearly. It feels so natural to seek comfort from him that I sometimes forget how distant we were before.

I take a deep breath of his leather and spice scent. Two years. That's how long it's been. The promise given to the Volturi that is. It's hard to believe that it's been that long. He's had two years to change me.

I sighed and thumped my head against Jasper's hard chest, mumbling a chorus of 'stupid' under my breath. I should have seen Edward's ulterior motives. All the promise, compromises and bargains.

Jasper said nothing of my behavior and I was grateful. I mean, what was I supposed to say? That it'd taken me three years to finally understand that Edward was a selfish, manipulative asshole? That he'd put our head's on the chopping block because he didn't want to 'damn me to a soul-less existence'? Pfft. I should have just made my rounds asking them to change me. I mean, there are six others; one of them would have done it, right?

My nose wrinkled. Rosalie wouldn't have, that's for sure, and Carlisle would have respected Edward's wishes. Esme, Emmett and Alice didn't have the control needed… Jasper I wasn't sure about. Yea, he did try to eat me at my party two years ago but he had been dealing with the bloodlust of five others. I should have just fucking asked one of them. It was win-win for them. They'd either have a nice dinner, saving the Volturi from having to deal with me, or save their family from destruction.

I sighed in frustration, "Would any of you have changed me if I'd asked you to?"

Wide, shocked eyes turned on me. Edward growled, glaring at me. Or was he glaring at Jasper? Maybe both?

"Yes. I would have changed you. I almost did."

Oh, yep. Definitely growling and glaring at Jasper.

I looked up at him, "Really? Thank you."

Jasper nodded and turned his narrowed, black eyes back towards Edward.

"We have less than two hours. They aren't being very decisive. Aro knows how to get around my visions to an extent." Alice's voice wavered, "We should go out to the field, we don't want them to get close to town."

I shivered at the thought and Jasper stepped away from me, thinking I must have been cold. One of his hands still rested on my shoulders though, radiating his calm to me.

Esme was up the stairs and back with a blanket for me in seconds. Alice took out the front door in an almost invisible blur and Edward was up and by my side, wrapping the blanket around my shoulders. I glared at him; no way was he going to play the concerned fiancé anymore. I plucked the ring off my finger and handed it to him wordlessly. I didn't want to see his devastated face. That's how I got sucked back in every time.

I looked up at Jasper and then Emmett, "One of you carry me. Please."

Jasper stepped back and Emmett came up to me, scooping me up into his massive arms and moving out of the house in the next second.

Reaching the now seldom used baseball field… 'Battlefield more like it'…brought back vivid memories of both times I faced Victoria. I absently rubbed my scar. I shivered again and Emmett held me closer, "I'm sorry, Bella. I really wish I could tell you everything will be alright." He grimaced.

I nodded and slung my arms around his neck, holding him as tightly as I could. A very tame rumble of laughter started in his chest as he hugged me back. He plopped me down on the ground none to gently and I staggered before he steadied me. We waited as the rest of the family came onto the field.

Alice was back within ten minutes, my school backpack in her hands. She handed it to me, "I thought you'd want some of your stuff. I packed your photos."

Oh, I was going to lose it. I just knew it. The giant hole in my chest was starting up again, festering within me. Tears were beginning to erupt and my breathing… was I breathing? Yea, there we go, a shuddering one ripped through my throat and lungs.

Jasper was back beside me, both hands on my shoulders, "Calm yourself, Bella." His voice was hard, commanding. I was grateful. I didn't need soothing, patronizing words now. I needed a slap in the face, even if it wasn't physical. How was it that Jasper always knew what to do? I looked back at him, hoping my face was clear of the hysterical emotions that had taken hold and nodded curtly.

We waited.

And waited.

I swiftly got bored of counting the minutes until our imminent demise. So I counted my heartbeats, savoring the sound and the feeling. It wouldn't be long before that comforting sound would end. I turned to Carlisle and touched his arm, grabbing his attention, "If you," I choked, I couldn't imagine Carlisle not walking this earth. I couldn't imagine any of them not being around. I tried again, my voice wavering, "If you guys walk away from this, please watch over Charlie." Tears filled my eyes once again, but Jasper's firm grip kept them and me from falling.

Carlisle's eyes were glassy, his perfect lips pressed into thin and grim line. He nodded and swept me into his arms, murmuring apologies over and over.

I settled my hand on his cheek as he pulled away. He was broken and destroyed, but I couldn't give him the apology he wanted because there was nothing to forgive. "I know," I whispered.

He smiled tightly as he fought with his emotions. Esme stepped between us and folded me into her arms, her nose in my hair, "We are so sorry, Bella."

I was passed from embrace to embrace, hearing one unneeded apology after another. I ended up in front of Edward, the only one that did have something to apologize for. His face was stoic but his eyes swirled in misery, "I am sorry I wasn't able to protect you."

My hackles rose and I found myself wanting to ring his neck, "Is that a roundabout way of saying you're not sorry for changing me?"

He turned his gaze away from me and said nothing.

Bastard.

I moved away from him, back to where my center was. I needed calm and Jasper provided it. I needed his strength. I stepped between him and Emmett, grabbing both their hands and squeezed. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes. More waiting.

Th-Thump, 1. Th-Thump 2. Th-Thump, 3…

My counting was interrupted when I felt Rosalie move behind Emmett and myself. She wrapped an arm around my waist and I looked at her, very confusedly, but she was staring forward at the dark forest. She took in a breath before looking at me with sorrow filled eyes, "You're so strong, Bella. I'll never forget that. Thank you for giving me your love and understanding, especially when I didn't deserve it."

I was dumbfounded for a few moments before dropping Emmett and Jasper's hands and throwing myself into Rosalie and hugging her fiercely, "Thank you, Rose."

I returned to my position between Emmett and Jasper, with Rosalie's arm wrapped around me. We went back to waiting and I went back to counting my heartbeats.

It had to have been at least twenty minutes before I felt Jasper's hand squeeze mine. I looked up into his beautifully calm face and he nodded slightly.

They were here.

Rosalie stiffened behind me and Emmett moved in front of us. Carlisle walked a few yards ahead of his us to meet intercept the Volturi leaders. Esme followed behind him, clutching at his shirt.

I still saw nothing, my weak eyes unable to see the moving shadows I knew were there in the tree line.

I did hear them, though, moving around in the forest. They apparently wanted us to know that we were surrounded. Jasper's jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed. He shifted slightly to get behind me and Rosalie and waved Alice over. She flitted over to us and held me tight against her as she sent worrying glances over the field. Edward bowed his head and moved forward to stand with Carlisle.

Peeking between Emmett's arms I got a glimpse of terror that was the Volturi leaders.

Surely they wouldn't come themselves if it was just me they wanted?!

Aro glided through the guard a small girl hovering behind him. He stopped in front of Carlisle, a frown on his face.

"Carlisle, I am disappointed." He tutted as he shook his head. Carlisle offered Aro his hand. He didn't waste a second as he greedily snatched up the offered appendage. A look of concentration crossed his features before his frown returned.

He turned to Edward, "You took our favor for granted, boy."

Caius strode forward and hissed, "We offer no second chances, you knew this when you left with your human!"

Marcus stood back, his blank eyes boring into my own, as if he were privy to everything in my soul. I immediately felt violated and the sudden urge to swallow soap and loofa overwhelmed me. His face gave nothing away, it was the same unmoving bored expression I had seen the last time I was in Volterra. Creepy. I tore my gaze from him and gripped Emmett and Jasper's hands tighter, ignoring the aching pressure on my joints.

Aro moved forward, taking hand after hand, stopping at Jasper. Aro's eyes sparkled with something akin to recognition, a knowing smile on his face. I shivered at it. He snatched Jasper's hand, his lips curling into something sadistic, "So we finally meet."

Jasper nodded but said nothing. His face carefully guarded. Alice stood stock still as another vision overtook her. She gasped, "No!" and whirled around towards Jasper, her eyes wild with panic. She moved to Jasper and buried herself into his chest.

Oh god, what did she see?

My stomach knotted and my heart clenched. I tucked myself into his free arm, wrapping my arms around his back and Alice. I squeezed them, trying to give them support… my love.

Aro smiled sweetly at me, his fingers brushing against my cheek, "I do wish I could read you, my dear." I flinched back from the cold touch and a glint sparked within his crimson depths, "No need to fear me, Isabella."

Uh huh.

I squirmed under his gaze and Jasper squeezed me. I dropped Aro's intense stare and he finally turned his attention to Alice, his smile widening, "How nice to see you again, Alice." He collected her memories before moving back to his brothers.

A few murmurs floated around my ears but I couldn't make out any words. My family's rigid posture and tense atmosphere gave me the impression that the 'verdict' was being discussed. Aro turned around back to us, his head tilted with a deceivingly sweet smile on his face.

"My dear friends, my brothers have left it to me to dole out your punishments. Carlisle, you have been a good friend to us and we have much respect for your family and lifestyle. However, from your time in Volterra you more than knew of the seriousness repercussions of the rule Edward broke." Aro's smile faded, "You and your family knew of the ultimatum we gave."

Carlisle nodded gravely, "However wrong it was, we were trying to respect Edward's decision. He kept telling us he was going to change her. It was brought to our attention tonight, when we learned of your visit, that he had no intention of doing so."

Aro frowned, "I know and for that I will not punish your family. Edward, however, knew of the punishment. He planned to hide her from us."

Edward had shrunk under Aro's glare.

Caius took a menacing step toward Edward and growled, "You think us stupid, boy?"

Aro raised his hand silencing his blond headed brother, "He does not. He is, however, blinded by his belief that he would be damning her to this life."

Edward nodded mutely.

I wanted to scream. It's not like I didn't want to be a vampire!

Caius took another step forward bringing him within an arm's length of Edward, "You should have not brought her into your life then!"

Edward grimaced. He swallowed, clearly afraid of the close proximity and took a step back from Caius. Edward looked back at me and mouthed an apology. I buried my face in Jasper's chest and hugged myself closer to him and Alice. It was Edward's fault this was happening.

Aro cleared his throat, bringing my attention to him, "Since Isabella is the only human that has been exposed to our world by your coven, I will show leniency."

Caius whirled around and snarled at his brother. Aro bared his teeth and snapped back at him, "It is my call brother!"

Aro turned back to Carlisle, "Isabella will be leaving here with us. She will be turned," He glared at Edward, daring him to say anything. He continued as he turned back to me, "And she will serve fifty years on our guard." His crimson eyes burned into mine as his gaze traveled to Jasper's.

His grin warped and turned sadistic, "My dear friend, did you know that the infamous God of War has been living with you?" He turned to Carlisle to gage his reaction.

Carlisle's eyes widened and a murmur erupted from the guard.

An air of satisfaction settled over Aro, his arms flourished dramatically as if disappointed by our ignorance, he sighed, "I take that as a no. Major Whitlock, would you please step forward?"

I stiffened. Jasper? No!

He hugged us tightly before disentangling from Alice and I. He walked forward and the murmuring from the guard grew into excited chatter. Aro raised an amused brow before raising his hand to quiet them and turning his attention back to Jasper.

"You escaped the South, I see. Apparently just before we destroyed what was left of the newborn armies. I had always wondered what had happened to Marie's great and powerful Major." Aro walked around Jasper, sizing him up.

Jasper's jaw clenched tightly at Maria's name but said nothing. He stood rigid and imposing against Aro's scrutiny.

Aro chuckled, "You have nothing to fear." Aro grinned, "Yet."

Alice whimpered and clutched me painfully tight to her. A sick knot of foreboding settled in my stomach. We were going to lose Jasper.

Marcus glided up to his brother; his blank eyes bored into Jasper then flickered to mine, sending my insides to squirming as he violated my soul again. Aro cocked a brow at his sullen brother before taking Marcus' outstretched hand. A few moments later his smile widened, "Simply fantastic, brother!"

Alice's grip loosened as she was taken by another vision. She let out an anguished, "No!" her frightened, distraught eyes never leaving Jasper. Apparently his future had changed yet again. She laid her head against my shoulder and trembled slightly. Edward's eyes widened and his body stiffened, his fists clenched and shaking at his sides.

Oh god! Please don't kill him!

A satisfied smile crawled across Aro's face, "Major Whitlock, seeing as you were unaware of the Volturi and our laws during your reign in the South, I will make you an offer."

My breath hitched and Alice tensed.

Jasper nodded, resigned.

"You will serve us for ten years and you will train our guard. Or," Aro flourished his arms dramatically before sighing, "you will die here."

Just ten years? Fucking hell, why am I being punished with fifty?

"I will come to Volterra with your guard." Jasper replied mechanically. Alice clutched tighter to me and I took in a sharp breath.

"Excellent! Now, Chelsea come here," he said as he waved over a petite brunette. She stopped beside him and he pointed to Edward, "Remove his ties to, Isabella."

Well, that's going to go well. I'm sure Edward's going to throw a fit.

But I was both right and wrong. Jasper got to Edward just as he was started to open his mouth. Jasper growled, "I told you to keep your damn mouth shut. Remember?" Edward snarled and grumbled something under his breath, unable to disengage from Jasper's hold.

Aro clapped and laughed, "Wonderful! What a demonstration of prowess! There is much to learn from the Major my family!"

Chelsea moved forward and reached out to Edward's chest. On contact, Edward slumped in Jasper's hold. And like the taut strings of a Marinette doll had been snipped, I felt like I was falling. The pull I had felt for Edward was gone. I looked up in panic, clutching my chest, it felt empty and numb.

Aro pointed to Alice, "Remove her ties with Jasper."

Alice sobbed and I held her as Chelsea made her way to us. I looked over to Jasper, his face torn between agony and resignation. Rosalie came behind Alice to catch her as she slumped forward on me.

Carlisle, equal parts devastated and confused, asked "Why cut their bonds, Aro?"

Aro waved him off, "They can be fixed any time. It's only temporary," He glared at Edward, "I wouldn't want Edward to come on some pointless crusade to 'save' Isabella. I also wouldn't want Alice to suffer," he smiled wickedly, "Or Jasper to be distracted."

"I see." Carlisle replied as moved over to Edward who was looking around confusedly. Alice was hugging Rosalie, her eyes wide.

Aro smiled again, "Ah, Isabella! Come, come!" He was waving me over, but my legs wouldn't cooperate. I looked over to Jasper. He gave me a small encouraging smile as he sent a wash of calm over me, and subsequently, Alice and Rosalie. I swallowed thickly and walked shakily towards Aro.

I stood before him and smiled tentatively, "Hello again, Aro."

He took my hand in his, thrilled at the prospect of finally 'collecting' me, "What a treasure you will be, Isabella!"

I nodded mutely. A treasure? You keep treasure, you don't let it walk out the door after fifty years.

"Will I be able to return to my family after I serve my time, Aro?" The uncertainty I felt made my voice waver.

He regarded me for a moment and smiled, "Why of course, Isabella."

I pressed my luck, "Will I be able to stay in contact with them?"

"I would be a rather cruel person if I denied you that simple request. I, however, will have to forbid you to speak to Edward," he looked to Jasper, "You are also forbidden to speaking with Alice."

We both nodded.

"Ah, Isabella, don't look so sad. You are welcome to have visitors! Your time in Volterra will not be miserable."

I somehow doubt that.

"Carlisle, I expect you'll be visiting us soon?" Aro asked, looking over my head.

"Yes."

"Excellent!" Aro clapped his hands together, "Now, one last thing," his tone turned steely and his eyes narrowed, "If you reveal our nature to a human again, you're lives are forfeit. You will visit Volterra every year for me to check in on your honesty."

Carlisle nodded, "Yes, Aro."

Aro looked to Edward, "Be careful, boy. Next time you won't be so lucky." Caius growled and looked murderous. He definitely wasn't happy with Aro's leniency with the Cullen's.

Jasper strode to my side and placed his hand on my shoulder again. Reassurance pulsed through me.

Aro raised a brow, "I take it that you would like to escort Isabella, Major Whitlock?"

"I would."

I nearly melted in relief. I would have someone I knew with me. I wouldn't have to face this alone. I was allowed visits from my family.

And then that nasty thing called reality came crashing down. Jasper would be leaving in ten years. I would be alone and would have to survive forty long years in Volterra on my own.

Why fifty years? I did nothing wrong. I wanted to be a vampire but it wasn't like I could just make one of them bite me. I was brought out of my reverie by Aro's voice, "It is time for us to depart. Come Isabella, Jasper."

I looked back at my family, their shoulders slumped and their faces clouded in misery.

"Love you guys." I whispered as Jasper scooped me into his arms, following after the guard.