Chapter Fifteen – The vote.

"I phoned Carlisle, but Rose answered, she told me about how she'd phoned Edward to let him know that Bella had passed on, and that Carlisle was still out hunting.

"Bella then explained to me that Carlisle had been on the phone not five minutes before I came rushing in, I knew straight away that it had not been Carlisle phoning but Edward pretending to be Carlisle to check that Rosalie's story was accurate, when Jacob answered the phone and told Edward that Charlie was at the funeral Edward just assumed that it was Bella's funeral instead of asking for conformation on who's funeral he was at.

"I tried to phone Edward but he had left his phone in a trash can in Rio, I told Bella what I had planned but told her I couldn't risk her life, she was more than willing to go by her self if I didn't want to take her. Jacob was not to happy about it but Bella pushed him aside and got her stuff together, I booked single tickets there as I didn't know what the outcome would be, Bella wrote a note to her father saying she had gone away with me for a couple of days and said goodbye to Jacob and we left for Italy.

"When we were on the flight I had promised Bella that if it came to it I would change her, which I kinda regret now as she'll hold me to it I know she will, but I don't know if I'd be able to, I had phoned Jasper and made him stop Rose and Emmett from coming after us, Bella was the one that needed to do this to prove to Edward that she was actually alive and that we would not be lying in our minds to him.

"We reached Florence and I stole the most beautiful canary yellow Porche I have ever seen, and we made our way to Volterra, I told Bella where Edward would be and how to get there, I told her I would meet her there when I could as I needed to find a back way to the alley, because of the sun.

"Bella ran in the direction I pointed her and I left the beautiful porche behind and slipped into the shadows, I hid the bags that Bella and I had taken with us and started to find my way around the back streets towards where Bella and Edward would be. When I met up with them there were two very muscular vampires with them they seem to be cornering Edward.

"I slipped out of the shadows and flitted to Edward's side they didn't seem to like the even number of vampires that were now here, then out of no where this small girl appeared and asked for us to follow, we followed her down the alleys and down a drain into a cold underground tunnel, she lead us towards a grand castle, I'm assuming Carlisle you know what I'm on about?"

"Yes, Alice I do know what you mean."

"Well I dropped down first after Jane, as Edward would not like to leave Bella on her own with the two of them, Edward dropped Bella down the drain and I caught her within seconds Edward was by her side again taking hold of her, we walked through the tunnel once, Felix and Demetri had joined us, We walked into a grand room where there were a few sofa's and a desk with a human woman behind it, she seemed to have a thing for Felix, don't see why she'd like that creep though, Jane's twin Alec joined us and walked with us to where Aro was waiting, so he says for the meal that one of his guard were out fishing.

"Aro seemed to know every thing about Bella and I, he spoke to us like he'd known us years not merely seconds, He said to Edward something about being glad he hadn't executed his request, Edward didn't seem to happy about having Bella in that room with him, Aro's brothers soon joined us, Aro wanted to see if his gift would work on Bella, to which he asked Edward not Bella, like Bella was some kind of pet to Edward not his true love.

"Edward told Aro to ask her himself, as he did Bella seemed kind of scared at his question but held out her hand anyway, his gift also doesn't seem to work on Bella and neither of which does Jane's she wasn't to happy about that, she had Edward on the floor first when she first stepped towards Bella, Edward wasn't quite sure if her gift would work on her but he intervened any way, Bella shrieked at Jane to stop, Jane then turned the full force of her gift onto Bella, and it did not work, Edward picked himself up off of the floor and again took Bella from my arm, in which I had caught her when she had tried to run to Edward's aid during Jane's attack.

"Aro asked Edward to promise that Bella would become one of us soon, Caius has promised to come visit when needs must to check up on them, but Edward seemed lost in thought and I knew if he stepped forward Aro would know his plan and most defiantly kill us for it, so I decided there and then that I would change Bella, resulting in yet another vision of her as one of us, I stepped forward and placed my hand in Aro's waiting hand, he seen everything from the very first vision of Bella I'd had to the very last, he seemed happy to allow this as he'd seen it, obviously not knowing that my visions can always change.

"Edward didn't seem to happy about my promise but seemed happy enough that we were able to leave alive and well, with Bella still with us. We had to wait around the castle until night fall, and then we were able to leave, I recovered mine and Bella's bags and found a new car, nothing as fabulous as the Porche but it would have to do, we made our way from the grasp of the Volturi towards Florence airport, we got on our flight, only after Bella had cleaned up and I had bought Edward some new clothes as he was wearing that hideous red cloak they'd given him, and then we returned home. I do believe we have now come full circle. Any questions, if not I would like to go hunt as it's been a few days."

Carlisle had a few questions about how Aro was and how Caius reacted to Aro allowing us to leave, with Bella still being human, which I answered for him, after that no one else had any questions they were all happy with the my account of the last few days.

Jasper and I happily left the dining table and left for a hunt on our own, bliss, I'd missed the way I fit perfectly into his loving arms.

Once we had come back from hunting Jazz and I decided to spend some time cuddled up on our bed, just looking at each other, we didn't need any words to be said to show our love for each other.

Whilst looking at his beautiful face I had a vision,

Bella and Edward would be arriving soon for a vote about her mortality in which I was happy to oblige to.

"Edward and Bella will be here soon, Bella has something she wants to ask." I spoke as I would to Bella if she was stood in front of me now, I knew no matter what anyone was doing they'd hear me perfectly.

"What does Bella have to ask, Alice?" Jasper asked me, looking at me lovingly.

"That is not for me to say, it is her question to ask." I smiled at him.

A few moments later I heard Bella and Edward walking towards the from door, and up the steps, Edward opened the door and he and Bella entered the house.

"Carlisle? Esme? Rosalie? Emmett? Jasper? Alice?" Edward spoke, both he and Bella know that everyone would hear.

Jasper and I left the bedroom and made our way to the dining room while Carlisle greeted Edward and Bella.

I already know what she's going to ask Edward and I already know my answer.

I heard him sigh.

"Welcome back, Bella, What can we do for you this morning? I imagine, due to the hour, that this is not purely a social visit."I'd like to talk to everyone at once, if that's okay. About something important,"

"Of course, why don't we talk in the other room?"

Carlisle led Bella end Edward into the dining room, the rest of us making our way in shortly after.

"The floor is yours." Carlisle nodded towards Bella as soon as everyone had taken they're seats.

"Well, I'm hoping Alice has already told you everything that happened in Volterra?"

"Everything," I assured her.

"And on the way?"

"That, too,"

"Good." Bella sighed, it sounded full of relief, "Then we're all on the same page. So, I have a problem, Alice promised the Volturi that I would become one of you. They're going so send someone to check, and I'm sure that's a bad thing – something to avoid. And so, now , this involves all of you. I'm sorry about that," Bella paused for a moment to look at everyone, "But, if you don't want me, then I'm not going to force myself on you, whether Alice is willing or not."

I heard a small gasp come from Esme, She opened her mouth again to speak to Bella, Bella held up her hand to stop Esme and continued with what she was saying.

"Please, let me finish. You all know what I want. And I'm sure you know what Edward thinks, too."

I looked at Edward, his mouth was pulled down into a grimace, we all knew what he wanted, Bella to stay human for her to not be hurt by our world, for her to not loose her soul because his love for her.

"I think the only fair way to decide is for everyone to have a vote. If you decide you don't want me, then... I guess I'll go back to Italy alone. I can't have them coming here."

I could see Bella's forehead crease as she thought about going back to that place, back to them.

Esme gasped, and I heard Edward growl beside her.

"Taking into account, then, that I won't put any of you in danger either way, I want you to vote yes or no on the issue of me becoming a vampire."

Bella had a small smile on her lips as she gestured to Carlisle to start the vote.

"Just a minute," Edward interrupted.

Bella glared at him through narrowed eyes, he raised his eyebrows in return and continued.

"I have something to add before we vote."

Bella and I sighed.

"About the danger Bella's referring to, I don't think we need to be overly anxious, You see, there was more than one reason why I didn't want to shake Aro's hand there at the end. There's something they didn't think of, and I didn't want to clue them in." He grinned, he thought he was getting out of this vote, no way in hell.

"Which was?" I asked aloud. Bella had a sceptical look on her face, just as I did on mine no doubt.

"The Volturi are overconfident, and with good reason. When they decide to find someone, it's not really a problem. Do you remember Demetri?" He glanced down at Bella, who shuddered at the mention of his name, Edward must have taken that as a yes because he continued.

"He finds people – that's his talent, why they keep him. Now the whole time we were with any of them, I was picking they're brains for anything that might save us, getting as much information as possible. So I saw how Demetri's talent works. He's a tracker – a tracker a thousand times more gifted than James was. His ability is loosely related to what I do, or what Aro does. He catches the... flavour? I don't know how to describe it... the tenor... of someone's mind, and then he follows that. It works over immense distances. But after Aro's little experiments, well..." Edward shrugged his shoulders, Bella and I caught on at the same time.

"You think he won't be able to find me," Bella said flatly.

Edward's face was smug, "I'm sure of it. He relies totally on that other sense. When it doesn't work with you they'll be blind."

"And how does that solve anything?"

"Quite obviously, Alice will be able to tell when they're planning a visit, and I'll hide you. They'll be helpless. It will be like looking for a piece of straw in a haystack!"

"But they can find you," Bella pointed out.

"And I can take care of myself."

Emmett laughed and reached across the table towards our brother, with is fist extended.

"Excellent plan, my brother," Edward stretched his arm out and pound his fist against Emmett's.

"No." Rosalie hissed.

"Absolutely not." Bella agreed.

"Nice," Jasper added.

"Idiots," I muttered.

Esme was glaring at Edward, he was willing to allow the Volturi guard to come here to forks to force them down on our family, where we would all probably die for hiding Bella away.

Bella straightened up in her chair and added, "All right then. Edward has offered an alternative for you to consider, let's vote."

Bella turned her gaze towards Edward, "Do you want me to join your family?"

"Not in that way. You're staying human."

Bella nodded once and continued.

"Alice?"

"Yes."

"Jasper?"

"Yes." Bella looked a little surprised by his answer.

"Rosalie?"

Rose hesitated, she was biting down on her lip, was this so hard for her to decide?

"No." Thought not.

Bella wasn't surprised by Rosalie's answer and continued to move toward Emmett for his answer.

Rosalie put both her hands up towards Bella.

"Let me explain, I don't mean that I have any aversion to you as a sister. It's just that... this is not the life I would have chosen for myself. I wish there had been someone there to vote no for me." Bella nodded at Rosalie's explanation and continued to Emmett.

"Hell, yes!" He grinned. "We can find some other way to pick a fight with this Demetri."

Bella grimaced at this and turned to Esme.

"Yes, of course, Bella. I already think of you as part of my family."

"Thank you, Esme,"

Bella turned to Carlisle, she looked kind of apprehensive as she knew no matter what the rest of us had voted Carlisle's vote would be final.

Carlisle wasn't looking at Bella, his eyes on Edward's face.

"Edward."

"No." Edward growled.

"It's the only way that makes sense, you've chosen not to live without her, and that doesn't leave me a choice."

Edward dropped Bella's hand and shoved away from the table, walking into the lounge, snarling.

Uh oh, poor Emmett is going to go mad, he only just got that television, it wasn't easy to find.

"I guess you know my vote," Carlisle sighed.

Bella was still staring after Edward as she answered Carlisle.

"Thanks."

That is when Edward took his anger out on Emmett's poor television.

"Aw What?" I heard Emmett sigh low enough that Bella wouldn't hear.

Bella flinched at the sound of the smash from the lounge, "That's all I needed. Thank you. For wanting to keep me. I feel exactly the same way about all of you, too."

Esme was up from her seat and at Bella's side with her arms around her in an instant.

"Dearest, Bella," She breathed.

Bella hugged Esme back.

"Well, Alice, Where do you want to do this?" Bella asked as soon as Esme had released her.

What?

"No! No! NO!" Edward roared, charging back into the meeting area, he was in Bella's face bending over her, his expression twisted in rage. "Are you insane?" He shouted at her, "Have you utterly lost your mind?"

Bella cringed away from him, covering her ears.

"Um, Bella, I don't think I'm ready for that. I'll need to prepare..." I was cut off by Bella.

"You promised."

"I know, but... seriously, Bella! I don't have any idea how to not kill you."

"You can do it, I trust you." She encouraged me.

I shook my head quickly, I couldn't do this, I could in no way do this.

Edward snarled in fury.

"Carlisle?" Bella turned to look at him.

Edward grabbed her face in his hand, forcing her to look at his; he put his other hand out, palm facing Carlisle.

Carlisle ignored Edward attempt to silence him, "I'm able to do it, you would be in no danger of me losing control."

"Sounds good."

"Hold on, it doesn't have to be now." Edward tried his best to stall the inevitable.

"There's no reason for it not to be now." Bella added, her words come out slightly distorted because of the hold Edward still had on her face.

"I can think of a few."

"Of course you can, now let go of me." Bella said sourly.

Edward freed her face and folded his arms across his chest.

"In about two hours, Charlie will be here looking for you. I wouldn't put it past him to involve the police."

"All three of them." Bella frowned.

Bella was quite for sometime after that, she looked like she was miles away, thinking about something.

I felt kind of bad for Charlie as he'd only just gotten his daughter back and now she would be leaving him forever, never to talk to him again, never to see her smile, never to tell her how much he loves her.

Charlie is going to be devastated, Edward. We will need to give her time to say goodbye to him, without actually saying goodbye to him, he needs a few more months with her, she hasn't been the Bella he's known and loved for the last seven months he deserves to see her happy again before he never sees her again. Maybe we should wait until after graduation, use that as her goodbye say she's off to college, she dies in a car accident or something, give him closure, Edward, he needs this, and so will she.

"In the interest of remaining inconspicuous, I suggest we put this conversation off, at the very least until Bella finishes high school, and moves out of Charlie's house."

"That's a reasonable request, Bella." Carlisle pointed out to her.

"I'll consider it."

Edward relaxed, "I should probably take you home, just in case Charlie wakes up early."

Bella looked at Carlisle, "After graduation?"

"You have my word."

Bella took a deep breath, smiled and turned to Edward, "Okay. You can take me home."

Edward rushed Bella out of the house before Carlisle could promise her anymore, not that he had any more to promise her. He ensured to take her out of the back door to ensure she didn't see the mess he had made of Emmett's new television.

"Oh man look what he did, it took months to find this baby," Emmett sulked in the lounge.

"Emmett, you can order a new one, you know where to get it this time, so it shouldn't be as hard as it was before." Esme assured him.

"Yeah anyway I shouldn't worry about the television, Bella will be a vampire soon and I bet she'll be the most clumsy vampire ever." He laughed, everyone else joined in except for Rosalie who looked to be deep in thought.

"Emmett that's not very nice, Bella may be rather clumsy but there is no need to make fun of her for it." Esme scolded him as she walked into the room.

"OH!" I exclaimed.

"What is it, Alice? What have you seen?" Jasper asked from beside me.

"Edward asked Bella to marry him,"

I heard Esme and Rose gasp, Rose in shock and Esme just seemed proud but kind of shocked by the pounce he'd taken.

"What did she say?" Esme asked curiously from where she now sat beside me.

"She thinks he's joking, she doesn't think he's serious, so I don't think she'll answer him." I added glumly.

"Oh. No matter I'm sure she'll answer him soon and I'm sure they'll be very happy, she's in love with him enough to give up her human life to become one of us, so I'm sure she loves him enough to marry him, although Bella does hate a fuss and to be centre of attention." Esme assured me.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see." I added.

I stood from the sofa and took Jaspers hand, "Would you like to come for a run with me, maybe go for a little hunt?" I asked him.

"Of course darling," He stood and we walked out of the house hand in hand towards the woods.