Several months after her awakening she was called to Aro's side, she entered one of the reception chambers where guests of the Volturi were met. She expected to see Aro, what she did not expect was to see all of the Cullens with him. "My lord," she greeted Aro without acknowledging the others. "I was told you wanted to see me."

"Yes, my dear Bella," Aro replied graciously. "You have visitors," he indicated to the Cullens in a broad gesture. "I shall leave you to chat. Bella, remember, lesson at 2 o'clock."

"Yes, my lord," Bella bowed her head in acknowledgement. Aro left closing the door behind him. There was complete silence for a moment as Bella waited for Aro to be out of earshot. "Hello everyone, I'm so happy to see all of you again," Bella greeted them with a grin. Esme and Carlisle came forward to hug her, the others all came forward in their turn, except Edward. "Hello Edward," she called to him. "What are you all doing here?"

"We've come to take you home," Carlisle announced. Bella stared at him for a moment before turning to face Alice.

"You didn't tell them?" she asked Alice, sounding almost accusatory.

"I was waiting for the right time," Alice replied with a shrug.

"It's been months! How could you let them come all this way and not tell them?" Bella was practically shouting at Alice.

"Bella, what's wrong?" Esme asked trying to keep her calm.

"Oh, sorry," she apologized. "I made a deal with Aro, twenty years of service for the lives of my family, and all of you."

"Us?" Emmett asked.

"When he realized Alice had always known where I was Aro was going to hold the entire family accountable," Bella explained. "I wasn't going to be responsible for bringing that down on you, plus my husband and daughters –"

"Daughters?" Rosalie asked sharply.

Bella turned back to Alice, "Do you understand the phrase 'tell them everything'?" she asked tersely. Alice grimaced and Bella turned back to the others. "I had twin girls, they just turned two."

"Congratulations," Rosalie smiled at Bella genuinely for the first time.

"Thank you," Bella decided to lighten the mood. "So how long are you going to stay now?"

"Oh, a week at least," Esme answered. There was something in her tone that made Bella pause and look around at all the Cullen's faces.

"You're not moving here for me," Bella immediately objected. "I will not let you uproot your lives for me, again." Carlisle and Esme were about to argue, but Bella cut them off, "You can argue with me later. I have to meet with Aro in a few minutes, so why don't we continue this another time?"

"Why are you meeting with Aro?" Jasper asked.

"He's helping me to extend my shield," Bella explained.

"Shield?" Edward asked.

"My vampire ability, they call it a shield. My mind isn't affected by other vampiric abilities. Aro can't read my mind, Jane, Alec, Chelsea – none of them work on me. Aro is teaching me to shield someone other than myself. It could come in handy when the guard goes out to dispense justice." Bella smiled at their awed expressions. "I've got to get going, and I'm sure you have other things to do."

"We'll see you soon Bella," Alice promised. Bella opened the door and waited as they all filed out. Edward was the last in line.

"Edward, I wonder if I could have a minute?" she requested pleasantly. Edward paused just inside the door Bella let it slowly swing shut. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, why?" Edward replied.

"You've been pretty quiet," Bella paused a moment, "do you remember the last conversation we had in Oregon?"

"Perfectly," Edward replied, confused by the question.

"I told you what it would take for us to be together," Bella stated.

"You said that if you became a vampire we could be together," he said his voice hitching in anticipation, hope filling him.

"Well, I'm a vampire now," she smiled coyly, and then her expression became grave. "Edward, I love you, I always have and always will, but you can't stay here."

"What?" Edward asked completely derailed.

"Edward, the more of us Aro has here the less likely it is that he will let any of us go," Bella explained. "I will be with you, but we are going to have to wait just a little while longer."

"You want me to stay with my family, while you serve the Volturi," Edward stated not really liking the sound of the words as they left his mouth.

"My life here isn't anything to concern yourself with, and your family needs you to help keep them safe," Bella explained. "I will come back to you and I swear that nothing will ever separate us again," she promised.

"Are you sure?" Edward asked stepping closer to her. Bella took one step closer and kissed Edward. The kiss was different, more, than every kiss she had shared with him before. For the first time in their relationship she was the one who pulled away first. "Bella-" he sighed.

"I have to go," she stated slightly breathless. "Aro is already worried, if I'm late he might do something drastic. I'll see you tomorrow," Bella led the way into the hall where she said good bye to the Cullens once more before walking away. She was surprised to find Marcus waiting alone, at the end of the hall. "Lord Marcus," she greeted him, though her tone made it sound like a question.

"Aro asked that I escort you to your lesson," Marcus explained his voice was soft, quiet, and held no intonation. Bella nodded and fell into step beside Marcus. "You care for them all very much," he commented quietly.

Bella didn't need to question who he was talking about. "The Cullens are family to me," she replied, cautiously keeping her tone neutral. They did not speak again. Aro was waiting just outside the door of their normal training room.

"Thank you Marcus," Aro sighed, taking Marcus' hand for a moment. "Bella you have been making marvelous progress, but I thought today we would see how far we can push your limits." Aro led her into the room where she saw Felix and Demitri standing by the door. Jane was waiting by the far wall. Aro joined her in less than a second. All of these details were not enough to hold her attention when she saw the child, no more than three or four years old cowering at Jane's feet.

"No!" the scream tore through her throat as Bella launched herself to protect the child. Felix and Demitri restrained her, holding her tightly enough that she could not move. "Jane dear," Aro prompted, nodding to the child curled up in a terrified ball at her feet.

"No," Bella screamed again. In an instant she had pushed her shield out from herself wrapping it around the child. The room was tinged with a red haze, at least to Bella's eyes, as she continued to struggle against Felix and Demitri. Jane turned her gaze down to the child, a gentle smile on her face. The child merely continued to look up at her in fear. Bella's shield held. Suddenly there was a dragging sound as though someone was scraping a chair across the floor. Aro looked up to see Bella pulling Felix and Demitri across the room in a desperate battle to reach the child.

"That is enough for today," Aro stated. Jane nodded turning back to him to await further orders. Bella stopped struggling, but kept her shield over the child just in case. "Felix, Demitri you may let her go." Still cautious of Aro's intentions Bella did not charge forward as she wished in case it would be cause for an attack. "Jane, return the child." It was only then as Jane bent down to pick up the child that Bella allowed her shield to let the little girl go. "You may go, it seems Isabella wishes to speak to me," she waited until the other guards had left before she spoke.

"My lord Aro," she began, her voice deadly cold, her vision beginning to return to normal. "I can see that you understand enough about motherhood to use a defenseless child against me. There is, however, something I must say to you." When Bella paused Aro motioned for her to continue. "If you ever abuse a child like that again, not only will I break our contract I will do everything in my power to destroy you."

They were silent, perfectly still as Aro tested Bella's resolve. "I understand Isabella. Keep to our agreement, and we will have no cause to argue again." Aro swept past her out of the room, and it was at that moment that Bella knew beyond a doubt that Aro had used that innocent child not as in incentive, but as a warning against her leaving with the Cullens. Bella sat in the room for several hours looking at nothing, waiting to hear if the child was alright. She moved only when she heard the door open. "Lord Marcus," she greeted him in surprise.

"I would like to speak to you for a moment," he stated. "Aro is very pleased with your progress controlling your abilities. He hopes that within a few months you will be ready to go out into the world." Marcus paused, assessing Bella's reaction to the news. He noted surprise and reluctance in her gaze. "I could request that you stay as my personal guard, if you like."

Bella was stunned by the offer, and took a minute to recover enough to speak, "I will of course do as I am asked, but I would prefer to stay in Volterra," she answered diplomatically. Marcus inclined his head and exited the room. Bella took this as a cue to go to her won room to think. The following day dawned with an unusual gathering of clouds for the time of year for Italy. Bella was happy and worried for the Cullen's promised return visit. One hour before Heidi's promised return with "food" all of the Volturi and their guard were gathered in a room tall and round, with a large drain in the center of the floor when Alec arrived brining the Cullens.

"Ahh, Carlisle," Aro greeted the head of the family with a pleasant smile, "I am so pleased to see you again, we did not have the chance to speak yesterday."

"Yes, it is a pity, but I am sure today will bring us many opportunities to catch up," Carlisle replied easily. Bella stepped away from the small group of vampires she had been conversing with to approach Aro and the Cullens. Felix reached out as though he might stop her, but she brushed him aside. "My lord," she called to Aro. Everyone in the room turned to look at her in shock.

"Yes Bella?" Aro asked, sounding intrigued but not altogether surprised by her outburst.

"Perhaps, considering Heidi's imminent return it would be better for the Cullen's if they returned later," she suggested trying to sound neutral as she hid her panic.

"Of course," Aro agreed. The rest of the guard seemed to relax and become bored with the conversation. "Perhaps you would be so kind to show them around our city Bella?"

"If you wish, my lord," Bella accepted formally. "Please follow me," she gestured to the Cullen's to follow her.

"Isabella," Aro called after her, "just this once," he warned.

"Understood," she replied as she led the Cullens out of the castle.

"What was that all about?" Emmett asked frustrated by the half-spoken conversation.

"I'll explain outside," Bella promised before the others could speak. It took them a few minutes to get out traveling at human speed. "Sophia," Bella greeted the woman sitting in the reception area. "Isabella," the woman replied in turn. Once they were out in the city Bella breathed a sigh of relief.

"So, what were you talking about?" Emmett demanded to know the moment he smelt fresh air.

"Heidi is bringing back dinner," Bella explained. "I thought it would be better to talk after the blood had stopped flowing."

"What did Aro mean, 'just this once'?" Alice asked.

"Oh, all of the guard are required to be at every – meal." They walked slowly through the streets, the others digesting this information as they made their way to the main plaza. "We're lucky it's so cloudy today," Bella commented looking up at the sky. "I hate to think of all of you trapped inside on a day like today." She glanced back to see Carlisle, Esme, Alice and Jasper all exchanging worried glances. "All of you really should stop worrying so much, I'm fine."

"Is there anywhere to shop around here?" Rosalie suddenly asked, breaking the tension.

"A few places," Bella replied with a laugh. "Come on, I'll show you." She led them out into the city. As they travelled from store to store they talked and joked, catching up on their last few years apart. Several hours later Bella noticed Alice seemed to be concentrating very hard on something. "Want some space to think?" she asked Alice too quiet for the others to hear.

"If only," Alice sighed. Bella merely smiled as she extended her shield around Alice.

"Now you do," Bella replied a little smugly. Edward immediately turned to see if Alice had gone. "I told you I was working on shielding others," Bella said by way of explanation. "We should head back now, or Aro will be convinced you've stolen me away." The return trip was much quicker as they didn't stop to shop. The Cullens all noticed a change come over Bella as they re-entered the castle, she became more subdued, more still.

Edward was the only one who realized that Bella pulled back her shield, exposing Alice's thoughts as soon as they crossed the threshold. Jane was waiting for them in the lobby. "Hello Jane," Bell greeted her.

"Aro would like to see the Cullens in the reception hall," Jane informed them, "and Marcus would like to speak to you . . . downstairs."

Bella froze for a moment before she replied. "Thank you Jane," she turned to the Cullens. "It was a pleasure seeing you all again, I hope we can meet again soon." She smiled briefly before her face became a smooth mask and she left them in Jane's hands. Bella was slightly trepidatious as she made her way down to the room where she had spent three days writhing in pain.

"Close the door," Marcus ordered when she arrived. Bella obeyed sealing them off from the rest of the castle. "Before you may be allowed to join my personal guard Aro insists on sending you out to take care of some law breakers to test your skill."

"And my loyalty," she added unsurprised. "May I ask shy we are having this conversation here?"

"There is something I must know without the others hearing," Marcus stated. "The bond between you and the Cullens is strong, it is however much stronger with the one named Edward. What is he to you?"

"Everything," Bella stated simply. The Cullens left that evening and two days later and Bella was sent with Jane and Demitri to eliminate a small coven of vampires who had caused devastation in a small African town. One month later Aro agreed to assign Bella to Marcus' personal guard. Time seemed to move slowly those first few months after she began to serve Marcus. Because he never left Volterra there was little to protect him from. Aro continued to oversee her training, so her first year as a vampire passed.

Sometime into her second year Marcus began having Bella shield him for small periods of time, eventually the amount of time became longer and longer. It was during these times that Bella became concerned for Marcus. The pain she would see in his eyes was devastating. "My lord," she broached the topic one day as she lowered her shield. "May I ask why you have me do this?

"Your Edward, you lost him once when you were human, didn't you?" Marcus countered his voice reverting back to disinterest.

"I did," Bella answered a little confused by the conversation.

"You felt pain?" the sentence was somewhere between a question and a statement, and Bella finally understood.

"You lost someone," she stated, "and Chelsea and Corin stop you from really feeling it."

"They have stopped me from feeling much of anything," Marcus clarified. "How did you survive?"

Bella understood exactly what he was asking, but she still took a full minute to answer. "When Edward left the pain was unendurable. My mind built a cage around itself to protect me. I stopped feeling anything for a time, until I realized such pain is never driven away, it can only be lived with. I made myself wake up, and it was not too long after that I realized I could grow strong enough to handle the pain. Because feeling something was better than feeling nothing," Bella explained hesitantly, not sure her words were making any sense.

Marcus' silent understanding was all she needed. Over the years they spoke of Marcus' loss on several occasions but mostly their time together was the silent understanding of two people who had once lost everything. At times Bella would be asked to protect members of the guard on their missions. During her time with the Volturi Bella made friends with other members of the guard, many of whom left their service before she did.

Strangely enough her longest and closest friend in the guard was Felix. They would spend hours together talking, he would tell her of his many years as a vampire, and she would share her memories of being human in the 20th century. Aro looked on friendship with pleasure, hoping her ties to Felix would encourage her to stay. The fact that he still couldn't read her mind was always a problem for him.

"Bella, tomorrow is the big day isn't it?" Felix asked from the door to her room. He had watched her pack in silence.

"Yes, I'm going home," Bella replied with a satisfied smile.

"You could stay here," Felix said with a shrug, hoping she would stay, but knowing she wouldn't.

"Felix, we've talked about this," Bella sighed. "The Cullens are my family, they are my home. I have had a wonderful time here with all of you, and I've learned so much, but it's time for me to go home." She stepped forward and gave Felix a light hug. "Let's go for one last walk." The next morning Bella, when her term of service was officially over, she went to speak to Marcus first before going to Aro. "Lord Marcus," she greeted him in his private study.

"You are leaving us today," he stated mildly.

"Yes," Bella paused for a moment then smiled. "I just wanted to thank you for my time here. It has been a pleasure serving you." They looked at each other for a long moment, then Marcus inclined his head and she was dismissed. She said good bye to others as she passed them in the halls on her way to see Aro.

"Is it time already?" Aro asked when he saw Bella standing in his doorway.

"Twenty years," she reminded him.

"Bella is there nothing that will entice you to stay?" Aro inquired sadly.

"You know there isn't," Bella answered. "If if makes you feel better, I will come back and visit."

Aro laughed a little at this, "Our contract is fulfilled, and your family is safe," he replied formally.

"Thank you Aro, for everything," she smiled genuinely, turned on her heel, and was gone. Her bags were in the lobby, and she did not look back as she carried them out to the car waiting to take her to the airport. On the drive her phone rang, she answered after one ring. "Hello Alice," she greeted her almost sister.

"You're coming home?" Alice gasped, overjoyed.

"I just need to know where to go," Bella replied smiling to herself.

"Chicago," Alice answered giving her the full address, "and don't worry. I won't tell the others," she promised.

"I'll see you soon," they hung up the phone, and after that it was a simple matter. Two planes later and Bella was in a cab on her way to the address Alice had given her. The cab driver let her out setting her bags on the curb. He drove away with a crisp $100 bill in his hand. Bella quickly climbed up the stairs to the front door of the house, and ignoring the door knocker and bell she opened the door. "Anybody home?" she called out.

"Bella!" Esme called from the top of the stairs. "You're home!" a second later they were embracing. Moments later the rest of the Cullens had appeared. Bella was passed from person to person, hugging them all. Finally she was in Edward's arms, and before he could speak she kissed him. Eventually she pulled away to say, "I'm home," before kissing him again.

The End

Author's Note: Before anyone asks, I will not be writing a sequel. I had only one idea for Twilight and this was it. I hope you enjoyed it, I know it wasn't as long as most would want, but it was the best I could do.