I did find it slightly strange that Edward wasn't waiting for me by my locker at the end of the day but pushed the thought to the back of my head. I switched my books and met the rest of my family outside. They were by the cars no doubt waiting for me.

"There you are," I smile towards by husband but it dims when I realize I had startled him. I look over to where he had been staring. My shoulders tense and I purse my lips. I look back at Edward and I can just see the multiple excuses running through his head. "Why don't we just go home?" I suggest brushing past him and towards our car.

I glace towards Rose. She gives me a small smile but I just look away from her. I open the car door when I hear tires sliding across the ice. My head snaps towards the sound. I didn't even realize that I had smiled when I saw the van sliding straight for Bella. However, it disappears when Edward suddenly appears beside the human, saving her in the nick of time.

I stare at Edward as he and Bella share a look. There's more emotion in that single look towards her than he has ever given to me. The cold hard truth becomes near impossible to ignore.

Edward stands and leaves the scene. He doesn't spare me a look as he goes towards the woods. I close my eyes trying to keep myself together. I jump when I feel a hand rub my back. Opening my eyes I see Emmett standing there while Rosalie speeds off in the car.

"Let's go home," Emmett says gently. I give him a small smile. I couldn't help but to look back towards Bella as everyone fusses over her. I couldn't help but to wonder what was so special about the human.

Turning away from her, I slide into the car. Emmett closes the door and gets into the drivers seat. We're gone before the ambulance arrives.

The drive is quiet. I'm thankful that Emmett doesn't try to start up a conversation. I only wish that we could get home sooner. All I want is to be alone with my thoughts. It might not have been the best thing but it's what I wanted.

Once Emmett parks outside the house, I'm out of sight. Our home is very large and I find myself wondering around. Emmett has gone to his room, Esme is around somewhere, while Jasper and Alice are most likely somewhere in the woods. Carlisle is at the hospital getting an earful from Rosalie, I can only assume Edward is with them or still sulking in the forest.

Almost as if I were drawn to it, I find myself standing in front of a large painting in a small room. It's dated and worn but otherwise in excellent condition. However, the condition of the painting is the least of my concerns. I'm more focused on who is in the painting rather than how it's held up over the centuries.

There are four men in the picture but I only focus on the main three, the kings of the vampire world. They're standing on a balcony in the Volturi castle located in Volterra, Italy. The painting does an excellent job in capturing the ruthlessness of the kings.

"Mother!"

I wince as I hear my sisters scream echo in my mind. The fear in their voices are as fresh as if I had heard them screaming yesterday.

I'm too late, the Volturi have my mother and sisters in their grasp. I never should have left them. If I had stayed, I could have prevented this from ever happening.

Holding onto the last bit of hope, I race towards my family praying I can stop the Volturi from killing them. I know I won't be able to save my brother, Vasilii, but I have to try to save my mother and sisters.

"No," I whisper coming to a screeching stop. I can feel my body freeze in place as Marcus walks behind my mother. I see Aro grin wickedly at my siblings while Caius watches my mother with a ruthless yet joyful smirk. I go to speak up hoping that I could persuade them to leave my family alone but before I can, Aro gives his guard a nod. The two men holding my mother rip her arms off. She screams for only a second before Marcus removes her head and tosses it in the fire.

I hit the ground before I even notice my legs giving out. My sisters scream and cry in pain. My hand clutches my chest as my entire body fills with pain. Venom clouds my eyes as my body slowly rocks on the ground.

A moment later, Jane tosses my brother into the depths of the fire. While I knew Vasilii would die, seeing his death only added to the unbearable pain. Out of all my siblings I was the most silent. My mouth was open but no sound escaped my lips for no sound could truly describe the pain.

Eventually, I'm noticed. Two guards are by my side in an instant. They grab my arms and pull me to a stand. The sudden motion snaps me out of my grief. Instantly, the sadness is replaced with fury. I growl viciously and without thinking, I lash out. 

"Nilsa, no!" Tanya shouts but I don't listen. Within seconds, the two Volturi members holding me are dismembered and without a head. I growl angrily towards the kings not bothering to wonder why they don't seem upset about the fact I killed two of their guards.

I only take one step towards them before I fall back to the ground screaming loudly as Jane inflicts her gift on me. While the pain is very strong it doesn't compare to the fact that I just watched my mother and brother die before my own eyes.

"Stop!" Caius orders almost instantly. "Release her this instant," He growls stepping towards Jane. The girl obeys, bows her head and steps back. I look up seeing Aro standing in front of me. He gazes at me curiously while holding a hand towards me.

I refuse his touch and run.

"Why did it have to be them, Carlisle?" I whisper snapping out of my memory when I sense someone entering the room.

"I don't know," Carlisle answer truthfully. "There has to be a reason but I'm not sure what it is,"

"Must be life's cruel way of punishing me for my sins," I mutter looking down at my feet.

"Or you can think of it as life's way of punishing them for theirs" Carlisle says moving towards me. My eyes glance up towards him. 

"Damn, Carlisle, I know I can be a bit much but I didn't think I was that bad," I tease lightly. He gives me a gentle yet stern look.

"You know that's not what I meant," Carlisle says. "Their actions drove you away and they know this. As invincible as the kings seem, they feel the affects of the bond just as you do. I have no doubt that the guilt has only increased over the years,"

"We're supposed to complete each other, be perfect for each other. How am I supposed to accept them? How can I forgive them?" I ask taking a deep unneeded breath. "I know why they killed her and I understand why they did it but..."

"She was still your mother," Carlisle finishes gently.

"Why must one of the most beautiful things in the world have to be so complicated?" I ask wrapping my arms around his torso. Carlisle accepts the hug and rubs my back. "Is Edward back?" I ask pulling from him.

"Go gentle on him," Carlisle nods. "Rose already did a number on him,"

"Edward's a big boy," I smirk winking at him. "He can handle it," Carlisle smiles shaking his head as I walk around him. I leave the room and go find Edward. "Well, you certainly know how to make a day interesting,"

"What was I supposed to do? Let her die?" Edward snapped causing me to raise my eyebrows at him.

"No need to bite my head off," I said walking into the room. "And to answer that question, yes" I said obviously. "She's an insignificant human." I tell him. "Let the bitch die, no need to risk exposure"

"Look, I heard everything from Rose, I don't need to hear it from you" Edward says rolling his eyes.

"Well, tough you're going to hear it from me," I tell him. He gives me a look but I return it tenfold. "Isabella Swan is nothing to you, do you understand me?" I ask walking up to him. "I swear, Edward, if you continue whatever this is, it won't end well for either of you" I promise. Edward's eyes hard but I don't back down. "The only reason I continue this vegetarian diet is because I respect Carlisle and his rules. Do not tempt me." I growl gripping his chin tightly. "Or the first human I drink out of will be your precious, Bella" I whisper.

"Don't threaten me," Edward growled wrapping his hand around my throat and shoving me against the wall. I growled back gripping his wrist.

"You're mine Edward Cullen," I tell him. "If you think I'm going to give you up, you're wrong"

"I'm not yours," Edward says releasing my throat. His tone softens as he steps back. "I was never yours, not really," My jaw clenches. "Just like your not mine,"

"Edward," I say slowly. "Love is a choice. I choose you," I stress. "Just like you chose me,"

"We were fooling each other," Edward says.

"No," I growl stepping towards him. "I love you and you love me, that's all there is. This isn't complicated, Edward. Stop thinking with you dick. Isabella Swan is insignificant! I'm your wife!"

"We're married but we're not mates," Edward tells me.

"I know that!" I snap glaring at him. "Life is full of choices, we get to choose what path we get to go down. I didn't like what fate had in store for me so I changed my path and it brought me to you. We chose each other." I stare at him for a moment before forcing myself to calm down. "We chose each other," I whisper walking up to him. "I'm happy with you, I love you," I tell him while placing my hands on his chest. "After everything we've been through, can you not say the same about me?"

"I am happy with you," Edward says placing his hands over mine. "I do love you," I smile pulling one of my hands out of his grip and wrap it around his neck. I quickly bring our lips together. Edward is tense at first but gives into the kiss.

"This is going to work, Edward. It's been working. You just have to ignore Bella and focus on me," I whisper looking into his eyes. Edward's eyes pour into mine. I can sense he wants to say something but stays silent. "I love you," I whisper before kissing him again.

The next few days gave me hope. Edward seemed to come back to me and ignore Bella. It was like I had my husband again.

It lasted for a week before Edward started slipping through my fingers again. I felt like I was trying to hold onto a handful of sand. No matter what I did, the sand just continued to slip out.

The fastest I've seen Edward move was seconds after Alice gets a vision. I had been sitting next to Rose going through a catalog when Alice tensed. A few seconds later Edward was in his Volvo and speeding away from the house. 

When Alice came out of her vision she looked worried but when she looked at me the worry turned into guilt. I didn't need to be a mind reader to understand what Alice had seen. While I didn't know the specifics, I knew it revolved around Bella.

A thought crosses my mind; how much longer will I have Edward?