Devils Tongue- Jacob Black

13

"You all know what Edward wants. And you know what I want. But I won't force myself on you..." Bella began, standing in the middle of the Cullen living room. Edward leaned against the staircase, thoroughly dissaorovong of the meeting itself, bit still reluctantly being in attendance.

"This is so dramatic" Delphine declares from her spot on the couch "I love it"

Bella gave her a small smile of appreciation, before continuing "I think the only fair way to handle this is by vote-"

"You can't be serious" Edward muttered, only to be interrupted by Bella

Bella cut him off, firmly insisting "This is my meeting, Edward"

Delphine laughed and pointed at her brother "Yeah, Eddie. You heard the woman. Shut up!"

Esme frowned at Delphine, telling her in a scolding tone "That's not nice"

Edward, clearly frustrated, returned to his silence as Delphine chuckled. Bella faces the family again, and continued to speak "However this turns out, I'm not letting the Volturi hurt you. I'll go back to Italy alone-"

"The hell you will." Emmett declared stubbornly "I'm not missing another fight."

"That's not up for a vote, Emmett" Bella responded with an amused smile "I don't want you involved."

"We've always been involved, honey, and we're not going to stop-" Esme tried to ration, but Bella cut her off after a moment

"No, please -- I want you to seriously think about this. If I join you, you'll be stuck with me for a long time - forever. It's a huge decision. And I want - I need your honesty here."  The family nodded, all agreeing to her terms. Bella took a breath, before speaking again "Then let's take a vote... Alice?"

Alice jumps up and hugs Bella, a smile lighting up her face immediately "Like you're not already my sister. Of course, yes!"

Jasper rises, but keeps his distance as he spoke up next "I vote yes. It'll be a relief not to want to kill you"

Bella clearly didn't know how to respond, but said after a moment "Um. Thanks? Okay, Rosalie?"

Rosalie, torn, looks at Edward's Stony expression as she says, "Edward, I'm sorry for what I did. I really am. And I know you're not ready to forgive me..." She looks at Bella, her perfect features twisting into a look of sadness "But this isn't the life I'd have chosen for myself. I wish there'd been someone to vote no for me..." she exchanges a tense glance with Carlisle "So... no."

"Bella takes it stoically, but breaks into a smile as Emmett bounds over and lifts her into a bear hug, exclaiming "I vote hell yeah. We can pick a fight with these Volturi some other way."

Delphine looked up as all eyes turned to her "Oh, is it my turn?" When Bella gave her a nod, she stood "Well, I didn't prepare a speech or anything, but here goes. You make Edward happy, Bella. Happier than I've ever seen him. And I don't want that to go away when you do. So, I vote yes"

Bella veins and turns to Esme, who approaches and embraces her warmly. "I already think of you as part of the family. Yes." She responds softly, to which Bella nodded and thanked her, before turning to Carlisle .