Forget Me Not | ✓

12 | Voting On Immortality

12
New Moon
V o t i n g O n I m m o r t a l i t y

THE PLANE RIDES back to Forks was silent and peaceful. No one questioned Adele about her decision to go to Volterra and she didn't want them to. She faced her fears and now she was over all of it. During the entire ride, she ignored the crumpled note in her pocket mocking her – you missed your chance, Adele, and now you won't get another.

The car ride back from the small airport was just as silent and Bella slept on Edward for most of the time. It was the first good sleep she'd had in months. He was staying, all of the Cullens were. There wasn't any furniture in the house yet except for the beds, but they were already starting the process of moving their belongings back to the Forks home. They could stay a few more years and just lay low. Everyone preferred it that way.

They all walked into the Cullen house an hour later but instead of everyone gathered in the living room, they were gathered in the den where Bella's birthday party was held last year.

Rosalie was the first to run to Adele, "Oh my god!" She sighed in relie. Carlisle's head snapped up and he sped over to her. He put his hands on her shoulders and sighed before engulfing her in a hug.

"Are you all alright?" Esme asked her, joining in.

"Yeah." Alice nodded, setting her keys down, "Bella and Edward are talking outside."

"What happened?" questioned Rose, beckoning them in, "Tell us everything." Her bad mood was gone. After realizing that Adele risked everything to go to Volterra to save Edward and Bella, she started to accept the fact that Bella wasn't going anywhere.  Adele waved the question off and shed her leather jacket. Everyone glanced at her cautiously and she really wished they wouldn't.

"You should have seen her," Alice said in her low, chirpy voice as she hugged Jasper. Her gaze flickered to Adele as she sat down on the railing of the stairs, "She was amazing. She didn't even lift a finger and she had the entire Guard off of us and under her control."

Jasper furrowed his eyebrows. Surely his girlfriend was just exaggerating as usual. "What do you mean?"

"I manipulated them into thinking they were in pain."

"Don't say it so casually!" she exclaimed, "She even went after Jane when she tried to use her abilities on Edward!"

Carlisle's eyes widened. "Your abilities have progressed?" He, too, knew nothing of it. Maybe they didn't know her as well as they thought.

She shrugged, "I just got angry."

"Angry, yes." Edward appeared in the doorway with Bella looming behind him, "But more that that, protective. Thank you for what you did. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you, but plan to try."

Adele nodded once and as Edward walked further into the room, his set his lips into a thin line, "Bella asked for a meeting with all of us."

She wrung her fingers anxiously but regain her confidence as Carlisle and Esme nodded her on. Adler didn't realize she wasn't paying them much attention as she walked over to the window and gazed out of it, thinking if she'd ever see the silver wolf again. Bella cleared her threat, "You all know what Edward wants. And you know what I want. But I won't force myself on you..." Edward leaned exasperatedly against the railing as she talked, "I think the only fair way to handle this is by vote–"

"–You can't be serious–" he objected.

"–This is my meeting, Edward." she cut him off firmly. Emmett smirked at her new confidence. Clearly frustrated, he sat back. She turned to them again, "However this turns out, I'm not letting the Volturi hurt you. I'll go back to Italy alone–"