It passes in a blur. Well, mostly a blur, but it goes by fast, too fast, and before she knows it they're back in Forks freshly dressed as they run through the woods.

Roman would loathe to admit that it was fighting ware, something stylish and chosen carefully by Alice, pulled from one of the many backpacks that she hadn't even known that they had, and while Kachiri, Nahuel and Huilen respectfully denied the offer of new clothes, their small group looked incredibly put together.

She was in her regular hiking boots, the same pair that she had worn the entire time away as if for luck with a slim, dark windbreaker paired with a tight pair of pants. She looked very typical, very Roman, that she couldn't help but feel incredible and powerful -- hopefully optimistic with a rose-tinted view of how this was all going to go. She was ready and her romantic heart reared its head at the thought of being reunited with her mates and daughter, claiming that her coming in chancing the tides was so romantic that everyone else might actually be sick.

And goodness, the chance to see Seth -- her little brother that had been shoved to the back of her mind to keep the guilt from becoming dual waves of unbearable guilt only to have it resurface more and more the closer that they got.

Alice had explained that they were set to meet in the same clearing that they had faced Victoria's newborn army. This time she was allowed to come in a cruel, twisted turn of fate that made her so inconceivably distraught that she had ever wished to be there with them, to begin with.

After having finally finding Nahuel, Alice took the time to fully explain everything that she had planned down to the moment of them arriving and the importance of their timing. Kachiri was there to help Roman in the end in a way that Alice or Jasper hadn't been able to. Nahuel had been on the move, unpredictable in every way that she as a tracker was able to perceive, but with someone that was native to the land, they had been able to work out his path well enough to catch them both. From there, it had been a matter of convincing, of demonstrating Romulus and letting his mother, letting Roman herself beg for his help as someone that didn't want to lose her child.

It resonated with them quite well as they declared that they would come and prove that he was no threat to the existence of their species.

More than that, it was a moment that had brought Roman to her knees with dry sobs as she held her son.

Nahuel was 150 years old. His ageing had slowed until it stopped completely and as he was. Her Romulus was going to stay with her forever, just as she had always known, but now she knew, now she had the proof that had decimated every tiny, niggling shred of worry and doubt that had been left to linger in her mind.

He was the bringer of so many great things and Romulus absolutely loved the man.

Roman reached back to feel her son at her back, checking to make sure that he still held tight now that he was clinging to her as opposed to being ported around in the carrier as they had been doing the entire time. The boy had sited it to be embarrassing and didn't want anyone to see him like that, especially his sister.

Her frozen heart skipped at the thought of seeing her daughter.

"Steady yourself, Roman. You have to keep your thoughts steady," Jasper scolds gently, reminding her of the strained, rushed practice that they had done at hiding things away.

It was difficult at first, impossible to test and worse, gave her a terrible headache that she believed only possible as a human, but in eery predator there was the possibility for prey, and every prey had their own survival instincts. Disappearing from detection, hiding herself away completely to be overlooked, camouflaged to the world, was her sole defence. It wasn't the most spectacular bit of her gift, but it was enough for her to go up to face Aro when she arrived.

Because she had to go in alone, had to give him her thoughts and memories and those of her son without any protection against him then and there other than the hope that he wouldn't kill them on the spot in cold blood.

"It's hard. I can't force it to just work without it hurting," she tells him, brows pinching together at the pain that formed behind her eyes. "I don't know how to just turn this thing on and off."

"I admit that we should have worked harder on that while we had the chance, but it's important that you keep everything to yourself for now."

"I don't see why. You'll be coming out right after me anyway so I don't know why we can't go out together."

"It's part of the plan," Alice chimes, pausing with a thoughtful expression for a breath. "Change of plan. You come out afterward with Nahuel, Huilen and Romulus. Jasper and I will approach first."

Roman blinks once, then groans. "Why?"

"This way you don't have to hide a thing unless you want to. That will be up to you, but you won't be so vulnerable this way."

"Or we can stick to the original plan instead of changing it at the last minute?" she counters, smoothing her expression out purposely. "I'll just go out alone if you're so worried. Romulus can go with you."

Alice shakes her head quickly. "No. Keep him with you, it's important that you do and that Aro sees him. Make sure that Aro sees him, Roman."

She swallows thickly, pointlessly, before she nods, and pats her son again in encouragement, a silent promise that everything was going to be okay.

"I will."

Stoically, Alice stops running, pulling everyone to a stop. "You go first. We'll be there soon, Roman. You aren't alone."

"I know and I never have to be alone again," she says, taking Alice by the hand. She squeezes it gently, pulling her sister in for a side hug. "Thank you. For everything."

"I'll see you soon," Alice mutters.

"See you soon."

Romulus doesn't speak as he climbs around her to jump at his aunt, hugging him as tight as his tiny body will allow before returning to his spot of her back.

The clearing wasn't far away, not to her that held newborn strength and flew across the distance as if it was nothing. She knew the way like she knew the back of her hand, like she could sketch her childhood bedroom and the perpetual mess. It snapped into place, each person their own hazy light that was nothing compared to the pack that she knew, to the Cullen's that were her family, or the brilliant beam that was her mates, Renesmee and Seth. She would recognize them anywhere, be able to find them anywhere, and the inky trail across her thoughts lead her straight there.

Before she knew it, she was slowing to the space in the trees, calm and silent as she refused to make her presence known -- imperceptible as she wished she truly was, hopefully invisible to their senses.

Roman took in the Volturi first. The outer perimeter was gray; the colour darkened with each line of bodies until the heartof the formation was the deepest black. Every face was cowled, shadowed. The middle, those in cloaks devoid of all colour, the three centermost figures, had to be the three kings: Aro, Caius and Marcus.

She recognized them from the painting in Carlisle's office, their appearance only slightly changed from the aged cracking of oil paint of canvas. They were ashy in complexion, but beautiful in their right.

Across from them, she didn't dare to look as she took in a deep breath, silencing the nerves in her stomach that twisted and turned uncomfortable, and stepped out from the cover of pine needles and shadows, boots leaving a soft print in the clear snow.

The soft gasp of her name, broken and twisted, rough and heavy with emotion, was like music to her ears, Bella breathing out the syllables in the musical tone of her voice. The murmurs that followed were like a rumble of thunder before lightning struck.

And then lightning struck and she was arching forward, knees knocking out from beneath her as she crumbled with a silent cry painting her lips that were oh so dry but must have been coated with blood as testimony to her pain.

It was pain that struck through her nerves, each one alight with fire and venom and death and brokenbrokenbroken that tore her apart, ripped her at the seams and destroyed her being, as her mind threw away everything that she was turning her into nothing and no one meant to feel only hurt.

"Mamma!"The screamed blanketed her, shoving everything back as her head snapped up, fighting against the flames as she searched for the source.

Romulus was on the ground before her, tears welling in his eyes with wet cheeks. He was shaking. It was enough to bring her back to her feet, each movement precise, the thought barely crossing her mind before it was done.

The pain was pushed back, kept away for later, locked just as she had that first time with her thirst and her hunger. There were more important things to focus on, steps relevant to her goal. Succumbing to pain was not something that she needed right now.

Aware of Renesmee's sobs, she spared a glance to her daughter and forced a smile, memorizing each of her features with a small smile. She was in Bella's arms, clinging to her mother. Her wife held herself back poorly, Zafrina's hand holding her firmly in place as Emmett held the other. And Edward, he was curled in on himself, eyes tortured as he met hers. No one held him back, but no one needed to when he appeared to be in pain just at the sight of hers.

Her smile is much more true, much more honest as she faces them, stepping forward on trembling legs as she holds her son with shaky hands.

All at once, the pain is gone and she stumbles as gracefully that a vampire could as the sudden freedom.

"Roman has returned after all," the dark-haired, red-eyed, man in the middle chimes happily, clapping his hands together. "And she has brought young Romulus home safe and sound."

"I have," she calls back, steadying herself as she clears her mind. She encourages Romulus to scurry to her back. "Can I?" she asks, holding her hand out to the empty space between them.

"I would be delighted, my dear."

She in front of him in a second, stilling completely as she's stopped early by a man larger than Emmett in a grey cloak. She holds out her hand once more.

His hold is gentle as he reads her, expression curious, and she allows herself a brief moment to marvel at his gifts, at the how different it was to Edward's. To read every thought that a person's ever had by a simple touch, to see all of that in only a few short seconds, must have been baffling. It was such a powerful, intriguing thing.

"Remarkable," he breathes, turning his wide, thin grin to her. "You conceal your thoughts so effortlessly."

She releases a startled laugh. "I hadn't even realized that I've done it. It is not something that comes easily to me."

"Yet you do so now without a thought. Remarkable."

"Not truly. I've heard of all the gifts that you have in your guard. I'm honestly kind of jealous of your tracker Demetri," she admits sheepishly, knowing that he already knew as much but needing to say it anyway. "He's said to be the best tracker to exist and I can't help but wonder how I compare."

Aro's laugh is high and abrupt, hard on the ears. "Ah, I'm sure he would be honoured to learn as well. I have never encountered a tracker such as yourself that might be able to hold against him."

"Oh, the honour would be mine, I assure you," she quick to say, eyes darting to the dark cloaks around them, wondering which one he was.

"Yes, yes, I'm sure," he trails off, attention shifting to her son as he watches the encounter curiously. "May I?"

Roman nods once. "Romulus, baby, come say hello."

He shuffles around her, climbing her as if he was a monkey and she his post, and once secured in her arms he holds out a tiny hand with little fanfare, letting his thoughts be read as if it was nothing and of little concern.

Her prideful smile is poorly hidden.

Aro gasps, laugh almost giddy as his head snaps to where she came from.

Taking a chance, she takes a few steps away, putting a small distance between them while he remains distracted. She takes her chance, memorizing all of their faces, all of their stances and the expression to their eyes just as Jasper had told her to, searching out their individual scents that best that she could, locking them into place as quickly as possible.

And then her eyes find his, locking onto his and the crimson stare that he readily returns. He was tall and lean, his complexion an ashen olive with dark hair that reached his shoulders. Demetri was somehow everything and nothing that she had imagined, as curious as it was, and she was immensely intrigued with all that he was capable of.

Still, upon seeing his face, seeing the detached yet stiff way that he stood, Roman knew in an instant that she could take him. That he might now have the flavour of her mind, but she had scented him, she had looked into the eyes of the beast, had pegged him as her target and goal, and there was no way that he could get away from her even if he wanted. She would chase him to the ends of the earth if she had to, would turn into nothing more than a baseless predator whose sole intent was to destroy his very existence, and there was no way that he would ever be able to hide from her when she was both perfect prey and predator.

Roman tilts her head and offers him a smile that's all teeth, beaming as she senses the others getting closer.

They were coming, they were here.

Edward hisses a soft, "Yes."

"It took you long enough," she says once they're in hearing range once more. "You could have warned me how this was going to turn out."

Alice steps into the clearing. "I told you to keep Romulus within sight."

A ripple ran through both sides of the fight as the petite vampire came forward, a small skip in her stride as she kept pace with Jasper.

"Alice!" Esme cried. Aro echoed the sentiment.

There was no doubt that he had wanted her more than anything, her absolutely unique ability to view the future making her the most precious, more powerful prize that he could possess. It was why they hadn't told a soul where they were going, why all the secrecy and hurt feelings had been necessary.

Rather, it was the most important reason to justify their actions.

Kachiri, Nahuel and Huilen were close behind, following in behind with shoulders held back as if they were not the saviours.

Because Roman didn't pay attention to what was happening as she came in, didn't take the time to notice before she was on her knees writhing in pain, but to them, it was clear that she brought only good tidings and relief -- well, they did, and Roman allowed herself solace in the fact that she had helped ensure that this could happen.

She had found him, she had tracked Nahuel down and convinced him to come with all the begging and pleas that a mother could.

Hurting her mates, hurting her family, wasn't all in vain if they could forgive her this.

"Alice has been searching for her own witnesses these last weeks," Edward said. "And she does not come back empty-handed. Alice, why don't you introduce the witnesses you've brought?"

She didn't hesitate as she skipped toward Aro, hand held out before her as Jasper hovered and the others stopped near the middle.

"The time for witnesses is over!" Caius shouts. "Aro, cast your vote."

Roman bristles. "I have gone a long way to find them. Will you not give me my chance to argue for my son and daughter when they've all had their turn?" she asks somberly, cradling her son's head for effect.

Aro clasps his hand with Alice.

"This is Huilen and her nephew, Nahuel," Alice voices for those that can't see.

Caius's eyes tightened as Alice named the relationship between the newcomers. TheVolturi witnesses hissed amongst themselves. The vampire world was changing, and everyone could feel it.

"Speak, Huilen," Aro commanded. "Give us the witness you were brought to bear."

The slight woman looked to Alice nervously. Alice nodded in encouragement, and Kachiri put her hand on the little vampire's shoulder

And then she spoke, Huilen telling the story of her sister and the vampire, Joham, of the birth of her nephew and everything that had happened through those long years. She told of their lifestyle and the way of life.

With each word Roman could practically hear Edward and Bella falling apart, could hear their relief. It made her insides warm and heart sing to know that they no longer had to be afraid. All of their fears would be gone after today.

Aro's questions followed quickly as he searched for all the answers, listening clearly in the hopes that there might be a reason, a possibility that he could turn this against them, but as Nahuell spoke it was clear there was nothing to hide, that there was hardly a difference between a full immortal and a half one such as him.

"Your daughter, is she venomous?" Caius demands, voice a snarl as he looks between Roman and Bella. "And you, your son?"

"No," we respond together, calm and collected in the face of his anger that was so close.

Caius growls. "We take care of the aberration here, and then follow it south," he urged Argo.

Aro remained frozen for a long, hard moment, staring into Bella's eyes.

"Brother," he says softly to Caius. "There appears to be no danger. This is an unusual development, but I see no threat. These half-vampire children are much like us, it appears."

"Is that your vote?" Caius demands.

"It is."

Caius scowls. "And this Joham? This immortal so fond of experimentation?"

"Perhaps we should speak with him," Aro agrees.

"Stop Joham if you will," Nahuel says flatly. "But leave my sisters be. They are innocent."

Aro nods, expression solemn. He glances at her quickly, meeting her eyes. "Perhaps we will find reason to meet much sooner than expected, Roman."

"I am more than willing to help you track him down if need be. I have a few choice words for the man before I would see him... removed," she readily agrees, uncaring for the eyes at her back. Her attention flickers to Demetri as she smiles sharply.

"Dear ones," he called. "We do not fight today."

The guard nodded in unison and straightened out of their ready positions

Alice is at her side then, pulling them back as Jasper remains firmly between them in defence. They stop once they meet the middle, waiting for the end to happen.

Three groups stood distinct and clear, the three groups that had come and gathered together.

Aro turned back to face them. "I am pleased that this could be resolved without violence," he announces. "My friend Carlisle! How pleased I am to call you friend again. I hope there are no hard feelings between us. You know the strict duties that are placed on our shoulders."

"Leave in peace," Carlisle says stiffly, cordially. "Please remind your guard that there is a matter of our anonymity to maintain here. I ask that they do not feed within the area."

"Of course, my dear friend," he replies. "Perhaps, in time, you can forgive me."

"Perhaps, in time, when you have proven yourself a friend again."

Aro bowed his head, the picture of remorse, and drifted backward for a moment before he turned around. In silence as the last of the Volturi disappeared into the trees.

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Hello, so I've been looking over some of the old chapters and I've been wondering if Roman still sorta acts the same? Like baring char growth and all that Jazz, is she like the same person in the inside ??

(Because that's actually my biggest fear when writing, that I make my own characters of or too much like another character, or wtv)

unedited
2020-04-28