"So it was a combination of things there at the end, but what it really boiled down to was... Bella,"Edward was explaining. Our family and our two remaining guests sat in the Cullens' great room while theforest turned black outside the tall windows.

　　Vladimir and Stefan had vanished before we'd stopped celebrating. They were extremely disappointedin the way things had turned out, but Edward said that they'd enjoyed the Volturi's cowardice almostenough to make up for their frustration.

　　Benjamin and Tia were quick to follow after Amun and Kebi, anxious to let them know the outcome ofthe conflict; I was sure we would see them again—Benjamin and Tia, at least. None of the nomadslingered. Peter and Charlotte had a short conversation with Jasper, and then they were gone, too.

　　The reunited Amazons had been anxious to return home as well—they had a difficult time being awayfrom their beloved rain forest—though they were more reluctant to leave than some of the others.

　　"You must bring the child to see me," Zafrina had insisted. "Promise me, young one."Nessie had pressed her hand to my neck, pleading as well.

　　"Of course, Zafrina," I'd agreed.

　　"We shall be great friends, my Nessie," the wild woman had declared before leaving with her sisters.

　　The Irish coven continued the exodus.

　　"Well done, Siobhan," Carlisle complimented her as they said goodbye.

　　"Ah, the power of wishful thinking," she answered sarcastically, rolling her eyes. And then she wasserious. "Of course, this isn't over. The Volturi won't forgive what happened here."Edward was the one to answer that. "They've been seriously shaken; their confidence is shattered. But,yes, I'm sure they'll recover from the blow someday. And then . . ." His eyes tightened. "I imagine they'lltry to pick us offseparately.""Alice will warn us when they intend to strike," Siobhan said in a sure voice. "And we'll gather again.

　　Perhaps the time will come when our world is ready to be free of the Volturi altogether.""That time may come," Carlisle replied. "If it does, we'll stand together.""Yes, my friend, we will," Siobhan agreed. "And how can we fail, when /will it otherwise?" She let out agreat peal of laughter.

　　"Exactly," Carlisle said. He and Siobhan embraced, and then he shook Liam's hand. "Try to find Alistairand tell him what happened. I'd hate to think of him hiding under a rock for the next decade."Siobhan laughed again. Maggie hugged both Nessie and me, and then the Irish coven was gone.

　　The Denalis were the last to leave, Garrett with them—as he would be from now on, I was fairly sure.

　　The atmosphere of celebration was too much for Tanya and Kate. They needed time to grieve for theirlost sister.

　　Huilen and Nahuel were the ones who stayed, though I had expected those last two to go back with theAmazons. Carlisle was deep in fascinated conversation with Huilen; Nahuel sat close beside her, listeningwhile Edward told the rest of us the story of the conflict as only he knew it.

　　"Alice gave Aro the excuse he needed to get out of the fight. If he hadn't been so terrified of Bella, heprobably would have gone ahead with their original plan.""Terrified?" I said skeptically. "Of me?"He smiled at me with a look I didn't entirely recognize—it was tender, but also awed and evenexasperated. "When will you ever see yourself clearly?" he said softly. Then he spoke louder, to theothers as well as to me. "The Volturi haven't fought a fair fight in about twenty-five hundred years. Andthey've never, never fought one where they were at a disadvantage. Especially since they gained Jane andAlec, they've only been involved with unopposed slaughterings.

　　"You should have seen how we looked to them! Usually, Alec cuts off all sense and feeling from theirvictims while they go through the charade of a counsel. That way, no one can run when the verdict isgiven. But there we stood, ready, waiting, outnumbering them, with gifts of our own while their gifts wererendered useless by Bella. Aro knew that with Zafrina on our side, they would be the blind ones whenthe battle commenced. I'm sure our numbers would have been pretty severely decimated, but they weresure that theirs would be, too. There was even a good possibility that they would lose. They've neverdealt with that possibility before. They didn't deal with it well today.""Hard to feel confident when you're surrounded by horse-sized wolves," Emmett laughed, pokingJacob's arm.

　　Jacob flashed a grin at him.

　　"It was the wolves that stopped them in the first place," I said.

　　"Sure was," Jacob agreed.

　　"Absolutely," Edward agreed. "That was another sight they've never seen. The true Children of theMoon rarely move in packs, and they are never much in control of themselves. Sixteen enormousregimented wolves was a surprise they weren't prepared for. Caius is actually terrified of werewolves. Healmost lost a fight with one a fewthousand years ago and never got over it.""So there are real werewolves?" I asked. "With the full moon and silver bullets and all that?"Jacob snorted. "Real. Does that make me imaginary?""You know what I mean.""Full moon, yes," Edward said. "Silver bullets, no—that was just another one of those myths to makehumans feel like they had a sporting chance. There aren't very many of them left. Caius has had themhunted into near extinction.""And you never mentioned this because... ?""It never came up."I rolled my eyes, and Alice laughed, leaning forward—she was tucked under Edward's other arm—towink at me.

　　I glared back.

　　I loved her insanely, of course. But now that I'd had a chance to realize that she was really home, thather defection was only a ruse because Edward had to believe that she'd abandoned us, I was beginningto feel pretty irritated with her. Alice had some explaining to do.

　　Alice sighed. "Just get it off your chest, Bella.""How could you do that to me, Alice?""It was necessary.""Necessary!" I exploded. "You had me totally convinced that we were all going to die! I've been awreck for weeks.""It might have gone that way," she said calmly. "In which case you needed to be prepared to saveNessie."Instinctively, I held Nessie—asleep now on my lap—tighter in my arms.

　　"But you knew there were other ways, too," I accused. "You knew there was hope. Did it ever occur toyou that you could have told me everything? I know Edward had to think we were at a dead end forAro's sake, but you could have told me."She looked at me speculatively for a moment. "I don't think so," she said. "You're just not that good anactress.""This was about my acting skills?""Oh, take it down an octave, Bella. Do you have any idea how complicated Ms was to set up? Icouldn't even be sure that someone like Nahuel existed—all I knew was that I would be looking forsomething I couldn't see! Try to imagine searching for a blind spot—not the easiest thing I've ever done.

　　Plus we had to send back the key witnesses, like we weren't in enough of a hurry. And then keeping myeyes open all the time in case you decided to throw me any more instructions. At some point you're goingto have to tell me what exactly is in Rio. Before any of that, I had to try to see every trick the Volturimight come in with and give you what few clues I could so you would be ready for their strategy, and Ionly had just a few hours to trace out all the possibilities. Most of all, I had to make sure you'd all believethat I was ditching out on you, because Aro had to be positive that you had nothing left up your sleevesor he never would have committed to an out the way he did. And if you think I didn't feel like aschmuck—""Okay, okay!" I interrupted. "Sorry! I know it was rough for you, too. It's just that... well, I missed youlike crazy, Alice. Don't do that to me again."Alice's trilling laugh rang through the room, and we all smiled to hear that music once more. "I missedyou, too, Bella. So forgive me, and try to be satisfied with being the superhero of the day."Everyone else laughed now, and I ducked my face into Nessie's hair, embarrassed.

　　Edward went back to analyzing every shift of intention and control that had happened in the meadowtoday, declaring that it was my shield that had made the Volturi run away with their tails between theirlegs. The way everyone looked at me made me uncomfortable. Even Edward. It was like I had grown ahundred feet during the course of the morning. I tried to ignore the impressed looks, mostly keeping myeyes on Nessie's sleeping face and Jacob's unchanged expression. I would always be just Bella to him,and that was a relief.

　　The hardest stare to ignore was also the most confusing one.

　　It wasn't like this half-human, half-vampire Nahuel was used to thinking of me in a certain way. For all heknew, I went around routing attacking vampires every day and the scene in the meadow had beennothing unusual at all. But the boy never took his eyes off me. Or maybe he was looking at Nessie. Thatmade me uncomfortable, too.

　　He couldn't be oblivious to the fact that Nessie was the only female of his kind that wasn't his half-sister.

　　I didn't think this idea had occurred to Jacob yet. I kind of hoped it wouldn't soon. I'd had enoughfighting to last me for a while.

　　Eventually, the others ran out of questions for Edward, and the discussion dissolved into a bunch ofsmaller conversations.

　　I felt oddly tired. Not sleepy, of course, but just like the day had been long enough. I wanted somepeace, some normality. I wanted Nessie in her own bed; I wanted the walls of my own little home aroundme.

　　I looked at Edward and felt for a moment like I could read his mind. I could see he felt exactly the sameway. Ready for some peace.

　　"Should we take Nessie ..."'That's probably a good idea," he agreed quickly. "I'm sure she didn't sleep soundly last night, what withall the snoring."He grinned at Jacob.

　　Jacob rolled his eyes and then yawned. "It's been a while since I slept in a bed. I bet my dad would get akick out of having me under his roof again."I touched his cheek. "Thank you, Jacob.""Anytime, Bella. But you already know that."He got up, stretched, kissed the top of Nessie's head, and then the top of mine. Finally, he punchedEdward's shoulder. "See you guys tomorrow. I guess things are going to be kind of boring now, aren'tthey?""I fervently hope so," Edward said.

　　We got up when he was gone; I shifted my weight carefully so that Nessie was never jostled. I wasdeeplygrateful to see her getting a sound sleep. So much weight had been on her tiny shoulders. It was time shegot to be a child again—protected and secure. A few more years of childhood.

　　The idea of peace and security reminded me of someone who didn't have those feelings all the time.

　　"Oh, Jasper?" I asked as we turned for the door.

　　Jasper was sandwiched tight in between Alice and Es............