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  Caius　looked　to　Aro　for　confirmation；　but　Aro　was　absorbed　in　his　own　thoughts。　He　pursed　his　lips　and
  stared　at　Carlisle；　and　then　Edward；　and　at　last　his　eyes　rested　on　me。
  Caius　growled。　〃We　take　care　of　the　aberration　here；　and　then　follow　it　south；〃　he　urged　Aro。
  Aro　stared　into　my　eyes　for　a　long；　tense　moment。　I　had　no　idea　what　he　was　searching　for；　or　what　he
  found；　but　after　he　had　measured　me　for　that　moment；　something　in　his　face　changed；　a　faint　shift　in　the
  set　of　his　mouth　and　eyes；　and　I　knew　that　Aro　had　made　his　decision。
  〃Brother；〃　he　said　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　demanded。
  〃It　is。〃
  Caius　scowled。　〃And　this　Joham？　This　immortal　so　fond　of　experimentation？〃
  〃Perhaps　we　should　speak　with　him；〃　Aro　agreed。
  〃Stop　Joham　if　you　will；〃　Nahuel　said　flatly。　〃But　leave　my　sisters　be。　They　are　innocent。〃
  Aro　nodded；　his　expression　solemn。　And　then　he　turned　back　to　his　guard　with　a　warm　smile。
  〃Dear　ones；〃　he　called。　〃We　do　not　fight　today。〃
  The　guard　nodded　in　unison　and　straightened　out　of　their　ready　positions。　The　mist　dissipated　swiftly；　but
  I　held　my　shield　in　place。　Maybe　this　was　another　trick。
  I　analyzed　their　expressions　as　Aro　turned　back　to　us。　His　face　was　as　benign　as　ever；　but　unlike　before；
  I　sensed　a　strange　blankness　behind　the　fagade。　As　if　his　scheming　was　over。　Caius　was　clearly　incensed；
  but　his　rage　was　turned　inward　now；　he　was　resigned。　Marcus　looked。。。　bored；　there　really　was　no　other
  word　for　it。　The　guard　was　impassive　and　disciplined　again；　there　were　no　individuals　among　them；　just
  the　whole。　They　were　in　formation；　ready　to　depart。　The　Volturi　witnesses　were　still　wary；　one　after
  another；　they　departed；　scattering　into　the　woods。　As　their　numbers　dwindled；　the　remaining　sped　up。
  Soon　they　were　all　gone。
  Aro　held　his　hands　out　to　us；　almost　apologetic。　Behind　him；　the　larger　part　of　the　guard；　along　with
  Caius；　Marcus；　and　the　silent；　mysterious　wives；　were　already　drifting　quickly　away；　their　formation
  precise　once　again。　Only　the　three　that　seemed　to　be　his　personal　guardians　lingered　with　him。
  〃I'm　so　glad　this　could　be　resolved　without　violence；〃　he　said　sweetly。　〃My　friend；　Carlisle—how
  pleased　I　am　to　call　you　friend　again！　I　hope　there　are　no　hard　feelings。　I　know　you　understand　the　strict
  burden　that　our　duty　places　on　our　shoulders。〃
  〃Leave　in　peace；　Aro；〃　Carlisle　said　stiffly。　〃Please　remember　that　we　still　have　our　anonymity　to　protect
  here；　and　keep　your　guard　from　hunting　in　this　region。〃
  〃Of　course；　Carlisle；〃　Aro　assured　him。　〃I　am　sorry　to　earn　your　disapproval；　my　dear　friend。　Perhaps；　in
  time；　you　will　forgive　me。〃
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  〃Perhaps；　in　time；　if　you　prove　a　friend　to　us　again。〃
  Aro　bowed　his　head；　the　picture　of　remorse；　and　drifted　backward　for　a　moment　before　he　turned
  around。　We　watched　in　silence　as　the　last　four　Volturi　disappeared　into　the　trees。
  It　was　very　quiet。　I　did　not　drop　my　shield。
  〃Is　it　really　over？〃　I　whispered　to　Edward。
  His　smile　was　huge。　〃Yes。　They've　given　up。　Like　all　bullies；　they're　cowards　underneath　the
  swagger。'7He　chuckled。
  Alice　laughed　with　him。　〃Seriously；　people。　They're　not　coming　back。　Everybody　can　relax　now。〃
  There　was　another　beat　of　silence。
  〃Of　all　the　rotten　luck；〃　Stefan　muttered。
  And　then　it　hit。
  Cheers　erupted。　Deafening　howls　filled　the　clearing。　Maggie　pounded　Siobhan　on　the　back。　Rosalie　and
  Emmett　kissed　again—longer　and　more　ardently　than　before。　Benjamin　and　Tia　were　locked　in　each
  other's　arms；　as　were　Carmen　and　Eleazar。　Esme　held　Alice　and　Jasper　in　a　tight　embrace。　Carlisle　was
  warmly　thanking　the　South　American　newcomers　who　had　saved　us　all。　Kachin　stood　very　close　to
  Zafrina　and　Senna；　their　fingertips　interlocked。　Garrett　picked　Kate　up　off　the　ground　and　swung　her
  around　in　a　circle。
  Stefan　spit　on　the　snow。　Vladimir　ground　his　teeth　together　with　a　sour　expression。
  And　I　half…climbed　the　giant　russet　wolf　to　rip　my　daughter　off　his　back　and　then　crushed　her　to　my
  chest。　Edward's　arms　were　around　us　in　the　same　second。
  〃Nessie；　Nessie；　Nessie；〃　I　crooned。
  Jacob　laughed　his　big；　barky　laugh　and　poked　the　back　of　my　head　with　his　nose。
  〃Shut　up；〃　I　mumbled。
  〃I　get　to　stay　with　you？〃　Nessie　demanded。
  〃Forever；〃　I　promised　her。
  We　had　forever。　And　Nessie　was　going　to　be　fine　and　healthy　and　strong。　Like　the　half…human　Nahuel；
  in　a　hundred　and　fifty　years　she　would　still　be　young。　And　we　would　all　be　together。
  Happiness　expanded　like　an　explosion　inside　me—so　extreme；　so　violent　that　I　wasn't　sure　I'd　survive　it。
  〃Forever；〃　Edward　echoed　in　my　ear。
  I　couldn't　speak　anymore。　I　lifted　my　head　and　kissed　him　with　a　passion　that　might　possibly　set　the
  forest　on　fire。
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  I　wouldn't　have　noticed。
  39。　THE　HAPPILY　EVER　AFTER
  〃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　the
  forest　turned　black　outside　the　tall　windows。
  Vladimir　and　Stefan　had　vanished　before　we'd　stopped　celebrating。　They　were　extremely　disappointed
  in　the　way　things　had　turned　out；　but　Edward　said　that　they'd　enjoyed　the　Volturi's　cowardice　almost
  enough　to　make　up　for　their　frustration。
  Benjamin　and　Tia　were　quick　to　follow　after　Amun　and　Kebi；　anxious　to　let　them　know　the　outcome　of
  the　conflict；　I　was　sure　we　would　see　them　again—Benjamin　and　Tia；　at　least。　None　of　the　nomads
  lingered。　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　away
  from　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　was
  serious。　〃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'll
  try　to　pick　us　off
  separately。〃
  〃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　a
  great　peal　of　laughter。
  〃Exactly；〃　Carlisle　said。　He　and　Siobhan　embraced；　and　then　he　shook　Liam's　hand。　〃Try　to　find　Alistair
  and　tell　him　what　happened。　I'd　hate　to　think　of　him　hiding　under　a　rock　for　the　next　decade。〃
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  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　their
  lost　sister。
  Huilen　and　Nahuel　were　the　ones　who　stayed；　though　I　had　expected　those　last　two　to　go　back　with　the
  Amazons。　Carlisle　was　deep　in　fascinated　conversation　with　Huilen；　Nahuel　sat　close　beside　her；　listening
  while　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；　he
  probably　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；　bu