Author's Note: Okay soo... on with the story! Hope you all enjoy and thank you so much for your reviews! This is quite a long chapter... I hope you enjoy it. It was difficult to write but I hope it comes across okay.

Disclaimer: Twilight does not belong to me, it is the creation of the brilliant Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter Three

Tension in the House

The evening 'meal' has been finished, and the remains have been carefully disposed of. Caius sits in his chair, his pale hands steepled together (unconsciously mimicking Aro had he only known it) – his crimson eyes deep in thought. He can't deny that the revelation thrust upon them by Afton is intriguing... very intriguing.

Ever since he first met Carlisle Cullen, all those long years ago right here in Volterra, Caius has been deeply uneasy in his mind. It isn't just a simple hatred of the man, although that is definitely part of the reason. It is something deeper. Something he can't quite put his finger on. The very way of life that Dr Cullen chooses to pursue is something wholly abhorrent to him. It is verging on a personal insult to the entire Volturi. And yet Aro... usually so intelligent and perceptive... simply cannot see it. A grimace twists Caius's narrow mouth as he thinks back on the amount of time and energy Aro dedicated to Carlisle in those years when he was living with them in Volterra. Aro had been inexplicably (to Caius's mind) fascinated by the man. Many times when Caius had approached Aro in order to spend some time with him, to talk with him, Aro had been too preoccupied conversing with his precious pet to pay him any attention at all. And Caius does not like being ignored. Does not like it at all.

Afton's discovery of this vampire Ercole is just what they need. For far too long their plans have been constantly thwarted by that damned Alice... seeing their every decision far in advance. With Ercole's talent they have a chance to destroy those despicable Cullens once and for all. Caius, for a start, can hardly wait for the opportunity to let Carlisle know exactly what he thinks of him. After all, Dr Cullen can hardly rely on Aro's protection this time around. Aro has to know by now that the Cullens, along with their precious creator, cannot be allowed to survive. Oh, there may be a couple who would make a good addition to the Guard. Edward, naturally and Alice. Aro has always desired her... and the longer she denies him, the more infuriated he gets. And perhaps Edward's mate, Isabella. But the rest of them can easily be disposed of. Especially, Carlisle.

Caius's eyes snap to the right as he hears Aro enter the chamber, his keen senses picking up the virtually inaudible sound of Aro's footsteps as he approaches and sits in the chair next to Caius.

'Good evening, Caius,' Aro states emotionlessly. 'How was your meal?'

'Perfectly satisfactory Aro, thank you. I was actually wishing to talk with you.'

Aro raises one perfectly sculpted dark eyebrow. 'Oh yes?'

'Yes.' Caius shifts in his chair, although there is absolutely no need for him do so, and shakes his blonde hair back out of his face. 'I was wishing to discuss our tactics with regards to the Cullen problem.' The way he pronounces the name Cullen is similar to the way most humans would refer to some particularly heinous mass-murderer. Aro smiles slightly, his eyes and expression not showing the slightest warmth.

'Proceed, please.'

'Now that we possess Ercole, we have the means to proceed without any delay.'

'You are correct, we do.'

Caius shifts again and his quick temper, never far from the surface, brims over. 'Well then, when are we leaving? The sooner we sort out this issue, the sooner we can be back here, our rightful position secure and free from the Cullen threat.'

To his surprise and annoyance, Aro throws back his head and laughs, clapping his ghostly hands together in glee.

'Oh, my dear Caius. Always so impatient for action. We will go to Forks, so do not fret. In fact I was talking with Marcus just earlier, and he is keen to be off as well.'

Caius frowns slightly, the terms 'Marcus' and 'keen to be off' jarring slightly in his mind. As far as he can recall, Marcus has not been 'keen' about anything since the day his mate Didyme, Aro's sister, died in the tragic accident many hundreds of years ago. His incredulous expression is clearly evident on his face, as Aro smiles again.

'So, we are all in agreement then. We go to Forks, take Carlisle, and then head back here... our captive in hand.'

Caius leapt out of his chair in one fluid, graceful movement, the force of his astonishment carrying him virtually to the other end of the chamber.

'Take Carlisle? What exactly do you mean, take Carlisle?'

Aro's face reflects nothing but the most mild bewilderment. 'What is the matter, Caius?'

If Caius's face still had the power to flush it would have been bright red by this point. As it is, only the wild expression in his eyes reveals his fury.

'The matter? The matter, Aro? Why on earth should we take Carlisle? Surely the sensible option is to eliminate the entire Coven, save Alice, Edward and perhaps Isabella, and return here. Why would we need to burden ourselves with an alive Carlisle... and not only that, leave the rest of them alone? Tell me what the sense is in that Aro. Tell me!'

'The sense, Caius, is to not be hasty. We must play the long game... take our time. Do you not realize that by taking Carlisle, the Cullens will be left leaderless, without their creator... their patriarch? They will be confused, panicky. More than likely their misguided, bizarre sense of loyalty to him will lead them to mount some sort of a hastily-prepared, ill-advised rescue mission.' Aro leans forward in the throne, his bloody eyes fixed on Caius. 'Do you not see, brother? Do you not see the possibilities? We can chip away at them... one at a time. I seem to remember you always enjoy a game.'

Caius's tense stance relaxes slightly, and he flows back to his seat. It is true, he does enjoy a game... particularly one of cat and mouse. And the Volturi are definitely not mice.

'And what is your intention once we have Carlisle here, under our power, Aro?'

The dark-haired vampire at his side sighs slightly.

'Carlisle is an oddity with his confused ideas of morality... but I firmly believe we can change his ways. Imagine the sense of triumph we will have when we finally break down his bizarre values and convince him to live the life he was born to lead... which we all live.'

Caius hesitates, his sharp mind whirring. 'You... you do not intend to kill him then?' The regret is clear in his tone.

'No... I do not. I used to value Carlisle as a friend, and as such to eliminate him would be a deep tragedy for me. Instead, I wish to convince him, through whatever means are necessary, that it would benefit him to renounce his 'vegetarian' ways. He can stay here as part of the Guard, proof that no-one can resist our power and influence.'

Caius sighs. It seems that Carlisle Cullen would be walking the earth for a little while longer... but hopefully once they had him here, Aro would realise how futile the man's existence actually is. And once that happened, Caius would take great pleasure in erasing Carlisle Cullen.

XXXXXXXXX

The hospital looms dark and misty as Carlisle approaches it, pulling his Mercedes into the parking lot. It is eight o'clock at night, and he is about to start the night shift which will end at ten o'clock the next morning. A fifteen-hour shift... that isn't too bad. Still, he isn't really feeling in the mood. He would much rather be at home with his family. Tensions have been mounting in the past week or so. The visit from Jane, Alec and Felix has set everyone on edge and little arguments have been constantly breaking out over petty little annoyances that would never have bothered anyone ordinarily.

Alice had thrown a fit when Rosalie dared to say she didn't like her new dress and had sulked in her room for almost five hours... not even allowing Jasper access. Esme had lost one of her blueprints and had scoured the house for days, almost weeping. And the less said about Edward and Jasper the better. Due to their 'talents', both are finding it difficult with the new atmosphere. Jasper seems to be on a constant emotional rollercoaster and Edward has taken to his room to try and avoid reading everyone's over-anxious thoughts.

Carlisle sighs as he gets fluidly out of his car and locks it over his shoulder as he heads toward the main entrance of the hospital. Yes, things at home are tense, and he isn't sure how to make the situation better. It may be his imagination, but he is sure that Rosalie is ignoring him more than ever as well. Ever since their argument, she has avoided him wherever possible, and if conversation is absolutely necessary she replies in a monotone; short, one word answers.

'Good evening, Dr. Cullen.'

'Sarah.' Carlisle nods politely toward the receptionist on the main desk, who smiles soppily at him as she does every time she sees him. 'Are we busy tonight?'

'Not yet, but there's always time.' She laughs breathily, flicking a strand of dark hair out of her eyes. Carlisle sighs. He can never understand the nurses at the hospital. There are a few who behave with decency... however quite a few seem to either ignore or fake ignorance of the fact that he is evidently happily married.

The shift is horrendous, as it turns out. Despite risking working at an almost superhuman speed, gambling on the fact that everyone is so focused on their own work that they won't be paying attention to him, there is very little he can do in the end. They lose five patients that shift... all victims of a horrific crash on the nearby highway. One of them is only fifteen-years-old.

Carlisle sits in his office after his shift, shoulders slumped in sorrow and weariness, carefully filling out the paperwork before he heads home. Esme is at the door to greet him, as always, helping him off with his coat; even though he could complete the action in a split second by himself. Both of them like to retain a certain amount of human traits, and the simple routine of helping Carlisle with his belongings at the door brings pleasure to both. She reaches up and plants a soft kiss on his lips as he hangs his coat in the closet by the door.

'How was work, honey?'

He sighs heavily and slips an arm around her shoulders as they walk toward the living-room. His fingers tighten on her arm for just a split second, as if drawing a certain amount of physical comfort from her.

'It wasn't good... I lost five patients.'

Esme's honey eyes laser into his face, her sympathy washing over him almost like a physical wave.

'I'm so sorry. Come and sit with me awhile.' She gently tows him over to a couch and rubs slow circles on his back until she feels the muscles start to relax and the tension leave his body.

'How's your day been anyway? Has there been any news on the... situation?'

Esme's fingers cease their soothing circles for a split second, but then resume.

'The day was fine... I sorted out the flower bed near the bottom of the garden. As for the situation... we're all getting a little anxious. Alice says it's unusual for her not to see anything concerned with the Volturi, especially considering the fact that she's keeping Aro monitored virtually twenty-four-seven. No decisions, Carlisle. Not one.'

Esme lets that sink in. Carlisle tugs at a strand of his blond hair, his golden eyes narrowed in thought. No news. Not a single decision – yes, that is unusual.

'It's almost as if they've managed to find... a blind-spot or something.' Esme's tinkling voice is hesitant. 'But that isn't possible, is it, Carlisle?'

His shoulders tense again. 'We can't discount anything, unfortunately. We just have to hope that they haven't.'

A second later he catches a familiar scent, and a second after that the front door flies open with an unnecessary amount of force.

Carlisle barely has time to glance at Esme with a questioning expression before a flurry of long blonde hair and an aroma of mint signals the arrival of his 'oldest' daughter.

He is on his feet in a moment, eyeing Rosalie with some concern. Her hair is wild, flying around her face in a cloud as if still blown by a strong wind.

'Rosalie?' he questions, eyes searching her face. Her features are taut and strained, her eyes slightly feral. It is with some misgiving that he notices that her irises are as black as pitch. 'Your eyes... you should hunt.'

'I would, Carlisle, only I can't. Ever since this stupid Volturi alert all of us have been too nervous and on edge to go out alone. Emmett's refusing to go with me because he says he has to work on a battle plan with Jasper and Edward, Bella's constantly with Nessie... there's no one else!'

'You could come with Esme and me... we were planning on going either tonight or tomorrow.'

Rosalie spins away from him in a fury and stalks towards the other side of the room. 'That's not the point, Carlisle! This thing is making everyone crazy! Alice has virtually locked herself in her room trying to get a vision... she's going to drive herself insane. Jasper's no use at all because he can barely get a handle on his own emotions let alone anyone else's, and Edward and Bella are too wrapped up with strategies for protecting Nessie. And now Emmett seems to feel he has to be the big man and help with the battle planning... why aren't you doing that, Carlisle? Why aren't you helping?'

'Rosalie... can we please talk about this at another time? I had a hard day at work today...'

'Oh, okay, you had a hard day. What about the rest of us? You're supposed to be our leader, our guide, our father in this twisted little family you've created. Why aren't you doing anything?'

'I can't just abandon my work at the hospital, Rose, believe me, I wanted to be here... but I have other responsibilities as well...'

'If you truly cared for us as much as you're always saying you do – you'd be here. Esme's been having to cope with it all on her own while you're carrying on with your 'saint Carlisle' act.'

'That's enough Rosalie,' Esme interspersed quietly. 'Carlisle's had a lot to deal with...'

'Oh, yes I'm sure he has. But so have we! Don't pretend like you don't find it difficult with him gone all the time.'

Carlisle turned anxious eyes on his wife. 'Esme?'

She glances at the floor. 'Well, you do work quite a lot, and I don't mind, really, it's just been a bit... hectic around here and...'

'I'm so sorry, I never realised...'

'There's a lot of things you don't realise Carlisle. We've had to become quite adept at taking care of things while you're working. We all feel that the Volturi pose a very definite threat, and yet you prance around saying that you used to be friends, and you don't want to do anything hasty. Tell me, when exactly are you planning on acting? When one of us dies? Because that is exactly what is going to happen!'

Carlisle's eyes are haunted as he stares at her. 'Rosalie, how can you say that? This family is always my priority and... I love you all, you're my daughter, of course I'd...'

'No! I'm not your daughter, Carlisle!' Rosalie's scream is almost loud enough to shatter the windows, and Esme involuntarily claps her hands over her ears. 'I'm not your daughter! Edward isn't your son, Emmett isn't your son... we're not your children! We had families, and lives, that you took away from us!'

Carlisle takes a step backward, shoulders slumped, head drooping. 'I – I can't...' His voice is quiet, low, but with no trace of anger in it. It sounds defeated, almost broken. Rosalie eyes him with no trace of pity in her gaze.

'What, nothing to say?'

Carlisle gives Esme's hand a quick squeeze... and in a second he is out of the room and both women can hear him upstairs, the door to his study closing with a soft click.

'Rosalie... how could you?' Esme's voice is quiet, gentle sorrow lacing her words. Rosalie huffs and folds her stone arms across her chest.

'It's only the truth, and you know it. You've found it difficult too.'

'I'm not denying that, Rose, but Carlisle does have other responsibilities. Never doubt that we are his priority, but he can't abandon the hospital. Other people rely on him too.'

'How are we his priority? He's barely here nowadays.'

Esme's eyes flash slightly. 'Do you know how much Carlisle has sacrificed for this family, Rose?'

'What do you mean? As far as I can see he's hardly done anything... apart from condemn us to eternal hell.'

'Who was it who was at your side through every moment of your change and all the rest of us? It was him. He was the one who kept us all sane through our newborn years... helped us to not become monsters. You never slipped, but I did. Edward did, several times. And who was it who brought us back from going mad with grief? Who never, for a single moment, judged us? It was Carlisle. Carlisle changed Emmett because you asked him to. Because he could see that Emmett would make you happy. When you and Emmett were newborns, when me and Edward were... he would carefully sterilise all his hospital equipment and his clothes before he came home, no matter how late it was, how much he wanted to be back... just to stop us from suffering any unnecessary pain. Now tell me he doesn't think of us. Tell me.'

Rosalie's beautiful golden eyes are wide as saucers on the other side of the room, her arms have fallen down in shock to hang loosely by her side. It is possible that she has never heard the usually quiet Esme speak in such a manner. Esme still appears calm, but her eyes are flashing fire.

'Thank you Esme, I'll just go off to a corner, shall I, and think over how horrid I've been? I have been nothing but loyal to this family... do you not see how unfair this is? So, yes, I may take my anger out on the wrong people and for that I am truly sorry. But I had my life taken away from me... and any chance at having a child.'

Esme sighs and runs her fingers through her curls in an agitated manner. 'I know that in a while you'll calm down and aplogise for this Rose.'

'Maybe... but it won't take away my anger and my pain.'

'Please listen to me, Rose. Carlisle can't take much more of you blaming him for things that he no longer has any control over. You have to let it go. Carlisle feels like he's walking on eggshells around you these past few years. He feels the littlest thing could send you into a rage in which you'll say things that break his heart a little more everytime.'

Rosalie twists a strand of golden hair around her finger and bursts out, 'Well then, maybe he should walk somewhere else!'

Esme freezes, her slender hand still clasped to her head. From upstairs there is a sound that could almost be a moan.

'What do you expect him to do, Rose? Do you want him to leave this family? Because that's what it sounded like.'

Rosalie gasps, her eyes wide. 'No! Of course not!'

'What then? Maybe closet himself away in his study longer? Hide out at the hospital more so he doesn't irritate you?'

'No, I don't want that. I don't want to constantly hurt him, Esme.' She sighs, and her lovely head droops slightly. 'I don't want to be this angry... but the tension in this house is killing me.'

Esme crosses the room and lays a delicate hand gently on Rosalie's shoulder. 'We'll talk through it as a family. We'll get it sorted.'

Rosalie clasps her hand slightly, and turns sorrowed eyes on Esme. 'I should speak with Carlisle. If he'll talk to me.'

'I'd give him a little while. When he's in his study with the door closed, it generally means he doesn't want to be disturbed. He'll be out in a couple of hours.'

'Okay. I'm going to go and find the others. We should probably have a family meeting later... in a couple of hours?'

Esme nods and smiles wanly.

'Right.' Rosalie looks like she wants to say something more, but then closes her mouth. Before she darts out the door, she glances upwards toward the study... a guilty expression on her face.

Two Hours Later

The family is gathered in the living-room, perching on couches or leaning against the walls in Emmett's case. Rosalie is a little uncomfortable, shifting slightly in her seat.

'Why is Carlisle not here?' Jasper asks, his eyes raking the room.

'He and Rosalie had a little... frank discussion, earlier,' Esme says quietly. Edward rolls his eyes and glares at Rosalie, who shrinks guiltily away from his stare.

'Not another one. Rose!' Alice growls angrily at her sister. Rosalie's back stiffens, but she holds her tongue.

There is a soft noise from upstairs, and as one the entire family glance up. A moment later Carlisle pauses at the door to the living-room.

'I'm terribly sorry for keeping everyone waiting... but I'd like a few moments to myself. I just want to have a look at Esme's work at the bottom of the garden, and then I'll be back to talk. I hope we can get this whole situation settled... hopefully by the end of tonight.' With a small smile he darts outside the house. Rosalie sighs awkwardly, and Emmett lays a hand on her shoulder.

'It's about time we got this settled, the emotions in this house make it hard for me to think straight,' Jasper grumbles, shaking his head as if to literally knock the feelings out of his mind.

'Is Grandpa going to be all right, Momma?' Nessie asks, her little face adorably confused as she sits next to Bella and Edward on the longer couch in the room. Bella smooths an errant auburn curl away from her daughter's forehead.

'He'll be just fine, honey. He and Auntie Rosalie just had a little argument, but he'll be back soon.'

Rosalie scowls slightly at Bella, and then falls back into her seat.

The family cautiously start talking, nearly all at once... various plans and theories running about the room like wildfire. Edward starts an intense discussion with Jasper and Emmett, clearly a carry-on from their battle plans earlier. Alice is virtually silent, a small frown on her face.

A couple of miles away, near the forest...

Carlisle stands a couple of miles away from the house. He wants to get away from the tension, if only for a little while. Knowing that he should get back soon, he breathes deeply a couple more times, his blonde hair shining in the moonlight.

A couple of strange, unwelcome scents accost his senses. He breathes again, to be sure. Impossible. Alice would have seen...

'Hello, dear Carlisle.'

Carlisle stands, his vampire nature never more clearly shown in his statue-like posture. It's as if he has turned to ice.

'Aro.' The dark-haired vampire flows out of the trees bordering the forest. He is followed by Jane, Caius and Alec. Renata, as always, is almost pressed to Aro's side, her hand clutching at the sleeve of his robe, but there is another vampire with them that Carlisle doesn't recognize. 'I would be lying if I said it was a pleasure to see you.'

Aro narrows his eyes. 'I am so sorry we had to part on such bad terms, Carlisle. But you must understand that I cannot allow the Cullen Coven to survive as one unit. It has grown too big. You have been greedy, my friend.'

'State your intention, Aro.'

'I want you back in Volterra. I want you to come with us quietly, and without any fuss. You can't be allowed to go back to your family... please try and see what a danger you are becoming. Maintaining a permanent residence, working amongst humans at a hospital as a doctor of all things... you must see the risks. We can't allow it any longer.' Aro clasps one powdery-white hand to his chest, as if saying these things deeply pains him.

'You – you can't mean that Aro. I've been working as a doctor for almost two hundred years... I have never had an accident. I am no threat to you. We are no threat to you.'

'I only wish I could believe you, Carlisle. But I am afraid it is out of your hands. Either you come with us now, without a fuss, or we will have to eliminate your family. It would be deeply unpleasant, but we would be forced to act.'

Carlisle stumbles back a little. 'How can you do this, Aro? How can you be so cruel? They have done nothing wrong!'

'It is only a matter of time. I don't call this cruel, dear Carlisle. I call it strategic planning... a pre-emptive strike, if you will. Come with us, or your family will have to be sacrificed.'

'I thought you were better than this, Aro. Please, you must see...'

'I grow tired of him, Aro,' Caius announces, his crimson eyes lasering with an intense hatred into Carlisle's face. 'You either come with us... or your family dies. It's up to you.'

Carlisle's golden eyes flit from one face to another, seeing no pity, no hesitation in the blood-red eyes.

'I... I see I have no choice. You will not hurt them? If I come with you?'

'But of course not! You must think us monsters.'

Carlisle narrows his eyes and his lips draw back from his teeth. 'I will come with you, but if you dare even breathe wrong on a single member of my family, I will not hesitate, Aro. I will kill you. I will kill the lot of you.'

Aro frowns. 'Enough. Alec, Jane, keep an eye on him. Let us go.'

They disappear swiftly into the forest, with Carlisle casting one anguished glance back over his shoulder in the direction of his house, his family... his Esme.

Back at the house

'Carlisle should be back by now. How long does it take him to look at some flowers?' Emmett mumbles, impatience etched on every inch of his face.

Esme rises, anxiety clouding her brow. 'I'll just go and check on him.' She flits out of the house and down towards the garden. There is no sign of Carlisle, just his lingering scent of cinnammon and tangy apple. To her surprise it does not fade at the garden, but carries on going, out toward the forest.

Unease twisting slightly in her stomach, Esme dances fluidly through the undergrowth, following her husband's trail. Suddenly she stops dead. There is a new scent being filtered through... something, she could almost put her finger on, but not quite. The unease blooms and twists again. Carlisle is not here. He should be here, but he isn't. And there is an strange scent in the air.

Faster than the speed of sound Esme has turned and is running at full vampire speed back toward the house. The family glance up, slightly startled, at her unorthodox entry back into the living-room.

'Esme?' It is Alice who stands up, her eyes concerned as she takes in the curls flying wildly around Esme's pale, heart-shaped face.

'It's Carlisle. I can't find him. He's not there... and there's a strange scent, I recognise it but I can't quite...'

'It's okay, Esme.' Edward stands up from the couch, raking a hand through his mess of bronze hair. 'We'll find him, he won't have gone far.'

Without a word the entire family is up on their feet and flowing down toward the spot where Carlisle's scent suddenly mingles with that of a stranger. Edward halts, and his eyes widen with horror.

'Edward! Edward, what is it! Tell me, please!' Esme is almost sobbing, plucking hysterically at Edward's shirt.

'It's Aro. Aro and the rest of the Volturi. They were here. Esme... Carlisle has been taken.'

Leave it on a cliffhanger... I'm so mean. Please tell me what you think if you're reading this, reviews do mean a lot. A quick note, Ercole is a masculine Italian name meaning, 'Splendid gift'. Thought it was kinda appropriate.