As always, I don't own Twilight...blah blah blah

Carlisle POV

I walked back into the living room feeling a bit defeated. The mood had improved with Jasper's telling of Kira's story, but things weren't gonna look up for long. The response of the Denali coven was discouraging and I wasn't looking forward to relaying the news to my family. I heard Edward comment on my news as he read it from my mind. My thoughts exactly. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't too concerned. My family was very capable of handling the situation, but even the slightest chance of losing a family member made me uneasy. Even the addition of 2 or 3 more people to aid us would have helped ease my mind. I walked into the room to find the entire family's focus on me.

"Tanya's coven can't help." I stated. Might has well not sugar coat it.

Edward crossed his arms over his chest. "Can't or won't?" He was extremely unhappy and I couldn't blame him.

"Now that doesn't make sense. They're family." Esme said, astonished.

I sighed, taking my place in the large armchair I had inhabited not too long ago. "Apparently, Irena is quite upset with the pack for killing Laurent. She wants us to help her avenge his death."

Bella took a sharp intake of breath.

I held a reassuring hand up to Bella. "Don't worry, I told them the pack is the only reason you are alive right now and that our treaty with them forbids such actions, since Laurent was not a member of our family and he was in the process of trying to kill a human. I would not risk our peace by breaking the treaty. Unfortunately, that means they refuse to come to this area out of respect for Irena. Looks like we are on our own."

"It just leaves more fun for us! We can take them out, no problem." Emmett said confidently. You had to admire Emmett's enthusiasm.

Before anyone could comment on Emmett's exuberance, Alice's eyes seemed to become unfocused and her body tensed. It startled Bella slightly. The poor thing was under too much stress for a girl of her age. I could only hope she could make it through all of this with not just you body, but her mind intact. Alice began to relax, but it was Edward's turn to tense up. Whatever Alice saw, it couldn't be good.

"They're coming." Alice whispered to no one in particular, taking Jasper's hand.

"What do you mean?" asked Bella.

"They're coming here." Alice clarified.

"Wait, you mean here as in Forks?" Bella was near the point of hyperventilating.

"How long do we have?" I asked my daughter. I was hoping we'd at least have enough time to get some newborn vampire basics under our belts before we had to face them.

Alice locked eyes with me. "Five days. It'll be Sunday, midday, I think."

Great, five days. That wasn't too bad. I didn't like the idea of facing the army so close to home, but it was better to have them out of the city. Less mess to cover up and less risk of human witnesses. I began formulating a plan. I'd have to sit with Jasper and come up with something. I still didn't like the situation my family was being forced into, but if Victoria was indeed bring the army here, we had to stop it before more innocent lives were lost.

"That's not a half bad idea." Edward commented, turning his gaze to Rosalie.

We all looked at her, expectantly.

Rosalie sighed. This whole situation had to be killing her. It wasn't that she didn't like Bella, but she certainly saw her as a threat to our peace. Bella was a change from our norm...a risk, Rosalie believed, we shouldn't be taking. Even if it meant Edward would finally not be alone anymore. It's not that she didn't care, she just didn't see the sense in risking the family for a human. Bella's desire to become a vampire didn't help Rose's mood, either. She didn't like being a vampire and was depressed and angry for the first few years. She got better once Emmett came into her life, but she was still mildly resentful to me for making her into what she became. She's still my daughter and we love each other like family, but there will always be regret in the back of my mind that my vampire brain will never let me forget. Rose didn't want Bella to give up on the things she dreamed so much of having when she was still human.

"I was just THINKING..." Rosalie shot daggers at Edward with her eyes. "...why doesn't that pack of mutts go out and handle the problem. It's gonna be close to their land anyway. Besides, from what Edward says, they seem more than eager to jump in and kill any vampire they have a chance to."

Jasper stood and walked towards me. "That's not bad. 7 vampires and a half dozen or so shapeshifters should be able to dispatch 25 newborns with relative ease."

Alice skipped to where Jasper stood. "20 newborns. Victoria is having trouble keeping them alive. They keep fighting amongst themselves and she really doesn't have time to make very many more."

"Even better." Jasper responded, excitedly. I couldn't help but feel my hopes rise as well. I liked this plan and I was almost positive the wolf pack would jump at the opportunity to fight some vampires they were actually allowed to kill.

I looked to Bella, who had a sorta shock/terror look on her face.

"Can you give Jacob a call and see if he can arrange a meeting with Sam?"

To be continued...

Please read and review. Thanks a bunch.