Here's the next chapter. We're getting closer and closer to finding out who the mystery vamp is, and the Volturi will be making an appearance in this chapter. Not too much drama with them, but knowing Aro, there's guaranteed drama.

If there's anything you would like to see, PM me or post a comment. So far I have only received one or two requests. I'm going to assume that the less requests I have and the less comments, then I'm doing an okay job on the story.

Warning, some minor cussing, but nothing overly or unbelievably vulgar. If I offend anyone, I apologize in advance.

A handful of weeks have passed since the discovery of the unknown scent and its evasive owner. We were still on the lookout, but nowhere near as tense as we used to be. Sophia had no clue that anything was wrong, and the rest of us tried to keep it that way.

"Mommy, I'm icky." I looked to Sophia who is currently sprawled out on the cool floor in nothing but her underwear. I chuckled and set my sewing aside.

"I can see that." I said and slipped off the couch and came to sit on the floor.

"Why is it soooooo hot, mommy?" She whined again and swiped at the sweat that was gathering on her brow. I looked to the thermometer that was stuck to the window.

"That's because it's a little above 102 degrees F. It's supposed to start cooling down soon now that autumn is almost here." I told her and she flopped over onto her stomach.

"I don't want to be hot" She whined for what had to be the hundredth time today. I sighed and stood, picked her up off of the floor and settling her on my hip.

"Where we goin'?" she asked, her curiosity coming out.

"We, sweet pea, are going to get you into a cool bath so you won't be so hot and stinky." I said as I walked through the house, making my way to my bathroom. I filled the tub up with cool water and took off Sophia's only remaining article of clothing before settling Sophia in the tub.

I watched her as she played with the few toys she kept for bath time while I scooped water into a cup and poured it over her back, arms, and chest.

"Mommy?" I met her big brown eyes and saw the question swirling behind them.

"Yes, sweet pea?"

"When 'Lisle come home?" She asked, her voice soft. Carlisle had left with the others two nights ago for an extended hunting trip up through Michigan. They had left under the guise of night while Sophia had been sleeping and to say she was disappointed when she awoke the next morning was a huge understatement.

"They'll all be home by dinner time, maybe sooner." And no sooner than the words left my mouth, the front door opened.

"Esme? Sophia?" Carlisle called from downstairs and Sophia's eyes lit up. I managed to get her out of the tub, relatively dry, and in a clean pair of underwear before she took off downstairs. I drained the tub and but the wet towel and dirty underwear in the hamper before joining Sophia and the other's downstairs.

I made it downstairs just in time to watch Sophia launch herself against Carlisle's legs. I smiled and greeted the other's talking about how their hunt went and the towns and cities they stopped in. Emmett elbowed me and tipped his head at Sophia.

"She streakin again?" He asked and I nodded.

"She lasted barely an hour after she woke up this morning. She stripped at about eight this morning and has been in her underwear all day. She spent the last two hours on the floor." I explained and watched as Sophia told Carlisle her day minute by minute. I caught his eye and he winked.

"You should probably get Sophia dressed." I looked to Alice and immediately noticed that her eyes were glazed over.

"What do you see Alice?" I asked, concern growing rapidly. Everyone shifted their attention to Alice, even Sophia who had noticed that the atmosphere in the room had changed.

"Mommy? Allie okay?" She asked, watching Alice with a concerned eye. I crossed the room and stood next to Carlisle.

"The Volturi are on their way. They'll be here in a few hours." Alice said before turning to look at me. I sighed and turned to Sophia.

"Come on sweet pea, let's get you dressed." I said and was met with some slight whining, but I managed to settle her on my hip with ease. Her only request that Carlisle come with us, which he did. We excused ourselves from the others and made our way to Sophia's bedroom.

"But I hot, mommy." She whined, again. I sighed and kneeled in front of her.

"I know you are, baby, but there are very important people coming to visit mommy and you have to put clothes on." I tried to reason with her and so far, it looked like she wasn't going to budge.

"I'm going to melt!" She near shouted and I heard Carlisle try to hide a chuckle. I looked at him and he gave me one of his million watt smiles. I huffed and turned my attention back to Sophia.

"How about this: You put on one of your light dresses and once our guests are gone, I'll take you swimming at the lake. Do we have a deal?" I asked and she nodded enthusiastically. I chuckled and opened her wardrobe.

"That one mommy!" She pointed to a sundress with ladybugs all over it. I slipped it over her head and once it was on her, she began twirling and giggling as the skirt wafted up. I felt Carlisle take my hand in his and pulled me closer to his side.

"We're gonna be okay, Esme." He said and he placed a kiss to the top of my head.

I hated waiting for the Volturi to show up. What was really making me worry was why they were showing up out of the blue after four years. Had we done something wrong, or did they want me to go back to Italy with them? I was fully prepared to fight tooth and nail to stay here. But if they forced me to go, then I would have no choice but to leave my daughter here with the Cullen's. I didn't want her to grow up being pranced around and showed off as the daughter of the Queen on Volterra. I wanted her to grow up surrounded by people who loved her and would make sure she was happy and healthy.

I was snapped from my thoughts by Alice.

"They're here." She said and in the same moment that I turned my attention to the tree line in the back of the property, the Volturi emerged from the surrounding trees. I stepped off the porch by the time they made it about a hundred feet from the house. I had asked everyone to stay inside with Sophia for now, and they reluctantly agreed.

"Ah, Esme! How lovely it is to see you, my dear" Aro said and continued closer, his eyes bright and his smile wide.

"Aro, it has been too long. Marcus, Caius." I greeted the brothers, Caius practically scowling at me and Marcus gave me a gentle smile.

"How are you fairing?" Marcus asked. I saw his eyes flicker to the house and then back to me.

"I'm well. Life at the moment is peaceful and perfect." I said and a few seconds later, Sophia's laughter rang through the air. I saw the brothers' attention flick to the house, as well as those of the guards'.

"How is Sophia? May we see her?" Aro asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. I turned and jogged back to the house. I opened the door and made my way to the living room. Sophia was sitting on the floor next to Rosalie, playing with a few of her dolls.

"Sophia, there's people here to see you." I said softly and her dark eyes lifted to me. She stood and put her hand in mine. Carlisle stood and came to stand next to me. I was going to tell him to stay, but he shook his head and gave my hand a squeeze before nudging me forward.

Together, we walked back through the house and out to the porch. It took us a few moments longer to reach the spot I had previously been standing in, but only because Sophia had become a little more hesitant.

"Mommy, up." She whispered when we were about thirty feet from the Volturi. I picked her up and settled her on my hip, Carlisle coming a step closer to us, ready to pull us away if something were to happen.

"My how has she grown. How old is she now?" Aro asked once we came to a stop. I shifted Sophia higher on my hip and brushed away a few locks of her hair out of her face.

"She'll be five in August." I answered and I saw Caius frown.

"Do you have something to say, Caius?" I asked, really getting tired of his bullshit. He snorted and shifted his weight to the other foot.

"I didn't think you would still be raising the human. I'm surprised no one has attempted to, snack, on her yet. She does smell quite…appetizing, doesn't she?" He looked to one of the guards, obviously recently turned. I watched as his eyes flickered over my daughter face, not liking the look in his eyes at all. And neither did Carlisle. I felt him shift closer to me and a few steps ahead. I saw the warning Marcus gave to Caius, but the blonde man ignored him and continued taunting the obviously weak willed newborn.

"Have her cheeks always been this rosy? Of course as she grows, her body will need to produce more blood to sustain her organs." He said and in a moment, I was being pulled back and shoved behind Emmett as he and the rest of the Cullen's came flying out of the house.

"Aro, I strongly suggest you silence your brother before he does something you all will regret." Alice warned and in my arms, I could feel Sophia begin to tremble. I kissed her forehead and transferred her to the safe confines of Rosalie's arms. I met her gaze and she nodded. She knew that if a fight were break out, then she would take Sophia and run.

I pushed my way through the wall that consisted of my family and came to stand toe to toe with Caius. A few of the newborns tensed and hissed but didn't move.

"If there's something you want to say, then say it, brother." I made sure to include as much poison as possible in my words. He just smirked and let his eyes flick sky ward before his red irises met my brown.

"You, my dear, need to step up to your duties as Queen. And quite frankly, I'm sick of cleaning up your messes. We are here to bring you back to Volterra." He said and I felt my heart drop. I let out a sad chuckle and shook my head.

"I'm not going anywhere. I am going to stay here with my family and raise my daughter." I said and took a few steps so I was in line with Carlisle and Alice. From the sidelines, the bloodthirsty newborn let another hiss and Carlisle let one of his own out in challenge to the newborn. I saw the looks Aro sent to Marcus and I brushed my fingers against Carlisle's hand and his hiss quieted. Aro took Marcus' hand in his and flicked through his thoughts, searching for what he wanted and when he found it, his eyes lit up and he clapped excitedly.

"What has you soo happy? There can't possibly be anything worth being happy over." He sneered and shifted his weight again.

"It seems that our dear sister has found a mate in Carlisle. How wonderful!" Aro's voice raised a few octaves, as usual.

"Why am I not surprised? One goody two shoes mated with another goody two shoes, who. Would. Have. Thought?" Caius' voice was cynical and I one again found myself standing toe to toe with the man who never liked me.

"What the hell is your problem? Are you angry that I found a mate? Are you angry that I found a happiness that didn't come from being queen, or are you just jealous?" I asked my voice smooth and slightly taunting. I watched as his pupils contracted with anger.

"I would watch myself if I were you. There are a lot of things you don't know about and I could very easily end your life where you stand with one command." He threatened and I felt a hiss snake its way around my vocal cords and spill from between my lips.

"I think it would be best if you left. I won't be held accountable for my actions, Aro. I don't know what you came here for besides telling me you want me to go back, but I think it's for the best if we sever ties for the time being. Maybe until Caius learns to hold his tongue." I said and stepped back again. Caius snickered before turning and leaving the way he came. Aro gave me an apologetic glance before following Caius, the guards following closely behind.

"I am sorry for his behavior, Esme. I hope he can see past his arrogant ways." Marcus apologized and I gave him a soft smile before he too, disappeared.

No one moved for a solid five minutes, making sure that the Volturi really were gone before anyone moved. I sighed and collapsed in the safety of Carlisle's arms.

"Es? You okay?" I was aware of Carlisle brushing his fingers along my shoulder, but I couldn't get the image of the woman out of my head. She was tall and thin. Her skin was pale but her hair was as dark as obsidian and her eyes as cool as silver. There was something about this woman that was important.

"I'm okay. I promise." I said and kissed him in reassurance.

"Do you two mind? There are delicate minds in the room." Emmett boomed and I felt Carlisle chuckle against my lips. I gave him one last quick peck before drawing my face away and leaning against him instead.

"And you and Rose are any better?" Alice chided and earned a sarcastic face from Emmett.

"Behave, you two." I warned gently and they both stuck their tongues out at the other.

"Mommy, we go now?" Sophia asked as she draped herself over my knees. I had promised her earlier in the week that I would take her into town and visit the record shop. I leaned forward and framed her face in my hands. I kissed the tip of her nose.

"As soon as you put your shoes and coat on." And with that, she ran out of the room and I could hear her struggling to put on her coat and shoes. Carlisle had decided to tag along since the others were going hunting. I listened as Sophia managed to get her shoes on before her footsteps brought her back to me.

"Help" She asked as she held the ends of her coat out. I zipped her coat and stood, adjusting it on her and checking that her shoes were done up correct and that her hat and gloves were in her pockets.

"Why don't you tell Carlisle to get ready while I go put on my coat, then we'll go." I said, mainly to tease Carlisle, but it only served to work up Sophia even more, so I left Carlisle to deal with a slightly hyper little girl while I donned my pea coat and a scarf, checking to make sure my own gloves were in my pocket.

"Mommy, Carlisle's ready now!" My little girl declared as she and the blond man appeared from around the next corner. I smiled at Carlisle and took Sophia's hand in my own.

"Then let's go."

It was too cold for October to be able to walk to town, so we had no choice but to drive in Carlisle's car.

"So what music are you looking for, cricket?" Carlisle asked the young girl as he chanced a glance in the rearview mirror.

"Piano music and dancing music." She said, her legs swinging from the seat.

"Are you going to dance with mommy?" Carlisle asked again and received a chirp of a 'yes' before Sophia continued looking out the window and humming a lullaby I had sung to her almost every night of her life.

Not long after, we reached the city limits and Sophia's excitement increased tenfold.

"Look mommy, the music store!" She squealed and bounced excitedly in her seat, her face just about pressed up against the window. Carlisle managed to find a space close to the store, ensuring Sophia wouldn't have to be out in the cold longer than necessary.

As Carlisle opened the door, the bell chimed and the elderly lady behind the counter smiled when she saw us.

"Ah, Esme. Back so soon? And Miss. Sophia, I believe I have something for you." Ms. Tully extended out an aged hand, presenting Sophia with her favorite orange lollipop. I watched as my daughter thanked the elderly woman and unwrapped the treat before tucking it away in her cheek.

"Alright, Cricket. Where do you want to go first?" Carlisle asked her as he helped her take off her gloves and her hat. I let them wander around, choosing to browse through the records on the counter.

"How are you today, my dear?" Ms. Tully asked as she took a break from sorting through a few piles of packaging. I smiled and plucked one of the records from the box.

"I'm well. Not sure if I'm ready for the snow yet. It seems like yesterday it was blistering. How are you?" I asked and the woman sat on one of the bar stools.

"I've been better. My bones have been aching and my eyes are more tired." She said and we were silent, watching Carlisle and Sophia move through the racks of records.

"He adores the little girl of yours. I can see it on his face." She said and I drew my gaze to her instead. I nodded in agreement.

"She adores him as well. If she hasn't seen him for more than an hour, she'll go and find him. And he's always willing to drop his work and spend time with her. I couldn't have asked for a better father." As soon as I said it, I watched Carlisle tense and then continue talking with Sophia. The word had completely slipped from my mouth. I hadn't intended to say it, but it's what I thought of Carlisle in terms of my daughter.

We never spoke about it, and Alice had undoubtedly seen this, so now we would have to talk about my slip.

"Don't let him slip away. And if he does, make sure you drag him back by his ear." She said and I chuckled. Ms. Tully is at the ripe old age of eighty six. Her husband, Michael, died some sixty years ago after their third wedding anniversary. He was mugged and killed, leaving her alone with a newborn and two year old. Unfortunately, both her children died after contracting the Spanish influenza. The same strain that had claimed Edwards's family and nearly claimed him.

"I don't plan on going anywhere, ever." I hadn't heard Carlisle come up, but he inched close to me and rested his hand on the counter behind me.

"Mommy, look!" I took the records that Sophia held out and flicked through them.

"You got everything, sweet pea?" I asked her as I set the records down on the counter with the few I had picked out and the couple Carlisle had chosen for himself and a few requested by the others. Sophia nodded and held onto my hand. Ms. Tully rang us up and Carlisle paid for the records.

"You take care of those girls, Carlisle. And the rest of your family." She told him as she handed him the bag. Carlisle smiled and took my free hand in his.

"Always will."

The ride back to the house was made in near complete silence. The only conversation came from Sophia and it was mostly her babbling to herself.

Finally, I had had enough of the silence, speaking low enough so Sophia couldn't hear us.

"What I said back in the store is true. I don't care what anyone thinks or says, but you are Sophia's father. I know we've never talked about this before, and frankly, I wasn't sure how to bring it up. Sometimes I catch myself thinking how I wished Sophia grew up knowing a father, but then I realize that you are her father even though she might not have grown up calling you 'dad'." I stopped talking and looked at Carlisle. His eyes were soft and bright, tears that would never fall pooling in his eyes.

Wordlessly, he reached out and held my hand in his.

Mommy?" I looked up from my current task of flipping over the records to meet Sophia's dark eyes. It was then that I noticed that she looked a little pale but her cheeks were pink. I abandoned my current task and kneeled.

"Hey, sweet pea. You okay?" I asked and brushed an errant curl behind her ear. That's when I felt just how hot her skin was.

"Tummy icky, mommy." She whined and tears began to slip from her eyes. When I picked her up, however, she let out a loud cry and recoiled. I immediately set her back on the ground and lifted her shirt.

"Tell me where it hurts, baby." I asked her gently and she pointed to a sop on her side. Her appendix. I sighed and pulled her shirt back down.

"Do you think you can put your shoes on while Mommy gets her shoes and your blanket?" I asked and she nodded. I watched as she sluggishly put on her shoes and I hurriedly slid mine on and grabbed a thick blanket from the chest behind the couch. I unfolded the blanket and wrapped it around her, carefully lifting her into my arms.

"Come on sweet pea, were going to go see daddy at the hospital." I locked the door behind us and settled her in the back of one of the spare cars. The kids were at school, but Alice had undoubtedly seen this coming and would probably meet us at the hospital. I hopped in front and peeled down the road.

I made it to town and to the hospital in record time. I put the car in park and pocket the keys before getting out and pulling Sophia from the back seat.

The inside of the hospital was warm, but I didn't unwrap the blankets from around Sophia as I made my way to the front desk.

"Hello. I need to see Dr. Cullen, please." I asked of the nurse but all she did was hand me a clip board and flip through the magazine in front of her.

"Fill this out and he'll be right with you." She said and I felt like slapping the woman.

"I need to see him now, it's an emergency." I near begged the woman, but before she could send a rebuttal, Carlisle appeared from one of the doors.

"Esme? Is everything okay?" He asked, his voice worried. He jogged to the desk and near threw his clipboard and a folder on the desk. I shook my head and adjusted Sophia, softly apologizing to her when she let out another cry of pain.

"She's really warm, Carlisle. She said her stomach was hurting and when I asked her where, she pointed to her side. I think it might be her appendix." I relayed and he carefully took Sophia into his own arms.

"Laura, send Dr. Andrews to room 107 on the pediatric floor." He told the receptionist and she did as he asked. I followed behind Carlisle as he lead me up to the pediatric floor where we were met by Dr. Andrews.

"I've got it from here, Carlisle." The older man said as he gently took Sophia into his arms. I watched helplessly as he disappeared into the room with a few nurses trailing in behind him.

"Why aren't you in there?" I asked Carlisle, watching the older doctor tend to my sick child through the window.

"Because she's my daughter. I couldn't be able to keep a clear head if I were in there." He confessed and I felt him next to me. I watched as Dr. Andrews pressed his fingers against a spot on her stomach, eliciting a sharp cry that tore at my heart. I listened to him tell one of the nurses to go and prep an OR, stating that it was indeed her appendix that was causing her pain. I watched as they stripped her of the blanket and her clothing, dressing her in a temporary gown and putting her clothing and the blanket in a bag.

After a few moments of hooking her up to a few machines and an IV drip, they wheeled her out on the bed.

"You can have a few moments to talk to her, but the faster we get her to the OR, the faster she'll be out of pain." A young nurse said. I leaned over the rail and kissed Sophia's forehead.

"Hey sweet pea. You still feeling icky?" I asked and she nodded. I smoothed her hair back and held her hand gently in my other.

"The doctors are going to make your belly ache go away while you take a nap, so you need to be brave for me, okay?" I asked her though blurry eyes. She nodded again and I gave her a final kiss before I stepped to the side.

"There's my big girl. Dr. Andrew's going to make you feel better so you can come home and beat up Emmett, okay? Mommy loves and I love you, so very much." Carlisle leaned over the rail and pressed a kiss to her cheek. He held my hand as they wheeled Sophia through a set of doors that barred me from entering.

"Come on. Let's go wait for the others" He took my hand in his and gave a gentle tug, leading me to the pediatric waiting room. No more than ten minutes passed when I heard the others asking for Carlisle four floors below us. It was another minute before they joined in on the waiting game.

"We would have been here sooner had Ms. Gerard not refused to let us leave during a family emergency in the middle of a quiz." Alice huffed and plopped onto a nearby chair. How had the teacher known of a family emergency without Alice telling her of her gift?

"Carlisle called the school and the Dean came to our classes and told our teacher." Edward explained and I nodded.

"How is she doing?" Rose asked and Emmett rubbed the small of her back.

"She had a high fever and abdominal pain when I brought her in. They took her to the OR a few minutes before you got here." I explained and Alice chuckled.

"She's going to be fine. She's gonna be sore and a little crabby when she comes home." Alice assured and I felt the tension fade away.

Sure enough, by the time we were able to bring Sophia home, she was tired, sore and a little crabby.

"Sophia, you do not hit anyone and you most certainly do not hit daddy. All I'm doing is checking your belly." I heard Carlisle gently chastise as I came in the house. I had run into town to pick up a package the post office had said that had been there for a while. I set the box on the hall table and took off my coat and shoes. I greeted the others as I passed through the living room.

"Are you giving Daddy a hard time, Sophia?" I gently chided her and lay on the bed next to her.

"No I not." She said, almost defiantly. I sent Carlisle a smirk and he rolled his eyes.

"How about you let Daddy finish put medicine on your belly and we'll go down stairs and open the present mommy got?" I offered and she nodded no doubt sick of being confined to either her bed or mine and Carlisle's bed.

I distracted her as Carlisle finished dressing her wound and gently picked her up off the bed. She rested her head in the crook of his shoulder and fisted the material of his shirt in her hand. I walked a few steps behind them, smiling softly at Sophia as she sent a small wave in my direction.

"Hey little bit, long time no see. How are you feeling?" Emmett asked as Carlisle sat down on the couch across from where Emmett and Rose were on one of the recliners. Sophia giggled and sat down close to Carlisle.

"I see you all the time, silly." Sophia said as she scrunched her nose in jest. She turned to look at me.

"Open the box, mommy!" She said, her voice cheerful and not the lethargic tone I've heard in the last few days. I smiled at my happy little girl and grabbed the box off of the table.

"What do you think's inside, Sweet Pea?" I asked as I lightly shook the box and handed it over to her for inspection. She carefully examined the box and pointed out to some writing on the side.

"Es-may, Esme…It has your name on it mommy!" Sophia sounded out and then exclaimed. I nodded, proud that she had been able to read the side of the box. She handed it back to me. I read the label the post-office had put on it and noted with a slight frown that the box had been in their possession for a few weeks. I tore at the tape before balling it setting it on the coffee table. I opened the box, severly not ready for what was inside.

TBC…