Short chapter is short, I apologize for that. But I'm seriously running on empty with this series although I'm not going to abandon it. Really I only have one more chapter to write out which is the next one since the final chapter has been done for months now! Lol. Hopefully I'll find the strength and motivation to finish this! I'm rather excited that it's almost over and yet perhaps a little sad since this is the first major series I've taken on that hasn't been abandoned to collect dust in my laptop. So please cheer me on! Reviews are always appreciated!

Oh and there's probably a good amount of errors and misspellings in here, but I was too lazy to go through and fix it. So yup, deal with and read!

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Twilight or Naruto. They belong to Stephenie Meyer and Masashi Kishimoto. I merely own the OCs

Warnings: Slash/yaoi (malexmale pairings), mentions of M-Preg (male pregnancy), AU, violence, angst, sexual situations, etc.

Pairings: Edward/Naruto, Jacob/Gaara, Carlisle/Esme, Jasper/Alice, Marcus/Devon, Bella/Edward (one-sided), Sage/Naruto (one-sided), and Felix/Gaara (one-sided)

Chapter XI

Negotiating with Shadows

They only stayed for four days although Naruto had wished it was more. The shrine had been his home away from home and he spent much time there goofing off with Takashi as the world changed and passed them by. But those times were gone and there were more pressing matters to focus on. So he was forced to say goodbye for now and he had hugged Takashi tight, thanking his friend for his help and hospitality.

"Don't get so sappy Naru or people are going to start thinking you're a woman," the wolf demon had joked as he stood at the foot of the stairway to send them off. He dodged a fist and laughed, wishing them a safe trip and luck against the obstacles ahead of them. Honey brown eyes bore into Naruto and Edward as he promised, "Should you ever need me, you know where to find me."

Naruto sighed as he focused his attention away from his thoughts glancing at his family as he stood before the grand balcony doors that overlooked the night life of Rome. Edward was calmly resting against the headboard of the king sized bed, his topaz gaze never wavering from their children who slept innocently. It had been a long and exhausting day for them so it wasn't surprising that they had immediately passed out once they reached the hotel. Naruto was sure Gaara and Jacob were in a similar state in their own room unless they were unlucky enough to be plagued by various annoying thoughts like he was.

"You are still worried over our decision," Edward murmured quietly carefully brushing away some of Lauren's curls from her face. Naruto sighed knowing that Edward was just as uneasy as he was and the blond hated that. He disliked second guessing himself or any decisions he made, it never did him any good and sometimes he lost sleep over it. Such as now it seemed.

Carefully closing the curtains to block out the dark scenery, Naruto replied, "Of course I am, how can I not be? I know that logically Jasper's facts are sound and that while the probability of Aro opposing Gaara or myself is very slim, there is still a chance. And while I have no doubt that either one of us could level the Volturi if we're pissed off enough, I'm more concerned about something happening to you or the twins or the rest of our family."

"I feel the same my sun, but this is what we've chosen and we must follow through with it," Edward remarked, "To worry yourself sick over it will do little good."

"I know that… I've just lost too much already Edward. My friends, my village, our child… I don't think I have the strength to endure if anything should happen to our family," Naruto confessed quietly his chest tight and his stomach heavy with anxiety. If he was human, Naruto was pretty sure he'd be having a heart attack right now, that was how apprehensive he was. And while the shinobi in him knew that fear was a liability, he couldn't ignore it.

"Naruto," Edward whispered quietly raising himself from the bed, careful not to awaken their children. Gliding over, he took his husband into his arms and nuzzled his golden hair inhaling his scent while humming softly hoping to sooth the other. Cold hands stroked along Naruto's back as the vampire sighed, "I love you Naruto since the moment I found you injured on the side of the road all those years ago. And when we were parted, I longed for you to the point I feared I would be driven mad without you by my side. And now we are together, we have such beautiful children and a wonderful life. I will not give that up, I refuse to."

Naruto clung tightly to Edward nuzzling his chest taking in the crisp, clean scent of the rain and the cold. He listened to the deep timbre of his mate's voice, "We've both fought and lost too much to allow ourselves to be torn apart once more. Our future is foreboding at the moment, yes, but we must continue to try. You told me once that the hardest thing about life is living it and that we have to keep moving, keep looking forward toward the future. And that's what we'll do. I promise we'll go home, our children will be safe and we'll be happy Naruto."

"I love you," Naruto croaked his throat tight and his eyes burning with tears. He was so tired of war, so tired of fighting. All he wanted was peace, to be allowed even a small bit of happiness. Was it so much to ask for?

"It's never too much to ask for," Edward murmured tilting the blond demon's chin up and claiming his lips in a chase kiss. Pulling away he remarked, "You should sleep. It's been an exhausting day for us and tomorrow will not fair any better. You'll need your strength."

Naruto nodded knowing his lover was right. He made no fuss when Edward guided him to their bed, carefully sliding under the covers and embracing his children. He savored their scents, the sound of their heart beats and the heat of their tiny bodies; it was a reassurance that they were there and alive. He just needed that comfort. A cool hand ran nimble fingers through Naruto's hair and over his ear, toying with the point before gliding to his cheek. Relaxing, he let out a soft sigh and under the caresses of his vampire Naruto felt himself finally embrace sweet darkness.

Edward smiled gently relieved when Naruto's breathing slowed and his thoughts became quiet. It pained him to see his lover distraught and unnerved, it was nothing like the usual goofy or confident Naruto he was used to. In some ways the blonde's fears were justified. He really had lost much over his life time and it was frightening to think that tomorrow could end badly for them if they weren't cautious. But that's why Edward would remain cautious, he wouldn't allow Aro to destroy his family and steal his children; he wouldn't allow Sage to touch Naruto ever again.

"I promise," Edward thought embracing his family closer, "I will fight to keep you safe."

x-x-x-x-x

Had it been another time, Naruto would have admired and basked in the beautiful architect around him as he had once done many years ago when he first visited Volterra with its grand cathedrals and quaint homes lining bustling streets as the humans shopped. But the ancient buildings held little appeal to the fox demon, the city having become a stain in his memory merely because of its association with Aro and the Volturi. The same man he was driving to see at this very moment, a vampire he wanted nothing more than to rip apart and burn before scattering him to the winds.

But it wasn't a wise move since the Volturi, despite its hostility toward Naruto's family, still served a purpose of maintaining order and keeping the humans ignorant of the truth. To rid of them would break down the order that had been built up; rogue vampires would feel no need to abide by the laws if there was no power to fear backing it. It was for this sole reason that the blond wasn't going in and burning every last vermin into ash, but it didn't mean Naruto wasn't going to give the arrogant vampire a piece of his mind.

"I don't feel good about this," Jacob muttered as he gazed out the window of their rental taking in the sites as they passed by, observing the humans as they ignorantly went about their day. They had no clue what evil, what horror resided within the ancient castle that loomed over their small city. Gaara squeezed his hand in comfort, "We mustn't lose our focus under the pressure of worry."

"Yeah Jacob, don't jinx us," Naruto attempted to joke hoping to make light of the mood, but it fell flat. They were all worried, fearful even but they had to present a strong front. Even the faintest hint of doubt could be their downfall and they knew it.

"Do not reveal weakness to Aro," Marcus advised, "He will use it to his advantage."

"Quite the guy isn't he?" Jacob snorted frowning darkly. He only relaxed marginally when Gaara shifted closer to him, the red haired demon slowly growing more comfortable with touching and affection. He was accepting the bond which made the shifter happy despite their situation. Edward tightened his grip on the steering wheel making a dent in it, "Weakness isn't an option in the presence of the Volturi. I won't give Aro an opening to take Devon and Lauren."

"It won't happen Edward," Gaara assured, "None of us will allow it."

"I can't help but wonder if maybe bringing the others along was a good idea," Jacob pointed out. The rest of the Cullens as well as the twins had followed them into the city, but then parted on their own way. Naruto hadn't wanted to leave them in Rome but didn't want them to step into the castle as well so a compromise was made.

Carlisle had promised they would remain in the city, stating that the women would enjoy a shopping trip and that the twins could use some new outfits since they were still rapidly growing, appearing three years old now. Marcus glanced at the shifter, "They are in the city center shopping which is nowhere near the castle. They will be surrounded by humans and even if Aro is aware of their presence, he will not risk exposing himself in such a fashion."

"At this point I don't think even that's going to stop him. I'm sure he'll find a way to get to them if he can after all, you're the one saying we shouldn't underestimate him," Jacob protested. He didn't like being the one to bring down the mood, but he was trying to be realistic. This was the Volturi's city and he was positive that Aro knew it like the back of his hand; he would be aware of who came and went. And if this was true, then it didn't seem wise to allow the rest of the coven to wander around; he didn't want anything to happen to the twins.

"Either way, we need to focus on coming out of this with a truce," Edward stated, "It's the only way to ensure our safety."

"The only way short of total annihilation," Naruto growled. Nothing else was said as they continued their drive before finally arriving to the castle. With directions from Marcus, they managed to find a more secret, separate entrance that they could take without drawing unwanted attention. It seemed to lead to an underground parking garage where there were several other vehicles, most likely for the coven's use although rare as it may be. And of course the moment their car came to a stop, familiar members of the Volturi stepped out from the shadows their red eyes locked on them as they observed them carefully.

"Follow us, Lord Aro is waiting," Alec ordered as he stood with his sister, both refusing to let their gazes wander to Naruto. Demitri stood behind them appearing bored while Felix focused on Gaara, his eyes wild and hungry with blood lust although he remained in place. Yet there was no doubt that his restraint was fraying the longer he stood in Gaara's presence. Jacob glared as he moved protectively in front of his mate while sand shifted restlessly around the red haired demon's feet.

Cautiously the group trailed behind their guides as they navigated through a series of passage ways, Marcus in the lead followed by Edward, Naruto, Gaara and Jacob. The only source of light were crude torches that made a few of them raise an eyebrow in disbelief but there were no comments. They had other matters to focus on after all. So they carried on for several minutes before finally passing through a door which led to a grand hall that was tastefully decorated. Tilting his head slightly, Naruto listened hearing the faintest of shuffling to the right end of the hall; anxious movement which could only mean that the rest of the Volturi laid beyond those doors.

His hunch was correct as they were led to the imposing doorway, the wooden structures opening with heavy groans that announced their arrival. The small group stood a little straighter as they stepped pass the threshold ignoring the wary vampires around them, focusing instead on Aro and Caius who sat on their thrones as if they didn't have a care in the world. Their confidence put them immediately on edge, but they didn't show it. Standing and holding out his arms in salutation Aro greeted, "Welcome, such a pleasure to have you here in my home. I trust your trip was well?"

"As to be expected," Marcus replied nodding faintly to his former comrade. Clapping his hands Aro smiled benevolently, "I'm pleased to hear this. It's amazing how much travel has changed over the last few decades. I remember before when the only transport available were horses and small wooden ships."

"As fascinating as this trip down memory lane is, I think we're straying from the topic of why we're here," Gaara cut in. Aro frowned but nodded, "Very well, straight to the point. Although I will be honest, I was slightly surprised by your message requesting a diplomatic meeting. Why the sudden change of heart?"

"Being in hiding gives one a lot of time to talk and think. Some irritating, but valid points were brought up during these talks and so plans had to change. As such, we've come here to propose a truce between our covens," Edward explained although his words were clipped and cold. Tilting his head Aro questioned, "A truce you say?"

"Yes. You are to swear to disband your vendetta against us and to cease your plot to kidnap my children; you are not allowed to raise harm toward my family, the Cullens or any associated with us. In exchange, we leave you and your tiny kingdom alone and standing," Naruto stated his eyes narrowed as he glared at Aro. The vampire gazed back frowning deeply, anger churning in his eyes. Caius stood glaring down haughtily at the group, "Why should we abide to these rules, why should we honor them?"

"Because if you don't I swear to you that I will level this place and your army to the ground. I will bring a literal hell onto earth if you piss me off enough." A trickle of killing intent rolled off of Naruto his eyes briefly flashing red. Gaara and the others felt chills race up their spines, they knew the blond was dead serious. The vampires broke into whispering as many of them shuffled nervously at the tense atmosphere. But neither Aro nor Caius seemed bothered, their anger melting away and once more their confidence returned.

"They're looking way too smug about something," Jacob thought glancing briefly at Edward to see if he was picking up anything from their thoughts. The bronze haired vampire glanced back and minutely shook his head, they were blocking him.

Smiling, Aro chuckled, "As tempting as this proposition sounds, I must respectfully decline."

"Have you lost your mind Aro? Surely even you must realize when you're out powered," Marcus protested. Chuckling again, Aro sighed, "Normally yes I would, but you see my dear Marcus the higher powers are favoring me this day. After all, I've gained the advantage."

As if waiting for his words, the doors opened once more drawing attention toward it and the group felt their stomachs drop a bit. Sage walked in with a smug swagger, his followers dutifully trailing behind him as they guarded their prisoners. Naruto gripped Edward's arm tightly as the Cullens were escorted in, Rosalie and Emmett holding the twins protectively while trying to sooth their obvious distress. Watery blue eyes peered out in fear as they shook before spotting them.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Lauren cried in terror. Parental instinct rose up in the pair as they held in the urge to rush over and soothe their children, remaining in place. Devon sniffled, whimpering, "Marcus!" It seemed the pull of soul mates was strong and although Devon was young, he understood that the older vampire was safety; that he would be protected in those arms. Marcus offered only a slight smile doing what he could to alleviate his tiny mate's distress.

"Jacob was right, we should have left them in Rome," Gaara thought, "We didn't account for Sage and his lackies to be here, we just assumed they would either still be healing or out searching for us. No doubt they forced the Cullens here using the threat of exposure or even harm to the children."

"As you can see, you are in no position to make demands," Aro stated, a smug tone in his voice. Turning toward the vampire, Naruto growled, "Release my family Aro."

"Why should I? I have you all here, I could easily just dispose of you and keep the little ones as I intended to do."

"Release them right now! Or I will make you regret that you ever laid eyes on me!" Red chakra flared drawing up gusts of wind as power pulsated from the small blond. Blue eyes which were normally cheerful turned deadly with rage as they bled crimson and for the first time in centuries, the wrath of Kyuubi was being unleashed.

And that's it! The major battle with take place next chapter! Hopefully I'll get it out soonish and that it'll be epic! Please leave a review, they're always appreciated and what keep me going! Thanks!

~Seth