Chapter 14 - All together now...1 2 3...

I rushed in to see the Cullens in the living room. Why had they come to my house? Rosalie and Esme, who had returned from wherever she was, were sitting on the sofa, Carlisle, Jasper, Edward and Emmett seemed to be in a deep discussion. They all stopped talking and looked at me as I entered the room. Alice followed, and Jasper embraced her in a tight hug. If I didn't know any better, I'd have thought it was a 'good bye, I love you' hug,

"Bella, it's lovely to see you again." Esme smiled.

"Thank you, and the same for you." I replied. "Carlisle, can you fill me in? What's happening?" I turned to the father figure of the house.

"We only know what Alice has seen, which isn't a lot." He sighed, shaking his head.

"It keep changing." Alice piped in. "I first saw the Volturi coming to our home. We were alone, and the next thing I know, everything goes blank. I think we were all dead." I took in the look of terror in their eyes. "The other vision involved you. You were there, and then, after a couple of minutes, it goes blank again. We're dead." I could feel terror rising in my veins. "And the other vision I had, we fought. Everyone but myself and Emmett, are killed. Including you."

"So…" I had a lump in my throat, making it hard for me to speak. "No matter how this ends, we all die?" Alice nodded, but Rosalie spoke.

"That's right. We all die. Only, to you, it's not 'we all die' it's 'you all die'. You aren't a part of this, so you're safe." There was venom in her voice.

"I know I'm not a part of your family, Rosalie. But I used to be and I'm not going to let you all die." I sounded confident, but I felt pathetic. I couldn't stop this from happening, and I knew it. "When are they coming Alice?" I turned to her.

"In three days. No matter what vision I have, it always happens in three days, at exactly 10am." I was sure that if she could cry, she would be doing so.

"H-how many?" It was Carlisle that spoke this time.

"I can only count ten. But I cant be too sure."

"And there's eight of us…" I started.

"We can fight them." Emmett boomed.

"Only if you want everyone to die, Emmett." Alice reminded him.

"Oh, yeah." He piped down.

"But if there are more of us…say sixteen…" I did the quick math in my head.

"Sixteen?" Edward turned to me. "And who do you suppose we get involved to fight our war? Alice should never have involved you, as it is, let alone other innocent people." He seemed angry.

"Well…technically, four of them aren't people as such…" I started.

"Aren't people? What are they? Fairies?" Rosalie mocked me.

"Rose, dear…" Esme started.

"Werewolves, actually." The room went quiet. I waited for someone to say something, but no one did. They all just stared at me like I was crazy. "I know a few werewolves. I'm sure they'll help me." Actually, I wasn't sure at all. In fact I was almost certain they wouldn't help.

"Isabella, werewolves are…" Carlisle started. He was the only one who respected the fact I wasn't known as Bella anymore.

"Fictitious…I know but…"

"No, Isabella. Werewolves are our enemies. They wont help us." Of course they knew the wolves. They had a truce with them.

"They might be your enemies, but they aren't mine." I spoke back. I wasn't entirely lying…I had spoken to Jacob Black, who used to be a very good friend.

"And who are the others?" Jasper spoke for the first time.

"My family." I said.

"The ones who tried to kill me?" Was that fear in Rosalie's voice? The voice in my head sniggered.

"That's them. You've seen it for yourself, Rose. They know how to fight." I looked at her, and she nodded.

"I cant see." Alice spoke again, the first time in a while. Everyone, including myself looked at her.

"Alice…" Jasper started. Her eyes were blank…she was trying to see the outcome.

"I just…I cant see anything." She looks at Jasper, when she comes back to the present time, and holds on to him. "I love you." She whispered into his shirt, as she dry sobbed. Was this the end?

***

I was on the phone, waiting for Lloyd to answer his mobile. Finally, after 3 long rings, he answered.

"Izzy! How lovely to hear from you. How are you?" He seemed cheery.

"Lloyd, I need your help." I spoke into the handset. I was in the kitchen, looking out at the forest. The rest of the Cullens were in my living room.

"What's wrong?" He seemed worried. I heard someone hushing the voices in the background. "I'm putting you on speaker phone."

"Hey everyone." I spoke to the household on the end of the phone line. I didn't give them time to reply. "I'm in serious trouble. The Volturi are coming…for the Cullens. And we need your help."

"You're back with the Cullens?" Aaron spoke. Anna-Lee hushed him.

"How can we help?" Lorelai spoke this time. I was surprised she was offering to help.

"Can you all come to Forks?" I asked nervously.

"We'll be there in a couple of hours." Lloyd spoke confidently. "We'll speak then."

The line went dead, and I left the kitchen to rejoin the Cullens.

"They are on their way. They'll be here soon." I said.

"All of them?" Rose spoke.

"Rosalie, they aren't going to hurt you. They are on our side." I looked at her, and I watched the panic leave her eyes as she nodded.

"Do you want us to leave when they arrive?" Esme spoke.

"No. They need to meet you at some point. And it would be better if you were all here for the plan. Alice can give them the 411 on it all, too."

"Sounds okay to me." Alice nodded, still holding on to Jasper. Esme joined Carlisle, and Rosalie joined Emmett. They all embraced each other, scared for their lives. I left the room, to give them all their privacy, and walked into the back garden. The sun was shining, and I absorbed the warmth as it touched my skin, making me sparkle. I didn't jump as Edward joined me.

"Are you scared?" He asked me, his voice soft, and gentle, and barely above a whisper.

"No." I lied. "Are you?" I looked up at him, as he joined me by my side.

"Yes." He said, honestly. He looked down at me, his eyes burning into mine. "We all are."

"I understand." I nodded.

"You don't have to be a part of this."

"I already am." I smiled a little, trying to lighten the mood, but I knew the reality of it. We were most likely all going to die in three days. I felt my still heart sink.

"You shouldn't be." He looked sad, and he tried to hide it. But it was too late; I had already seen it.

"It's going to be okay." I took his hand in mine, and gave it a gentle, encouraging squeeze. "We are all going to be okay." He took me in his arms, and held onto me, burying his head in my hair.

"Look." I whispered, pointing up to the sky. "The sun is setting." We both looked up, towards the warm, orange glow of the sun. "It's beautiful." I muttered.

"It is," Edward agreed.

We watched the sun set, holding each other in our arms, both secretly wishing the moment would never end.

***

My family arrived an hour ago, and they already had bonded with the Cullens; much more than I ever thought possible. Carlisle and Lloyd were talking like they were old friends, Anna-Lee and Esme were discussing decorating and refurbishment, Rosalie, Lorelai and Alice were all discussing shopping and arranging a shopping trip together, and Aaron, Jasper and Emmett were talking about cars. Edward and I hushed the room.

"Alice, would you please explain what is happening. We are already running out of time." Edward smiled politely.

"Of course." Alice nodded. I pulled Edward out of the packed living room, into the kitchen.

"Edward…" I started.

"What's the matter Bella?" Edward asked before I could speak.

"Nothing. I was thinking, now would be a great time for me to see the wolves." I smiled, nervously.

"I'll come with you." He said, walking towards the door.

"I think I should go alone." I said, before he could leave. "Like Carlisle said, they are your enemies, and we have a better chance of getting them to help, if I go alone." I watched the reasoning roll over Edwards mind, through his eyes. He sighed, and nodded.

"Be careful." He sighed.

"I always am." I winked. As I went to leave through the door, Edward gently held onto my arm. I looked up into his eyes, and my unnecessary breath hitched,

"I love you." He whispered.

The voice in my head growled.

Leave, now, Isabella.

Okay, okay! I'm going.

"I know." I replied. "I have to go." I reached up and kissed him politely on the cheek, and ran as fast as my vampires legs would take me, out the back door and into the forest.

***

I waited at the treaty line, knowing a wolf would eventually appear. As I waited, I started fighting with the voice inside my head.

You hate the Cullens. Why are you doing this? It snarled.

I don't hate them.

How can you not? They barely speak to you, and when they do, it's only so you will sign your own death certificate.

I'm already dead. I don't have to sign a death certificate. I sarcastically snarled back. Now shut up. Someone is coming.

I looked up at the wolf, one I hadn't seen before, that was slowly approaching the line, his teeth showing. I held my hands up to surrender.

"I came to speak with Jacob Black. I'm Isabella." I spoke clearly.

The wolf snarled at me.

"He knows who I am. Please. It's urgent." I almost begged. The wolf didn't move. I was about to give up, when I saw Jacob walk out from the trees, towards me. He stopped at the invisible line.

"Bella, what do you want?" He spoke.

"I need your help." I was honest. The wolf growled.

"It's okay Quil. I got it. Return to your duties." He said to the wolf. The wolf bowed his head, and ran back out of sight.

"Bella…" He started. I could tell by his voice that he didn't want to talk to me. I had to say something to remind him of our past; that he once cared for me. I needed him.

"Jacob…Jake…I know I'm a vampire, and you're a…wolf…and I know we are natural enemies. But we weren't once. We were really good friends. I'm begging you to put our differences aside, and help me. Please." I pleaded.

"Bella, look, I know…"

"I don't want to die." I said, knowing that it would sting him a little. He already thought I had died once. If he really cared for me once before, would he want me to really, actually, physically die…again?

"You're dying?" He seemed shocked.

"In three days." I nodded. Good, I have his attention.

"Are you sick? I thought the only way for a vampire to die was…"

"A coven of vampires are coming to destroy me…and the Cullens."

"Why?" He asked.

I don't know!

"Because we…don't hunt humans." I lied. I hoped he didn't pick up on my awful lying skills.

"Oh." Was all he could say.

"Look, Jake, I know why werewolves exist; to destroy vampires. Well…this is your chance." I was on the borderlines now. It was make or break.

"I don't know what Sam will say…"

"Ask him?" I pushed a little more.

"I'll be right back." He nodded, and disappeared amongst the trees. I waited impatiently. Ten minutes passed, and Jacob returned, Sam with him.

It was Sam who spoke this time.

"We'll fight with you, Izzy." He spoke with such an authority, I couldn't help but bow my head.

"Tell the Cullens we will be at Charlie's house in half an hour." It was weird hearing the wolves address my house as my dead fathers' home.

"We?"

"The willing participants of the pack." He nodded.

"I'll see you there." I nodded, and I ran full speed back to the house, eager to let the Cullens and my family the good news.