Chapter 21

"Mackenzie can't fight," Emmett said, looking at Rosalie. Carlisle and Esme sat across from them, each leaning forward in anxious conversation.

"She should stay with Esme," Nicole said.

"You'll stay too," Jasper told her.

Nicole was about to protest but he shook his head, silencing her before she could speak again.

"The house will be guarded heavily by wolves," Alice said, then looked at her daughter, "Right?"

"Our wolves," she said referring to the Quileutes, "And theirs." She looked at Esme, "Leah will be there."

Esme smiled at the thought of her daughter-in-law and nodded. She slipped her hand into Carlisle's. He looked toward her for a moment before looking back to Emmett.

"You've got to contact Siobhan and Liam," Alice said to Carlisle, "So they can help out in Italy with Caleb and Delilah."

Esme seemed to be holding her breath at the thought of her son being taken away against his will. She thought for a minute about their Irish friends and knew they would do all they could to help him. They were good people, and very determined. She was as confident as Alice that they would keep Caleb and Delilah safe overseas.

"My parents are meeting us in Montana," Maddy said, "I'm sure everyone already knows."

There were nods all around before Alice looked to Carlisle again, "Did you already put in your two weeks at the hospital?"

Esme looked at him and he nodded, then looked to her.

"We should probably go to Montana by the end of the week," Nicole said.

"I've spoken with Jeremy several times this week. He has them all prepared."

"Micah and Helen will be there to stand against them too."

Everyone sat thinking for a moment before they realized that Edward and Bella were speaking down the hall with Caleb, Delilah, Alex and Michael.

"Come on," Edward's voice came, "We should all just have a big discussion about this."

They had all picked up separate conversations and people filtered in as they overheard others talking. Their two large groups merged and a general consensus was made to leave town by Friday to get to Montana. They could then start speaking with the tribesmen there and get a plan in order.

"I've already spoken to Masen," Carlisle said, "But I'll tell him to meet us there the same day."

"I'll call Renesme and Jacob too," Edward told them with a nod.

"Friday..." Esme said with a sigh, looking at the two of them.

Carlisle nodded and took out his phone, bringing Esme by the hand to call their son. Caleb followed closely behind and Esme kept him within close proximity to her, waving for Alex over her shoulder, who stood talking quietly with Michael.

When Carlisle had finished making arrangements with Masen, he stood and looked around at everyone.

"What are we going to do?" Caleb asked.

He sighed, unhappy about his words but determined all the same, "We're going to fight."

...

A tall, thin-built young man with boyish good looks opened the door to Kayla and Jeremy's house when the Cullens arrived. He had a perfectly white smile, similar to Jacob's, and a head of messy, dark hair.

"Carlisle right?" he asked, extending his hand.

Carlisle nodded and returned the gesture.

"I'm Shane," he said, placing a hand on his own chest, "I'm sorry about the mix-up the last time you were here. It was me who attacked you, and I was completely in the wrong."

He smiled at the young man, having long since forgiven him for the misunderstanding, "It's alright."

Shane smiled and nodded, then waved them in, continuing to speak as he offered to take Esme's jacket, then Bella's, and the rest of the girls who piled in. "I, uh, well the only good vampires I ever knew were Micah and Helen. I've seen the ones with the long, black robes, or jackets or whatever. They came here once, and I was told that most of your kind were bad. I jumped the gun when I tried to fight you."

"It's alright," Carlisle told him again, "I understand the reaction."

The boy smiled again and nodded. His happy nature and youthful appearance made Esme think of Seth. The fact that this was the boy who attacked her husband almost made her want to laugh, or smile. She couldn't see him attacking anyone.

Kayla and Jeremy rounded into the room with their young daughter, who shyly looked around at everyone. Esme's immediate thought was, is she going to be here when the Volturi arrive?

"Thank you for warning us," Kayla told them, "I don't know what we would have done if this became an ambush."

"When Renesme and Jacob arrive, Renesme is going to fly back to Washington with Lillian," Jeremy said, referring to the younger that was clinging to his leg. He looked down and scooped her up, holding her tightly against him. She immediately put her head down in the opposite direction of everyone, looking halfway towards her mother.

"I'm sorry that this is happening," Carlisle told them, "But we'll do our best to help you in any way that we can. Our friends from Alaska agreed to stand on our side, as well."

"And I know some of the members from the Quileute tribe will be coming up this way, too."

"This could work," Shane said, openly giving his input.

"Shane," Jeremy said, nodding in Carlisle's direction.

"Oh, I apologized," he assured him with another wide smile.

Carlisle grinned and nodded, "Several times," he told Jeremy.

"Shane is my younger brother," he informed him. "He hasn't quite matured yet." The eyes of the two brothers met before they each broke into a smile.

"He'll help Leah and Jacob defend the house," Kayla said, "As will I." She looked at Esme and smiled politely.

Esme smiled back and Shane glanced over at her.

"You're going to have a baby?" he asked, smiling and speaking as if he didn't know the nature of what was to come.

Esme couldn't help but let his carefree nature effect her. She instantly enjoyed his company in the same way she had with Emmett. He was a positive presence and his good mood seemed to radiate into everyone else in the room. "That's right," she told him.

"Well, we've all got you covered," he said, "No one will be getting through these doors."

Esme smiled at him and nodded, squeezing Carlisle's hand as she did. She wished that he could stay inside with her, but she knew that he wouldn't leave their children out on the ground that would become a battlefield. It wasn't something she would ever argue, though if by some chance he ended up making his way inside with her, she knew she wouldn't have it in her to argue with that either.

"Congratulations, by the way," Kayla said, getting off on a positive note.

"Thank you," Esme said at the same time as Carlisle.

"Will you get their things?" Jeremy asked of his brother, who immediately nodded and made his rounds.

The house was a good size, though was beginning to feel smaller from the amount of people who were now inside. When a knock came from the front door, they knew they were in for more company, and didn't at all mind.

Shane greeted the next group of people at the door with the same enthusiasm as he had before. Carlisle and Esme both stood up upon seeing Masen, Leah and Cassandra.

"Welcome vampires and werewolves," Shane joked, "It's a regular haunted house in here." He turned as Cassandra entered and the two of them locked eyes.

Masen and Leah began greeting everyone, beginning with Carlisle and Esme, then making their rounds to the rest of the Cullen family and eventually their hosts. Leah tried talking with Lillian with little success, as the girl continued with her shy behavior.

"Jake and Nessy aren't far behind," Masen told them, "They should be here any minute."

"They stopped for food of course," Leah said with a laugh, "You know Jacob." She made her way back to Esme and gave her another, longer hug. "We'll protect you," she assured her.

Esme closed her eyes and squeezed her hard, "Thank you Leah."

Masen pulled her in next, sharing similar words as he kissed her on the cheek. "I'm not going to stray far from the house," he told her.

She smiled and felt her emotions building up, but she didn't let them out. She put a hand on the side of her son's face, then stared toward the door as she noticed everyone else was.

Shane and Cassandra stood, still in a type of stalemate with their hands locked in one another's as they failed to finish the handshake they had started.

Masen turned to Leah, who looked back at him. The two of them then spun to face Kayla and Jeremy.

A smile spread across Cassandra's face. "It's... great to meet you Shane," she said, looking as if she was shaking hands with her favorite celebrity.

Shane looked just as star struck, and a smile slowly spread across his face. He said exactly what he was thinking, making Emmett chuckle and look down. "You're... my dream girl," he told her, unable to break his stare from her mesmerizing eyes.

Esme smiled to herself and Carlisle saw the look on her face and smiled, too.

"What's going on?" Masen asked, already knowing the answer.

Leah turned back to face him. She hesitated, then let out a short sigh. "I think... I think Shane just imprinted."