"I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I will remain."
Frank Herbert - Dune

Unbeknownst to Jacob and his sisters, Billy had given Old Quil verbal directions for the distribution of his possessions, when he realized the gravity of his medical condition. A small life insurance policy, a savings account, the truck, and house were left for the kids to distribute equally between them. Knowing that Paul and Rachel would soon decide to make their relationship officially permanent, Jacob offered his childhood home to them, with Rebecca agreeing. Jacob took the truck, with Rebecca getting a larger portion of the remaining funds. The siblings agreed upon the distribution of personal effects.

The days following Billy's funeral brought several changes in Jacob's life. Jacob moved in with Seth so that they could continue at the reservation school. Jacob finally gave in to Bella and mailed all the forms for the University of Washington.

Early this morning, Bella had left with Jacob to drop his sister and husband off at the airport in Seattle. They were stopping back through town to open a bank account for Jacob with his inheritance money. Esme and Carlisle had followed them to Seattle, to make an offer on the property that she had found close to the University. I was expecting Bella and Jacob back at any time.

I was working on a new composition on my piano, when a shout from Emmett broke through my concentration. "Edward, come out and play ball with Henry and me."

I looked up to see Emmett and Henry wearing identical smiles of anticipation. Emmett had created a new game, which would most appropriately be called "Henryball." It could only be played in Rose's absence. Henry, it seemed, was something of an adrenaline junkie. He had convinced Emmett and Jasper to utilize him as a football – to be tossed between them. Originally Henry started out crunching his little body into a ball shaped mass, but eventually he figured out that if he stretched out from tip to tip and held rigid – he traveled farther and faster. The first time Rose had witnessed "Henryball," her outraged shriek had shattered the nearest window, and cracked several others.

Emmett saw my reluctant look. "C'mon, Rose isn't due to be back for at least an hour or two. We just want to get in a few throws."

I was still unconvinced, until I looked down at Henry. The little manipulator – the look on his face was so imploring that it was difficult to remain a responsible person.

"Okay! Just a few throws, your mom still isn't over Jasper and I telling you about the Volturi."

His shriek of excitement was only a few decibels below the scream his mother had produced previously. I had to admit - Henryball was actually quite fun. Henry's giggles echoed throughout the space behind our house. He had taken to attempting flips in the air during flight. Henry would also occasionally attempt to take either Emmett or me out, upon descent, by slamming feet first into our chests. His aim was uncanny.

After the second time of being knocked on his butt, Emmett grabbed Henry's body, pinning him to the ground for a round of tickling. Over Henry's hysterical laughter, I heard Bella's truck approaching the house. Soon enough, Jacob and Bella walked through the house and out the back door.

"Henryball again, Emmett?" Bella teased.

"Bella, if you tell Rose, I will make your life miserable."

"Yeah, like that would be any different," she snorted.

Alice and Jasper stepped out of the tree line returning from their hunt. "You'd better cover up the evidence Emmett, because Nessie and Rose aren't too far behind."

Henry looked up in fear. He took off in a sprint into the house to change - his mind racing with the repercussions of being caught by his mom. The rest of us followed at a more leisurely pace to sit on the back porch. The leaves were just beginning to change into autumn colors and the view from the back porch was spectacular.

Jacob looked over to Alice. "Alice, Bella and I went to the bank today and deposited the check I received. She told me that I should speak to you, about possibly helping me know where to invest the money."

There was a squeal of delight, and a rush of air. I barely caught the sight of Jacob's body being dragged inside between Alice and Emmett. Within seconds I heard the computer being turned on.

"Bonnie and Clyde," Jasper whispered, a deep throaty laugh bellowing out of his body.

Bella had been leaning against the railing and walked behind where Jasper sat, ruffling the top of his hair, before she flopped down into my lap.

"I'll miss Forks when we move on," Jasper mused, as he watched the soaring flight of a hawk over the wooded area not far from the house.

I thought we all would agree. I played with a strand of Bella's hair, twining it around my finger. Forks would always be a very special place for me. I looked down into Bella's faintly gold eyes and smiled down at her. She scrunched her nose at me adorably.

Henry skipped out to Jasper, and jumped into his lap. "What are Aunt Alice and Dad doing to Uncle Jacob? I have never seen his eyes quite so big before. They're all staring at the computer and Uncle Jacob looked scared."

Jasper laughed and we all joined in. "That, Henry, is called the thrill of the hunt – at least for your Dad and Alice. For Jacob – well – he's probably in shock right now."

We sat for another half hour before Rosalie and Renesmee walked through the tree line. Rose and Nessie were holding hands and laughing about something. I noticed Henry look down and straighten his clothing again. Wise little man. Jacob walked out, looking shell-shocked, and glared at Bella.

"Why didn't you tell me what I was getting myself into?"

Bella giggled at him. "Did the little pixie scare the big bad wolf?"

Jacob snorted. Hearing Carlisle and Esme pulling up the drive, he headed around the side of the house to meet them. Jacob knew that Esme would be bringing groceries, and he planned on stealing a snack while helping unload the car.

The tranquillity of the moment was broken by Emmett swearing and calling Jasper's name. We were all on our feet, running inside within a second. Alice stood staring blankly. Emmett was holding her body up.

I staggered over, grabbing Bella as I saw what Alice was foreseeing.

Phil and Renee at home snuggling together on the couch watching a video. The front door slams open and four vampires dart into the room. Phil, jumping up to protect Renee, and being grabbed and bitten. Renee's shocked eyes staring at her husband and the vampire that had just drained him. Vampires I didn't know. Renee collapsing and one of the vampire reaching for her body.

The vampires turning towards the door…hissing and snarling . Then a glimpse of a second group - Volturi guards - Demetri, Felix, and others stepping through the front door. Astonishment and confusion in the first group's eyes. A whirling melee of battle as Renee lies unconscious on the floor. The destruction of the unknown vampires. Felix and Demetri discussing the disposal of Phil's body, and what to do with Renee. Snatches of Felix's directions: "Torch the house like the others. Kill the female. Let's go home."

Pieces of the rogue vampires being heaped together, and something from a can being poured on the pile.

A gasp and a shouted, "Demetri - come see this."

Demetri being handed a photo from one of the tables. A family photo of us, with Phil and Renee at the wedding. Felix's hisses and cursing. Felix jerking Renee from the floor and throwing water in her face. Renee's head lolling. Felix sticking the photo in Renee's face. Demanding, "Who is this?" shaking her roughly. Her barely mumbled, "My daughter." "Cullens," hiss several members of the guard, leaning as if to leap on her in rage. Demetri's hand raised to stop the group. Felix and Demetri's faces as they look to each other.

"She goes with us. She is not to be harmed" Snarls of outrage from the other vampires. Demetri's voice turns harsh and fierce. "I command here! I answer to the masters, not you." Renee being lifted in Demetri's arms. The Guards leaving the room, the last stopping long enough to throw a match and the room explodes in flames.

Haze. Aro – Renee being brought before Aro, toted in Demetri's arms. Gentleness. Aro asking her to repeat how she knows the Cullens. A brief touch to read her mind. What was this? Aro being gentle toward Renee. Why would he be gentle if he had arranged for this to occur? Aro having her taken to a room and food brought to her.

Glimpses of him writing a letter. A missive. Partial words on the letter. "Carlisle, … it seems that something of yours has been brought to me for protection…" Bella, Carlisle, Jasper, Alice, and I standing before Aro. Returning to Forks with a shell-shocked Renee.

Alice's vision disappeared abruptly, as Carlisle, Esme, and Jacob walked into the room. She would have staggered if Emmett hadn't of been supporting her. Alice's eyes flew to my face, and we stared at each other in horror as the family erupted around us. The vision had taken only seconds.

I snatched Bella's phone out of her back pocket. Dialing Renee's home number instantaneously. No answer, and the message machine did not pick up.

"Edward, it's too late. I didn't see it until just as it was happening. Probably because I was so close to Jacob," Alice's said, her voice quivering with anguish.

Bella was already panicking. "WHAT DID YOU SEE….ALICE, WHAT DID YOU SEE!"

She started to struggle, and I held on as much as I could. Alice streaked to her - putting her hands on Bella's shoulders, holding her down.

"Bella, calm down…" Alice tried her best, but her voice was anything but calm as well.

"Edward, Alice…what is happening?" Carlisle's voice carried above the clamor.

I looked to Emmett and he realized from the look in my eyes that I would need help with Bella. He snuck behind Jasper, who began throwing waves of calmness throughout the room. As soon as I realized Emmett was behind me, I loosened my hold on Bella long enough to circle around to her front. Alice slid to the side a little but not too far, in case I needed the help. Putting my hands on her shoulders, I took a deep breath in preparation for destroying my love's heart.

"Bella, I am not quite certain that I understand all of what Alice just saw, but suffice it to say that I believe that the Volturi now have your mother. Phil is dead…"

I couldn't continue any further because of the eruption of everyone in the family, other than Alice. I could hear the furious workings of her mind, as she tried to make sense of the jumbled scenes we had just witnessed. The vision held steady - no matter what avenue she went down - the Volturi had Renee - Phil was already dead, the house burning around him. She was as puzzled as I by the reaction she continued to see from Aro.

Emmett had clamped down on Bella, holding her arms to the side of her body as she thrashed - attempting to throw him off. She would have thrown Emmett, if Alice hadn't fallen to her knees wrapping her thin arms around Bella's legs. Growls erupted from Bella. I noticed Jacob at my side, and turned to look at him thankful for his presence. It took Bella a full ten minutes to calm down, before I could even begin to rationalize with her. She took one shuddering breath, and her body surrendered the rage that had energized it.

She looked to me with pain written in her eyes.

"What happened? Is she still alive?"

I never wanted to hear such desperation in my wife's voice again. I turned to Carlisle.

"Alice saw a group of vampires breaking into Renee and Phil's house. They killed Phil, and then just as they were going to do the same to Renee, part of the Volturi Guard came through the door and confronted them. The first group was destroyed, and as the Guard was preparing the house to burn, one of them saw a wedding photo of us. They roused Renee temporarily and she told them that Bella is her daughter. The next part is very confusing. In Alice's vision, Demetri protects Renee and delivers her to Aro…"

I was temporarily interrupted by Jacob's growl, as well as a string of expletives that I had never heard Carlisle utter before.

"… No, listen, this is where it gets very strange. Aro appears astonished, well maybe astonished isn't the right word – maybe surprised - that Renee is delivered to him. Almost as if he wasn't aware of the situation. Demetri tells him about the photo and hands it to him. He touches her and then knows she is Bella's mom. He's going to send a letter to us informing us of Renee's presence. Alice sees us returning to Forks with Renee. Of course, we know that her visions are subjective … but it's as if this isn't a plan."

Carlisle began to pace furiously as Alice and Rosalie led Bella to the couch. Renesmee held Henry's hand. Henry looked furious, but almost contemplative. Jasper held Esme, and she laid her head to his chest seeking comfort. Emmett, Jacob, and I stood like stone statues staring at Bella on the couch.

"I will kill him this time, Edward. I swear if he so much as touches Renee and hurts Bella by it….I will kill him," Jacob half growled, beside me.

"Jacob, I just don't understand. There is so much that doesn't make sense," I replied, while a thousand possibilities ran through my mind - none made sense. Was this his way of making us come for his proposed "truce" meeting? But, he looked surprised in Alice's visions.

"Who did you see going to Volterra?" Carlisle asked, looking to Alice.

She nervously twitched her hands. "You, me, Jasper, Bella, and Edward."

Esme cried out, while Emmett starting cursing about being left out again. Rose began to sob without sound, pulling Bella into her arms.

Jacob folded his arms across his chest. "There is no way in Hell that I am not going with you to Italy. You will need my help in bringing Renee back."

"Ummm…Jake, actually your presence would be more of a hindrance than a help." Alice said softly. "With you there I will not be able to see what might happen."

The honesty of the statement made it no less harsh for Jacob to swallow.

"Jacob, if Bella and I must go, I'll need you to be here." I said cutting my eyes toward Nessie, for the fraction of a second it took for him to realize my implication. If Bella and I faced destruction again, I needed to know that Jacob would be here to take care of her. For a second, I staggered under the realization that I had finally given up the battle - I had just admitted to myself that Jacob was Nessie's future.

"I think that we should follow the outline of Alice's vision implicitly in the hopes that the resolution will stay the same," Carlisle mumbled, breaking through my astonishment at my 'epiphany' - as Bella would have called it.

I could hear Esme's panic. She did not want anyone from her family going to Italy, but she couldn't argue that Renee needed to be retrieved. Rose's newly emerged mothering instinct had her wanting to protect the five of us seen in Alice's vision. She was at a loss for what to do. Emmett began preparing his mind for the possibility that some or all of us might not make it back. Jacob's mind followed Emmett's track.

I turned to look to the two kids. Nessie had her hand to Henry's face, and they were engaged in their own conversation. She was showing Henry what the Volturi looked like from her memories. His face reflected the emotions he felt, as she ran through what it had looked like from her perch atop Jacob. The swirling masses of grey and black. The destruction of Irina. Jane and Alec's attacks…Bella's protection.

For a group of eleven individuals, we were inconceivably quiet. Each one of us lost in our own thoughts…all of them, except Bella's, echoing through mine.

Bella rose, looking to me. "Would you go to the cottage and grab our carry-on bags, and a change or two of clothing? I'm sure it will take us awhile to arrange our transportation. Now that I think about it…bring some extra clothing for my mother, as I am sure she will need a change of clothes, and she can wear mine."

I was filled with pride as I watched her take control of the fear that had temporarily paralyzed her. She had embraced the belief that we would go to Volterra, and return with her mother. I dashed out the door, knowing that my parents and siblings would start getting everything together. I hadn't made it very far when I realized I heard the claw of Jacob's paws following behind.

Edward, I can't do this. I can't just stay here and watch the five of you walk into what is possibly a trap.

I spoke as I saw his body pull beside me. "Jacob, you have to stay here with Emmett. I need to know that you will be here. Emmett knows where to go if the unimaginable happens. But he will need your help taking care of Esme, Rose, and the kids."

I will not be able to handle losing any one of you, Edward. I can't say that to Bella because she will fall apart.

"Jake, I have every plan to return to Forks with my family intact, dragging what will be a much traumatized Renee behind me. But, if for some reason an unforeseen decision changes the path of Alice's vision- I cannot imagine a person I know being more prepared to handle what must be done."

The breath huffed out of his massive body, and he slowed his gait as the cottage came into view. I was in and out of the cottage in just a few short minutes and we were running at top speed back to the house.

______________________________

As we unloaded at the airport, the tension became almost unbearable. I heard Carlisle's grief as he kissed Esme's lips for what could be the last time. He hugged both of his grandchildren, and smoothed Rose's hair as she sobbed into his shoulder. He grasped both Emmett's and Jacob's shoulder. Esme held the girls in her arms, as she frantically threatened them if they didn't return safely. Jacob grasped Bella's arms just below her shoulders, as he stared intently into her eyes. He lifted her, placing his cheek next to hers, and held her for what I knew he felt wasn't long enough. Em was uncharacteristically silent and somber as he grabbed Jasper and I into a bone-crushing hug.

Bella brushed Nessie's hair back from her face after riddling it with kisses. Nessie's tears ran streaming down her face. Her whispered "I Love You, and I always will," was heartbreaking in its simplicity. Both Nessie and Henry ran into my arms as I bent down - allowing me to hug their warm bodies, breathing in the scent that could belong only to these two glorious creatures. My kisses to their foreheads were my parting.

Jacob approached me as the others walked into the crowded, noisy airport terminal. I lowered my voice and leaned toward him in an attempt to keep our conversation private, from both groups of our family. "Jacob, I will endeavor to insure that Bella returns with Renee. Whether or not I do … do not let her do anything stupid, for Nessie's sake."

Jacob's hand flew at rapid speed striking my shoulder, open palmed.

"Don't you dare say goodbye to me, Edward," he said, a little louder than need be.

A man passed by and I heard in his thoughts, "lover's quarrel." "Wouldn't mind getting between the two of them," came from a young girl leaning against the door. I laughed at the lunacy of the moment, at the same time rubbing my shoulder. Jacob thought that I was losing it …possibly returning to the mental instability he had witnessed during Bella's pregnancy.

"No, Jacob it isn't what you think. Several of the individuals around us just witnessed your reaction and heard your statement. They think we are having a lover's tiff."

His face flamed red. "I'll see you in a few days, Jacob," I said with sincerity, turning to enter the terminal.

_________________

I relived brief snatches of our farewells for at least the hundredth time in my mind, as the plane we had caught in Los Angeles began its descent in Rome. Bella sat holding my hand - we had sat that way for hours. We had to catch the next plane for Florence. Once there, I knew Rose would have something waiting for us at the rental counter. No more stolen Porsches for Alice.

In an attempt to get Bella to smile, I looked over and asked, "Would you like for me to get you a Coke on the next flight?" Her lips quirked, just slightly. I was hoping to distract her if only for a moment.

Jasper whispered from behind us. "Tell her about your and Jacob's little farewell scene. That should do the trick."

Intrigued despite herself, Bella turned and raised her eyebrow at me.

I whispered back to Jasper, "Exactly how would you know about that?"

"I didn't hear anything … but your laughter, his embarrassment, and the lust coming off individuals of both sexes from that area told me I missed something really good."

Bella turned her body, clearly intrigued now. I described Jacob's reaction and the resulting misinterpretations, without sharing the reason. Alice began chuckling and Carlisle joined in from the seat in front of me. Bella, shook her head smiling, if only for a few moments. It was enough. I noticed that Jasper and Alice were engrossed, staring into each others eyes. Carlisle was staring out of the airplane's windows, and I wondered briefly what he saw below us.

I leaned over putting my lips to her ear, whispering as softly as I could. "Bella, before we get to Volterra, there's something I need to tell you about."

"Just tell me which one," she said, leaning into me mimicking my volume. She had realized quickly what I must be referring to.

"Aro."

She tensed for a moment, and then jerked her head down into a quick nod.

__________________________________

Author's Note: I want to send out a huge thank you to Charles "crmcneill" for his help on getting the next three chapters to work. I should really say that he co-authored them as he helped me through the strategy of the Volturi and the possible scenarios. THANKS SO MUCH!!!