~25~

The clearing of a throat broke off Jacob and I's embrace and I stepped back to see my father, looking stern as ever, and Carlisle coming toward us.

"Daddy!" I shouted running to him, "You're okay!"

He scooped me up into his arms, smiling,"I'm fine, hunny. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I was just worried about you," I said smiling, feeling a huge hole in my chest mend itself.

"Edward!" I heard my mom scream, and I stepped back to give them room to embrace.

We walked back into the house, where we all proceeded to sit at the kitchen table. Aiden was already there and I decided, to be safe, to sit between Alice and my mother.

"What happened Carlisle?" Alice asked, "How did they let you go?"

Carlisle started his story, "Well, soon after Aiden and Nessie escaped, they all noticed and Aro came into the hall. He sent several of the guard out all over Italy, but they never found you. Aro was reluctant to cause me any harm, seeing that we go way back, but he knew I couldn't be trusted to go free, so I of course I had to give him something."

"What?" my mother asked curiously. She was holding my father's hand and I could see that it had been agony for them to be apart and my heart wanted nothing more to have that same sense of reunion as they did, with Jacob one day.

"We agreed to help Aro defeat these Altair, although I really don't want to destroy any of them menacingly," Carlisle replied.

"So we have to fight on the same side?" my mother asked.

"Yes," answered Carlsile, "And we have to also agree to use all of our gifts to defeat them, as well as, let them use Aiden."

"He doesn't have to go back to them does he?" Alice asked.

"No, although I don't think that will last for very long. I don't think they trust us enough, so soon they will come back looking for him, hoping that because we agreed to help, he will join them as well, only in Volterra too," answered Carlisle.

"So what do we do now?" asked Jasper.

He sighed, "I've already contacted Rosalie, Esme, and Emmett, and they've found Marney."

I saw Aiden quiver at the end of the table. "Where is she?" asked Alice, "I haven't been seeing any visions of her."

Carlisle looked down, "She's joined the Altaira. She's become one of the leaders. Turns out, she was one all along, but she got distracted by something so she left."

I was positive what her distraction was and I thought of how she killed Aiden's father, sucking the life out of him.

"Anyways, I think it's best if we split up into at least two groups to avoid the Volturi. I'm going out to the Denali's and meeting the others to try and convince them to help us defeat the Altaira. We'll need all the help we can get. Edward, your group can go back to the island or wherever else you feel is safe enough for Renesmee and Aiden," Carlisle said.

"When will we meet up?" asked Jasper.

Carlisle looked up at him, "Whenever we are ready to defeat them once and for all."

Our family gathering dispersed and Carlisle started packing to leave as soon as possible. Jacob started talking to my father about how he could get the wolf pack to help if we needed it.

I saw Aiden walk outside and I knew it was the perfect time to talk to him about Jacob and I and where we all stood. I braced myself for the conversation I was about to face. I didn't want to hurt him, but I knew I had to go through with it and I prayed he would understand.