A/N - Sorry if it felt like I disappeared. I had about half this chapter done for a while but have only been able to really sit down and finish until recently. The truth is after being in and out of the hospital for a month, my father-in-law was placed into hospice about two months ago to make him more comfortable as his time neared due to pancreatic cancer. After a three year battle with the disease, he passed away two weeks ago. So that was the reason for my prolonged absence and I hope you all understand. I never meant to desert you.

"You bitch!" Caroline's hand connected with Rebekah's cheek sending a loud crack reverberating through the morning air.

Her head jerked to the side but she recovered from her shock quickly and fixed Caroline with a cold glare. "If it's a question of my life or theirs, I'll pick mine, every time. Obviously, I have more faith in your friends' skills than you do."

"Oh, please." Rosalie rolled her eyes. "That is such crap and you know it. You're just trying to cover your ass now. You wouldn't have said anything at all if Jasper didn't call you on your guilt, which I still find shocking that you felt any at all."

"You have no-"

"You could've told us your Hannibal Lechter of a brother and that red-haired, vamp-shrew went after our friends and instead you said nothing." Planting her hands on her hips, Caroline leaned in close to Rebekah's face with narrowed eyes, and cocked her head to the side. "Makes a girl wonder, whose side you're really on."

Finding no quarter from that direction, Rebekah huffed and decided to change tact to one that always worked for her in the past; Elijah's sympathy, his sense of family. She turned to him with a pout on her face. "Klaus threatened me, said he would tear my limbs off if I didn't give up where they were hiding out. You didn't see his face. He meant every word."

"And I meant mine when I promised that we were all on the same side, fighting for the same cause. In one fell swoop," he sliced the air with his hand and spoke through gritted teeth, "you have rendered my word meaningless. Absolutely meaningless!"

"Your word." Her lips curled into a distasteful sneer. She turned in a circle, taking note of every accusing stare and returned them with one of her own. "You all think you're so perfect, don't you? While you're judging me from high on your ivory pedestals, think about this, if I did tell you, what are the chances any one of you would have gone traipsing off to help them while the rest of us were fighting for our own lives?"

"You never gave us the choice!" Jasper snarled at her, his fists clenched at his sides.

"So go already! No one is stopping you now."

"For your sake, Rebekah, I hope they are unharmed."

"You'd really hurt me, 'Lijah?" Her bottom lip trembled making a liar out of her skeptical tone. "After you spent all those years trying to find me, find us, your family, you'd really bury a stake into my heart? Maybe you're not as far removed from Klaus as you'd like everyone to believe."

"I would never harm you. You know that. But that doesn't mean I can stop anyone else, should they wish it."

"I can." Kol moved closer to his sister after seeing Emmett's wide grin as he banged his fist a little too gleefully into his palm. "Finn can too. Unlike dear brother here, we won't let anyone harm you."

"Oh my God, would you all just stop?" Bonnie threw her hands up in exasperation, stirring the air around her and causing a surge of wind. "We're wasting time arguing over this. We need to leave now."

"Alice isn't answering her phone," Jasper had his ear pressed to his cell phone. The more it rang, the more he paced. "Neither is anyone else. Caroline, you, Ric, Stefan and The Mickelsons will go back to the house-"

"No, Jasper." Stefan shook his head. "I'm coming with you. Damon and Bella are my family too and Elena-" He looked down at the ground and swallowed hard. before lifting up his head again, his eyes showing resolve. "I just…need to be there."

Jasper gave a stiff nod. "Okay." He turned toward the tree line with a somber, thoughtful expression on his face and sighed. "Someone is going to have to tell Edward what's going on."

"We'll figure it out," Ric said, going to give him a comforting pat on the back but pulled away at the last moment, realizing he'd probably break his fingers doing so. "Just go. Bring them home."

"No one is going anywhere," a sing-song female voice called out from a distance. "Though, I'd certainly love for you to try."

Heads swiveled towards the direction of the child-like voice. Three cloaked figures approached; their movements so smooth, their footsteps never made a sound on the grass. The small one in the middle stepped ahead of the others. Two pale, delicate hands reached up to peel back the hood that concealed her face. She shook out her blonde hair, her lips curling into a satisfied smirk as she stood before her dumbstruck audience.

"Jane." Jasper was the first to recover from the shock of this ambush. And that is exactly what it was if the near giddiness at catching them unawares was any indication. The signature black and red cloaks immediately identified them as members of the Volturi Guard. He recalled Edward's mention of the small but sadistic Jane, who could cause a vampire immense pain with just one look, not unlike the talent Bonnie had. The other two had yet to reveal themselves. Of course, they chose precisely the worst possible moment to arrive. It had to have been on purpose. There was no warning, no indication of Aro's intent. It made the circumstances seem that much more suspicious.

"My reputation precedes me," she said, pleased. "It's too bad I can't say the same for you."

"Why are you here?" Rosalie stepped forward, evading Emmett's attempts to block her. "Are you giving a personal r.s.v.p. to the wedding invitation?"

"Hardly. We've heard accounts of some disturbances in the area. It seems the concerns were founded."

"We've already cleaned up the mess for you." She waved her hand towards the purple fire already diminishing. "But you already knew that, didn't you? Tell Aro, you're welcome for us would you?"

"You're a brave one aren't you? Be careful how you speak to your superiors."

Rose snorted. "Yeah, okay, Gidget."

Jane ignored her, her gaze flitting over every face, examining, listening, picking them apart, searching for weaknesses she could exploit. A soft wind blew her way and in it something that caused her eyes to narrow. She swiveled her head, glaring at Ric, her lips pulling back over her teeth before settling into a serene smile.

"I see you've acquired another human pet or is that one food?" She cocked her head to the side. "Care to share?"

Ric gulped and took a step backward, his fist tightening on his laser gun that was now out of juice.

"Leave him alone." Bonnie stepped in from of him, shielding him. Her eyes became slits and the air around her feet stirred.

"Look Sister," Alec's lips spread into a malicious grin. "Another one."

"This is a shame. Aro had such high hopes." She tapped her chin. "Hmmm, what to do, what to do?"

"You could leave," Caroline said.

"Oh, but where's the fun in that?"

"Enough!" Elijah's hand sliced the air. "Let's cut to the chase, shall we? We've destroyed the newborns while the three of you sat back and watched. The Volturi owes a debt of favor to everyone here. Do you think Aro would look kindly on your cowardice and laziness?"

"You know nothing."

"Don't test me, little girl. I lived at Volterra centuries before you were even born. I know Aro's gift, what he can see."

"He can't see it, if you never get there to show him."

Carlisle stared out the wide window, hands clasped behind his back, his eyes darting towards all angles, his ears straining to pick up any distant sound. He heard nothing but the rustle of the trees in the soft wind and the various sounds of the Olympian Peninsula wildlife. Where are they? They should've been back by now.

"You're worried." Edward edged towards his father with a slower than usual gait, gripping his arm, waiting for the venom to fully knit it together.

"Only concerned." He gave a small smile meant to reassure. "How's your arm?"

"It hurts but it's getting better. I'd forgotten what physical pain feels like."

"You should be resting it. It will take longer to heal if you keep jostling it around despite the bandage."

"And you're trying to change the subject. They should be back by now, shouldn't they? That's what I heard in your thoughts."

Carlisle gave a defeated sigh and with it his shoulders slumped. "Yes," he said, his focus remaining locked on the window. "Perhaps they were held up. Bonnie and Ric are human. They don't move as fast as we do."

"But you don't think so."

"No."

"Then what are we waiting for? The sooner we know what's holding them up, the sooner I can get Bella."

The longer they waited, the more Carlisle's concern grew. Someone would've contacted them by now. "I'll go. You should stay here."

"I'm coming with you."

"You're arm, it-"

"Either we go together or I'm just going to follow right after you."

"Alright," Carlisle said with a hesitant nod. "Let's go."

As they walked closer to the clearing, voices reached them, angry voices.

"The Volturi." Edward looked at his father with wide, horrified eyes.

Carlisle broke into a run with Edward following behind, unable to move as quickly. They were met with a scene they all had been trying to avoid. A standoff between their family and allies and three Volturi guards.

Jane was getting ready to act, to impart her power right onto Elijah. He had no idea what he was in for.

"Elijah, move!" Edward shouted out.

It was Bonnie that stepped forth; her gaze steady, sure and volatile and it was aimed right at Jane.

A shriek pierced the air as Jane convulsed and fell to her knees. Bonnie pulled her power back and approached the girl, watching her with deep satisfaction as she writhed on the ground.

"Don't mess with a Bennett Witch, bitch."

"What did you do to my sister?" Alec reached down to help Jane up but his eyes never wavered from Bonnie, his expression both angered and fearful.

"It's called Karma and it's the same thing I will do to you if you don't back the hell off."

Jane stumbled back into her brother's embrace, her small body still trembling with the after effects, her stance no longer confident.

"You'll pay for this. You'll all pay. Attacking a member of the guard is a grievous offense, an act of aggression."

"Since I don't bow down prostrate to the throne of the Volturi, I'm not worried."

"You were going on the attack, Jane," Carlisle reminded her. "Self defense is hardly an act of aggression."

"Ah, so the Cullen patriarch finally deems to make an appearance and Edward, so lovely to see you again. The last time was so memorable."

"What is your purpose here?"

"We came to take care of the little problem but imagine our surprise when we found a much bigger one; vampires consorting with humans, wolves," she turned to Bonnie with a sneer, "and witches."

"All of whom took care of your little problem for you, wouldn't you say?" Edward stepped forward, trying not to wince, trying not to show weakness, despite his arm hanging at an odd angle.

"Regardless, the law is the law."

"Really?" Carlisle asked. "I disagree. We didn't break any laws. The wolves have known for centuries that we've existed. Witches too."

"And the human?" Alec nodded towards Ric.

"He's known before he knew of us. His wife was a vampire; a Nocturnal."

"It doesn't matter how he knows or if you're responsible for that knowledge or not. We have our rules."

"Hmm, that may be but it is not you to decide and judge. Aro does not give you that authority. Try to take it and the odds are not in your favor."

"Is that a threat, Edward?"

"No." Edward shook his head, pursing his lips. "Not a threat."

Jane seemed to realize they were outnumbered and overpowered. "Fine. We will leave for now but I would expect to hear from Aro very soon."

"I would expect nothing less," Carlisle said, his tone breathing relief.

No one dared to say a word, not in relief, nor in victory until the Volturi guard members retreated from view, into the morning mist, as quickly as they came.

Damon was on his knees, smoothing his hands up and down Bella's alabaster cheeks, trying to force color back into them. The sound of Elena's tears behind him barely registered into what was left of his conscious mind, so intent on his task. Tears slipped down off his jaw, splashing onto Bella's face.

"Don't do this to me, Isabella. You have to wake up." He searched for a sign of life, for anything to tell him that she heard him. There was nothing. He sniffled and pressed his palms against either side of her scalp and gave her head a slight shake. God damn it, Isabella. Wake up. Wake up!"

"Damon, don't-" Elena gave him a gentle tug but he wrenched his arm away.

He stumbled on his knees away from her, clawing at the ground, chest heaving as he tried to bring himself to a standing position. It felt like his legs didn't want to hold him, that the earth was shaking beneath his feet.

"This is not happening." Damon scrubbed his hand down his face, trying very hard not to look at the still figure of his sister, pale and lifeless. "This is not happening. Try harder, Alice."

"I don't know what you want me to do!"

"Something." He knelt down beside her again, his blue eyes bloodshot and angry. "Anything."

"Damon, it's too-"

"No, Elena. Don't. Do not tell me to give up on her. I won't. I can't."

"She should be moving, screaming in pain," Alice explained, her voice very quiet in her devastation. "The burning would be taking over everything. It's not. It's almost like she's not even here." She pressed her ear to Bella's chest, her eyes darting back and forth as she listened.

"What are you doing?"

"Shh, I hear something." For a few minutes, while Damon and Elena watched with hope, Alice listened before sitting back up again. her brow marred with confusion. "This is wrong. All wrong. I don't understand."

"What?"

"She has a heartbeat. Very faint, very slow...about once every two minutes."

"That's a good sign, isn't it?" Elena's voice was optimistic.

"That's not what is supposed to happen. Her heart is supposed to speed up, not slow down."

"Where did that bitch bite her? Maybe that has something to do with it." Damon pulled Bella's collar down, with impatient fingers, looking for the source of the blood that soaked her collar.

"It's right-" Alice pointed and leaned in, examining Bella's neck where the bite mark should be. "What the hell? It's gone. It's healed. But how?" It only took her a few moments to put the pieces together and once she did, she was furious. She whirled to face Damon, her eyes narrowing to slits with accusation. "What did you do?" she screeched at Damon. "What did you do?"

Damon's eyes widened in horror, the bitter taste of bile lodged in his throat. No. This wasn't happening.

Elena was slowly backing away, her hand covering her mouth as her head shook in denial. "You didn't. Please tell me you didn't do what I think you did."

"I was trying to protect her...I thought-"

"You gave her your blood?"

"In a Bloody Mary that was more bloody than Mary. She had no idea."

"From the same batch you gave me?" Elena's lips compressed into a thin line, the sting of betrayal sharp on her face. "No - don't. I already know the answer. How could I ever think-"

"Damn it, 'Lena," Damon said with a frustrated yank on his hair. "I needed an insurance policy. I couldn't let anything happen to either of you that you couldn't come back from."

"You just can't help yourself can you? I can't believe you took away my choices...again."

"And I would keep doing it if it meant you would stay alive."

Elena nodded her head towards Bella, tears slipping down her cheeks. "It doesn't seem to have worked out so well for Bella, does it?"

"Save the lovers quarrel for later, both of you. We need to bring her back. Maybe Carlisle has heard of this happening before. Maybe he'll know what to do."

"And if he doesn't?"

"Then we pray."