Chapter 26.

Mike, Alix, Bella, and Connor sat around the dining room table. The silence between them stretched into the several minute mark. Mike could feel his face burning a beet red. Connor coughed, clearing something out of his throat. This act startled Renesmee, who sat on the couch in the living room next to them. She fiddled with the television remote, but had no intention to turn it on.

"Alright," Alix said, shattering the awkward moment, "So, what's the plan?" A question they had all been dreading to hear. Some more than others. Mike stretched his fingers, one by one, testing their tenderness.

"I'm going to assault the Cullen's house," Mike said, much to Bella's horror, "I will give them a chance to give Edward over. If they refuse, I have to take him."

Bella swallowed hard, "Is there any other way you can go about getting Edward? Maybe lure him out, or use me as bait."

Connor shook his head, "Time is of the essence, here. If we spend too much time, Langdon might catch on to us."

Mike sighed, "I'm really sorry, Bella, but this is the only way we can do this. I've given this a lot of thought, and, if I could do it any other way, I would."

"So it can't be helped," Alix glared at Bella, "But, if this goes tits up, you'd better not turn traitor and attack us, girl."

Mike held up his hand, "I don't think Bella will do that. Right, Bella?"

She awkwardly turned away. In a small voice, she replied, "Yeah, sure."

With a sideways glance at Bella, Connor spoke up, "I will be going along, too. I've been meaning to have a few choice words with Carlisle. My presence there might help keep things from getting violent. Any objections?"

Alix opened her mouth slightly, then changed her mind before speaking, "I'm going, too. Emmett deserves one last fair fight, and he won't get it from a Fang Breaker. Besides, it'll keep him from flying off of the handle."

"I'm going, too," Renesmee called out from the sofa.

"No, Renesmee," Bella said immediately, "Absolutely not. I don't want you fighting against your family."

She ran over to the dining room, "Mother, I don't want to fight against them, either. But, there's a chance that Jacob will attack Mike on the Cullen's behalf. If I'm there, maybe I can keep them from getting hurt."

Mike narrowed his eyes with staring at the top of his table, "If and when fists start flying, all bets are off. It's going to be a bloodbath. You mom's right, Renesmee, this is no place for you. There are things people don't need to see. Watching your family getting attacked isn't one of them." Renesmee rushed off, worry etched on her face. Bella stood up, but Alix grabbed her shoulder and roughly shoved her back into her chair.

"I'll go talk to her," she said, "You guys think of a way to get to Edward." Alix stormed off after Renesmee. It didn't take much for Alix to figure out that she had found herself a perch on top of the roof. With a delicate grace, Alix strolled along the pointed edge of the rooftop, squatting down behind Renesmee. "Hey, kiddo. This is pretty weird, huh."

Renesmee looked up at Alix, tears streaming down her face. "I-I don't want this," she cried, "Why does Mike have to fight against my family like this?"

She sighed, "Well, Mike's a Fang Breaker. This is what he is supposed to do. Although, I've gotta say, as far as Fang Breakers go, he is pretty kind-hearted. I wonder why."

Renesmee smiled slightly, "I know why. I saw it when I connected him and Connor. He loves my mother, despite the fact that she's a vampire."

Alix groaned, "Of course he is. Why wouldn't he be in love with her? She's, uh, well..."

"Bland?" Renesmee giggled.

Alix laughed, "A little, yeah. Shy, insecure, bland, a little clingy, even. Well, I guess everyone has a type."

Renesmee wiped her eyes, "Are you jealous?"

Alix blinked, a little shocked by the question, "W-wha? No, don't be silly. I'm a married woman, you know." Renesmee arched an eyebrow, giving Alix a knowing look. "Don't look at me like that," Alix replied, blushing a little.

Mike threw his brown overcoat onto his bed, along with the pointed sword he received from Langdon. With a swift crack of his knuckles, he put on some flexible pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and his coat. As he adjusted his collar, someone knocked on his door frame.

Connor stared him in the eye, "Are you ready for this?"

Mike threw the strap for his sword sheath over his shoulder, "I have been ready for this ever since I woke up in Christian's basement. Tell me, why are you going?"

"I can't tell you that," Connor said sternly.

"Why?"

"Because I know you'll talk me out of it."

Mike smiled, "A blessing, and a curse. I just hope that I'm strong enough to fix whatever's coming out of your cryptic actions."

Connor laughed, "You and me, both."