Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight

Chapter Thirty-Six

*Renesmee's POV*

"Look at my pretty little girls," I cooed at the little gurgling babies laying on a play mat Jake and I set up in the living room. Sarah and Izzy were both dressed in onesies Jen and Leah bought the girls the other day– Sarah in a Winnie the Pooh one and Izzy in Finding Nemo. According to Leah, Jen dragged her to the mall's Disney store the other day when the girls went on a Seattle shopping trip and couldn't help but buying the girls a pair. Then again, courtesy of Aunt Alice the girls have a ton of clothing.

"Why did they have to be fast growing babies?" Jacob pouted as he came over to sit by me and the girls. "Why couldn't they be slow for once?"

I sighed as I gently tickled their bellies. It's been a week since I gave birth and we were able to find some peace. Jacob and I moved back into our home. If we were going to have only three months with our daughters, they were going to be a damn good three months in our own home and not in my father's old bedroom. Anyway, security around the property has become a lot more intense, and I think being that it's so close to when the actual fight is tensions have also spiked.

"Did they eat?" Jake asked me as he cooed at a smiling Sarah.

"Yeah," I said, stroking Izzy's cheek.

"As for powers…Any sign?" Jacob asked nervously.

"No," I said, shaking my head. "Or I don't think so."

Stephanie and Meredith came by the other day to meet the twins being that they're apart of some so called prophecy. According to Meredith, the firstborn gives power and the second born absorbs power. So, that means Sarah can give power and Izzy can absorb. However, it's not clear due to the fact they're still very small and their powers might've not manifested yet.

After all, there were a couple of late bloomers in our family when it came to powers– Lily, Abby, Jen, and even Lucia. Then again, we had a lot of early bloomers in our family as well such as myself, Aidan, Lizzy, and Masen. However, except for me and my siblings, there is no genetic connection to the others– so, who knows. Meredith does want to start training them the moment they can walk and talk. That's when they'll be most unstable. Right now, they're learning about the world around them– despite being vastly intelligent.

Meredith plans to have Robert and Cordelia assist her in training the girls when the time comes due to their powers of taking away abilities and mind controlling. If the girls are too dangerous, Robert and Cordelia can contain them. Also either my mother, sister, brother, Ethan, or Lucas will be around to help with the use of their shields.

I smiled as I noticed Jacob snapping a couple of shots of them on his phone. "I'm sending more pics to Rebecca," he explained. "However, I might also include my dad and Rach on there as well…And maybe the whole pack. After all, Sam and Paul bombarded the rest of us with baby pictures every single day. The email chains I used to be apart of with them…Wow, that sounds a lot older than it actually is."

"Yeah, well I keep having to send photographs to Aunt Alice being that she's in the middle of complying a scrapbook for the girls like she did for me," I told Jake.

"Gah!" Izzy then shouted, clapping her hands together. "Bah! Bah!"

"I think she wants to be held," Jacob mentioned.

"I got her," I said, chuckling as I took my little girl into my arms. Meanwhile Sarah continued to lay there while Jacob ran a hand gently through her brown curls, causing her to gurgle at her daddy.

I was right about the girls. Sarah is much more passive than Izzy, who is always causing up a storm. However, both my girls are beautiful. Being that they've grown in the last week we could definitely see their defining features more. Both girls definitely have my brown eyes, down to the shape. They also have my mother's shade of brown for hair and the Swan curls. However, they have Jacob's smile and their Grandma Sarah's nose.

The only way we can really tell them apart is that Sarah has a beauty mark right where her left index finger meets her thumb. According to Billy, his wife had the same beauty mark. Meanwhile, Izzy had a beauty mark on her arm– right where my mother had been bitten by James. I like to think they're signs of protection for our girls.

"C'mere ya nugget," Jake said, picking up Sarah who was now reaching out for him. I chuckled just as there was a knock on our door.

"That must be Lily and Grace," I said to Jacob. "They're bringing Tyler and Ella over today. Apparently they can't get enough of their new cousins."

"You think Tyler's forgiven us for having twin girls?" Jacob teased as we walked towards the front door.

"I think so," I said, giggling as I opened it up to find my family.

"Hey guys," Grace greeted us as Tyler came in with Ella waddling close behind him.

"Auntie Ness! Uncle Jay!" Ella and Tyler chanted.

"Hey, kiddos," Jacob said, ruffling Tyler's hair as Ella went to grab onto Jacob's leg.

"Look at you two," Grace said, chuckling. "Domestic life treating you well?"

"Guess you can say that," I said, looking back at Jacob who just chuckled as he began to deal with our niece and nephew.

"And how's this little cutie!?" Lily gushed, looking at Izzy who blew a fit of happy gurgles at her.

"Wanna go to Auntie Lily?" I asked Izzy before gently placing her in Lily's arms.

"Hey there sweetie pie," Lily said, smiling as she pressed kisses to Izzy's cheeks.

"Uncle Jay! I brought the Nintendo Switch Uncle Aidan and Aunt Jenny got me for my birthday," Tyler said, showing the case. "Wanna play?"

"Ahhh," Jacob then looked down at Sarah who was in his arms.

"I got her," Grace volunteered, smiling happily at our baby. "Lemme see my little niece."

"Here's Aunt Grace," Jacob cooed to Sarah who immediately latched on to her. I chuckled as I then looked up at Ella who blinked at me.

"Are we still buddies, Auntie Ness?" Ella asked me, batting her eyes.

"Of course, my little Ella Bean," I said, swinging her up into my arms. Ella giggled as Grace, Lily, and I headed to the table with our little girls. Meanwhile, Jacob and Tyler sat on the floor in our living room and played some video games.

"So, how are you feeling?" Grace asked me. "First week and all."

"Not bad," I said, nodding my head. "It's been a good week considering everything that happened."

"Jeeze," Lily muttered, shaking her head. "Can at least one Cullen have a normal first pregnancy? I swear to God mine better not be like this…"

"I doubt it," I said, shaking my head. "However, if it is then welcome to the club."

Grace sighed uneasily before she looked towards Jacob. "So, how's Jake been? He seems good."

"He's so happy," I gushed. "I swear, I thought the man was a big mush already but I think these girls made him a bigger one."

"Babies make you absolutely mushy, right Izzy Bear?" Lily cooed as Izzy clapped happily up at her. "Ugh, I love being an aunt."

"When do you think you're going to start training again?" Grace asked me curiously.

"Probably next week. Grandpa said I should be fine, but to give my body a rest and to spend as much time as I can with the girls," I said as I looked at my twins.

"Well it's good to rest up. Anyway you and Jake are powerhouses," Lily said, rocking Izzy a bit. "Especially when you're in your Momma Bear mode."

"Momma Bear mode?" I questioned curiously.

"Yeah," Lily said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Ness, you are the eldest. You're the role model, the leader, the nurturer. You're always ready to protect someone you love. It's who you are."

"I agree," Grace said, rubbing Sarah's back gently.

"Jeez, thanks guys," I said, blushing a bit.

"But no Volturi will touch a hair on your children or your nieces or nephews or any member of this family really without you having something to say about it," Lily continued.

I chuckled at this. "I guess you're right."

"In the meantime," Grace said. "I wanna hear more about how the twins have been doing."

"Why? Got the baby itch again, Gracie?" Lily teased.

Grace rolled her eyes while I chuckled. "Well, if you must know," I said, smiling happily. "The girls did learn how to roll over today!"

"Oh my gosh! That's so exciting! Tell me everything!" Grace replied excitedly while Lily raised her eyebrows in confusion.

And that's how we spent the afternoon. Just chatting and enjoying the little moments. Moments with the girls and hoping they wouldn't have to end so soon.

*Nahuel's POV*

"After last week, I don't want to know what the actual battle is going to look like," Leah Clearwater mentioned to me.

It was a late September afternoon. Leah and I had just finished up our daily patrol so the next round of people could take over for us. Since the attack we've gone up in security and this place had people guarding the properties around the clock. It wasn't very fun, but we all took our shifts and our time. It was only fair. Besides, some of the witches set up an extra protection cloak spell over the properties to make sure we were extra safe from the Volturi.

"I don't either," I muttered, thinking back to last week's events. God, I think my head was spinning at just the thought of what happened. "That being we actually fight the Volturi."

"I've fought newborns before. Back when they came here. I fought Lorenzo's pack, I've faced off with the Volturi numerous times," Leah said to me gently. "Even storming the castle…I feel like none of those can ever compete with what's to happen."

I nodded. "I agree…I have no idea what's to come out of this."

Leah sighed, shaking her head at the thought. "Tommy keeps asking me if he can come too," she said, mentioning her imprint. "But I told him no."

"You're not going into hiding with them?" I asked curiously.

"No," Leah said, shaking her head. "I have responsibilities here…Anyway, Tommy will be fine."

"Isn't he your imprint?" I pointed out.

"So?" Leah said, looking at me skeptically. "My life doesn't revolve around babysitting a toddler."

"Shesh, just asking," I said, holding my hands up. "It's just…I haven't seen you with the tyke recently. I thought you were like his big sister or something."

"I guess," Leah replied, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Truthfully, the whole thing has just been…Weird. And I guess with everything happening I don't need him to be attached to me."

"Oh," I said, looking at her gently. "I'm sure you'll figure it all out, Leah."

"I guess," Leah muttered. "In the meantime, I'll see you around."

"Okay…See you," I said, feeling a bit worried for Leah Clearwater. However, that was until I could sense a familiar presence.

"What now?" I asked hastily, turning around to face the person.

"Oh nothing to criticize you on this time," Tanya chirped, walking towards me. "This time I just happened to be in the area."

"So it's confirmed that you are following me," I pointed out, raising my eyebrows at her. "What kind of crazy stalker are you?"

"I was on patrol as well. Calm down," Tanya said. "Anyway, what did I say about letting go Mr. Delivers-his-ex-flame's-babies?"

"I didn't deliver them," I said, rolling my eyes. "I was being a friend or more like a coach…"

Tanya snorted at this. "Not surprised."

"Can we talk about something else?" I begged. "Like anything. Your constant analysis of my relationship with Ren is freaking me out."

"What, I'm just trying to be helpful," Tanya said, eyeing me.

"But why me? There's like over sixty other people here you could bother," I pointed out hotly.

"Because I like you, Nahuel," Tanya stated simply. "I like your company. You have interesting points. You like to have fun. You're not so bad in bed either, from what I can remember."

"That was one time four years ago," I pointed out.

"So? I'm over a thousand. You realize four years is nothing for me," Tanya said. "That was like yesterday."

I shook my head. "Jeez, where is your family anyway?"

"Probably hanging around the Cullen main house. We've known them the longest so I think we feel the most comfortable there," Tanya explained. "Especially Carmen and Eleazar with Esme and Carlisle. Anyway Carmen loves children so being around Bo, Wes, Ella, Lucia, and Tyler brings her joy. Apparently she's been teaching them Spanish."

"I taught them some," I said fondly. "A lot of it had to do with soccer, but still. At least they know what to expect during a match."

Tanya chuckled at this. "You know, I have not been to Latin America in years…"

"Why would you? It's sunny all the time?" I pointed out. "Half the time you can only go out when it's raining or at night. I was lucky because I don't sparkle like you all, but we always had to be careful with my aunt. She could only go out at night, but then again we lived in the wilderness so to be honest it was never a major issue."

Tanya shrugged. "I don't know. Meeting all these witches they started to create these sort of rings that allow our kind to walk around during the day and not give ourselves away. It's nice, being able to walk in the sun amongst other humans and not have to worry about giving a secret away."

"For such a pushy person you sure have a lot of deep insight," I teased.

"I'm over a thousand years old. After the first couple of centuries you start to learn a thing or too," she joked.

"Funny. Guess I got another century or so to learn," I said.

"You'll catch up," Tanya said, chuckling lightly as she playfully nudged me. "In the meantime, I should get going. I'm still on patrol."

"Oh," I said, studying the strawberry blonde as she began to walk away.

"What?" she asked, raising her eyebrows at me.

"Would you maybe want some company?" I asked her curiously.

"You actually want to hang out with me?" Tanya inquired with a smirk. "Willingly?"

"Yeah. I'm not in the mood to go back to the camp anyway," I said, walking beside her. Tanya smiled at this as we began to chat and walk throughout the Cullen property. Just the two of us.

*Abby's POV*

I sighed as I practically dragged my feet into the main kitchen for a bottle of water. I could not wait for this September humidity to finally end. It was going to be October in a couple of days and I couldn't wait. It would also be my birthday soon and I couldn't wait. The first one I'd get to spend with my parents since my abduction. Speaking of, it would also soon mark of the one year anniversary for when we escaped from the Volturi.

I sighed, looking down at the bracelet I was wearing. It was the one Lucas gave me for my birthday last year. It suddenly felt heavier and my heart lurched at the sudden rush of memories.

It's crazy to think a year would be running up soon. Then onto all the fun holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years…That is if we make it to New Years. Why did the Volturi always have such poor timing? Why during the good holidays, why not in the middle of February during like Valentines Day. I mean, come on, who actually likes Valentines Day?

That was my biological father. The bringer of everything bad. I groaned at the thought as I rubbed my forehead. There is no doubt that my time at the Volturi came along with it's unruly consequence of PTSD, but at least I wasn't having nightmares anymore now that Lucas slept with me in the room. It was nice to have the security of another person there. He had been living at Rob and Cordy's with Dru, Iris, Maysun, Jackson, Jo, and Caleb, but now he spent most of his time here. In fact, he even had his own drawer.

Despite that, we still hadn't exactly sealed the deal. Maybe it's because my parents are constantly hovering us or even if we get close there's always someone close behind us. Someone always listening– ugh, I understand perfectly why the others all moved as far away as possible from the main home. Hell, Lizzy even gets more privacy than me because of the cottage due to the fact Aunt Bella and Uncle Edward are not always there or Lizzy is always at the Clearwater's. Maybe I could convince my parents to build their own cottage. After all, Cullen land was turning into our own Supernatural village being that we had Aunt Bella and Uncle Edward's cottage alongside Grace and Masen's home. Combined with Meredith and Jamie's equally massive portion of land this really was becoming something.

"Hey, Abbs!"

I turned to see Seth making his way into the house. He gave me a grin despite him being covered in sweat and grime from our training session today with the others.

"Hey, Seth!" I greeted, passing him a water bottle from the fridge. "Good practice today!"

"Yeah," Seth agreed. "Although it was hot as hell and being the temperature of a wooden stove is not always a fun time."

"No wonder Lizzy is always saying how freezing your house is," I teased. "That girl isn't even bothered by the cold yet you manage to get her uncomfortable."

Seth chuckled at this, but suddenly paused. I watched him as he then bit his lip. "Speaking of Lizzy– Abby…Can I ask you something?"

"What?" I questioned, raising my eyebrows hesitantly.

"I…Could you talk to Lizzy?" Seth asked me gently.

"Why?" I asked curiously.

Seth paused, tapping his fingers on the counter. "I don't know…She's been hiding it from me because I think she doesn't want to hurt me."

"Okay…" I said, studying him.

"And it won't hurt me. I told her I'm okay about him," Seth rambled on. "Maybe a little jealous, but to be perfectly honest I think she just feels guilty that she cares about him. Or I don't know, I just don't want her to be suffering?"

"About what?" I asked nervously. "Or should I say who?"

"It's about Felix," Seth explained.

"Ah," I said. I knew that Lizzy saw Felix when the confrontation happened, but she didn't seem bothered by it. In fact, she's been fawning over her nieces this past week and was constantly at Ness and Jacob's house.

"Did she tell you about what happened?" Seth asked me.

"No," I confessed. "She hasn't mentioned anything about that night. If she talks about anything it's the twins."

"Well, Lizzy came across Felix in the woods right before the whole confrontation happened," Seth explained.

"Oh," I whispered, my hand going to my mouth. "Oh Lizzy."

"I found her in the woods crying and I knew it was him," Seth told me. "However, I don't know what he did or said to her and it's killing me."

"So you want me to talk to her about Felix and find out?" I asked.

"Yeah," Seth answered.

"Alright," I said, taking a deep breath. "Ah…Where is she?"

"In Esme's garden reading," Seth informed me.

"Alright," I said. "I'll take care of that, but be prepared to talk more about it with her later. I know I haven't been the best at helping Lizzy cope with this whole thing and vise versa, but I know that she wants to tell you about it all, Seth," I told him sincerely. "I just think she's scared."

"Well when she's ready, I'll be here," Seth said. He then paused and smiled at me. "In the meantime, thanks."

"Of course. Anything for my cousin," I replied lightly before heading in the other direction.

When I got outside to where the garden was, Lizzy was there alright. She was sitting on a little swinging bench Grandma Esme had installed my first summer here in Forks.

Lizzy briefly looked up at me. "Hey," she said softly.

"Hey," I repeated, walking slowly towards her. "So…What's this I hear about a certain Volturi guard?"

"Seth put you up to this," Lizzy guessed lamely, frowning.

"Yes," I answered.

"I had a feeling," Lizzy muttered, shaking her head.

"Well, it's because I love you and I want to know what else happened that night," I said, walking closer to her. "Because there's something else that's clearly bothering you. Something that really is upsetting you."

"If it's about a discussion I had with Felix, then yes," Lizzy said stiffly, closing her book. She sighed and then looked directly up at me. "But it's done. Gone in the past. I'm not thinking about him anymore."

"You sure?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yes because I'm finally happy," Lizzy told me. "After almost a year of trying to adjust, trying to understand everything that happened– at the worst possible time ever, I'm so freaking happy. I have all of you with me, and I have Seth. I want a life with Seth after this…I just…"

"It still hurts, doesn't it?" I said softly, taking a seat next to her. "You still love Felix, in a way."

"He's not my mate," Lizzy pointed out.

"But he's your first love and that's gotta sting, at least more than once," I said. "It's only natural. You two had a connection. You care about one another."

"Well he lied to me, Abby," Lizzy said coolly. "He lied about not remembering me. He remembered me. Bo's power wore off…"

"Oh, Liz," I said, feeling absolute heartbreak for my cousin.

"He said it was either me or Ness. He rather Ness died than me," Lizzy whispered numbly. "I…He told me he still loved me but we weren't meant to be…And I agreed, but saying goodbye to him was one of the hardest things I had to do to myself yet again."

"Lizzy," I whispered, grasping her hand gently.

Lizzy sighed heavily as she leant against the chair. "I don't want to have to fight him, Abby."

"What?" I asked incredulously. "Who says you have to fight him?"

"We're going to all have to," Lizzy said, swallowing hard. "I can't fight him knowing he chose wrong."

"We could still save him," I mentioned. "During the battle! If you want he could be a prisoner of war or something!" I paused, watching Lizzy's still somber face. "Look, I don't want to see any of our Volturi friends die either…"

Lizzy took this by surprise, "Really?"

I nodded. "Really…I don't want to have to deal with the possibilities of Demetri, Heidi, or Felix dying," I continued. "However, it's the choses we made and it's where we belong. It's what's for the best."

"I just can't deal with the possibility of having to watch them die," Lizzy whispered to me, tears welling up in her eyes. "Especially Felix."

"Liz," I muttered as she then burst into tears. I then wrapped my cousin in my arms as she cried into my chest. I hushed her as she sobbed into my tank top, trying to collect herself after holding everything in the last week.

"I can't do this anymore, Abby. I can't face him again," Lizzy whispered through her tears. "And knowing that…"

That's when my cousin paused. I frowned, feeling her body stiffen as I pulled apart. "Liz?" I questioned. "What's going on?"

"135," she said to me, her voice hard.

"135?" I questioned, frowning. "What does that mean?"

"Oh God…I finally understand what he was trying to tell me," Lizzy said in a hard voice, covering her mouth in pure shock. She then looked at me with a sort of wildness in her eyes. "Abby, we need to gather the others. I…Felix told me something very important."

"Okay?" I said, my eyebrows furrowing together in confusion.

"Quickly!" Lizzy shouted, dragging my hand towards the main house. Whatever this is, it is definitely important…

A/N: Hope you enjoyed that chapter! In the meantime, thanks for reading, keep a look out for the next update, and please review!