A/N: So I just realized that I haven't updated for a week. I wish I could update more often but I can't because I don't have the time. But since it's the weekend, I am now updating. This chapter is setting up the fight in the next one then after that I'll write a couple chapters to wrap up the story. So overall there should be about five more chapters. Thanks for sticking with me through all this time everyone!

Also I don't own any of the Twilight stuff and yada yada yada. I just like to mess with the characters. Sorry if this seems so Breaking Dawn-ish.

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Chapter 36: Getting Ready for a Fight

In your face as the door keeps slamming
Now you're feeling more and more frustrated
And you're getting all impatient, waiting
We live and we learn to take...

One step at at time

'One Step at a Time' by Jordin Sparks

It had been a few days since Rosalie announced that she'd killed the pregnant mother.

I was deeply saddened by these events but I knew had to be strong, knowing that if I were to show weakness, the pack might not see me fit to be the Alpha Female.

I could tell my kids were feeling pretty neglected so Jake and I decided to take them out for a family day on the beach.

I was making, what felt like, hundreds of sandwiches.

Cassandra and Chaska were running around somewhere in the house and I could faintly hear their feet pattering.

What I didn't hear was Jacob coming up behind me. He took me from behind and squeezed.

I jumped and let out a small squeal. The knife I had in my hand slipped and I cut myself.

"Oh crap, ow, ow, ow!" I said, even though the wound was healing quickly.

Jacob was around me, looking me in the eye in the next second. He held me tightly by the shoulders, "Melanie? Melanie? I'm so sorry baby! I didn't mean to frighten you, are you okay honey?" He asked me with concern in his voice.

I pouted, "You made me cut myself. I want you to kiss my boo-boo."

I told him in my sad kiddie voice that Cassie loves to use when she doesn't get her way.

Jacob laughed and leant his head down to my forearm kissing it slightly. Just the simple touch of his lips on my skin had my body preparing for action.

I groaned and stepped away from him, "What's wrong?" he asked me.

I shook my head as I tried to clear the fog out of my mind and get my thoughts together.

"Damn it Jacob, you're too damn sexy!" I told him while he laughed.

"And what are you missy?" he asked as he pulled me close to him.

I just shrugged, "I don't know, a sexy beast? A love machine?"

"What's a love machine Mommy? I'm a love machine! I love you and Daddy and Chaska and Embry!" came in little Cassie.

I was promptly reminded that we were not alone in the house anymore. That Jacob and I could no longer have foreplay in the kitchen then sex in the bed, or on the stairs – one time we only made it that far.

"Don't worry about it little one. Just be excited that we're going to the beach today." Jacob said to his little princess.

Cassandra beamed up at him, "I'm so happy to go because Embry said that you and Mommy have been neglecting us and if you don't stop the CPX will come and get me and Chaska."

Jacob growled and I smiled; I knew that Embry meant no harm with the statement but being Jacob's little girl he just couldn't let it go.

He mumbled, "Embry you dickweed."

"What Daddy?" asked Cassandra. Jacob's eyes widened, not thinking that she had heard him. So I helped him out, "Daddy said that Embry is a dear friend."

She tilted her head and shrugged, accepting what I said.

She ran out of the room and started playing around with Chaska.

Jacob pulled me into his arms and whispered in my ear, "Embry won't be here for a while. You and I could…" Jacob trailed off while he ran his hands down my body.

I shivered and was about to give into him and his amazing touch when a thought occured to me, "And who would watch the kids?" I asked.

He just shrugged, "They'll be fine for a few minutes."

I laughed and shook my head, "No Jake, we can't do that. You don't want the CPX to come get our kids, now do you?" I asked with a smile.

Jacob smiled back, "Yeah I guess not. I swear I'm gonna forbid Embry from seeing Cassandra if he keeps putting those kind of things in her head."

I punched Jake in the arm then continued to pack our food for the day, "You know he means no harm by it. And it would be absolute torture for you to keep those two apart. Embry practically lives here now. And you don't want little Cassie to be depressed do you?"

Jake pouted and shook his head, "Good," I told him and handed him the basket.

"Now be a good husband and daddy and go put this in the car. Then round up the kids so that we can spend some family time with them."

Jacob just nodded and went to go do what I said. He was still pouting, and that made me laugh.

I think I should be in jail because I love that big kid named Jacob.

We arrived at the beach and as soon as the car stopped the little munchkins ran out of the car, screaming like a bunch of banshees.

I shook my head and laughed at them. What was with kids and screaming at the top of their lungs?

I looked over to Melanie who'd just pulled off the shirt and shorts she had on to reveal her black halter bathing suit [Suit on Profile!].

My mouth watered as soon as I saw her perfect golden skin. I thought of all the things I could do to that perfect body when my thoughts were interrupted.

"Jake! What's up?" yelled out Embry. Behind him was the rest of my pack. This day out counted as a team building exercise; or the fact that we wanted to relax before the tough times with the Volturi.

I greeted all of the pack along with Melanie's sisters, who were now part of the pack.

A couple of days ago Leah and Wendy battled it out for the position of Beta and Leah won, just by a little.

Wendy took it better than I would have thought. She congratulated Leah and Leah was actually courteous enough to say that it was a good fight.

There must be something in the water because I would not have believed those two to be friends. But here they were, checking out the local guys.

All in all, it was a good time. The guys spoke of sports and strategies on how to defeat the Volturi, while the girls discussed clothes and other womanly things then moved on to talk about how to defeat the Volturi.

Eventually after a few hours of fun, we all gathered around a campfire while the sun set behind us and discussed the Volturi.

The last of the humans left when there was a slight rustling in the woods across the street from the beach.

Normally I wouldn't have thought anything about it but the scent of vampire caught my attention.

The entire pack was on edge and looked at me for a command. This was the time, the time for my first order as their new Alpha.

I've thought of this moment many times but every time I imagined it, I always saw myself making the wrong decision or choking and because os that, someone gets hurt.

It was nothing like that in reality. My instincts kicked in and I raised a hand to signal for them to hold their positions.

I could hear the vampire still when we did. Faintly I could also hear my kids playing in the water.

All the sounds and smells seemed to crash down on me at this time. Yet I was able to focus on what I needed to do.

Then there was a splash from behind us and the scream of Cassandra wrung out. Embry shot up from his seat and looked at me quickly as to ask permission to go. I nodded at him and in a second he transformed and started to chase after the bloodsucker that had my daughter.

I was amazed at how calm I was. I knew if this would have happened when Sam was still my Alpha, all hell would have broken loose and I would have done anything to get her back.

But I trusted Embry. He was my best friend and the imprint of my daughter. He would risk his life to ensure her safety. And I guess that's what made me so calm, that I could trust my pack with my life and they could do the same with me.

I looked over to Melanie and said, "Get Chaska and keep him safe. Ana, Wendy, go with her. The rest of you follow me."

There were sounds of agreement and Melanie quickly transformed, as did her sisters, to gather Chaska up and take him to safety.

We formed a V as the pack and I ran into the woods to find the vampire that was there.

I caught scent of him and ran as fast as I could towards the origin of the smell.

The pack followed me as closely as they could, but we all stop mid stride when we saw the leech in a clearing.

He was of average size and was nothing special to me. But I apparently I was wrong because with an outstretched hand, the blonde vampire had us suspended where we were.

I growled at him and he just smiled, "Come to the Cullens' house in three hours if you ever want to see you little girl again."

With that the bloodsucker turned and ran away. We stayed there, floating in the air until he was far enough away from us, then we were released from his hold.

I scoffed at him; he was probably miles away from here now. And I could only think that he was a coward.

From the slight fear that was in his eyes, I had no doubt that he feared us. He looked like a young one, so he probably hasn't seen a wolf before.

The Volturi were from Italy; shape shifters haven't been there for the past thirty thousand years. And there was a good reason too; they were clearly out numbered with all the vampires there. So they moved to different parts of the world. You could say that they were the first shape shifters and we all originated from them. That's why you rarely find a pale wolf because we're all somewhat Italian.

I growled out in frustration. It finally dawned upon me, when Embry came back with sad and frustrated thoughts, that they had my daughter.

"I'm sorry Jake. I tried my best. This vampire he… he like, stopped me in midair and the other one got away. I tried to chase after them but they were already too far gone."

I looked over to Embry who had his head bowed down in submission to me. He felt like he'd failed me but I didn't feel that way at all.

"Don't worry about Em. You tried your best and that's all we can ask that you do."

He looked up at me and smiled. I tried to smile but it fell flat. They had my daughter, how dare they?!

They would pay for what they've done. I don't care if those bloodsuckers are the most powerful ones in the world, I'll kill them all to get my baby girl back.

---

After reporting back to Melanie and her sisters what happened, the whole pack journeyed over to the Cullens' house. We still had two hours left until we were supposed to report to the clearing to face the Volturi.

As soon as I walked into the huge white house I was nearly ran over by Alice who was hugging me around my waist. For that was only as far as she could go.

"I'm so sorry Jake! I only saw them take Cassandra a while ago, but obviously, it's too late now!"

I patted her shoulder awkwardly and said, "It's alright Alice. No one blames you."

She released me then looked up into my face, "Thank you Jacob, thank you for understanding."

She smiled then walked back into Jasper's embrace.

All the Cullens were uneasy and jittery. Which was unlike them since they were able to look like stone if they stayed in one position too long.

Rosalie was nowhere to be found and I couldn't help but grind my teeth. This was her freaking fault and she wasn't even here.

Just then the door burst open and in walked the person of my anger. She walked past me and I glared. She kept her head down and went straight over to Carlisle.

I had just now noticed the little bundle in her arms. The little boy had blonde hair and green eyes.

Rosalie smiled at each of us, especially Emmett and said, "Everyone, this is Aaron, and it is now official. I am now his adoptive mother." She beamed at everyone and at no one in particular at the same time. She was just the happiest thing in the world at the moment. Too bad I had to ruin it for her.

"This is what's causing all our trouble?" I asked her.

Her smiled faded, "He is not a thing. His name is Aaron and you will treat him like you treat us. He's family now," she replied while smiling down at the toddler she held in her arms.

I growled, "You said you bit a pregnant woman, this child is no baby."

"That's why the orphanage was so happy to have him off their hands, he grew too fast and they didn't want to deal with having to explain to possible adoptive parents what was going on with the child."

I rolled my eyes and looked over to Carlisle, "What do we do now?" I asked.

Carlisle looked from Rose, to my pack, to Aaron then back to Rose.

"I believe the only thing we can do now, is wait for the Volturi to arrive then explain to them that this is not a vampire child but a half vampire instead."

"And what are the odds that they'll listen to us?" asked Melanie, who was holding a now sleeping Chaska.

"The odds aren't very good. But I hope that we do get the chance to at least let them hear his heartbeat. If not, I'm afraid we'll have to fight them."

I rolled my head, tension in my shoulders and neck, and sighed. "Well, I guess it's settled then. We wait, then when they arrive we explain, and if they don't listen, we'll attack."

Thanks to my (9!) reviewers!

EvenstarSinger: Yeah, well, I love screwing with the characters. I'm like a mad scientist when it comes to my stories. Lol.

danie568: Nice! My Christmas was great actually, even though we were broke. And I wish I could get on a sugar rush, I haven't been on one since I was like 8.

EclipseLover97: Thank you so much!

Twit-Tard: Yeah, I was thinking of doing a story on him, but I don't know. Yeah, shocker, I know.

jacobblackismineduh: Oh, they will eventually! I know, I just want Rose and Emmett to be happy becasue maybe she won't be such a bitch if she finally has a kid.

Leah Alice Emily Whitlock: Yep, his name is Aaron. I changed it because you recommended it. It was orginally going to be a girl so I had to go back and edit the previous chapter so it could be a boy. Yep, you did that. See the power of reviewing? Lol.

Anime. Freak. 00001: (Sorry they won't let me type your name the right way) I know, I hate them too. But they're great to use if you want to make another problem to solve. Just trying to make the story a little bit longer. I want to hit 40 chapters!

YANIsweetness7: Haha! I think it was time for Jake to tease Mel instead of the other way around.

xmukax: She does believe he's a good Alpha, she just doesn't want him to get hurt and she won't get to see him as often becasue being Alpha is a lot of time. But since she's Alpha female, it's all good!