Hi everyone!

Yeah! I finally finished this chapter, and I was surprised at myself, and how quickly I wrote it, in just two days, can you believe it? I know, those two days were not in a row, but, well... I finished, that's the whole point :)

Thank you all who've reviewed, especially the last chapter, I really appreciate it, and love reading you love what I write! So, I hope you enjoy this new chapter, and hope I can have the next one ready pretty soon. And, Bruno Mars? What do you think about him being in the Breaking Dawn soundtrack. I'm still not sure, until I hear the song he wrote! And lucky him!

Okay, enjoy, and I'll be waiting your reviews!

STEPHENIE MEYER OWNS ALL TWILIGHT!

CHAPTER 34. Declared

It was impressive how fast my worries and concerns, so much anxiety I had felt as to have to try to calm me down through my music, had banished completely with just hearing Renesmee, with just knowing that Bella was already back.

I shook my head, marveled with the control they had over me, both.

All the vampires in the house reacted when they listened to the sound of the tires on the road that led to the house.

Rosalie and Emmett, immediately knew it was the Volvo, hence, Bella and Renesmee, so they kept on what they were doing without any kind of interruption. Carlisle and Esme, also knew the sound of the Volvo, and they just smiled when they saw the change in my expression. Because there was one, though I were unaware of it. I always saw it through everyone else. The other vampires in the house, when they saw any reaction out of place among us, didn't say anything either.

Renesmee was fast asleep, completely unconscious that she was back to home.

Some of our guests were enjoying in silence of the music coming out of the piano. While I waited, with another kind of anxiety, for Bella to walk through the door.

I listened to Renesmee's thoughts changing – slowly – as soon as she processed the music.

Then, Bella jumped out of the car and closed the door.

Only a few seconds more, I told myself, while I switched the music to Bella's lullaby.

I smiled, when I imagined the way Bella was taking Renesmee in her arms, softly, trying - I imagined – to not wake her.

Bella was slowly walking towards the house, and that got me as desperate as excited.

I resisted the urgency of getting on my feet and reach her in the place where she was, I would be much faster than her again, finally. It felt, strangely, exciting to know that both of them were coming back to me. My two angels.

At last, Bella walked through the door.

Renesmee looked like a little angel in her arms. Giving it more truthfulness to my way of seeing her.

I turned towards them, and smiled to both, though, of course, only Bella could see it.

"Welcome home," I told her, without stop playing. "Did you have a good time with Charlie today?" the music seemed to welcome her more than my words.

Carlisle and Esme smiled.

"Yes," Bella answered, being now right by my side. "Sorry I was gone so long. I stepped out to do a little Christmas shopping for Renesmee. I know it won't be much of an event, but…" Bella shrugged, while she let her voice trailed off.

Mmm. I hadn't considered the idea of Bella wanting to celebrate Christmas.

But it would be Renesmee's first Christmas, so…

I stopped playing, and turned myself around in the bench to her. I placed one hand on her waist to get her closer to me. "I hadn't thought much about it. If you want to make an event of it-"

"No," Bella answered, interrupting me. I could imagine the reason behind her reaction. "I just didn't want to let it pass without giving her something"

The only one disappointed on hearing Bella was Esme.

If there was an opportunity to be together in family, was something that Esme always liked.

But a thought crossed my mind. A reason – perhaps – completely different than what Bella had to not celebrate the event.

The family wasn't complete.

"Do I get to see?"

"If you want. It's only a little thing," Bella told me.

Oh, Esme thought, we also have to give something to our granddaughter… her thoughts followed the same path, considering gifts for her precious granddaughter, she said.

Carefully of not moving Renesme or waking her up while she was sleeping with her head laid over her neck, Bella opened her purse. It seemed to me – I didn't want to put too much thought into that detail, I was getting paranoid – that Bella did it with too much care, as if she expected me to not see inside of it.

"It caught my eye from the window of an antique store while I was driving by," Bella said to me, her tone was real.

Again, suspicions crossed my mind.

All day long out…?

I stopped again, I didn't want to continue thinking on my Bella that way.

Bella put it in my hand, and I watched it for an instant. It was small locket made of gold. I opened it, and in one side of it had enough room to place a little picture, and in the other side was an inscription in Franch:

Plus que ma propre vie.

I felt a lump in my throat when I read it.

"Do you know what this says?" I asked her.

"The shopkeeper told me it said something alone the lines of 'more than my own life'. Is that right?" Bella answered me.

More than my own life… the words wouldn't stop spinning around in my head.

I heard Esme and Carlisle reacting, also due to the lines.

"Yes, he had it right."

I looked up at her, and held her look for a few seconds. There was some sort of reluctance in them that I didn't completely understand. As if everything I suspected were right. It was hard to find an answer. Her eyes wouldn't tell me anything of what I needed to know like in other times they had.

And then, to make it worse, she took her look away towards the TV.

Did she want to make me believe she was distracted?

Never, she had never been a person who watched TV. Yes, it only made it worse. Because now I was sure she was keeping something from me. Though I had no idea what it was.

"I hope she likes it," Bella mumbled, I guessed with the purpose of distracting me.

"Of course she will," I answered her, trying to keep my tone calmed. But just the way she didn't fool me, in my tone was obvious I was trying to keep myself casual.

My eyes rested on Renesmee again, totally and completely asleep in her arms.

She was surely very tired, and the only thing I was thinking of that second, was to go back home. Having her in her crib quietly, while we took care of her.

"Let's take her home," I told her, while I stood up and wrapped my arm around her shoulders to turn her around.

At that moment, I also wanted some normality, and forget everything that had passed through my mind this day.

But it seemed like Bella didn't thinking as I did.

She hesitated, as if she weren't sure of telling me or asking me for something.

"What?"

"I wanted to practice with Emmett a little…"

She didn't have to finish, Emmett reacted immediately.

Just like I wanted, little sis, he thought excitedly of doing something else than being sitting around watching TV.

But it was already late, and I wanted to take Renesmee home.

She didn't have any fault of Bella deciding to come back so late.

Of course, those thoughts I wouldn't voice them out lout. There would be no practice tonight.

Emmett turned around on the couch towards us, looked at us and grinned. "Excellent. The forest needs thinning."

I frowned at Emmett. What, Edward? He thought with faked innocent.

Emmett! I heard Rosalie.

I turned to see Bella, my forehead wrinkled to her, too. "There's plenty of time for that tomorrow."

"Don't be ridiculous," Bella cried out, her tone whining. But I expected her answer. "There's no such thing as plenty of time anymore. That concept does not exist. I have a lot to learn and-"

"Tomorrow," I interrupted the flood of words. I wasn't listening, I had already decided that today, or tonight, there would be no practice. Renesmee needed some tranquility and rest in her home. Bella should understand better than anyone else.

Emmett returned his eyes to the television, while Rosalie chuckled to his expression.

Bella on the other side, frowned too, and her look had a bit or rage, but she nodded, and she let me guided her to the door.

Carlisle and Esme got on their feet to say goodbye to us and wish us a good night as it was usual.

Don't be so hard on her, Edward, Esme tried to scold me over my behavior.

I sighed, and nodded.

"We'll see you tomorrow," Esme said, while she came over to us and kissed Renesmee on her forehead. "Sweet dreams, Nessie."

We said goodbye, and walked out towards our home.

Bella laid Renesmee down on her crib without the need to read her something tonight. She was soundly asleep and there were no signs of her waking up anytime soon.

My eyes were looking at her, and at the same time they were watching her.

I knew that if Bella would've been still a human, her cheeks would've been burning because of the way I was looking at her. I was trying to see, to find something that gave me the reason, that would teld me: oh, yeah, she's keeping something from you.

But just like I'd been all day, I tried to stop myself.

The next morning, with a lot of effort, Bella chose to go back a little earlier than we usually did to the white house. She wanted to practice a little, according to her, she'd lost too much time.

And I was sure that Emmett, at least, would be delighted with seeing us so early over there.

So when we returned to the house, Renesmee was still asleep. Even Jacob was getting some rest under the shadow of a few trees that surrounded the front lawn. His muzzle got off the ground as soon as he heard the sound of the door being opened.

Huh? What time is it if they're leaving already, Jacob wondered.

"It's still early, Jake," I answered him.

So?

"Bella wants to practice."

Jacob nodded, and got off the ground to walk back with us.

I was trying, almost in vain, while we were walking, of finding something in Jacob that would tell me something about Bella's attitude. But there was nothing. It almost seemed deliberate the way he was keeping his thoughts controlled. I didn't find it strange that he could, he was good at that. What it seemed strange to me, was that he were doing it right now.

Had Bella told him something?

"How was the trip to Charlie's house?" I asked Jacob, trying to making him think about it, though it were for a second, would be enough.

Bella by my side, got stiff before she could control herself.

"How long do we get to hang out with Charlie?" I heard the memory in his mind passing through.

"For quite a while, actually," Bella answered him, and there was tone that surprised him.

"Is something going on here besides visiting your dad?"

"Jake, you know how you're pretty good at controlling your thoughts around Edward?"

"Yeah?"

Bella just nodded to this last and didn't say anything more.

Mmm.

So there was something she was keeping from me. But again, it was only more frustrating, because I had no idea of what could it be. Not even a hint.

I frowned, and Jacob realized the little mistake he had just done when he listened to my question.

Still, he pretended like nothing had happened. Easy, he answered me while we kept walking.

I nodded. "Good."

Renesmee woke up just in the moment we were walking through the door, and Carlisle and Emmett greeted us, Esme and Rosalie had gone out. Jacob had phased back to human before reaching the lawn, so he walked in with us, too.

"Where's Grandma Esme and Aunt Rose?" Renesmee asked before going out.

Carlisle smiled, and caressed her cheek. "They went out to do some shopping, Nessie. But they'll be back soon."

Renesmee smiled at him, and nodded.

Emmett and Bella went out almost immediately to the background to start practicing. And this time Renesmee spent that time with Jacob, Carlisle had some things to speak about with me.

"Benjamin and Tia went out, son, but they want to talk to Bella about... ahmmm... about her shield. Zafrina would rather wait for him to come back so they'll speak with her, too. What do you say?" his voice had some hesitation in his tone.

I smiled lightly. "It sounds good. I didn't have opportunity to say anything about it to Bella yesterday, so I'll take Zafrina's option."

Carlisle nodded. "Yes, seems like the best to me."

Kate came to us, then. "Hi, Edward," she greeted me.

"How are you, Kate?"

"I was listening to you, and I think we should practice with her shield, too. Yesterday we lost the entire day."

I smiled with annoyance. "Why do you think we're here so early?"

Kate smiled. "I figured. It's two practices Bella missed."

I snorted, because if Bella succeeded to shield us all, there would be no need for her to have to fight. In this moment she didn't have to be outside with Emmett.

We all know you would rather Bella not fighting, Edward, Kate told me, guessing where my thought were, but she has to be ready in case she has to fight. And you know it.

I made a face, and changed the subject.

Kate smiled when she saw my reaction.

It's true, I heard her telling me while I started talking.

"I guess we have to get to work with her shield the soonest possible," I said, seeing Kate, who was the one in charge of working with Bella in that.

Kate nodded, just like Carlisle.

"Let me know when Bella is ready," she said, and then went to her family.

"Esme and Rosalie heard that Bella doesn't want to make an even due to Christmas," well, just like everyone, he thought laughing. "but they went to shop some things, anyway. Is it okay?"

Esme doesn't want to celebrate, either. Without Alice and Jasper here...

I sighed. "Ah, it's okay, Carlisle."

"It's the second Christmas our family won't be whole," Carlisle whispered, remembering the last time in which it was me who had been absent.

I couldn't help the grimace when I remembered, too, that Holiday, those Holidays.

This time it would be so different, and at the same time so similar.

Bella was with me now, yes, we even had Renesmee, something we never imagined we would, the family would be together, except for Alice and Jasper, as Carlisle had said. Those were days of tension, and pain... and these ones? What category did they fall in?

"Rosalie and Esme went to Seattle?" I asked Carlisle.

"They did, son."

I nodded, and pulled the cell phone out of my shirt's pocket. I dialed Rosalie's number, and at the first ring she answered.

"What is it, Edward?"

I chuckled when I heard her concern, though it shouldn't have been any funny.

"Nothing bad, Rose," I assured her, and I listened to her sigh of relief. "Carlisle told me that you were in Seattle doing some shops."

"Yes, we are," Rosalie agreed. "Why?"

"I want to ask you for a favor," I told her.

I didn't thing, for what Bella had said and didn't say, that she would have thought of Charlie for Christmas.

"Tell me," Rosalie answered.

"I think Bella didn't shop anything to give Charlie for Christmas..."

"What do you want me to get?"

"Go to the best store-"

Rose interrupted me. "Do you think I would go to some second-hand store?" her voice with a tone of petulance.

I laughed, and shook my head. "No, of course not. Get the best fishing system they have available."

"Sure," Rosalie told me. "I'll call you back later to let you know what I got, eh?"

"Perfect. Thank you, Rose."

"Mhmm," she whispered, and then hung up.

Bella had told me that she didn't want to spend the Christmas Eve night on Charlie's. She shuddered with just thinking about the joy she would have to pretend feeling if we were with him. She didn't feel like keeping such façade. I agreed with her, and we agreed on calling Charlie until the next morning.

While I was waiting for Rosalie to call back, I looked around, and imagined the way Alice would have fixed up the house, still the with tension of waiting for the Volturi, for Renesmee.

I sighed.

But Alice wasn't here, and would never be again.

The cell phone started vibrating on my pocket, and I took it to see who was it. Though I didn't need to.

"Rosalie."

"Eh, we found a good fishing system, the shopkeeper said it was the newest and most modern at the market, it's a sonar system."

"Fine. Get it."

"Well... mm, the thing is they don't have any more available. If you want one, it will arrive until tomorrow if we ordered it with overnight priority. He insisted I called the person who's buying it to confirm to me. According to the priority I ordered it with, it's much more expensive," I could imagine the person who was attending Rosalie, and that was why she was emphasizing those words.

I laughed. "But it, Rose. You know..."

"I know, the kid insisted."

"Of course he did."

"Is that it, then?"

"For Charlie, yes. I was thinking on something for Renesmee."

"Oh, of course. What do I look for?"

Then I remembered which had been Bella's favorite gift.

"It's beautiful, Edward," I heard Bella's voice once again in my memory. "You couldn't have given me anything I would love more. I can't believe it."

"Can you get one of those MP3 players?" I asked her. "Nessie loves music."

"Just like his father does," Rosalie whispered softly.

"Well, yes..."

"I can," Rosalie answered me. "Don't worry. I'll see you later."

"Alright."

Rosalie and Esme came back in the middle of the afternoon with things some ones asked her for, and the presents I had asked her. She confirmed t me that Charlie's present should arrive tomorrow, forcefully. Or that's what they'd told her at the store.

After it had been an hour after Rosalie and Esme had come back, Bella decided it was already time to practice with her shield, despite Emmett's internal complaints.

She was getting better, it was really a huge improvement. She could shield to several feet away, and for several minutes. Kate didn't doubt that soon she would be able to project it to the distance she wished or at least, where we the twenty eight vampires who were witnesses were safe. Little by little she could keep her shield for a while longer, so everyone was very satisfied with her practices. While the time kept passing, more friends gathered round to see Bella practicing.

Next day, Christmas Eve, we came back to the house during the day, too. While Bella practiced again with Emmett, and Renesmee was with Zafrina this time, I took the chance to put my favorite songs, and Renesmee's, too, on her new MP3 player.

Bella had printed a small picture of the three of us, to put it on the locker she had bought her.

Bella called Charlie – like she had told me – to let her father know that we wouldn't go and visit him until the next day, Christmas. He didn't like the idea very much, but accepted it. The Holidays were to a not very appropriate hour for Renesmee. She would be asleep by the time of the celebration, that's what we told him, and we promised we would take her next day.

So we spent the Christmas Eve with Carlisle and Esme, and Rosalie and Emmett, and Jacob – obviously – at our cottage. Everyone else, who didn't celebrate this Holiday, stayed in the main house.

The Christmas Dinner was only made for Jacob, being the only one who ate.

Renesmee, though Jacob asked her for, refused to try the human food he was eating from. It was as disgusting to her, as it was to us.

We all laughed a little but when she refused, and the beautiful grimaces she made when Jacob to tease her, he said, got some close to her. The two of them fell asleep early and near to the window. And everyone else, we just stayed talking for a while around the chimney.

Later they all left, Jacob with them, since he had woken up when we moved Renesmee to take her to rest on her crib.

The day was getting closer, the end…

I had not wanted to even think about that. But considering the day in which we were, what we had just celebrated, the first and only Christmas with our daughter, like a family. If we didn't triumphed, it would be the end of our family, of my angels. I only begged, almost implored, for Bella to be right. I didn't care if my sins sent me to a completely different place than Bella, as long as she reached heaven.

But at the same time, I knew that Bella wouldn't be happy. She herself had made it known to me so many times.

"You can't make me go to a place where you won't be," Bella had told me, and I was sure that the same words would come out of her if the subject was brought up.

There wouldn't be a 'goodbye' for us, I hoped so, and we were together even if it were in ashes.

At dawn, Bella and I waited for Renesmee to wake up besides her crib, watching her the entire time. We didn't want, more than ever before, miss one second of her life. Memorizing every line of her sweet face, every dimple when she smiled, every one of her hairs, her sweet eyes… she was simply an angel.

How could there be something more beautiful than her, even if it wasn't on earth? I couldn't imagine.

Bella had in her hand the small locker, none of us had bothered on wrapping her gifts.

I put my arms around her waist, and we kept waiting for a few more minutes.

Then, Renesmee started stretching her little arms, and yawning for the last time before finally opening her chocolate eyes.

"Happy Christmas, Renesmee," Bella whispered in her ear while she took her in her arms.

Renesmee grinned hugely, there was no doubt in her thoughts. Jacob had explained her already what this Holiday was about.

"Thank you, mommy," she told her, at the same time that Bella put the small locket on her.

"I love you," Bella whispered, opening up the locket to show Renesmee the inscription and the little photo of the three of us.

Through her mind passed the moment in which the photo had been taken.

"More than my own life," she finished, indicating her that that meant the little phrase.

Renesmee smiled again when she heard her.

Bella and I laughed when we saw the smile of Renesmee's face, and the musical laughter, the excitement by hearing what the player had in.

"Happy Christmas, Nessie," I whispered to her side, placing a soft kiss on her cheek. "I love you."

It seemed like she couldn't stop smiling. "I love you, too, daddy, mommy," and she hugged us both. "Thank you."

I noticed that Bella was anxious while we were walking out of the house to go to Charlie's. Jacob and Renesmee were riding on the back seat of the Volvo. In her jacket pocket was the MP3 player I had given her, the two of them were listening to the melodies I had put in; she was wearing the locket, too. And a gift I had not anticipated, maybe even I should have, was on her left wrist a Quileute version of a promise ring. I couldn't help it, because though I was accepting it, it was still difficult to show myself one hundred percent agreed with those kinds of commitments between my four-old-month daughter and Jacob Black. My teeth grinded together, but Bella on the opposite, seemed content or almost relieved of seeing that.

Rosalie had given me the gift for Charlie last night, and now it was riding on the Volvo's trunk.

When we arrived, Charlie's place was already full. Jacob's pack was there, plus Sam and Emily, and Sue. The food was on the table, and we three claimed we had already eaten before leaving towards here, so we didn't have to go through the uncomfortable moment. The little food, it could be said, for the number of werewolves that were there and the way they actually ate, it was soon over.

Bella and I gave to Charlie his gift, and he spent the whole morning reading the instructions manual.

"Wow. Thanks, you guys. You didn't have to give me anything," Charlie expressed.

We both smiled when his eyes almost seemed to bulge out of their places when he saw what it was. And I would have assured, that if for not being because there were visits, Charlie would've gone out at that same moment to try his new fishing system.

"You've got nothing to thank for, Charlie," I assured him.

"Yes, well. It must have been very expensive…"

I smiled again, and shrugged.

Bella turned to see me, and in her eyes there was an expression I recognized. Every time that I told her money was worth nothing to us. I knew she was remembering that same thing.

Or maybe I was wrong, I couldn't be sure.

Sam, at certain moment, spoke to me through his mind, to comment about some things of the next encounter. There wasn't much to be said, neither from us nor from them. They were ready, and kept getting ready. Like Jacob had said, they were willing to everything to help us, to help Renesmee and Jacob, would be more exact. I thanked him under my breath, just them and Bella heard.

We could've kept a conversation, and Charlie wouldn't even have known.

I wondered absent-mindedly, how Charlie would feel after all of this happened. Of course, he had no idea of anything, but…

How would he feel if suddenly we all disappeared without even a warning?

What would he do if in a few day he didn't know anything more about the Cullens, Bella and Renesmee ever again?

I didn't want to have any answer to those questions in this moment. Looking at Renesmee sitting on her grandpa's lap while he tried to understand how his new gift worked. Laughing while his forehead frowned in concentration and Renesmee pointed out of excitement. The way he hugged her with the love only a grandfather could give…

Bella stayed very quiet, her eye seemed to be half-unfocused, as if she didn't want to think about anything for the moment.

And I understood her.

If we considered that we only had a few days left to be face to face with the Volturi, this would be the last time she would see her father.

Charlie didn't notice any of this. Something good.

The wolves stayed behind when we said goodbye to Charlie, who walked us out to the car.

"Well," he said, looking down at the ground. He wasn't good with his feelings. "I'll see you soon. I'm glad you came."

Bella bit her lips, and tried to smile. "We are, dad," was everything she said. "We had a good time," her voice sounded convincing, but Charlie ignored that fact.

"Yes, it was."

Oh, please… Jacob complained.

"Fine, Charlie. I'll see you around," Jacob said while he got on the back seat of the car.

Charlie, with Renesmee in his arms, kissed both her cheeks. "I hope you'd got a nice time, Nessie. I love you, kiddo," the last part was barely a whisper, but we all could hear it perfectly, including Renesmee, who smiled hugely at him, and stretched his arms wrapping them around his neck to hug him.

I love you, too, Grandpa Charlie, I heard her telling him.

"Goodbye, dad," Bella told him, taking Renesmee in her arms. Then she kissed him on the cheek and hugged him.

"Take care," Charlie mumbled, and then talked to me. "Take care of my girls, Edward."

"I always do," I told him smiling.

The three of us got in the car, rain was not very strong but enough to get you wet if you stayed too long under the mist; Renesmee fluttered her hand saying goodbye to Charlie until she could no longer see him, and then she focused on the locket Bella had given her, her eyes got lost on the woods surrounding us and the little photo of the three of us while she opened and closed it.

It was difficult for Jacob to feel tense, sad or even angry for what was happening some times. Like now. Seeing Renesmee so happy and out of the tense bubble in which we all else were. After all, the only thing he cared about, was seeing her happy.

But he also knew that that happiness could end if we didn't succeed on stopping the Volturi from their goal.

I stared at Bella for a few seconds, during she didn't feel my stare. Her eyes were fixated on Renesmee, but her expression was unusual. She seemed to be completely focused on something that I didn't have any way of knowing what it was. But there was trace of desolation in her features. And considering it was Renesmee she was looking at, I imagined that her attitude was because of the concern over Renesmee.

I heard the riot that there was at the house through his thoughts before even listening to their voices.

We were still by the roadway, a few miles away before getting to the dirt road that led to the main house.

I paid attention, searching for the reason for such riot.

"We're leaving," I listened to Amun hissing, his eyes first resting on Kebi, then on Tia and last on Benjamin, who was by Carlisle's side.

"Amun, we had already spoken about this. I am not going anywhere," Benjamin reminded him, his voice full of decision.

Amun snarled, his thoughts were directed at Carlisle in a not such friendly way.

Everyone was there. I could listen to the thoughts of everyone, except for… Alistair's.

Where was he?

We drove into the road, and I accelerated a bit. I was getting anxious. I was still not sure of what was happening.

Jacob and Renesmee noticed the change in the speed, but Bella didn't react. She seemed lost in thought.

What is it? Jacob wondered.

We kept driving on, and driving into the lawn, I heard which was the reason of such riot.

Like I had heard, it was about Alistair. He had gone… to not come back.

Bella got tense when she heard a bit of the voices inside of the house. I parked in front of the house, the sooner we were inside the better. There was no need to get the car parked in the garage, for now.

Bella turned to see me at the same time that I turned to her before jumping out of the car. Her eyes were cautious.

Edward, I heard Esme talking to me when we were out of the Volvo.

Jacob also got out of the car, and his expression changed immediately. If something'd happened, he had to know, and know how serious or important was, and if there was need to inform Sam about whatever was going on.

Before he got on alert for no reason, I whispered, "Alistair is gone," while we climbed up the porch stairs.

Is it good or bad? Jacob wondered.

What was wrong with Amun? It was ridiculous what he was thinking.

Did he really think that Carlisle wanted to steal Benjamin away from his coven?

Oh, Edward, son! Esme exclaimed when seeing us walking in.

All this because of that… child. I heard Amun thinking sulfurous when he saw Renesmee.

My jaw got tense when I heard him. Nobody had forced him to come, or to stay. He didn't have to blame my daughter of absolutely anything.

Carlisle and Benjamin were in front of Amun in the midst of the discussion. Everyone else were surrounding them.

"Amun, if you want to go, no one is forcing you to stay," Carlisle explained to Amun, relaxed, trying to calm Amun's rage down.

Ha! Right, I can go, that's what you want.

"You're stealing half my coven, Carlisle!" Amun complained while he pointed with a finger to Benjamin. Carlisle, just like everyone else, was almost feeling indignant that Amun believed that that was what he was doing with his coven.

Please, Benjamin whined when he heard him.

"Is that why you called me here?" Amun continued. "To steal from me?"

To that, right. What are you thinking, Amun? Benjamin was thinking.

Carlisle sighed. How do I explain to him?

Benjamin rolled his eyes, and spoke to Amun. "Yes, Carlisle picked a fight with the Volturi, endangered his whole family, just to lure me here to my death," Benjamin whispered, his voice was obviously sarcastic.

Is he mocking me? Amun thought, enraged.

"Be reasonable, Amun," Benjamin went on. "I'm committed to do the right thing here – I'm not joining any other coven. You can do whatever you want, of course, as Carlisle has pointed out."

I hope he understand, at last… I heard Esme, half-desperate. She only wanted this to be over already.

Amun, on the other side, was still desperate but for another very different reason. His thoughts went to what Alistair had done.

That's the best we have left to do.

"This won't end well," he growled, considering the idea of leaving, too. But he didn't want to without Benjamin. "Alistair was the only sane here. We should all be running."

He remembered, then, that he could run, but if the Volturi wanted to, they could find him easily.

"Think of who you're calling sane," Tia whispered almost under her breath, but most of the presents here, agreed with her.

"We're all going to be slaughtered!" Amun exclaimed, and I almost wished to be able to shut his mouth up.

By my side, though she didn't shudder or had any physical reaction in her, Renesmee, I could see the fear growing inside of her, her mind was flooded with the faces of the ones she loved and now – almost for sure – thought she was going to lose like Amun was saying. Bella's and my face were telling her we loved her this morning crossed her mind, Jacob's face, her two grandpa's and Esme's, her uncles' and aunts', the ones who had grown to be friends of her in these days. Zafrina, Carmen, Kate, Benjamin, Eleazar, Tanya…

That's not going to happen, there's no reason for such thing, Carlisle thought.

And then he put it into words. "It's not going to come to a fight," his voice was decisive, no trace of doubt.

"You say!"

Everyone was getting desperate with Amun's attitude.

He's so stubborn, Benjamin thought.

"If it does, you can always switch sides, Amun," Carlisle said.

What? What does he mean?

And that was exactly the reason why Alistair had gone away. I had been seeing it for the past few days in his mind. The way he regretted that he were going to be forced to fight against Carlisle if that was enough to save his life in front of the Volturi. He preferred to leave, than doing that.

"I'm sure the Volturi will appreciate your help," Carlisle finished saying to him, clearing up his doubt.

It's not a bad idea, Amun was thinking while he smiled to him in a scornful way. "Perhaps that is the answer."

"I wouldn't hold that against you, Amun," the sincerity in my father's words rang sound and clear. "We have been friends for a long time, but I would never ask you to die for me."

Yes, right, I know, Amun accepted to himself. "But you're taking my Benjamin down with you."

Oh, friend. Carlisle was thinking while he placed a hand on Amun's shoulder, a friendly gesture, which Amun quickly rejected.

Everyone knows what you want, Carlisle. There's no reason to be giving faked affection demonstrations to convince me.

"I'll stay, Carlisle," Amun said. "but it might be to your detriment. I will join them if that's the road to survival. You're all fools to think that you can defy the Volturi," he frowned, and sighed. Then, if having been able to, I would've gotten between his glare and Bella and Renesmee. He looked at them with rage, and then he said. "I will witness that the child has grown. That's nothing but the truth. Anyone would see that."

"That's all we've ever asked," Carlisle assured him again.

But that's not everything some of us wants to give, I heard Tanya, this time, think.

The Romanians seemed to agree with Tanya, let's hope this gets to more than a show of witnesses.

"But not all that you're getting, it seems," Amun mumbled, making a grimace. Then he turned towards Benjamin. "I gave you life. You're wasting it."

Like it was the first time I hear that. You are not going to use me, it was the first time that I heard Benjamin being so cold. "It's a pity you couldn't replace my will with your own in the process; perhaps then you would have been satisfied with me."

If I would've been able to, I would've done it, Amun thought, his eyes narrowing while he considered how different and satisfying it would've been if that were possible. And remembering it couldn't. More upset than before, he turned to see Kebi and gestured to her to follow him out. Kebi immediately was at his side and together they walked out of the house.

Bella turned to see me, her eyes full of questions.

"He's not leaving," I explained to Bella, sure that that was what she wanted to know. "but he'll be keeping his distance even more from now on. He wasn't bluffing when he spoke of joining the Volturi."

Anyone doubted that what was I telling was the truth. And I could see, thanks to Maggie, that what Amun had said, it had indeed been true.

"Why did Alistair go?" Bella asked.

Everyone, too, were interested on the answer to that question.

Renesmee, among us, was anxious to hear what I had to say to that.

"No one can be positive; he didn't leave a note," I said. "From his mutters, it's been clear that he thinks a fight is inevitable. Despite his demeanor, he actually does care too much for Carlisle to stand with the Volturi. I suppose he decided the danger was too much," I wasn't completely sure of this being the reason why he left, so I shrugged.

On the other side, Carlisle seemed relieved from hearing my words.

It's not that… only, there was something more, Edward. I'm sure. Eleazar thought.

Everyone agreed with me, they had a new way of thinking about Alistair.

"From the sound of his mumblings, it was a bit more than that," Eleazar said, explaining his point. "We haven't spoken much of the Volturi agenda, but Alistair worried that no matter how decisively we can prove your innocence, the Volturi will not listen. He thinks they will find an excuse to achieve their goals here."

And being honest, Edward, Eleazar spoke to me, it's the same thing we had, isn't it?

Everybody reacted to Eleazar's words. It had never been spoken about this part about the Volturi in front of everyone, like right now, and anyone liked to think that was what they actually wanted.

They turned to see each others, their faces didn't show being upset.

Without achieving their goals?

They want more than punishing? But, why?

What was Eleazar talking about?

What is this?

And my family, so Alice was right?

They wanted her! That's why she left us.

Oh Alice! But, Edward and Bella? Renesmee!

The Romanians were the only ones who didn't care at all about what Eleazar had just said, they rather liked that there was that theory, and so everyone else would finally see, that the Volturi were taking advantage of their power among the vampires.

The chats started to be listened all over the house, everyone was talking about what Eleazar had said about the Volturi.

"If Eleazar is right, this will be much harder, and our witnesses won't be of much help. At least they have our help," I heard Benjamin whispering to Tia and Mary.

"That's true. Whatever it is we can do, will be good."

Peter and Charlotte were arguing about the same possibility. Peter didn't know if he should fight on our side, considering that his brother, Jasper, was not here. Perhaps if he had been, Peter wouldn't have hesitated on showing his help to our family.

"It'll be very difficult for the Cullens to win if there's a confrontation against the Volturi, Charlotte," Peter was telling her, almost scared. "I don't know if we should help them, when the time comes."

Charlotte nodded, but her thoughts were having anther idea.

The Irish coven had the same problem that Peter and Charlotte had. Ones were sure of what they should do, and others weren't.

But what caught my attention, of course, was that of the Romanians. Just like Bella, for what I was seeing, her eyes were focused on them. It would have been difficult, considering that Vladimir was looking and staring at Bella between words.

I didn't like it, but I paid attention. Ignoring everyone else for a moment.

Stefan was whispering to Vladimir. "I do so hope Alistair was right about this."

If it were for them, war would already be declared… Carlisle thought, a little bit disappointed.

"No matter the outcome, word will spread. It's time our world saw the Volturi for what they've become. They'll never fall if everyone believes this nonsense about them protecting our way of life."

"At least when we ruled, we were honest about what we were," Vladimir continued. Just for everyone to hear them.

Stefan answered, and continued speaking after nodding. "We never put on white hats and called ourselves saints."

"I'm thinking the time has come to fight," Vladimir said.

Fight? It's a possibility, but that being the plan… no.

Are they crazy?

The Irish coven and Peter and Charlotte were now listening more intently, also to the Romanians.

"How can you imagine" Vladimir kept talking. Everyone else were surprised. "we'll ever find a better force to stand with? Another chance this good?"

"Nothing is impossible. Maybe someday—"

Vladimir interrupted Stefan. "We've been waiting for fifteen hundred years, Stefan. And they've only gotten stronger with the years."

Eleazar and Carmen, Tanya and Kate had put their attentions on the Romanians again.

What are they telling? Come on!

Their eyes returned to Bella, and both considered how strong would they turn with just getting Bella.

No one could damage them if they got to have that newborn with them…

That was the part I wasn't liking, but I couldn't say anything.

Not even that witch of Jane with her.

Their thought quickly go to Benjamin, and they were thinking the same thing of him than of Bella.

I was happy Alice wasn't here, right this moment.

"If the Volturi win this conflict," Vladimir continued. "they will leave with more power than they came with. With every conquest they add to their strengths. Think of what that newborn alone could give them" his chin pointed out to Bella, so they knew who they meant. Though it wasn't necessary. "and she is barely discovering her gifts. And the earth-mover." He stopped, and nodded towards Benjamin.

No, I will not be forced by the Volturi… Benjamin was thinking, while he got tense by considering such idea.

"With their witch twins they have no need of the illusionist or the fire touch," Vladimir finished saying, his eyes moving from Zafrina to Kate at last.

Well, that is a relief. Kate thought, a bit upset. Who would want to join them!

Stefan turned to see me, then. Remembering that there was someone else who had a gift in this room. I glared at him frowning. "Nor is the mind reader is exactly necessary. But I see your point. Indeed, they will gain much if they win."

"More than we can afford to have them gain, wouldn't you agree?" Vladimir asked.

Stefan sighed, thinking very well on what Vladimir had told him, and agreeing with him, almost as always. "I think I must agree. And that means... "

"That we must stand against them while there is still hope."

"If we can just cripple them, even, expose them..."

"Then, someday, others will finish the job," Vladimir said.

Since this group doesn't want to do it, others will do it.

"And our long vendetta will be repaid. At last."

I don't see what other way it could be, we might die trying, but…

Revenge is sweet. I rather die trying.

The Romanians looked at each other for a moment. Musing.

Everyone who was present, listening to what Stefan and Vladimir were saying, believed now more than ever, that a fight could be impossible to avoid.

Only my family kept wishing, fervently, that it wasn't that way.

"It seems the only way," the Romanians mumbled together.

"So we fight," Stefan announced.

The two smiled, as if the fight was already won.

"We fight," Vladmir exclaimed, agreeing with Stefan.

Carlisle shook his head when hearing them, still thinking that this wouldn't not turn into a fight. But they weren't the only ones who seemed to believe for sure, that the fight would be unavoidable. Everyone were starting to consider their place in such situation.

Cullens or Volturi.

And, of course, there wasn't anyone in this room who wanted to be part of the Volturi guard.

I felt Bella shuddering by my side, but I couldn't turn to see her.

Tia was decided all of a sudden. More than before, and she made it known, too. "We will fight, too," she said, thinking of Benjamin. She didn't have to ask for his opinion before speaking, she already knew what his position was. It wasn't the first time they considered such thing. "We believe the Volturi will overstep their authority. We have no wish to belong to them."

Much less taking my Benjamin, Tia was thinking while looking at him.

And Benjamin, he understood perfectly well what she meant. He smiled at her, and said with a look to the Romanians. "Apparently, I'm a hot commodity. It appears I have to win the right to be free."

I knew that this would happen when the Romanians declared themselves.

Garrett was the next one. "This won't be the first time I've fought to keep myself from a king's rule," he then walked over towards Benjamin and patted his back.

And it won't be the last, "Here's to freedom from oppression."

Tanya spoke to me before speaking out loud.

You already know what our place in this is, Edward. Then she smiled.

"We stand with Carlisle," Tanya said, turning around to make her decision very clear in her head. Eleazar and Carmen, and Kate agreed with her, of course.. "And we fight with him."

Good! I heard Emmett, excited. There would be fight before falling.

Peter spoke, then. "We have not decided."

He looked at Charlotte by his side, looking at her expression when having spoken for both, when he knew that her opinion was opposite to his. Charlotte would fight if it was necessary. But she didn't say anything.

She only would do it.

"The same goes for me," Randall decided after a few seconds of consideration.

"And me," Mary said right after Randall. The two of them had considered this decision since they had arrived, and now it was more than decided.

Well, if the vampires declared themselves, they better know our position… Jacob thought, his thoughts directed to the ones who weren't sure.

"The packs will fight with the Cullens. We're not afraid of vampires," he smiled smugly.

"Children," Peter said, his mind, anyway, upset for what Jacob had said.

"Infants," Randall corrected, according to him.

Oh, what are you afraid of the bloodsuckers? Jacob thought, while he smiled at them, teasing them.

No, I do not want this to come to a fight, Carlisle complained in his mind.

"Well, I'm in, too."

Even if you don't want¸ Maggie thought while she moved from under Siobhan's hand.

Siobhan, as much as Carlisle, didn't want this to come to a fight.

"I know truth is on Carlisle's side. I can't ignore that," Maggie finished saying, her words were directed to everyone, but mostly to Siobhan.

"Carlisle," Siobhan whispered, her eyes were looking at Maggie anxiously. Worried about losing one of her members in this suicidal mission as Tanya once called this. "I

don't want this to come to a fight."

"Nor do I, Siobhan," Carlisle said.

Oh, Carlisle, I heard Esme.

"You know that's the last thing I want." He half-smiled, and continued. "Perhaps you should concentrate on keeping it peaceful."

"You know that won't help."

Curious. Either she didn't really believe so, or she was right and it wasn't a talent. Maggie only saw what she meant.

"It couldn't hurt," Carlisle insisted.

So stubborn, Siobhan thought, rolling her eyes. "Shall I visualize the outcome I desire?" her tone was clearly sarcastic.

Carlisle grinned openly at her, and told her. "If you don't mind."

"Then there is no need for my coven to declare itself, is there? Since there is no possibility of a fight," Siobhan said, and then she placed her hand on Maggie's should to get her closer again.

Anyone else had anything to say, and though they waited for someone to explain what it meant what Carlisle and Siobhan had been talking about, no one did. The group spread away again to what they had been doing before any of this riot started. A lot of them had gone hunting, and other ones were back to some things from the house and Carlisle had to offer.

Carlisle, some others and I had already talked about this. We would all be going hunting again in a few days, calculating when it would be approximately the day in which the Volturi would arrive so we were better prepared. Then we would stay a couple of nights out, at the baseball meadow and so we would keep our guard away from town and all people. Demetri would track down Bella, for sure, but when he realized he couldn't, he would surely track down me or Carlisle. We had decided that Bella would not shield us until they were close to us and they were sure, too, that it was us and we hadn't tried to run away. If she shielded us before, how would they find us?

There were only a few days left for the deadline to arrive, but Bella decided we went hunting after all.

The three of us, with Jacob by our side, of course.

"Stupid leeches," Jacob mumbled, complaining about what the vampires had said about the packs. "Think they're so superior," snort.

No talking about you guys, Edward… Jacob added.

"They'll be shocked when the infants save their superior lives, won't they?" I asked him.

"Hell yeah, they will," he answered me with a smile and a punch on my shoulder. Light…

We went away for a few miles inside the forest near by our cottage. Jacob and Renesmee got apart for a few meters while Bella and I finished with our preys.

As it was usual, Jacob got apart with her to make those hunting trips, a challenge.

The biggest one? Which one? I heard Renesmee while she saw between the trees to see which one was the biggest. Jacob by her side, also was doing it, but at this moment, to not catch it and let it to Renesmee. All because she got happy by winning.

I shook my head, and smiled.

Then I turned to see Bella, she was drinking, but there was something in her expression. She didn't seem concentrated on the half-dead animal in her hands…

The deer fell off her hands, then. My forehead wrinkled, what was it with her?

She looked at her hand full of blood, and I was instantly at her side, leaving the deer I was drinking from.

"What's wrong?" I asked her, anxious. I looked around us, perhaps she'd listened to something I hadn't. Doubtful, but better prevent than regret.

"Renesmee." Bella said, her voice seemed to be choking.

But Renesmee was completely fine, she was safe a few meters from us.

And I didn't hear anything out of place.

"She's just through those trees," I reassured her, with no idea of why she was worried. "I can hear both her thoughts and Jacob's. She's fine."

"That's not what I meant," Bella whispered, her voice still sounding strange. "I was thinking about my shield—you really think it's worth something, that it will help somehow," so that's what it was about, but I still didn't understand what was worrying her; Bella kept talking. "I know the others are hoping that I'll be able to shield Zafrina and Benjamin, even if I can only keep it up for a few seconds at a time," her voice started to get louder, even when she kept it low. Renesmee and Jacob had no idea of what was happening. "What if that's a mistake? What if your trust in me is the reason that we fail?"

"Bella, what brought this on?" I asked her. I didn't want her to worry over such a thing. "Of course, it's wonderful that you can protect yourself, but you're not responsible for saving anyone. Don't distress yourself needlessly."

"But what if I can't protect anything?" her voice was now gasping. "This thing I do, it's faulty, it's erratic! There's no rhyme or reason to it. Maybe it will do nothing against Alec at all."

"Shh," I mumbled, I didn't like seeing her that way. I had to calm her down somehow. "Don't panic. And don't worry about Alec. What he does is no different than what Jane or Zafrina does. It's just an illusion—he can't get inside your head any more than I can."

"But Renesmee does!" Bella hissed, her voice again, anxious.

This was the reason, now I understood. Oh, my Bella, if she knew that I had already though about this.

How long have she been worrying for such thing?

"It seemed so natural, I never questioned it before," Bella continued. "It's always been just part of who she is. But she puts her thoughts right into my head just like she does with everyone else. My shield has holes, Edward!"

How did I explain to her? It didn't matter, I had to do it. I couldn't allow her to be worrying that way when there was no need.

Her eyes showed no more than despair while she waited for me to tell her anything.

Understanding crossed her eyes. "You thought of this a long time ago, didn't you?"

I nodded. She was still as observer as always, after all. A smile wanted to show in my lips. "The first time she touched you."

Bella sighed, but she seemed more calmed. "And that doesn't bother you? You don't see it as a problem?"

"I have two theories, one more likely than the other."

"Give me the least likely first."

Always so pessimistic. But I did it. "Well, she's your daughter. Genetically half you. I used to tease you about how your mind was on a different frequency than the rest of ours. Perhaps she runs on the same."

"But you hear her mind just fine. Everyone hears her mind. And what if Alec runs on a different frequency? What if—?"

Again with the hysterics, I quickly place a finger over her lips, stopping her flood of words. "I've considered that. Which is why I think this next theory is much more

likely."

I heard Bella grinding her teeth together.

"Do you remember what Carlisle said to me about her, right after she showed you that first memory?"

"He said, 'It's an interesting twist. Like she's doing the exact opposite of what you can.'"

"Yes. And so I wondered. Maybe she took your talent and flipped it, too."

Bella didn't say anything, and I knew that she was thinking on what I had told her.

"You keep everyone out."

"And no one keeps her out?" Bella said, still hesitating.

"That's my theory," but there was no way of knowing if it was really like that. "And if she can get into your head, I doubt there's a shield on the planet who could keep her at bay. That will help. From what we've seen, no one can doubt the truth of her thoughts once they've allowed her to show them. And I think no one can keep her from showing them, if she gets close enough. If Aro allows her to explain..."

I stopped when I saw Bella shuddering.

Yes, it was an idea a little bit disturbing. If it wasn't necessary, I would try to keep her the most possible farther away from any of the Volturi.

"Well," I whispered, caressing her shoulders. There was nothing to be worried about. Because if Aro came close enough, I wouldn't allow him to hurt her. "At least there's nothing that can stop him from seeing the truth."

"But is the truth enough to stop him?"

I didn't have an answer for that, and I didn't say anything.

Because if the truth wasn't enough, we would take care of forcing them to stop.

I didn't want my daughter's life to end, neither now or ever.

So? Did you like it? Hope you did! Thanks, again!