Luciana sat on the phone with her father in Carlisle's office. Seth stood closeby to hear both ends of the conversation, and Carlisle stood across from them, also listening.

Esme stood in the far left corner of the room, stroking one of the bookcases nervously with her hand. She hated the idea of having to rely on the Volturi as allies. As much as she knew that Aro would never allow his daughter to be in harms way, she wasn't sure he would prove to be as loyal to the rest of their family.

The dim lighting of the room, illuminated from a small desk lamp, typically gave the space a quiet, peaceful feel. Between the conversation Luciana was having with her father, and the news they'd all been given by Michael, it ultimately made the room feel eierily intense. The shadows that were cast on everyone's faces was one of the many traits that contributed to the feeling.

Carlisle knew what would be happening when Luciana hung up the phone.

Alice quickly scooted to join them with Jasper at her side. "I think we have to go with Aro's thoughts on this," she told everyone, "Our best chance is to go on the offensive."

"I'd hate to be the ones to initiate this," Carlisle told her.

"It's our only shot," Jasper told him, "They've got strict plans to follow and they'll be effective if Olivia gets her group to follow them. We have to shake up the plans and go to them."

"There is no chance she'll back down," Alice told them, "She's out for blood."

Luciana always looked nervous when speaking of her father. She knew the tension that existed between the two covens, despite agreeing to leave each other be. Her hand twisted around the arm of the wooden chair she sat in, "My dad thinks we should all go there, as well."

Seth continued to stay silent, ultimately unsure of what to do. He wanted desperately to try talking with Sam again, though didn't think there was much of a shot that they'd travel to where ever it was that Olivia had her troops.

"Between us and the Volturi, I believe they won't have much of a chance, despite their numbers," Jasper said.

"And I haven't seen anyone with a gift," Alice said, filling them in, "They won't expect us. She doesn't know that I can see things in advance."

Everyone's eyes were focused on Carlisle. They all knew he didn't like being the one to strike first in these situations, but for the first time it seemed as though there was no other choice. He looked at Esme, who still stood silently in the shadows of the room. "What do you think?" he asked.

She took in a deep breath, relaxing her arms from the tense position they'd been in crossed in front of her chest. "I think we should listen to Alice and Jasper... and Aro."

Carlisle nodded and eyed the wooden floorboards beneath his feet, nudging a small crack in the floor with his shoe, "Okay."

"My father wanted to know the date we'll all decide to go," Luciana told him, "I wasn't sure what to say," she looked at Alice, "He said he'd like to talk to you soon."

Alice and Jasper exchanged glances before she nodded, "We all need to be on the same page."

Carlisle joined Esme, sensing she had isolated herself a little from the group, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Her locked his arm around her shoulders and rubbed the side of her arm. She leaned into him slightly and took another long breath.

"I think things will work out okay this way Esme," Alice told her, "They won't know what to do between all of us, the wolves and the Volturi. There are too many weapons, even for their numbers."

She nodded, "I hope so."

They all gave each other final looks before parting ways throughout the house.

Esme motioned for Carlisle to join her in their room. He followed, closing the door behind him in time to see his wife begin balling.

"Esme," he said, feeling his stomach sink, "Es, it'll be okay. The Volturi have solved problems like this for centuries." He wrapped his arms around her, "They're all still fully intact."

She clutched the back of his shirt with her hands and buried her face into his chest. As much as she wanted to say something back, she couldn't compose herself at the moment.

Carlisle waited for her to relax, resting his chin on the top of her head. He rubbed her back and very subtly rocked her back and forth in his arms. When he felt her tears subside, he looked down at the wetness on the front of his light blue buttondown shirt. The look in Esme's eyes was something he'd only seen in recent years when their family was forced into these struggling situations.

"I know how powerful the Volturi are," she finally said, "And I know Aro will protect Lucy, but he doesn't care about you Carlisle. If something happens to you, he won't care."

"I don't need Aro to protect me," he told her, "I just need him to fight beside me... and he will."

Esme wiped her eyes, leaving streaks of mascera on her face. She noticed the black streaks on her hands and shook her head.

Carlisle quickly went into the bathroom and put water on a facecloth. "Close your eyes," he said as he returned. Esme did as he asked and he gently removed the make up from her face, kissing her forehead as he finished.

"I do agree that having Aro and the rest of them fight with you is a good decision," she said, "I just don't trust them."

"They won't do anything to compromise Lucy, or her happiness here. I have faith in that. Edward saw that in Aro's thoughts the last time we met with him."

"I don't want to leave you and Masen, Carlisle. I really don't." She sat down on the edge of the bed and put one hand over her eyes.

"You have to," he told her, "I don't want us to be apart, but as long as you and the baby, and William and Rosalie will be safe, there's really no other option."

"I know," she nodded, sniffing in.

Carlisle sat on the bed next to her and kissed along her jawline until he got to her ear, "Nothing is going to happen to us, Esme. We're going to get through this like anything else and we'll celebrate the birth of our daughter."

Esme felt tears forming in her eyes again and she immediately let them fall as the sentence left his mouth.

"It's okay," he told her, "Things are going to be okay."

Esme quickly stopped her flow of tears this time and laid her head on one of their pillows.

Carlisle spun her around so he could cuddle himself behind her and threw his arm over her.

"I feel like a broken record," Esme said, "But I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

"Well, maybe you'd get lucky and get imprinted on by a wolf," Carlisle joked, "Seems to be happening more and more."

She turned her head to face him, not finding his attempted joke at all funny.

"I'm kidding," he said.

"I'm not. I don't know what I will do."

"So stop thinking about it," he told her, stroking the side of her face, "Close your eyes."

Esme did as he asked and took in the feel of his hand on her cheek. She felt his leg drape over both of hers and the two of them laid there together for hours trying not to think of what was in store for their immediate future.