Thank you to xxtwilightx, Smiley Alice, deltagirl74, alisonchristina124, Lindsabelle, note4, ja4ever and Marshmellow for your reviews.
Xxtwilightx- I'm not ignoring your question, it will be answered in the next few chapters.
Alisonchristina124- I'm not sure exactly how much more of this story is left until it's completely finished but at a guess (and just a very vague one) I would say about five to ten chapters. As soon as I get a better idea I'll let you all know. And I am thinking of doing another one after this one.
Note4- No, I don't think the wolves will imprint on the Cullen/Whitlock children
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"It was interesting," Carlisle smirked. "The word spread rapidly throughout our world. Nearly a thousand vampires turned up from all across the world."
"That would have been chaos," Rosalie gasped.
"It was reasonably civil actually," Edward commented. "Everyone was sick of the Volturi and pleased they had been overthrown. The concept of a more democratic leadership for our kind had its appeal too."
"It was wonderful," Esme added. "Nearly everyone there was in full agreement about how our new government should work."
"What was decided?" Jasper asked with interest.
"A council of elected vampires will oversee things," Carlisle explained. "Make decisions that will affect our kind, decide on rules, that kind of thing. And where needed, provide discipline and punishments."
"Won't that kind of government run the risk of being like the Volturi?" Emmett asked.
"That was addressed," Carlisle nodded. "Many agreed that the main problem with the Volturi was that they were in power too long. They thought they were invincible. To stop that happening again votes will be held every twenty years for a new council. The voting system we used this time seemed to work. Anyone could nominate another person and if that person got another two nominations they were eligible for the final vote."
"So what happened with the voting?" Alice asked.
"Nearly fifty vampires were nominated," Carlisle explained. "It was decided we needed eight leaders on the council so it went to the vote. It all went quite smoothly considering. The eight people with the highest votes were elected to the council."
"Are any of you on the council?" Jasper asked.
"Yes," Esme grinned. "Our family did exceedingly well in the votes."
"How well?" Emmett pushed.
"Edward, Henry, Tanya and I have been voted onto the Council," Carlisle smirked. "And we have other friends there too. Marcel, Jasper and Alice's friend, was voted in."
"You said eight members," Jasper pointed out. "Who are the other three?"
"A four hundred year old Italian vampire named Marco," Edward answered. "And two female vampires from Romania, Elena and Nadia. They are around six hundred years old."
"We all get on exceptionally well," Carlisle smiled. "In fact, Nadia, Elena, Marco and Marcel agreed to stay in Volterra so we could all come home and finalise things here in the States."
"So does this mean we are moving to Italy?" Rosalie frowned.
"Well, that is something we all need to talk about," Carlisle sighed and glanced around the group. "This house will be available should anyone not want to come to Volterra but yes, the family will need to move to Italy."
"How long do we have to decide?" Stella asked softly.
"Two months," Carlisle replied. "We told the others we would return to Italy then. Think about it and I will call a family meeting the week before we need to leave to find out what your decisions are."
"That's fair," Jasper nodded.
"There is something else," Carlisle added and reached over and took Esme's hand in his before he looked around at the other members of the family. "One of the reasons we wanted to stay here for two months before we move to Italy is that Esme and I have made a decision which may affect some of you and we hope that some of you will support and help us with."
"What is it?" Rosalie asked.
"We have decided we want to try for a baby," Carlisle told them. "Esme would like me to do the procedure on her."
"That's great," Rosalie grinned.
"You won't be sorry," Alice smiled softly.
"I am a little nervous," Esme admitted. "But it is what we really want and we want to do it here in Forks before we go to Italy."
"I can understand that," Alice nodded.
"We may need some help," Carlisle added. "Edward, I would like you to help with the procedure. It will be different for me doing it on Esme than it was with the others."
"I can do that," Edward agreed.
"And Jasper?" Esme murmured. "Will you be there with us? Carlisle has told me how much you help Alice and Rose with the pain. Will you help me too?"
"Of course I will Esme," Jasper smiled. "You don't even need to ask."
"Thank you," Esme grinned.
XXX
For the rest of the day the family just spent time together, glad to be united again. As the night fell, Tanya said her goodbyes and headed back to Denali with a promise to return with her coven before they left for Italy. Once she was gone the rest of the family drifted off into smaller groups. Edward and Bella headed back to their cottage with Renesmee while Carlisle and Esme went hunting with Oliver, Jackson and Stella. Emmett and Rosalie took Angelica up to her room and once she was settled they sat together as they watched her sleep.
Jasper and Alice took Brandon and Sierra up to their rooms and while Jasper fed Sierra a bottle of blood Alice bathed Brandon and put him to bed. When Alice walked back into the living room after settling Brandon for the night she grinned when she saw Jasper sitting on the couch, Sierra laying on his legs and looking up at him.
"Is she still awake?" Alice smiled, having already noticed her daughter normally slept after a bottle.
"Well, we kind of got playing," Jasper said sheepishly. Alice laughed as she walked over to sit beside them and she noticed Sierra's little fists were wrapped tightly around Jasper's fingers.
"She is definitely going to be a Daddy's girl," Alice commented as she watched them together.
"Of course she is," Jasper murmured although his eyes were already locked back on Sierra and the little baby gave a giggle and then a hiccup. Her little eyes started to droop but before Alice could say a word Jasper had gently scooped Sierra into his arms and snuggled her against his body.
"You're a pro," Alice teased. Jasper laughed and winked at her before turning his attention back to his daughter and Alice could feel the little waves of calmness he was sending to Sierra. The baby gave a soft yawn and snuggled closer to her father and then her little eyes closed and she slipped off to sleep.
"I'll just go put her down," Jasper whispered and Alice nodded her head and watched as he carried the baby carefully into their room.
Because of the suddenness of her arrival, nothing had been prepared for Sierra but luckily they had kept Brandon's bassinette. Jasper had set it up in their bedroom and as she thought about it Alice decided to enlist Rosalie's help to turn the spare bedroom into a nursery for Sierra the next day. When Jasper returned to the room he hurried back to sit down beside Alice and she snuggled into him as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I love you Jazz," Alice whispered softly.
"I love you too sweetheart," Jasper murmured as he placed a light kiss on her hair and sent her a wave of his love as well. Alice gave a contented sigh and rested her head on his chest as they sat together quietly while their two children slept in the nearby rooms.
XXX
The next morning the house was a hive of activity as everyone got prepared for Esme's procedure. Alice and Rosalie decided to get the children out of the house so they didn't witness anything they shouldn't and packed up everything they would need for the day. Stella decided to join them and once they were all ready they headed to the cottage to spend the day with Bella and Renesmee.
Once the women and children had left Emmett and Jasper helped Edward set up Carlisle's study for the procedure while Esme and Carlisle spent some time alone in their room. Jackson and Oliver decided to head out into the forest to give Esme the privacy she would need and when Carlisle and Esme finally walked downstairs the house was deserted. They walked into Carlisle's study hand in hand and Esme glanced nervously at the table and instruments Edward had set up.
"Everything is ready," Edward smiled. "We'll give you a moment to get ready."
Edward, Emmett and Jasper slipped out of the room and once they were alone Carlisle turned to look at Esme.
"Are you sure about this sweetheart?" he asked softly.
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," Esme smiled. "I won't pretend the procedure doesn't scare me but the end result will be worth it."
"It will," Carlisle agreed.
He led her over to the table and with a tenderness he hadn't shown with the others he helped her get undressed and climb up on the table. He grabbed a sheet Edward had left nearby and covered Esme with it and once she was settled and ready he took her hand and smiled down at her.
"How's everything going in here?" Edward asked as he stuck his head through the door.
"We're ready," Esme replied as she squeezed Carlisle's hand and smiled up at him. Edward, Jasper and Emmett walked back into the room and Carlisle leaned down and kissed Esme's cheek before joining Edward near her feet.
"So what happens now?" Esme asked nervously.
"I need to cut through your stomach muscles to get to your ovary," Carlisle told her. "I'll then cut away the skin of the ovary and it will need to be a big cut so the skin doesn't heal again. When I'm finished we'll seal the incision with venom."
"That sounds a little painful," Esme whispered.
"I won't lie to you sweetheart," Carlisle sighed. "It is going to hurt. You don't have a blood system so sedatives won't do any good. I'll be as quick as I can but you have to remain still. Emmett and Edward will hold you down because it is imperative that you do not move once I begin cutting. Jasper will help by keeping you as calm as he can. I am ready to begin when you are."
"I'm ready," Esme nodded.
Carlisle gave her a soft smile and turned and picked up the werewolf claw scalpel as Jasper moved to her side and took her hand and she looked up at him as he leaned over her. Emmett moved to her other side to hold her body down and Edward pinned her legs down at the end of the bed while Carlisle carefully parted the sheets over her stomach.
"You ready sweetheart?" he murmured.
"Yes," Esme whispered.
"Jasper?" Carlisle added.
Jasper nodded his head wordlessly and moments later they all felt the calm Jasper was sending in huge waves towards Esme. Carlisle placed the scalpel against Esme's skin and began to cut and although her body tensed at the sensation Jasper increased his waves to help her. Esme concentrated on Jasper's face, trying to ignore the burning, stabbing pain from where Carlisle was working and after ten minutes she felt like it would never stop.
"Carlisleā¦." she moaned softly.
"Not much longer sweetheart," Carlisle whispered, his voice tense with concentration. "Stay still." Jasper increased his waves to her and Emmett and Edward held her tighter but it was only a few moments later when Carlisle pulled the scalpel from Esme and smiled at her.
"All done," he announced. "We'll just seal up your incision and it's all over darling."
Esme nodded her head, in too much pain to speak, and Jasper continued to send waves of calmness to her as Carlisle grabbed a bowl for the others to spit into and then applied the venom to Esme's wound. Once the wound was sealed Emmett and Edward let go of Esme and even Jasper stepped back so Carlisle could move to Esme's side.
"Do you still need us?" Edward asked softly as Carlisle pulled Esme into his arms.
"No, we're done," Carlisle murmured. "Thank you for your help."
"You're welcome," Jasper smiled and the three men slipped from the room to give the older couple some privacy.
