Disclaimer:- I own nothing.

Sorry it's so late, lots of things got in the way, anyway here it is. Any mistakes are mine.

Carlisle POV

As I put the phone on the counter Esme came into kitchen.

"Was that Marcus."

"Yeah, he's pretty shaken up, doesn't know where he should be". I took Esme into my arms just so I could hold her.

"Well the kids are settle upstairs, I don't want to leave them for long." She kissed my cheek.

"Ok love." She got some water and headed back up to them. I walk round the house automatically not taking anything in, I was just numb. By the time I got to my study, my phone was ringing again.

"Marcus any news?"

"Yes they have them. They've been found. Billy has them and he's bringing them here. Apparently they were dropped of at the station but we don't know by who. All I care about is that they are ok." Marcus was full of emotion. "I need to ask you a favour tho Carlisle, can you look after them until I know what's going on with Grace."

"Of course we can, you know that. Just ring when they are released, I will come get them. I'm going to head over to yours to get them some stuff ok." I just outside the spare room. I was going to tell Esme that they had been found but she was asleep, so I left her a note in the kitchen.

"Yeah that's great. Harry is there I will tell him to expect you. Thanks again."

McCarthy drove me over to Marcus's, where I found out what happen from Harry. It appears that is was Aro. He got passed Billy, Harry and the others with gas. No one know why but they think it's a message to say that he can get anyone at any time no matter what the security.

The next few days were very stressful. Grace was awake with no side affects apart from a bad hair cut. The children are doing better, they are still staying with us. They are going back home tomorrow. Graces parents will be staying with them until she is back on her feet. Dimitri and Alec seemed to be fine but who knows about the pie mental state. They keep waking up with nightmares, hopefully Marcus and Grace will get them some counselling.

Vincent Volturi has finally managed to get enough information on the Ricci family to start prosecuting proceedings. Nobody knows what is going to happen when it starts but we are all on guard. Agent Volturi has also put extra security for everyone after what has happened. I will be glad when it's all over.

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Esme POV

It's been 4 weeks since what happened to Grace and the children. The children are all ok, but are having therapy. Grace is nearly back to 100%, her parents went home last week I think she was getting fed up with them really. Marcus refuses to leave her alone. Carlisle isn't much better but he has to go to work but he phones all the time.

The Ricci family are set to face trial in 3 months. Gregory, Joseph and Fredric the father and two sons, are all in prison. The rest of the Ricci family are all under surveillance so they are not stepping out of line. Daddy is set to give evidence against them. Mother and myself are scared and can't wait for it to be over.

We are still trying to get pregnant but with everything going on that's been on the back burner for now.

I woke up one morning to the house buzzer. It was the security, there was someone that needed to deliver some documents to me and it had to be in person.

"I'll be done in 10 minutes, thank you Rob." I looked at the clock, 7.30am. Carlisle had only been gone 20 minutes. I got up, dressed and made my way to the front door. I opened it to see Rob and a guy in a suit.

"Mrs Esme Ann Cullen," he asked.

"Yes, and your are?"

"Here," as I took them he spoke. "You've been subpoenaed to testify in the state verses Ricci. He turned and left, leaving me in shock.

"Are you alright Mrs Cullen," Rob asked.

"Yes I'm fine just a little shocked. Thank you." As he turned to leave I closed the door. I walk to the kitchen got myself some coffee, sat down and started to look through the papers. As I read through them, it looks like I have been ordered to give testimony for the prosecution. I would need to go into our lawyers office next week.

I heard my mobile chime, it was a text from Carlisle. 'Good morning love, r u ok. Didn't want to wake u this morning. Should b home around 9pm. Love u xx'

I smiled. I sent him a quick reply. 'I'm good. Have a good day. Love u too xx' I would tell him tonight about testifying.

I spent the rest of the day either over at Graces or with my parents. I decided that I would do chicken and salad for dinner as it's going to be late tonight.

I was just putting the dressing on the salad when Carlisle came home. "Hi sweetheart, how was your day." He came over and kissed my cheek.

He sighed, "it was so so. We lost three people today. Two of them under 21. Stabbing." I turned round and hugged him. He placed his chin on my head.

"I'm sorry love. Do want to talk about it." I could feel him shake his head.

"No this is all I need and food." He pulled away and kissed me.

We sat down to dinner and talked about his cases and how the rest of this day went. It was after that I told him about me having to testify.

"We will have to be careful now with this trail happening. We don't know what will happen. Have you spoken to your fathers lawyer at all." He was pinching the bridge of this nose.

"Yeah, he said it would be better to get my own, just in case and also he can work with me. He gave me some recommendations I was going to run them passed you and see if you know of any." I got out the list of people daddies lawyer wrote down and passed it to him.

"The only one I know on here is J. Jenks. He has worked with my father a few times, he is very good. I'm sure he will help you through this as well as me." He took my hand and pulled me onto his lap. He ran his fingers up and down my arm.

"I'm a little scared Carlisle, what with this, the phone call and Grace, what's next." He put his fingers under my chin.

"Hey. Nothing is going to happen to you. Aro was behind what happened with Grace and the children. As for the phone call, I'm sure it was just a scare tack tick. You must tell Jenks about that ok." I looked into his clear blue eyes there was only love there.

I nodded. "I will. I'll phone tomorrow to set up a meeting. Come on it's late, and you have to be up early for work."

The next morning I phoned J. Jenks and managed to get an appointment with him that afternoon. So I phoned Carlisle and told him and reassured him that McCarthy was coming with me. I was nerves, I tried to find things to do to keep my mind off the meeting but as the time go closer I got more nervous. When it was time to go I felt sick, it managed to keep my lunch down.

As we pulled up to the offices, the name above the door was & Associates.

McCarthy opened the door for me and I was met with a bleach blond chewing gum popping secretary.

"Can I help you Miss." She only looked about 15.

"Yes Mrs Cullen to see ." I was trying to be polite to this women, but all I wanted to do was slap the gum out of her mouth.

"He will see you in a minute." She didn't even look at me. Rude!

McCarthy didn't sit down he just stood to the side looking around. When Mr Jenks came out and introduced himself, McCarthy took it upon himself to look around Jenks office.

"Urm excuse me," Jenks walked over to McCarthy and put a hand on his arm. The look on McCarthy face was murderous.

"I'm sorry Mr Jenks, McCarthy is my personal security I will explain everything." I managed to get McCarthy out of the room before he murdered Jenks.

"Please call me Jeff. So how can I help you Mrs Cullen." He escorted me to one of the chairs by is deck while he took the other one.

"Please call me Esme. I was given your number by my fathers lawyer. I've been call to give evidence in the Ricci case. My father, Jonathan Platt is there main witness. The reason for my security is that I received a phone call from Gregory Ricci, not so much as threatening but told me he knew who my loved ones are." I got it all out in two breaths.

"I'm aware of the Ricci case and I've heard about your father being called to give evidence. Do you know why you have been called?" He had a notebook in front on him taking notes.

"I can't think why, I didn't even know about what father was doing with the FBI. I only found out after what happened to my parents, Aunt, Uncle and cousins." I was looking out of the window watching the birds, trying to relax.

"Yes I heard about that, I'm sorry for your losses. I also heard about your brother and sister in law. How are they now?" Still scribbling notes.

"They are recovering well thank you. So what happens now?" I was eager to get things moving and leave.

"Well, I will need to speak to your fathers attorney, to try to find out why they want you and then I will need to brief you as to how things will go and what maybe said and what your possible answers be."

"I'm sorry but I don't understand don't I just tell the truth." I was now confused.

"Yes you do. But you only say what you need to say and nothing more, if you do the defence can jump on it and twist your answers. Do you understand." He was trying to get me to understand I think I got it.

"Yes I think I do. Thank you Jeff." I held out my hand and he shook it.

"Well I will be in contact once I have all the information I need, then we can work on what you are going to say. If you need or think of anything let me know." With that I left the office with McCarthy.

It took Jeff only 10 days to get in contact with me. It seems they want me to give evidence about the phone call I received from Gregory Ricci. Jeff thinks it's very straight forward but he's going to prep me for everything.

Everything else was very quite. Carlisle was barley home working double shifts or only getting a few hours to himself so its was easier to say and sleep there then come home. Grace and the children are doing really well. The children are still having therapy but not as often. Mother and daddy are doing ok. Preparing themselves for the trial. The trial has been moved forward to start in 3 weeks. I don't know why but I will be glad when it's over. All I could think about was getting up in court and making a fool out of myself.

I hope you enjoyed it. Stay safe.

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