AN: Ugh, wow, I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update. My eternal apologies to you all. Anyway, now that I finally have a new chapter up, I would appreciate it if you would give it a read and a review. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed on the story thus far, and thank you to everyone who has stuck with me through the lack of updates.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight…..just like I don't own a lot of things that I wish I did, but sadly don't.

(Edit: This chapter's contents were updated 08-26-09)

Celeste's POV

I hadn't been running for five minutes when the scent of the Volturi floated through my nostrils again, this time in a much higher concentration. If I were human I would have had a heart attack. There were more of them, and one of the scents smelled terrifyingly familiar. But I shook it out of my system. It couldn't be, besides I'd only smelled it once as a new born.

I concentrated again on the potency of the smells. I couldn't tell if they'd caught up with us, or had run through here a minute ago. I growled; I didn't have time to deal with all of them. I couldn't fight with Bella on my back. Apprehension filled my body without my permission. Parker was going to freak.

Parker's POV

I was sitting on the front porch with Jasper, Emmet and Edward when it hit me. An unshakable fear wracked my body. Jasper and Edward looked at me warily as I stood up, looking towards the woods.

I knew this feeling. I didn't feel it often, but it was unmistakable. My connection with Celeste allowed me to feel what she was feeling in moments when her own emotions were too strong to contain. She was terrified.

Alice appeared on the porch. "They're almost here."

Emmet sniffed the air experimentally. "Really? I don't smell them."

I growled as my attention focused on a section of the woods. She would come from that direction; I could feel it. Sure enough, the object of all my affections burst through the trees not a minute later.

Edward jumped up, running towards her as she crossed the yard faster than I'd ever seen her move. She skidded to a stop and gently handed the brunette human on her back over to him. I couldn't help but smile as he held her close, whispering in her ear. The girl held onto him tightly almost sobbing with worry and relief.

I looked away, finding my own love. She grinned at me as she ran up onto the porch, her fear vanishing.

"Sorry I'm late, Hun." She said quietly as she threw her arms around my neck.

I sighed with relief at her obvious good humor. "Just don't scare me like this again." I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her as close as I could.

She laughed softly as she nuzzled her way further into my chest. "No promises."

I groaned. Of course. Give her a week to get over this one and she'd start ticking off werewolves.

She laughed louder and pulled away gently. I let her go as she took a step back and turned to face the woods.

Edward picked up Bella and ran past us, into the house as the others joined us outside. We stepped out into the yard, waiting for the Volturi.

Celeste's POV

I glanced at the coven around me as Edward reappeared. There were seven of them, Jasper and his mate along with two other couples and Edward. I grinned at Jasper. I was ecstatic that he'd found someone to be with, heck he'd found a whole coven. I was glad that my little brother had found a good family; he deserved it after the colossal failure ours had been.

I shook my head lightly and focused on the task at hand. I sniffed the air. They should have been here by now.

Jasper's mate gasped quietly and we all looked at her. Her eyes were glazed over and her body was stiff, Jasper's hand was placed gently on her shoulder. So that was Alice.

Her eyes cleared and she and Edward swore. I raised an eyebrow at them both.

"They're going for help." Edward stated calmly as he could. Ah, that explained the extra scents I smelled in the woods. I mush have run across the path of their back up. Edward looked at the vampire behind me, "What should we do, Carlisle?"

I turned to see Carlisle staring contemplatively into the woods. "How many more are there going to be?"

Alice answered him. "Five more, eight all together."

Jasper growled. "Those aren't good odds."

The gorgeous vampire next to the big one rolled her eyes. "I don't supposed we could just change her now and be done with it."

"No!" Edward roared at her. I raised an eyebrow. Why did he have such an adverse reaction to that? It seemed like a good idea, actually.

I looked back and forth between the two as they glared at each other. I was about to say something to break the tension when Parker spoke up.

"It's still nine to eight, we have a good chance. I say we just fight them."

I gaped at him. "Who are you and what have you done with my husband?"

He shrugged. "Might as well. It's not like you or I can avoid this. Besides, it's been a long time since I've done anything but try to keep you out of trouble."

I grinned at him, I was rubbing off on the prude after all. "Nice to see you're finally being something other than a pansy." Jasper laughed quietly as Parker glared at me.

"I am not a pansy." He muttered defiantly.

I laughed, pulling him into a hug. The look on his face was far too cute. "I know, Parker, I know."

He smiled lovingly at me, pulling me closer.

Jasper growled at us.

I glared at him. "Oh calm down. Don't get your panties in a wad, little brother."

The big vampire next to him snickered. He opened his mouth to say something but Jasper cut him off.

"Don't even think about it Emmet."

I laughed at them both, turning around in Parker's arms. "So, Jasper, care to introduce me to your family?"

Jasper smiled at me and nodded apologetically. "Sorry, I forgot."

I rolled my eyes, "Obviously."

Emmet laughed, "Jasper, are you sure she's your sister?"

Jasper chuckled lightly. "Unfortunately. Everyone, this is Celeste. Celeste, this is Alice, Emmet, Rosalie, Esme, Carlisle, and Edward." He introduced, pointing to each on in turn.

I smiled politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you all."

"Wow, you're being polite, it must be a sign of the apocalypse." Parker snorted.

"Shut up, Parker."

Alice brought us all back to focus. "They're here." I scowled, the Volturi had to ruin everything.

Edward growled as he turned to face the woods. Not two seconds later, seven Volturi stepped out onto the lawn.

They spaced them selves strategically on the edge of the woods facing us. The Cullens moved to mirror them. I stayed where I was, smiling when Parker wrapped his arms around me gently from behind.

Carlisle addressed them, asking what they wanted, knowing full well what the answer was.

They answered him politely, a hint of hostility entering their voices as they demanded the girl.

I wasn't really listening to their conversation. My focus was on the way they held themselves. Their postures indicated that they didn't see us as much of a threat, but nor did they particularly mind fighting with us. They stood ready and waiting for a fight they expected to come.

I attempted to listen back into their conversation, but quickly got bored again. Why did it take so frickin' long for two groups of people to start fighting when the whole crowd knew it was coming?

My attention focused back on our opposition, this time on their formation as a whole. I began trying to think of strategies they might be planning to use.

The familiar probe of Parker's gift invaded my consciousness as his arms tightened around me. I cocked an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"It's going to start soon." He said quietly in my head.

"I know. Are you nervous?" I glanced up at his face to find his eyes closed in concentration. He hadn't done any fighting since the Civil War.

"A little," he answered honestly, "but I'll get over it. What do you think they'll try to do first?"

I shrugged mentally. "I don't know for sure. There are several possibilities. My guess, though, would be that they're going to go for Emmet and Edward first. They seem to be angled towards the two of them. And will they stop talking all ready?"

Parker laughed in my head. "Celeste, they've been talking for less than a minute."

I groaned silently. "Only a minute? It seems like forever."

Parker nuzzled my neck, trying to hide his laughter. "You have the worlds shortest attention span, you know that?"

He terminated the link before I could snap at him. He turned his attention towards the Volturi; they had stopped talking. Now it was just a question of who would make the first move.

The Volturi shifted and I grinned.

Now it begins.

AN: Okay, that's it for this chapter. The next chapter will begin the fighting (I promise). The story's almost done, only about two or so more chapters left! Once again, thanks to everyone who has reviewed on the story and kept up with it.

Now, if you would be so kind: REVIEW.

Please.

colonelZ