A/N: Sorry for the long delay in postings. I've been busy. Life happens, and all that. And blah-blah-blah, I don't own Twilight or its characters; I only own Sean and the plot.

"History became legend; legend became myth. And some things were forgotten that should not have been." -Lord of the Rings

Three months had passed uneventfully since Tanya's visit. Nothing happened. Everything continued as it had been. The Cullens kept in touch with the Denalis; phone calls between Carlisle and Tanya mostly. The only thing that seemed out of the ordinary was a report from the wolves. They said that the woods "seemed more crowded". No one was sure what they meant by that, and neither the wolves nor Jacob could really explain exactly what they meant either.

"It's just a weird feeling," Jacob said one evening. "I don't know how to say it other than that: the woods feel more crowded. And watchful. We can't smell anything new, at least no vampire scents. Nothing seems dangerous or antagonistic towards us. There are no reports of hikers or campers disappearing, or anything like that. It just feels…crowded. Sometimes we see shadows flitting between trees; but when we go for a closer look, there's never anything there. And most nights, we swear we hear whisperings high up in the leaves and treetops; and every once in a while, murmuring and soft laugher coming from a long way off. But like I said, there's nothing to be found. We just don't get it."

"Weird," Emmet replied.

And Emmet's deep comment was all anyone could offer on the matter.

One morning, as Carlisle arrived at the hospital for his rounds in the midst of a downpour, Mrs. Williams, the nurse who was on reception duty at the time, hurried over to him. "Oh thank Heaven, Dr. Cullen, I'm so glad you're here!"

Carlisle was a little surprised at her attitude, which seemed to be one of worry. Even though Mrs. Williams was older—and married—she still usually had that acceleration of heart rate and dreamy look on her face when around Carlisle. But not today. Her heartbeat was accelerated, yes, but not because of his presence. He glanced casually around the waiting room, and noted there were no patients at the moment. "What's wrong, Mrs. Williams?"

She frowned, and he noticed she was wringing her hands. "There's someone here to see you…a man…he said it's important."

A loud clap of thunder reverberated through he building. Carlisle again glanced around the conspicuously empty waiting room, a bit more pointedly this time. "Well, where is he, then?"

The look of worry on her face changed to one of shame mixed with a bit of fear. "He—he's in your office, Doctor." She sounded hesitant to tell him that.

Carlisle raised an eyebrow at that news.

"I'm sorry, Doctor!" Mrs. Williams uncharacteristically wailed. "I—I don't know what came over me. He was most persistent. And…and very persuasive." She blushed. Carlisle wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or something else.

"Did he say what he wanted?"

The nurse was still wringing her hands in agitation. "No, but he said you'd want to talk to him. Said his name was Sean."

A flash of light outside the doors was instantly followed by a very loud clap of thunder. Carlisle glanced through the double doors he'd just entered. The storm was right overhead. Perhaps in more ways than one. Excitement, as well as feelings of protection, surged through him. Excitement because the mystery man they'd all been wondering about for months was sitting right in his office. Hopefully, explanations were at hand. Carlisle enjoyed discovering things. His inquisitive mind was always on the lookout for new, undiscovered people and ideas, and this was potentially the greatest discovery of his long life—the chance to meet an entirely new being, who'd walked the earth far longer than he himself had, yet managed to remain hidden for all those centuries.

"Thank you, Mrs. Williams. I'll take care of it."

"I—I hope I didn't do wrong by letting him go to your office, Doctor." The poor woman was still wringing her hands. Carlisle smiled in an effort to reassure her.

"Well, it's not exactly standard protocol, but it's alright this time. He was right—I have been waiting to talk to him. Please hold all my calls, Mrs. Williams."

The look on her face was so intense that, despite not having Jasper's gift, Carlisle could almost feel the woman's relief. He smiled again, and turned to walk back to the office section of the small hospital.

The feelings of protection that surged through his mind were another matter altogether. Carlisle worried about the safety of his family, including Tanya. If this "Sean" did indeed present a danger to any of his loved ones, he needed to know. He also knew that he might not be able to handle things on his own, should Sean turn out to be an enemy. Carlisle seriously doubted that, but still—best to be prepared. He took out his phone and called home, speaking fast so that Mrs. Williams would not be able to make it out. Then he put his phone away, sighed, and opened his door.

A man was seated in one of the chairs facing Carlisle's desk. He stood and turned with a pleasant smile as Carlisle entered.

"Dr. Cullen, it's an honor to finally meet you." He held out his hand and Carlisle shook it. As Tanya had said, this Sean smelled vaguely human, but yet somehow off, somehow not quite human. Better than normal humans smelled, in fact. Carlisle's mind raced through everything Tanya had told him three months earlier.

He moved behind his desk, setting his bag down and taking a seat. "Well, it's exciting for me to meet you, as well, Mr…."

Sean flashed a smile. "Murphy. Sean Murphy. Tanya told me a lot about you during our brief meeting. I can only assume that she told you about me as well."

"Well, er…yes, yes she did. How did you know that?"

Another smile. "It makes sense: a strange man in a bar, pumping her for information about her life and family. Nowadays one can't be too careful. I would have done the same if I had been in her situation. In fact, my family and I did indeed talk a lot about you and yours. And to be honest, I'm here to get a little bit more information from you."

Direct and to the point. Carlisle could respect that. He admired that in a person. No subterfuge, no lies, no pointless small talk. Just cut right to the heart of the matter. But Carlisle wanted to stall for time before diving into the situation, stalling for time until he had someone else with him to judge if what this Sean person said was true or not. He understood from his talk with Tanya that this man couldn't read minds, so that was something…he wouldn't be able to hear Carlisle's thoughts.

"Well, I'll be whatever help I can. Of course, you must understand that we are a bit concerned over the situation as well, and would in turn like a little more information about you and your family as well."

There was a slight pause. Sean cocked his head a bit, almost as if he were listening to something far away. Then he turned his eyes to Carlisle with another smile. "I'll tell you what I can, at least enough to hopefully set your mind at least regarding the safety of your loved ones. Believe me when I say I understand how you feel in that regard. What would you like to know?"

Just then, someone knocked on the door. Sean hesitated a moment, then smiled. "Calling in reinforcements, Doctor? A wise precaution, but not necessary in this case, I assure you." He hesitated yet again, once more coking his head as if listening. Then he smirked, and shook his head slightly.

"Come in," Carlisle said. The door opened and Jasper entered. Carlisle relaxed a little as he saw Jasper, who, with a soldier's instinct, glanced immediately at Sean. "Edward couldn't make it," Jasper informed Carlisle.

Carlisle nodded. "Mr. Sean Murphy, allow me to introduce my son, Jasper."

Sean stood and turned to face Jasper, smiling again. But as their eyes met, Sean's smile faltered for a moment. Then a look of recognition replaced the confusion; he reached out to grasp Jasper's hand with both of his own.

"Major Whitlock! It's wonderful to see you again!"

Carlisle and Jasper were both rather taken aback at this announcement. "Do I know you, sir?" Jasper asked, staring at Sean with confusion.

"You don't remember me? Captain Murphy? Commander of the CSS Alabama? We met briefly at that reception a few nights before the battle of Galveston. I left the next day, and when I returned to port a couple weeks later, I heard that you were missing and presumed dead." He took a step back and looked Jasper up and down. Then he shrugged. "I see the assessment was technically accurate. But not wholly so. You can't imagine what a pleasure it is to see you again! It's truly a small world, isn't it? I never once held out hope like this." Sean resumed his seat as Jasper took the chair next to him. Jasper was staring at Sean, frowning, as he tried to recall that night so long ago.

Then he laughed. "Yes, I remember now. You were intrigued over the fact that I was already a Major at my age." Then his memories took him back to that night, and how even then he had sensed something odd about the Captain who had laughed so loudly at all the jokes, flirted and danced with the ladies, pressed him for information about his life, and ignored all food and drink in the room. He'd found it strange then; but with so much happening to him so soon after that night, he had never thought of it again…until this very moment, there in Carlisle's office, 150 some years later.

Jasper was getting feelings of genuine pleasure rolling off the stranger, and not a hint of hostility was to be felt. So either this Sean Murphy was an incredibly good faker, or his intentions were honorable. Jasper relaxed a little, yet still kept his guard up.

Sean laughed. "Yes, that was me. I'm afraid I've always been too nosy for my own good. Runs in the family, I guess." Then he turned serious. "I look forward to being able to catch up with you, Major, but right now I need to know a few things of more immediate concern." He turned back to Carlisle. "I would very much like to know everything you can tell me about these…what was the name Tanya called them…Volturi?"

Carlisle glanced at Jasper. "May I ask why you want to know about them?"

"We believe it is very important to know one's enemy before one can safely move against them."

Carlisle leaned forward, and Jasper's eyes narrowed. "Do I understand you correctly? Are you and your…people going to move against the Volturi? That would be dangerous and unadvisable, on the surface. Yet…you might be able to do something against them; we still know so little about you."

Sean sighed. "If it would put your minds at ease, Doctor and Major, ask me anything you wish. I cannot guarantee that I will be able to answer everything; but I will tell you what I can, and hope it puts your fears to rest."

Carlisle thought it over. There were so many things he wanted to ask, and didn't know where to start. Which questions were important for the situation, and which were merely curiosities of his medical mind? He thought over the scant things he'd learned from Tanya. No sense asking things he already knew the answers to.

Carlisle was saved by Jasper. "Why do you want to attack the Volturi?"

Sean smiled. "We don't necessarily 'want' to attack them. But if the situation should arise, we want to know as much about them as possible." Then he frowned, and added, almost as an afterthought, "Besides, they have hurt Tanya much over the years. And as I understand it, they have designs against your family as well. In light of the protectiveness you all seem to feel towards one another, I would think that you would wish for all the allies you could possible find."

Carlisle leaned forward and rested his elbows on his desk. "Well, yes, it is always good to find friends as support against possible scenarios in which battle would be needed. We allied with the wolves against an army of newborns that was sent to destroy us, and the Volturi, while not being behind the incident, did wait until the fight was over. We think they were hoping that at least some of us would be destroyed, thus weakening us enough for them to perhaps move against us."

"They killed a newborn who had surrendered to us, and wanted to learn our ways," Jasper put in. "I think they were afraid of us growing even stronger. And they've been trying to provoke the Denali's into a fight for ages now. I think they want to get them to fight, hoping that we will be drawn in and then they can take both our covens out in one move, and make some of us part of their guard."

Sean's face grew dark. "Why do you sit here and allow such a group of evil people to go on existing and lording their imagined authority over you? Not to mention indiscriminately killing your kind, as well as massacring large groups of humans when they need to feed. It sounds as though they are constantly planning to remove you all. Why not strike first?"

Carlisle sighed. "It's not that easy. First of all, I abhor violence. I'm a healer, not a killer."

"Oh yes you are," Sean interrupted, a smile playing on his lips. "You are all killers by nature. Even as I am."

Carlisle ignored the comment, but Jasper bristled a little. "Second, now that Bella has her shield, it will be extremely difficult for them to succeed in whatever plans they could come up with. Also, not all the other covens would join us. Some are loyal to the Volturi, and most of the others are afraid of them."

"Your Bella's shield will only be effective as long as you all stay together. Any time you are alone, or away from Bella, you are vulnerable."

"I like the way you think," Jasper said. Here was another mind with military ideas.

"These wolves I heard tell of don't seem to be afraid."

"No, but they are suspicious of us, because of what we are. The only reason they helped us fight the newborn army was because humans in the area were at risk from that threat as well. Also, they are tasked more with protecting their tribe than just randomly fighting vampires. And they are susceptible to the gifts of the Volturi's Guard. The Guard is why the Volturi remains so powerful. Aro, the main leader of the Volturi, spend much of his time looking for talented vampires and humans—those with unique ablilites-to add to the Guard."

Sean considered Carlisle's comment for a moment. "So if this Guard were to be weakened or removed, the Volturi would be vulnerable to attack?"

"Well, yes."

Sean grinned and leaned forward eagerly. "So tell us everything you can about the Guard."

Carlisle glanced at Jasper, who nodded. "I say we give him all the info we can. Carlisle, you know they want Edward and Bella and…and Alice. Heck, they even want me. And they don't care what they have to do to get us. I'll die before I join them, or let them hurt my Alice."

Carlisle sighed again. "Very well. As much as it might run counter to my feelings, there are times when violence is needed to protect the innocent. And Jasper is right: Aro has not disguised his desire to have certain members of my family added to his Guard." He glanced at Jasper again. "We'll tell you everything we know."

And for the next hour or so, Carlisle and Jasper went into a detailed description of the Volturi Coven, Carlisle on the practical aspects such as the layout of their castle and each member's particular gifts, while Jasper commented on their emotional characteristics and various tactical moves he had noticed over the years.

When they were finished, Sean was grinning like the proverbial cat that ate the canary. "Thank you both very much. I think we have more than enough to take step against the Vloturi now. Thank you both very much."

"Why do you always speak in the plural?" Jasper had noticed that Sean never said "I", but instead it was "we", or "us".

Sean turned to him. "My family is never far away. My great Grandfather is their leader, and they are very protective of his line. Sometimes, it gets annoying. One rarely has very much privacy."

"I know the feeling," Jasper muttered, causing Sean to smile.

"Yes, Tanya mentioned that you have a mind-reader among you." He turned back to Carlisle. "You have been very open, so I will tell you a little now. My family is very old, very powerful, very, very large, and very talented. Though my father was a vampire, my mother herself was only half-human. Her mother, my grandmother, is of the Tuatha De Dannan."

The name meant nothing to Jasper, but Carlisle's eyes widened and he gasped. "The Children of the Goddess Danu! The 'Fairy Folk' of the Irish? Incredible! In England, we heard much about your kind, but it was always either whispered in reverence, or spoken of as fairy tales. I had no idea it was true, that there were still some of those beings walking the earth."

"There are many of us mixed bloods walking and living among you. But the Pure Strains have only recently begun to re-emerge once more. We have walked abroad among the humans for centuries, acting as the eyes and ears of our Sires, who had withdrawn deep into their mounds and caverns, largely forgotten in the minds of mortals. And the minds of Immortals, too, it would appear."

Jasper was still not sure what Sean was talking about. It filled him with some vague, nameless fear. Besides, Fairies? How could little creatures with wings possibly help them fight against the Volturi? But Carlisle seemed to actually be a bit relieved at the news Sean had just given them.

Sean stood. "I really must be going. I have another stop to make before returning home. My associates will relay this information to the King, and we will see what needs to be done to contain any potential threat these Volturi parasites may pose."

He smiled apologetically. "I am afraid that, like your wolf friends, my family is not over-fond of vampires either. They respect and are loyal to me because I am of the Royal House. Otherwise, they wouldn't care one bit for me."

Carlisle stood and walked with Sean to the door. ""It will be a huge shock for Aro and Caius to discover that the Fey have begun to walk the earth again. It may cause them to react in anger. And if they even thought we were helping you, they wouldn't hesitate to move against us. As Jasper said earlier, they're just looking for an excuse." He paused a moment. "I truly fear for my family."

Sean turned and put a comforting hand on Carlisle's shoulder. "Don't. We are not going to march into Volterra and alert them to our presence. Also, we will double our watch, both here and in Alaska. The Volturi will not be able to get past our sentries. Ever since I first met Tanya, we have greatly increased our numbers around you. Mostly to find out more about your ways, but also as protection, after what Tanya told me."

Carlisle snapped his fingers. "Of course—the forest! The wolves told us it felt more crowded."

Sean smiled again. "Yes, they are sensing our people. It might be good if you told them to ignore it. Please assure them, as best you can, that we pose no threat to them whatsoever. And maybe give them a heads up that the crowded feeling is about to increase."

Sean turned to go. "One last thing, Sean," Carlisle said softly. Sean turned back to face him.

"I…I …Sean, Tanya is very dear to me, so I must ask…what are your intentions toward her?"

Sean stared blankly at him. "My…intentions? I'm afraid I don't quite understand."

"What are your feelings toward her? She was hurt by Edward—unintentionally, I know, but hurt nonetheless. And hurt badly. One can't help if they don't feel love toward someone who feels love for them, of course, as in the case of Edward and Tanya. She loved him, he didn't love her. Tanya's heart is wounded and vulnerable, and I couldn't bear to see her hurt again."

Realization dawned in Sean's eyes. "Oh, I see now. Yes, she told me a lot about that situation. I could see the hurt in her myself. And I would rather gouge my eyes out than cause her more pain." He mused a moment. "She is an intriguing woman. Beautiful, intelligent, loyal. In the brief time we spent together, I found in her a kindred spirit of sorts. I want to get to know her better, in pursuit of a friendship. I will take whatever steps are needed to guard her heart from pain again, especially pain caused by me. But I don't think there's any need for worry. In some ways, sadly, her heart still belongs to Edward, as mine still does to…someone in my past. No, two wounded people won't want to go down that path again, I assure you."

Carlisle, however, wasn't convinced. He knew Tanya well, after all. Much better than Sean, for all his perceptiveness, did. But he didn't say that. He nodded, shook Sean's hand, and with a promise to return and update them soon, Sean left. Carlisle returned to his desk. "What do you think, Jasper? Is he trustworthy?"

"I think so. I didn't sense anything from him but openness and a desire for friendship, both with you and Tanya. Not a trace of deceit at all." He smiled. "I also didn't sense any feelings of love towards Tanya, Carlisle. As he said, he's intrigued by her. Maybe even drawn to her. But no romance. He radiates angst as far as romance goes. It was so strong I could almost taste it. So try and not fret over that."

Carlisle still wasn't convinced. He sighed. "Would you mind heading home and letting the others know about our talk with Sean? We can have a family meeting when I get home this evening, to talk it all over. I'm going to call Tanya and fill her in as well." He walked back behind his desk as Jasper left. There was still so little they knew, but he felt better after his talk with Sean.

But as he was reaching for the phone, Nurse Williams stuck her head in the room. "Doctor, are you finished talking to that man?"

Carlisle looked up at her in surprise. "Yes, he left several minutes ago."

Nurse Williams frowned. "That's very strange, he didn't go out the front door. The only person who's gone by was your son just now."

Carlisle filed that away for later. "Well, what was it you needed, Mrs. WIlliams?"

"Oh, yes, an emergency patient was just brought in, a little boy, so I was wondering if you were available now."

Carlisle stood and put his lab coat on. "Yes, let's go help the boy." He followed her out to the lobby. And that was the start of a busy day for him. He wasn't able to make the call to Tanya until late that afternoon.