I apologise for the lack of updates on this story, I've had some real life issues but I'm back now and this story will be updated every fortnight again. Thank you for everyone's patience and support.

This chapter is for Samy! (whos birthday was the 2nd) and Beth whose birthday is today. You two mean so much to me thank you for everything.


Edward Cullen

I stared at Clara in disbelief, I could see it going through her mind; how she knew the name but didn't understand why she couldn't remember knowing the name.

"I remember the name… I've been dreaming about her I just can't remember why or the dreams exactly," she answered. I couldn't relax the frown that felt permanently attached to my brow. I knew who could help make sense of this.

Esther. I called in my head; it was moments before she was in the room. Can you see if her mind has been altered? I asked her, she nodded and walked over to Clara.

"I might be able to help you. If you just let me in," she said, Clara looked confused but nodded anyway. Esther rested her hands on Clara's temples and closed her eyes.

"Someone's removed her memories," Esther said to me. I recognise it. It's Matthew. She placed in my head. I couldn't explain the anger that coursed through me. Matthew?!

"Get him here. Now. I don't care what he's doing. He needs to be here now!" I told Esther. I could see Bella at Clara's side watching me with a confused and disappointed frown.

"I've just asked Lidiya," she informed me in moments. Long range telepathy was certainly useful with Esther and her daughters. I paced the room for a moment.

What on earth was Matthew doing in Clara's head? Why did he remove her dreams of Liana? Why was Clara dreaming about her in the first place? I knew Clara was confused she was sitting on the couch silently but I could see she was comfortable, especially with Bella near her and that made me feel better. She understood and she was okay with us, that was more than I ever hoped. Elijah however was still thinking about the fact we told him he was a werewolf. He didn't really believe us and I knew we'd have to explain more to him but right now I couldn't get over the anger I felt. Ever since I held Renesmee in my arms for the first time she planted something inside me, something that evolved me into a fiercely protective father, into someone that loved his children deeply and would risk the world to keep them safe. That extended to my grandchildren the second I held William, and then onto my great-grandchildren with Ashton and so on. Although I never held Clara as a baby, and I never saw her grow up like I did with the generations closer to my own I still loved her like my own. She was still my flesh and blood; she was still made from me. She wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me or Bella.

"What's going on?" I heard Matthew's voice as he and Lidiya entered the house.

"Living room," Esther greeted them and they appeared in the doorway. Clara and Elijah looked over at them. Elijah looked curious; Clara frowned as if she was unsure who they were. They were in their Volturi robes. Business as usual.

"Humans?" Matthew asked seeing them on the couch.

"Don't act like you don't know who they are," I told him, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I don't know what you mean," Matthew blagged.

"You have been removing Clara's dreams! Why?! Why didn't you tell us this? Why have you kept this a secret for god knows how long? Weeks? How long have you been altering my granddaughters mind?!" I asked him, my anger in full force. Esther was in front of me in moments.

Calm down Edward. She placed in my head. I saw Lidiya's eyes narrow at me. I had just yelled at her husband, I had accused him of something that even Lidiya wouldn't agree with and if I was wrong I had just pissed off Death incarnate. I recoiled from Esther. My anger burst might not have been such a good idea. I momentarily regretted it. I didn't fear Lidiya, she was like a granddaughter to me, but I did fear her ability. Death. She could kill me on the spot right now and I wouldn't have any chance of stopping her.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Lidiya asked me but I had already seen it. I saw Matthew's mind flicker. He was amazing at protecting his thoughts, Matthew had to be the most talented of our family in hiding thoughts but I saw it and so did Esther. I saw the name Liana and I saw a flash of Clara asleep.

"Matthew what have you done?" Esther turned. There's one thing to piss of Death, it's another to piss off the most powerful creature on the planet, and the one person who is immune to Death herself.

"Nothing," he said in his Volturi leader voice although it faltered. He was one of the most powerful men in our world but he was still a Cullen, he was still my nephew, still a child to us under this roof.

"Matthew Cullen, answer me. What did you do to this child?" Esther asked, she was eerily calm, like the anger was bubbling just under the surface.

"Matthew?" Lidiya turned to her husband, he swallowed, he suddenly looked nervous as he looked to Clara on the couch with Bella. They had been observing the scene silently.

"I asked him to," I heard a voice and Madeleine entered the room.

"Mom?" Clara asked.

"Asked him to do what?" I asked Madeleine.

"Remove her dreams. Clara has been having violent and terrorising dreams for over a week now. I knew something was wrong and so I called Matthew."

"How did you even know who to call? You knew of us but you're not from our world," Bella asked her.

"I know more than you think. It doesn't matter. It was my decision as her mother to remove them. I am grateful you care for my daughter Edward but you have no right to question my decisions, I am her mother." She said looking directly at me.

"I wasn't questioning yours Madeleine. I was questioning Matthew's and I do have a right to the wellbeing of my grandchildren. That includes you and your daughter lest you forget," I told her.

"What about me?!" Clara screeched, speaking for the first time. She was on her feet, standing up from the couch. Bella was trying to comfort her by stroking her hand.

"What?" Madeleine asked with a frown.

"What about my right? My right to my own memories? Did I choose to forget? Because I certainly don't remember. Why do you think you have a right to remove my memories?" Clara asked glaring at her mother. Madeleine looked shocked. There was a momentary pause and Carlisle came in with a small child perched on his hip.

"Clara!" the child called. "Look Clara its Carlisle!" she said excitedly and hugged Carlisle round his neck. He chuckled and placed Sophie on her feet. Clara was ignoring her sister; she was still glaring at her mother in betrayal.

"Clara you don't understand, the dreams were stopping you from sleeping. I don't know if Liana put them in your head but I just wanted to keep you safe." She answered.

"Come on Sophie. I have something to show you," Bella said standing from the couch and taking the child's hand immediately.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Bella. I'm Renesmee's momma," she answered.

"Who is Renesmee?" Sophie asked mispronouncing Renesmee's name. Bella smiled. I heard her leading Sophie out, explaining about 'the hybrid' Sophie knew so well.

"I don't care. Did I ask you to remove them?" Clara asked, I could see tears in her eyes threatening to fall, Elijah reached for her hand and I smiled at their friendship.

"You hated that you got them-"

"Did I ask you to remove them?" Clara interrupted.

"No, no you didn't," Madeleine said bowing her head in defeat.

"I can't believe it!" Clara screeched. Elijah held onto Clara tightly, to make sure she didn't do anything she regretted. "That's my mind!" Clara yelled, I wanted to smile but I held it back. Clara was feisty, just like Bella was when she was angry. Part of me never wanted to be on the bad side of Clara. "How dare you! I can't believe you would do that to me!" she continued.

"Clara, calm down," Elijah whispered to her, he hugged her as her breathing raged in her chest. Madeleine stood there looking regretful and taking everything her daughter was throwing at her. I noticed Elijah running his finger over Clara's hand; it seemed to calm her pretty quickly. She sat there leaning into him, her eyes were still burning into her mother's face but she was calm now.

"Would you like me to return your memories Clara?" Esther asked her from Lidiya's side.

"You can do that?" she asked sceptically. Esther smiled at walked over to her.

"Esther can do anything," I answered her.

"No Clara don't!" Madeleine spoke quickly, I could see in her mind the memories of Clara waking up in the night screaming, Madeleine feared she'd see that again. Clara turned to glare at her mother one last time before looking at Esther. She nodded and Esther placed her hands on Clara's forehead. Clara gasped and her tears fell from her eyes.

"Oh my god," she gasped. I watched as her dreams flooded back to her. They were horrific. People were dying, wolves were screaming, children were crying. No wonder Clara had woken up various times in states of distress, Madeleine had tried to protect her from this.

"Is Liana doing this to me?" Clara sobbed. "Why am I getting them dreams?"

"We don't know Clara," I said softly, sitting next to her. I knew she wasn't as fond as me as she was of Bella but I wanted to comfort her. Her mother tried to hug her but Clara recoiled and curled into my chest. I was taken back for a second but barely long enough for her to notice before I wrapped my arms around her in a hug as she sobbed. Madeleine looked hurt but at the same time I understood Clara. Protecting your child is one thing but altering her memories without her permission was another and I knew Clara wouldn't be quick to forgive her mother, doesn't matter how much she loved her, she was stubborn like Bella. Elijah reached to hug Clara's back but she stayed hugging me.

"Clara I'm so sorry," Madeleine said softly, kneeling in front of her daughter. Clara had stopped sobbing but hadn't moved from her chest.

I don't want to move. It's like hugging my dad again, only a colder, harder version. I heard in her thoughts. I chuckled but kissed her hair.

"Mommy! Mommy! When can I meet Renesmee?!" Sophie called coming into the room. Madeleine turned her head to her daughter. Clara moved slightly from my chest to look at her too. Bella looked at Clara concerned and was over by her in a flash.

"Are you okay Clara?" she asked. She nodded and moved out of my arms to face her mother.

"I don't forgive you, I understand why you did it but I don't forgive you. I never want you to make that kind of decision for me again. Do you understand?" Clara asked. Madeleine nodded solemnly.

"Now what the hell are we going to do about this bitch Liana?" Clara said, wiping her tears away.

"Clara you said a naughty word!" Sophie said coming over to her mother and taking her hand. "Momma I want to meet Renesmee," she said changing the subject and looking at her mother with wide green eyes. I smiled at her and reached for her hand so she'd look at me.

"She might be coming to visit soon. You can see her then." I told her. Sophie looked at me with a wide smile. She was strangely like Elizabeth, my youngest daughter. Her blonde brown hair and green eyes and her demanding personality reminded me a lot of Beth.

"Will Jacob come with her too? And William and Sarah and Lauren and Tony and Zac and Isobel?" she said perfectly listing every one of Renesmee's children.

"Jacob yes, the others are grown up now with families of their own, they might not be able to come to see you," I told her truthfully. I hated disappointing her immediately, her little lip pouted out.

"We have a right little Renesmee on our hands don't we?" Emmett laughed seeing her face.

"I'm like Renesmee?" Sophie's face lit up.

"Too much like her," Emmett laughed. Sophie giggled delightfully. "Did you hear that Clara? I'm like Renesmee," she said. Clara smiled at her younger sister.

"Would you like to meet Tony and Zac Sophie? They live with some of our family in Chicago," Esther said to the child.

"Yes please!" She said excitedly.

"It can be arranged," Lidiya nodded with a smile. Tony had lived with Lidiya and Mathew for years, since he was married to Lidiya's twin Anelie but Zac had only just started to live with them, he and Leah Clearwater had travelled the world for decades, never settling, only moving on every few months. They had recently come back to be with Tony, Zac's twin after Tony had his two daughters Ana and Eva. I think Zac had missed his twin brother and his nieces were exactly the excuse he needed to come back.

"So who are you two exactly because there is no way you two are just normal Cullen's. You're dressed like Dracula." Elijah said to Lidiya and Matthew.

"Matthew is the grandson of Aro. I told you about him, he was the leader of the Volturi before the Cullen's wiped them out," Clara said and then looked at me. That's right, right? She laughed in her head. I nodded and smiled at her.

"Aro had a hybrid son before his death, Pancrazio." I added.

"Oh so you're Pancrazio and Chantelle's son?" Elijah asked, still unsure. Matthew nodded.

"This is my wife Lidiya, she and her twin sister are Life and Death. At least that's what the world call them. They are their abilities incarnate. Manifestations of life and death. They can control all life and death," Matthew said, clearly proud of his wife.

Not all life and death. I heard in Clara's mind, I frowned and turned to look at her. My dad. He's the reason I didn't believe about you all to start with. If you had existed my dad wouldn't have died. Lidiya and her sister could have saved my dad. I know they weren't here and I realise that because he died it shouldn't have knocked my faith but I think I just blamed them because it was easy to blame them rather than anyone else. She answered in her head.

"Im sorry," I whispered to her softly.

"I know. It was a while ago now though," she answered out loud.

"You know there are only so many times I can cover for you guys," I heard Zac's voice walking into the house. "What on earth had you skipping school today?" he asked entering the living room. "And someone's phone is obnoxiously ringing in the hall," he added and slumped down in one of the chairs.

"Zac we have guests. You know Clara and Elijah," I announced.

"Oh! You told them? That was today?" he asked with a frown.

"Yes," I answered him.

"Sorry. Hi I'm Zac Cullen," he grinned and reached his hand out for them. "The first one, not Renesmee's son Zac."

"That's why you didn't say your surname in class because you didn't want me to know you were a Cullen?" Clara asked him.

"I didn't say it because I wanted to wind you up," he winked. "I could have just used the surname I was born with but I wanted to see if you'd catch on." He answered. "By the way I think it's your phone that's buzzing out there," he told her and his eyes travelled to our other guests, Sophie and Madeleine. Clara stood up and made her way out of the room to see who was ringing her but I was too preoccupied watching Zac with wide eyes.

"Hi I'm Zac," he said with his signature smirk to Madeleine. Madeleine looked to be in her early 30s, around the same age as Zac was when he was turned.

"That's Clara's mother," I told him immediately as he extended his hand to her.

So? He said in his head. Madeleine took his hand and he kissed the back of it. I saw her trying to hide a smile.

Bets on how long it takes for him to seduce her? Emmett asked in his head. I rolled my eyes at my brother.

I'm deadly serious. He laughed watching the couple.

I don't think it will take long. I heard Esther. My eyes whipped round to her to see she was watching the scene with amusement.

That's your ex! I reminded her. Esther had dated Zac for about forty years. They used to be thick as thieves, that was until about sixty years ago. Esther was now with Aleksander, the father of her daughters but as far as I was aware Esther and Zac were on a friend basis and I never saw any awkwardness between them.

I know. She laughed. And I say two weeks Emmett. She said, clearly wanting me to hear the conversation too otherwise she'd just put that in his head not mine too.

You're on, I say less. Emmett called.

I can't believe you Esther. I laughed out loud. Bella turned to frown at me.

Pity Jaz wasn't here to make a bet on this. Emmett announced sadly.

Don't worry I'm sure you'll gloat all about it to him if you win. Esther told him.

Too right. Emmett laughed.

I don't know man, Esther knows him pretty well. I'm going to agree with her. I said, clearly I wasn't going to stop the bet; I may as well join in on it.

Have you seen the way she's looking at him though? A week max. Emmett announced.

Zac loves his women but he's not a complete idiot. He'll try and be a gentleman first. Esther announced.

Like he was when he first met you? Emmett laughed.

He was a teenager then.

Still is. I joined in. Both Emmett and Esther laughed this time out loud and nearly the whole room turned to look at us. Zac narrowed his eyes. He knew we were talking about him, he knew us too well. We all just grinned at him.

It was moments before Clara came back in.

"I have to go to school for a few minutes, I'll be back," she announced.

"Why?" Madeleine, Elijah and I said at the exact same time.

"Axton, he was waiting for me and I didn't tell him I left I've got to go apologise."

"You can't do that on the phone?" I asked.

"Axton?" Elijah asked confused.

"No I can't Edward. I can explain myself better in person. It will only take a few minutes I promise. The school is only down the road."

"I'll take you," Madeleine said to her.

"No!" Clara yelled back. "I can walk down the street on my own just fine," she said stubbornly.

"It's okay Madeleine you stay here, I'll go with her," Bella said softly. I saw Clara finding it hard to say no to that one. Bella came up to me and kissed my cheek before leaving with Clara.

"Since when has Axton and Clara been seeing each other outside of school?" Elijah asked Madeleine softly.

"A few days. You didn't know?" she asked.

"No," he grumbled.

"He lives opposite us."

"Of course he does," Elijah sighed and I felt sorry for him. He loved Clara and she had no idea.

"What are we going to do about Clara's dreams?" Esme asked speaking for the first time in a while.

"I was trying to protect her. You don't understand, they make her a completely different person," Madeleine said to us all.

"What are you all talking about?" Zac asked, we caught him up and it took a moment for him to answer. "I agree with Madeleine, I'd have done the same thing," She smiled at him but I saw Emmett rolling his eyes. This could be serious and all Zac is thinking about is getting in her pants. Emmett told me. I rolled my eyes this time.

"I don't know but I could try and trace her dreams, I mean it will be hard, I don't even know if I can do it but if someone's using magic on her I could probably sense it when shes dreaming," Esther explained.

"Okay we could try that," I announced.

"Couldn't it just be a premonition? I mean you were always intuitive as a human, Chloe was always good at finding people, and Bella had a block on her mind even then. Maybe it's just something that Clara has that would enhance if she was turned?" Carlisle asked me.

"He's got a point," Emmett agreed.

"In which case we have an upper hand, but I think it's a good idea just to check. If it's what Carlisle said then we can use her dreams to help us but if Liana is behind this, she could be doing it on purpose, to scare us or lead us off track," Esther said.

"I agree with Esther" Rosalie said.

"So I have to permit you to watch my daughter sleep all night?" Madeleine asked Esther with a disapproving frown.

"You don't have to permit anything; I will do it if it's what Clara wants. I know she's your daughter but you don't own her. She can make her own decisions now."

What would she know? I heard Madeleine in her head, she didn't say it out loud but of course Esther heard.

"I have two daughters; they're one hundred and fifty year old teenagers. I've never left their side the entire time and they had far more problems because of their abilities than Clara ever would. If you think you know more about having daughters than me, you're wrong." Esther said.

Ooooh don't question Esther. Emmett laughed in his head. Mama bear is fierce.

She's a child in comparison to me; I'm not in the mood for her to question me. Esther joined in.

Madeleine is very defensive. I told them both.

Which I don't understand since didn't she know about us before hand? Emmett asked.

Yes, I think that's the problem. Esther added before the link between the three of us was broken. It was handy having Esther around.

"I'm sorry to interrupt this, I get that Clara having dreams of the big bad is really worrying but what's going to happen to me?" Elijah asked us all.

"We'll explain everything when Clara gets back, I promise," Carlisle said and patted Elijah on his shoulder. Elijah nodded, he fiddled with his hands.

And waited.


Bit of tension between the newer and the older Cullen's. Next chapter will be Clara again and you'll see her and Bella with Axton etc.