Bella and Edward stood on a slightly raised mountain of ice, close together. They weren't touching each other, but the electricity between both of them was tangible as they stared into the depths of the woods. Bella turned her eyes to her husband. Almost as if sensing her look, Edward turned to gaze into her eyes passionately.

"Edward," Bella said, "I feel cold."

Edward frowned as he hugged her. "You can't feel cold anymore," he murmured to her. "You're a vampire."

"It's a different kind of cold," Bella protested. "It's the feeling that we won't survive."

"What makes you think we won't survive?"

"The whole Volturi army is coming, and we're so few…"

"But we have you, Bella."

Edward's soothing voice had always been able to calm Bella down in the past, but she was beyond this now. Her terror threatened to overwhelm her as she clung to her love.

Edward gently stroked Bella's hair, gazing into the forest over her head as he did so.

The wolves should be arriving shortly, but Edward still couldn't hear their thoughts in his head. His usually calm manner was beginning to tense.

Finally, a voice inside Edward's head caused him to let go of Bella hurriedly, and greet the wolves that were rapidly approaching.

The thundering of paws, undetectable to human ears, but clear to vampires, was heard as the pack made its way even closer.

Edward waved slightly at the now-visible wolves, but didn't move his feet. It was clear that he had no intention of leaving his spot.

The lead wolf, Jacob, barked at Edward's gesture, and continued on his way, his pack following close behind him.

It was obvious by Jacob's attitude that he wanted to see Renesmee, and Edward grinned slightly at Jacob's thoughts. The wolf's carefree manner showed that he believed that the Volturi didn't stand a chance, but Edward knew otherwise.

Bella had been standing close behind him, watching all he did. And now, she approached him again.

"Will our lives always be like this?" she asked him, burying her head in his shoulder.

Surprised, Edward looked down.

"Like what?" he asked.

"Full of life-changing battles, cataclysmic events, the end of the vampire world, etcetera?"

"No, I certainly hope not. It wouldn't be a proper world for Nessie to grow up in."

"No, it wouldn't," Bella agreed.

After another moment of silence, Bella interrupted it again.

"What's our strategy?"

"We are all to fight, using all of our powers, except for Mark and Tanya."

"Why them?"

"They have to protect Sadie, in case any vampire gets through."

"Do you think any will get through?"

"I think it is unavoidable."

Bella shivered. It was unlike Edward to be this short with her, to not explain things further. It reminded her of the Edward of before she was a vampire, always worried about her.

"Are you alright?" she asked him.

Edward sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly. "I would feel much better if you were to take Nessie and leave, go somewhere where the Volturi can't hurt you, where you'll be safe."

"You know I'll never leave you," Bella said, but began to worry about her daughter.

"Come on," she said, tugging on her husband's arm.

Together, they ran back to the house, where Nessie was safely asleep somewhere where Sadie couldn't see her. The Cullens had decided against letting them meet, thinking it would be too much for Sadie to handle.

Bella, smiling at her little girl, lifted her gently into the air.

Surprised, Nessie opened her large, chocolate-brown eyes and looked up into her mother's smiling face. Nessie's face also broke into a smile as she raised a hand and touched Bella's face.

Bella's mind was filled with her little daughter's thoughts. She was afraid, worried, but thought everything would turn out to be alright, just like last time.

Breaking away from the contact, Bella shook her head.

"No, Nessie, this time it's more serious. I'm going to need you and Jacob to go away for a while, at least until this is over."

Edward wasn't surprised at his wife's behavior. He had suspected she would act this way once more, as she had done before.

Not speaking, he quickly collected Nessie's few belongings and put them into a little backpack.

Bella picked Nessie up as she and Edward stepped outside.

Immediately, Jacob went up to them, in human form. He smiled at Nessie, who immediately reached out for him. He lifted her out of her mother's arms and twirled her.

"Hey, Nessie! How're you doing?" he said happily.

Nessie just giggled, and then Jacob caught a glimpse of her parents' worried faces.

"What's wrong," he asked them.

Edward gave him the backpack and the keys to his car.

"Go, Jacob," was all he said.

Jacob nodded, swung the bag over his shoulder, and began to walk away.

Nessie looked over her protector's shoulder and back at her parents, waving sadly, tears running down her cheeks.

Bella and Edward waved back at their daughter, their hearts heavy with grief, and turned to look at the dark forest. The sun was beginning to rise, and Edward knew that the Volturi force had arrived.

"It's time," he said, and led his wife into the house.

It was the time for war.

(A/N) Um, whoops? I've been busy, ok, and I'm sorry! Also, my computer came down with a virus, and I lost EVERYTHING! Finally, I'm starting to get hold of it again, but, for some strange reason, I don't have any sound. Oh, and I hope you like this chapter. It's kinda short, I know, but I felt it was needed. Yeah, and now you hate me, I know. I'll try to update as soon as I can, ok?

Catty - The disclaimer!

Oh, right.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.