Chapter 23

Nessie's POV

Never Want To Give This Dissertation Again

When I'd pictured Fred's story it has always had a happy ending. After hearing about Bree I wasn't so sure. I was emotional and I hadn't even known the girl. She seemed brave, and sweet, and she didn't deserve to die. I can tell Fred is sad that his friend is dead.

"I'm sorry." I say quietly.

He shakes his head, "Don't be. If what you all say is true, and you have no reason to lie, she was ok with dying. Her and Diego needed to be together." He shrugs, though I can tell he's masking his real emotion. "I would have wanted her to be happy. It seems like she'd be happier this way."

I nod.

"You can finish your story." Fred encourages.

"Sure. After the newborn attack, a while after, my mother married my father. Everything was fine, until they found out she was pregnant. I don't know what you know about vampires but it was assumed," I accentuate the word. "That vampires couldn't create offspring. Unfortunately there never were too many human-vampire relationships to base that assumption off of.

"So, in case you're wondering, male vampires can father children, but female vampires cannot conceive-as they are frozen in the state they were changed in." Fred nods in understanding.

I continue. "When my father learned my mother was pregnant he freaked out. Flew her home and tried to get her to abort the baby-who you may have guessed, is me. She refused, and Rosalie, understanding what she wanted, helped her protect me.

"I suppose most people would hold a grudge but I know my father loves me. At the time his judgment was being clouded with worry for my mother, and her rapidly deteriorating condition. You may have noticed that I am only seven years old, though I stand before you as a full grown woman, and I act and talk as an adult.

"That's because I grow much more quickly than humans do. The same was true for my development as a fetus. I was growing fast, and Carlisle, though he's a doctor couldn't get any pictures-on ultrasound-because of the hard membrane, like vampire skin, that was surrounding me.

"The bigger I got, the less room I had to move and the more I hurt my mother with even the smallest movements. Also, at the same time I was taking every bit of nutrition out of her body. I was slowly starving her.

"They couldn't figure out what I wanted, and my mother couldn't keep down any solid foods. Even the IV fluids weren't working. It got so bad that my father was convinced my mother was going to die. Luckily," I say, smiling at Jacob, "Jacob had a thought that saved us both. He basically suggested that I was craving blood."

Jacob cuts in. "In case you're wondering, at the time I had a three man pack. It was Leah, Seth, and I. We split off from the main pack because I wasn't about the let Bella be killed because of the baby. I didn't know it at the time but it was the imprint talking."

Fred looks confused, but I interject. "We'll get to that later. Anyways," I say, briefly thinking that later I should type this up and print it so I'll never have to give this whole dissertation again. "The idea saved my life and my mothers. After some minor complications I was delivered and my mother was just barely saved. My father was able to keep her heart going so that she could transform into a vampire.

"At the same time, as Jacob said, he imprinted on me."

Fred's questions are shown in his red eyes.

Jacob answers, "It's a wolf thing. Basically, it means that when we see her our whole center of gravity shifts, changes. From that moment on our one and only job is to be whatever she needs us to be, whenever she needs it."

Fred nods, seemingly satisfied with Jacob's crude, and somewhat description-less explanation.

I take over again. "Over the three days my mom was changing I was growing, and learning at an unprecedented rate. When she finally awoke as a newborn it was hard for her to believe I was the same child! I kept growing, and despite all the happiness there was in finding that my mom had amazing self-control and just being a family they were all worried I would grow too quickly and die at the age of fifteen.

"It was a valid concern at the time. However we soon had bigger problems. A friend of ours," I know I'm on a sore spot when I talk about Irina, but it must be done. "Came to apologize, and clear up a misunderstanding, and she saw me.

"That must not seems like cause for alarm, but at the time I appeared to be a child. A vampire child. That is something that is forbidden absolutely in the vampire world. So, Irina went to the Volturi, obligated to tell them of our crime.

"She didn't give us the chance to explain what I really am-a child who changes, who grows. I, unlike the problematic immortal children, can control my thirst and keep our secret. I am no threat to this way of life. But the Volturi had already heard of the crime and were coming to punish us.

"My parents were desperate to save their family, so together they gathered all the vampires they could-witnesses, to bear testimony to my growth. To show to the Volturi leaders that I am no threat to this lifestyle.

"The Denali coven," I gesture to them, "Were the first to come, but after the initial hesitation they accepted my fully and said they would bear witness to my growth, and contemplate fighting with my family if the time came. Both packs of wolves were also going to fight with us.

"In the end we managed to gather over 20 witnesses from around the world to help us, and most agreed to fight for us as well. I have told you before that Carlisle is wonderful, and because of this he has great friends.

"When the Volturi confronted us, a number of things helped our case. The wolves stopped their advance initially. Then my mother, who had discovered that she had a talent after all, managed to perfect the use of her shield at just the right time. The Volturi's two main offensive tactics weren't going to work as long as my mother remained alive.

"Third, however, and maybe most important, was that we were able to deflect each of the Volturi's charges, in front of his arsenal of assembled witnesses. He had brought them along to see justice being served and as it became clear there was no crime the witnesses became restless.

"First, no immortal child was created. Then the Volturi leader, Aro, claimed that Irina had given false witness, though she was simply uninformed, and he killed her to provoke an attack.

"We narrowly avoided doing just that, but somehow we did. Then, finally, Aro claimed that I would become a danger in the future because 'only the known was safe and tolerable'. Thankfully, having predicted this Alice returned to our family, after brief abandonment, with a witness of her own.

"A hybrid, just like myself, only full grown, and perfectly capable of keeping the vampire secret. The Volturi had run out of alternate charges, and they were simply scared of my mother's shield and the wolves, so they essentially fled.

"We weren't naïve enough to think they'd never return, but we were ok, for a while at least. I grew up safe and sound. And now, we're caught up to the present."

Fred sighs, and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Let me guess: The Volturi is coming back."

I nod, wordlessly confirming his suspicions.

He takes a deep breath, thinks about his words carefully, and then speaks. "I'm in. How can I help?"

To say I'm shocked is an understatement.

Well, there you have it. Fred is in. Guess you'll have to wait some more to find out why. What do you think of him so far? I think he's awesome. :D Let me know what you think of him and the chapter, please.

Thanks,

R&R