Strategy

A/N; Sorry for the delay yet again. Computer troubles (again), need I say more?

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.

Carlisle ran his fingers through his hair and down his face again, as if trying to clear his fears away with the movement. He'd left the gathering by the shore to run, to think in privacy. I knew that didn't include privacy from me.

"what to do...what to do..."he murmured quietly.

I took his face between my hands and pressed his forehead to my own. "talk to me, my love" I whispered. We were far enough away not to worry about being overheard.

He smiled weakly and stroked my cheek, "Its just an impossible situation Esme, if we do nothing, Peter and Charlotte and quite probably Bella will pay the price for our inaction. But if we act to save them, so many others will die. I doubt Aro has ever thought to wipe out the hybrids, but if we warn him then Caius will almost certainly be after their blood. Not to mention that, if the Volturi survive an attack and later discover our role in this, our family is certain to be punished..."

He trailed off in despair and it pained my heart to see him such distress, "You can not be expected to bear the responsibilities of the world on your shoulders. Aro and the revolutionaries are responsible for their actions, not you."

"But the outcome of this hangs on the action we take now and whatever the others think, they almost always follow my lead. My decision could very well decide the outcome of this battle." He sighed again, and shrugged out of my embrace. I grabbed him back again, forced him to look at me. How could I make him see? How could I show him that this wasn't his fault?

"You listen to me Carlisle Cullen," I growled, "All we can do is make the best of what we have. No one can ask anymore from you and you shouldn't expect it of yourself. You can't save everyone Carlisle, you're a doctor, you know that. Just do what you have to do to find a way out of this."

He nodded sadly and took my hand to walk back to the clearing.

*****

Our family was silent when we returned, waiting for Carlisle's decision. Edward looked up at him, pleading with his eyes. I did not doubt that whatever the decision Edward would try to return to Volterra, but he would rather have his father's support.

Rather than answer the question everyone so desperately wanted to know, Carlisle addressed our prisoner.

"Nahuel?" he asked, "Is there any way to call off the attack? To stop this now?"

The boy shook his head, my brothers and sisters are committed to Joham, I'm the only one who would ever doubt his word. And even if I convinced them, the Romanians and the southern covens are committed to removing the Volturi. I fear that whatever happens, this will be a blood bath."

Carlisle nodded again, clearly unsurprised. If I were completely honest, I would have had to expect the same, but still I'd hoped

"In that case your going to have to make a choice. Like I said before, we mean you no harm Nahuel, but we must protect our family," Edward's head snapped up and Carlisle's words, hope blazing in his eyes, "You may choose to leave here and go where you will. We will not stop you. You may warn your fellows or you may run, flee the Volturi, hide while you can. The choice is yours, but there is one other option I'd like to put to you.

"I believe that this situation might still be salvaged. You and your siblings are innocent in this matter and Aro would be able to see this. Caius won't like it, but you will undoubtedly have Marcus on your side. If you help us, we will plead your case and that of your siblings to the Volturi. You still have a chance to save them"

"Help you how?" Nahuel was more than suspicious, not that I could blame him.

"Peter and Charlotte, the other you mentioned, they're as innocent as you and your siblings. Help us to save them and we will help you," Nahuel began to shake his head, but Carlisle persisted, "Your secrets are already exposed, I'm sorry for that, but refusing to cooperate will not change that now. You have the chance to save three innocent lives, surely that is worth something?"

There was a long pause and I prayed fervently that he would agree. My eyes darted between Nahuel and my own sons, trying to read the answer from their faces before he answered. Jasper smiled, and I knew that we had a chance.

********

Our previous formation had dissolved. There were no more captors, there was no longer a prisoner. We were a team, and that was good. However, before we could continue there was one more thing which needed to be discussed.

"Tanya?" asked Carlisle, "Will you help us?"

She pursed her lips and looked to her sisters, Edward had his eyes fixed on them, clearly monitoring their thoughts for anything which might help sway their decision – his future rested on the outcome of this decision. After a time, she finally spoke; "You haven't been exactly honest with us lately Carlisle,"

"I understand that Tanya, but I must ask you to understand that it was only to protect your lives and those of my family. If Aro had found out that we'd told anyone about Bella . . ."

Kate nodded, "We understand." Irina glared at her and Kate glared right back, but it was Tanya's decision which mattered most.*

She sighed. "Of course we'll help."

*******

We would be splitting into three groups. Jasper and Alice would go with Nahuel to help free Peter and Charlotte. Kate would accompany them as well, she volunteered figuring that her talent would be of more use against the newborns than it would be in Europe. In both situations our plan was stealth over confrontation, but at least in the south they had a chance if things came to Violence. The rest of my family would be traveling to Volterra while Tanya and Irina would wait in Florence in case they were needed. There was no need to advertise our alliance with them to the ancients and they would also be of use there in a way they could not in Volterra. In Florence, they could remain close to a phone line, ensuring that the others could contact us. In the event of a call, one or other of them would run toward Volterra with the message and Edward could read it from their thoughts when they came in range.

It also meant that we had allies with freedom of movement ready to help us if something went wrong.

I could only pray that this would not be necessary.

Here is a short out-take from this chapter. It really doesn't fit in with the rest at all, but it's so bad a joke that I really just had to share. So here it is, it fits in where the asterisk is.

* "If it makes a difference," began Emmet. Edward's jaw dropped and I shot my second son a warning look. He ignored me, of course, "Bella 's Edward's mate. If you help us, we've got a good chance of getting her out of there alive. Which would obviously mean one very important thing,"

"Which is?" she asked suspiciously.

He grinned. "Virgin boy gets laid!"