In chapter 9, Leo and the Cullens decipher the secrets to Leo's existence. Carlisle and Edward also have a very interesting, quiet discussion about their fears of the Volturi. What will they think of Leo? (A/N: I decided to give you all a break, made this chapter brief…, and leave you with a cliffy!)

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Please keep in mind that I put this story in AU for this chapter. These are my and Sillywritergirl's theories, so please keep an open mind and the flames non-existent. Feel free to pm me if you find anything you have a polite opinion on.

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or original story of the Twilight saga. Now quit reading this and get onto the story! 3

Chapter 9: Answers

Carlisle POV

Sam spoke first. "Is your traditional biology that...vampire venom kills you once it enters your bloodstream?"

Leo sighed. "Yeah, that's why I'm so confused. Any ideas?"

Billy straightened in his chair. "Didn't you just say that the day after your first phase you were turned into a…vampire?"

"Yeah."

"Well," Sam began for Billy, "in our…newcomers, phasing is difficult the first few days and it's not as…established, or, easy to control. What if that had something to do with your case?"

I considered that for a moment. "Sam makes a lot of sense, Leo."

"If the shape-shifting action isn't very potent, or, established," Edward said.

"Then it would be more susceptible to changes," Emmett said.

"And since my genes were still partially human," Leo said.

"And humans can be Turned," Alice said.

"Then the human side of Leo could be Turned," Bella, said.

"And the shape-shifting side…?" Rosalie asked.

"Leo's other form might be altered slightly, but it would remain, frozen into perfection with the venom," Jasper finished.

"That must—" Leo's mouth widened to its peak in a yawn, "—be it."

Leo curled herself horizontally on the chair, her hand in Alice's, her head, against Jasper, on the armrest. Her eyelids drooped, and within seconds, we could hear her light snoring.

Everyone chuckled and split into quiet side conversations, except for Jasper and Alice, who stared at each other and Leo.

I had to ask Edward something I didn't want to bring up in front of our visitors, or the young ones. There was no use in scaring them unnecessarily.

Edward,I asked. He turned to me. I asked my wife to trade spots with Edward, and she nodded. Esme knew I would explain later. Edward sat down next to me.

"What is it, Carlisle?"

I did not want to say this aloud, but it must be asked. I took a deep breath. Would the Volturi see Leo as a…Immortal Child?

Edward looked at me, wide-eyed. "Would they?" he asked in the lowest possible whisper. I had to stretch my vampire hearing to its limits to pick up his voice.

I could see that they might. Renesmee wasn't because there was evidence, Nahuel, and facts from him. There were also witnesses. We do not have witnesses except for Billy and Quil the Elder, and we obviously cannot ask them to witness. Leo is immortal, but is she a child?

Edward pondered that for a moment. "The real question is this: what is considered a child. If the Volturi do not see a threat in the existence of Alice, Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie, Bella or me, even though we are younger, can we argue why they do not trust Leo?"

Speaking of the Volturi, I thought, Do you recall that Lancaster was associated with Alec, which means he was with the Volturi? Lancaster appeared in the dream he projected onto Leo as seventeen, but according to Leo, he is the same age as her, maybe younger if he was changed shortly after the Ceremony. If the Volturi can accept Lancaster, why could they not accept Leo?

"I suppose this also raises the question of how the Volturi found out about Leo."

Lancaster. There is no doubt in my mind that he informed them.

"…Lancaster realized that he turned Leo, and, trying to clean up his mess—"

--He tells the Volturi we have an Immortal Child amongst us.

"We are punished without question, no one finds out, and Lancaster's mistake is cleared without it ever coming to the Guard's attention that it was Lancaster's mistake in the first place…"

And Lancaster gets off scot-free and without ever getting his hands dirty.

"That pompous bastard!"

This was slightly more audible, and I focused my peripheral vision to make sure no one had caught on to our conversation. No one had.

Now that we know, will that increase our chances of winning over the Volturi, or just them against each other, and harming us in the process?

Edward was silent.

If the bonds Lancaster has already made with the Volturi are strong, it could unite them all against us and our word.

"Questions answered with questions," Edward chuckled darkly. "If we do not have proof of Lancaster's age, then it is only a 'he said, she said' argument. Clearly, the Volturi trust Lancaster, and if we can sway them on that, then there is no quarrel between us. We throw their own words back at them."

Would that still give no reason for them to attack?

"Maybe, but the fact that they trust Lancaster and that he Turned Leo, it should force them to pause and reflect when we tell them otherwise."

What would that mean for Lancaster's fate?

Even impure, I did not like the thought of causing another's death.

"I cannot say. It can be compared to teenage pregnancy—what is the consequence for children making children?"

Can they still be considered children?

We were right back where we started.

How is it that a young one, no longer a child--but not yet an adult--can be trusted with adult responsibilities, emotions and decisions?

That was indeed the real question.

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Edward POV

I could not come up with an answer for Carlisle's questions. They repeated themselves over and over again in my mind, driving me absolutely insane.

I suppose I became totally absorbed in my own thoughts, because I did not hear the beating hearts or the awful wet dog smell of werewolves outside the Mansion until Seth flung the door open.

So many thoughts flooded my head it wasn't even funny. Leo was having a dream with some hint of Lancaster's control, Carlisle was worrying, Esme was preoccupying, Jasper was saturated in love, Emmett was focused on Rosalie and Rose on him, Bella was intrigued as she "listened" to Renesmee's thoughts, Alice was having a vision… I tried my best to focus on Seth and the thoughts of fifteen other werewolves outside our house.

Seth raced over to Sam and Jacob Leah right behind him, both with arms resting on their legs and their chests heaving, trying to catch their breath.

"What is it?" Jacob and Sam asked at the same time.

"They're coming," Seth and Alice said at the same time, a strange combination of Soprano and Baritone.

"Who?" Carlisle asked.

"The Volturi," they both breathed, "they're here."