Holiday time and a wave of insecurities made it hard for me to write as much.

Here´s chapter 21 - a little filler and information chapter.

Enjoy :)

Preparation

Thank God for Alice. Her ability to see the future and know exactly what the Volturi was going to do would help us once again. If nothing changed then we would have about a week and a half until we once again would face Aro and his supporters in the clearing.

Even Carlisle had given up on the possibility of speaking us out of this one. He knew that this time it would come to a fight. There was no point in pretending. But never the less was he going to try to reason with them first. He knew it wouldn´t make any difference what so ever, but he never stopped hoping that there was some goodness in Aro. His faith in his beliefs that there is good in all people wouldn´t budge. Not even now.

There wasn´t a lot of time to sit and wallow in self pity. Plans had to be made. We had to fight this – somehow. Personally I was glad to be distracted by all the planning, the mere thought of my dad being held captive by the most viscous vampires in history was sure to freak me out. I therefore kept myself busy at all times, helping Edward, Jasper and Carlisle planning.

So far we had been able to contact a few of our former allies with positive outcome.

Kate, Garret, Eleazar and Carmen never left for Alaska after we returned from Italy; they had just as much at stake in this as we did. And they were family after all.

Maggie, Siobhan and Liam would arrive from Ireland soon. They had a new member to their coven, Keith. Maggie had found Keith on a hunting trip; he was undergoing the change and had been abandoned by his maker. Maggie took Keith back to their house and took care of him during his first year. A special bond had been created between them so Maggie had finally found her one true love. Keith also had a special power; with his eyes he was able to freeze one person for as long as he could hold focus on it. A very valuable gift.

Carlisle was very fascinated with this new power and was very confident that alongside with my shield we could neutralize not only Alec and Jane but Chelsea as well. That would leave Aro without his two best weapons and their most valuable means of protection. But that was just all in theory and we would probably still be out numbered.

We had some serious recruiting to do.

Aro would come full force from Volterra once again, but this time he would bring even more witnesses. There was no way that he would just let us walk away this time around. We had grown stronger since the last time, but was it enough?

Luckily we had formed kind of an alliance 5 years ago when we confronted Aro last time. And this would be the time to call in all the favors we could.

Carlisle had already been in contact with Stefan and Vladimir. To no one's surprise they were in right away. They had actually managed to round up some possible warriors to their little army. Since the last confrontation in the clearing Stefan and Vladimir had not given up, they were still just as eager to bring the Volturi to their knees as ever. In order to do that they needed help, and lots of it.

Most of the vampires around the world feared the Volturi and didn´t have the nerve to stand against them. Some even liked having the safety net of our ´leaders´; they would choose Aro´s side in the most likely confrontation to come. We had to choose our allegiances wisely.

Stefan and Vladimir had proudly told Carlisle that they would gladly join us and so would their 12 followers. None of them had any special abilities, but it was quantity. We would need all the fighters we could muster.

We had to look past a few of our former witnesses since it was crucial that we knew which side they would ultimately choose. There would be no need for us to add to Aro´s group. Therefore we would not contact Amun and Kebi; they had wavered the last time. This time we had to be sure. We were however hoping to be able to contact Benjamin and Tia. So far we´ve had no luck in finding them.

This time around we were sure that it would come to a fight so we would also leave out Alistair. His fears of becoming a target of the Volturi were far too great a risk. He would either run or turn on us.

Siobhan had promised to locate Charles and Makenna on their way here since we had not been able to contact them either.

Jasper had called in yet another favor from Peter and Charlotte, there was no doubt that they would show up. Jasper had even considered Maria, but had decided that she was too unstable. When it all came down to the fight she would choose to support whomever had the upper hand. As much as she had liked Jasper in the past, he was not worth dying over.

Rosalie and Emmet had flown to the Amazon to round up Kachiri, Senna and Zafrina. We were still waiting for their call. We were hoping they would be back in a couple of days so we could go through our battle plan together before the show down.

That only left Mary and Randall. We hadn´t been able to find them either but Garret had gone out trying to pull a few strings among the nomads.

5 years ago, when we agreed to meet up again if the Volturi ever caused trouble again, we hoped we wouldn´t have to. At least not under these circumstances.

Since Emmet, Rosalie and Garret was out on recruiting missions all the rest of us could do was wait and that was bad. Waiting gave room to think. Waiting gave time to wallow.

I had used some of that time to wonder what could´ve, would´ve and should´ve happened.

Nobody had spoken of the fact that Tanya´s sacrifice came with a higher price than her life, but we had all thought about it. We would never know what would have happened if she hadn´t joined us in the town square a couple of days ago. Maybe we would have been able to get out on top without being taken by Felix and Demetri. Edward, Jacob and I made a pretty good tag team since we all knew each other so well and with my shield, Edward´s mindreading and Jacob´s strength we were not just siding ducks. On top of that we had motivation, our daughter and the love of our life was in danger. You would be amazed in how much power that kind of adrenaline causes.

I sighed out loud when I again thought, could´ve, would´ve, should´ve

Edward turned towards me and gave me a questioning glare.

I simply shook my head not wanting to open that Pandora's Box.

I had to focus on trying to save Charlie. My dad did not deserve this fate, he deserved to get the fairytale wedding to Sue and then live happily ever after. Unlike me he would not gain anything but pain in the everlasting life as a vampire, if he was even lucky enough not to be killed. Sue was his whole world now. Of course he would still have me, Nessie and the rest of the Cullens but that´s not how life is supposed to be. I would do everything in my power to secure Charlie his happily ever after.

"What are you thinking about, love?" Edward asked me.

I shrugged, he wouldn´t leave it until he knew. He worried too much about me.

"Just the could´ve, would´ve, should´ve," I answered and looked towards Kate. I bowed my head in shame. Who was I anyway to not be grateful for the sacrifice Tanya had made. She did have the best intentions, thoughtless yes, but she wished us no harm.

Edward followed my eyes towards Kate and then turned around to face me again. He placed a finger under my chin and pulled it up so I could look him in the eyes.

"It´s okay, love. I understand. We´ll get through this, I promise," Edward said in his soothing voice.

I knew he meant well, but this was out of our hands, we had to play it by ear. And I did not like the sound of that.

Jacob had been really great towards Nessie these last couple of days. She had been hanging out in La Push every day so she wouldn´t have to walk around in this tension. She was devastated that one of her best friends had lost his sister. On top of that her granddad was missing, her only link to the human world, gone. Jacob had a way to make her forget her worries for a little while, just like Edward had done so many times for me.

Their love was truly amazing to watch, they were without a doubt made for each other.

Seth had spent the last couple of days with his mother. He had however let Jacob know that he was ready and willing to fight. He had sworn that he was ready and focused. Jacob had understood the need to avenge Leah and also knew that a small part of Seth wouldn´t miss this fight for anything in the world. Both packs would fight with us once again.

Edward pulled me to the couch, sat down and placed me on his lap. He pulled me close to his chest and I happily placed my head on his shoulder. This was home for me. My safe place. It didn´t take long before Edward´s intentions were revealed, he started placing small kisses down my neck and up again towards my jaw line.

"Are you trying to distract me, Edward?" I asked chuckling.

"Am I that obvious?" Edward asked not removing his mouth from my neck.

"You are," I answered. "But please don´t stop."

I could feel Edward´s mouth pulling up in a mischievous grin. This was heaven. It would never stop to amaze me just how much in love I still was with my husband. The effect he still had on me sent chills down my spine. I loved that feeling.

We had been together for so long now that we didn´t need to be able to read the thoughts of each other in these kind of situations. Edward´s distractions had worked; I was lost in my love and lust for my husband. As soon as Edward had felt that he got to his feet, picked me up bridal style and ran at inhuman speed to his old room.

When we reached the room he quickly placed me on the bed and turned for the stereo. He put on Debussy and smiled my crooked smile. Oh how I loved that man.

We spent the whole night making love over and over again. It wasn´t until the first beams of the morning sun reached the room that we found our way back to reality.

I groaned at the thought of returning to reality.

"Carlisle´s heard from Rose and Emmet," Edward said looking down at me with his beautiful eyes. "They´ve found Zafrina and they´re all going to come back with them."

I let out a sigh of relief. We needed them now more than ever.

"I´m afraid we´ll doom them," I said in a small voice. As usual Edward heard me.

"They are fully aware of the odds," he answered. "They come of their own free will; we would never force anyone to stand alongside us in this battle."

"I know," I sighed. "I just wish that we wouldn´t need to endanger so many of our wonderful friends." They deserved better after all.

"Alice is coming. We´d better get decent," Edward chuckled.

"What does she want?" I asked. She´d better not try to play Bella Barbie today, I was in no state to be patient and forgiving so Bella Barbie was out of the question.

"She´s singing the National anthem of Great Britain over and over again, so I have no idea love," he answered looking gleeful. "Knowing Alice it´s either great news or very bad news. Either way she doesn´t want me to know before you do. Or for me to warn you."

I groaned and braced myself for hurricane Alice.

She knocked on the door just 30 seconds later.

"Come in, Alice," I said.

"If you two are done escaping reality then Edward, you´re needed at Carlisle´s office," Alice said.

Oh no. Edward was needed somewhere else and would leave me to deal with a secretive Alice. Oh joy.

"I´ll come with you Edward?" I said more as a question than as a fact.

"Sorry Bella. But you´re coming with me," Alice said with a twinkle in her eye.

This time I mentally groaned. What was going on?

Edward was not happy that we were separated right now, but he must have heard something from Alice´s mind because he simply nodded. Before he left the room he bent over and gave me a passionate kiss. He didn´t break it until Alice cleared her throat to let us know we weren´t alone.

"Don´t worry Edward. I´ll take good care of her," Alice said with a grin.

Seriously, what was up with the pixie?

Alice waited until Edward had closed the door behind him before she squealed. Really squealing? Now?

"Oh quit worrying Bella. I´m not here to torture you. I just want to take you hunting, just us girls. You need a healthy little break from Edward´s form of distractions," she said giggling.

I would have blushed if I still could. On the other hand I had a really hard time accepting the fact that she would settle for a hunting trip for our alone time. That was so out of character for her.

"Now we just need to find something for you to wear for our girl's night out," she squealed.

Of course. There it was, the condition.

I sighed but retreated. I didn´t have the strength to fight her and it was however just clothes. I would have to get on my knees later to thank a certain man upstairs that it wasn´t the whole package deal today.

Alice stopped on her way to the door and turned to face me.

"I didn´t know you prayed Bella?" she said after her vision had ended.

I giggled. "I do now," I said.

You now hold the power to release me from my insecurities - review ;)

Next up will be the fighting chapters - I´m a bit nervous about those, so hepl me out a bit... Boost my confidence - PLEEEAAAAASE??!! :)

I´ll send a preview of what´s to come to all of my reviewers :)