DISCLAIMER: SM owns all Twilight characters and settings. No copyright infringement intended.

Carlisle's POV

I felt no strong nostalgia for Volterra as I made my way on foot through the largely unchanged city. Given that I had spent decades wandering these very streets, my lack of emotion on returning to the city of my past might have given me pause, but my attention and reason for being here was on other matters, namely Edward and more specifically how I was going to free him from Aro's clutches.

The weeks spent waiting for Alice's vision that would send me to Italy had not been of the hope and relief I'd initially felt during the hours and days following her proclamation that Edward was taken by the Volturi. Her visions, though nonspecific and cryptic all alluded to one constant; Edward was in trouble.

I tried not to dwell on it; there was nothing I could do about it, not until I brought him home, so agonizing over the details would do none of us any good. Fortunately Esme had been preoccupied with the move and hadn't asked too many questions of me which alleviated the necessity to lie…often. I still lied or at the very least distorted the details and emphasized the positives. I could think of no other option and I could not bear Esme's grief on top of everything else, so as far as Esme was concerned, we were in a waiting game and the only misfortune still facing Edward was the break in control that would drive him to feed from humans.

I did not tell Esme that Alice had seen Edward in a fit of trembling so severe, his teeth would chatter, nor did I tell her that his eyes though still ochre were hollow and vacant or that he spent countless hours alone wandering through the castle's long abandon decrepit and crumbling tunnels, his eyes staring blankly at nothing. I didn't mention how he engaged in odd unexplained actions, such as running his fingers along the mortar walls or examining random objects, books, artwork other trivial items with a fervent gaze never seen by Alice before and I might have forgotten to reveal that on more than one occasion, Alice's visions showed him withering on the floor in agony, obviously under Jane's control. Instead I mentioned visions of him playing chess with Marcus, reading or writing in a journal; all safe subjects, safe visions and this put Esme's mind at ease and allowed her to trust my decision to delay any rescue attempt until Edward succumbed to the pressure and fed from a human.

Which ultimately brought me back to my biggest worry of all. The complete lack of effort on Aro's part in making that scenario happen. Since Alice's visions didn't allow her to see the whys behind an image, it was up to me to interpret what she told me. The most shocking revelation was that Edward was being provided with animals, goats to be specific, hardly appetizing, but given that I anticipated he would be starved until he fed off of human prey, the news that Aro was attempting to meet his needs had me worried. It was not like Aro to concede to something that would disrupt or delay his plans. I'd spent years foraging for food, given little sympathy from those around me when hunting became scarce and I went weeks without feeding properly. Could it be that Aro saw Edward's instability and wanted to avoid aggravating it further? That thought alone terrified me and I had all I could to keep from rushing off to Italy ignoring my initial decree to stay away until Aro was confident in Edward's loyalty to him.

But finally, Alice saw the vision I was waiting for and declining Eleazar's suggestion that he accompany me, I had a flight booked and was on my way to Volterra before Edward had fulfilled the destiny of that vision. The only question that remained was how exactly I would get him away from Aro who valued his gifted vampires above all else. But I didn't dare dwell on a possible answer; Aro would see too much…no…he would see it all, so identifying a solution to that problem could not come until after he had his chance to read me.

There were many entrances into the Volturi castle; the most obvious one was through the gatehouse that was open to the public and allowed visitors behind the curtain wall to the front offices that acted as an official business, employing humans who weren't aware of the vampires that lived behind the façade.

I chose to forgo the conventional route and settled for my preferred entrance of some two hundred years previous. It was an entrance known only to vampires of the Volturi and perhaps the original architects of the castle, dead for a millennia. The narrow passage behind the structures of the fortified city used centuries before as a buffer between the outer wall and the dwellings within, had many entry points to the ungrounded tunnels and it was through one of the sewer grates that I slid dropping into the lower passageways that would lead me to the drawing room reserved for the greeting of visitors and guests, invited and otherwise.

Members of the guard were aware of my presence from the moment I stepped foot into the city and I smelled them trailing me, lurking in the shadows and hidden in doorways that lined the city streets that were deserted as even the late night rabble rousers disappeared into their homes for the evening. It wasn't until I reached the tunnels that I was accosted by two of them, unfamiliar to me as I was too them, only their gray cloaks signifying who they served.

"You there, what is your business here?" The taller of the two spoke sharply. His comrade had eased around next to me, effectively securing me between them.

"I am here to see Aro." The guards were well trained. I was not agitated by their aggressiveness. It was to be expected.

"And you feel you can sneak in through a secret passage without being escorted? Explain?"

"If the passageway is secret then how would I know about it, young one?" I responded sharply. "Though as long as you're here, I wouldn't mind an escort if it hastens a meeting with him. Do you want me to lead the way?"

The spokesman stood taller, indignation evident on his face and the one next to me growled. Perhaps I should have used a softer more conciliatory approach but now that I was so close, my patience was gone.

"You will go nowhere until you are announced and only then we will see if Master Aro will acknowledge your request. If not, you may have made a terrible mistake in coming here and your disrespect will be remembered." The tall one replied, pushing his hood back exposing his face. As was true of most of the Volturi guard, he was young in human years, but otherwise unremarkable.

What he said was routine; no vampire was given access to the brothers without permission, but I was prepared and without another word, I pulled from my pocket the pendant and for the second time in mere months I was prepared to use it after leaving it largely untouched for decades.

"Perhaps this will alleviate your concerns." I produced the crest and dangled it in front of me. A quick intake of breath from both vampires assured me that they knew what it was. "Now please tell Aro that Carlisle would like to see him. I don't need to announce my business, he already knows."

"Yes…yes…I'm sorry…yes at once." The allusion of arrogance was quickly gone and he bolted, leaving his companion the unenviable chore of guarding me until the necessary approvals were obtained. I did not wait and started to follow the retreating vampire. I did not need a guide; I knew my way and Aro would be waiting for me.

"Please…sir. You must stop; we need to have permission to precede." I felt sorry for this one as he trotted after me, horrified that he might offend me or worse that it was a trick and I planned on doing the brothers' harm.

Either way he did not try and stop me and I made my way through the twisted passageways without hesitation, the path leading me to the elaborate hall as familiar as my home back in Forks. I wasn't surprised to be greeted by Demetri and Jane before I reached the grate that led me into the castle itself. They'd already removed it and were waiting for me on either side of the opening.

"It's been many years since we've used this entrance, Carlisle," Demetri said pleasantly.

"It's been many years since I've used it myself," I said with a humorless chuckle.

Jane acknowledged me with a nod as I slide into the narrow passageway with both vampires following closely behind me.

Edward's scent hit me with unexpected force. It wasn't fresh, at least a week old, but the familiarity of it was almost painful and one I'd briefly thought I might never smell again. I was taken off guard by it and hesitated where his scent was the strongest ignoring the snickers of the two escorts behind me. I could not crumble now, but it was a reminder that he was here, close, so achingly close, yet he could have been on the moon for all the access I would have to him.

The medical terms came naturally. It was something I did whenever I didn't want Edward to read my mind. He would know I was thinking about him even if I didn't talk directly to him through my thoughts. Until Aro requested my hand, I couldn't have Edward reading me, not yet, but I wanted him to know he was on my mind.

I'd been waiting for this for weeks, carefully planned it, understood my mission, but when I finally stood in front of the heavy wooden door leading to the opulent drawing room, I felt a tightening in my chest. I would only get one shot, only one chance to outsmart Aro and if I failed, he would see my entire plan in my thoughts and could sabotage it before it ever had a chance to flourish. If I were completely in control of the scenario about to unfold I knew my confidence level would be higher, but I wasn't in control and if I misjudged the situation, misread Aro's patience or underestimated his abilities to see through my visit even without reading me, then all would be lost and by all, I meant Edward.

"Welcome…welcome Carlisle my old friend…what a surprise."

And there he was. Aro, just as I remembered him, clapping his hands in perceived delight, his eyes sparkling, suggesting an affable demeanor; his charisma on full display as much for the visitor as for his guard. He was the ring leader, the master of ceremonies and he basked in the limelight, he always had.

"Aro, my friend. Greetings. It's been too long." I responded politely, standing well back from him, barely allowing enough room for two guards to move behind me. Demetri took his familiar position up in front and to the left of Aro while Jane went to Aro's side as he moved forward to greet me.

"Yes it has, much too long. It seems mere years since you were here last, not centuries. Odd how time disappears with the return of a beloved friend. But now you are here, so we won't dwell on the past. Caius, see our long lost brother has returned at last."

The last comment drew gasps from the guard, and a scowl from Caius. Aro had only occasionally referred to me as a brother and usually only in the presence of the other brothers and wives. It was unnerving to hear him say it now with a room full of vampires. I appreciated the audience, it would give me more witnesses, but his proclamation was not the one I was here to seek.

"You are too kind Aro and of course I would love to visit, but as you know, I'm here for another purpose, one that I'd like to see resolved before any more pleasantries are exchanged, if you don't mind." I knew I was taking a risk by attempting a circumvention of Aro's delight in the ceremony of greeting guests and the opportunity to showcase his controls over those around him, but I needed to address the situation with Edward before he requested my hand and my boldness might be enough to startle him into it.

If Aro was offended by my bluntness, he hid it well, tilting his head back in contemplation before responding.

"Ahh yes, young Edward. I assume that is the purpose you are speaking of?" He blew out air he'd apparently been holding and looked at me shaking his head casually. "He's made quite an impression on our little family, but then you probably already know that from young Alice.

I nodded not exactly sure what he was referring to.

"Normally he would be here with us, but your visit has taken us by surprise and he and Marcus are engaged in other activities at the moment. I hope you understand."

I nodded my head again and when he didn't continue, I took it as permission to speak. "Yes of course. I apologize for not calling first." Was that sarcasm? What was I doing?

"It's fortunate that our guard is tolerant of visitors or your lack of protocol might have met with quite a different fate." Caius scolded.

My relationship with Caius had always been contemptuous at best. I found him narrow minded and mean spirited and he only tolerated me for Marcus and Aro's sake. We seldom exchanged anything more than forced pleasantries in all our years together.

"I admit I gave little thought to my abrupt arrival. The guard's control has always been quite impressive and I'm not known for bouts of aggression so I saw little likelihood in a confrontation."

Aro's enthusiastic expression no longer looked contrived. My antagonistic relationship with Caius had always amused him.

"I suspect our crest offered you additional insurance?" Caius said with disdain.

I tried to look contrite and nodded. "But you understand why I'm here and on such short notice. We, my family, are worried about Edward. Before I can return home I need to understand why he is being held, what crime he has committed, because as you pointed out, Alice is quite instrumental in my abilities to keep track of my…offspring and we are unaware or rather she has not seen a vision that suggests the breaking of any laws. What am I missing?"

"Yes well that situation is unfortunate indeed." Aro said solemnly trying to contain his glee. "The covens in North America are undisciplined. They have no respect for laws, no understanding of discretion. I have let them go unchecked for too long. Perhaps I was nostalgic for a time when we had the liberty to feed at our own discretion, when battles for territory were a legitimate concern and humans were less inclined to take notice of the deaths of strangers. Times are different now; there are too many venues to pass information and news like that no longer goes unnoticed."

Aro was walking back and forth his hands behind his back speaking to his audience as if he and the rest of the Vulturi were pioneers on the information superhighway rather than relics of a past that they still desperately clung too.

"If only they would join us in the twenty first century." He stopped pacing and looked at me smiling with the irony of his words. "But then that is what you think of us, isn't it Carlisle?"

I smiled despite myself.

"So to answer your question, no crimes were committed. Of course guilt by association is a long standing criminal offense, but to be honest, I don't think that would even apply in Edward's case. I am under the assumption from his thoughts that he considered himself a prisoner and he very likely was."

I kept my face impassive, my thoughts neutral, the medical terms still drifting through them whenever I was tempted to think of something specific, because now I had a new problem. It wasn't the words that spilled from Aro's mouth. They were the words I'd longed to hear. Those words would set Edward free. No, my new problem took on a feminine shape and she glided by Aro directly to me, a seductive smile on her familiar face. With a dispassionate attempt at affection, she hugged me, her lips touching my ear, sending a shockwave of old memories and long forgotten longings rippling through me. She was using her gift to try and strengthen a bond between her and I that never truly existed but I still felt the pull.

"Carlisle, my darling, it's been much too long," she whispered in my ear, but the whole room would have heard her. She moved back behind Aro, assuming a spot along the perimeter of the three high-backed chairs in the center of the room.

"Chelsea, you look exquisite, but then you always did. How is Afton?" I said politely.

She smiled graciously, but said nothing more, ignoring the snickers in the room.

My feelings for Chelsea though intense during my time with the Volturi, had long been extinguished once I fell under the influence of my love…my mate… the one I was destined for and though her coy and amused attempts to seduce a younger me had left an impact, most notably in the way I handled the nurses I interacted with daily, her presence did not leave me rattled in the way it once had. She was here for one reason and one reason only, but I couldn't dwell on that now. I had to pursue Aro's point.

"You have confirmed what I suspected. I believe a thank you is in order for rescuing my son."

Caius snorted. His contempt for my reference to one of my creations as son, obvious.

"No need for that Carlisle. You know I value Edward's gift. And fortunately my dear Jane saw his potential and invited him to join us." He looked lovingly at the petite vampire at his side. "As it turns out, Edward has proven quite useful. Even Caius is convinced of his value and we both know how cynical he can be.

He didn't elaborate and I didn't ask, but felt the knotting in my abdomen. Caius was a beast with little tolerance for those that didn't show reverence to the Volturi. What had my defiant son been reduced to that would meet with Caius' approval?

"I would like to visit with him, if that would be permissible. Alice's visions have been troubling lately which is what brought me here. Would that be possible? You see his mother is quite worried." I had what I wanted; the rest would be a formality.

"Of course, Carlisle, I'm sure something can be arranged, with Edward's permission of course. In the meantime…" he held out his hand to me. "Would you mind indulging me? I've heard bits and pieces of your life and of course Edward has shared much from his memories, but to see it firsthand…"

I suppressed a sigh. The time had come. Stepping forward, I place my hand in Aro's and he immediately bent over it, my memories and thoughts flowing into his mind. Edward described it like watching one's life documented on a movie reel, every detail played all over again through the mind of another, fascinating and troubling. But for me, I only saw the top of Aro's bowed head. There wasn't even a physical sensation in the transfer of information. When he finally looked up, I forced my gaze to meet his.

"Interesting…very interesting," he said. His brow was furrowed and he moved away from me, but I could see on Caius' face that they exchanged a look. "Your control remains incredible Carlisle. The ability to provide medical care to injured humans…absolutely fascinating."

He turned abruptly. "But I'm not sure what good a gift like that is. I can kill hundreds of humans…thousands… to every one you save. Are you truly redeeming us in the eyes of your God?" He was angry. He understood that I outmaneuvered him. I was in danger as much as I ever could be in his presence. My only salvation was that no but us knew of my deception.

"I have nothing to redeem," I said calmly. "I've never killed a human."

"No, but you've created those that have." Aro snapped, stating what I choose to ignore.

"You know that Edward is no longer feeding from animals. We've broken him of that disgusting habit. Now if only we can repair the damage done to his mind."

I shuddered at that comment but remained silent.

"You understand Carlisle, that by ignoring your natural food source you are denying your body what it needs. It creates a weak, unstable vampire…very dangerous."

I laughed softly; a polite attempt to show my contempt. "There are many things that can make a vampire unstable, but I'm not sure refraining from killing and drinking from humans would qualify. We've had this argument many times, Aro. I've never drank human blood, not for hundreds of years; Eleazar and the Denali sisters almost as long and none of us show any ill effects from it."

"Perhaps…perhaps not, but as you say it is an old debate." Aro waved his hand at me dismissively. "I think though, given your thoughts, that it might be unwise for you to see Edward during this transitional time with us. Perhaps later, a year or two from now when all the effects of the poison he's been absorbing have been flushed from his system. You understand Carlisle?"

"Yes of course…" What he said was anticipated, but my stomach churned at the thought of being denied access to my son. He was punishing me for my trickery. "Of course if he is not being held against his will, isn't that a decision he should be allowed to make?"

"Why yes Carlisle, I believe you are correct." He would play the game with me. "Let's clear the room so you can have your privacy." He waved his hand at the surrounding guard who though reluctantly, filed out of the room. Already I could imagine their gossip. But they did not all leave. Caius had not budged from his chair. Jane, Alec, Renata and Felix remained in place and worst of all, Chelsea who looked at me with calculating eyes.

"I needn't tell you that Edward can hear you, so call to him then. Ask him to come down. It is his choice after all." Aro's eyes gleamed but this time it was not with the perceived delight of welcoming a new visitor or to delivery his charismatic monologue to an unsuspecting, naïve vampire. This time he was anticipating my failure.

I could not call to Edward just as Aro understood, because by doing so I would be risking our bond, the ties meant to unite us for all of eternity. I could only think of those endless medical terms understanding that in times past I would aggravate him to his very core with my attempts to create words in Latin to replicate them. That, if nothing else would drive Edward from my thoughts and I needed that, needed to create that distance between us for as I feared from the start, Chelsea's presence meant that she was waiting for our connection. Her gift didn't just apply to the physical presence of the bonded vampires. It reached well beyond that. Any connection including telepathy would enable her gift, would bring it to life and the energy and light that flowed between the two recipients would be deadened…amputated… killed. I couldn't let that happen.

And so as I concentrated on not calling Edward, not thinking about him, not even imagining him in my thoughts, I felt the deflection of Chelsea's gift and saw her frustration as she probed me searching for the strings that linked us. Aro too, noticed her expression and sighed, but his sigh wasn't one of defeat. He was just being denied the easy victory he'd come to expect with his arsenal of gifted vampires. When he turned back to me his face betrayed none of that frustration and even the anger was gone. He looked perplexed.

"Are you calling to him Carlisle? I understand his hesitance of course. I know you don't think so, but you are an imposing figure, very hard to please and his betrayal of you and your values is clearly visible in his eyes. I'm not surprised he doesn't want to face you. It might be a cowardly thing, but who can blame him? I'm not sure I would want to face your wrath if I failed you."

When I smirked, Aro grinned.

"Wrath can mean a number of different things, Carlisle. In this case perhaps the better word is disappointment."

"I don't ask for perfection and I love my children regardless of their actions." This I said for Edward not Aro.

As the minutes ticked by I stood in silence making no attempt to contact Edward. Chelsea's face continued to show her frustration so I knew her gift was not a factor. Aro had settled in his chair and looked casually at his fingernails, but I could see he was concentrating on something and I knew he was talking to Edward. I shuddered to think of the words…the lies he was spewing to turn my son against me, but I knew it didn't matter anymore. Because in those brief moments I hatched my plan and now I was only filling time before I was invited to leave.

Finally Aro looked up and smiled sadly. "It appears Edward has decided to decline your invitation to join him today, but don't lose hope Carlisle, we can always contact you if he changes his mind. Or if you prefer, he can contact you."

I nodded my concession. "If you don't mind, I believe I will remain in Italy for the foreseeable future." I could not appear eager to leave or Aro's suspicious would be aroused.

"Very well." He stood up, a stern look on his face. "But we ask that you remain outside of Volterra, for your own safety.

"Perhaps I'll visit Florence again. I do love that city." I made the appearance of leaving, nodding politely at Caius who appeared unconvinced by my words. "I won't be in Italy long, but before I leave I may make a return visit here."

"You are always welcome Carlisle, but one thing before you go."

To my horror he held out his hand again. My plan…he would know my plan.

"I think it might be wise if I held onto the pendant for now. It's not that I don't trust you Carlisle, but…"

"No…no…I understand…" I could barely contain my relief. I pulled the Volturi crest from my pocket and holding it at the end of the length of chain, I dropped it into Aro's outstretched palm, still fearful he might reach out and grab my hand and cognizant that both he and Caius watched me closely, looking for anything to be wary of.

"Carlisle, there is always another option." Aro slumped back in his chair and Caius sighed. "You and your family could join us here. We have plenty of room and then you would be reunited with Edward and we wouldn't lose his valuable skills as a mind reader. It would serve us all not to mention the additions of the others in your family."

He was sincere. I could hear it in his voice and even his face had lost its spurious animation. I thought about that. Remembering my own years in Volterra, not unfondly; trying to picture Esme, Rosalie and Emmett intermingling with the guard and understanding that Alice and Jasper would immediately be seized from me, not through a violent confrontation but a subtle exploitation of power. But we would be with Edward and we would be together, there were worse places to reside.

"It might be something to consider." I said thoughtfully, ignoring the shocked expressions of Caius and some of the guard. Aro looked amused. "I would have to be guaranteed that humans would no longer be killed for food and everyone would eventually revert to a vegetation lifestyle."

The expression on Jane's face would have been laughable if not for the seriousness of the conversation, but Aro laughed, he roared with laughter and that was soon followed by chuckles from Caius.

"Carlisle, my dear friend. How I've missed you. As much as I want you to rejoin our little family, even you are not worth that condition. But I admire your tenacity. Perhaps in another two hundred years we will see things differently, but for now I will have to decline."

I smiled despite myself. "Very well. Then if you'll excuse me, I have a city to see."

I expelled a breath of air the moment I emerged from the walls surrounding the castle. I ran from the city and kept running. The hard part was over; I evaded Aro's gift and I had a plan. I just needed to take care of a few details.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I pressed one and was promptly greeted my sweet wife's voice.

"Carlisle? Did you…do you…?"

"No Esme. Listen. I'm going to ask Alice to come to Italy. My assumption is that Jasper will want to come as well. I know how to free Edward, but…"

"We will all come, Carlisle."

"No…Esme…"

"Rosalie is already checking flights."

"Esme." I sighed, but I wouldn't argue. It was as it should be. We would retrieve Edward together.

Author Notes:

This was a tough chapter to write because Aro's gift was hard to circumvent. It might appear a little contrived that Carlisle did not figure out how he would free Edward until after Aro read him, but I could see no other way to free Edward if the plan was established before Carlisle came to Volturi. The only goal Carlisle had upon arriving in Volturi was getting Aro to admit that Edward was not a prisoner. Once he did that and after Aro read him, he was free to think of the specifics of a rescue.