Hey all.. thanks for all the reviews/feedback! I'm glad everyone's enjoyed this story. Just so ya guys know, I'm thinking the Volturi battle will be close to being the end of the story, with just one or two chapters to conclude it after that. I could probably keep going ( I've had so much fun writing this) but I figured it should probably end after this meeting with them. I'm going to try to keep it as original as possible - I don't want it to be quite like the Breaking Dawn ending because that was done already. So I really hope you all enjoy the remainder of the story. :)

Chapter 87

A day and a half passed before the snowfall diminished completely. For seven or eight hours it seemed as though it couldn't make up it's mind, snowing lightly for a half hour and stopping before picking up heavier again and then repeating similar patterns. The large number of vampires found themselves easily becoming reacquainted with one another, and at least some of the fear and doubt the Cullens had experienced before their arrival had dimmed down.

Carlisle approached Bella and Edward, who were chatting on the back porch. "I think it would be a good idea if you informed Charlie of everyone being here. I wouldn't want him to come over unexpectedly and then we end up in a divided group, or a war with each other trying to defend him," he looked at Bella, "I don't want to see him put into a similar position that you were in with Jasper awhile ago."

She nodded, "Yeah. I'll go talk to him. Definitely."

"I wouldn't mention anything that would worry him, as far as the Volturi go."

"No, I won't," Bella said, "Do you think he'd be safer on the reservation?"

Carlisle and Edward looked at each other, thoughtful for a second before Carlisle nodded, "Maybe he and Sue could stay over there for the next few days. I'll ask Esme to talk with Sue, also."

"Should we go now?"

"Whenever you get the chance. It's probably no big rush, but the sooner the better."

"Come on, Bella," Edward said, "Let's head over now."

Esme joined Carlisle, as Bella and Edward left for her father's house. The two of them leaned against the railing, looking out about a hundred yards at some of their friends experimenting with Masen's gift. Leah stood in her human form, protectively close, as Kate used her powers to shock several of them while Masen's quick healing touches dulled the pain and made it disappear almost instantly. No one seemed brave enough or ready to withstand the pain of losing a limb to see if he could heal them completely, as Edward explained he could. There were talks among everyone, however, and a few dares from the men, though no one had volunteered as of yet.

"Well, if this isn't deja vu I don't know what is," Esme said, still looking out at the group of them.

Carlisle nodded, "We're lucky to have friends support us to this extent."

"We are," she agreed, "There is a part of me that feels okay about all this. We have the numbers and the gifts."

He looked at her, knowing there was a second part.

"But the other half," she shook her head, "There are bound to be casualties."

Carlisle rubbed the back of her arm, "We'll defend what we know to be right. That's all we can do, and pray for the best."

"Even for Sue," Esme told him, "Seth and Leah won't sit out of this, no matter what anyone says. She and Charlie just got married. What if she were to lose one of her children."

He pulled her in toward his chest and kissed her forehead, "Unfortunately we're in a situation where we could drive ourselves crazy with all of these scenarios. I know it's difficult, but you have to try to block that out for now."

"It's not easy," she told him.

"I know. It's not for me either."

"Hey," Emmett said, as he and Rosalie joined the two of them outside, "I used a few sick days for this at work. Hope it doesn't make me look bad." He grinned.

"This is what he's worried about," Rosalie joked, "Not the fight with Aro, but how he's going to look at work."

Carlisle and Esme smiled, both feeling better instantly due to Emmett's easy going attitude.

"I've heard both of you talking to separate people," Rosalie said, "About your little arguement the other day," she laughed, "Take it from me, you both have seen first hand that that wasn't anything compared to some that we've gotten into."

"Not by a long shot," Emmett smiled.

Carlisle and Esme both laughed.

"Anyway, what I'm getting at is, don't continue to feel bad about it. You forgave each other almost right after it happened. Edward said both of you kept thinking you'd regret it if something were to happen."

"Let it go," Emmett said, "You guys are fine. What do you fight once every thirty years?" He laughed, as did the rest of them, "I don't even know if I'd classify that as a fight."

Esme held her arms out, and Rosalie quickly gave her a long hug. "Thank you Rose."

"Thank you," she continued the hug, "We'll all be fine if we stand together, and we'll celebrate Masen's first birthday soon."

Esme closed her eyes, "I hope so."

"We will."

"Actually his birthday will come before anything happens," Alice called from inside the house.

"Way to eavesdrop, sis," Emmett called in.

Alice was quickly in the doorway that lead outside, "We'll celebrate Christmas, Masen's birthday and New Year's."

"So we have like a week and a half?" Emmett asked.

"More or less."

He shook his head, "More sick days."

"That means some of them will have to feed here," Carlisle said.

"A few of them went out already," Alice told him with a guilty expression, "But they traveled far away to do it because I let them know of the time frame. They didn't want to be disrespectful to us or the people of our town."

Everyone exchanged glances, obviously already aware of their friends' appetites and meal preferences. No one pushed the issue any farther.

Carlisle turned to Esme, "Would you mind going to speak with Sue? Bella and Edward went to talk with Charlie, but if you kind of filled her in about our guests, I think it would be helpful. I don't know if Leah or Seth have or haven't. They've been here for awhile."

She nodded, "Sure. I hope Charlie hasn't said anything to her," she laughed.

Carlisle smirked, knowing the rest of them would surely ask what they were talking about.

Emmett, Alice and Rosalie all looked at each other.

"Said anything about what?" Emmett asked.

Carlisle shook his head, trying hard not to smile. "Nothing."

Esme headed to the reservation to avoid any more questions from her family members. On her travels, her thoughts were no longer distracted by everyone at home and she began to get bad feelings in the pit of her stomach. When the Clearwater house came into view, she felt some relief, eager to speak with Sue to keep her from getting tangled in her own mind. She sensed she was at her old home, which Esme was originally unsure of, though suspected it was because of Charlie's recent switch to the night shift.

She knocked on the door, and Sue waved her in upon pouring herself a cup of tea.

"Hi Esme," she placed the cup down on the counter and gave her a quick hug.

"How are you? How have you been?"

"Great," she smiled, "I'd offer you a cup of tea but..."

Esme smiled, "Oh, I'm fine. Yeah."

Sue stirred in some milk and the two of them sat at the table.

"Sorry I didn't call," Esme told her, "I wasn't even sure you'd be over here."

"Oh, you don't have to call," Sue told her with a warm smile, she looked at the clock, "Charlie probably just got in from work."

"Still working nights?"

She nodded, "Only for a week or so more. Then he'll be back to normal."

"I just wanted to come over to let you know of our guests at the house."

"Oh, I've been back and forth with Seth and Leah," Sue told her, "Is something big going on? They won't tell me."

Esme knew Carlisle didn't want Charlie to know everything so he wouldn't be in a panic about Bella, but she told her friend at least a hint of the truth, "The Volturi may be coming back. Some of our friends from all over heard rumors and decided to come by in support. Right now it's just a precaution, but I just wanted to fill you in. Bella and Edward went to find Charlie to talk with him."

Sue sipped her tea, "How much were they telling him?"

"Just that some of our out of town friends were in the area," Esme explained.

"I think that would be best if that was all he knew. He'd drive himself crazy and probably try to save Bella if he knew anything else."

Esme agreed, glad that Sue was on the same page. "We were also thinking, and it's obviously up to the two of you, that it might be better if you and Charlie stayed on the reservation most of the time for the next week or so."

"Jacob told Billy about everything that's been going on. I think he was thinking of suggesting it, too."

"Sorry about all of this," Esme told her, "You two should be able to relax and enjoy some time together. I mean, you just got married."

"Oh," Sue waved her hand with a grin, "We're fine. Plus I overheard him talking with Billy about taking me to some place tropical in a month or so when he takes his vacation time. You know, after the holidays."

Esme smiled, "That's great. You guys deserve it."

"Speaking of which, what's your secret?"

"Secret?"

Sue laughed, "Forgive me for intruding into your private life, but I figured we're close enough of friends now. Charlie mentioned something about your car getting stuck the other night."

Esme was heavily embaressed, "I was afraid he might have said something," she laughed.

Sue tapped her hand, "No need to be embaressed," she giggled, and thought the two of them sounded much like a couple of teenage girls, "I would never talk about your business with someone else. How do you keep that type of intimacy in your marriage? Don't get me wrong, me and Charlie are just fine, but I don't know if I could talk him into something... fun.. like that." She smiled and took another sip of her tea.

Esme wasn't used to the girl talk, much like Alice and Rosalie were. They could chat for hours about this type of thing, and not think anything of it, though Esme suddenly saw the amusement in it and realized chatting with Sue was just what she needed to stay sidetracked momentarily from the issues at hand. "To be honest," she explained, "We don't usually do things like that. I don't know if we've ever done something quite like that," she let out another laugh, as Sue did simultaneously. "What did Charlie say? Carlisle's kind of embaressed to see him."

Sue couldn't stop laughing, "Well you know how dry Charlie can be. It's part of his charm. He's very subtly funny. When he came in, he had this half smile on his face and I kept pushing the issue until he told me."

"He wasn't... mad or anything, was he?"

"No," Sue said with a large smile, "Of course not."

"Good," Esme said, "I don't want him to think that we do that kind of thing all the time, or anything."

"Not to worry," she said smiling, "If only I could find a way to talk him into that."

The two of them laughed together, and continued chatting for the better part of the hour before Esme decided to head back home.

"Please take care of yourselves," Sue said, giving Esme a long hug, "And take care of my babies over there."

"We won't let anything happen to them."

"Maybe one day the two of us will be able to plan a wedding for the two of them."

"Leah and Masen?"

Sue nodded.

"We will. Down the road."

"Keep them safe."