I really wish there was someone else to name my chapters, because honestly I'm terrible at naming them (and the story, as well) lol.. but anyway, thanks to everyone following & reviewing.. there are only a few more chapters until the end of this story.. I hope you end up enjoying the ending I have planned..

Chapter 91

The day before the Volturi were due to arrive, Alice was instructing everyone on the best angles to take and what to expect. Everyone listened intently, as she pulled people group by group to where they should be and what they should do.

Deep into the woods by the overhanging cliff, Benjamin talked with Masen, guiding ocean water up into a large barrel by the edge. They had to wait until well after nightfall in case someone happened to be walking by.

"What are you guys doing?" Rosalie asked.

"Preparing," they both said at the same time, then laughed at the coincidental choice of words.

"I see," she said, "What's the tub for?"

"It's a hot tub," Benjamin joked.

She put her hands on her hips with a smile, knowing he was kidding.

"Just thinking ahead," he explained, looking Masen.

Rosalie eyed her brother suspiciously, but let it go and returned to where she came from.

"I guess we should go back to the house, too," Ben said.

He and Masen made their way to where everyone was gathering themselves into a large group.

"Shall we make another fire?" Garrett asked with a grin.

"If we make it out of this," Kate said, "I think we should all meet up like this once a year - only it'll be for good reasons," she looked toward the rest of her coven, "We've enjoyed our stay with all of you, and we've made some great friends. It'd be nice to do this without worry on our minds."

"I agree," Siobhan said with a smile.

Jacob and Seth had gathered up some fire wood after hearing of Garrett's suggestion and made a pile in the middle of all of them. Within a few minutes, a humble blaze illuminated the immediate areas around them.

Each couple sat together, overly close to their mate, and those who had yet to pair up found themselves drawn to each other for some sense of comfort.

Carlisle stood up with his arm around Esme, "I apologize for the risks you're all taking in order to help defend our family, but I am overly grateful that you've chosen to come back here again. I know it must not be easy, especially putting your loved ones at risk, but we would be nowhere with everyone's help. We'd be at a great loss with little chance to get out of this unscathed," he looked toward Carmen and Eleazar, "Thank you for letting us know in advance about Aro's message to other people of our kind," he then turned to Edward, "And I know, Edward, that you were the one to round everyone up this time on your own. I haven't taken the time to properly thank you. You're my son and I can't thank you enough for all you've done."

"You don't have to thank me," Edward shook his head, "You went to great lengths for me, Bella and Renesme."

"And you certainly don't have to thank us," Carmen told him, "You're our friends. They're hard to come by. Especially in our world."

"Everything that Carlisle said, goes the same for me," Esme told them, "I really hope there is a possibility for a civilized solution. We never wanted to drag everyone into this and put you all back in harms way."

"We're defending what's right," Tia said, speaking up, "You've broken no rules. You've done the impossible and it's going to open doors for all of us."

Benjamin gently rubbed her back, "It's truly amazing in our eyes, and I believe others will see it that way, as well."

A few of the Quileute boys arrived who had been missing earlier.

"Sorry we're late," Sam said, with his pack in tact, "We want to make sure you know we're in support of all this."

Masen eyeballed Sam and threw an arm around Leah, though he knew inside that their flame had long since died. Still, he felt something pulling inside of him to claim his love.

Carlisle approached Sam and shook his hand, "Thank you, Sam."

He nodded respectfully, making eye contact with a few of the Cullens.

Paul and Emmett exchanged a quick wave with smiles.

Alice stood up, "Do you guys want to do a walk through with me and Jasper? My visions are a little broken, but I'm pretty sure I know what would be best for you guys."

They all looked toward each other and nodded, following Alice and Jasper down to what had become their battle ground.

"I'm sorry," Masen said finally, "It's kind of all about me, isn't it? I feel like it's not right for all of you to be here, possibly falling at the hands of the Volturi, to defend one person."

"Leave no man behind," Liam said in a heavy accent, "We know you'd do it for any one of us. Besides, we're defending what's right."

Carlisle put a hand on Masen's shoulder and gave it firm squeeze, "Don't feel that way. Nothing's your fault."

"We're going to have a ton of babies because of you," Garrett said with a grin, nudging Kate.

Everyone laughed at the comment.

Carlisle pulled Masen to the side while everyone continued doing what they could to make light of the situation before them, mostly by sharing funny stories from the past. When they were a good distance away from the fire, Carlisle talked seriously with his son.

"Don't start feeling like this is somehow your fault," he said, "Edward said the thought has crossed your mind a lot since you've returned with Emmett."

"Dad, it just doesn't seem right," Masen shook his head, "I don't want anyone to die here. They're too good. They're too loyal."

"We're hoping it won't come to that. They know the risks, they've decided to help on their own will. I wish they wouldn't have to, but a lot of them have strong feelings about everything. Edward's been keeping tabs on that for me. They all are here for reasons beyond you and I."

"What if something happens to you or Mom.. or Emmett or Rose.. Bella, Edward, Alice, Jas-"

"We can only stand together," Carlisle explained, "I've had this same talk with your mother. It's a situation we hoped would never happen again."

"Because of me," Masen said again.

"No," he said firmly, "It's not because of you."

"I want Mom to stay back. I don't want her to fight. Maybe she could go look after Charlie and Sue to make sure they're alright."

He smiled and looked down, "She said the same thing about you on you birthday, just after you left with Emmett."

"And what'd you tell her?"

"The same thing I'm going to you. There's no way she'll stay out of this. You're her baby. As old as you look, and even a hundred years down the road, that's what you'll always be. She'd fight for you for eternity Masen, if that's what it took."

Masen's eyes shifted around the landscape and he began to clench his lips together, a technique he used at a younger age when he attempted to hold back his tears. "What about Leah? I already told her to stay on the reservation. She won't listen."

"Would you stay back if she was the one in trouble?"

He looked at his father in the eye, "No."

"Then I'd say it'll be beating a dead horse if you continued to try to persuade her."

Masen dug his hands into the back pockets of his jeans and leaned from his toes to heels in a rocking motion, visually uneasy and torn about the upcoming battle.

"Come her, son," Carlisle threw his arms around him, causing his son's tearducts to open, though he only let a few slide down his face.

"I love you, Dad," Masen said, "I love you so much."

"I love you, too," he patted his back and kissed the side of his head, "When we're done with this, you're going to enroll in school."

Masen wiped his eyes and laughed, pulling back. He continued to let out a chuckle, causing a few stray tears to fall, " School huh?"

"I think it'd be a good experience for you," Carlisle nodded, "But that'll be a talk for another time. We should go back to the rest of them."

"Can you tell I cried?" He asked with another brief laugh.

"No, it's dark enough," Carlisle told him, smiling. He joined Esme, kissing her on the cheek and whispering, "He's okay," in her ear.

They looked over and caught Masen pull Emmett slightly away. The two of them whispered with nods before Masen joined Leah, and Emmett returned to Rosalie's side. The look Emmett gave Carlisle and Esme, made both of them feel suddenly anxious. The two of them looked at each other, knowing something was going on that they didn't know about.