Chapter 50

"No," Eleazar's voice came over the phone, "I won't bring this down to your family. You've all suffered enough."

Carlisle pleaded with him on the line, "From a defense standpoint, if everyone gathered here, we'd have far more numbers."

"There aren't many of them," his friend said reassuringly, "From what you told me Alice said, some will be used only as distractions, not as fighters. They'll only wish to draw a few of us away."

"Eleazar-"

"Carlisle, listen to me," he said, "I cannot actively take part in a plan that involves purposely drawing whoever this is toward your infant child and defenseless granddaughter."

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The way Eleazar spelled it out so finely made his plan to draw the attackers to Forks where all of them could be together seem irresponsible in regards to the children.

"We could send them somewhere safe for the day," Carlisle continued.

"With who?" Eleazar asked, "Humans? They'll have no protection that way. They'll overpower humans anyway, regardless of how physically small they are. And if some of you went with them to the safe place, how would that be any different than if a few of you stayed back in Forks while they struck up here?"

Carlisle contemplated his question and knew that he was right. The scenarios would pan out to be similar. He continued to gather his thoughts and remained silent on the phone.

"Your intentions are good, Carlisle," he continued, "But I will not bring anymore unnecessary attention to your family. It's not right. If our situations were reversed, you wouldn't put us in that position," he paused, "We'll handle this. You and Esme stay in Forks with Caleb and the kids. We won't have an issue."

He wanted to protest but agreed, "Fine."

"Thank you," Eleazar said, "And thank you for the warning. We'll prepare. A few thugs will be nothing."

"Let's hope that's all they have."

"I trust in your daughter's visions."

"I do too," Carlisle agreed, "But they are subject to change if someone were to change their mind."

"I understand. Keep us posted."

"Okay, we'll call you again soon."

Carlisle hung up and looked around the empty room he had moved himself too. Down the hall he heard the ongoing conversations between other family members. Emmett and Rosalie had found their way in while he was on the phone, as did Alexandra and Michael. They were now all discussing details and Emmett's carefree attitude seemed to make them all calm down a bit, with a little help from Jasper.

When he returned to where they all sat or stood closely around the desk in his office, he filled them in on the conversation he had with Eleazar.

"He raises good points," Emmett said, lifting his eyebrows, "I don't think this'll be a problem. Right sis?" he hit Alice lightly on the arm with the back of his hand.

"That's right," she said, "Unless they change course last minute. I've seen a blur of little possibilities but they're not nearly as concrete as the vision we just talked about."

"I have too," Nicole told them, "But I can't tell what certain things are because they're little fluttering thoughts I think."

"We'll have our points covered," Edward assured them, "It shouldn't be anything we can't handle."

Alexandra looked over at Carlisle and he gave her a half smile.

"I think we should move up toward Alaska tomorrow," Alice said, "So we can prepare up there."

Emmett nodded and looked at Rosalie. Her face was stern, but worried, because of William.

"Emmett and I have been going up there by foot," Rosalie said, "I know a way that's faster that if we drive. It's pretty much all woods, except for one small part."

He nodded to them all.

"Okay," Alice said, "We'll take that route."

They all looked around, feeling somewhat content about what was going on. Even Eleazar didn't seem overly worried. Alice was sure about the numbers, though there were still a few of them who she was unable to pinpoint, as far as their identity was concerned. She knew, however, that it wasn't so much about 'who', but 'where' that was important.

"The guy's face who I've seen..." Alice said, "I think he might be the distraction. I've seen him running away with Bella chasing him."

"Do they have gifts?" Esme asked, "And they're trying to take Bella away so she can't shield everyone?"

She shook her head, "Not that I've seen."

"Well," Rosalie said, "Should we pack?"

Alice nodded and looked at Carlisle and Esme, "We'll be fine."

...

The kids all packed, and Leah and Masen came to the house to see them off with Cassandra. Nicole stayed strong in her demeanor, despite watching both of her parents getting ready to leave.

Alice looked at her daughter, "I have my phone, little one. Call me if you need me." Her voice remained cheery and she gave her daughter a smile.

"Okay," Nicole said with a nod.

Jasper bent down and kissed her on the forehead, then gave her a wink, "Same here, kiddo."

She smiled, as she always did when her father winked, "Okay."

He picked her up above his head and twirled her in a circle. She laughed, and everyone looked on with smiles, before he put her back down on her feet.

"Good luck," she told them as simply as she would have if they were going to play a game.

"Thanks." Alice pinched her cheek and grinned again.

Renesme and Jacob burst through the door, both looking out of breath, though it was just from their worried expressions, "Mom! Dad!" Renesme said.

Edward smiled at his daughter, "I was starting to think you weren't going to show up."

"Never," she said, throwing her arms around them, "We want to come."

"No," Edward said, "You have to stay," he looked at Jacob, "There's a small chance they could come here. Carlisle and Esme are staying."

Renesme looked over at them, "Really?"

They both nodded.

"We wouldn't have left without saying goodbye," Bella told her, "Even if that meant going over to your house first."

"I didn't know you were leaving so soon until like fifteen minutes ago," her daughter said, "I would have been here earlier."

Edward looked at the clock, "It's only six in the morning. It's early."

She shook her head, "I don't want you to go."

"We'll be fine," Edward assured her with a hug that his daughter reciprocated with a lot of force. He smiled, "Ask Alice."

She nodded, "We'll have no trouble up there."

She sighed, "Positive?"

"Just about." Her words were as perky as her facial expression.

Jacob rubbed Renesme's back, "They'll be fine, Ness."

"Don't even ask, Masen," Edward said, looking over at him, "You're staying."

Leah looked up at him with accusatory eyes but didn't say anything. He gave her a smile.

"We should probably get going," Alice told them. She gave her daughter another hug and they all began making their way toward the door.

"Keep in contact the whole way," Esme said.

"You got it," Emmett told her, "Every ten minutes, we'll call."

She gave him a look, but smiled as he leaned in and gave her a big bear hug, then kissed her on the cheek, "We'll be fine, Mama."

"I know," she said, taking a deep breath.

Rosalie hugged her next, and each of the kids took their turn saying little goodbyes.

"Bye Friday," Alice said, "This will all be over." She gave them another reassuring smile.

Carlisle and Esme watched as their family continued to wave before they disappeared through the trees. For a few minutes, they could hear their conversations and Emmett's laughter, though it quickly disappeared in the distance.

Esme leaned into Carlisle, and at the same time Leah leaned into Masen. Cassandra looked up at her mother and leaned against both of them.

"Let's go inside," Carlisle said. He took Caleb from Esme and allowed everyone in before him. He made eye contact with Masen, who gave him a closed mouth, halfhearted smile before they tried to get settled indoors.