A/N: I broke my own heart writing this and finished the chapter with tear filled eyes so fair warning this may make you cry and hate me.
Chapter: 16
When we entered Aro's study I automatically sank down on one of the armchairs still shaken by what I had just heard.
"I know it was a horrible thing to hear, Dear One. But Victoria nor Edward will get near Lia." Caius said kneeling down in front of me and taking my hands in his.
"You must try not to worry, it isn't good for you or the babes inside you." Aro said.
I nodded knowing they were right, Edward and Victoria would never get to Lia since she was going to stay with Alkaia until all this was over.
"If you'll excuse me, Noctis is waiting for me in my study." I said and Aro sighed.
"Tell him his position is his if he still wants it. I understand that the only one at fault is Kathleen. One cannot help themselves when they think someone is their mate." Aro said making me smile.
"Thank you, Uncle." I said and left his study.
I was ecstatic as I walked down the halls of the castle until I reached my own study and I opened the door to see Noctis and Diar talking to Chelsea who must've just arrived back.
"Alkaia has wholeheartedly agreed to harbor Diar and Lia until the threat is dealt with." Chelsea said the minute she saw me.
"Thank you, Chelsea. Could you see to Lia and pack at leat two bags for her? She and Diar will have to leave tonight." I said wearily as I sat in my chair behind my desk.
"What has happened, Mother?" Diar asked knowing that the plan was for them to leave on the Morrow.
"A vampire escaped Victoria's clutches and brought horrid news. Victoria is planning to capture Lia and make me give up my life for hers and Edward sees Lia as a replacement for me." I said and horror crossed over both Noctis' and Diar's eyes.
"You don't mean-" Diar said not daring to speak the words.
"Yes, I am afraid so." I said swallowing hard.
"We will talk later, you must go tell your mates. If they hear it from anyone else first it'll cause chaos." Noctis said and I knew he was right but I so did not want to tell them especially the Major. He already saw Lia as his daughter and I feared his reaction when I told the news.
"It'll be alright, Mother. They know you were already planning on sending Lia away." Diar said.
"I know, dearest." I said standing up from my desk. "Noctis, Aro has given you your position back if you still want it."
Noctis looked shocked but nodded enthusiastically, I kissed him and Diar on the cheek and left my study.
The walk back to my chambers, unfortunately, did not take as long as I hoped since I had made sure my study was as close to Lia's room as possible which was just across from mine. I opened the door with trepidation but smiled when I saw my mates sitting at the desk in the corner of the room playing chess.
Alex looked up and smiled but it soon disappeared, I knew he saw my worry and fear in my eyes even though I was smiling.
"What happened?" He asked and Jasper turned his head towards me frowning in worry.
I sighed and sat down on the bed, Alex and Jasper soon joined me.
"There was a new face at the gathering tonight, she is a vampire who escaped Victoria and the news she shared was not good at all." I said quietly and looked down at my shoes not wanting to look at their faces.
"What was it?" Alex asked gently and I took a deep unneeded breath.
"Victoria is planning to kidnap Lia and make me give up my life for hers and Edward plans to make Lia a replacement for me, in every single way." I said and slowly lifted my head to see both Alex's and Jasper's eyes darken in fury.
"Lia must go to Alkaia sooner than we planned." Jasper said and I nodded.
"I already have Chelsea packing her things and Diar is already ready." I said. "I need to change and then I must go prepare Lia, she'll not understand why we are sending her off early."
I stood up from the bed and disappeared into my closet, quickly changing into simple jeans and tee, I usually only wore these type of clothes when hunting but I was just too distraught to worry about skirts or dresses.
When I came out of the closet, Alex looked at me and his eyes widened when he saw my outfit.
"She'll know something is wrong, you never wore those clothes except for hunting and it's too soon for your weekly hunt." Alex said and I shrugged.
"I do not feel like putting on a skirt or dress right now." I said and kissed him and Jasper before leaving the room and acoss the hall to Lia's.
I opened the door and saw Lia helping Chelsea pack her things, she knew already that she had to go to Alkaia but still thought it was tomorrow and not tonight.
"Chelsea, you may go. I'll finish up here." I said and Chelsea bowed.
"As you wish, Bella." She said and exited the room.
"Mama, What's wrong?" Lia asked looking up at me with worried green eyes. The only thing she inherited from Edward was her eyes and I was glad, I would still love her of course but it would've been hard to always see Edward's features in my daughter.
I sat on her bed and patted my knee.
"Come here, darling." I said and lifted up into my lap when she came.
"There's been a change of plans, Cariad. You'll have to go to Alkaia tonight, we got more news and it is too dangerous to wait another day." I said softly and she tensed up in my arms.
"But you said I was going tomorrow!" She exclaimed and I sighed.
"I know I did my darling but your safety is too important to wait. You, my darling are my greatest treasure and I would be very sad if anything ever happened to you." I said and held close as she started weeping.
I did not say anything and just held her tightly and hummed until her crying slowed to just sniffles.
"You'll come for me when it's safe right?" Lia asked breaking my heart just a little more than it was already.
"Of course, My Love. I hate this just as much as you do and the second it's safe I'll be there to get you with your new siblings." I said and she lit up.
"They'll be born by the time you come get me?!" Lia asked and I nodded.
"Yes, my love they will. If I could send them with you I would but unfortunately, they still need to be in my belly a little longer." I said and Lia placed her hand on my stomach.
"You'll keep them safe, Mama." She said matter-of-factly.
"You can already see them?" I asked surprised. Lia had a less powered version of Alice's gift of seeing the future, she could only see the futures of those closest to her.
"You'll win, Mama and we'll all be safe again." Lia whispered and I hoped that was true. Just like Alice's gift, her's changed from time to time and I wanted the future she saw so badly.
"And what do we call the little imps, My Love?" I said making her giggle.
"Jasmine Marie and Charles Alexander." Lia said and I blinked back tears of venom. Charlie had been part of my rebirth until he died and naming my son after him would be the greatest thing I could do.
Charlie had refused the Rebirth and even though it broke my heart I abided to his wishes. He was surrounded by his family when he passed, he had married Sue Clearwater soon after I moved to Italy and adopted her children Leah and Seth. it was a shock to find out they were shifters, I didn't think that after the Cullens left that any others would shift, I thought that Jake would be the last one.
I became friends again with Jake after he took over the pack from Sam after Sam had threatened to kill my daughter when I brought her with me to the reservation to visit Charlie and Sue. That was also the day Leah and Sam shifted to defend me and Lia. They knew I was a vampire and didn't care. I still made many visits to the reservation to visit Leah, Seth, and Jacob who still shifted despite them having their own families. It was during one of the visits that I met Alex and the rest was history.
"Those are perfect names." I said kissing the top of Lia's head. "Now let's finish your packing."
Lia nodded and led me over to where her bags waited, one was already packed with her clothes and toiletries and the other was half pack with her toys and games.
"Now, let's decide which dolls you're bringing." I said and we started to finish packing the bag.
We were soon finished and I knew it was time to bring her downstairs to the Main Hall where Diar would be waiting.
"It is time, Dearest." I said picking her up and picking up her bags with the other hand.
"I'll miss you, Mama." Lia said as I carried to the Main Hall.
"I will miss you, sweetling." I said and I almost didn't want to take the last few steps that would put me right in front of Diar.
"I will keep her safe, Mother." Diar said taking Lia and her bags from me.
"Goodbye, little one." Alex said kissing her forehead before moving behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.
"May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand." I whispered as I watched Diar disappear with my daughter in his arms.
I felt my heart shatter and before I could stop it a heart-wrenching scream escaped my throat and I broke into dry sobs, the only thing still holding me together was Alex who hugged me tightly as I sobbed into his chest. I just wanted my daughter back.