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"That doesn't answer the crucial question! Why?" Carlisle asked, I'm pretty sure more to himself than to the rest of us. I had a feeling I knew the answer to his question whether it was rhetorical or not, but I couldn't give my reasoning, I was off in my own world. Even when Jasper begged Alice to find the trigger, I knew the trigger, it was just a matter of time before my family knew it too.

Alice couldn't give Jasper an answer, at least not the trigger answer he was looking for, she looked over at me for a brief second as she shook her head, shoulders sagging.

"It came out of nowhere, Jazz." She explained "I wasn't looking for them, or even for us. I was just looking for Irina. She wasn't where I expected her to be..." Alice trailed off, her eyes drifted off, staring at something only she could see…this didn't last long however, because she suddenly looked back up and Edward who was reading her mind literally stopped breathing for a second.

I winced and took a deep breath before looking at my sister. Edward looked at me, he had been so focused on Alice and her vision he hadn't been paying any attention to my mind and now he did, he allowed the briefest glimpse into my mind and closed his eyes weakly.

"Alice?" Esme called gently

"She decided to go to them," Alice said. "Irina decided to go to the Volturi. And then they will decide... It's as if they're waiting for her. Like their decision was already made, and just waiting on her..."

Of course they were, I thought growling under my breath

"Can we stop her?" Jasper asked.

"There's no way. She's almost there."

I couldn't help it, I felt a wave of guilt wash over me, I had given up, I had given up the chase for Irina and if I hadn't I might have caught up to her, explained Nessie to her…Bloody hell I was an idiot.

"No Chris," Edward whispered, Carlisle was asking Alice questions, trying to get more information of her vision, but Edward must have read my mind, saw the guilt there. "This was not your fault,"

It is Edward, I knew I could catch up with her if I just had the chance, I gave up to easily. I thought and he shook his head, but he knows me well enough to know there was nothing he could say or do to change my mind…even I can admit that I'm a stubborn arse.

"Her mind was set the moment she saw Nessie. I don't think anything could have changed her decision." Alice explained, she looked right at me and I looked away quickly.

"What is she doing?" Carlisle asked,

"It's so hard to see," Alice explained, "she's upset and determined, that much I can see."

"I don't get it," Emmett growled softly "why…what's the de-"

Bella was laying over Nessie, protecting her as she slept soundly through all of this which was good, the longer she slept, the less she knew about what was going on the better. As mature as she was becoming she was still a little kid and we needed to keep her that way. Bella was deep in thought, but she looked up suddenly, joining the conversation quickly.

"Think of what she saw that afternoon," she said in a low voice, interrupting Emmett's rant/question. Emmett was beginning to say. "To someone who'd lost a mother because of the immortal children, what would Renesmee look like?"

I couldn't look at anyone, Bella had figured it out pretty quick and as proud as I was of her I couldn't help but wish that she stayed in the dark. Esme came over to me, I felt her behind me and she hugged my shoulders.

"An immortal child," Carlisle whispered, he looked over at me for a moment, both of us clearly remembering my own experience with the Volturi, when they assumed I was an immortal child.

"But she's wrong," Bella continued "Renesmee isn't like those other children. They were frozen, but she grows so much every day. They were out of control, but she never hurts Charlie or Sue or even shows them things that would upset them. She can control herself. She's already smarter than most adults. There would be no reason..."

She was trying to justify it, hoping that maybe by talking like this it would make her words true, like she was preparing a defense for the Volturi. None of us really had the heart to bring her down. It took Edward a few seconds before he couldn't do that to her, he couldn't lie to her.

"It's not the kind of crime they hold a trial for, love," he said quietly. "Aro's seen Irina's proofin her thoughts. They come to destroy, not to be reasoned with."

"But they're wrong," Bella said stubbornly. She looked at me "and besides, didn't they believe Chris was an immortal child?" she asked "they didn't condemn him right away, they realized their mistake."

"They won't wait for us to show them this time." Edward explained "it was only rumors with Chris, Aro gave Carlisle the benefit of the doubt. This time he has a witness who yes is mistaken, but it is what Aro can see."

I saw the pain in Bella's eyes, the pain in Edward's voice…Edward wasn't giving up per say, but he was running out of ideas quickly and for once, he wasn't sure how to fix this.

"What can we do?" Bella demanded. There was a long pause, no one in the family had an answer…at least not at first. Emmett looked around, he looked at me, then at Carlisle.

"We fight," he said calmly. I'm used to Emmett's first reaction being to fight and usually even in a serious situation it's comical…this time he was completely serious and as much as I hated to admit a fight was our only alternative and in all reality it was pretty much a lost cause…but it was a die trying kind of thing, I felt sick.

"We can't win," Jasper growled, reminding us.

"Well, we can't run. Not with Demetri around." Emmett retorted. "And I don't know that we can't win," he added he looked at me "we've got enough warning here, we can at least try." He paused "besides, there are a few options to consider. We don't have to fight alone."

Bella didn't like that at all, she thought she saw where Emmett was going, she thought he meant the wolves.

"We don't have to sentence the Quileutes to death, either, Emmett!" she growled at him,

Emmett gave her a slight smile, trying to reassure her

"Chill, Bella." He said gently "I didn't mean the pack. Be realistic, though – do you think Jacob or Sam is going to ignore an invasion? Even if it wasn't about Nessie? Not to mention that, thanks to Irina, Aro knows about our alliance with the pack now, too. But I was thinking of our other friends."

Carlisle shook his head,

"Other friends we don't have to sentence to death."

"Hey, we'll let them decide," Emmett replied "I'm not saying they have to fight with us." He made a face as he tried to find the right words. "If they'd just stand beside us, just long enough to make the Volturi hesitate. Bella's right, after all. If we could force them to stop and listen. Though that might take away any reason for a fight..."

"Witnesses," I whispered, more to myself than anyone. Behind me I felt Esme nodding, she kissed the top of my head.

"Yeah, what the kid said, "witnesses"

"Yes," Esme said eagerly. "That makes sense. All we need is for the Volturi to pause for one moment. Just long enough to listen. Witnesses."

"We'd need quite a show of witnesses," Rosalie said, I could tell she was trying to keep the harshness out of her voice, but she was failing, because there was a distinct bitterness to her voice, not directed at anyone in particular, but still there.

"We can ask that much of our friends. Just to witness." Esme responded, as if she hadn't even heard Rose's bitterness.

"We'd do it for them," Emmett said.

"We'll have to ask them just right," Alice murmured. "They'll have to be shown very carefully."

"Shown?" Jasper asked, I'm not used to seeing Jasper confused and it's not something I want to experience again.

Alice looked Nessie over carefully, then she looked out at something only she could see, her mind scanning the future.

"Tanya's family," she said naming off the potential witnesses, ones who we could almost count on wanting to help us. "Siobhan's coven. Amun's, possibly Samuel and Julianna. Some of the nomads… Garrett and Mary for certain. Maybe Alistair."

"What about Peter and Charlotte?" Jasper asked weakly

"Maybe."

"The Amazons?" Carlisle asked. "Kachiri, Zafrina, and Senna?"

Alice was deep in her visions, trying to see our allies and who would be most likely to not only come, but to help us. Alice shuddered a little.

"I can't see." She admitted, but I could read her body language, something was up, something definitely wasn't right, but I couldn't figure it out.

"What was that?" Edward asked, his voice tense. "That part in the jungle. Are we going to look for them?"

"I can't see," Alice repeated but she couldn't meet Edward's eyes and he looked confused, like with Jasper I'm not used him being confused either. "We'll have to split up and hurry – before the snow sticks to the ground. We have to round up whomever we can and get them here to show them." She was out of it again. "Ask Eleazar. There is more to this than just an immortal child. There is so much. We have to hurry," she whispered.

She was panicking, I was right something was wrong, I could see her face shifting and I could smell Jacob's scent in the air, but he was only part of it. Alice had seen something, something that had frightened her. Whatever it was, she was blocking it from Edward, he couldn't read that part of her mind.

"Alice?" Edward asked. "That was too fast – I didn't understand. What was-?"

"I can't see!" she exploded at him. "Jacob's almost here!"

Rosalie made a move towards the front door.

"I'll deal with-" she started to say, but Alice cut her off

"No, let him come," She said quickly, she grabbed Jasper's hand "I'll see better away from Nessie, too. I need to go. I need to really concentrate. I need to see everything I can. I have to go. Come on, Jasper, there's no time to waste!" Jasper looked just as confused as the rest of us as Alice pulled him out of the house and into the night

"Hurry!" she called back to us. "You have to find them all!"

"Find what?" Jacob asked, letting himself in. "Where'd Alice go?" None of us had an answer for him, we were all still trying to figure out what had just happened in the sudden hurricane that had rushed through the family

"Hey, Bells! I thought you guys would've gone home by now..." he exclaimed with a grin, but slowly that grin faded away, he realized something was going on. "What?" he asked flatly. "What happened?" but no one could answer him, slowly he moved towards Bella and Nessie, concern washing over his face "Is she okay?" he demanded, touching her forehead, "Don't mess with me, Bella, please!"

"Nothing's wrong with Renesmee," Bella said softly

"Then who?"

"All of us, Jacob," Bella lowered her voice, Esme moved towards Carlisle to speak to him, Rose and Emmett held each other. I backed away, moving towards the stairs, sinking down to the first step as I tried to not only wrap my head around all of this and what was to come.

"I don't get it, what's going on?" Jacob said.

I tried to wrap my head around Alice's quick departure something about that was more than just her needing to clear her head, I just couldn't figure it out. My profile was at a standstill and I hate being in the dark like this. Of course my mood wasn't lightened by Bella's explanation of what was going on to Jacob.

"It's over. We've all been sentenced to die."

Jacob's face went pale and I put my head in my hands, defeat washing over my body. Hearing it repeated literally grounded all of us, I haven't felt this helpless in a while, the summer's experience was nothing compared to this.

No one moved, we stood in silent as Carlisle explained to Jacob what was going on. But as he explained I felt myself moving towards my room. It was as if I had no control over my body and before I knew it I was climbing out on my balcony, before scaling to the roof. I knew there was a possibly that Esme would be looking for me, but I wasn't ready to face anyone, especially my mother, horrible as that sounds. I had to get away, calm myself down, clear my head, whatever it was.

I stared out at the night, it was a clear night, I could see the stars perfectly and that's a rare thing. Nights are typically clear around here, I mean we're far enough away from any city lights, but usually there's that thin layer of fog that prevents us from seeing the stars from the roof of our house.

I've always been comforted by the stars, never really got to see them well in London even though one of my classes I had to take as a kid was astronomy and it was interesting, but London as I said is not the ideal place to stargaze. All that changed coming to the US, especially when we were far enough from city lights.

I can remember when I first looked up at the stars and the northern lights in Alaska and being just mesmerized by them.

I felt my stomach sink a little as that memory clicked…I closed my eyes and drifted back to when I first heard of the Volturi.

"The Volturi…what could they possibly want?" I heard Esme ask, her voice just barely above a whisper. It was the tone in her voice that caught my attention; seven, going on eight years as a vampire I was still fascinated with my extraordinary hearing. Though my adoptive parents were in Carlisle's office, with the thick oak door closed tight, I could hear them perfectly.

I paused at the door and stood waiting for Carlisle's answer, curious as to who the Volturi were and why my mother's voice seemed so anxious. I heard my father sigh, before clearing his throat and I made myself comfortable on the steps that ran along the wall of his office. I'm not one to eavesdrop, and I certainly do not make it a regular habit, but I had also grown accustom to my new abilities, one of which warned me with a feeling that I needed to listen to this and like my family I had learned not to doubt my ability, but I could not shake the uneasy feeling, as my adoptive parents argued, the first argument I had ever heard between them.

"To meet him…" was all Carlisle could say. A few tense moments passed with silence between them, before Esme spoke again; gone was the anxiety in her voice leaving only anger. An emotion I had never heard from Esme, ever.

"Meet him?" she hissed "you have said it yourself Carlisle…friends or not, the Volturi do not simply extend an invitation at random. They want something." There was another pause "oh Carlisle…you don't…you don't think they believe him to be…"

"One of the immortal children? I do not believe so, how could they even come to that conclusion, there is no ground to base it on."

"You cannot take him to Italy,"

"Esme I do not have a choice. Aro and Caius have sent out the 'invitation,' they are allowing me to bring him on my own terms. If they feel the need to ask again, it would mean we have something to hide which we don't. I cannot chance them coming here. He'll be safe Esme, I swear to you,"

"It's not polite to eavesdrop." Emmett had interrupted at that point, I didn't get the rest of Carlisle and Esme's conversation…but I did get my answers and it also solidified my decision to go to Volterra alone.

Of course Carlisle, Emmett, and Edward caught up with me before I got too far into Alaska, and certainly before I hit the Bearing Straight. It had been my first brush with death as a vampire and though I was afraid to go to Volterra and I was afraid that Carlisle and I wouldn't be leaving alive. Though I feared for my own life, I honestly was willing to give up my own life if it meant Carlisle would be safe.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and stared through the woods. There would be negotiations this time, no second chance…except our friends, witnesses. If they came they might help in our defense. That's what Alice had seen and my profile accepted that, I knew it was a good way to go and it gave us a chance, albeit a slim one, but still a chance to live.

Alice…I looked back into the woods again where the bloody hell was she? Her and Jasper had been gone for hours now, it wasn't like them.

Once again that wave of uncertainty washed over me, something didn't feel right, no…not didn't feel right, something wasn't right.

But what was it? What had Alice seen that was clouded by Nessie and by Jacob? Was it a complete vision or had she only seen a bit before she had to go clear her head. It had been hours though, what could be taking so long? I scanned the forest, hoping and even praying for a flash of movement anything that would signal the return of my brother and sister, but there was nothing out of the ordinary.

My mind shifted from Alice and Jasper back to what had started all of this in the first place…Irina betraying us.

The thought still sounded obscene in my mind, no matter how I tried. I couldn't believe Irina would betray us like this. I think that hurt worse than the actual death sentence.

After all the Denali clan was family we had stood by them and them by us through many difficult times, it was inconceivable to imagine any of them would betray us, turn us in like we were enemies, not cousins.

What made the betrayal doubly painful was the fact she didn't even give us the benefit of the doubt, the fact that her first instinct was to go to the Volturi, seal our death certificate, this was the worst part of this whole thing. She could have gone back to Alaska confronted her sisters, Eleazar, and Carmen and as a family decided what should be done, this would have been the way the old Irina would have handled things. She would be calmed into at least hearing us out before condemning us, but this new Irina was bent on revenge, trying to avenge the life of someone who only used her, but she was blinded by this vendetta.

It had been just sad at first, we felt for our cousin's pain and heartbreak, then it turned worrisome, especially when Tanya informed Carlisle that the only way they would help us against the newborn's in the summer was if we gave permission to take out the pack. Of course we would never have agreed to such a thing, the wolves even then were our allies and now they are more than that, they are close friends, hell in Jacob's case they're family.

I know we were all a little worried about the reaction from Irina (if she came) in regards to Bella and Edward's wedding, she did come and certainly wasn't herself the entire time, but it had gone off without a hitch, even with Seth standing right there with me, even when Jacob arrived out of the blue after being AWOL for a few months.

It had led me to believe, apparently foolishly, that things would be slowly getting back to normal, that maybe Irina had forgiven us or at least was willing to see our side of the whole Laurent thing. That was what it was all about, she had fallen in love with the nomad, he didn't share that same feeling, came back to Forks on behalf of Victoria his true obsession, and had been destroyed by the wolves in order to protect Bella from him. It had not been the wolves betraying anyone it was Laurent betraying Irina's feelings and our trust.

That alone however shouldn't have given Irina cause to just accept betraying us, branding us to die. Even if this was about Nessie appearing to be an immortal child, why would Irina assume the worst, even if Nessie's existence is hard to believe. But did she really think Carlisle, hell any of us would break one of the Volturi's strictest of laws?

Yeah Carlisle has technically toed the line as far as changing people goes. Hell, I personally knew I was a risk, I could have gone either way, and the only thing that stopped me from going the wrong way was my self-control, mindfulness and of course my family constantly reminding me that even though it would be tough they were there to help me.

I've always believed I owe a lot of my control to my family's strong support, but I also owe it to my ability, what if I didn't have that, I could have turned out like one of the immortal children. Edward may have seen my mind before Carlisle decided to change me, but was no guarantee that once the transformation was complete I would still be whatever thirteen year old kid Edward had seen. It could have made me do a complete 180, I could have lost any humanity and become like Jane and Alec, like the immortal children.

I think because of our ages, Jane, Alec, even Bree I'm sure had she lived, we all teeter on that edge of how close we can relate to the Immortal Children, we're older than those children who were put to death centuries ago, but we are closer to them than most adults of our kind.

It's why Aro, Marcus, and Caius had been so quick to condemn me before even meeting me, it was why they accepted Irina's story without investigation…Carlisle had already come so close to that line of changing a child, it was very fathomable in Aro's mind that he would do it, especially to save a life.

I sighed, there had to be more to it, Aro may be quick to judge, especially on the prodding of Caius, but he is still one of Carlisle's oldest friends and usually has the sense to give him the benefit of the doubt. What was really going on with this?

I don't know how long I was up on the roof, it must have been hours though, because even as the night began to fade and the first bits of dawn began to appear, I stayed on the roof. I knew I'd eventually have to go back inside, especially before Esme sent an Emmett like search party. But I didn't want to move, instead I watched the sun come up, my eyes focused on the same area of woods.

I would have probably stayed there until the sun set again. At least I would've, but…a different wave hit me…my profile calling for my attention, begging at first, then demanding it.

Alice would never be gone this long unless…the thought, profile whatever it was, it was caught in my throat. I had to check on my family.

I didn't even bother going through my window, I simply let myself drop to the ground from the roof.

I ran to the porch and pushed open the door, everyone looked up expectantly as if they assumed I was Alice coming back. I didn't even take the disappointment to heart, I knew it wasn't personal and besides there wasn't time.

"Some…something is really wrong," I hissed, Edward exchanged a look with Carlisle, Bella was on her feet in a second, they all must have been discussing the same thing, which explained my profile's high demand for my attention.

"Stay with Renesmee!" she shrieked at Jacob, and my first instinct was to follow her and the rest of the family as they sprinted towards the door, but I glanced back at Jacob and Nessie, something inside me told me not to leave them. It was one of the rare times I really doubted what my profile was telling me.

"Chris?" Edward started to say when he saw me hesitate I nodded

"I'll stay with her and Jacob," I replied softly

Edward gave a nod of thanks as he bolted with the rest of the family. Jacob looked stunned as he watched them vanish into the woods.

"What the hell just happened Flea!?" when I didn't answer him he came up behind me "Kid, what the hell is going on?"

"Alice and Jasper, they've been gone too long," I said monotone "something's not right."

"Kid go with them, I can handle Nessie solo."

I shook my head, I don't like being left behind and I definitely do not like our family splitting like this, but in all reality the minute Jasper and Alice walked out that door, our family had split up a bit, not permanently, at least I hoped not, but it had done so. But keeping Nessie safe was important and even though I knew Jacob was capable of protecting her, I didn't want him going at it alone.

"No, they have enough back up with them, you saw Bella's strength, Emmett's just as strong and Edward's ability will be useful for this. I'm…I'm better off here."

I knew I was lying through my teeth just then, I don't like to brag, but because of my ability I'm the tracker of the family, everyone is capable of finding a scent and following it, but my ability is designed to amplify that track and it rarely if ever fails me. But Edward's ability can work the same way, even if it's just a little bit and he really has to think about it…

"Kid, what did Alice see, before she left?"

"I don't know exactly, she was talking about getting witnesses, saying something about pulling some of our closest friends, asking them to stand by us and bear witness to the Volturi that Nessie is not an immortal child,"

"A what!?" Jacob asked

"Long story…" I replied

Jacob gestured around at the nearly empty house, towards the woods where my family had gone in search of two of our own, and to the toddler sleeping soundly on the couch, unaware of the massive changes that had occurred while she slept.

"I think we've got a little bit of time Chris," Jacob said and I sighed, running my hand through my hair

"Point taken. The immortal children were around centuries ago, I think even before Carlisle was born. Back when wars and battles for territory among our kind was a more common thing. You already know that we are frozen at the age we're turned right?" Jacob gave me a 'duh' face and I couldn't fault him for that, it was a pretty stupid question, but I had to be sure he understood that part. "A few coven leaders decided for whatever the reason, to turn kids."

Now Jacob's confused face had returned and he was looking right at me expectantly.

"Um, no offense, but isn't that what you are?"

"I was thirteen, nearly fourteen Jacob, I was only a month away from my fourteenth birthday. A year from being able to lie about my age and join the British Army." he stared at me dumbfounded "but that's beside the point. It is rare for there to be vampires my age, aside from Bree; Alec and Jane are the only others I have ever met who are my age physically. We teeter on the line of being immortal children because of our physical age, but it's our mentality and self control that separate us from them. They were literally children, in every sense of the word, you could even go as far and say they were babies." I looked over at Nessie

"Baby vampires?" Jacob repeated "that's gotta be adorable," he added with some sarcasm.

"Oh yeah, adorable, ever seen the movie Pet Sematery?" Jacob looked confused for a second "how about Children of the Corn?" still nothing "seriously am I the only one in this state that watches horror movies?"

"You watch horror movies?" Jacob asked

"Dude, focus will you, what about the Omen?" Now Jacob nodded "about time," I paused "anyways, all those movies have something in common, crazy, creepy, killer kids, especially Pet Sematery. But that's what these kids were like, they were every horror movie depicting kids. They were uncontrollable. Carlisle said that a single tantrum could potentially destroy an entire town. You saw how uncontrolled and savage the newborns were right?"

Jacob nodded rubbing his ribs absentmindedly as he remembered the pain from his own newborn encounter.

"Not something I'm likely to forget," he admitted

"Yeah, well now picture that same strength, that same mindless killing machine only trapped in the body of a toddler, Nessie's size. Doesn't look very threatening or dangerous, but that's one of the big reasons why they were so hazardous, they looked innocent they looked harmless. But they weren't, people let their guard down, intuited" I paused "in my own perspective it was cruel. I mean who wants to spend eternity in the body of a three year old."

"Who in their right mind would change a damn toddler. I mean did they try to kill them first and then just decided to turn them?"

I raised an eyebrow

"Huh?"

"Or did they just happen on a dying little kid on the side of the road and go what the hell let's make Jr. a blood sucker?"

I'm not used to being confused but damn it I was this time around. It took me a few seconds, but I finally had at an idea about what he was talking about.

"They weren't dying, least not they I know of they were purposely turned."

"Wait I thought you guys had to be dying to be changed. Look at Bella,"

"Oh," I breathed "I get it. That's just our family," I explained "Carlisle's preference. He'd never change someone that had a chance to survive. Bella would've been the first and an exception, even though he was hesitant. Emmett, Esme, Edward, Rose, and me were all dying or near death when Carlisle changed us. Most of our kind don't think like that, most newborns are created by accident, sometimes they start out as a meal that gets interrupted, sometimes they are created on purpose, but the former is more likely."

"So someone made these kids into vampires just because they could?"

"Yeah and it turned out to be an epidemic, ancient covens were turning these children and hiding them away, but they couldn't control them, it got out of hand very quick. They came so close to exposing our kind it put the Volturi on alert. Carlisle told me…a long time ago when I was faced with the same accusation from the Volturi."

"This has happened before?" Jacob asked, I could see renewed hope in his eyes and I winced, hoping that I wasn't getting his hopes up, but also praying a little that maybe we could come out of this.

"Only once, about eight years after I joined the family. I guess rumours had made their way to Italy that Carlisle Cullen had added another member to his coven, only this one was younger than the others, much younger. We never did learn who alerted my existence to the Volturi and it doesn't matter. They demanded to see me in person, determine if I was capable of maintaining control. Aro has known Carlisle for many years, they mutually consider themselves friends, he knew he had uphold the law, but at the same time, he wanted to give Carlisle the benefit of the doubt. Something they didn't give those who created the Immortal Children."

"How come?"

"An attempt was made to study them, to see if they could be taught to maintain our secrecy. It wasn't so the Volturi made the decision to destroy them. Carlisle told me that the oldest of the kids was maybe four or five when she was changed, they never lost their newborn instincts, some even attacked their creators." I paused, glancing back at Nessie, Jacob had sat down on the chair near the door, but I hadn't moved from my post, standing near the glass sliding door, watching the woods as I told Jacob the story.

"So these nut jobs in Italy, they thought you were one of these kids?"

"Pretty much. I was pretty naïve back then, I'd never heard the term Immortal Children, nor had I heard of the Volturi. Emmett and Edward explained as much as they could, Emmett inadvertently letting me know what had happened to not only the kids, but to their creators too. He didn't know what I had overheard between Carlisle and Esme, when Carlisle received a telegram from Aro demanding that I be brought to Italy. Emmett thought I was just asking out of the blue. I made the decision that night that I wouldn't let Carlisle or the rest of the family be put to death because of me, so I tried to make it to Italy alone, to present myself to the Volturi and let them decide my fate, hoping to keep Carlisle and the others out of it."

"So what happened?"

Nessie gave a little sigh and curled up tighter on the couch, she would be waking up soon and I wasn't sure how Jacob and I were going to explain this all to her.

"Carlisle, Edward, and Emmett caught me before I got to far and Carlisle and I went to Italy together. The rumours were put to rest and the Volturi concluded that I was more adult than child and therefore I was not a danger to our kind." I paused "that's why this whole thing is so confusing, so frustrating."

"What do you mean?"

"Even if Aro saw in Irina's mind Nessie and assumed like Irina did that she is an Immortal Child, he has never given Carlisle anything but the benefit of the doubt. He would demand to see her like he did with me, he wouldn't automatically sentence us to death without investigating. He sees Carlisle as a friend, not to mention it would be a waste. Aro's been determined to get Edward, Alice, and I to join the guard. It started when I first met him and it only increased when he met Edward and Alice last year. Our abilities fascinate him, especially Alice's so he would…" my voice trailed off, my profile finally helping me understand everything, Alice's strange behavior, the coming Volturi, everything suddenly made sense.

"Chris what's the matter?"

I looked back at him for a second, then at the woods

"Alice and Jasper are gone…because the Volturi is coming to destroy us."

"Yeah we've already established that," Jacob reminded me gently

"The Volturi are coming to destroy us, but not all of us, Aro wants Alice under his control, wants her ability in his collection, he knows if he destroys us, destroys everything that Alice loves it will leave her no choice and if he can get Edward and I as a bonus then so be it, but he really wants Alice."

Jacob went pale

"Kid you need to catch up with the others, let them know what's going on."

"No point," I replied "they're going to find out soon. That's why Alice ran, she's trying to protect herself and Jasper."

"Are you sure?"

I sighed

"Yep, I'm bloody sure, the others are going to figure it out soon too."

"So what does that mean for you guys?"

"We do what Alice suggested, we find as many friends willing to stand with us and testify that Nessie is not an Immortal Child. We do all we can to protect her and ourselves."

On the couch Nessie, stretched, yawned and looked up at Jacob and I,

"Hey there Ness," Jacob called kneeling down next to the couch, she grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck hugging him tight.

"Morning Jacob, morning Uncle Chris," she beamed "uncle Chris, where's mommy and daddy?"

I exchanged a look with Jacob who gave me a shrug,

"They had to run some errands with grandpa and grandma, so they told me and Jacob to spoil you rotten." I paused, feeling guilty that I was lying to her "do you want some breakfast?" Nessie made a face "I'll make chocolate chip pancakes," I offered, Jacob's ears perked up and I rolled my eyes, he leaned over and nudged Nessie gently

"What do you say Ness, let's watch your uncle make a fool of himself in the kitchen,"

"Don't be mean Jacob," Nessie scolded and in spite of the fear and pain I was feeling, and the fear and anxiety that I know Jacob was feeling, we both gave a grin and had to laugh at that. As Jacob carried Nessie to the kitchen, I slowly moved away from the door to follow them. I could practically see the looks on my family's faces when they realized what I had just figured out. Desperation washed over my whole body, we would have to go search for the witnesses, which meant…we would have to separate. I didn't like this…not at all.

x-x-x-x

A/N: I deeply apologize for how long it has been since I updated, I have been working/interning at what is literally my dream job for school and it is not leaving me free time to write during classes which was when I usually got my best and most productive writing done, I'm able to write a few paragraphs in my free time, but that's why it's taking me so long to update. It will be over in a few weeks sadly, but on a positive note it means the updates on this fic as well as some of my others will be back on a reasonable schedule.

I really appreciate all of you guys for sticking with me and being so patient with my insane and for lack of better terms random updating. It means a lot to me to have such wonderful readers whom I definitely see as virtual friends and again your support is so valuable and special to me. So thank you so, so much.

I'll try to get chapter 21 up the weekend after next and I think you guys are going to like that one because it involves getting the witnesses and I've got some fun scenes planned with that. After that a pretty important chapter will be coming, one that many of you have been waiting for and asking me constantly when its coming, well for those of you who have been asking you know what IT is. So till then, thank you as always!