Now there was nothing left but to wait.

For two whole days, Carlisle and Edward stayed in the clearing where the standoff would be. From time-to-time, I would check in on them and see if the Volturi had come yet. And I would head back to the house, shaking my head. Bri had been taken to Charlie's house two days before, also. The night before New Years Eve, it started to snow, and the tiny, crystal like flakes did not melt when they touched the ground.

I stayed guard outside the tent where Renesmee and Jacob slept. Not like I need to, but it gave me something to do. When Nessie woke up, Bella dressed her in the clothes she had picked out for her, and they said their 'goodbyes.' When I'd read that part in the book for the first time, I'd balled my eyes out. Now, I was crying like a vampire cries.

"What's the matter?" Seth's voice said from behind me.

"Oh," I pointed to the tent. "Bella and Renesmee are saying goodbye. That part always made me cry."

He raised an eyebrow. "You're serious?"

"Yes! It's a sad part." I pouted, then became serious. "C'mon. They'll be here soon."

LINE BREAK

Waiting. I didn't like it. Even though I knew this was going to have a positive outcome, I still couldn't help feeling tense. What would Aro think when he read Edward's mind, and found out about me? What about Bri? Would she be safe? Had Edward accidentally heard something in my mind about what was going to happen? So many questions kept forming in my mind as I stood behind Bella in the clearing. Seth was standing off in the woods somewhere with the other wolves. Finally, the clouds moved to block the sunlight. Seconds later, the Volturi made their entrance.

It was eerie, seeing so much black seemingly floating across the snow. I will not describe it as Stephenie Meyer did- -too many words. Finally they came to a stop, because the wolves had joined us. Seth sauntered to my side. I knew even if this did come to a fight, we would still win. They were easily outnumbered.

Next to me, I heard Zafrina and Senna growling in a hushed way, as was Bella. Bella stopped growling when Edward squeezed her hand. A few seconds later, I heard Edward's breath speed up.

"Edward?" Carlisle asked, anxious and low.

"They're choosing how to proceed. They're weighing options, choosing key targets- -me, of course, you, Eleazer, Tanya. Marcus is reading the strength of our ties to each other, looking for weak points. The Romanians' presence irritates them. They're worried about the faces they don't recognize- -Zafrina, Senna, and Erin in particular- -and the wolves, naturally. They've never been outnumbered before. That's what stopped them."

"Outnumbered?" Tanya whispered incredulously.

"They don't count their witnesses," I answered for Edward, as if speaking in a trance. "They are nonentities, meaningless to the guard. Aro just enjoys an audience."

Of course, non of the Cullen's were taken aback at what I'd said, but our witnesses sure were. I just told them: "I know things."

They shrugged it off, though still confused, and Carlisle asked: "Should I speak?"

Edward hesitated, and then nodded. "This is the only chance you'll get."

Carlisle paced several steps out of the defensive line. He spread his arms out, holding his palms up. "Aro, my old friend. It's been centuries."

A few tense seconds passed by before Aro stepped forward. Renata moved with her master as if her fingertips were glued to his robe. A few members of the guard grumbled and went into defensive crouches, but Aro turned to them, one of his hands held up to them. I mirrored him in perfect synchronization- -only my hand making the Vulcan sign- -and whispered the same word he spoke aloud. "Peace." I got a few really strange looks from the vampires around me. Again, none of the Cullen's reacted to my actions. Aro turned back to Carlisle, and walked a few more paces toward him. "Fine words, Carlisle. They seem out of place, considering the army you've assembled to kill me, and to kill my dear ones."

Carlisle shook his head and stretched his right hand out toward Aro, even though they were still practically a hundred yards apart. "You have to touch my hand to know that was never my intent."

Aro narrowed his eyes. "But how can your intent possibly matter, dear Carlisle, in the face of what you have done?" He frowned.

"I have not committed the crime you are here to punish me for."

"Then step aside and let us punish those responsible. Truly, Carlisle, nothing would please me more than to preserve your life today."

"No one has broken the law, Aro. Let me explain." Again, Carlisle offered his hand.

Before Aro could answer, the blond vampire who I had recently found out to be Caius, slowly drifted to Aro's side.

"So many pointless rules, so many unnecessary laws you create for yourself, Carlisle," Caius spoke. "How is it possible that you defend the breaking of one that truly matters?"

"She is not an immortal. She is not a vampire. I can easily prove this with just a few moments- -"

Caius cut him off. "If she is not one of the forbidden, then why have you massed a battalion to protect her?"

"Witnesses, Caius, just as you have brought." Carlisle gestured to the angry throng of vampires the Volturi brought along with them.

"Bastards," I muttered. "They are so stuck up. Too quick to judge. They need to shut the heck up and listen."

I got a warning hiss from Zafrina. I was so caught up in my fuming that I almost didn't notice Edward walking out into the clearing. So much had happened already? Man, I had Vampire Attention Deficit Disorder. I just gotta pay attention…

In a split second, I saw some shimmering thing expand away from Bella, crawling it's way over to Edward in another split second, and Bella let out a startled laugh.

"Bella," I whispered, seeing no point in not letting the witnesses in on my secret now. "I've read this part millions of times, and I still don't get why you laugh. Don't do it again, that was creepier than reading the words, 'A startled laugh burst through my lips'."

Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see a few of the witnesses giving me startled glances. Ahead, I notice Bella pull her shield back a good ten feet.

Edward held his hand out to Aro, and the old man closed the distance without a pause. With a cocky smile, Aro took Edward's hand. His eyes closed immediately. Now, Aro knew everything. Everything that had gone in the house with the witnesses. Everything about Renesmee. And everything about me; how I'd come to their house knowing everything about them; how I gave them advice, told them what would work, and what wouldn't; having complete control from day one after being changed; talking about the books; being able to feed off of Diet Coke...Everything.

I hissed in frustration along with Bella, and I noticed Bella's shield going crazy, and rippling here and there.

"Easy Bella, Erin," Zafrina whispered to us.

Edward and Aro continued their two-way conversation, and I tried to listen in. Mostly, I saw images of Renesmee, and a few others that flashed by so quick that I couldn't tell what they were.

"What's going on?" Zafrina asked me.

"I'm not sure," I whispered back. "All I'm getting is images." I gasped when I saw an image of me in a black robe. He wanted me to join. "And Aro just brought up me."

We went silent again, and I was getting uneasy.

"I can't take this," I whimpered, searching through my memories, trying to find an escape.

"Erin, no! Don't Travel, we might need you!" Tanya hissed, and Seth gave me a curious look.

Never mind, I thought to him, still searching for something that I could go to until I was needed.

"Bump me if I'm needed," I muttered before I was no longer mentally in the field.

Surprisingly, I was in my parent's backyard of their house, watching my six-year-old self and a six-year-old Briana swing on an old swing set. I was invisible to them, so I just watched them, smiling when my younger self tried to use the swing when on my belly. Suddenly, I was hit in the shoulder by something, and I ripped myself to the present.

"How long was I gone?" I asked instantly.

"Just a few minutes," Senna answered, and I realized she was the one who had hit me. "Aro has called his guard forward and is discussing with them."

I didn't pay attention to the conversation at all. Well, at least until I heard something that caused me to tense up and hiss menacingly: "Erin Marie Baker. Step forward, please?" Aro asked.

I hissed quietly as I looked at Edward, who nodded slowly. Slowly I walked toward Aro and Caius.

"Erin, my dear, would you mind?" Aro held out his hand to me when I stopped three feet away. Right now, it sucked to be me- -I had no fighting training at all. "I am merely only curious."

Reluctantly, I put my shield down completely. Now Edward could hear my thoughts too, but I wasn't too worried about that. And reluctantly, I put my hand in Aro's. The man closed his eyes tightly as he saw every single memory of mine- -even the ones I had forgotten. I looked into his mind and saw what he saw. He was intrigued that I could time-travel, and most intrigued when he found out that I was from an 'alternate dimension' as he seemed to call it. He was extremely intrigued when he read each book from my mind, word for word. I closed my eyes too, frustrated, and then opened them again. A few minutes later, Aro opened his eyes too.

"You have an interesting past, my dear," he said. "And a very fascinating talent. I would have offered you the choice of joining us, but considering your memories and hatred of us, the answer would most likely be 'no'."

I sighed exasperatedly, removing my hand from his. "Can I go stand back over there now?"

He smiled a fake smile. "Of course." I was on his target list now. He'd find some way to have me on his guard, that was for sure.

I flitted back over to my spot behind Bella.

Aro spoke up. "Erin, here, has just explained everything to me…even though it has not happened yet."

There was a collection of whispers, but I didn't catch what they said.

"She knows…that we will leave you unharmed, that we do not spare dear Irina." Kate and Tanya hissed at him. "She has also given me all the information to know that we have no reason to stay here any longer."

I could just feel the hope in everyone around me.

"Alice and Jasper are on their way now," Aro said, and the Cullen's eyes lit up. "With another quite like dear Renesmee."

"And what if she's lying?" Caius demanded. "What if she has false memories?"

"I assure you, Caius, that these are not false memories, but quite real ones," Aro told him, and added. "She also seems to be from an alternate dimension."

There was a shocked gasp from both crowds. Some from the Volturi's witnesses threw glares at me, suggesting I was crazy. Other's looked at me like I was something to be afraid of.

"How is this possible?" Caius murmured. "An alternate dimension, you say? What if there are others that have come here, knowing about us?"

"I assure you, there is at least one," Aro told him, quirking an eyebrow at me. "And she happens to be Erin's best friend, a human."

"We plan to change her," I told him. "I- -" I heard three new voices in my head, and my breath hitched. "They're here."

I looked over, and Alice, Jasper, and Nahuel jumped from within the forest.