"Personal question," Irina said as we finished packing what I would need for the trip.

"Probable answer," I responded. "What's on your mind?"

"Let's hypothesize for a second and suppose that, when we arrive in Forks, we find out that Edward is telling the truth," Irina said.

"Alright. I'll still be pissed that they decided to keep me in the dark, rather than trust me with something as big as the birth of my niece," I stressed.

"I don't blame you. I'm no stranger to holding grudges," Irina said, and shot me a tiny smile.

"What are you asking, then?" I zipped up my bag and flopped down on my bed, legs hanging over the side.

"Well, here's where the personal comes in. If Edward is telling the truth, and humans can get pregnant from vampires-"

What she was asking immediately clicked. "Oh. Oh. I hadn't thought of that."

"Well, would you be... at risk? Of being pregnant? You don't have to answer."

"Yes, the kings and I have been..." I cleared my throat, "intimate. But I wouldn't be at risk. I've been on birth control for my periods since I was fifteen."

"Smart," Irina mused. Yes, period blood was dead blood, but I didn't want to take any risks living in a house of vampires. Plus, your whole family knowing exactly when you're on your period? Embarrassing.

"Yeah. Now I'm doubly glad I'm on them. I don't think I'd make a very good mother," I said.

"Why not?"

I shrugged. "Just not my thing, I guess. I've never been good with kids. Plus, I was let down by basically every adult in my life. I wouldn't want to let my child down and leave them as messed up as me."

"It's your decision, and none of my business, but if you did decide to have a child... I don't think you would mess it up," Irina said.

I sat up and gave her a smile. "Thanks."

"My queen?" Jane lightly knocked, poking her head in the room. I spotted Alec behind her. "I don't mean to interrupt, but it's time to go."

"We're ready. Thank you, Jane," I said, grabbing my bag and heaving it over my good shoulder. My injured shoulder had healed very nicely, but it was still tender and prone to aching whenever weather fronts came through.

"I'll take that, my queen," Alec offered. I passed the bag to him and he carried it like it was nothing.

"Thank you, Alec," I said.

"Of course. Follow us," Alec said. I took a final glance around my wing before following the twins out the door, wishing I could simply stay and pretend none of this had ever happened.

Considering we were leaving at night, I had the luxury of sleeping through most of the flight. I wasn't sure I would be able to, with thoughts running through my head as they were, but Aro had me prop my pillow against him so he could run his fingers through my hair, and I was out like a light.

I woke a few hours before we were scheduled to land at a private airstrip in Port Angeles. I changed into a fresh set of clothes, my crest hanging heavy over my shirt. I had never noticed the weight before, but now that we were heading to deal judgement on my own family...

"What's the plan?" I asked. "I trust Alice when she says that Bella isn't a danger. I don't believe she would say anything to put me in the way of bodily harm, which is about as far as my trust extends at the moment. I want to be there when we first visit them."

When had things become us versus them? Cullens versus Volturi, my family versus my mates?

"I can see you won't be dissuaded on that point," Aro said. "And your presence may act to diffuse the situation, should it become hostile."

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. "I'll probably be the one to make it hostile."

"Nevertheless, the Cullens likely won't want any sort of confrontation with you present," he continued. "Felix and Demetri will be beside you, with Alec and Jane behind should a threat need to be rendered incapacitated."

"Alec and Jane's gifts won't work on Bella," I pointed out. "She was a powerful shield even as a human, she's no doubt stronger now. Alec's and Jane's talents are better used elsewhere."

"Alec and Jane's duties would not be to prevent any attack from Bella. Their job is to prevent any attack from an immortal child. I know you hate for me to say it, mia cara. But we must prepare for all possibilities," Aro said.

"Quite right, brother. Assuming that the girl is not an immortal child, however absurd the possibility, we have to deal with the aftermath of that. Would hybrids be a threat to our kind? Can they control themselves as we can? Those are the questions that would need answering," Caius said.

"Essentially, would you have to... take care of the child anyway," I said, screwing my eyes shut as I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Yes," Caius said.

When I opened my eyes again, all three kings were gazing at me with concerned expressions. Marcus squeezed my knee in a futile attempt to comfort me. "We are sorry that you have to go through this."

"It's the law. My family knows the law," I said. "Their actions are out of my control."

Because of the time difference, we arrived in Forks around 11 P.M. on the same day we left. I knew, when the jet lag caught up with me, it would be a major bitch, but until then I was wide awake and ready to get this confrontation over with.

"I think it may be best to wait until morning, tesoro. We don't want to do anything in haste," Marcus said.

"You're probably right," I agreed begrudgingly. I texted Emmett to let him know we had reached Port Angeles safely, despite the fact that Alice had probably seen our safe arrival anyway. I didn't want him to worry, even though I wasn't particularly happy with him at the moment.

No matter how angry I was at any of them, the thought of anything happening to my family made me sick to my stomach, and our arrival in Washington had just made everything more real. I knew the kings would be lenient with any rulings, considering I was their mate and the Cullens my family, but this was the law, and the Volturi couldn't bend their own rules and expect vampires to continue to respect them.

I retreated to my bedroom in the five-star hotel that had been rented for the night, claiming I wanted to get some rest to beat back the inevitable jet lag. I don't think anyone believed me, but they let me go.

I couldn't sleep, which didn't surprise me. Instead, I stared blankly at the wall as the darkness swirled worriedly around me, unceasing in its attempts to pull me into its depths until I dispelled it with a wave of my hand.

Around 4 in the morning I heard voices from the other room, muffled but distinguishable.

"She doesn't want you here," Caius said harshly.

"And I don't blame her." Emmett's voice. I sat up slowly, not wanting to be heard as I listened intently. "I'm truly sorry for what's happened, and not because we got caught, but because I disagreed with our course of action from the start. I should have said something earlier, much earlier. She deserves to hear what really happened, before the story gets drowned in the excuses of the rest of the family."

Caius gave an angry scoff. "I'm sure you're very sorry."

"I am!" Emmett's voice raised slightly. "Whatever you think of me now, I don't blame you. Hell, I think it too. But she's my daughter. I only want to do what's best for her."

I pushed myself off the bed, crossing the room in a couple strides and opening the door. "I can decide what's best for me, I think," I said icily, but I saw how miserable Emmett looked and softened. "Hey, Dad."

"Hey, Ro-bear," Emmett said. He stepped forward as if to hug me but stopped as Caius hissed at him.

"Caius," I said, holding up a hand. "It's fine."

"You're forgiving him? Just like that?"

I glanced over at Caius. Behind him, Aro and Marcus stood silently, waiting for me to make my own decision. Caius, though... he would always fight for me, to avenge even a perceived slight. "Keeping the peace does not equate forgiveness, Caius."

"I don't know how much you heard. But I want to tell you everything, before everyone else chimes in and it becomes more about convincing you to forgive than telling the truth," Emmett said.

"Alright," I agreed, because as much as I loved my family, I knew for a fact that he was right.

"Would you like some privacy?" Marcus asked. I had almost forgotten they were in the room, and it seemed he had noticed. He offered me a soft smile.

"That would be nice," I agreed.

"We'll leave you to talk, then. First, however, may I get the story from you, Emmett?" Aro asked politely. Aro didn't often give others, apart from me, the option to decline, but his tone made it sound as if Emmett actually had the choice to say no.

"Sure," Emmett agreed. "I have nothing to hide."

"Marvelous, thank you. I'm sure it will give my brothers and I much to discuss," Aro said, taking Emmett's hand. There was silence for several moments before Aro dropped his hand and stepped back, looking surprised. "Much to discuss, indeed. Thank you, again. You are, perhaps, the closest to an impartial party we are likely to get. We'll leave you to talk."

"Thanks," I said.

"The guard will be outside if you need them," Caius said.

"I won't. Thank you," I said, giving him a smile. When they had retired from the room I turned back to Emmett. "Where's Mom?"

"She actually, um, doesn't know that I'm here. No one does, unless Alice saw my decision to come," Emmett said, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sure you can guess when the story starts."

"When you guys sent me back to Volterra early. I thought it was weird, but I might have bought it if you hadn't been so clearly bothered about it," I said.

"Right. Edward had called Carlisle very early that morning, asking if a vampire-human pregnancy was even possible. I'm not completely sure whose choice it was not to tell you, but it didn't make me any less outnumbered as one of the only ones who was against not telling you," Emmett said.

I sank down onto the nearby couch, listening intently. "Who else was against keeping it secret?"

"Jasper and Alice. Bella, too, but nobody was willing to listen to her as it was."

"What about Mom?" I asked quietly.

Emmett sighed and ran a hand through his hair again and didn't speak until he had sat down beside me. "That's... complicated. She was on my side at first, but that was before Bella called. There were certain members of the family that thought it would be safer to have the baby removed rather than have Bella risk her life by attempting to carry the baby to term."

"Were you one of them?"

"No. I was on Bella's side. It was her baby, she deserved to have that choice, just like anyone else. Bella called Rose as they were leaving to come back, asking for Rose's aid in protecting the baby from those that wanted the pregnancy terminated, and Rose agreed to help. I guess Rose thought it would be... easier if you didn't know, or make for less stress. You know how much she always wanted a baby, and to get the chance to help keep Bella's safe-"

"What about me?" My voice was very small.

"Oh, kiddo, hey. You'll always be our daughter. Nobody could ever replace you. Like I said, the situation is complicated. I don't think anybody was thinking right," Emmett said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his side.

"Apologies for the intrusion, my queen." Felix and Demetri walked inside, and Felix folded his arms menacingly over his chest as he glared at Emmett. "We think you've said enough."

Emmett tensed. I pinched the bridge of my nose and stood. "I appreciate the sentiment, guys. But I'm fine. I knew this wasn't going to be a fun conversation, but I want to hear the truth."

"Alright," Demetri said, after he and Felix shared a glance. "We're right outside if you need anything."

"Thanks," I said, offering them my best attempt at a reassuring smile. I guess my mates weren't the only ones who were overprotective.

Emmett resumed his narrative once the door had shut behind them. "Bella decided to try to carry the baby to term, but it was clear that it was growing and maturing much faster than a human child. It was sucking the life out of her. I honestly don't think she would have survived if not for Jacob's suggestion that she drink blood to sustain the child."

"Blood?" I echoed. "I guess that makes sense. Half-vampire."

"Exactly. After that, the pregnancy was actually going okay for a while. I was out on a hunting trip when things went sour. Bella dropped her cup and bent over to grab it, but I guess it must have been too much for her body because the placenta detached. Only Edward, Jacob, Alice, and Rosalie were home, Edward had to deliver Renesmee and then turn Bella - he wasn't even certain it worked at first, but Bella ended up alright. She really is a newborn, we weren't lying about that."

"So why didn't you choose to tell me then, after the baby was born and Bella was changed?" I asked.

"We were going to, but Renesmee was - and still is - growing so quickly that Edward made the decision to continue keeping it from you. We still don't know if Renesmee is immortal, or if being half-vampire has instead doomed her for an abnormally short mortal life. Jacob will be one sorry son of a bitch if that's the case."

"Jacob?" My eyebrows scrunched. "What does he have to do with anything?"

"He, uh, he imprinted on Renesmee."

"He imprinted on Renesmee. The baby. Edward's and Bella's baby. Jacob Black imprinted on a baby," I sad flatly. "That's... beyond disturbing."

"Believe me, there's a fair few of us that agree, but there's not much we can do about it," Emmett said. "Anyway, you know the rest. Fast forward a few months, Irina saw Renesmee, who looks about seven, and assumed she was an immortal child. She went to report it to the Volturi, not that I blame her, and here we are."

"That's..." I said slowly, unsure of how to process it.

"I know. I wouldn't believe it either, if I hadn't seen the whole thing for myself. I should have told you everything sooner. It wasn't fair to keep it a secret from you. Especially since there was always a chance that it could kill Bella. In that respect, keeping this from you was pretty damn selfish."

"Yeah, it was," I muttered. In the midst of the story I had almost forgotten that Emmett had also chosen to keep silent about the whole affair, but I couldn't ignore that fact now.

"Listen, Rowan," Emmett said seriously, drawing my attention back to him. "What we did, that's not something easily forgiven. I understand that. So however you decide to handle this... I'm behind you. One-hundred percent."

"Thanks, Dad," I said. "If you don't mind, I think I'd like to be alone now."

"Yeah, of course. I'll be around if you want to talk again; I'm not leaving the building until you do."

I stared at him in confusion. "Why? Won't the rest of the family want you back?"

"Probably not, after I came here behind their backs. Besides, I'm your dad, and it's time I started acting like it. You're my daughter, and I'm with you."

I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. "Thanks." My voice was muffled by his shirt. I hadn't quite forgiven him yet. But he had admitted his wrongdoing, apologized, and was working to make amends. That had to count for something.

"I'll leave you to think," Emmett said, gently prying himself from my grip and ruffling my hair before walking out the door.

I curled up on the couch, eyes closed. I was hit with a sudden wave of exhaustion. I had never asked for this. For one of the first times since I had joined the Cullen clan, I wished I was normal. I wished I didn't have to deal with vampires or werewolves or previously undiscovered hybrids. I just wanted to be normal. I drifted to sleep on the thoughts of a normal life I couldn't have, and didn't stir until I was gently shaken awake by Marcus.

I sat up, stretching and blinking against the light that now filtered in through the windows. "What time is it?"

"Just after ten. We wanted to let you sleep," Marcus said. "You should eat something, then we can go."

"I'm not hungry," I said, making my way to my suitcase and pulling out a change of clothes. "And even if I was, I don't want to wait. I'm done waiting around. I'm going to change, and then we're leaving."

"Are you sure?" Marcus asked worriedly.

"Yes," I said firmly. He must have seen the resolution in my eyes, because he nodded. "I'll wait in the other room, then. Everyone, apart from the guard, is already downstairs."

"I'll be out in a minute," I said, closing the door. I stood unmoving for several seconds. I didn't want to do this. I had to do this.

It was time to face my family.

Edited 6/26/2021