Turned out a few of the vampires who joined us also had special talents. We'd already learned about Ben's, but Zafrina had power over the mind. She could make anyone see anything she wanted them to. She'd showed me her home, and I could hear and feel everything. From the humidity, to the monkeys, it was amazing.

After seeing it through my mind, Edward asked to witness it for himself, he looked around in awe as she manipulated his mind, "If you weren't holding my hand right now I would be sure this was real," he said to Bella.

"I don't see anything," she sounded dissappointed.

Eleazar joined us with a few others, "Edward you didn't tell me your wife was a shield," Eleazar's talent was to be able to identify the talents in other immortals.

"What's a shield?" Bella asked excited she actually had something other than super self-control.

Kate grabbed Bella's hand trying to electrocute her only to come up unsuccessful, "She's a shield alright. This shoulda put her on her ass," she let go.

"Or your voltage has been exaggerated," Garret teased.

Kate extended her hand to him, "Maybe it only works on the weak."

Curiously he extended his finger, "Dude, I wouldn't-" Paul tried to stop him, having gotten shocked by Kate the day they met. But he was too late, Garret was on his ass from only touching a finger to her palm.

"You...are an incredible woman," he praised.

I squealed clutching Paul's arm, they were so cute together. The following day, Jake, Paul and I were walking with the new wolves through the wolves to help them control their phasing.

"When you're boyfriend gets on your nerves you don't want to rip his head off," I joked to the little boys while Paul gave me a mocking laugh.

Just then we heard fast scuffling, smelling someone unfamiliar we tensed, "Whoever's coming wasn't invited," Jake looked at us before we all phased and started running after the scent.

Soon enough we caught up to the two pale vampires in black clothing. They were like acrobats, jumping out of reach in the trees. Once they'd stopped we signaled the others who met us soon after. Thankfully Carlisle seemed to know them;

"Vladimir, Stefan, you're a long way from home."

"What are they doing here?" Kate whispered distastefully.

The one on the left, with the platinum blonde hair spoke, "We heard the Volturi were moving against you. But that you would not stand alone."

Carlisle glanced at me before stating, "The Volturi have been given misinformation-"

"We do not care what you did, Carlisle," Vladimir dismissed.

Stefan smiled sinisterly at us, "We have been waiting a millennium for the Italian scum to be challenged."

"It is not our plan to fight the Volturi," Carlisle corrected.

Vladimir looked upset, "Shame," then he taunted with, "Aro's witnesses will be so disappointed."

"They enjoy a good fight," Stefan agreed.

Eleazar stepped forward uncertain, "Aro's witnesses?"

"Aww, still hoping they'll listen?"

That evening we had a meeting with the rest of the vampires, Jake and Paul.

"When Aro wants someone from a coven it's never long before evidence turns up proving that coven committed some crime," Eleazar explained, having been with the Volturi for some years.

"So he's done this before?" Bella confirmed.

He nodded, "It happens so rarely, I never realized it was a pattern."

"Apparently, he always pardons one person whose thoughts he claims are repentant," Carlisle agreed.

"This person always has an ability," Eleazar concluded, "And they're always given a place with the Guard."

I nodded, "Well that explains why Alice left," everyone looked at me, "I mean I would think a psychic vampire is pretty rare."

"That would explain why she left," Bella agreed.

Edward was hesitant, "It's probable. But remember Aro didn't hate the idea of a guard dog before. What if now he uses your immortality as an excuse?"

"Why does he need witnesses though?" Emmett interrupted Edward's theory.

"To spread the word that justice has been served," Carlisle's friend Alistair answered coming out of the shadows, "After he slaughters an entire coven."

At that, Amun shook his head walking toward the door, "Benjamin, Tia, we're leaving."

"And where will you go?" Edward prompted, "What makes you think he'd be satisfied with Alice? Or Cate? What's to stop them from going after Benjamin next? Or Zafrina, or Kate, or anyone else with a gift or something they don't have? Their goal isn't punishment, it's power. It's acquisition," he paused looking between his family members, "Carlisle might not ask you to fight, but I will. For the sake of my family, but also for yours. And for the way you want to live."

There was silence, Jake nudged me and Paul getting to his feet. We followed our Alpha, "The packs will fight. We've never been afraid of vampires, and we'll do whatever we can to protect our own," my eyes clouded with tears as more and more people got to their feet proclaiming they stand with us and are willing to fight.

Soon enough everyone in the room was on their feet, "That didn't take much," Vladimir muttered.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that" Edward reminded.

Alistair leaned in and whispered, "We'll see."

We were united, but we knew that Aro was building an army. And he had powerful people in his corner, namely Alec, Jane, Felix and Dimitri. They were going to be a challenge to fight it if came down to it.

"Aro will want us incapacitated before he attacks," Edward told us as we tried to figure out a game-plan for the worst case scenario, "Jane and Alec will try to take me out first because I can anticipate their moves."

Garret and Kate stood cozily next to each other, "Too bad we don't all have your shield," he noted.

"Doesn't help me fight though," Bella responded.

Tanya disagreed, "But you could help the rest of us, if you could project it."

"What do you mean?"

"Shield someone other than yourself," she explained.

Bella was instantly intrigued, "That's possible?"

Kate nodded, "At first mine was only in my palms, now I can radiate it all over my body."

"How?" Bella gripped her hand roughly, "Tell me!"

"Ow."

The rest of the afternoon was spent helping Bella to expand her shield. Edward was used as motivation for her and it ended up with him on his ass a lot. It took many tries but eventually she got it, even though Edward was standing right next to her. It was better than nothing.

~

Night was the hardest for me, I couldn't fall asleep. Paul was patient with me, holding me close determined to keep me safe from the dark thoughts.

"I don't want to die," I said for the hundredth time since everything went wrong.

"I won't let you," he promised, "Neither will your family. We love you too much."

I sighed. Felling a sense of comfort as he slowly kissed my neck and traveled down to my collarbone. That night I pushed away the thoughts and let Paul's scent intoxicate me. Turning to face him I wrapped my arms around him and brought his lips to mine, ignoring the dreadful idea that our time to gather might be cut short.

The following morning Bella knocked on my bedroom door, "I'm going to drop Renesmee at my dad's I need you to run some errands with me."

"Sure," I nodded. I turned back to my bed where Paul watched with a blanket covering his bare waist, "I'll be back soon," I kissed his tender lips before getting dressed and following Bella to her car with Jake and Nessie.

When we'd made it to Charlie's I was happy to see him with his arm around Sue, "Lunch is on the table!" She exclaimed.

"We actually have some errands to run," Bella told them.

I nodded, "She needs help with last minute Christmas shopping."

"Always the procrastinator Bella," Charlie nodded before walking inside the house with his granddaughter.

Once we were out of Forks Bella explained that Alice had left her a note with an address. We were meeting some guy in Seattle, looks like she had a plan after all.

The restaurant was very lavish and full of people, we asked the hostess where Mr. Jenks was sitting and she led us to his table in a private booth.

"Ah, Mrs. Cullen, nice to meet you! And this must be your lovely sister-in-law. I'm so happy to meet you both," he greeted. Mr. Jenks was a large man with little-to no hair and a small gap in his front two teeth, but he seemed kind enough. We sat across from him at the table.

"So what is it you do J?" I asked trying to sound polite.

He chuckled, "A little of this, a little of that. It's always different which keeps it interesting."

"Ah so illegal stuff."

Bella looked at me skeptically before turning back to him, "Have you known Alice and Jasper long?"

"I've been working with them for more than twenty years. And my late partner knew Jasper fifteen years before that," he paused, "He is...uh, unusually well-preserved," I held back laughter, it was clear by his demeanor that Jasper made himself seem intimidating to this man, he was clearly scared of him, "I trust Mr. Jasper is enjoying his vacation?"

"He didn't tell you were he was going by chance?"

J shook his head, "No, he just mentioned that he was leaving when he came by to place his order."

I sat up a little straighter, "Is it finished?"

"Of course, I've never missed a delivery," with that he reached under his napkin and slid over a manilla folder to Bella who picked it up and opened it to see what contents were inside.

Passports, birth certificates, legal papers. Bella leaned over to show me; Jake's face, Renesmee's, but what shocked me was the other two that had mine and Paul's.

Seeing the look on our faces J asked if there was a problem, Bella immediately shook her head, "I just assumed our family would be traveling together."

"Jasper said only four, and that these two," he pointed to my face and Pauls, "Were a maybe, but to make them anyway. His instructions were very clear-"

Bella nodded, "It's my mistake," she told him as she put everything back in the folder. I wondered why they would make papers for us.

In the car we discussed what we'd learned. Alice wanted us to leave, they'd made papers for us to go. Ultimately the decision was Bella's on what to do with Jacob and Renesmee but I knew what my plan was. And for once, I wasn't going to go off of Alice's vision. I refused to leave my family. They had already sacrificed so much for me, she couldn't expect me to abandon them to fight a battle for me. I may not want to die, but if I have to. I'd do it for my family.

Bella decided she was going to do whatever it took to keep her child safe, even if it meant sending her away with Jacob. I left her to get everything prepared. I was on a different track. I was going to die, I was almost certain.

I'd almost forgotten about Christmas. I was more concerned that the snow was sticking to the ground. But still, everyone was adamant about celebrating. Everyone, all the vampires we'd recruited sat around the Cullen Christmas tree chatting. I leaned against Paul, softly fiddling with my necklace he'd given me. We watched comfortably as Renesmee played with her new toys.

~

After the festivities we took to the woods, preparing for the unknown that would take place the following day. Jacob and Paul rounded up wood for the fire, watching excitedly as Benjamin lit his fingers up in flames to light the fire.

"That's what I'm talking about. Pre-battle bonfire," Jake rubbed his hands together, "Tellin' war stories..." he noticed all the others just standing around, "Or just standing there like friggen' statues."

We laughed, Garret zipped to our side, "Name any American battle. I was there," he prompted.

"Yorktown?" I asked.

"Just as intense as you would think," he nodded.

The Irish coven joined us, "No one does rebellion like the Irish, just look back at the Eleven Year's War."

Garret looked at him perplexed, "You lost the Eleven Year's War."

"Aye, but it was one hell of a rebellion."

Soon enough all the covens were huddled around the fire, Vladimir and Stefan had the floor; "When we ruled, everything came to us. Prey, diplomats, favor seekers. Such was our power. But we never put on white hats and called ourselves saints."

Stefan nodded, "We were honest about what we were."

"We sat still for a very long time. We didn't notice we were beginning to petrify."

"Perhaps the Volturi did us a favor when they burned our castles," Stefan suggested.

Vladimir's eyes were hard, "We've been waiting fifteen hundred years to return the favor."

With that, Paul kissed my head, "I'll be right back," he promised getting up and stepping out of the circle while Senna and Zafrina told us a story of their home. I watched as Paul went next to Carlisle who was talking to Edward. He leaned in and whispered something in his ear.

I watched as the three of them smiled, Carlisle extended his hand to Paul and they shook respectfully. Edward caught my eye and smiled. I wondered what had just happened. Paul comes back with Carlisle smiling behind him, Edward turning toward the tent they had set up for Renesmee.

"What did you talk to Carlisle about?" I asked as he grabbed my hand.

Without answering my question Paul lowered himself, silence swept the group, "I asked you once, and you said you weren't ready. You wanted things to stay the same. But things are changing. And they always will. Tomorrow we don't know what's going to happen. But I am certain of one thing, and that's how much I love you and will do anything to protect you. You're my imprint, my mate, my girlfriend, my world. But tonight. I would like to call you something else," he pulled out a small ring, I could see the gem glistening from the fire, "Cathrine, will you be my wife?"

I was frozen, I hadn't expected him to do that, especially not in front of everyone. But seeing him, his eyes swimming, I knew there would be nothing I wanted more. I loved that man more than life, and if I was going to die tomorrow. I would want to do it knowing I was married to him.

"Yes," People started cheering, applauding as he slipped the ring onto my finger. Paul got to his feet and pulled me up, crushing my lips with his own.

"Now we gotta live through tomorrow to give you guys a proper wedding!" Emmett cheered causing the rest of us to laugh.