━━━━━ DAYS HAD PASSED since Charlie came to see Bella and since then Sam and Jacob had seemed to come to terms. The Volturi had sent both Bella and Ellie a gift and she knew that they'd want their proof eventually.

The only thing that really remained for the Cullen Clan was time. Both Gwendolyn and Renesmee seemed to grow at an alarming rate. Because of that Ellie knew she would enjoy what time they would have.

No one seemed to know the extent of their lifespan and it worried Ellie no less. Carlisle of course seemed to pick up on that. Snow had begun to fall, Ellie stood next to Bella. Astrid next to her and Seth next to Astrid. Jacob stood on the other side.

Both Gwendolyn and Renesmee had been catching snowflakes with each other and bringing them back for everyone to look at. Bella and Ellie kneeled down as the two girls came to a stop in front of their mothers.

"Look, a snowflake." Renesmee said, showing it to Bella.

"It's beautiful. Why don't you and Gwen go get another one?" Bella asked, looking between the two. The two turned around and ran away from the other's, Bella and Ellie stood up from the ground. "Edward things that we'll find answers in Brazil."

"I hope we can find some kind of answer." Ellie said, looking over at Bella.

"There are tribes there that might know something."

They all watched in amazement as the two children jumped into the air to catch a snowflake in their hands. Ellie looked towards the mountain as Gwendolyn returned to Seth's side. Astrid, Ellie, and Bella walked forward seeing someone in the distance.

Both Bella and Ellie exchanged a look with each other, almost sure they both knew who it was. She seemed to have an angry expression mixed with an upset expression.

"Who was that?" Renesmee asked them.

"I think that's our cousin from Denali." Bella replied.

Ellie looked over at Astrid. "Stay here." She said.

"Irina!"

The blonde vampire turned away from them, Ellie and Bella took off running heading up the mountain to where she had been. They came to a stop and saw that she was no longer there. The two ran to the edge looking into the water.

Ellie knew that the vampire had jumped into the water to get away from them. But she wanted to know why Irina was even there in the first place. Once again the two both exchanged a look with each other.

✦

Ellie sat next to Carlisle who was now on the phone with Tanya. Gwendolyn sat in Esme's lap while Jamie sat next to them. Bella leaned on the piano while Edward and Renesmee sat on the bench in front of the piano.

Carlisle ended the call, looking towards Bella and then towards Ellie. "Tanya convinced Irina to come reconcile with us." Carlisle informed them.

"Well, it looks like she changed her mind." Edward replied.

"Seeing Jacob and Seth must have been too much for her." Esme said.

"Wish I could have just spoken to her." Bella told them.

"She's family. She'll come around."

Carlisle leaned back and wrapped his arm around Ellie, who placed her head on his shoulder. She sent him a smile while Edward started to press down on the keys of the piano. Renesmee followed behind him.

Ellie seemed to really enjoy each and every moment with the family. She knew in just a few days Renesmee would be able to play the song herself. She also knew that Edward would teach Gwendolyn how to play.

✦

Carlisle and Esme played chess, Jamie sat next to her reading a book. Ellie sat next to Carlisle while Gwendolyn sat next to her and Seth next to her. Astrid and Max stood behind them, smiles on their faces as they watched Renesmee play the piano.

Jasper was also reading a book, and Rosalie stood with Emmett, Jacob, and Bella who watched Renesmee while Edward sat next to his daughter. Alice walked into the room with a smile on her face but it seemed to quickly change.

Ellie placed her eyes on Alice who gasped, after she had come to a stop. She dropped the vase that she had in her hands which pretty much caused everyone to place their eyes on her. Jasper closed the book he was reading and ran over to Alice.

"What is it, Alice?" Jasper asked, as she looked at him.

Esme, Jamie, Carlisle and Ellie stood up from their spots. "The Volturi. They're coming for us. Aro, Caius, Marcus, the Guard. And Irina." Alice informed them.

"Honey, come here." Bella said Renesmee stood up and walked over to Bella while Gwendolyn stood up and walked over to her mother, seeming to hide behind her back. The little brunette grabbed a hold of her mother's hand while her father moved forward.

"Why?" Carlisle asked her.

"What did Irina see in the woods?" Edward proceeded to ask both Bella and Ellie.

"We were just walking."

"Ness and Gwen were catching snowflakes." Jacob answered.

"Of course. Irina thinks Renesmee and Gwendolyn are Immortal children."

"What?" Ellie questioned, clearly confused.

✦

They had moved into the study, Carlisle had pulled some books out to show both Bella and Ellie along with Jacob, and Seth. Max was with Gwendolyn, while Astrid sat next to Ellie.

"The Immortal Children were very beautiful. So enchanting. To be near them was to love them. But their development was frozen at the age they were turned. They couldn't be taught or restrained. A single tantrum could destroy an entire village." Carlisle explained to them.

Astrid grabbed a hold of Ellie's hand as she took in the information. This was all new to her and it scared her. She couldn't risk losing her daughter because Irina thought that Gwendolyn was an Immortal child.

"Humans heard about the devastation. Stories spread. The Volturi were forced to intervene. Since the Children couldn't protect our secret, they had to be destroyed. Their creators grew very attached and fought to protect them."

Ellie looked over at Carlisle who continued to explain the story. She knew that because Irina had gone to the Volturi there was a possible chance that a fight would occur. Ellie wouldn't let anything happen to her family.

"Long-established covens were torn apart. Countless humans slaughtered. Traditions, friends, even families. Lost."

"So the Denalis' mother made an Immortal Child?" Bella asked him.

"Yes." Carlisle answered. "And she paid the price."

"Geez." Ellie breathed out, lowering her head.

"Well, Renesmee and Gwendolyn are nothing like those children. They were born, not bitten. They grow every single day." Bella said, as she looked over at Ellie.

"So can't you just explain that to the Volturi?" Jacob questioned them, his eyes on Carlisle.

"Aro has enough proof in Irina's thoughts." Edward answered.

"So we fight."

"Their offensive weapons are too powerful. No one can stand against Jane." Jasper said.

"Alec's even worse." Alice added.

"Well, then we convince them." Bella told her.

"I won't let them hurt my daughter. Or Bella's." Ellie said, looking over at Carlisle.

"They're coming to kill us, not to talk." Emmett told the two brunette's.

"No, you're right. They won't listen to us. But maybe others can convince them. Carlisle, you have friends all around the world."

"I won't ask them to fight." He said.

"Not fight. Witness. If enough people knew the truth, maybe we could convince the Volturi to listen."

Esme and Jamie exchanged a look and then turned to look back at Carlisle. "We can ask this of our friends." She said with a soft smile on her face. Ellie looked at Carlisle while Carlisle looked at her.

He could see the scared look on her face. He couldn't risk losing her because they lost their daughter. He just couldn't risk it. Both Ellie and Gwendolyn met the world to him, he nodded his head. It caused some relief to wash on Ellie's face.