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The air was cool as it blew across the New York skyline, creating a slight chill for most of the people inhabiting the city but for two particular women the cold was non-existent against their marble-like skin. The windows were open throughout the large apartment that resided on the edge of Manhattan facing out towards the water. Upbeat Latin music sounded throughout the house on a low volume as the two women moved through their home.

One woman was seated near one of the windows a pencil in her hand as she sat before an easel. A large piece of paper resided on the wooden easel as she slowly sketched out the baselines of the drawing. Her amber eyes flickered between the paper and out the window towards the water. The lines began to form an image of the Manhattan skyline, a picture the woman had drawn many times before but each image was different from the smallest of details. Pictures similar to the one she drew now were strewn around the house and across all of the United States after all the woman made a decent living with her many talents.

"Another skyline?" The second woman called out a smile on her lips as she watched her friend. The woman in question laughed softly but nodded her head, "Yes, another skyline. An elderly woman in Texas requested it from the website."

The woman nodded her head hearing the response before resuming her work. Her soft brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail on the top of her head as she moved through the kitchen. She had spent the past twenty minutes working on a new entree dish. Despite the woman not finding the tase of food appealing, she did enjoy the art of creating the food and spending all the time working just to see how happy the dish made someone. The dish consisted of pasta with shredded chicken, spinach, tomatoes, and garlic all cooked to perfection in their individual ways.

"Whatever you are cooking smells delicious," The woman drawing spoke her eyes not moving away from her artwork. The second woman hummed in response as she began to plate the meal. Once pictures were taken of the final meal and the woman had packed it up to bring to the local food shelter where the poor could enjoy the food she would not eat. The woman who had been cooking walked over taking a seat near her friend as she sketched out the buildings that would create the skyline.

"Should it be sunset or sunrise?" The artist questioned her friend glancing back at the woman who sat in a chair behind her. The second woman smiled softly as she thought through the question, "I think sunset. You haven't done a sunset in a while at least a city sunset."

"Thank you, Dalila," The first woman responded flashing her signature smile which only caused her friend to return the expression. Before the woman could continue to sketch the architecture that resided outside her window a phone began to ring. Both women rose from their seats rushing to where their smartphones rested on the marble countertop. Dalila grinned as a warmth of affection filled her seeing the familiar name of an old friend. Seeing her friend's grin Luciana rose her eyebrow in question causing the other woman to speak, "Carlisle."

"Ah, tell him he interrupted my drawing," Luciana replied sassily returning to her seat and progressing with her drawing. Her statement caused the brunette to roll her eyes before answer the phone, "Hola, cómo estás?"

A soft chuckle was heard on the other side of the phone before a reply was spoken, "Bien, y tú?"

"Ah, you still remember the basics we taught you, how endearing," Dalila teased her friend who was shaking his head at the woman's antics. Yet, he smiled before replying, "Of course I remember, Dali, how could I forget what you and Luci taught me?"

"Hmm.. age can cause forgetfulness," The Cuban woman replied easily taking her original seat behind her friend. A laugh rang out through the speaker of the phone, "Yes, yes but not for us immortals."

The woman snorted shaking her head, "I suppose you are right. Now, what do I owe this pleasure? Last I heard from you, you and Esme were calling asking if we could attend Edward's wedding to young Bella."

"Well, I'm afraid I have some news pertaining to our latest married couple," Carlisle stated his voice holding concern. Dalila stilled before kicking Luciana's chair causing the woman to cry out in Spanish before turning around instantly to reprimand her friend. However, once she saw the worried look on Dalila's face Luciana quieted motioning for her to put the phone on speaker.

"What has happened, Carlisle?" Luciana asked her own voice laced with worry as the man remained silent for a moment. It was clear by the shuffling that he was most likely speaking with someone on his side of motioning to someone near him, most likely his wife or one of his adopted children. After a moment Carlisle broke the silence, "Something happened during the honeymoon, something that is hard to explain over the phone."

"Carlisle, you can't just call and tell us something has happened and not tell us," Dalila's tone was practically scolding as she spoke but it all stemmed from her concern over Edward and his bride. After all, Luciana and Dalila had been some of the first immortals Edward met outside of Carlisle, needless to say, the two women had a soft spot for their blonde friend's children.

"I know, I apologize, girls, it is simply a matter hard to discuss without seeing what I am speaking of. What I can say is that Edward and Bella are both alright. They are doing quite well actually and Bella has taken wonderfully to her new immortality," Carlisle replied revealing a bit of information that caused the women to smile. Young Bella Swan had been longing to join the Cullen coven since she first began a relationship with Edward and despite, all the trials they faced and the scorn of others based on their decisions, they overcame it all.

"Good, we knew she would adjust well from what you have told us," Luciana replied softly worry still eating her as Carlisle still held deep concern in his tone. Dalila sighed leaning back in her chair while extending the phone between the women as they awaited Carlisle's next words.

"Yes, well that bad news is that... our family has been threatened or we will be threatened. A situation has arisen that has caused a lot of confusion, concern but also joy. I can not explain this part over the phone so I must insist that you travel here to see for yourselves," Carlisle stated running a hand through his hair as he wondered how to divulge the information at hand. Esme sat in a chair across the room from her husband anxiously watching him talk to two of his oldest friends.

"Carlisle- you are scaring us, please tell us anything you can. You are under a threat, by who? I thought those newborns were gone and so is that nomad woman?" Dalila questioned her anxiety seeping into her words. Luciana reached out grasping her friend's hand in an attempt to calm her slightly but both women knew it was to support them both. Carlisle had helped them escape their old life and start anew, for that they would forever be indebted to him just as he was to them because after all, they helped him make one of the most important choices in his immortal life.

Carlisle sighed once more knowing he had to tell more, "I know, I apologize my friends but you would not believe me if I told you so I must beg that you come visit us and see with your own eyes. Then you can make your decision on how to proceed."

"Carlisle, for Heaven's sakes, tell us what the hell is going on?" Luciana demanded her tempers rising out of pure care for her friend's family. Carlisle was silent for a moment before he spoke the few words that he knew would cause both women to fly out to Washington in an instant, "The Volturi are coming for us as soon as the snow falls and I do not think they come with the intent to talk."

Silence fell over the two women as they absorbed his words. Luciana leaned back in her chair as her hand moved to rest over her un-beating heart. Her fingers reached up to toy with the pendant that rested against her chest, a gold letter C representing the last name of her close friend and his family, a constant reminder of her new life. The same pendant sat on Dalila's finger as a golden ring with the letter C never left her right middle finger. The two women were quiet as their thoughts whirled within their heads, after all, the Volturi were not ones to be provoked but they were also not ones to leave the comfort of their home. Therefore, if the Volturi were going to actively pursue the Cullen's something serious must be wrong for such measures to be taken.

Amber eyes meet amber irises as the two women glanced up at the same moment. The risk was high for all involved and they knew that but they also knew that whatever the Volturi believed the Cullen's did to warrant such a threat must be misguided. The dangers of standing against the Volturi were high and while Carlisle only asked them to listen to their story even that posed a threat. However, neither women were ever ones to back down from danger nor would they ever leave any loved one to fend for themselves or abandon one when they needed it most. Both of their fingers brushed against the C jewelry they possessed and with that their decisions were made.

"We will be there tomorrow morning, Carlisle," Luciana spoke gently her tone completely different from the frustrated tone she possessed earlier. Now, she only held concern for her friends and the same emotion was reflected on Dalila's face. The brunette nodded in agreement, "Then you must tell us everything Carlisle because if the Volturi are coming to harm your family then we must be prepared."