"The Immortal Children were very beautiful," Carlisle explained trying to enlighten those who didn't know what immortal children were, "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. 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. Long established covens were torn apart. Countless humans slaughtered. Traditions, friends, even families, lost."

I remembered the story Kate had told me a few years prior about how their mother was killed due to her creating an Immortal Child. They were still upset about it, "Kate says that's why they always follow the law to the letter."

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

We nodded, "And she paid the price," Carlisle finished.

"Well Renesmee is nothing like those children," Bella snapped, "She was born, not bitten. She grows every single day."

"So can't you just explain that to the Volturi?" Jacob asked.

Edward shook his head, "Aro has enough proof in Irina's thoughts."

I was pissed, "At least you have a case. She didn't mistake me, they're gonna kill me."

"No, they're not," Paul looked around for encouragement.

"We fight," Jacob agreed.

"Their offensive weapons are too powerful," Jasper shook his head, "No one could stand against Jane."

Alice agreed, "And Alec's even worse."

"Then we convince them!" Bella fought.

Emmett's voice was cold, "They're coming to kill us, not to talk."

"Thanks Em, you're optimism is inspiring," I snapped.

Edward shook his head, "No, you're right," we all looked at him confused, "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," Carlisle dismissed.

"No, not fight. Witness. If enough people knew the truth, maybe we could convince the Volturi to listen."

Esme put her hand gingerly on Carlisle's crossed arms, "We can ask this of our friends."

I grew slightly annoyed, "You may be able to help your chance with Renesmee but no vampire who knows what I am will want to come near me!"

"Carmen and Eleazar love you! And so do Kate and Tanya. I'm sure once they realize you're no threat that they'll want to help you," he told me.

Carlisle looked at me sadly, "It will take a lot of convincing just to show people the truth about the child, but it's going to take a lot more to show you're no danger to our kind. The sleeper-wolves are ancient, and remembered to take out covens by the dozens," he sighed, "But you're my daughter and you're the last of your kind. Any immortal with a soul could see you are not harmful to them," there was a brief pause, "Let's split up."

~

The following morning everyone started packing. Paul was reluctant to let me leave without him, but I'd convinced him that two shapeshifters was enough anxiety without adding a third.

"Just come home soon, please?" He pleaded hugging me close.

Jacob walked in with his bag at the ready, "Let's get this show on the road-" he froze looking behind us. We all turned and saw Sam approaching with something in his hand.

We met him outside and he gave the paper to Carlisle, "Alice asked me to give you that. She and Jasper asked for permission to cross out boarder last night."

Carlisle folded the paper sadly, "Carlisle?" Esme reached out.

"They've left us." I gasped, feeling devastated, why would they do that? Rosalie asked the same question, "She didn't say."

Bella asked to see the letter, I read over her shoulder instantly recognizing Alice's calligraphy;

Gather as many witnesses as you can before the snow sticks to the ground. That's when they'll come.

We were sad, yet we had no choice but to continue as normal. We waited a bit, giving my eyes time to signal my thirst, knowing they would need to see them to understand. First I was going with Edward, Bella, and Jacob up to Alaska to greet some old friends. When the familiar wooden house came into view I started to get nervous. Tanya, Kate, Carmen, and Eleazar were already outside when they heard the car pull in. Edward stepped out first, to prepare them,

"Edward is everything alright? Why didn't you tell us you were coming?" Tanya asked concerned.

Carmen took a tentative step forward, "Is it Irina? Have you heard from her?"

"Not directly," Edward answered.

Eleazar saw me sitting in the car, my eyes covered with sunglasses, "Why is Cate and your bride waiting in the car?"

"And why have you brought a wolf with you I can smell him from here," Kate replied before back tracking, "Is that Cate's mate?"

Disregarding their questioned Edward told them, "My family is in danger, I need your help."

"What's happened?" Carmen asked.

Edward turned to me signaling me to step out first. We'd determined we should get me out of the way first, hoping that our bond would ease the tension before springing Renesmee on them.

"Hi guys," I smiled through the sunglasses.

Carmen smiled at me, "Hola Cariña, what's going on?"

I walked up to them slowly, "You all know I would never do anything to hurt you right?"

"Of course Cate. What is it?" Kate asked nervously.

I looked at Edward who nodded to me, I slowly took my sunglasses off and immediately they all jumped back terrified, "What have you done?" Tanya hissed.

I flinched, "It happened during an attack with newborns. But I've controlled everything! I promise! I feed off of animals, and I haven't hurt anyone!" I pleaded.

"You're an abomination!" She reprimanded.

"No!"

Edward butted in, "You knew her before us. Wouldn't you have killed her if you thought she was a danger? You lived in peace with her whole tribe!" He reminded them.

"We didn't know what they were!"

"But does that change how you see her? Would you kill her now? Because the Volturi wants to. Irina saw her and went to them and now they're coming to kill her!"

Their expressions changed to that of anger to sorrow and regret, "I don't want to die," I confessed.

It was Carmen who broke first, running right to me and hugging me tightly, "It's going to be alright," she promised.

"Thank you. But that's not all," I told them reluctantly.

Bella slowly got out of the car holding Renesmee's hand. All of hell broke loose, "The Volturi will kill all of us!" Kate whispered.

"Get that thing out of here!" Tanya hissed.

Edward tried to calm them down like he did moments before, "She's not what she looks like," he insisted.

"This is a crime!" Tanya lunged at Edward but he defensively threw her back.

Kate went to avenge her sister, when Edward grabbed her she electrocuted him. Bella watched angrily, going to protect her mate she left Renesmee with Jacob and grabbed Kate's hand. She tried to incapacitate Bella like she had Edward but Bella seemed immune, showing her to the side like her sister.

The both of them swiftly got to their feet and approached again, "Stay back!" Bella threatened.

"She has blood in her veins. You could feel her warmth. I'm her biological father," he explained, "Bella's her mother."

"Impossible," Kate shook her head.

Bella agreed, "It's true. She was born while I was still human."

"I've never heard of such a thing," Eleazar pondered.

I pipped in, "She has a talent. Let her show you."

We let Jacob approach with her, Tanya watched skeptically, "Please, you owe us this much. We're all under a death sentence because your sister has hated Cate since the incident and wouldn't let us explain," Edward reminded her.

When Renesmee was within arms length of Tanya she stretched her arm out to touch her cheek. She instinctively recoiled back.

"Don't be afraid," Bella told her, "this is how she communicates."

Tanya let the child show her. Her eyes light up and she looked at Nessie in wonder, "It's true," she told the others, "She's not immortal."

They came closer in wonder, each of them wanting to see what Tanya saw. We soon went back home, to greet those that the others sent our way. Paul was glad, I swear he acted like such a tough guy but he was a softie at heart.

~

As time passed we slowly got more and more visitors. The first of which Carlisle sent us from Egypt. Amun, the leader was reluctant to be there, but it was Benjamin who was eager to meet us. He was fairly younger, attractive with tanned skin, red eyes and short curly hair. I was surprised he wasn't the least bit afraid of me or Nessie when he saw us. It was Amun who tried to take him away but he disregarded him, wanting to know more. When Ness showed him, he was in awe. Quickly becoming enamored with her. He even showed us his own gift, the ability to control the four elements. I watched as he took the small pieces of dirt in Renesmee's hand and influenced it into a little tornado.

"What about you?" He asked me warmly, "You seem to be fairly new to this life as well."

I nodded, "I am, but I came from a tribe of shapeshifters before I transformed."

"Intriguing! May I?" He extended his hand to the open land wanting to see. I allowed myself to phase, showing the Egyptian clan my wolf form, "Amazing!" He praised.

I phased back and smiled, hopeful, "I only hurt those who threaten my family. But the Volturi exterminated my entire species. I'm the last one."

Benjamin clasped his hands on my shoulders, "I will help," he promised before adding, "I think we are going to be great friends!"

"I'm glad, Avatar was my favorite show growing up so this will be fun!" I joked causing him to laugh. I saw the look of jealousy on Pauls face and rolled my eyes, beckoning him over, "Ben this is my mate Paul," I introduced.

They shook hands, Ben smiling happily, "I've never met a werewolf before. Nice to meet you!"

Paul seemed to relax a bit, "Yeah man, thanks for helping."

Suddenly, we heard some strange animal noises cawing through the forest. Then two seemingly wild women stood before us, their red eyes vibrant.

"Who are they?" Bella asked.

Edward read their thoughts, "Senna and Zafrina. From the Amazon."

We were relieved that people were open to seeing us, open to helping us. Many of our visitors were reluctant about me more than Renesmee, due to the fact that her story could be straightened out with a single touch. However it seemed that within a short time of meeting, that they were comfortable around me. Edward said that I was quick to win their hearts. It relieved me that they seemed to like me enough to help try and protect me from the Volturi. Many of these immortals had never seen a hybrid before, and that lead to many phasing moments. Paul became accustomed to having an extra change of clothes in his arms for me.

Garret was quick to befriend me, not even questioning it, "You're a good one Cate, I can tell," he insisted.

Carlisle managed to get his Irish friends to make the trip. We were grateful for their help, but some of us were reluctant due to their insane thirst for blood. Rosalie and Emmett kept sending nomads our way, they were pretty unpredictable but willing to help. Jasper and Alice sent over Peter and his mate, apparently Jasper and Peter were old friends from the battlefield when they were newborns.

"Lotta red eyes around here," Jacob noticed.

"They agreed not to hunt in the area," Bella told him.

Paul sighed, "A dead person in Seattle is the same thing as a dead person in Forks."

He had a point, and with every new vampire that came more Quileutes turned, joining the pack. We'd talked to Sam early on about the situation we were in. He quickly offered to help us if a fight should arise, we helped him with the newly turned wolves. Many of which were around Seth's age when he turned for the first time. It was sad but unfortunately unavoidable.

Finally Carlisle and Esme came back with our last witness, "How many came?" Carlisle asked when he hugged me hello.

"Eighteen," Edward answered.

I smiled, "It's good to know some people are loyal."

"And Alice?" Esme wondered.

We shook our heads, we hadn't heard from them since they left, they didn't even give Peter a note or anything to bring to us.

"Well we'll all be on Aro's list now," Carlisle's friend snapped, "Centuries on the run. That's what you've brought me. Some friend, Carlisle."

Carlisle shook his head amused, "Alistair, come meet everyone," he motioned.

"I already told you if it comes to a fight, I won't stand against the Volturi."

"It won't come to a fight," Carlisle promised.

Clearly unconvinced he looked up and said, "I'll be in the attic," he jumped up to out attic window leaving us on the ground.

"He's not a people person," Esme defended.

I chuckled, "Well is he a dog person?" She laughed with me as we walked inside.