Only Exception || C. Cullen ?

t w e l v e

Christina didn't need to open the other bag to understand Bella's silent explanation. She slipped the passport back into the bag, trying to hold back the tearless sob that wanted to escape her throat.

The children, along with Jacob and Seth, would be taking off if tomorrow went sourly. If a fight started to break out, the two wolves would take the children and hide — and they could only hope to be found by the parents afterward.

"I trust them," Christina muttered quietly into the dark. She blinked back the venom that surrounded her eyes as she looked towards Bella. "It"ll be okay."

"I never got to thank you," Bella whispered. She turned her golden eyes towards her older sister. "For dragging me to Forks. I've gotten absolutely everything I could have ever wanted and more... and I wouldn't have done it if it wasn't for you."

A cry escaped Christina's throat at Bella's words, not expecting the sentimental goodbye.

"This isn't a goodbye," Christina whispered. She wanted to stay hopeful for the outcome. "We'll see another sunrise." She faced Bella a watery smile. "We'll be stuck together forever — we'll get so sick of each other."

Bella gave her a watery smile back. "Forever."

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        Christina bit her lip harshly as the witnesses and her family stood around the giant field. It was the same field that they used for the battle with the newborns. She tried not to think about how destructive the outcome of that battle turned out to be.

She tightened her hand around Carlisle's. They had a wordlessly goodbye this morning, just in case, it turned out to be a fight. She refused to cry. She cried enough with Bella the night previous.

"If we live through this, I'll follow you anywhere, woman," Garrett muttered down to Kate. They were holding hands in the frontline with the rest of the Cullen's and Denali's — family standing together one last time.

Kate scoffed with a smile on her face. "Now you tell me."

Christina froze as foot crunching against snow was heard throughout the field. She was quick to pull Greyson closer to her. Annie was hidden behind Carlisle's legs. Both children knew that trouble was coming.

Greyson whimpered lowly as he wrapped his arms around his mother's waist. Christina frowned as she laid a hand on the top of his head. Her golden eyes were narrowed at the dark group that stopped at the other end of the field.

"The Redcoats are coming. The Redcoats are coming," Garrett muttered lowly, bouncing on his feet.

Christina's eyes swept over the Volturi's guard and witnesses. They outnumbered their group by a great margin. It only made her worried if it came down to a fight. She only hoped that most of them would run instead of fight.

"Aro's looking for Alice," Edward muttered, getting a read off of the leader's mind.

As the Volturi stop walking, the two wolves packs came out from the woods. It made Christina's anxiety for down, just a smidge.

Seth stopped on Carlisle's left side, completely blocking Annie from view. Christina gave him a thankful glance before looking back towards Aro.

Carlisle gave Christina's hand one last squeeze before letting go and walking forward. Christina's hand reached out to grip Seth's fur, needing something to hold onto.

"Aro," Carlisle called out. "Let us discuss things as we used to. In a civilized manner."

Aro hummed lowly. "Fair words, Carlisle. But a little out of place, given the battalion you've assembled against us."

"I can promise you, that was never my intent," Carlisle replied. "No laws have been broken."

"We see the children. Do not treat us as fools!" Caius snapped, pointing between Nessie and Greyson.

Christina pulled Greyson behind her as Caius' red eyes landed on him. She withheld a growl lingering in the back of her throat — feeling the threat of her babies.

"They are not immortal!" Carlisle shouted, looking around the opposite field. He waved his hand to his side of the field. "These witnesses can attest to that. Or you can look. See the flush of human blood on their cheeks."

"Artifice!" Caius sneered, refusing to believe Carlisle.

"I will collect every facet of the truth," Aro stated, holding his hand up to Caius. "From another central being in the story. Edward. As the girl clings to your newborn mate, I assume you are involved."

Edward let out a breath as he looked down at Bella quickly. He let go of her hand and walked towards the Volturi.

Christina was quick to pull Bella closer, bringing Nessie and Jacob along with her. Nessie grabbed onto Greyson's hand, both of them seeking comfort from each other — as Bella and Christina did the same. Annie stayed underneath Seth's legs, peering out every once and a while towards her mother.

Edward extended his hand to Aro, letting the lead vampire read his every thought through the single touch. It was a quick second before Aro dropped Edward's hand, a grin appearing on his face as he looked towards the two children.

"I'd like to meet them."

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You stay away from my babies, you cretin!

Also, I can't believe I'm this close to the end.
I'm really not ready for this.