A/N: Am feeling bad for the long waits so DOUBLE UPDATE!!! :)

It was still.

The entire area was still.

All animals had retreated for the winter and those that hadn't already were now hidden from the large gathering of predators in their homes.

As usual the battle ground had been scoped out, though this time Andy didn't have Jasper by her side she had made do with Peter and Garrett and their knowledge.

A light dusting of fresh snow coated the clearing which was open enough that no one could hide in the forest. They wanted everyone to remain in sight of each other so they wouldn't have any distractions if it did come to a fight.

Andy wasn't optimistic. She knew from her memories of the stories Aegeus told that Aro was a power hungry man and that he would do anything to obtain that power. She knew that Chelsea would be his main weapon here, but she also knew that Chelsea would not be able to bind loyalties because of Bella's power. She also knew that Chelsea would not be able to break a mate bond, and a familial bond as strong as the ones the people around her had. There were always limitations to their powers.

Her enhanced hearing picked up the slight crunching of boots in the snow.

It was time.

The Greek coven stood together behind the Cullen's, each dressed in dark blue, white and black. Clothing reminiscent of their predecessors that clashed with their bright red eyes. Their crests hung around their necks heavy with burdens of the past, burdens each of them now understood.

Andromeda stood at the head of her coven dressed in a royal blue double breasted coat over black leather pants and ankle boots. Her hair was pulled up and braided off her face to show dark eye make-up enhancing her crimson gaze. Her hands were buried deep in her pockets seemingly well relaxed among the anxious vampires around her. She smiled as she could feel her mate drawing near and everyone held their breath's as the entire guard and their witnesses stepped out into the snow covered clearing.

"Andy," Bree whispered in slight fear and the elder vampire gave her a reassuring smile.

"Aro's looking for Alice." Edward whispered.

"We'll be fine." She told her trying to keep her growl under wraps as howls sang around her, the wolves falling into rank beside them. She hissed quietly as one of them got too close and turned to face the masters.

As Demetri stepped out onto the field the only thing he saw was his mate. She stood proudly at the head of her newborns dressed in the Greek colours her coven crest proudly on display. He felt the silver chain he wore tucked into his shirt gain weight as he watched them. Had he remained in Greece after he had turned he would have met her a thousand years ago. So many years had been lost between the two immortals, and now with the Cult threatening her their time was uncertain.

Aro was the first to remove his hood first and was followed swiftly by his brother's and the guard.

Andy couldn't help locking eyes with her mate and she gave him a small smile. He returned it but his jaw was tense his eyes flicking to his master and then back to her again.

"Aro, let us discuss this as we used to, in a civilised manner." The Olympic Coven patriarch stepped forward from the group.

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

"That was never my intent, no laws have been broken."

"We see the child, do not treat us as fools."

"She is not an immortal!" Carlisle raised his voice, "These witnesses can attest to that. Or you could look. See the flush of human blood in her cheeks."

"Artifice!"

"I will collect every facet of the truth. But from someone more central to the story. Edward, as the child clings to your newborn mate, I'll assume you are involved."

Edward moves across the field and the child shifts between her mother and the wolf. Andy senses Bella's shield reach out and moves to the newborns side placing a warning hand on her shoulder.

Bella spares her a glance, then nods slightly retracting the shield from her mate and the pair watch as Aro latches onto Edward's hand eagerly.

"I'd like to meet her." Aro asked surprise evident in his voice.

Bella and Renesme share a look and begin to walk forward. The young mother stops after a few steps and glances back at Andy first, then Emmett, silently asking for support. Emmett looks to his wife and Andy to her coven before they both moved either side of the russet wolf.

She was so close, so very close to him. She wanted with everything to be with him but not like this. Edward gave her a reassuring smile sensing her inner turmoil as she distracted herself by watching Renesme.

"Ah, young Bella. Immortality becomes you." Aro commented with a strange grin. "Ha ha ha ha, I hear her strange heart beating." He comments.

Andy watched as the child approached. "Hello Aro." She whispered softly and placed her hand on his cheek.

"Magnifico." Aro moves back startled by what he had just seen. "Half mortal, half immortal, conceived and carried by this newborn while she was still human."

"Impossible." The blonde sneered.

"Do you think they fooled me brother?" Aro asked turning his back on the little group as the wolf beside Andy growled in warning. The Greek hissed at the puppy in her own warning wanting him to return with the Cullen's as she remained in between the two groups her hands still shoved deep in her pockets as she rocked slightly on her heels. "You must be Andromeda, I've seen a lot of you from Demetri's thoughts." He commented. She wouldn't move, not until the small group was back safely behind their own lines. Her eyes drifted to her mate as the master spoke then back to the trio of vampire lords.

"Pleasure to finally make your acquaintances." She said politely bowing her head slightly before raising it trying to look past the guard.

"You've caused a fair bit of trouble for us my dear."

"Nothing you can't handle I'm sure." She replied, "I just don't want your arrogance to be your downfall."

"How dare-"

"Caius," a female voice buried in the masses of cloaks hissed at him. She pushed her way through parting them and stepped into view.

She hadn't changed. Well obviously she wouldn't, because she was a vampire, duh. Andy felt the corner of her lips tug up as the silver haired female stood in front of her. The female placed a finger under Andy's chin raising her eyes to meet her own.

"You've changed." Dora commented.

"For the better I hope."

"Definitely." Athenodora smiled and pulled the younger female into a hug. "A coven?" She asked pulling away to hold Andy's crest in her hand.

"I would never sire my own, so naturally I adopted." Andy replied with a grin as she moved back giving herself space. "Let us hope this day does not end in a fight."

"We would hate to lose allies before the real battle begins." Athenodora fell back into rank looking to the Volturi leaders.

"Time will tell," Andy nodded to the ancients out of respect and looked to Demetri. His eyes were pleading with her to stay as he moved to her side taking her gloved hand. He gently placed a kiss on her knuckles like a gentleman with upmost tenderness and care.

Andy simply smiled softly and released his grip teleporting back to her position at the head of her coven.

"Bring the informer forward." Caius snapped his glare on Andy as she watched from across the playing field. "Is that the child you saw?"

"I'm not sure," Irina looked terrified.

"Jane-" Her fear increased with that one word so she hurried to answer.

"She's changed, this child is bigger."

"Then your allegations were false." Caius was looking forward to the prospect of killing something and he broke the law with a false witness.

"The Cullen's are innocent. I take full responsibility for my mistake. I'm sorry." Irina whispered the last two words to her sisters as the guard began circling her.

Andy watched with light sadness but would not interfere. The Denali sister knew what she was getting herself into when she went to them, she knew the consequences and would now pay the price.

"Caius no!" Edward shouted his eyes widening in realisation.

Demetri lit a torch and handed it to his master as the blonde was torn to pieces.

"Irina!" Tanya shouted moving to attack only to be retrained by Emmett and Eleazar while Garrett went for his mate.

"Diego drain Kate!" Andy ordered her coven mate as Garrett screamed out in pain. Diego was quick to move his hand grasping hers. He absorbed each of her attacks before she could do any serious harm to Garrett.

Andy moved beside the child and the wolf ready to teleport them a head start if need be.

"Blind them," Edward told Zafrina.

"Give me my sight back."

"Tanya it's what they want. If you attack now we'll all die." She was sagging a little as she listened to Edward's words.

The excitement seems to calm down a little but Andy saw Aro give his favourite pet a small glance. She hissed as Jane began to influence her power on Edward causing him to drop like a log. Bella in turn retaliated by expanding her shield to cover their entire side.

Demetri released a low and deadly growl his eyes on his mate. He couldn't feel her, all connection from his gift to her was cut off and he didn't like that at all. Feeling her mind was the only reassurance he ever got that she was alive and well, and now that feeling was gone his beast wanted out.

Andy shuddered at the growl and then stepped back in slight fear of the black smoke pouring from Alec's palms.

Aro raises a hand to stop the twin's attack, and he obeys without question.

"Aro you agree there is no law broken here." Carlisle spoke up.

"Agreed. But does it then follow that there I no danger. For the first time in our history humans pose a threat to our kind. Their modern technology has given birth to weapons that could destroy us. Maintaining our secret has never been more imperative. In such perilous times only the known is safe. Only the known is tolerable. And we know nothing of what this child will become. Can we live with such uncertainty? Spare ourselves a fight today only to die tomorrow."

His speech made their eyes widen in shock and fear. They all knew what he wanted. It was simple really, he wanted to acquire the power of the covens in front of him. From Edwards mind he would've seen all the gifted vampires before him. Kate and Eleazar from the Denali coven and their unique abilities. Zafrina, Siobhan, Maggie, Isabella and Edward. Not forgetting Benjamin whom Amun had kept hidden for so long and the entire Greek coven that he did not know existed.

"You're a fool," Andy hissed knowing he would hear her. "You need allies not enemies," she reminded him but he would not heed her warnings.

The vampires turned slightly hearing approaching footsteps. "Alice." Edward whispered.

"Alice." Aro sang gleefully as she and her mate headed for the Volturi only to be cut off forcefully by Demetri and two guards. "My dear, dear Alice we're so glad to see you here after all."

"I have evidence the child won't be a risk to our kind. Let me show you." He nod and Alice pushes her way through the vampire shoving them. Andy couldn't help but grin at her sass but growled lowly as her own mate gave Jasper a light tap on the cheek. Demetri turned and grinned at her knowing he pissed her off on purpose which made her growl even more. It was small payback for everything she constantly put him through and she knew it.

"Brother." Caius protests as Aro ushered the seer to him.

Alice offered her hand which Aro eagerly took looking into the future happily.