I WOULDN'T MIND

eighteen. coraggiosa

▬▬ EMMETT, though he was ready and willing to fight, couldn't help the worry that filled his chest as he watched Cori tug at the bottom of her jacket as she chewed on her bottom lip.

Her hair was pulled back into two braids – his handy work – and he could see every ounce of worry in her amber eyes even if she never once looked his way. She kept her chin up, her shoulders back, her steps sure as her boots sank into the thick bedding of snow but he could read her like a book.

He shifted closer to her, sliding his arm around her waist and tugging her into his side. She let out a small breath, her eyes falling closed as she leaned into him ever so slightly.

Rosalie, having heard the shaky exhale, turned a little, her golden waves shifting over her shoulder as she looked over at the couple. Cori had yet to open her eyes again, even as they came to a stop on the vast clearing in the middle of nowhere.

Travis turned, glancing back at the small vampire and he wished more than anything that he possessed Jasper's gift, or any gift at all that could ease the obvious panic rising in the newborn.

Emmett leaned down, tightening his grip on his girlfriend as he pressed a kiss to her forehead – the spot that had once been home to a small scar from the accident a few years before.

"I promised you the world-" Emmett mumbled, his voice low but everyone heard him and she reached up onto her toes, pressing her lips to his before he could say anything else.

"I'm holding you to that." She breathed out, her voice steady as she sunk back onto her heels, her hand lingering on his cheek and he could feel the small shake in her fingers. He gently gripped her wrist and moved her hand to his lips, lightly kissing her palm. Never looking away from her, neither blinking.

A million silent I love yous. Thousands of promised kisses. A hundred promises to live. And one heart, though neither of there's beat, thumping between them.

Reluctantly, he let her hand slip from his fingers and they both turned as the sound of footsteps in the snow caught their attention as the Volturi broke through the treeline on the other side of the clearing.

"The redcoats are coming! The redcoats are coming!" Garrett muttered, bouncing on his toes a little as his gripped Kate's hand – the two seemingly becoming inseparable.

Cori shifted on her feet, trying to stand as tall as she possibly could as a wall of vampires dressed in black cloaks neared them.

They were easily outnumbered.

"Aro's looking for Alice." Edward whispered, having peaked into the king's mind – but it wasn't hard to assume as his eyes raked over every vampire that stood before him, lingering momentarily on Cori.

Then Sam let out a low howl, stepping from the trees followed by the other wolves. They fell in line behind the vampires, all but two – Jacob joined Bella, Edward and Renesmee in the front while Paul stopped next to Emmett and Cori, nodding his head once at the two vampires.

Emmett simply returned the nod, meeting the wolf's eyes – a silent agreement to not let anything happen to Cori passing between them. And Cori gave him a small smile, but he knew her well enough to know that she was scared out of her mind. If he wasn't worried she'd phase right then and there, he would've leaned against her in hopes of comforting her.

The new additions sent a small hesitation through the large mass of vampires, but only for a moment. Aro simply reached up and tugged the hood from his head, everyone following suit.

Still, no one had spoken a word, filling the snowy air between them with an ever rising tension that had Cori on the brink of exploding – her hand gripped tightly at Emmett's jacket, her nails leaving small rips in the fabric.

Carlisle, much to Cori's relief, stepped forward. "Aro, let us discuss things as we used to." He spoke, his voice calm and normal even with yards between him and the Volturi king. "In a civilized manner."

"Fair words, Carlisle." Aro's voice was just as calm, collected. "But a little out of place, given the battalion you've assembled against us." He let his eyes roam over each vampire, and wolf, once more.

"I can promise you that was never my intent. No laws were broken here."

"We see the child. Do not treat us as fools!" Caius snapped, his eyes trained on Renesmee, who was tucked protectively between Bella and Edward.

"She is not an immortal!" Carlisle raised his voice before looking back at his friends, his family. "These witnesses can attest to that. Or you can look." He held his arm out towards the kid. "See the flush of human blood in her cheeks."

"Artifice!"

Aro raised his hand, silencing his brother. "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 assume you are involved." He stepped forward, his hand raised.

Edward patted Renesmee's head, giving her a reassuring smile before giving Bella a small, barely there nod. Then he stepped away from the two, and against her better judgment, Cori slipped out from under Emmett's arm and matched Edward's pace.

He gave her a small smirk, barely turning his head to face her but she kept her head high and her eyes on Aro knowing damn well Edward could hear the Don't give me that look, Psycho that was flooding her head as she rolled her eyes.

"Coraline." Aro smiled almost gleefully at the girl and her hands tightened into fists at her sides. "Quanto sei molto coraggiosa." He nodded his head slightly and she shifted on her feet.

Brave.

It was the only words she knew, the only word she remembered from the Italian class she and Lola had taken their freshman year.

Caius huffed impatiently as Aro let his eyes roam over the small vampire. She still looked fragile, and though this time she wasn't hiding behind Travis, he could tell just how frightened she was – and still she stood before them for no other reason than she didn't want Edward to be alone.

Cori swallowed hard, her eyes meeting his once again and he smiled, a small hum leaving his lips before he settled his attention on Edward, raising his hand once more, which Edward took.

A few moments passed, a distant look in Aro's eyes as a sickly smile played on his lips before it faded and his eyes widened. And when he pulled his hand back, his crimson orbs settled on the child in question. "I'd like to meet her."

Edward reluctantly turned, his knuckles brushing Cori's as he met her gaze, and with just a look she knew what he was doing. She simply let it in.

A million thoughts rushed through her as Edward gave Bella a small nod. She sorted through them, giving away no indication that she was fighting through every thought of every vampire and wolf in the clearing.

Bella started forward, her hand tightly wrapped around her daughter's, and Jacob stayed right with them. The newborn stopped, turning back to look at Emmett, who was already making his way towards them.

And when they were close enough, Emmett secured his arm around Cori, tugging her closer to him. It was a nice comfort and she leaned into him as she sorted through everyone's thoughts but there were only a few she could place.

Attack already! Vladimir, his Russian accent almost angry.

Please let this work. Esme.

You idiotic little munchkin. Paul, who just seemed peeved that she had put herself so close to the threat.

"Ah. Young Bella." Aro mused, but Cori pushed through, biting the inside of her cheek when she worked her way through Aro's head – it was strange and creepy. Though he held no attraction for Bella, he was very intrigued by her immortality on a level that Cori wished she had never known. "Immortality becomes you."

Let's be done with this. Marcus looked as exhausted as Cori felt as she shuffled through every thought that invaded her mind. He didn't seem to care if there was a battle or if they went home, he was just... done.

Then a sound came from Aro, echoing off the snow as a mix between a giddy laugh and surprised shriek, and it jolted Cori right out of her head, sending every thought but hers from her mind. "I hear her strange heart."

Cori quickly met Edward's eyes. She hadn't figured out why he had wanted her to read thoughts as he did, she didn't get that far and she was slightly panicking. He moved his head back and forth, a barely there movement that if she hadn't been looking at him she would've missed.

Renesmee looked up at her mother before meeting Aro's eyes. Then she moved towards the vampire that held his hand out expectantly. "Hello, Aro." She avoided his hand and placed her palm on his cheek. And he was mesmerized as she used her gift to show him everything he ever needed to know about her.

"Magnifico." He mumbled in astonishment before turning towards his coven. "Half mortal, half immortal. Convinced and carried by this newborn while she was still human."

"Impossible." Caius snapped.

Aro gave him a pointed look. "Do you think they fooled me, brother?"

Caius quickly set his jaw, not daring to speak another word as the others turned, making their way back across the snow.

Cori gripped onto Emmett's jacket as he tugged her closer to him, his hand firmly on her hip.

"Edward, I'm sorry." She whispered and he met her eyes. "I couldn't... i-it was too much."

He shook his head, as they neared the others and she shut her mouth. He glanced down, he moved his hand just a little and she brushed her fingers against his, and this time when the overwhelming rush hit her she clung tighter to Emmett and searched for Edward's thoughts.

I'm sorry. His voice finally came through more clearly as she shoved everyone else's thoughts to the side. I just thought that if you could also read their thoughts, anticipate their moves it would be a lot of help.

There's just too many. Even as they conversed, giving the other simple looks that confused everyone else, the other thoughts were still there in the back of her head but she had managed to force them into nothing more than white noise.

Focus on one. Just one.

She nodded her head and the thoughts rushed forward, and her brows pinched when someone, who clearly wanted to be elsewhere, thought about their next meal in the form of a tall blonde with legs that went on for days.

"Bring the informer forward." Caius stated, his voice calm, and a blonde moved towards him, her head down. "Is that the child you saw?"

Irina glanced at the child. "I'm not sure."

"Jane."

"She's changed. This child is bigger." She rushed out, her voice trembling because she knew that this wouldn't end well for her.

"Then your allegations were false."

"The Cullens are innocent. I take full responsibility for my mistakes." She kept her head high, despite the shake in her words then her eyes settled on Bella. "I'm sorry." She merely whispered.

Cori worked fast, sorting through thoughts and a gasp left her lips before anyone had moved as her eyes settled on Irina – she knew she was to be put to death. And then Demetri lit a torch.

"Caius, no!" Edward shouted but they ripped her arms off.

"Irina!" Kate shouted as Tanya screamed for her sister. Then her head was ripped off and her body set a blaze, the two blondes charged.