Aro stood facing the window behind his desk, his hands clasped behind his back. The sun was setting over Volteria, painting the city in hues of gold, pink and flaming orange. The scene didn't move Aro though. He had seen too many sunsets to care anymore.

He heard footsteps approaching his study. He knew who it was even before he smelt him, or turned around. He would know those footsteps anywhere. Carlisle. Aro was not surprised at the feeling of excitement he felt in the pit of his stomach, he'd grown used to it. Ever since he'd brought Carlisle to Volteria he'd grown... attached. This was a new feeling for him, as Aro hadn't felt deeply for anyone in a long time. Even his own mate had grown distant as the years past, but Carlisle, Carlisle was... different.

He'd found Carlisle so intriguing, from his polite, yet firm refusal to drink from humans, to his love and passion for the arts, to the way his hair seemed to go from white to gold depending on the light. He and Carlisle even began taking walks together so Aro could show him the sites and secrets of Volteria...he wanted to show Carlisle everything. It wasn't long before Carlisle began to invade all Aro's thoughts. Aro even found himself observing the way Carlisle would tilt his head slightly to the side when he was listening to someone, causing his blond hair to brush to one side, exposing a long, pale throat...

Shaking his head slightly, as if to rid it from thoughts about Carlisle, or rather Carlisle's neck, Aro turned to the door just as Carlisle entered. Once again Aro found himself staring at the man before him, observing the way the sun's dying rays made his skin sparkle slightly, and turned his hair a deep gold, almost the same colour as his eyes. Eyes that would look at Aro with wonder, delight and sometimes even fear...

"Aro, I need to speak with you." Carlisle said his voice soft, almost sad.

Aro silently gestured to the chair in front his desk. Carlisle walked towards it but didn't sit. He just stood behind it, nervously squeezing the chair's back. Aro walked around to the front of the desk himself and leaned against it, crossing his arms in front of him.

"What is it Carlisle?"

Aro could feel the fingers of dread curling around his stomach; he had a feeling of what was coming next, but prayed to the Gods he was wrong. Carlisle said nothing and just stared at his hand on the back of the chair, as if he had noticed it for the first time. Aro maintained his pose in front of the desk, waiting patiently; their time was limitless after all.

"I'm leaving." Carlisle said in a small voice, still staring at the back of the chair.

Even though Aro had been expecting those words they still felt as if someone had shoved a red hot poker though his chest. He stared at Carlisle who refused to meet his gaze. Finally Aro strode forward until he was right in front of Carlisle. Placing a hand under his chin, he forced Carlisle's face upwards until their eyes met. Their faces where so close their noses where almost touching.

"Look me in the face when you speak Carlisle, it's rude not to." Aro said, his voice dead; it was the same voice he used for trials. A voice that had always scared Carlisle.

Aro knew if he opened his mind he would be able to read all the reasons Carlisle wanted to leave Volteria, to leave him... but Aro blocked them, he wanted to hear the answers from Carlisle's own mouth. Aro felt Carlisle try to tug his face from his grip; he tightened his hand in response.

"I-I need to leave Aro, I- need..."

"Why?" Aro growled, tightening his hand even further, causing Carlisle to wince.

"I can't live like this anymore Aro! It's starting to get to me...I don't know how long I'll be able to go on without making a...a ...mistake..."

"A mistake..."

"The bloodlust... living here smelling the blood...I don't want to hurt anyone! If I stay here I don't think I'll be able to stop myself..."

Aro stared at Carlisle a moment longer, holding his face, rubbing his fingers slightly over Carlisle's jaw, memorising the texture. He was trying desperately to suppress the feeling of hopelessness that sprang up at Carlisle's words. Carlisle couldn't leave, he just couldn't.

"I know I'm weak." Carlisle continued, looking down although Aro still had a hold of his jaw, "But-

"Look at me." Aro growled, Carlisle reluctantly locked eyes with Aro, "you are not weak...you hear me?"

Carlisle remained silent, stubbornly staring at Aro's shoulder. Ignoring this Aro said,

"Tell me something Carlisle, is that the real reason you want to leave? Or is there something else?"

The tone of Aro's voice made Carlisle look him, really look at him. The expression on Aro's face seemed to shock Carlisle. Aro wondered if Carlisle could read the hurt...the distress he was feeling.

"Yes Aro, it is.", Carlisle said in a strained voice "It's not you. It was never you! This is something I need to do for myself. If-if there was any other way... Carlisle trailed off as if he couldn't bear to say anymore.

Aro didn't know what to say, there was one other way Carlisle could stay with him. If Carlisle ate like him, but he would never suggest that...he wouldn't make Carlisle chose for his own selfish needs. His hand still on Carlisle's jaw, Aro leaned in closer until their foreheads were touching. It was the closest the two men had ever come to each other. Carlisle's eyes widened in surprise, before they fluttered shut and he inhaled deeply, taking in Aro's scent. From this close Aro could see the details of Carlisle's face; the bruise-like shadows beneath the purple eye lids, the sculpted lips, the blond-almost white eyelashes.

Aro sighed and shut his own eyes, opening his mind to Carlisle's thoughts. Yes he knew it was invasive, but he had to know, he had to know if what Carlisle said was true. Carlisle thoughts was a swirling mass of conflict, at the fore front were feelings of sadness and loss, coloured with determination, a determination to protect and preserve those weaker than him. What caught Aro off guard though was the number of times his own face appeared in Carlisle's thoughts and the feelings Carlisle had for him, feelings that both scared and thrilled Aro, feelings that mirrored his own.

Aro opened his eyes to find Carlisle staring at him, his brow furrowed as if he was determined to burn Aro's face into his retinas. Smiling slightly Aro released Carlisle's face and backed away.

"I understand your decision Carlisle, if that's what you think is best." His voice sounded strange, even to him, wooden, as if he were reading aloud form a book he didn't care for.

Carlisle nodded looking unsure.

"The doors of the Volturi will always be open to you."

Carlisle nodded again and began walking away. Turning to face Aro in the doorway, the unsure look still on his face, he said, "Good-bye Aro."

Aro was across the room in a heartbeat, he pulled Carlisle to him, wrapping his arms around Carlisle's shoulders. Carlisle froze for the briefest of seconds before locking his own arms around Aro's waist. It was the first time Aro had simply hugged someone in more than a century, and it was so refreshing, so relaxing.

"I'll miss you my friend." Aro said, giving Carlisle a squeeze. Carlisle tightened his arms in response and buried his face in Aro's shoulder, inhaling. Finally Aro pulled away, Carlisle looked at him for a few moments before he turned and strode down the corridor. Aro knew he was already packed and would be gone in a matter of minutes.

Turning around Aro walked over to his desk, sat behind it and leaned forward until his forehead was resting on the smooth wood. He wrapped his arms around his middle and let his emotions wash over him.

Soft sobs began to echo in the study.

It had been ages since Aro had felt this kind of grief, this sort of emotion and for the first time since he had established himself as Volturi leader he let his emotions out, he let them flow freely. The sobs in the study grew louder as Aro let go and released all his emotions for Carlisle, for everything they had no matter how undefined it was. After one last sob, he leaned back and scrubbed a hand over his dry eyes.

Standing, he tugged his jacket smooth and straightened his tie in the mirror.

"Jane," his called, his voice calm and smooth, the way his subjects expected it, the way Carlisle hated it, "are the evening meals here?"