Author's Notes: This is going to be a four part series, taking place in different time periods throughout history. I have given the characters names similar to their present day counterparts for easy recognition. I had originally had thought, for the Ancient Rome part of this series, to give them names that would describe the character. Like, Joe's name was going to be 'Claudis Verres' , which means 'hot headed pig', but a friend of mine thought it would be to confusing, although it was pretty damn funny. So I opted to take their names and make them sound Roman. I know it is cheesy, but that's just me. The idea for this story came to me when I was listening to the song, "It's all been done", by The Barenaked Ladies. I will say that this is a Babe story, although there will be death. Cupcakes, be forewarned this story is not Cupcake friendly. Also note that some things may not be historically accurate, so any history buffs out there don't jump my case. And, with out any further ado I present to you the first part of my Soul Mate Series… Ancient Rome. Please Enjoy, comments are always welcome.

Hollie

Soul Mates

Classical Definition – Greek mythology – Originally humans were combined of 4 arms, 4 legs, and a single head made of 2 faces, but Zeus feared their power and split them all in half, condemning them to spending their lives searching for the other half to complete them. This theory was presented as a half-serious story by Aristophanes in Plato's Symposium, after all the participants at the Symposium ("drinking party") were charged to philosophize on the topic of love.

Part 1 - Ancient Rome

Stephania looked out a small window of the cottage where she lived with her mother and father, on the outskirts of Rome. Today was the day she would meet the man who was to be her husband. At the tender age of 15 she felt that marriage should be the last thing on her mind. She was young and had her whole life ahead of her. She wanted to see the world beyond Rome; she wanted to experience exciting things. She was an adventurer at heart. Most of all, she was fascinated with birds, she wanted to know what it was like to fly.

"Stephania", her mother called to her. She didn't answer. "Stephania", her mother called again. She just continued looking out the window in her daydream state. "Stephania!" He mother called again, but this time shaking her shoulder.

Stephania turned, "Yes mother?"

Her mother just glared, "You need to quit daydreaming and get read, your groom will be arriving soon. "

Stephania sighed, "Yes mother", she stood up and went to her room.

She put on the blue linen dress her mother had made for her; she had said the color complimented her eyes. She combed her curly hair up into a bun and tied a matching blue ribbon in it. She glanced outside through the small window of her room and saw her father and another man removing the roast boar from the spit onto a tray for serving. Her stomach rumbled at the thought of the roast boar. She waited patiently for her mother to call her to dinner. Her nerves were humming. She wasn't ready to get married.

When her mother finally called her, she walked out to the dining area. She was beyond nervous; she was terrified, until she saw the young man in front of her. He was handsome with dark Mediterranean skin, dark sparkling eyes and dark hair. She began to re-think the whole marriage idea.

"My beautiful bride", he said as he took her hand in his and placed a kiss on her knuckles, "I am Joseph Morellius."

Stephania felt her stomach churn. She had heard of Morellius from the some of the girls in the market. He was a self proclaimed ladies man; one of Rome's most eligible bachelors. He had a reputation for being with a different woman every night. She hesitated before letting him guide her to sit beside him at the table.

She ate dinner in a daze, the boar was delicious, but she was in her own world. She couldn't believe her parents would allow such a person to marry their daughter, their innocent 15 year old daughter.

"Stephania!" Her mother shouted. She shook her head to remove the fog from her dazed state.

"Yes mother?"

"Three days. You will be married in three days."

Three days? No, she thought. She must have had a pain look on her face, because, Morellius placed his hand on her thigh, "Are you ok?" he asked.

She jumped from the table shaking her head, "No! I am not ok!" and she ran from the out the front door.

She ran until she couldn't run anymore. There was a wall, a tall wall. Her curiosity getting the best of her, she climbed the wall. She perched herself at the top and watched in amazement at what she saw. Legions of soldiers training for battle. A lot of the men appeared to be just boys, her age. They were breed to be shoulders, board shoulders, and very strong. She sat there just watching for a while. One of the soldiers came over to her.

"Hi" he said to her.

"Hi" she replied trying not to blush.

He was even more handsome than Morellius. Dark skin, darker than any she had ever seen before. His long dark hair pulled back at his neck in a leather strap. His dark eyes sparkled in the light that was left, for the sun had begun to set in the west.

"What are you doing up there?" he asked.

"Just curious, watching you train." She had to admit she had noticed him a couple times; his skin color was unique to her.

He smiled and started climbing the wall to sit beside her.

"What's your name, you are a vision." He softly brushed his callused finger over her cheek and she felt a strange vibe run through her almost like heat and fire.

"Stephania", she said on a breath looking at him shyly.

"What a beautiful name. They call me Manosius, but my first name is Carlotos."

Stephania smiled. "Nice to meet you. I've never met a soldier before."

Manosius smiled, "Well, I have never met such a beauty before."

Stephania blushed and turned her head away from him. He placed his fingers on her chin and turned her face back to him and he kissed her. She felt like she was going to burst, but it also felt right. She let him kiss her, her first ever kiss.

He broke the connection between them, "You are meant for me." He whispered with their lips barely touching, "You felt it too didn't you?"

Stephania nodded as she licked her lips, tasting his still on hers.

Manosius turned and jumped down the side of the wall that Stephania had climbed up.

"You trust me?" he asked her.

She nodded, "I trust you."

"Jump to me."

So she did and he caught her in his arms.

"I want to show you something." He said as he placed her on her feet and took her hand.

He led her back the way she had came when she ran from home. They got to a hill overlooking her home.

"I have been coming here for the past two weeks and I have no idea why. A strong force brings me to this spot." he looked at her, "Do you know why?"

Stephania pointed to the cottage, "I live there."

Manosius smiled, "Do you have any idea why you chose tonight to sit on the fortress wall?"

She held her head down, "I ran away. I am being forced into marriage. Sure he is handsome and an upper-class citizen of Rome, but I do not love him. Mother said we are to be wed in three days."

Manosius didn't like the idea of arranged marriages; if you were to be wed it should be for love.

"Stephania, we have been brought together by something stronger than love, I feel it, and I know you do too." He kissed her softly.

"Stephania!" She heard her father shouting for her.

"Stephania!" Then it was Morellius' voice she heard, she cringed.

She saw the faint glow of the candles they were carrying.

"They seem to be looking for you." Manosius said in a sad tone.

"I don't want to go back." She said shaking her head.

"Go, I'll come for you when the time is right," He kissed her once more, "Go, Stephania, I love you." She squeezed his hand she was holding.

"Meet me here tomorrow night?" She asked.

"Tomorrow night." He placed a soft kiss on her cheek, "Go."

She ran down the hill to her father. He held her close, "You had me worried little one, don't ever do that again."

Morellius came up behind her. "My bride, you are nervous?"

Stephania nodded. Morellius hugged her. "It will be fine, don't worry."

Stephania slept that night and dreamed of Manosius, the most vivid dream she ever had. She felt like he did, their meeting that night was in the stars for them. When she woke the next morning, she was happy, until her mother came in with the wedding dress she would wear in two days. Two days! She was suddenly depressed. She decided to face the inevitable, she was going to marry Morellius, like it or not.

Her day went by in a blur, but after dinner she went up to the spot on the hill. There she would wait for Manosius. She didn't have to wait long. He took a seat next to her and handed her a flower.

"Evening my love", he kissed her cheek.

She smiled and held the flower in her lap "I had a dream last night." She looked up to him from the flower she was holding in her hand, "We were together, and we had a child, a girl. She was beautiful." A tear slipped from her eye.

Manosius hugged her to him, "Babe, don't cry. I've had the same dream." He placed his hands on her face and kissed her. The love they felt in that kiss was amazing.

After a few minutes she heard her father calling for her.

"I have to go. Tomorrow?" she asked.

"Tomorrow." Manosius said before kissing her lips, "Go Babe."

She hurried down the hill home into her father's arms.

"What are you doing out there?" Her father asked.

"Just thinking Daddy." She looked back up the hill and she could see Manosius' shadowy figure go back through the woods towards the fortress.

The next night would be the last night she could see Manosius before she married Morellius. She hoped to make the best of the visit. Manosius held her like she had never been held before. They lay on the dew dampened grass, his front to her back, his arm resting on her hip.

"I have had dreams of us lying like this in a lush bed, neither of us wearing clothes." Manosius told her. She giggled and the vibration roused feelings in Manosius. God, how he wanted to make love to her. He was going to miss Stephania, but he knew he would be with her when the time was right.

Stephania's wedding day came and went. Every day her thoughts were of Manosius as she did her wifely duties. She had heard of the armies going into battle. She prayed Manosius would return unharmed.

One day while she was tending to her two year old son, Anthony there was a knock on the door of the manor where she lived with her husband who was now a senator in Rome.

She answered the door and found a messenger with a letter.

"Stephania Morellius?" the messenger asked.

"I am Stephania." She replied holding Anthony on her hip.

The messenger held the letter out to her, "My deepest sympathies ma'am." And the messenger left.

Stephania was in shock when she read the letter.

Mrs. Stephania Morellius,

We have been instructed that in the event of death to notify you.

Commander Carlotos Manosius was killed in battle. He asked that the following message be attached to his death notice:

"Go Babe, I'll come to you when the time is right."

Stephania held Anthony close to her and cried.

"Ma Ma" Anthony whispered, "Don't cry Ma Ma."

She couldn't help it. The one man she truly loved was gone.

Joseph Morellius died at the age of 30 to the hands of a jealous husband. Stephania knew he had many mistresses and she was glad he finally got caught. She grieved very little, mostly for show. At the age of 33 after falling ill, Stephania died in the arms of her 18 year old son.

TBC…. In 16th Century England.

Thanks for reading, please review, good, bad, or ugly. Hollie

My thanks go out to Will, the best Jew I know!!!