Hermione was baffled as to how she found herself in the predicaments that she often did. The one she currently found herself in was certainly a major problem. Yes, standing before the Volturi was very large problem. Standing before the Volturi, protecting a vampire they have decided to eliminate was even larger problem. The man standing behind her had somehow slipped into her heart in the short eight months she had worked in Volterra.
"You dare try to stop this," Caius hissed at her. "Felix, kill him now!"
As Hermione saw the large vampire make his move, her wand slid from her sleeve and built a shield around her lover and herself. Felix stopped before them seeing the shield that blocked him from his task. His fingers grazed the shield, putting him in excruciating pain before throwing him across the room away from the pair. "Who's next?" Hermione shouted out.
"Hermione, don't."
Hermione's brown eyes turned around, meeting the golden eyes of her lover, Carlisle Cullen. The pain in his eyes broke Hermione's heart. She knew what Carlisle was thinking; she knew it the moment she saw his eyes. He didn't want to lose anyone else to the Volturi.
Carlisle had begun to find some happiness with the girl before him, who was trying to protect him. He lost his previous mate, Esme, to the Volutri, when they had believe his family to turn a child into an immortal. After losing her, he left Forks as the memories of her brought him too much pain. Carlisle and Hermione had met one night outside of a coffee shop after Hermione accidently spilt her coffee on him. She had apologized to him profusely. The apologizing turned into talking until the shop closed, before Carlisle walked her back to her hotel. The pair fell together perfectly, as if they had known each other for ages. Both were caring by nature and had a true thirst for knowledge. The moment they met, he could feel the hum of her magic coming off her. Just as Hermione could tell by his eyes he was a vampire; there was no hiding their secrets from each other.
"No, Carlisle," Hermione pleaded with him. The war Hermione fought in taken many things from her: family, friends, and true happiness. She slowly found that happiness again when Carlisle stepped into her life.
Hermione turned back to the Volturi as she spoke, "The next one to try will die."An unknown member of the Guard tried for an attack, and Hermione held her promise, setting the vampire ablaze before the entire room.
Carlisle stepped up behind her, placing an arm around her and a hand on her wand hand to stop her.
"My, my, Carlisle, you truly have a talent for finding gifted people," Aro spoke, holding a hand up to call off his guard.
"I wasn't looking for anyone, Aro," Carlisle admitted, pulling Hermione closer.
"No dear, Carlisle," Aro spoke happily. Something was not right with this, and it was unnerving Carlisle. "I wasn't accusing you."
"Then what are you saying, Aro?" Carlisle asked.
Aro's eyes locked on to Hermione when it clicked suddenly for Carlisle. The elder vampire was interested in Hermione for his Guard or the witch becoming a vampire in general.
"I already know what you're thinking, Amico." Aro laughed. "As much as I would love to have her in my Guard here with us, we will not allow this to continue between the two of you."
"You can't stop it," Hermione spoke up softly. Aro's red eyes turned sharply to the witch.
"I have to agree, Aro," Carlisle spoke, pushing Hermione back behind him. "She's a witch, and she knows about vampires. What's the problem?"
"It's against laws for a vampires and witch to be together." Aro's eye narrowed.
" There is no law against vampires and people of the wizarding world being together. I know our laws quite well." Hermione stated. Being a unspeakable she knew the laws inside and out.
" Maybe for the wizarding world but here we have to keep a balance, turning a witch or wizard could tip that balance." Aro explained before giving a dark chuckled.
"As for not being able to stop you… Well I could just kill the rest of Carlisle's precious family to make my point clear."
"Leave my family out of this!" Carlisle growled angrily.
Hearing Aro threaten his family made her heart break. She knew in that moment that she would have to make a heart shattering decision. "Okay," Hermione's soft voice spoke from behind them
"Hermione—"
"No, you have a family to protect."Hermione turned her cold brown eyes to Aro. "We have agreed. We get to leave now alive, right?"
"Of course, mia signora," Aro spoke, cheerful once again. "Now that this is settled, you have the night together and that's all. I can at least let you say your goodbyes to one another, I am generous after all."
Carlisle grabbed Hermione, turning her from the room and leading her out. He heard Aro's goodbyes and the doors closed. The only thing Carlisle cared about right now was the sound of Hermione crying beside him. They said nothing to each other as they went back Carlisle's hotel.
"Mr. Cullen?" The front desk attend called him over as he stepped into the entryway.
"Yes?" Carlisle answered solemnly.
"You have several messages for you." The woman handed him a small stack of messages.
"Thank you." Carlisle glanced at the memos, seeing each of his family's names on the slips. "I do not wish to be disturbed tonight by anyone."
"Of course Mr. Cullen." Carlisle nodded heading to the lifts. Luckily, no one else was in the lift. He leant against the back of the lift and let Hermione rest against him. They said nothing, waiting to reach the top of the building. The bell rang, signaling they had arrived to his floor.
Stepping off the lift, they walked to his suite, and Carlisle unlocked the door to let them in.
The door closed softly but it sounded deafening to the Hermione. She turned, throwing her arms around Carlisle, letting out a sob. "How could he do that?"
"That's who they are," Carlisle spoke softly, picking her up into his arms and walking over to the large black couch in the center of the living room. He lay back on the couch, curling her into his side and running his fingers along her back.
Carlisle sighed, hearing his cell phone go off sitting on the coffee table. Leaning up, Carlisle grabbed his phone and answered it.
"Hello."
"Carlisle!" A woman exclaimed through the phone before firing off questions. "Why haven't you answered your phone? Who is the woman with you? Why were you before the Volturi? They wanted you killed!"
Carlisle sighed before answering, "Alice, I can only answer one question at a time."
"I'm sorry. I'm worried about you, Carlisle."
"Don't be, Alice, everything is fine," Carlisle tried to reassure her, but the sound of his voice told another story. "As for your questions. My phone was in the Suite. The woman is Hermione. Honestly, Alice, I don't feel like talking about the rest right now. I will be coming back home in about two days. I will explain then."
"Okay, Carlisle. See you soon, bye."
"Bye," Carlisle said, closing the phone and dropping it back on the table. "Sorry. That was my daughter, so to speak." He felt Hermione nodding, laying against his chest.
"Why haven't you told them about me?" she asked him.
"Lately, I had just called to check in nothing more. Not that I didn't want to tell them, I just wanted something to myself."
"This isn't fair," Hermione whispered, her fingers tightening around Carlisle's shirt.
"I know," Carlisle agreed.
"I'm sorry, I just agreed with Aro, but I know how much your family means to you. You need them." Hermione sighed, sitting up to look at him. "How could he threaten your family?"
Carlisle pulled her to him placing his lips on hers. "It wouldn't be the first time," Carlisle spoke, pulling back slightly to look in her eyes. "Aro is looking for a reason to rip my family apart. He desperately wants Alice and Edward in his Guard. I have to protect them and you. I will protect you, even if it means letting you go."
"I will do the same for you," Hermione spoke, straddling his legs and running her fingertips across his chest. "But for tonight, I'm holding on as tight as I can."
Carlisle's hands tightened on her hips, pulling her closer, before placing his lips on her. He then trailed kisses down her neck. His hands moved up her back and grabbed her zipper, sliding it down. His fingers grazed her back. The warmth of her skin felt perfect under his hands.
"Hermione, we shouldn't," Carlisle whispered, feeling his body tighten under Hermione. His traitorous hands slid over her body slowly.
"Yes we should," Hermione said huskily, undoing the buttons of his shift and sliding it off of him. Carlisle grabbed her tightly by the arse before carrying her to the bedroom at vampire speed. Tearing her dress off the rest of the way, he laid her back on the bed. "I liked that dress."
Carlisle chuckled. "I'll get you another one."
His lips went to her lips as he tried to put all of his love into one kiss. His hands slightly knotted themselves in her hair before bringing his mouth to her breast, kissing and nibbling on them. He was very happy that the blood of his witch did not appealed to him. He could hear her heart pounding, and the blood rushing through her veins.
"Carlisle, please don't make me wait," she whimpered. "The closer you are to me the better."
Carlisle stood, taking off his pants. She was beautiful in his eyes, even with the scars she tried to hide from him. Crawling back over her and settling between her legs, he entered her slowly. The soft moan she made reached his ears as he felt he nails tighten slight on his back. She was tight around him, and it was hard to keep from moving, as she felt amazing.
As he began to move, Hermione clung to him, kissing him anywhere she could. Gradually the pace and strength of his thrusts increased, and Hermione's body soon matched his rhythm. He could quickly feel her body begin to tighten around him. Moving her legs around his waist, he began thrusting deeper.
Hermione cried out, her fingers knotting in his hair as she felt her climax hit. Her cries quickly brought Carlisle to his own ending. Holding on to one another, he looked up into her eyes. "I love you."
Hermione's eyes teared up as she placed her hands on the side of his face. "I love you too, more than you know."
"I know," Carlisle said, placing a kiss on her forehead.
Hermione let out a small chuckle, running her finger through his hair. His normally combed black hair was sticking up worse than Harry's. "Your hair is sticking up everywhere."
"It's your fault." Carlisle moved off her and pulled her into his side. Hermione let out a traitorous yawn, giving Carlisle his chance to chuckle at her. "Sleep. I will be here when you wake."
Hermione's eyes opened slightly, and she saw Carlisle come out of the bathroom with black dress pants on and no shirt. The sun was peeking in the room just enough to hit him; his skin was mesmerizing – not that it normally wasn't.
"Morning," Carlisle spoke, coming to sit down beside her. Peeking over the covers, her brown eyes meet his gold ones. "Are you planning on getting out of bed?" Carlisle asked Hermione, who shook her head, going back under the covers.
"I don't want this day to start," Hermione mumbled from under the covers. Carlisle heard the crack in her voice.
Pulling back the covers, he saw the tears rolling from her eyes. "Love, don't cry."
Sitting up, she put her arms around his neck. "How can I not? I don't want to lose you, Carlisle."
"I don't want to lose you either."
"But we have to," Hermione sobbed. "I know what they have already took form you. I don't want to be the cause of you losing more. I know what your family means to you."
Carlisle kissed her forehead only causing her to sob harder. "Go take a shower. I'll be waiting for you in the dining room."
He pulled away, walking to the bedroom door when Hermione's voice stopped him. "How is this so easy for you?"
Carlisle glanced over his shoulder, he looked at the woman he was in love with. "Trust me, Hermione, it's not." Walking out, he closed the door softly, going to sit at the dining table. Sitting with a sigh, he could hear her moving to the shower, turning on the taps. The glass door to the shower closed, the water splattering. Just over the other sounds, he could make out her broken cries. Carlisle sighed, running a hand through his hair. He was sure that if he could cry he would be the same as her, a complete mess.
Snatching open the paper, he tried not to listen.
Hermione walked into the dining room dressed in a simple cream colored sun dress. Her hair was pulled up on top of her head with tendrils hanging loose around her face. She opted out of make up today, the tears didn't stop long enough to put any on. The area around her eyes and cheeks were splotchy and red. Hermione spotted Carlisle sitting the table behind the paper. Making her way over quietly, she sat at his side, and even though he didn't move at first, she knew Carlisle heard her every move.
"I'm sorry," Hermione whispered, making Carlisle look over the paper.
He frowned. "What for?"
"Thinking this wasn't hard for you too." Hermione rubbed her hands together, placing them on the table.
Carlisle covered her hands with his as he spoke, "Don't worry. I am not mad. I have something for you."
He stood walking over to the foyer table grabbing a square blue bow, the initials H W on the outside of the box. Coming back to his chair he placed the box in front of her.
"What is this?" Hermione looked between him and the box on the table.
"Open the box, Hermione." Carlisle smiled slightly. "This was meant for tonight as a gift for you."
As Hermione open the box, her jaw dropped seeing a necklace resting in it. The necklace was a simple platinum chain. The pendent setting held a large diamond with smaller diamonds set around it. The name above the necklace caught her attention next, Harry Winston.
"I cannot accept this from you," Hermione began speaking as Carlisle already had it out of the box going around her neck.
"Yes you can," Carlisle said closing the latch. He looked down at her. "Something to remember me by."
"Like I could really forget you."
Hermione stood, placing her arms around his neck. "I don't have anything for you."
"I don't need anything." Carlisle smiled, pulling her closer to him.
"What do you get the man who has everything?" Before Carlisle could answer, a knock come to the door.
"Come in," Carlisle yelled, slightly annoyed at the intrusion.
"Sir, we are her to take the lady's things down."
"They're in the bedroom," Hermione said simply. "The blue luggage."
The young man nodded making his way to the room. "Bring everything down. I will be leaving as well. Change everything to my account." The man nodded again, walking silently out of the room.
Carlisle grabbed the box off the table placing it into one of Hermione's small bags. Grabbing the bag, he took Hermione by the hand and lead her down the hallway to the lift.
The rain stormed down around the hotel as they stood, waiting for the car to pick them up. A simple but nice car pulled under the covered area. An older man stepped out of the car and quickly came around the car to shake Carlisle's hand.
"Mr. Cullen, Mrs. Cullen, anywhere I can take you, it will be my pleasure." Neither of them corrected the man's mistake.
"Thank you." Carlisle smiled. "Just to the airport, please."
"Right away, sir," he spoke, grabbing the door pulling it open for the pair.
As they were settled in the car, Carlisle raised the window between the front and back of the car, giving them some privacy. Carlisle frowned, hearing the movements of another vampire on the streets. Looking over, he saw Jane standing at the corner of the road in the shadows watching them.
"I guess they're making sure we do what they say," Hermione said looking at Jane as well. Hermione didn't miss the smirk on the vampires face as they passed by her.
As they drove to the airport, nothing passed between the pair but soft touches from the other. They held onto each other tightly, knowing that this would be their last time together. The closer the car came to the airport, the more they felt their hearts break, shattering into pieces.
The pair stood looking at the screen and saw their gates were at separate ends of the airport. Hermione's flight was to depart in twenty minutes. Carlisle still had forty-five minutes to wait.
Hermione's arms tightened around Carlisle's neck, not wanting to let go. Hermione pulled back looking into his eyes. "I think after I leave it would be easier…"
"No contact," Carlisle supplied sadly. "I agree."
"I'm sorry."
Carlisle made to speak as the intercom cut them off. "Last call for flight 501. Florence, Italy to London, England."
"It's time," Carlisle whispered to her.
"I know," she replied, turning away quickly trying to go to the gate. Carlisle grabbed her, pulling her back against him and placing his lips on hers in a passionate kiss. Placing his hands on the sides of her face, his thumbs slid over her cheeks.
"Needed one more of those," Carlisle spoke, resting his forehead against hers.
"Same but I do need to go now," Hermione, said pulling away. Carlisle nodded. "I don't want you to see me completely fall apart."
"Goodbye, Hermione," Carlisle said, looking at her with pain-filled eyes.
"Goodbye, Carlisle." Hermione's voice broke as she walked to the gate and handed over her ticket. She walked through the door and heard it close shut. She did not look back, knowing she would throw everything away to be back in his arms.
Even thought they were going home, they were leaving home at the same time because they had both found home in each other's arms.
A.N: There will be a second half to this! Dont worry! Just not sure when that will be... Any who I hope you like this until the second half comes out!
Also thank you articcat621 a million times over for all of your help and answering my very odd questions.
JenniseiBlack