Carlisle POV

"Aro, what the hell are you doing here?" I hissed. I thought he left this past week after taking care of that rouge vampire. How long has he been here? Why is he right here, right now? Has he been following me? Has he been following Edward? Son of a bitch! Is he alone? Please, please tell me this bastard is alone.

"Just taking a stroll. The evening air is rather wonderful, wouldn't you agree Marcus?"

Damn it.

Marcus stepped out from the trees, his black cloak flowing around him. He smiled darkly at me. "Carlisle, how nice to see you again. And Edward, hello darling."

I felt Edward pull closer to me as my arms tightened around him. Why are these people always so creepy?

"What are you two doing out so late, Carlisle? Surely it is past Edward's bedtime, is it not? Poor thing will be so tired and cranky tomorrow if he doesn't get enough sleep. The burden of being a human."

"We were just heading back now. I suppose you are heading back tomorrow sometime? Well then, I guess this is goodbye." I turned to leave, ready to bolt into a run when Aro grabbed me.

"No, please stay Carlisle. We hardly ever get to see out favorite vegetarian vampire and his human son. Isn't that right Edward." He looked straight at my boy who was desperately trying to burry himself in my chest.

"Yes, it must have been a bit of a shock finding out your father isn't human. He's a monster. Isn't that scary?"

"N-no. He's not a monster. He's my daddy." Aro smirked. "Really? Well I hate to tell you this little one, but your daddy is a beast."

"Nu uh. He only drinks animal blood. He would never hurt a human." Aro wrinkled his nose in disgust at the mention of my feeding habits.

"That may be little boy, but under Carlisle's kind façade lurks a terrible monster." Edward stared at him for a moment, sleepily blinking every now and then.

"Mr. Aro?"

"Yes child."

"Are you stupid?" Aro bristled while Marcus attempted to stifle his laughter.

"Edward, it isn't nice to call other people stupid." I chided softly.

"But I wasn't calling him stupid I just asked if he was. There's a difference Daddy." He mumbled sleepily as he laid his head on my shoulder. I smirked slightly, noticing Aro's full on pout.

"Really Carlisle, I would think you of all people would have raised a more polite child." He grumbled. Sometimes this ancient vampire acts like a child himself. A very, very dangerous child.

"Yes, well he is a little freer in what he says when he is tired which is why I should be getting him home now. Goodbye." Again, Aro grabbed my arm, turning me to face him. "I'm afraid I can't let you do that friend. Your son, he knows too much. You know the rules, no human can know of our existence. I'm afraid things will be getting rather unpleasant."

"You can't be serious Aro."

"Dead serious, I'm afraid. Now, please Carlisle, don't make this any harder than it has to be. Give me Edw…"

"PAPA!" An excited childish voice rang out through the surrounding forest. Aro turned grumbling, "Blast that child. He'll wake the whole city of Chicago if he keeps up that racket."

Suddenly, a young boy came bursting out from a nearby shrub, a large grin plastered on his innocent face. He wore black trousers with a matching button down jacket. Only the jacket was open, flapping behind the boy like a cape as he ran, revealing a white dress shirt that appeared quite wrinkled. The boy launched himself at Aro, his arms circling around the older vampire's neck while his legs wrapped around Aro's waist. He gave another childish giggle before nuzzling his face into Aro's shoulder.

"Papa, come see the bear I caught! It's bigger than me. It's bigger than you! I didn't even get a drop of blood on me. Come see Papa, please!" Aro sighed, though I could see the faint hint of a smile on his lips.

"Alec, haven't I told you that you need to be more careful when we are in a strange area? What if a human heard you and came to see what was going on? They could have seen you barreling through the forest like a locomotive, now that would have been troublesome, wouldn't it."

Alec gave a sheepish nod, placing his head back on his "father's" shoulder. "I'm sorry Papa. But I haven't been able to run or play in such a long time. I just wanted to have a bit of fun. Even Felix and Demetri where having fun." At that moment, two familiar vampires glided out of the shadows.

Some would say Felix was near the size of a giant who stood a good head taller than Demetri. Both were incredibly strong as well as incredibly cruel. It was surprising to see them with small smiles on their faces as the took in the sight of Alec who remained in Aro's arms. Felix stepped forward raising an arm, presenting a pair of small black leather shoes.

"Forgot something back there, eh Alec?" Aro raised an eyebrow as he glanced down at the boy's feet which were indeed bare. Aro turned to me with a slight grin. "And I lecture you about raising children with manners."

Alec's eyes lit up when he caught sight of me. "Carlisle!" He jumped from his father's arms and came running toward me, stopping only a few inches away. For a boy of twelve he was a small thing who barely came up to my elbow. He grinned happily at me as his arms wrapped around my waist.

"I've missed you Carlisle! Papa said you were never coming back to Italy. I wish you would come back. Everything is so boring without you. Jane is no fun at all. And everyone else is too old to play. You were always fun Carlisle. Who's that? Is it a vampire? Why is he breathing? Is he a human? What's his name? Do you think he would play with me? I'd be real careful with him. I wouldn't eat him either. I know you don't like us eating humans, so I promise I won't eat him! So can I play with him, please Carlisle! PLEASE!" And I thought Edward could chatter.

Alec continued to jabber, his arms still wrapped around my waist and his head resting against my side. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness when I looked at the boy. He was the picture of innocents, marred only by those blood colored eyes. He was so kind and sweet at nature, yet the Volturi had taught him to be monster when ordered to. When I lived in Italy I remember feeling almost physically sick the first time I saw Casius order this sweet child to murder a condemned vampire. My poor darling Alec.

Aro had somehow managed to become a father figure to the boy. He was, thankfully, not all that bad at it to. He treated Alec more like a child than a member of the guard. I honestly think he loves the boy. Anytime he is with Alec, I almost have hope that there truly is a heart buried somewhere in that cold chest. Aro had tried to treat the boy's sister the same way, but the girl's heart was tormented by her past suffering. She, unlike her brother, took full pleasure in everything the Volturi asked of her.

Aro came forward, gently unwinding Alec's arms from my waist. He drew the boy back, bending down to kiss the top of Alec's head before gently running his fingers through the child's dark locks.

"Settle down po 'chiacchierone. You do not want to wake the human."

"Sorry Papa." Alec whispered, glancing nervously at Edward's sleeping form. "Can I play with him when he wakes up Papa? I promise to be careful with him."

A slight pained expression passed over Aro's face. "I'm afraid that is impossible, tesoro, the little human knows are secrets."

Alec's eyes widened in horror. "No Papa. Carlisle wouldn't. Not Carlisle, please."

"I know bambino, but we can't take any chances." My arms tightened around Edward. "Carlisle as exposed us to a human. I'm afraid one of them will have to die."

A/N: I wasn't planning on this chapter becoming this, not at all really. Alec just kind of popped out of nowhere, and Aro is acting weirdly sentimental…ish. Hmm. Well, I know where the story is going at least…maybe. Sorry for the wait. I hope you enjoyed it :)

P.S. po 'chiacchierone- little chatterbox

tesoro-darling or teasure