One

After a minute of simply gazing at her face, I remembered exactly where we were, and more importantly, who was watching. I was still unsure what was going on, but I wouldn't waste my chance to spend time with my beloved. You never knew how much you appreciate something until you don't have it; I had learned that lesson the hard way, and I would never make that mistake again.

She was so beautiful…time, or any other contributing force, had not changed that. Her long wavy black hair framed her perfect porcelain face, held in place by her graceful neck that flowed into the rest of her perfect body. She was still shorter than me, though that was not uncommon with me and my brothers; we were all tall.

I wanted one thing at this moment. Her face was slightly tilted upwards, allowing her to look at me, and I would use that to get what I wanted. I smiled ever so slightly, all previous resistance gone, and slowly tilted my head downwards until I was only a few centimeters away. She opened her mouth to say something, but I swiftly stopped her by placing my lips over her own. I could have been in paradise, no one and nothing could ever ruin this moment for me. Everything was perfect.

My body screamed at me to continue kissing my Didyme, but I had long ago mastered controlling myself. I slowly drew away from her and we both turned around to face my family. Everyone was shocked, to say the least, it really would have been quite hilarious if I wasn't focused on something else.

Aro was the first to come out of shock, with Caius in second, then the Cullens and so on.

"Sister," Aro whispered, a bewildered and terrified expression plastered on his face. He quickly tried to compose himself, and really didn't succeed.

"You are no family of mine," she hissed, glaring at him in a way that would make Jane envious. I wondered what brought the animosity between them; they were very close back in the old days and if they ever seriously fought it was just uncharacteristic.

Didyme gently tugged at my hand, signaling she wanted to leave. I had already decided, then and now, that wherever she went, I would follow.

"I'm leaving, Aro," I said evenly," don't send Demetri, or anyone else, to come looking for me. I don't want to be part of the Volturi." I didn't tack on the: I never did want to. I unfastened the clasp that held my cloak in place and swiftly took it off. I glided over to where the small fire that remained of Irina burned, and dropped the heavy velvet cape into it. There were a few gasps from both sides, and I found it actually quite entertaining.

I remembered then that without my cape, I was in direct sunlight. I mean, the robes really were more for show than protection, but I had forgotten about the latter. I wondered if Caius would accuse me for exposing our species, after all I was sparkling a lot; with time, our skin…changed. It looked more papery, and thin, not to mention more reactant to sunlight. I glittered brilliantly, no, I am not self-centered, but I hadn't seen my skin sparkle in a very long time, and I had forgotten what it felt like.

"Didyme, Love, let's go," I called softly to my goddess. She smiled again, and gracefully came to stand beside me.

"Where are we going?" she asked, as we walked out of the clearing.

"Away from here, and definitely from Italy," I said, saying the only thing I was sure of. "What do you think about Switzerland, or maybe Canada?"

"Neutral countries?" she asked, slightly intrigued.

"I never want to have to choose sides again," I sighed. I knew Aro heard it, and I knew he would know what I meant.

"Switzerland is pretty," Didyme murmured, "It's just so small."

"I'll go wherever you want," I reassured her.

"I'm counting on that," she laughed, and I momentarily forgot everything as I watched her angelic face and body make a sound that would put angel's singing to shame. We began to run then, holding hands, while I let her guide me to some unknown destination.

I was practically flying in my ecstasy of being with her once again. Time meant nothing in my quest to stay with my Didyme forever, but the mystery of her death and return still mystified me, not that I was about to confront her about it. As long as she was near, I was happy.

Suddenly she stopped, and slowly turned around to face me. She narrowed her eyes and an undecipherable expression crossed her face before she pushed me up against a tree. Oh, she was trying to seduce me; she wore a seductive expression…I would have laughed except I was completely captivated. I hadn't been seduced by a woman in such a long time.

"I missed you," she murmured, "you have no idea what it was like to not be able to go to you. And, to watch you suffer for so many millennia," she shook her head, "forgive me, please."

"You're not at fault," I gently kissed her forehead, "but knowing you, you'll beg my forgiveness anyway, I forgive you."

"You know me so well," she breathed.

"No amount of time could change that," I reassured her.

"Good," she murmured and took off running again. It was a delicate game; her always taking off, me always chasing her, but I enjoyed it, I didn't care who won the game because either way we would end up together.

We ran up north to Canada, and soon we were surrounded by nothing but green blue and white. The pines opened and closed into a clearing where soft snow carpeted the frozen ground. The sky was clear and the lightest shade of blue one could possibly imagine; yet there was no sun. I knew it must be cold, though the temperature didn't bother us in the least, however, I wondered if perhaps I could use it as an excuse to put my arms around her. Hell, I did it anyway and threw the excuse out the window.

"So Marcus, would you like to hear my story?" she asked softly, almost as if she was afraid. I kissed her forehead and she knew that meant yes.