Over the holidays, someone got their shit together and actually made an ending to a story! Yay! So now we get one/two chapters a week until it's finished.

And big thanks to CarlisleCullen199 for helping me finish (ages ago, if you remember. It took me this long to do something with it) ;)

Aro POV

Being here wasn't good for that boy. Not at all. Carlisle had to go; it wasn't as if he was of much use to my brothers and I in the state he had got himself into anyway. We'd never found the cause of Carlisle's sudden illness – or a cure for such a disturbance – and a week later the young vampire still found himself off-balance, putting on a brave face but obviously weak.

Yet standing in front of me, he was desperately determined.

"I'm staying, Master." He used the same tone I did when I made my decision final.

I raised my chin at him in reminder of who was in charge here. "Master implies you will do as I say, Carlisle."

Momentarily the blond shrunk back, unsure of his unstable position now. "I can look after myself." Wide golden eyes met mine, scared. Scared of what, was the real question. His words seemed hollow, completely worthless and unconvincing when spoken alongside the expression he wore.

Irritation grinded at the back of my mind. Fear wasn't not something that any person on my guard was allowed to feel, yet it was displayed blatantly on sweet Carlisle's face. Fear was weakness. Carlisle had to go. But what was it that my young one was so afraid of? Rejection? Displacement? "Your current condition suggests otherwise." The growl in my voice was unintentional, but visually affective.

Yet he stood his ground, not retreating from the conversation yet almost shaking in front of me. "I've proven I can."

He had too, with the practise of that damned medical carry on. Even now I could see the edge of some form of brace against his leg, in the name of holding the bone in place so he could move until it healed. "You wouldn't be in that state if you could, little one," I reminded him, taking on a patronising tone. It was true he had treated his injuries well, but he still hadn't managed to cure himself of this illness. His hair still stuck to his face and he was still unnaturally pale.

Carlisle narrowed his eyes, at the nickname or my words, I wasn't sure. "I do just as much work as any other member of your guard, yet you deem me unfit."

It was possible that he was more efficient than any other single member, even injured, but I didn't praise him. "Carlisle, that isn't the reason-"

"This isn't fair, Aro!" he interrupted as his perfect temper finally snapped. "I follow the rules!"

"You aren't following any instruction currently, are you?" I rebuked, almost smiling as his eyes flashed with anger while I took in his appearance. "Where is your uniform, may I ask?"

"You summoned me without notice, Master..." Punishment. That was what had him afraid.

I let it slide, not wanting to upset him more than he already was. "You must go, Carlisle. That's an order."

He said nothing, seething silently. It was such a change from the broken boy I was faced with minutes before and he refused to budge from where he was standing.

"You got yourself into quite a state – presumably from carelessness, which requires further discipline, might I add. I suggest that you move on before I'm forced enforce any regulations against you, Cullen. I say this as your master, and you must not argue with me." I fixed him with a hard stare, one that he returned with absolute fury. Knowing he was about to come undone, I stayed silent, waiting for the onslaught of Carlisle's mild temper. I was sure his outburst from before was going to be overshadowed by his next snap.

"I haven't broken any rules, Aro! I do what you tell me, I keep up with the other members of the guard-…I can do better, Aro…" he stammered suddenly, dropping his gaze to the floor as his resolve crumbled. He reminded me of a child afraid to be scolded. "Please…I can be good…"

I repressed a sigh, knowing he wasn't going to back down. Of course he would stay and try to 'improve' himself; it was the young boy's nature. I was going to have to force him out with the thing he feared most. "If you insist on remaining part of my guard, Carlisle, I hope you understand that there are consequences."

"Yes, Master," he whispered, completely submissive in the way he stood.

Groaning inwardly, I realised that I really was going to have to punish good little Carlisle Cullen. Mildly. That would be enough. I only needed to scare him, and by his reaction to my threat I knew he was already terrified. Gritting my teeth, I set to it, trying to appear as if I was seriously displeased with him. Still, it was hard to unearth enough offences to actually condemn him, and I struggled even more to speak them aloud. "Firstly, for your uniform; it is a regulation that you blatantly ignore. Secondly, there must be a consequence for your neglect to look after yourself. No member of my guard has ever gotten in half the trouble you do. You will face punishment for displaying fear. It is expected that you be braver than your current attitude. You need to be fearless, Carlisle. Yet you are weak."

"I'm not scared, Master."

"Fourthly, for lying. Go, get out of my sight. I will send Felix for you later." I gestured to the door, turning my back on him to avoid the expression on his face.

"…I'm sorry…" he mumbled, his voice catching slightly.

"Go," I told him dismissively.