Yeah! I'm proud of myself! I got two chappies out in one day! Woo!

Disclaimer: Not Mine! How many times do i have to spell it out for you people!

######################################################

Raven POV

We both stood there frozen. My heart sped up about ten fold. My face heated to a temperature where Satin himself would be sweating his ass off! Alec looked more shocked then I did. "Uh, I," he stuttered. I looked down at his hands still on my waist. He followed my gaze and quickly took them back. He cleared his throat. "Come on." And walked out the door. I didn't know what the hell just happened and apparently Alec didn't either.

I slowly left the room and found Alec pacing the hallway, biting his thumb, and muttering to himself. "Lead the way." I said, making him jump. My brow furrowed. "Isn't the jumpy role mine?" I smiled.

He shook his head. "Whatever. Come on, we're going to be late if we take any longer." He said as he started to walk off without me again.

I grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. "Hey, why do you seem so freaked?" I was really concerned for him. He never crossed me as the nervous type; he was always more of the calm, collected, and smug type.

He shook his head again. "Because I just kissed you! That's why!" he was really blowing this out of proportion.

"Alec, you do know it wasn't a real kiss right? You kissed me on the cheek; it was just a-a… a friendly gesture or something. There's nothing wrong with that."

He looked at me like I was crazy but soon nodded his head. "Right. A friendly gesture. So… we're friends right?" he rubbed the back of his neck.

I nodded my head. "Friend is the base word of friendly."

Alec smiled and dropped his hand back to his side. "Friends."

He stretched his hand out and I took it. "Friends." We shook.

"Okay, now that's taken care of, we're defiantly going to be late now." Without another word he picked me up bridal style and again before I could protest he said, "If we're late, Aro wont be pleased. Just close your eyes." I did as he instructed again, but as they say curiosity killed the cat. I peeked and all I could see was gray blurs rushing around us. I gasped. Cool! Alec stopped. We stood outside another set of double doors. Oh, goodie.

Alec set me down gently. I wobbled a bit but was steadied by Alec. "I told you to keep your eyes closed." He scolded.

"No you didn't. You said to close my eyes, you never said for how long." I shot back, as I stuck out my tongue. Alec grabbed it between his thumb and index finger. "Hey, dat's not fwair!"

He chuckled. "Don't show it unless you're intending to use it." he whispered in my ear. I blushed again as he released my tongue back to me, that damn smirk still in place. He snaked his arm around my waist as we entered. He held the door open for me like a true gentleman. Calm down, Raven. It's not like you're dating. I just had to keep reminding myself that.

We walked into what looked like an indoor garden. Roses were in full bloom, the smell of flowers mixed together with new fertilizer hung in the air. "This is the greenhouse." Alec said. That makes sense.

We walked through a maze, Alec apparently knowing the way. The maze opened to a center garden hidden away. In the center was a gazebo with seven figures sitting and one about half their size running about. The smaller figure stopped when they saw Alec and I enter. "Raven! Sei così bello!" she screamed.

Raven! You look so pretty!

I smiled at Alana. "Sei molto carina anche, Alana."

You look very pretty too, Alana.

She grinned up at me, one of her front teeth missing. "Ho perso un altro dente ieri sera. L'altro era già crescendo dentro E non ha neanche sanguinare." She grinned happily.

I lost another tooth last night. The other one was already growing in. It didn't even bleed.

I grinned down at her as she dragged Alec and I to the gazebo by each of our hands. Her red dress blowing behind her as she skipped. Her flats having adorable black and white polka dots with the edges wrapped in a red ribbon. "Così va bene."

That's good.

Alec grinned. "She's a mini Heidi." He snickered. The blonde guy standing behind the curly haired man from yesterday elbowed Alec in the ribs. "Ow! Demetri that hurt!"

"Well, if Heidi was here you would've just given her the perfect opportunity to mold herself a minion." Demetri's eyes flickered over to me. He stifled a laugh. "Well, she defiantly got you."

I narrowed my eyes. "I spent two minutes in pink hell and then got attacked by a pink crazed vampire who forced me into this getup, and went at me with eyeliner and mascara. Don't. Mess. With. Me."

He put his hands up, a smile on his face. "Okay. I like her already. Felix, she's got spunk."

The burly guy behind him came over. "She defiantly does."

I smiled tightly. "Nice to know."

Alana looked at us confused. "Raven, che cosa stai parlando?"

Raven, what are you talking about?

I smiled down at Alana. "Niente."

Nothing.

"Alana, perché non tu e gli altri venite a unirsi a noi qui?" a woman asked.

Alana, why don't you and the others come and join us over here?

Alana turned to the voice. The woman was in her late thirties, but she still radiated beauty. "Ve bene, mamma."

Okay, momma.

Alana pulled all of us over to the woman and Aro. They both sat holding hands. Awwww, adorable. Alana pulled me to sit next to her. "Momma, Raven dire quello chi si sta andando ad aiutare con me!"

Momma, tell Raven what you're going to help me with!

The woman smiled at me. "She wants to learn English so she can communicate with everyone. Especially Aro." She grinned over at him.

"Ah, I see you got my gift. Alana has one too." Aro said as he gazed at the necklace. I looked at Alana and sure enough she was wearing one too.

I nodded. "It was very kind of you. Thank you."

He grinned. "Yes, you're very welcome. Now, you haven't formally met the others because of everything that happened yesterday. Now, this is Marcus," he gestured to the curly haired man that Demetri had taken up post behind again. "And this is Caius and his wife Athendora." The blonde man I ran into yesterday sat with his hand in that of an equally as beautiful woman as Aro's wife. "And this is Sulpicia."

Sulpicia smiled. "Hello Raven. My you're more beautiful than Aro described. How old are you child?"

"Seventeen."

She frowned. "Aro, she's too young. Give her at least a year to mature more."

Aro looked torn. "A year? That would be too long."

"Aro." She warned.

"Sulpicia."

"Let her get used to the thought of being changed, and to have time to get along with everyone. And once that's done we'll talk to her about when she would like to be turned. It is a big life decision for her and she should have a say." Go Sulpicia! She left Aro speechless.

"I agree, the child is not yet eighteen. Let her mature." Athendora added her two cents. Woo! I got both the wives in on it! Caius sent Athendora a look. "Oh, have a heart, Caius." Okay I officially love Sulpicia and Athendora!

"Yes, but she knows about us. Its death or she is turned. It's the law. Aro, the law is there for a reason, so our secret is not exposed." Caius said annoyed.

Aro sighed. "Yes, brother but since she is not going to be leaving the grounds soon, considering she will be a missing child, there is no chance of our secret getting out." He glanced at Sulpicia. "So I see no reason why she cannot have a say in her change. The same applies for Alana. She will make her decision at eighteen also."

Alana looked around at everyone from Marcus's lap. "Cosa?"

What?

"Vi spiegherò più tardi, tesoro." Sulpicia said.

I'll explain later, sweetheart.

"Okay." She said going back to playing with Marcus's hair. I was surprised he didn't mind.

"Okay, change in topic." Sulpicia said clasping her hands together. "Raven what is your favorite color?"

"Uhh, purple." I had to think about it. Yeah, sounds about right. Most of my stuff at home is purple.

"Oh, that's a beautiful color." She grinned. "Alana, il tuo colore preferito è il rosso, giusto?

Alana, your favorite color is red, correct?

Alana nodded. "Red." Then went back to Marcus's hair. He was smiling at her the whole time. It continued on like that until about noon. The whole time, Alec stayed silent.

"Well, we must go deal with business. You girls enjoy yourselves. Felix, Demetri, you are watching Alana, correct?" Sulpicia said as she, Marcus, Aro, Caius and Athendora stood. Felix and Demerti nodded. They all waved as they left.

"So…" Felix said, dragging it out awkwardly.

"Yeah…" Demetri copied.

"Nascondino!" Alana shouted.

Hide and seek!

We laughed. "Alana, non è questo il luogo per nascondino." Demetri said.

Alana, this isn't the place for hide and seek.

Alana pouted. "Wait! So you guys understand Italian?" Felix and Demetri both nodded. "Oh, good. Alec and I aren't the only ones." This was such a relief, now I don't have to translate.

"Well when you live in Italy for a couple hundred years you pick up a couple of things." Felix said lounging in the wicker loveseat.

I remained sitting. "So, where are you guys originally from anyway?"

Alec and Demetri sat down as Alana climbed on Felix's lap. "England." Demetri said.

"I'm from New York." Felix said.

My eyes widened. "No shit. My dad's from Brooklyn."

Felix snorted. "My dad was from Brooklyn. My mom was born and raised in Chicago." My eyes widened more.

"Okay, you have to be pulling my leg! My mom was born and raised in Chicago!" this was too weird. "Where did your parents meet?"

He narrowed his eyes then replied, "At the same time."

I narrowed my eyes. "Okay. One."

"Two."

"Three."

"Boston." We said at the same time. Both our eyes widened. "Holy crap." He said.

"Ditto." I responded. "Cool, but strange."

"So where were you born?" Demetri asked.

"Miami. Family vacation." I shrugged.

"That must've been fun." Felix snickered.

I laughed. "Not for my mom. And defiantly not for my dad. They almost had to amputate his hand my mom was holding it so tight. Then there was the whole hormonal martial artist screaming threats at the LAPD homicide detective. You gotta love your family." I shrugged it off like nothing. Cause it was. They just stared at me. "What?"

"Dude," Demetri said. "Your parents are badass!" he had a huge grin on his face.

"Yeah!" Felix added.

Alec just sat there and smirked. "Hey, does he do anything else but smirk?" I jerked my thumb at Alec.

They shook their heads. "It's that or sulk." Felix said.

"Of course it is."

"There you three are!" a voice called.

Felix, Demetri and Alec all turned to see a short blonde girl walking toward us. "Hey Jane." Felix and Demetri said.

"Sister." Alec acknowledged. Whoa! Sister?

####################################################

Yeah! We'll get to know Jane a lot better next chappie!

Hey I'm doing a vote for Raven's birthday dress. I have three choices that I want you guys to vote on. Just put the number for the outfit in a review and whichever one has the most votes wins. Simple. And it's open until I say it isn't.

Go to my profile and I'll have the link there under Bloodlust with the other links.

Love ya,

Katelyn Goode