Note: Sorry it has taken a while to update. Again I own nothing it all goes to Stephanie M.

Chapter 9

Father?

RPOV

We arrived in Italy, in record time. There was a limo waiting for our arrival. We were met by Marcus and Alec. I was pleased to see them. They escorted us to Bella Italy to dine. We were waiting for my father and his associates. As soon as my father walked in the whole atmosphere of the room changed. It felt colder somehow. I greeted him with a quick hug and a kiss. His eyes roamed the table and stopped at Jasper. He studied him as if he had seen a ghost. My father was usually an open book. At times I wished I didn't know as much as I did. He tried to protect me from as much drama as possible. I learned not to ask questions I didn't really want to know. He would not hold back his thoughts he always spoke what he thought. I always respected my father.

He walked to the head of the table and we began to order our meal. I made a quick introduction to everyone. He nodded and smiled to each one. When I finally came to Jasper, he remained quiet. He was sizing him up. You could feel the tension of the room. He cleared his throat and asked Jasper a few questions which I am sure he already knew the answer to.

"Jasper, where are you from? "

"Texas sir, born and raised" he saluted.

"What is your parents name?"

Jasper stiffened. He hated to talk about himself and his family.

"Maria Whitlock sir."

"And your father"

"Excuse me father what is with the twenty questions?" I whispered to him.

"Time will tell, my daughter."

"I am sorry sir, I don't know my father, My mother said she didn't want to complicate his world? Whatever the hell that was supposed to mean. This was fine with me we managed on our own quite well."

"It must have been hard for you guys on your own like that. Pray tell me how is she now?"

Jasper turned a little green. "I am sorry to say she died from Cancer about three years ago."

My father looked as if he was going to cry.

JPOV

I am usually not to be keen on being center of attention. It seemed as if Aro was paying me too much attention and I began to grow more uncomfortable as time went on.

I hated talking about my past. I hated that my mother was gone. I am not ashamed to admit I am a momma's boy. I didn't know my father rumor was he was married and didn't tell my mother until she fell irrevocably in love with him. When she found out she left to go back home with a bundle of joy that he didn't even know he had. She felt used and unloved along with scared and alone. She did the best she could but never wanted to speak of her shame not even to me. She never married but did have a boyfriend she lived with until I caught him abusing my mother first it was verbal but one day I seen him slap her and that was all it took I beat him to a blood stump. He never returned for fear of his life. I would have taken it too cold heartedly. I never understood this side of me. I felt like a monster. How could something so ugly live inside of me. Everyone said I looked just like my mother except taller. I had her shade of hair color, her eyes and smile. I don't mind the resemblance it is as if she will never leave me. I miss her terribly.

I felt Alice squeeze my leg from under the table as she sips her wine. Her touch is like a wave of calm shooting through my veins. I hope she knows how much I love her. It is as if she is my breath of life.

After I tell Aro that my mother is no longer with us his posture sunk in and his eyes began to tear up. He excused himself from the table and a moment latter we heard a loud crash.

ARO POV

I had to get out of there. I will not show weakness, I cannot afford to. It is as simple as that. How is it that I didn't know she had died? I am Aro. Knowledge is power and I feel defeated by not knowing. She will not defeat me in her death as she did in her life. She was the one person whom have ever defied me in life I will not let her weaken me by her death. Damn that woman. How could she not have told me she had a son? Is he mine? He is the spitting image of her. Yet he has an air about him that screams power and defiance. I am certain he is mine. I will have to find out. Rose will be furious. I have always prided myself in being a great father, honest and protective. How can I both be honest to her yet protect her from my ways. I can't let her believe that I didn't love her mother because I did. I just loved Maria as well. I couldn't have chosen. At the end I lost them both. I had lost Anna to childbirth. She died from lose of too much blood. She was able to hold her once before she died she named her Rosalie Ann. I lost Maria before I even really knew I had her. We met when she was on a holiday to Rome. She was studying abroad. I never told her of my wife. Everyone in the business had mistresses it wasn't a foreign concept. She had more integrity than that I suppose. She seen Anna and I in the Local Paper and stormed into my study. I never saw so much fire in a woman. She was scorned and I hated the look of defeat in her eyes. I ordered her to know her place and to show me respect.

She laughed and said I wasn't a man worthy of her respect and stormed out. I was utterly taken back with surprise nobody has ever spoken to me that away. I wasn't for sure if it turned me on or pissed me off. I tried to find her after she left but she escaped and I just recently found out she had a son around my daughters age named Jasper. I discovered this as Feliex was scouting for possible recruits our guard. He came across a team of soldiers Swat to be exact. They were perfect for our program of elite team members. The best of the best which is what I required. I of course wanted to meet him to see if I could see her once more. She haunted my dreams and I desired her more than I knew I should. I vowed to find her about a year after I buried Anna. I felt guilty that I mourned over Maria's loss more than I did Anna's.

As soon as Jasper told me my Maria was dead I began to feel as though I too was dead. I was so angry she should have loved me enough to fight for our love but she threw it out. I picked up a vase from the piano in the foyer of Bella Italian and threw it across the room. I could only see red. I am usually more in control of my temper.