Chapter 10

STYX POV:

As expected, the Volturi backed down and Aro grinned, "Dear friend, let there be no hard feelings." I assumed it was directed at Carlisle because Aro walked straight forward to stand in front of Carlisle and held his arms out, waiting for a hug. I waited with an amused smile for Aro to say, "Forgivesies," or something equally cute and adorable but he didn't. He stood there with that huge grin plastered on his face and waited until Carlisle gave in and embraced him.

Caius, who'd been waiting patiently beside Marcus, darted forward and I saw Athenadora speed for him, meeting him in the middle for a ferverent hug. I smiled at them happily when Caius lifted her and spun her around in a circle, my eyes darting over to Marcus, who stood alone.

I heard someone behind me and turned to see that Michael, Alec and Jane had come to join me towards the front. Alec and Jane each held one of my hands and Michael looked ill, his gaze directed at Marcus in fear. I took my hand from Alec and patted Michael's shoulder, "It'll be alright. He's very compassionate."

Michael nodded to me and followed me as I walked to Marcus, my gaze level with his. My impatience got the better of me and halfway through the field, I sprinted and leapt into his open arms, embracing him tightly. I never wanted to let go but someone pulled on the back of my shirt and tugged me off. I stared in horror as Michael strode up to Marcus and eyed him, looking him up and down and trying to look intimidating.

To my amusement, Marcus began chuckling and I laughed out loud as Marcus put one hand on Michael's forehead and shoved lightly, sending my vampire ex reeling back. As Michael prepared himself to spring at Marcus, the ancient Volturi leader held up a hand, "Boy, you do not frighten me nor do you pose any threat of any kind. You should stop this little game and address me before I take my mate and go home."

Michael was flabbergasted. His eyes narrowed and he growled, "She was my mate to begin with." My eyes grew to the size of saucers as Marcus looked at me in confusion. I shook my head but before I could explain, Michael continued, "Yeah, didn't she tell you about her boyfriend? We've been together for years!"

"Years?" Marcus said, confused.

I glared at Michael furiously, "Michael, shut up. We were human then and we weren't mates. Stop trying to make it sound like we were together for a long time. We were only together for three years. Marcus and I have been together for ten."

"Believe me, had I known you'd rebound so quickly after my death, I would have found you sooner," Michael snapped.

I'd finally had it with him and I stalked toward him, "Well then, that's your problem. If you'd found me sooner, maybe we could have been mates... but you 'forgot'. I'm sorry but I'm his, not yours."

Michael fumed silently as I walked back to Marcus and then he said something that made me want to murder him. "Have you told him?"

"Told him what?" I shouted back.

Michael smirked, "Ah... so you haven't."

"I haven't what? Tell me what you're talking about!" I shouted angrily.

"Have you told him what we did?" he asked and for a moment, I didn't know what the hell he was talking about. Then suddenly it hit me... and I wanted to curl up and die.

I sighed shakily and bowed my head, refusing to meet his gaze, "It was a mistake and you know it."

"That's not what you said afterward," Michael jeered and I winced.

"No, what I said afterward was that you were a bastard," I snarled. "You made me give him up!"

Marcus was just staring between us in confusion. He had no idea that Michael was referring to my lack of virginity. He had no idea that I had been pregnant before and that Michael had made me give the baby up. I had gone to check on my baby after we'd given him up for adoption, after I had become a vampire, and found he'd died of the flu only months after we'd let him go. It had nearly killed me.

"I knew that he'd mess up our lives and I wanted it to be perfect!" Michael yelled back.

I roared, "Our lives were perfect! He was our little angel and you... you..." I couldn't handle it. I dove at him and he caught me, blocking most of my shots as I punched him and kicked him. I clawed and scratched at his face, kicked at his gut and groin. I wanted him dead because he'd killed my baby and if I couldn't kill him, I'd maim him enough to where he'd never inflict that upon another person again.

Someone tore me away from Michael and I continued to fight, venomous tears clouding my vision as I fought against the strong arms holding me. I continued to struggle in the strong arms until a voice whispered in my ear, "Calm, my love. Calm down." My struggle faded to a wiggle then all at once, I stopped moving except for the shake of my shoulders as I sobbed.

Michael stood from where I'd knocked him down and stared at me, "You're fucking crazy..." He turned to the Cullen clan for backup but found a bunch of cold stares instead. As Michael looked for support, there was none. Just glares, shocked expression and hateful stares. Vladimir and Stefan cracked their knuckles, their lips pulled back from their teeth as they snarled furiously. Michael took off in a flash and I screamed after him, struggling for only a moment to catch him before realizing I would never get loose from Marcus's death grip.

Vladimir, Stefan and a number of other vampires took off after Michael and Marcus dropped backwards so I could sit in his lap comfortably. I sobbed and held onto his robes, burying my face in the crook of his neck. The memory of my baby's angelic face and dark curls so similar to Michael's plagued my mind and I shuddered, wanting to die.

Marcus hushed me and stroked my hair, "I am here, mi amore. I will never leave you."

"Neither will we," said another voice and I looked up to see Alec and Jane standing in front of us. I stood from Marcus's lap and hugged them, smiling when their arms wrapped around me. I might not have had my own child but I was perfectly happy with my adopted ones. Plus, they didn't remind me of Michael. That was always an upside. I pulled back and held Alec's face in my hands, pressing a kiss to his forehead and then repeating the action with Jane, "I love you both so much."

"We love you too, Mom," Jane said tearfully and I sighed happily.

"Cara mia?" my eyes widened for a moment in shock before I realized it was Aro speaking to me. I turned to him and expected to feel sick to my stomach or perhaps feel as though I couldn't look at him because he reminded me too much of Michael but to my surprise, I didn't feel anything but happiness and fondness for Aro. I missed him and Marcus very much. He tilted his head in concern, "Might I ask what your arguement was about?"

My face crumpled in agony and Aro quickly backtracked, his eyes wide with fear for my feelings, "If it hurts you to speak, feel free to decline. I was just curious."

I giggled through the pain and smiled at him, "You are always curious, my Aro." He smiled back at me warmly and I continued, "In my human life, I had... participated in a rather vulgar activity with Michael... and it caused me to have a son. He thought that the baby would ruin our so-called 'perfect life' and had me give the baby up for adoption. Many years later, after my change, I went to check up on the baby... only to find out... he'd died of influenza."

I cringed but continued, "I never forgave him for that... but I stayed with him... only because he said we would have more and that he wouldn't make me give up the next one." It felt stupid to say out loud now but it was in the past. Everyone makes mistakes.

"That is so sad," said Tiffany, who'd come to my side and held my hand.

I smiled at her and then grinned as I pointed at Aro, "Tiffany, have you met Aro? What am I saying, of course you haven't. Aro, this is Tiffany, one of my closest friends. Tiffany, this is the leader of the Volturi and the craziest person I know, Aro." Tiffany blushed as Aro grasped her hand and kissed it.

Marcus smiled at me and muttered, "Good call."

I smiled and whispered back to him, "I knew they were a perfect match, as soon as I saw her." Marcus nodded and put his arms around me, setting his cheek on top of my head. We watched as Aro and Tiffany got into an animated conversation about vampires and books and I laughed, "Do you think they're mates?"

"Most definitely," he replied with a huge smile. "You are a better match maker than me. You went halfway around the world and found Aro a mate. He should thank you."

I laughed, "I'm sure he will someday."

Holy Christ, that's a lot to take in. So this is the last chapter for this story but I'm working on the third and it should be done pretty soon. I hope you liked the story and I hope you don't think it's too annoying for being a Mary Sue. I just thought Marcus needed someone, you know? I have many feels for Marcus.

~Penny