A/N: I'm making a disclaimer now that though the upcoming scene may sound like the prologue at the beginning we are not there quite yet. Here's a time line so you have a reference. It will be important in the upcoming chapters down the road.

*The 2016 calendar was used for all dates.

Bella 'graduated' high school Late-May, around May 21st. If you remember from the first chapter she didn't go.

Angela and her left early skipping their graduation and arrived in Italy late around May 18th. They spent that last week and a half of May apartment shopping and she didn't meet Aro until the 25th a week later. At the market if you remember.

They spent about a two months together, him teaching her rules and such, before they're relationship became what it is now.

It's about early August in the story. So that's where we are. Keep this time frame in mind as the next few chapters come up.

Tension

"When one with honeyed words but an evil mind, persuades the mob, great woes befall the state."

― Euripides, Orestes

"You will make mistakes, it's a part of the process but so is the punishment so that you learn from them."

"You did good piccolo. So very good."

X

"Do you know why you are being punished Isabella?"

"Yes Master."

"Tell me why."

I could feel him.

Walking around me.

His hand softly grazing the top of my head that lay on the leather bench.

The leather whipping bench.

Used for punishments but also for pleasure.

Though it was the former I was receiving now.

"Because I disobeyed you Master."

"How? Be precise," he demanded speaking before I had finished my sentence.

"Because I spoke during the scene when I was instructed not to."

"And?"

"And…."

"Must I had more strokes dear?"

"No Master," I said quickly.

"I also came without your permission."

"Are you sorry for disobeying your Master? For not abiding by his wishes?"

His words were grounding me. Making me understand that it wasn't just about coming too early or speaking when instructed not to. It was about him knowing that when he gave instructions I would follow them.

It was about trust.

Trusting that I would do what was asked and in turn me trusting that he wouldn't abuse and misuse the faith that I had placed in him.

He was right.

It was a learning process, and I was obviously still learning.

But I understood it now.

I got it now.

I could take my punishment knowing that at the end of it, the foundation of our relationship would be better than when we started.

It would be stronger.

"Yes Master, I am. I am so, so sorry, and I'm hoping that you will forgive me," I whispered out.

I hoped he could hear the regret and truth in my voice.

I was sorry, but I would do better from here on out.

He didn't say anything but he brushed his fingers along my chin grazing my jawline and I relished in his touch.

"You will receive ten swats. I will warm your bottom up with my hand first. You will remain silent then. When I begin your punishment you will count after each one. Do you understand?"

"Yes Master." I was nervous, I was sure he could hear it in my voice.

"There will be no shame if you use your safe word Isabella. That's what it's designed for."

"I understand Master. I am ready for whatever you wish to give me."

He took a deep breath to steady himself before he walked behind me, out of my line of vision.

The bench was situated facing the large glass window at the back of the room. All I could see was landscape.

I had yet to ask Aro if this window was one way or if people could see into the room.

I could admit that the idea that any passerby looking close enough could see me now, naked, ass in the air leaning over a leather bench waiting for my master to spank me, made me wet a little.

His large hand began to smooth over my bare ass.

One cheek.

Then the other.

The motions were soothing before they became rough.

He was kneading my flesh.

Pulling, pinching spearing them apart before pushing them roughly up and down.

It was uncomfortable but I didn't move.

I would do this.

I could do this.

For us.

He stood suddenly walked across the room, grabbed something, then came back.

"You are ready," he said, though I was unsure if it was a question or an observation.

I nodded my head anyway.

"Remember to count," he said before with a loud smack the first swat landed on my skin.

"O-One." I stuttered out unprepared for the impact.

Another.

"Two."

Another.

"Three."

He landed more all in rapid succession.

"Eight."

Another this one harder than the rest.

"N-Nine."

The last one.

"Ten."

Tears clouded my vision.

Not from the pain.

Though I could begin to feel burn in my cheeks steadily building.

But I didn't cry because of that.

I didn't know why I was crying.

The tears just flowed.

One after another until I let out a gut wrenching sob that had Aro rushing to me pulling me into his arms.

"You are forgiven little one. It is done. You are forgiven."

I didn't realize until then I had been begging him to forgive me. Sobbing how sorry I was into his chest.

"Breathe sweetheart, it is okay."

He picked me up and sat me on the steel table in the middle of the room.

"Turn onto your stomach dear."

I did.

He left but quickly came back with a soothing crème which he rubbed into my burning flesh.

Large soothing strokes that not only healed my hot flesh but my heart that ached for displeasing my Master. It wasn't even a few minutes later that I found my eyes closing as my Master took care of me.

X

When I woke up later I was in bed.

Tucked into the sheets that Aro and I had shared that previous night.

I was just sitting up with the sheets tucked underneath my arms when he walked into the bedroom with a tray in his hands.

"Breakfast in bed?" I asked him.

"Considering it is one in the afternoon more like lunch in bed," he said, with a smile on his lips.

He walked over and placed the tray over my lap before he sat on the edge of the bed right next to me.

"Did you make this?" I asked biting into the soft warm croissant.

"Would you believe me if I said yes?"

I looked at him.

"No dear, though I undoubtedly am talented at many things cooking is not one of them."

"Neither is humility I see," I said taking another bite of the croissant.

"How amusing you are," he started the sarcasm heavily felt in his voice.

"But I want to talk about earlier."

I suddenly didn't have an appetite any longer.

"What about it?"

"You were crying piccolo. Quite viciously. Is there nothing you wish to say about it?"

"I don't know what to say Aro. I didn't know why I was crying then and I still don't know why now."

"Then we will find out together. How did you feel during the scene?"

"It hurt."

"I asked how you felt not what you felt. Try again."

"I was confused," I whispered out, the words escaping my lips of their own volition.

"About what," he prodded.

"About what I felt. There were so many emotions everywhere but mostly I was upset. Upset because in the process of me disobeying you I realized that I had broken your trust and it hurt and all I wanted was your forgiveness."

He smiled at me clearly satisfied with my answer.

"And afterward?"

"I was overwhelmed. It hit me all at once. The peace I felt from your forgiveness was everything but more so the relief that we were okay, that the trust and faith you have in me wasn't broken."

His gaze softened as I spoke his eyes flickering all over my face before he leaned in and captured my lips with his.

The kiss wasn't sexual in nature.

Rather it was spiritual. Both of us clinging to each other reveling in the notion that we had each found someone who understood us on every level.

When he pulled back from me his eyes didn't leave mine.

He looked like he wanted to speak.

Like the words were at the edge of his mouth just wanted to be pushed off.

Would he say he loved me?

Finally?

Maybe he needed some prodding of his own.

"I love you." I confessed again. Sure of him. Of us.

His eyes fell from mine before he pressed himself closer to me the tray pushing into my ribs as our noses almost touched in the space between us.

"You are so very special to me Isabella," he said almost desperately as if those words were the same as mine.

They weren't.

Not even close.

I pulled back from him hurt that once again my declaration went unanswered.

"Isabella-," he started.

"Don't you have to go to the office today Aro?" I asked changing the subject.

"I… I did not wish to leave you after the morning we had," he said softly the words barely above a whisper.

"You can go. Business comes first."

"No." he said his hands grabbing at me.

"It does not come first any longer."

We both stared at each other, daring the other to say something.

To say anything.

"You can go Aro," I said softly.

"I do not wish to. I do not want to leave your side."

"You say this yet you can't even admit that you love me."

"Isabella-,"

"No," I interrupted him.

"I don't want to hear it anymore. No more grandiose speeches about how I don't know what love is and how you won't ever feel it for me. I get it." I said pushing the tray away from me and standing from the bed.

"Isabella let me speak," he demanded.

I stayed silent giving him the floor.

"I am trying," he said in justification.

"Remember you asked that I try. You cannot get angry at me for not being where you want me to be."

"I have a right to feel how I feel." I whispered out not liking the implication he was making.

"As do I."

I didn't want to cry in front of him but I could feel the tears coming.

I turned my head away from him looking to the side.

"You should go," I whispered out.

He stood there for a long while just watching me. The tension rising in the room as he looked at me but I tried my hardest to look everywhere else.

"I will be back later," he said softly before walking past me and out the door.

It wasn't even a minute later that I burst into tears for the second time that day.

X

"Miss Isabella? Miss Isabella?"

I could feel someone shaking me, calling my name in my sleep.

"Miss Isabella svegliati. Io ho un cibo se siete affamati."

I turned over to see Genevera standing over me with her apron tied around her waist.

"Food?" I asked her, her Italian too fast for me to keep up with.

"Sì," she said nodding her head sharply once.

"Venire."

She grabbed my hand and hauled me out of bed. We walked down the hallway together, me leaning against her as we made our way into the kitchen.

"Food," she said pointing towards the stove.

Several pots at boiling on the stovetop and I helped myself to everything there. When I turned around to take my place at the table I could see Genevera icing a cake.

"Dolce?" I asked her.

"No, torta di compleanno di Mr. Aro."

"Compleanno? Birthday?" I asked.

"It's Aro's birthday? Today?"

"Si," she said making another swipe of icing on the homemade cake.

I suddenly felt horrible.

That I hadn't known it was his birthday.

That he hadn't told me today was his birthday.

That'd I argued with him on a day that was supposed to be special for him.

I turned fast over my shoulder and ran back up the stairs, food forgotten.

I was going to make this up to him.

It would be a birthday he wouldn't forget.

X

"Mrs. Volturi?"

I looked up when I heard that. The employees had started calling me that as soon as I'd produced Aro's black card as proof of purchase.

I hadn't bothered to correct them.

"Right this way ma'am," the sales associate said point his arm towards a back room.

As soon as I'd discovered that it was Aro's birthday I'd gotten dressed and headed into town. The man had everything, but I'd find something that would make him smile.

He deserved that.

And deep down I just wanted to make him happy.

"So this is the collection we have ma'am. As requested only customizable options are presented."

"Thank you. Can you tell me about that one?" I said pointing to a solid black watch with gold plated backing on the table.

"Ah yes, custom made by a local talent. Only three of them exist. A hundred percent quality calf leather. The plating is 24 karat gold as well as the designs in the center. Price point at thirty-three thousand euros."

I almost choked on my tongue.

"Do you like the item ma'am?"

I nodded still internally shocked.

"Yes," I said my throat a little raspy.

"I'll take it. Do you have any cuff links similar in design?"

"Yes ma'am one second."

He brought them over and I knew they were perfect immediately.

"I'll take those as well."

"Yes ma'am," he said before wrapping and packaging them before handing the items to me. It seemed they weren't worried about stealing.

I paid for the items and made my way to the front when a voice stopped me.

"I was told Mrs. Volturi was back there yet you don't look like Athenodora."

Scarlett.

"I'm beginning to think you're following me," I said turning to see her sitting in one of the waiting chairs.

"I have much better things to do than follow an imposter."

"Imposter?" I asked laughing a little.

"Who exactly would I be pretending to be?"

"Aro's wife," she said rising from the chair to face me.

"You and I both know I'll be the only wife that man ever has."

"I think you'd like to believe that, but deep down you know that's not true. Aro doesn't waste any time thinking about you. In fact, I hadn't known you were his ex-wife until Diana brought it up at brunch a few weeks back."

She leveled her eyes at me full of fury before a small smirk fell on her lips.

"You know what I remember most about my marriage with Aro? The way he would wrap his arms around me before he would cum and whisper how much he loved me into my ear. Does he still do that?" she asked, the smirk on her lips betraying the innocence in her voice.

I couldn't stop the hurt that flashed through my chest.

He would confess his love to her but couldn't say it to me?

No.

I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of falling apart in front of her.

"Why are you here Scarlett?" I asked ready to get on with it.

"Well dear Edward gave me his debit card to go shopping, you know he is so generous Isabella I don't see how you let him go, but any who I figured he deserved a little treat for being so nice to me."

"Well it seems we're both here for the same reason then," I said just to be petty.

"You're shopping for Edward too hmmm?"

"No, rather while you shop for your lover I shop for mine. Have a very unpleasant day Scarlett," I said pushing past her and out of the store with my purchases in hand.

I hadn't made it five feet down the street when I bumped into Edward.

"For heaven's sake WHAT?"

"I'm sorry?" he said slowly a little confusion in his voice.

I took a deep breath, reining in my anger before speaking again.

"Sorry, I'm just a little frustrated."

"Problems with Aro?"

"Not that it's any of your business but no. Rather it's problems with your new girlfriend."

"Scarlett? What's she got to do to with this."

"You poor thing," I said shaking my head at him.

"She's sleeping with you while simultaneously trying to worm her way in between Aro and I. She's using you Edward."

"I'm not being used Bella. I know about her and Aro. She told me the whole story," he said his head held high like he knew everything.

"The whole story?" I asked in disbelief.

"She told you everything?"

"Yes, how he wined and dined her, treated her like a princess, only to break her heart in front of all his employees leaving her destitute and penniless."

I rolled my eyes in disgust, and he stepped closer to me grabbing my arm.

"She's trying to warn you Bella. Aro's not a good man, don't fall for it the way she did."

"No Edward," I said ripping my arm out of his grasp.

"You're not a good man. You're easily manipulated and gullible. Scarlett's a liar and I will not stand here and let you smear Aro's character when you're the one who's done everything you've just described. Once again have an unpleasant day Edward Cullen."

And I stalked away from him, to the car where Afton was waiting for me.

It seemed today was just not my day.

X

When I got back to the house I rushed up the stairs to change clothes.

Since Aro hadn't told me about his birthday I knew he wouldn't appreciate a big loud spectacle so I would keep it low key.

I changed into some soft white cotton pajama pants and a tank top.

We would relax, watch movies and when he was ready blow out the candles I'd bought for his cake, because whether he realized it or not, everyone deserved to celebrate their birthday.

I could hear the door open and close down stairs and I knew he was home.

I met him in the kitchen, bag in hand.

He was standing at the island counter the cake resting in front of him with the words 'Buon Compleanno' drawn in blue icing.

"She does this every year," he said flicking his finger through the icing before bringing it to his lips.

"No matter how many times I tell her not to there's always a cake sitting here waiting for me when I get home."

"Happy Birthday," I told him stepping around the island counter and kissing him softly on the lips.

I pushed the gifts I had in my hand into his chest.

He grabbed them from me his eyes flicking from mine back down to the bag in his hands.

"I don't celebrate my birthday," he said softly.

"I know, but we will from now on."

He smiled softly at me before peeking into the bag.

"Straying from tradition?"

"Yes," I said with finality in my voice.

He opened the bag slowly pulling out the watch, gazing at it, turning it from side to side before strapping it around his wrist.

He pulled the cuff links out next looking at the V's I'd had engraved into them before attempting to take his off to replace them with mine.

"No," I said stopping him.

"We're not dressing up today," I said stopping his hands.

"No?"

"No," I confirmed kissing him again.

"Go change into something comfortable. I'll be in the living room waiting."

He nodded, kissing me one more time before heading up the stairs.

I was sitting in the living room popcorn and wine on the coffee table when he came back down in a white cotton t-shirt and drawstring pants looking so different from The Aro Volturi everyone knew.

"Come sit," I said patting the sofa next to me.

He sat down and I laid my head in his lap flipping the television on.

I'd streamed The Godfather on Netflix for him when he'd told me it was his favorite movie.

I could feel his hands running through my hair while we sat and watched, munching on popcorn, cake and wine, and as the credits rolled through on the screen I looked up at Aro who was looking down at me.

"Happy Birthday baby."

Again, that soft little smile graced his lips and he pushed his fingers through my hair before lifting my head to his and kissing me. His tongue pushing past my lips and claiming my mouth.

"Thank you piccolo. This is the best birthday I've had in a very long time."

"You deserve it," I said whispering to him before straddling his waist and kissing him again.

He reached down to my hips pulling me harder onto his growing erection and I couldn't stop the loud moan that crawled out of my throat.

I could feel his hands inching up the sides of my stomach drawing my tank up with it when I heard a loud noise by the door.

"OHHH! Sono spiacente signore," Genevera said standing at the door a large package in her hands.

Aro dropped his hands from my body letting out a big huff of breath as his forehead dropped to my chest.

"Cosa ti serve Genevera?" I asked her sliding from my place on Aro's lap to sit next to him.

"Sir Aro aveva un pacchetto consegnato oggi," she said walking over to place said package on the coffee table before hurriedly leaving the room throwing another apology over her shoulder.

Aro scooted forward opening the box when a card fell from it onto the floor.

I grabbed it opening it while he continued unwrapping the box.

"To my darling Aro,

Happy Birthday sweet heart may your day be filled with happiness and my eternal love. Here's a gift for your dear Isabella may she get as much use from it as I did.

Forever yours Scarlett."

I could feel the anger taking over me as the words left my lips, and by the time I was finished reading, the card was a crumpled mess in my hand.

I stood up abruptly letting the paper slip from my hands.

"Isabella," Aro started and when my eyes looked down to see what she'd sent to our home I couldn't take it anymore.

I darted up the stairs away from him.

She'd sent her engagement ring.

Translations:

Miss Isabella svegliati. Io ho un cibo se siete affamati: Miss Isabella wake up. I have food if you are hungry.

Venire: Come

Dolce: Dessert

Sono spiacente signore: I'm sorry sir

Cosa ti serve Genevera: What do you need Genevera

Sir Aro aveva un pacchetto consegnato oggi: Sir Aro had a package delivered today

A/N: SO what'd you guys think? Let me know in a review! I'll see ya again next time. *Blows kisses*