I do not own any of the characters or basic story material, all rights belong to Stephanie Meyer.

Alright, yes, it's time to flog the author….I broke my promise, I didn't update when I said I would. I would have, but my body decided enough was enough and 11 hours of sleep later I feel wonderful. A word to the wise young ones, sleep is a precious gift, use it with gratitude. Moving on…..There are no words. Truly. I've tried to find them, but they elude me. All of you, every single soul who took the time to review last chapter, you have my deepest thanks. I have NEVER had such support before. Never. Period. Each review was far more then one chapter alone deserved, as I've said three times before, I'm one heck of a lucky author. Thank you. Very much so. I also thank those who caught my numerous mistakes in the last chapter, I'm quite ashamed of just how many I made…..sorry to distract with bothersome grammar errors and missing words. Typing in the dead of night has its advantages, but it also has its disadvantages. I basically work three hours, save, and then fall into a comatose state. I've honestly tried writing during the daylight hours, but to no success. Sorry, it's really the lesser of two evils. Ah, I have a favor to ask of all of whom read this tale. Recently I've noticed a trend among Twilight fanfics. They're sickly sweet. I'm not talking about kiss-abuse or lemons abound, just an absolute overdose of lovey-dovey mush and weak characters. I mean, really, one fanfic (I won't give any names) had Bella try to commit suicide after Edward "left". Then they made up the very next chapter while Bella was lying weak and pale in a bed, with lacy undergarments no less! Please, my dearest readers, if at ANY time this story starts to get too sweet or too weak, tell me. I would suffer to know this story had devolved into mush and smut. Thank you for your attention, my rant is over with, here's chapter 23.…….

Chapter 23: The Bearings of Truth

I awoke on the plush bed, keenly aware of the cold hands caressing my arms. I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep, but then again, last night's events had left me drained. That horrid dinner party, and then that gentle exchange by the pond…..my eyes bolted open, what had happened after that kiss? I was alarmed that I couldn't seem to remember the following events clearly. A soft chuckle answered my anxiety.

"You needn't worry Bella, I did not take advantage of your clouded mind last night." I sat upright to see that I was indeed still garbed in the shawl, and that Edward was mightily amused. His amber gaze was almost impish. Still feeling rather awkward, I glanced at the sky, hoping that a small peek at the sun might tell me how long I'd dallied in sleep. However, the clouds were still pregnant with their load of ash and grit. There was no sun.

Blushing heavily, I turned to face the man in my bed, my hands clenching the thin sheets tightly. "Perhaps you could tell me what we did exactly after our….our…" I couldn't finish. But at the same time I felt a strange pride roil within me, what it concerned was a total mystery however.

He smiled again and stroked my face with a cool finger, I did not turn from the touch. "Well, we did talk for a good while afterwards, but if I may be as so bold to say, I much preferred it when we didn't." He laughed softly. "Isn't it strange how two starved souls can feast?" His bronze hair shimmered slightly, catching what little sunlight managed to bear down into the room. Or perhaps it shone on its own, lit by an inner flame.

I placed my hand back on his cheek, marveling at its glassy texture. His heady scent was everywhere now, the entire room seemed enveloped in it. And a certain part of me ached for more this light touch. "Indeed it is…..I am remembering now, you told me more about your childhood, and I told you about…?" I paused, my memory drawing a blank.

Edward propped himself up on an elbow and looked at me with a strange fascination. As though I were a most interesting bird. "You told me about your Philo, and the night your parents were killed." He closed his eyes, pain flashing across his brow. "I had no idea your life was so vicious. And here I thought I understood pain….."

I looked down, introspective. "Everyone has their brand of pain, and all of it is terrible. My life is no worse then your own. Please, this is all in the dust of Pompeii now. I'd rather move forward and let those memories stay buried." He cupped my chin and brought it upwards, his expression deep.

"Very well, I'll let those beasts die where they lay." With that said, he brushed his lips against mine, and all coherence stole away from me. It was wonderfully irritating.

"Is she up yet?! For Jupiter's sake Edward when I left you two alone last night I hadn't expected you to wear her down to pumice! Get up now, we've got to attend breakfast with Volusus and Merula. And I do believe Thia is anxious to see her Bella again!" Alice's chiming voice rattled at the door and flicked away before a minuet had passed. Edward sighed, pressed his forehead to mine and gracefully rolled out of the plush bed.

"I do love my sister, but there are times I wish she had stayed in the crater of Vesuvius!" I giggled slightly and stepped behind a thick screen to change into a comfortable red gown. I was not to attend the breakfast with Volusus and Merula, but I still had to keep up appearances. A splash of lavender water, a run-through with an ivory comb, and I was set to meet Thia.

"I shan't be long, but Thia is being quite cryptic about our meeting. I think there's a fellow she wants to show off…" I said as I twisted my "wedding ring" onto my left hand, frowning at its thick crust of gems. Oh how Philo had rubbed off on me, he had taught me to love simplicity, and loathe extravagance. This did not bode well for my pretense as Edward's wife.

Edward caught me from behind and set his lips under my jaw, speaking quietly. "A fellow hmm? I hope she had the sense to stay away from those Villa rats. They're nothing but a vat of sour wine." I leaned into his hard chest, marveling at just how far one night had brought us together. It was ridiculous in its intensity.

"Villa rats? Oh yes, Juno forbid she fall for one of those. Nothing but absolute rapscallions." I teased lightly, he growled in return.

"Don't stay far from me for too long my dear wife. The Lady Corda and Lord Lupus have hastened their return and are due back by sunset. We'll need time to prepare for those two." I nodded in agreement. Meeting the most powerful man on Earth would require a great deal of preparation.

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"So, I take it you're quite smitten with our former master eh?" Thia ribbed at me, her eyes as mischievous as ever. We sat near the reflecting pool, a fountain burbling nearby. Fragrant herbs and flowers were abound, every breath was to take in perfume. The shock of greenery around us was somewhat unsettling for me, after seeing the wasteland of Pompeii.

"Well, I'm not quite sure smitten is the correct word." My cheeks flushed even as I said it, which all but sent Thia into a tizzy.

"I knew it! You're moon daft in love with him, don't bother lying, I saw that kiss you had last night…" She admitted sheepishly.

My eyes pooped at her confession, as did a few veins in my neck. "You rotten little canary! You spied on us! Thia, that's downright low, even for you." I tried to sound menacing, but all I could manage was a high squeak. It was a pathetic attempt.

She offered no apology, only lying back into the lush grass, grinning like the banshee she was. "I didn't spy on you, all the slaves go down to the pool now and then, I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. You two put on quite the show. I'm surprised you aren't carrying the Cullen Heir already."

I leaned my face into my hands, how did Thia pick up all the gossip within ten square miles? My lips clenched into a scowl, there were some areas of my private life that I felt needed to be private. Or at least as private as possible. "We did nothing but kiss, Edward's an honorable man. Besides, while he might enjoy my company, I don't believe he would intend to keep me as his wife once the plan had been carried out."

She sighed heavily, closing her eyes and shaking her blonde mane. " Bella, forgive me for saying so, but you are at times an utter idiot. If Edward loved you any more, the gods would put a constellation in the heavens to honor it. Carlisle, Esme, Emmett and Alice speak of it all the time. Even the palace guards have remarked on how he looks at you. Stop hiding from his attentions and return them!" She sounded almost angry.

A flash of heat ran across my skin, my heart thumped unevenly. How could such a thing come to be? I thought back to all those nights we had lain talking to one another, and to all those days we'd worked side by side. And as I thought, a small twitched upon my lips, perhaps, just perhaps, Thia was right.

"Ah, the mist is out of your eyes at last. A good thing too, you need a clear head now, because the plan has changed." Thia propped herself up and gave me the most serious face I'd ever seen on her. I sat up straight and gave her my full attention.

"Bella, I'm not going to the European colonies. I'm staying in Rome. As are Tanya, Bala, and Fiero. Our lives are in this country, as are our futures. We cannot abandon it." she paused, gave me a comforting look, and continued. "Bala and Fiero are opening their own kitchen near the border, Tanya is…staying within the palace's walls….or so to speak. And I….I'm getting married." Thia brought her eyes to the ground, a quiet smile on her face.

I tried to speak, tried to form some sort thought, a sentence. But failed. She laughed at my bewildered expression.

"His name is Illerion. Illerion Farvados. He works as one of the palace guards, we met the first day I arrived…and we fell like two stoned birds for each other. He's to me what Edward is to you. And he asked for my hand not three days ago, we're to be married the moment I'm free." Tears ran down her cheeks, heavy with joy. "Please tell me you'll give us your blessing. You're both my sister and my best friend, promise me you'll help me make the wedding feast, and my gown, promise me you'll stand by as he carries me over the threshold. Promise me you'll be there to hold our first son, and to pour the waters of Juno over him at the shrine." she clasped my hands roughly, eyes begging with me. "Promise me you'll always be here."

I sobbed openly, giving her a quick hug, and pawing at my stinging eyes, my mind writhing in the pain that I could not promise Thia I would always be there for her and her family. Our paths were diverging, and it was killing me to see her sail her own way. But, she was happier on this path, one with a happy home and a fine husband. It was so much more promising then a farm hidden away in the Northern territories. But how I would miss her!

"I give you my blessing Thia, my friend, my sister. And I promise you that you will always hold a special place in my heart. I shall not forget our life together in the villa. And if I ever have children to call my own, I will tell them of you, and our story."

She grinned at me weakly, and together we walked towards palace. We both knew what my words meant, but somehow they were not painful. Only bittersweet.

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My emotions were ravaged by the time I met with Edward at sunset, my red gown had been replaced with a deep blue one, a thin crown of gold sat upon my head and many bracelets to complement it. The entire Cullen clan was in its best garb, the Emperor and Empresses' arrival was imminent, already the horse could be snorting as their precious cargo was unloaded. Merga and Merula stood side by side, twins in every aspect. Their brother was elsewhere this evening, attending legal matters. I twitched as the sun faded from the sky, leaving only oily candlelight to see by. Edward wrapped an arm about my waist and held me to him, we were both skittish, and the contact seemed to help.

A host of guards and slaves roiled up the villa steps, fussing over this and that. But all of our eyes turned as Lady Corda and Lord Lupus flowed up the steps of their home, radiating power and privilege. It was impossible not to feel humbled in their presence. But as I peeked around them, I saw one man who wiped away everything. There was no Cullen family, and no Roman rulers. The sight that greeted me was of the only father I'd ever known. Philo.