I froze and knew that if my heart hadn't already been silent it would have stopped in that moment, I felt a lump rise in my throat as I looked down at this beautiful, powerful man kneeling before me. I'd never given marriage much thought before, except to acknowledge that It wasn't something I wanted, after all I'd been witness to Renee and Charlie's marriage fall apart, I had been one of the casualties. But as I thought this, a small part of me cried out that marriage with Aro would be different, it really would be forever.

I had acknowledged during my years away that I didn't want to spent eternity with anyone else, he was all that anchored me. But was marriage really necessary when we lived forever?

I knew that Aro came from a different time and this was the ultimate gesture of his love, I understood that but the independent 'still human' part of me cried that I was too young, that It was too soon… But I would never get any older and the years would pass regardless if I agreed to marry him or not.

All of these thoughts sped through my mind in less then a second and I made a decision based on the simple fact that I never planned to leave his side again.

"Yes." I smiled and nodded as Aro beamed up at me before snatching me up in his arms and laughing, his strong grip ensured I couldn't wriggle free even if i'd wanted to.

When he finally placed me on the floor he produced a ring from his pocket, I looked up at him in surprise as he took my hand. I had presumed this was a spur of the moment proposal, but apparently he had been planning it. The ring was beautiful, a circular cut diamond sat in the centre with more diamonds than I could count surrounding it, embedded in the white gold of the band which wound around itself like a vine. I couldn't help but smile as I thought about what my friends reactions to such ring would be; Jess would probably be green with envy. Then I felt a moment of sadness as I realised Jess was middle aged now, probably with kids and a wedding ring of her own.

"You know i'm starting to doubt this whole powerful, fearless leader thing you had going on." I teased Aro to bring myself away from my morbid thoughts as he brought my hand up to his lips to kiss my ring finger.

"Hmm, only with you dearest." He gazed into my eyes openly as he spoke and I knew he was telling the truth. No one else would see him this way and for that I felt privileged and pleased. I enjoyed seeing his power and it wouldn't feel right for him to switch from being the powerful and feared leader of the Volturi to the opposite… That was the part of him I fell in love with first.

I smiled back at him and gripped his hand in mine, before spinning and running with all of my speed back toward the castle. I had wanted Aro Volturi for too long to wait another moment. Once we reached his room our movements were so fast that even I could barely keep up. One moment he was kissing my neck, the next I was stripping his shirt off, I was just about to reach the buckle of his expensive belt when he used his superior strength the pin me against the wall.

My chest was heaving, probably purely out of habit whilst his was entirely still. I ceased breathing, not enjoying the lack of composure I was exhibiting in the face of his control.

"What?" I panted breathlessly, my eyes raised to his in question.

"Isabella." He whispered longingly, nuzzling my cheek and placing featherlight kisses along my jaw. Suddenly realisation dawned on me and I groaned in frustration.

"Tell me you're not worried for my virtue." I said hopefully.

Aro huffed out a short laugh, his breath ghosted over the skin of my shoulder. "Hardly my love, but you must understand-"

I cut him off mid sentence. "That you come from a different time where you need to be married to a woman before sleeping with her. Yadda yadda yadda." I rolled my eyes in frustration.

Aro growled and pushed me further into the wall, I heard the stone cracking under the force and looked up startled into his crimson eyes. "Do not mock me." He said softly, his tone was deadly. "I am not a noble gentleman from a fairytale Isabella, I will quite happily bed you before we are married. I was merely going to warn you that our species and my age mean a certain… stamina is required to maintain the longevity necessary to sate to bond we will be sealing. After this you really will belong to be for eternity."

I could only stare at him feeling stunned. Apparently all Vampires weren't as… restrained as Edward Cullen.

"Oh." Was all I could manage and Aro laughed richly and lifted me into his arms before laying me down upon the soft sheets with surprising gentleness.

I now took the time to appreciate his body as he bent over me, his chest was defined and muscular, his shoulders were broad and hair trailed from his bellybutton downward to disappear behind his belt. My mouth filled with venom which I quickly swallowed as I gazed wantonly upon his beauty. I ran my fingers across his shoulders and chest, feeling the hard unyielding skin beneath my fingers, I was so engrossed in his beauty that I didn't notice the positioning of his own hands till a loud ripping noise echoed around the high ceilinged room. I squealed in indignation as I looked down at my beautiful dress, which had quite literally been torn in two.

"I liked that dress!" I complained breathlessly as his sleek head dipped toward my collar bone and made its way down my body.

"I'll buy you as many dresses as you like, tesoro mio." He rumbled against my abdomen and I felt my ability to think or speak leave my body as he whispered to me, lovingly in a deep italian accent.

The time passed so quickly it felt like mere minutes, but I had possession enough of my mental faculties to know it must have been much longer. I was also aware enough to realise that no one was disturbing us, quite deliberately. Which meant that every vampire in the castle knew what we were getting up to, In my human life that thought would have embarrassed me but not anymore.

Days must have passed us by but the moment that our bond fully cemented we both felt it, it felt like a sudden rush of emotion within my chest and that feeling increased the closer I was to Aro. His own heavy breathing showed that he too felt the same thing, and he gathered me up into his arms and held me close.

"Now we are bonded for eternity, my love. Nothing will take you from me." His voice was as rich and controlled as it had been days ago when we began. I didn't bother to answer him, just moved closer and laid my head upon his chest to rest. As I closed my eyes I couldn't restrain the smirk that curved my mouth at the thought of Talia's reaction upon learning that I would be Mrs Aro Volturi.