I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you simply, without problems or pride:
I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this,
in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand,
so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.
-Pablo Neruda
*Liz's POV*
As he pulled back to look at me, the same care as last night shone in his eyes mixed with a look of affection and I couldn't help the smile that pulled at the corners of my mouth as my cheeks warmed. I had meant everything I had said. Apart from the nightmare, I had the best night sleep in my life with the most beautiful dream.
Aro and I standing in the most beautiful garden with the sun glittering on our skin while we laughed at an older boy with Aro's hair color, Alec I think, chasing after an older blonde girl, maybe the same blonde girl from before, and a little girl, maybe four or five years old, that had the same dark hair as the boy and my mate. The older two's skin looked much like ours while the younger girls looked normal, but she was keeping up with their speed.
"Darling, it's almost time for them to eat. Maybe we should head back in for now?" I sighed as he spoke between kisses left on my neck. Smiling as I leaned back into his embrace, all I could do was nod. "Alec, Aurora Jane, Delilah Rose! It's time to go in for now."
"Five more minutes, please mother?" The blonde girl pleaded with me making Aro laugh against my skin.
"Only five minutes, then it's time to go. Okay?" She grinned at me while I smiled before the returned to the game they were playing.
"Tesoro?" Aro murmured and I turned slightly in his hold.
"Yes, mio re?" I smirked as his eyes darkened at the pet name before he pulled me closer to him.
"There are children present, amore." He chuckled and kissed my cheek. "Tesoro, I can never thank you enough for the wonderful family that you have given me. After Alec and Jane, I never thought I would get to experience the joys of having any more children and yet you have already given me our little Delilah with another one on the way." He laid a hand on my swollen belly as he kissed me. "I don't know what I ever could have possibly done to have been given someone like you as my mate. My angel on Earth, how you have blessed me so."
Quite honestly, I woke up a little disappointed that the dream wasn't actually real but waking up to see that he stayed with me through the night made me realize that maybe I could trust him after all. It was definitely nice to wake up next to him and I secretly hoped that it wouldn't be the only time that I did.
"Since you insist that we don't spend the day in bed, how about I give you a tour?" He asked as he rolled us to our sides and laid his hand on my side.
"That would be wonderful. You mentioned Heidi would be bringing me some clothes?" Not that I wouldn't mind wearing another of his shirts as a dress, but something told me he would be opposed to the idea.
"Everything is in the closet for you to choose from. She mentioned that your friend had some input on the choices as well." Damn Anna… If she picked anything, then I know it will most certainly not be anything I would ever wear.
"On second thought, let's just stay here." He smirked and kissed my forehead before chuckling.
"How bad can the options be?" Just wait.
"Did you look at any of them? I know Anna, and I know for a fact that she picked things to spite me." I groaned, burying my head in his chest.
"Could they really be that bad?" He asked and I shook my head.
"Go have a look." He didn't respond and I buried my face in a pillow as he got up. He was hardly gone for a minute before he cleared his throat to get my attention. I slowly lifted my head to see him holding up a short red dress that looked more suited as a shirt and I instantly looked horrified while he smirked.
"Absolutely not!" Over my dead body would I ever be caught dead in something like that!
"Not even for me?" I rolled my eyes and chucked a pillow at him as he laughed.
"Not where anyone would be able to see me. End of story." I said firmly and he glanced between me and the dress again before disappearing to look through the rest.
"Okay, I see your point." I could just picture the resignation on his face going through who knows how many bags. "Maybe Athenadora or Didyme have something in your size or possibly Jane even. You look to be about the same size, I think." Wait, Jane like in the dream?
"Who is Jane? I don't think I have heard you mention her or seen her yet." I tried to ask casually.
"She is Alec's twin sister." He hesitated before adding the part I had guessed on. "My daughter." Finally giving up, he sat down on my side of the bed and I rolled to face him as he looked a little apprehensive about the admittance. I smiled up at him to try and ease his tension as I took his hand.
"Aro, I'm not upset or mad that you have children. Granted that makes me question how you reacted to Alec last night, but I can't fault you for having a family before we met. I care for you, and while I haven't met them yet I'm sure that I will come to care for them just as you do." As the first tear fell at my words, I raised my hand to wipe it away while I sat up to kiss him. As I pulled away, he engulfed me in a hug.
"You have no idea how happy that makes me, amore." I smiled as he kissed my temple before pulling back. "Shall we go see if we can find you some more suitable clothing options?"
"Please. If we can't find something in my size, I can always go get my clothes from my apartment instead since I live here in the city." I offered, but I doubt that was probably an option until much later since I don't think he would like it if I went alone.
"We shall see, but that can remain an option if you would prefer it." I shrugged in response. While I would like to get some of my own clothes, I didn't mind the idea of wearing originally owned dresses that are probably still well kept.
"Or I can just wear one of your shirts since they are so long on me." I teased as we laughed while he tackled me back down onto the bed.
"Not funny." He playfully growled.
"I thought it was. Consider it a little revenge for that top that they tried pass of as a dress." I smirked back at him.
"Fine, I apologize for the dress. Now can we find something acceptable so that we can go see my sister and Caius' wife?" He asked while conceding to my point and I huffed at having to go through the things Annabeth picked out.
"Only because I have to, but I'll be the one picking." I said with a pointed look. No way was I going to let him pick when I had no clue what was actually in the bags. He only laughed in response as I moved to get off the bed. Once I stood, the sound of his laughter was abruptly cut off and I winked over my shoulder before walking to the closet as bare as the day I was born. I heard him mumble a tease under his breath which only made me giggle as I closed the door behind me. Kneeling down I groaned at the various Victoria's Secret bags that held more lingerie than actual undergarments and resigned to wear the simplest pair I found with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, feeling more uncomfortable in my own skin than I had ever felt in my life, including the course of yesterday. Wrapping my arms around myself, I walked back into the room. "Let's get this over with so I can change." I refused to look up from the floor and was a little surprised when he pulled chin up to meet my gaze.
"You still look beautiful, darling." I half-heartedly smiled as I looked away. He didn't say anything as he led us from the room, and I avoided looking at anything besides the floor as he led us through the halls and up a flight of stairs before stopping in front of a set of doors and knocking. I flinched a little as they were thrown open and I was pushed to the side as a woman engulfed him in a hug.
"Nice of you to finally grace us with your presence Aro." She scolded him and I instantly noticed the familial resemblance. This must be the sister he mentioned.
"I saw you yesterday, Didyme, not last century." I could practically hear the eye roll in his tone, and I stifled a giggle. "Sister, let me introduce my mate Elizabeth." She finally let him go to glance at me as I pulled my arms tighter around myself instead of meeting her gaze. To make this even more uncomfortable, she wrapped me in a hug as well which I stiffened at.
"It's nice to meet you!" Okay, please let me go now.
"You as well." She finally let go as she realized I was stood rod still.
"Didy, I was hoping you or Dora had some of your old dresses saved and if it was okay for Eli to borrow one for the day." Aro said as I moved back to his side.
"Oh, of course we do! And I think I know just the one to suit her complexion. Leave it to us!" With that she shut the door in his face, and I was dragged into the room to see a blonde woman longing with a book in her hand. "Thena! We have a project!" Didyme excitedly announced causing the other to look away from her reading.
"Finally! I heard what Aro said, do you have a particular era that you prefer dear?" She asked me and I slowly nodded.
"Either Victorian or Elizabethan era are my favorites, but the Georgian and Regency eras are also good." I shrugged and they giggled with glee.
"Are you thinking of the same dress I am, dear sister?" Didyme asked and together they ran off in a blur towards where I am guessing was the closet before returning just as quickly with a beautiful navy blue dress with black trim and silver beading. I was instantly in love with the dress and I hadn't even tried it on yet!
"I think she likes it." I nodded eagerly as the tears filled my eyes. "We know it isn't one of the periods that you mentioned, but we thought it would look beautiful on you. Would you like to try it on?" Athenadora tentatively offered.
"Please? It's stunning!" Then I realized one small thing. "Would it still look okay if I wore a corset under it?" That seemed to surprise them, and they stared for a moment before glancing from the dress to me and back again.
"I thought the humans did away with them. If you would prefer a corset, it would actually look better with one. The back is high enough to cover it and the underlayer anyways. Did you have one that you brought here, or would you like to see if one of ours would fit you?" Thank the gods!
"I don't have it with me currently, but it is in Aro's room with my clothes from yesterday." They shared a small smirk before turning back to me.
"Corin!" Didyme called and a brunette woman appeared, scaring me slightly.
"Yes, my queens?" She bowed slightly as Athenadora spoke.
"We need you to run an errand for us, dear. Can you fetch Elizabeth's corset from Aro's room and bring it here please?" The woman didn't respond past a nod before disappearing as quick as she appeared.
"While we wait for her to return, let's start of hair and makeup and get you out of those clothes. You look like you feel remarkably uncomfortable in them." My cheeks warmed in embarrassment as I picked at the hem of the shirt. She handed me a silk robe and pointed me in the direction of the bathroom to change. As the door closed with a click, I quickly ripped the offending garments from my body and sighed in relief. Damn you whoever created modern fashion. Slipping on the silk robe and tying it shut, I gave my appearance a once over in the mirror and smiled in relief as my mood lifted almost instantly. After gathering the disgusting clothes, I returned to the main room to find them pouring over various makeup products before they noticed my presence.
"Feel better?" Didyme asked and I genuinely smiled in return.
"Loads better. Aro said that Heidi and my friend Annabeth picked out the clothing and I knew I would instantly hate it. I love Anna like a sister, but she has never understood why I hate modern clothes." For the first time, I shared a laugh with them.
"We completely understand. Most of our clothes nowadays are custom made for that very reason. Now, come sit down and let us pamper you." I giggled at her eagerness and I almost skipped to the vanity chair they had set up near one of the open windows. Once they had me situated how they wanted, I noticed the light reflecting off their skin like it had in my dream. If I had skin like theirs, how was it possible for me to be carrying a child? Filing that away with the other things I wanted to ask Aro, I let them get to work and they flitted about as they worked while keeping the conversation light.
"Can I ask a question?" I hesitantly said as Didyme took a step back to examine her work.
"Of course, you are pretty much a sister to us now. Whatever you want to know, feel free to ask." She said and I took in a breath.
"When I arrived, Felix and then Aro called me by another's name, Genevieve, and I was wondering if you could tell me about her. I've been having these odd flashes of memories that are not my own, but at the same time feel as if they are. Apparently, I look like her, but I still don't know anything about her." I softly spoke and I watched as Didyme's eyes widened at the realization before looking up at Athenadora. She was too shocked to answer, so Athenadora started for her.
"She was Aro's fiancé about two millennia ago. We had thought that she was his mate with how in love they were. Really, we were all close with her and loved her dearly. She was such a carefree spirit, never planned for more than what that day held, and was generally the most out-going among all of us. Honestly with how different your personalities seem to be, I didn't place the resemblance until you said it. When she died, we were all saddened by the loss but Aro and Didy were the most affected by the loss. She passed on right after she birthed Alec and Jane." Finished with whatever she was doing on my hair and I was instantly up as I saw the tears well up in Didyme's eyes. As the first drop fell, I pulled her into a hug while being careful of the work that they had done.
"I'm so sorry for your loss. I may have not known her, but she sounds like a wonderful soul." I quietly said as I tried to soothe her. To lose a sister, I couldn't fathom how that must feel. Anna is the closest I have to a sister and I would be simply devasted if I lost her.
"Thank you." She brokenly said as she cried on my shoulder. I looked to Athenadora and opened my arm for her to join our hug and cryfest. Once Didyme pulled away to dry her eyes, there was a knock at the door. "Yes?"
"I have the garment as requested and Demetri is here to escort her once she is dressed." Corin said as she set it on the sofa before stepping back. "Would that be all?"
"Yes, thank you dear." Athenadora replied as Corin nodded her head and left. "Let's get you ready, darling. Aro won't know what to think once he sees you!" She clapped giddily. "Are you shy about changing in front of others?"
"Not at all." I laughed as I removed the robe and she helped to lace up the corset once I had the underlayer and it on.
"How tight dear?" She asked.
"Tight but still where I can breathe comfortably." I said and she made quick work of cord. Feeling it pull my posture up correctly I rolled my shoulders back and sighed in relief. "That's perfect."
"Excellent! Now for the dress." Didyme said as her happy demeanor returned. The dress took both of them to put on while being careful to not mess up the hair and makeup that they had already done. Once the buttons had been done and the neck hooked, Athenadora ran off only to return with a pair of black and silver heels that matched the dress perfectly and helped it to not drag the ground thanks to my small stature, as well as a silver and sapphire tiara. They both gushed a bit before turning me to see the final result and I had to hold back the tears at the wonderful job they did.
"Thank you, both of you." I hugged them both again before turning back to the mirror one last time to marvel at the difference they did. I mean, I still looked like myself, but now I truly felt comfortable again in my own skin.
"Of course, sister. We would be more than happy to do this again if you so wished. It gets rather boring spending all of our time here." Didyme said and I paused at her words. If Caius and Marcus are keeping them locked up here, would Aro do the same to me? "Now, let's not keep my brother waiting, shall we?" With that she ushered my still shocked self out to Demetri who offered his arm.
"Make sure Aro doesn't destroy the dress, would you Demetri?" Athenadora called after us and he laughed while we walked away.
"Good luck with that!" He finally responded and I gave him a confused look. "Don't worry about it. It's a bit of an inside joke." I slowly nodded my head. The rest of the way was spent in silence as he led me to a set of large doors. He paused for a second and told me to wait as he slipped inside for a moment before returning. "He's ready to see you." Well, here goes nothing. He led me into the same room that I had arrived in yesterday, and my eyes immediately searched for Aro. I couldn't help the shy smile as my cheeks heated up as his jaw actually dropped when he saw me. Thank you, girls!
"Mia amata, you love exquisite." He said as he bowed and kissed my hand.
"Your sister wanted me to remind you to not destroy the dress. If that is all, I have my rounds to make." Demetri said emotionlessly and Aro simply waved him off without a word.
"I thought it would be best to start off with a proper introduction since we did not get to do so yesterday and because you have now met my sister and Caius' wife." He said as he wrapped an arm around my waist. "This is Caius and Marcus." They each kissed my hand like Aro did before stepping back to their previous seats.
"It is nice to meet you both, officially. I apologize for my reaction yesterday. It was all a bit of a shock, but that is no excuse." All three chuckled a bit at that and I looked at Aro, confused by the reaction. Caius was the one to speak up though.
"So, they really are completely different. Gen would have never apologized for her reaction to anything. I like this one." He smirked at Aro who growled in response.
"Ero solo educato, a differenza di te a quanto pare." (I was only being polite, unlike you, it would seem.) I quipped making him scowl at me which I returned with a smirk. He held the stare for a few moments before cracking a laugh again.
"She'll fit in nicely, I think." He said as he pulled me from Aro's side into a hug which apparently surprised the other two. "Wipe that look off your face, brother. It isn't becoming of you." I giggled at that as Aro went back to growling at him while Marcus looked on in amusement.
"That is enough, amore." Caius and I both laughed as he pouted at me.
"How about we start our tour off with the gardens?" He asked as he led me away from Caius and out a side door. Could it be the same gardens from my dream?
"That sounds lovely." Truthfully, I was simply happy to be spending time with him. I could be watching him do paperwork, and I would be more than satisfied to be by his side. I knew that soon I would have to start asking my questions, but for now I was content with getting to know him.
Hopefully, that decision doesn't come back to bite me later.
