(August 3, 2011) (Wednesday)

Aro was happy that even after the years of being in his mate's presence he was still capable of being surprised by her beauty in human form. Truly she was magnificent. Aro ofcourse did anything a besotted man would do to his lady love upon gazing at her in her resplendent beauty. He made a fool of himself.

Aro took two steps before his foot got caught on the edge of a chair and he slightly stumbled. On a normal person it would be nothing but on a vampire it was huge. Bella laughed at the small misstep and found herself in her mates arms giggling for an entire new reason as he spun her around.

"Don't be like that mia Bella." Aro chastised lightly. "It's not nice." He growled seductively in her ear as he tried to cover for his embarrassment.

Giggles settled down as Bella wrapped her arms around his neck.
"My apologies love." She said innocently.

Aro growled in his throat as he contemplated ravaging her when her eyes sparkled at him as if reading his mind.
He sighed. "Let's go before I keep you here." He said begrudgingly.

Bella simply nodded and allowed him to pick her up and take her to the garage. If she was shaking slightly in his arms while hiding her face he said not a word. He would not acknowledge why his mate was so amused this time. He delicately placed her inside the car, much to her protest, and eased himself inside with him. He did like the added bonus of having her end up in his lap and so did she if her heart rate was anything to go by.

Felix and Demetri climbed into the front in normal everyday clothing if not all dark colors with their pendants hidden. Bella caught Felix's eye in the rear view mirror and gave him a brief nod. Without another word they left the hidden garage. Aro had been so thoroughly distracted by Bella that he did not notice how long their car ride was until they were nearing Cecina.

"What is going on?" Aro said sternly. "We should not have left the city limits."

The shoulders of the guards barely tensed but Bella was all over it before anything happened.
"Felix please give Aro one of your hands." She said calmly as she smirked to her now suspicious mate.

Felix reached one arm behind him and allowed his master to read his thoughts and see the conversation he had had with his mistress earlier as well as see all of the available activities they could partake in after the gelato shop.

Aro had also seen his apologies for the deceit but Felix did not want to disobey his mistress. Aro spoke rapidly to Felix in a tone Bella would not hear to let him know he was not upset.
Bella heard the buzzing and promptly moved herself from Aros lap. Aro turned to her to protest but she beat him to it.

"No conversations near me at super speed. If it's imperative to our safety then fine but nothing else." Bella said sternly to her mate. "The buzzing is annoying and it feels like you are keeping things from me plus it's unfair to me." She said with emphasis.

Aro looked contrite at her words. He was aware that she did not like to feel at a disadvantage to anyone of enhanced senses. It made her feel vulnerable.
"My apologies cara mia."

Bella could not stay mad at Aro when he was sincere. She merely nodded and moved back to his lap.
"Thank you." She murmured even though she knew she was heard by the others. She did not care.

(Time skip)

The shop had been a marvelous idea. Aro had enjoyed picking out a large waffle cone for bella to enjoy as they walked around the boardwalk. The timing had been perfect even with the sun still out as it was covered by a cloud formation hiding its rays but leaving some light as it set. It had been perfect.
Seeing Bella devour the entire cone had been better since his little mate had decided to tease him as she ate. The little sighs and moans were driving him insane with need but he kept in control. He would make her pay for her teasing. The look in her eyes when he glared at her in warning had sent another of desire right down his spine. His glare had said "Behave or else" her look in response had said "I look forward to your punishment". It was enough to drive him to madness. He didn't think he had ever been jealous of an ice cream cone in his life.

After a small chat they had decided that going to a museum would be a good idea followed by a nice romantic dinner in a private room to help hide the fact that he would not be eating. The night had been perfect in Aros opinion. Seeing what kind of things his mate liked gave him a new resolve to decorate their wing to her tastes. He also saw a thing or two he would be acquiring for his own as well. The most amusing thing to him though had to be their dinner when once more his veracity for his mate showed when once more Bellas stomach demanded food. She had flushed so deliciously and ended up eating most of his food as well as her own meal when they had dined. He had ordered a rare steak with a few vegetables while she had had Frutti di Mare pasta. It was amusing to see her consume so much. Perhaps they should take more breaks during their sexual marathons. He was obviously not feeding her enough.

Bella had been tired from her large dinner and snuggled into his side when he ended their date night on a private terrace above the restaurant watching the stars. He had carried her into the car without trouble once she fell asleep. He was sorely tempted to wake her once they had arrived at the castle but seeing her content smile made him change his mind. She was so beautiful when she slept. There was still an untouched innocence to her that had not been cruelly taken away by life. It was a marvel given what had already happened to her. He would do his best to keep her like this. He wished they had eternity together but he would live with what time she had left. He wondered if he would be strong enough to remain without her.

Once inside their chambers Aro dismissed Jane who had helped him by opening all the doors and taking anything away that may obstruct his path. He placed her gently on top of the covers of their bed and took off her shoes and jewelry. He covered her with the blanket she had gifted him and proceeded to wash away all of the lingering smells from outside the castle walls in a quick shower. Once he was done he gently moved Bella into the middle of the bed with him and held her as she slept. It was still something he enjoyed doing and hoped to never tire of it.

(August 4, 2011) (Thursday) (Before dawn)

Bella woke up from her pleasant dreams with confusion. She was having a nice dream until she was suddenly pulled into consciousness. She didn't know why until the sudden urge to pee hit her and then she bolted out of the bed and into the bathroom.

One quick trip later and Bella was washing her hands. She caught a look at herself in the mirror and winced. The makeup she had done earlier had smudged all over her face and her hair had seen better days. She was also still in her date clothes.

A small groan left her mouth as she proceeded to strip herself naked and take a quick shower. She had expected to have Aro step in at some point but he had never shown so she figured he was not in their rooms and had left at some point while she slept. Massaging her scalp and thoroughly washing her face had been relaxing and she could have stayed in the shower longer had her stomach not made itself known by growling.

Bella flushed in embarrassment and was thankful that Aro was not in their rooms to hear that. Rinsing off she took a careful step out of the shower and onto the bath matt Aro had ensured were there knowing how clumsy she was.
Bella wrapped a towel around her body and used another to wrap up her hair. While tilting her head back to lift the towel she got a wave of dizziness and had to quickly reach out to the wall behind her to steady herself. The wall was not a good idea as her hands slid down the slick surface causing the dizziness to worsen. She managed to land on her butt without hurting herself. She sat on the cold floor for a few minutes as she tried to regain her equilibrium.

When she finally felt ready to stand she did so carefully by gripping the counter and holding on tightly. She looked at herself in the mirror as she took a breath. Sighing, she decided to just keep her hair down and took the towel off her head in a huff. As she did so her other towel slipped off her body and she was not fast enough to catch it as it fell. Angry at her predicament she carefully bent down and picked up her wayward towel and paused in the mirror in front of her.

Surely she was seeing things. She turned from one side to the other. She passed her hands over the slight bump in front of her as she tried to process what she was seeing. She had a bump in her lower stomach. She had never had a bump before. Her stomach was flat. Especially after her stay in the hospital and the stress from her finals. Bella looked at herself in confusion as she tried to figure out how she could have gained so much weight in so little time when on one pass of her hands something moved.

Bella froze. No, it was her imagination. It did not happen.

The small fluttering happened again and this time she screamed. She quickly covered her mouth and covered her body. She ran to the intercom in their main room and pushed the little buttons rapidly, not caring what she was pushing.

Jane and a male guard rushed in with the male guard quickly turning his back on her out of respect.
Jane saw the panic look on her mistress's face and took in her shaking form and quickly looked around for a threat.

"What is the matter, Mistress." Jane said as she got near Bella.

"Get Aro here immediately." Bella said terrified as she braced herself on the wall.

"On it." The male guard said as he rushed out.

"Is something the matter? Can I help?" Jane said as she tried to figure out what had caused her mistress to behave like this.

Bella was shaking her head no when she thought of something.
"Please get me a robe Jane." She said as she took in deep breaths.

Jane rushed in and out of the closet and came back with her masters robe as it was the closest. She helped Bella put it on and picked up the towel that fell once Bella was covered. As she placed it over the back of the nearest chair Aro and the previous guard had come rushing into the room.

"What's wrong mia Bella? What happened?" Aro said as he looked his mate over for any signs of harm.

It was all she could take before bella let the feelings overwhelm her and she fell into Aros arms sobbing. She was terrified of what the implications of her situation meant for her, for them. Aro dismissed the guard with a wave of his hand and picked up Bella and carried her onto the large bed. Aro had been getting some things done so he could spend more time with Bella without interruption when a guard had barged in and gave him his hand before he could yell. Seeing his mate in such distress had him running faster than he had before. Seeing her now he knew something must have happened to get her in such a state but he was unsure as to what that could be.

Having Aro with her helped Bella come to grips with what was happening to her. She needed to tell him but could not get the words out. So she merely pulled away and with one hand she guided him to her abdomen and had him feel. Aro had looked bewildered for a moment until once more the fluttering had made itself known and he felt what she had too.

His eyes had gone comically wide as he felt the small movement beneath her skin with his hand. Aro looked at her and she was sure the look of terror was on her face as well. Aro pulled open her robe as he had her lay down on the mattress. His eyes and hands roamed the small bump that had definitely not been there before as he tried to come to grips with what was going on. She was pregnant. Somehow Bella was pregnant with his child.

He looked at bella and tried to say something, anything but found himself incapable of speech. Bella understood and simply nodded to him. She had wanted a baby of course, she had wished it, but not like this. She thought it was not possible to get pregnant by a vampire. She needed answers. She needed help.

Looking up sharply Bella grew determined.
"We need Carlisle."

Aro pulled himself together as he focused on Bella's words. It was as if he could think again and his mind moved to resolve this situation, as quickly as possible.
"We need to inform the others and figure out if anyone else has ever come across something like this before."

"You haven't?" Bella asked, a little disappointed Aro had no idea what was going on.

"I have come across legends but none with any concrete proof to back them up nor have I come across a pregnancy resulting from sleeping with a vampire." Aro admitted reluctantly.

Bella merely nodded.
"We need information Aro." She said in a whisper.

Aro grasped Bellas hands in his own as he looked into her eyes.
"I promise we will find out all we can about this love." Aro said as he kissed her hands.
"I won't let anything happen to you my Queen."

Bella gave a weak smile. It was wiped from her face as her stomach once again made itself known.
"I think i know why my appetite has increased these past few days." She said detachedly.

Aro moved Bella to sit up against the headboard and covered her once more with her robe. He propped the pillows up around her and covered her with the blanket. He then retrieved her laptop and cellphone for her.
"I will call Carlisle and then inform my brothers. We will send guards out to different parts of the world to search for any mention of this. This cannot be the first time it has happened in the thousands of years of our existence so we will get as much information as we can cara mia." Aro said as he gripped her hand once more. "For now call Rosalie and tell her what is happening and have her return. Call for Alice as well, we may need her sight for this." (pause) "I will not let anything happen to you, both of you." Aro said as he steeled himself for the uncertainty of what they were about to face. Something like this would have normally had him bouncing in excitement at the prospect of a human vampire hybrid but not if it was at the risk of his mate's life. He would end the child's life if it posed a threat to her.

"Ask someone to bring some food up please." Bella said as she rubbed her fingers against Aros hand. "I need the distraction." Bella said as her other hand simply held the phone. The prospect of informing others now seemed too daunting for her even though she wished for Rosalie. This is what she had always wanted right?

"Of course my love. You can make your calls once you have eaten."Aro said placatingly as if knowing why Bella was not calling anyone anytime soon.

"Will you be long?" Bella asked in a small voice. Being alone did not seem like a good idea. She needed Aro.

Aro paused and made up his mind quickly.
"I will inform my brothers in person first and have them help figure out who to send and where. I will come back immediately after that and I will stay by your side if that is what you wish."

Bella nodded her head as a tear leaked from her eye.
"Please hurry back." She said. "I don't think i can make the calls."

Aro took control of the situation and went into full authoritative mode. He pressed the button for a guard to come in and was back at Bellas side when Jane walked in.

"Have the chef make Bella a large breakfast with plenty of fresh juices as well. Ensure a female guard delivers it to our quarters when it is finished. Go and get Caius and Marcus and have them wait for me in our sitting room. Tell them it is of the utmost importance for them to come but get Bellas food ordered first." Aro said as he undid his previous plan on the spot. There was no way he was going to leave his mate now when she was so desperately in need of him.

"Yes master." Was all Jane said as she left the room quickly.

"Are you sure?" Bella asked as she took in the change of plans but was secretly glad for the sudden change.

"Yes, I am not leaving you like this. I can have the conversation in our sitting room as easily as I could in one of their studies." He said.

"Okay, thank you." Bella said gratefully.

"Think nothing of it my love. I would do anything for you." Aro said as he kissed her forehead and then rested his head against hers.

"This isn't how I planned on having a baby." Bella said plainly.

"I don't think anyone could have imagined this." He said with a slight upturn of his lips. "But it is a blessing nonetheless." Even as he said the words Aro found them somehow lacking. He was very aware of how easily he would kill their child if it posed a threat to his mate. He just didn't think it prudent to tell Bella of that.

Bella merely nodded and gripped his hand.
They stayed like that until Aro heard his brothers coming quickly into the other room.

"They are here cara mia." He said.

Bella simply nodded and pulled away from him. A final squeeze of his hand was all she could manage as she slumped against the headboard.

"Hurry back." She whispered.

"I will love." He said as he kissed her head once more and then left their room shutting the door behind him.

Bella looked down onto her covered stomach and began to rub the small bump. The terror began to recede as she slowly processed everything that had just transpired. A small tremulous smile curved her mouth as tears sprung in her eyes once more. She was getting her wish, she was pregnant with Aros' child. Sobbing out in happiness she cradled her little flutter and began to think of their little miracle. She was completely unaware of the chaos happening in the other room.

Thanks for being patient everyone.
Its official, Bella is pregnant. Many of you wanted her to go through a pregnancy so i made it happen. I will however add my own twist to it.