A/N: A quick thank you to everyone who added this story in their alerts and/or added it to their favorite list. It truly means a lot to me.

Chapter 11-

Bella's POV-

"What an idiot!" I could not resist myself from speaking out loud, the retreating form of Aro enough to garner that nothing unusual about it- response.

Seriously, who made this guy the king of an entire kind?

More importantly, what drug was said person high on when this decision was taken?

I was definitely curious to know.

Because it was obvious, Aro was not even worthy of being a mere pawn who lost his life first in any given battle of chess, being the king a far away unattainable dream….even if the king did not have much of a say in the matters, constantly in a mode of threat. Still, it was the king and so was of some importance.

But Aro was not worthy of even being considered of some importance.

And that was a given truth.

So yeah….sad life!

"Bella," Marcus's soft voice grabbed my attention. I turned to look at him, my eyebrow raised in question. He sighed, continuing. "I owe you an apology. I cannot tell you of how terrible I feel at the moment."

"What for," I questioned, slightly confused and a bit apprehensive. I had a hunch of what this could be about, but I did not wish to jump to conclusions. I would rather wait to hear it from his very mouth than state something completely foolish and off topic.

He sighed, shutting his eyes, a look of deep regret visible on his face.

I was almost worried on noticing such an intense reaction of his.

He looked seriously troubled and affected by whatever this was about, though knowing Marcus a bit more now, I was almost confident that he was considering a molehill to be a mountain, his reaction not so very required. But that was Marcus, his reactions to the extreme at times.

I would just have to get used to it, I tell you.

"Yes," I whispered when he hadn't spoken for more than two minutes of awkward silence. Seriously, it was ridiculously awkward right now between us.

He sighed- once again, almost making I roll my eyes at his need for exaggeration.

He did exaggerate things a lot, you know?

I was about to speak once again- patience really wasn't my thing- when he finally spoke up.

"I should have interrupted earlier. I should not have let Aro have his way. I know it was wrong on my part…."

Oh.

So this was what was on his mind.

I was almost surprised.

"You are my mate and as such my responsibility." He continued. "I know I have let you down, and I apologize for doing so. Trust me, it will never be repeated again. I will make sure of that….."

I could not stop myself then.

I burst out laughing, so very amused by the situation.

Marcus was adorable, truly- completely- adorable.

He gave me a confused glance in response to my reaction. "Why are you laughing?"

I shrugged back at him. "You were rambling, and before you start apologizing for doing so," I instantly added, completely aware that this was something Marcus was definitely capable of doing. "Know that it is okay. It is not that major a crime that you will be sent to the gallows for. I am definitely upset- I won't refute that, but I am keener on knowing of why you did what you did."

Of course a part of me was disappointed in Marcus at the moment.

I had expected him to speak on my behalf- refuse whatever magic trick Aro wanted to show using me as his unwilling subject, but yes, it was no major a crime to demand heavy punishment for.

At most, an apology and a clear answer would do, the former already being provided by Marcus.

He sighed, gulping, refusing to look up and meet my eyes. "I wanted him to approve of you."

I narrowed my eyes in question at his words, honestly confused by them. "What do you mean? Why?"

Who needed that jackass' approval?

Certainly not me!

"He is like a brother to me, Bella." He spoke. "He is the leader of my kind…"

I shook my head, instantly cutting him off, almost rudely at that. "You are the leader, too."

He was one of the kings. That was good enough. He definitely did not need to bow down to that Jackass.

He gave me a small smile, shaking his head in response. "In name; everyone knows who the actual leader is and who takes all the decisions amongst us."

"But that is wrong," I argued, scoffing. And that was definitely no reason to not consider yourself worthy of the post you hold. So what if one person always casts the final vote? Marcus had as much right to a say as any other. "Anyone would much rather prefer a sane leader to an insane one, that is."

He nodded his head in agreement, not saying anything in opposition…..which was a good thing as seriously, this topic had the immense potential to piss me off.

"The point is," he continued, putting his hand in almost a gesture of peace. "I wanted him to approve of you. I wanted him to like you. I wanted him to accept you as family…"

"Is his acceptance that very important for you?" I whispered, awaiting his answer.

Aro was Marcus's family, and all things considered, everyone seeks the approval of their near and dear ones when they meet the one they want permanently in their life. That is just the way it is. We care about family. We seek their acceptance. Heck, even Charlie had tried to make peace between Tanya and me, wanting us to be close enough to discuss personal matters with the other. I sometimes wondered if abandoning me had not been his initial plan- his desired plan. He had tried hard to form the bridge between the two of us, I admit, but when I had refused to co-operate, for obvious reasons, he had accepted the distance that was there to remain.

Huh.

What if his initial plan had been to tell me the truth about Tanya's kind, giving me the option to chose of whether I wanted to join this world or not?

It was a plausible option if thought about. Or why else would he force Tanya and me to have dinner each night- she used to make some crap excuse of being on a liquid diet constantly. It was beyond stupid, I know. Anyhow, Charlie would make sure to force us to be in the same room whenever possible, in the hope that I would come to somewhat like Tanya. It did not happen, needless to mention. I always ran away from her like the plague, my instincts telling me all I needed to know.

So…maybe this was a possibility.

Of course it was only a random thought that made no difference to the present whatsoever, but I could not help but worry over the 'what if' part of this scenario.

Would I have gladly accepted to be a part of this world, had he given me the option to choose?

Would I have run to the hills as soon as I possibly could; proclaiming about never seeing my father again?

Would I have accepted that world, meeting Marcus in a completely new setting and manner?

What would my life have been in such a scenario?

I somehow agreed internally that I would definitely not have been a happy camper had Charlie forced me into accepting that world.

Heck, I still faced problems completely accepting that I had now entered this world of unexpected circumstances, having not much choice but to come to terms with it.

Had it been a choice….my answer would probably have been no.

I had so much to live for.

I had so much to achieve yet in life.

I had always believed that a lifetime was hardly enough to achieve everything what a person desired, but living forever had never been a part of that plan.

I had been content with my share of a lifetime.

I had not wanted or asked for a forever, but yet, here it was, glaring at me in the eye, not giving me even half of a choice to refuse the offer.

Of course, with Marcus involved, it was slightly different, and not as horrible as it sounded, I had to accept.

I could almost see myself falling for him.

He was a good person….slightly unsure of himself at the moment, but still a reliable and honest person.

He was almost the kind of person I had been searching for….but in the mortal variety.

Of course I had never found one like him.

How could I, when Mr. Perfect was waiting for me here in a dead castle, amidst other dead immortals?

Yeah, even I am surprised of how I haven't run for the hills yet….

"Bella," Marcus nudged me lightly, bringing me back to the world of present. "You seemed lost in thought…."

I nodded my head, giving him a brief smile. "Sorry, a lot going on in the never shutting up- workspace." I motioned towards my head, rolling my eyes.

He nodded his head in agreement, sighing audibly. "You had asked whether Aro's approval meant all so much to me…."

"Oh…yes," I gulped, preparing myself for his answer.

He shut his eyes, wincing. "I would be lying if I say no; Bella, I have always craved Aro's approval, even back when I wanted to court Didyme. I had always considered his opinion as worthy, in the beginning out of respect. He was my wife's brother. She loved him and valued his presence. I did not wish to disappoint her in any which way; treating her brother to be an inferior the glaringly obvious method to do so. Over time though, I accept I stopped using my head, letting him be my head for me. I know it is my mistake, but it worked for me in my lowest period. I did not have the capacity in me to take any decisions, and Aro never asked me to make a decision. I considered it a win- win for all."

He sighed continuing. "I have searched for his approval for so long now…I guess old habits die hard."

I let out a breath, nodding my head in agreement. "I understand, Marcus. I won't say I agree with your words, but I do understand what you are saying. He is your family- and somewhere deep down that bond will always remain. But Marcus, I did feel offended when you treated me like that earlier. I am your…" say it, Bella! It is just one damn word. You can do this. "Mate," See! It wasn't that very difficult. "And as such deserve some sort of respect from others and you, as well."

I had put forward my opinion.

I refused to be in a relationship where I was not an equal.

Respect was important for me…maybe even a bit more than love and lust. Not saying that that is not important, but respect mattered too.

If he could not respect me as an individual, I doubted that we could ever work.

"Marcus, this is all very new to me." I stated, frowning. "I don't know these people. They are mere strangers to me. I don't know of how they will react to what I say. I don't know of what is offensive to them and what is not. I need you to be there for me. I need you to take a stand for me. I need to you to be the mouth till I don't feel comfortable enough to speak. You have to understand I am confused and scared. My instincts don't trust them. I don't trust them, but they are your family and I don't want to disappoint you."

"Bella," he interrupted me. "You can never disappoint me. That is just not a possibility."

I gave him a small smile in response. He was exceptionally sweet.

"The point is," I began again. "I would feel better if you take my side in front of people who are strangers to me. It would make me more comfortable, indeed."

He nodded his head, sighing. "I understand. I promise you that this will never occur again. If you are not comfortable with something, it will not happen."

I nodded my head, smiling in response. "Thank you."

He shrugged back. "Bella, I had something to ask you. I was waiting for the right time to ask this, but I guess if you keep waiting for it, it will never arrive."

He looked all of a sudden nervous and anxious. It was strange.

"Okay," I trailed off, raising an eyebrow in question.

He sighed, hesitantly shifting on his feet, contrary to the inhuman being that he was. "I would like to court you."

I hid my smile at that. "What,"

He took my surprise to be confusion, elaborating on it.

"Courting is when two people get to know one another…."

I waved him off. "I know what courting is. I have read the classics, too. I will let you know. You just took me by surprise, that is."

He gave me a small smile in response. "Oh. So…."

He trailed off, waiting for my answer.

I pondered over it for a minute or two.

Marcus seemed to be a decent person, and it was not like I had much of a choice in the matter, anyway.

He had made his intentions clear. He was not letting me go.

Now it was my decision of whether I wanted to live a half life filled with sadness and opportunities lost, or I wanted to grab whatever opportunity came in front of me, taking my risks, but knowing that I did what I could, having no control over the rest.

The decision was almost as clear as plain water to me.

"Okay," I gave him a small smile in response.

He smiled wider, happiness shining in his red eyes- they were mesmerizingly red, not the evil red I saw when I looked into the others of his kind's eyes.

It was almost captivating.

"Well then," he coughed, grabbing my attention. "Will you be ready this evening?"

This evening….so soon?

"Um…okay," I shrugged.

Shit.

I had a date with Marcus this evening.

And I had no fucking idea of how to prepare for it.

What was I even supposed to wear to this date?

I had never been much of a- takes hours to get ready girl, but come on, this was big. I knew that. Everyone knew that.

I wanted to look my best for him, but how was I supposed to do that when I didn't even know of what was appropriate for our date.

Where was he taking me?

Were we going out of the Castle?

If yes, where….

Would we have bodyguards going with us…trailing along on our date?

He was the king of his kind, after all.

Wasn't that what happened when royalty left their Castle?

I don't know.

It seemed to be so.

Shit. Was I panicking?

I needed help, but who was I supposed to contact?

I could not talk to anyone of my past life, for obvious reasons.

And I was not comfortable with anyone existing in this castle enough to ask them such ridiculous questions.

Now what?

I was going on a date with a man who claimed to be my forever.

Damn. That was big.

What if I messed up?

What if it all went wrong and Marcus realized what an idiot he was stuck for eternity with?

No. No. I had to think optimistic.

Yes, that was all I could do at the moment.

Everything will go well, Bella. Just believe in yourself.

I did a little bit of a pep talk, forcing myself to take a few deep breaths in.

This was just Marcus.

I had nothing to worry about.

Yes, I had to keep that in mind, remembering it like it was the Gospel truth.

"So," Marcus's whisper forced me to look up. "I will see you in some time?"

"Yeah," I nodded my head at him, watching as he walked out of the room, a wide smile on his face.

Shit.

I was going on a date with Marcus….and I somehow could not wait for these next few hours to pass.

And time my biggest enemy at the moment, was crawling as slow at it possibly could.

It was sad, I know.