On the 6th Day of Christmas~ Caius

Summary: After the events of New Moon, the Volturi grow restless, and Caius is sent to investigate. He finds Bella still human and the the Cullen's gone. Caius gives her two choices; she dies or gets turned and joins the Volturi guard. She agrees but upon one request. She just needs till Christmas.

An: It is the beginning of November.

I wasn't going to do this with these stories, but this was too good for me to rush, and I really wanted to capture this enemies to lover's relationship, so this story, while I will be making it Christmas-themed, will be different. It does have a happy ending

Also, the Volturi aren't what SM made them out to be. Didyme is alive, the Volturi can be ruthless, but they are also doing what needs to be done in order to protect their race.

CPOV

"You're human," I note, taking off my hood as I let myself inside. The human takes a deep breath before closing the door. "Yes…I thought the Cullen's informed you," She whispers to me, and I narrow my eyes at her. "Shall they had; you would have been dead. Why is it that your heart still beats? Blood still flows through your veins?" I demand, crossing my arms over my chest, glaring down at her.

She purses her lips, raising her chin defiantly. "They left…again," I simply raised a brow. "Explain," I snap quietly, my patience already running thin at just being here on this insufferable trip. The human sighs, eyeing me warily, trying to avoid me all together as she walked around me. I reached out to grab her arm, halting her in place. I can practically hear her grit her teeth before she jerks her arm. I let go, instead, gripping her chin, forcing her to face me. "I'm not here to take my sweet time. I'm here because the rules have been broken, and somebody is going to have to pay for it. Now, answer me. Why are you alive and why did the Cullen's leave?" I snap again, bending down so that we were almost nose to nose.

I ignored the delectable scent rolling off her, keeping eye contact with her. I can see it in her face that she was fighting me. The stubbornness. "They're cowards…simple as that. You found me now. What's my punishment?" She asks, this time pulling away from me. I narrow my eyes at her, taking in her agitated expression. I'm unable to help myself as I smile a full row of teeth causing her to flinch. "Punishment is either death or you join the Volturi," Her eyes widen at her two options, and I smirk.

"Join you? For how long?" She asks horrified. "Until we see fit," I respond, slowly walking towards her as she took steps away from me. She blinks rapidly, and her bleeding heart beats furiously in her chest. She shakes her head, and I glower at her, none too gently pushing her against the wall, trapping her there. "Then you must want to die human," I hiss, wrapping my hand around her throat. Before I could squeeze, she nods, her wide brown eyes glistening with tears. "Okay! I'll join the Volturi…but can I make a request?" Her voice quivers, and she's breathing heavily.

I growl, sending her a warning glare. "A request? What kind of fool do you take me for? It's either you die now, or you turn now," She opens her mouth to respond to me, but is interrupted by a shrill ringing. Her brows furrow as she slowly digs into her pocket. She pulls out her contraption of a phone, pressing a button to answer. "Hello?"

I can already hear the female voice on the line, and I roll my eyes. "It's for you," She whispers, holding out her phone to me. I snatch it from her, turning away. "What?!" I snap, and I can hear Aro's laugh.

Having fun brother? I was calling you because I received some rather interesting information. The human Isabella…she's asking for a request, yes?

I didn't say anything, my silence enough of a response.

Give it to her. She's too valuable to lose. We will see you when both of you return. And Caius? Try not to kill her? Thank you.

The call ends with a click, and I turn back to face Isabella. "What is this…request?" I grit out. She wrings her hands before meeting my eyes. "I want until the day after Christmas. After that, I'll quietly and willingly go, or hell, you can kill me if you want…"

Christmas…she wants until…Christmas?!

"Why so long? That's a long way away," I inquire. "Just please allow me this," She begs, and I can't disagree as Aro had put his foot down. "Fine. A day after and no more. Believe me human, that shall you try anything, I will rip your heart out,"

I look down at the garments in distaste, glaring at the human. "I shall certainly not be wearing these hideous clothes!" She sighs, rolling her eyes. "You have to blend in if you want to be here. Everybody's going to notice you anyway and if you're walking around in a robe, I'm sure vampire wouldn't be so hard to guess," She retorts.

I growl at her, standing too fast for her to see, but she just takes a step back rather than flinching away from me. I had only been here for a week, and since, I've been in this house with her practically 24/7. "It's not my fault you want to leave the town for some reason," I hiss, and she raises a brow. "Well, it's not my fault you think I'm going to attempt to run. So, you can either stay or blend in," I snatch the clothes from her, bending down to be eye level with her.

"Watch your tone with me woman," I warn, she simply glared at me, and I wanted to choke her out in that instant, but Aro made me promise not to hurt her. Insufferable man. I was dressed in no time, appalled by my look. I had on jeans...they were very uncomfortable, and this striped…shirt. At least it was black and gray. I looked hideous. I was down the stairs in an instant, finding the human grabbing her purse and keys. She turns to look over at me. She runs her eyes over me before pulling a black thing off her wrist. "Your hair is a bit…out of date," I snarl at her as she steps forward.

"You will not lay one finger on my head!" I growl, backing away from her. "No wonder they sent you…" She huffs at me, tossing the hair tie at me.

"Watch it!" I snap, bending down to pick it up, my lip curling in distaste. "Aro said you had to, without qualms. I will uphold my end of the bargain as long as you uphold yours, which is simply to let me live this last month literally like my last,"

I roll my eyes in annoyance. Right. Aro for some reason or another liked the human. He called almost every other day to speak to her. He liked to call her cara or cara mia. I felt like he knew something, something important. She was just as baffled as I was in his current regard of her. He definitely knew something.

In Volterra

One week ago

APOV

I look down as Alice Cullen and her mate Jasper Whitlock walk into my humble abode escorted by Jane and Alec. "Well…. what do we have here?" I smile as I step down from my seat, the both of them bowing their heads. "You come alone?" I inquire. Jasper nods. "Yes. We would like to offer you some important information about Bella," I raise a brow, now, more than ever intrigued. "Is that so? I just sent Caius to gather some intel. She is human, isn't she?" I asked, none too surprised to see them nod.

"What is it you wish to offer me?" I ask, more interested now. She steps forward, holding out her hand. I reach to grab it, but she holds it up to stop me. "On one condition," I tilt my head, waiting with anticipation. "Jasper and I would like absolution. We know that eventually, you will catch the rest of my family, and as much as I love them…I don't want to die. We would have stayed with Bella, but if I did…. if we did…I'm doing what is best for her, and this is what is best for her,"

She places her hand in mine, and I close my eyes.

"La mia piccola colomba," Caius whispers adoringly, caressing Bella's flushed cheek. She leans into his palm, and he tilts her chin up, nuzzling his nose against hers. "Shall anyone lay a finger on your head…I'll rip them to pieces," He vows, leaning down to capture her lips.

Before I can open my eyes, another vision hits me.

Aro stands proudly as Bella bows before him. He simply smiles. "Stand cara. You are one of us now. You are a queen, and a queen does not bow,"

I blink my eyes open, a small smile rising to my face. "Caius cannot see it now as he is too blinded by his hatred for humans. Bella is going to make a request, and you must grant it. Without it, you'll lose everything," She urges me.

I just hum. "I see. Anything else I should know?" I wonder, and she steps away from me and back into her lover's arms. She stares at me, bouncing on her feet. "She and her father are your last living relatives," I reach to my necklace, the small vile casing my blood from before I was changed, hanging from my pendant.

My…oh….my.

CPOV

I look around as we stop in front of a hospital, wondering what we were doing here. She had driven for almost an hour in the rain, silent for once. I took my time between watching her and the same trees blur by. "Um, you can either stay here or…come inside. It's up to you," I just shrug, and she turns off the car before silently slipping out, grabbing her things. I watch her walk until she disappeared. I cross my arms over my chest, watching the droplets fall.

I hated this. Sitting here. Doing nothing. I was counting down the time and concluded that she had been in there for an hour. What in gods name was she doing? Was she sick? I couldn't smell it on her. Did she work here? I think she would have just said she had a job.

My patience was starting to wear thin, and after another hour, I was about ready to march inside and drag her by the hair. As I contemplated doing just that, I saw her. She had her arms wrapped around her middle, huddling herself as she sprinted across the cement and to the car. The doors unlocked, and she got in the car, closing the door and starting it up.

"What took you so long?" I grumble as she turns on the heat. She doesn't say anything except turn to me. Her eyes are a dark red, lashes wet from more than just the rain. She just purses her lips before backing out of the parking lot. I just glowered, turning to look back out of the window.

The human cries at night. It was the first night I heard it. I wondered if she were crying from her soon to be death. Although, I gathered that wasn't the case. After her return from the hospital, she hadn't said a word in almost two days. She didn't leave the house, and she barely ate. If it weren't for Aro's insistence that she lives, I would've put her out of her misery by now.

She didn't come out of her room, and if she did, it was to just use the bathroom and check the mail. She just let it pile up on the table, and after sitting here in boredom, I decided to rifle through it. Every single one of them were from the hospital she visited. I took the liberty of opening one, seeing that it was a bill. I figured the others were also bills.

She had a few letters from this Renee woman. Some from a prestigious college I assume, and nothing else. As I was rifling across a rather large bill, I heard her stop at the bottom of the stairs. "What are you doing?" She asks quietly, and I set the mail down turning to look at her. She was…clean. Her hair was down, and she had on some decent clothing, but her eyes were red, along with her cheeks. "Are you ill?" I ask, holding up the mail. I could tell she was displeased as she stomped towards me, her face flaming up. "What the hell are you doing? You don't go through people's mail!" She snaps, snatching the bills from me.

"I doubt it matters. You won't be here for much longer. You don't smell sick," She takes the mail and stomps into the living room. "You're an asshole, I hope you know that," She mutters, shaking her head at me. "I never said I wasn't love," I smirk, glee flowing through me as she grunts. "Just…don't touch my things, okay?" I just stare her down and she shakes her head. The doorbell rings, and she casts me a glance. "Stay…out of sight…or something," She walks around me, and I lean towards the wall, watching as she rounds the corner. She opens the door, and I can hear whoever it was walking away. She steps inside moments later with a vase of flowers in her hand. I watch her curiously as she didn't seem excited, only more upset.

She just frowns before placing them on the table. She goes to close the door, locking it up before stepping away from me, and back upstairs. I eye the vase of flowers, my curiosity getting the better of me. I walk over, searching the vase, finding a Get-Well card.

I watch the clock, sighing in relief as I hear her car pull into the driveway. It's almost been a month I have been here, and I have about 30 more days until I can leave this place. Isabella has been…reckless I should say. More hospital bills piled up, and the less she did. It was very boring. Whatever this hospital situation, she was avoiding it. Either she, or someone else she knew, cared for, was sick. Deathly so.

However, after coming back from hunting, her demeanor seemed to change. Something had affected her. I had found her crying in the kitchen, clutching the phone so tightly I thought it would break. I had to question why she was carrying on that way. She simply burst into more tears.

It was…peculiar.

Lately however, she had been going out in the afternoon, and coming back late. Tonight, was one of those nights. I personally didn't care where she went. As long as she came back. Aro desperately wanted her in Volterra but was determined to fulfill her request.

I stand up as she unlocks the door, stumbling inside. I narrow my eyes at her as she softly closed the door, fumbling with the lock. She swayed on her feet, and I went to her, grabbing her arm to keep her steady. I could smell the liquor rolling off her, and I internally groaned. "You were driving while intoxicated?" She looks up at me with crossing eyes, shaking out of my hold.

"I-If I we-re?" She slurs, and I frown as she stumbles into me. "You truly are an idiot," I mutter, leaning away from her so that she wouldn't touch me with that disgusting smell. She just shrugs with a long hum, making her way to the kitchen. "You know? I…I uh…n-never had a d-drink before until t-t-tonight…" I simply watch as she bumps into the table, giggling slightly. "Who would have thought?" I retort, unable to help myself as I went to assist. She was now property of the Volturi and Aro insists that no harm shall come to her. I wonder if he'd be upset if it were her own doing. "This is how you choose living your last month? Wallowing in pity? Getting yourself into a drunk stupor?" I ask, grabbing her elbow to stop her from toppling over.

"I'm going to die anyway so what difference does it make?" She asks, trying to jerk her elbow from me. I grip tighter, staring down at her. I guess I could finally get that information she was so tight lipped about. I could have just gone to the hospital myself but I for some reason didn't like to leave for too long. I chalked it up to not being able to trust that she wouldn't run given the chance. "Then what difference does it make if you tell me who's at that hospital? Like you said, you're going to die anyway,"

She blinks, staring up at me with an expression that baffled me. "My father. He's dying," Her expression turns somber. "Humans die. What's the issue?" I ask, not really understanding the reasoning for her recent behavior. She gives me a sour look, and I let her go, and she stumbles into the chair, sitting heavily in it. "He's my family. That's the issue. Nobody wants to lose the people they love," She leans her head back and I eye her neck momentarily.

"You'll eventually get over it," At my words, she faces me again, glaring at me. "I think you already know this, but you're an asshole," I simply shrug. "Humans die, like I said," I reiterate. "That really doesn't help here. He's dying because of me,"

Now this was getting interesting.

"Oh, do tell," I murmur, sitting down across from her. What I thought was going to be about some human, trifling thing, it was something much worse than I could have imagined. The human tells me this story about a vampire who has been hunting her since the Cullen's left. The vampire had gotten to Charlie, her father, and in an attempt to destroy everything Bella had, she had severely damaged one of his organs. All he could do was lie in a bed, slowly dying.

"This vampire…has been running around…and you haven't told me?" I stand, glaring down at her as if she were a child. When she looks at me, I know she really isn't looking at me. "Are you even listening?!" I snap, and she slowly blinks, saying nothing to me. I pull her up by the arms, shaking her a bit. "I don't think you're understanding exactly what situation you're in. By agreeing to become one of us, a part of the Volturi, as a human, you are our property. Now, there's something threatening said property. Shall this vampire try to kill you, or even change you, with a Volturi king in the middle, that is war, and I will slaughter this whole town to see that it doesn't happen," I growl, and she seems to snap out of whatever moment she's in.

"You can't slaughter a town," She protests. I let her drop to her feet, glaring down at her. She clenched her teeth but doesn't back down. "I can and I will. You belong to us, and shall they get in the way, everyone will die," Her face turns red, and she frowns. "It's not their fault! I won't let you," I scoff. "You can't do anything to me to stop me,"

"How is it that I and the people of this town suffer for actions that weren't even my doing?" She looks desperate now, face red, hands shaking at her sides. "You laid with one of us. Now your bed has been made and this is the price. Your precious Cullen's will have to as well once found, believe me," She seems upset by that response. "Don't tell me you still care for them when they left you to slaughter. They do not love you. They do not care about you," I hiss, watching as she flinches from my tone. "You're nothing to them,"

She looks away from me, and I finally understand something. I finally understand just a fraction of how she operates. I step closer to her, grabbing her chin, forcing her to look up at me. "They left you to die here. They call themselves a family, but yet they left you behind. Left you with a dying father, a bounty on your head, and you still love them. It's pathetic. They do not care about what happens to you. A singer to a vampire doesn't make you important. You were a meal that turned into a conquest. A challenge,"

Her bottom lip wobbles and she tries to pull away, but I tighten my fingers. "Now, this is all on you. The town, your father…" Her eyes flicker to me, and I can see some fire behind her storm of emotions. "They're all going to die because of you,"

Tears develop in her eyes, and I do not care to wipe them as they fall. She must understand exactly where she lies in this. She must understand how dangerous this is. To have a vampire running around with myself alone here in this town is dangerous. She could try and take me out. Then there's the human. No harm can come to her, especially not by another's hand. She has given us her life to take and that is our right. As much as I detested it.

"Then kill me now," She whispers, taking me by surprise. She clings onto my robe, looking up at me. "Kill me. That'll solve everything. You can go home. Victoria would have no reason to come for me, and the town will be safe," I narrow my eyes at her. "That is not a part of our agreement. You have decided to become a vampire, after Christmas. An agreement is an agreement. We can't change it,"

"Please…" She whispers to me. Her knees give out from under her, and I catch her by the waist. "I am sorry, but a deal is a deal. For the sake of your beloved town, I pray this Victoria does not make an appearance,"

I wasn't sure how I expected the human to act after our little discussion, but the way she was now was a surprise to me. She seemed to snap out of whatever funk she had been in although we both knew she cried every night now. She seemed…accepting. She got herself into a routine pattern I easily noticed. She went out to shop, Christmas shopping to be specific, her mood having brightened a bit.

I could tell she was still sour with me from my words. She greeted me like any person would but would not hold conversation for too long. It didn't bother me any as I was pleased to be in silence. I was currently reading some stupid magazine when she walked inside, arms full of trinkets and things. "What is that?" I ask, eyeing the decorations. "Stuff," She replies, setting the bags on the table. "Obviously, but what type of stuff?"

"Lights, bows, things like that," She murmurs before walking back outside into the cold. Fine then, if the human wanted to be this way, I did not care.

I blinked in annoyance as the human gave money to some homeless man. Was that necessary? What could he possibly do with 50 dollars? "Are you done now?" I ask as she gets back inside the car. "You know? If you don't have the patience, then you can go back to my house and sit there, okay?" She huffs.

"I am not going to sit in the house all day and do nothing," I reply, and her sudden stop on the breaks made me turn to look at her. "Are you mad woman?!" I snap. She just raises a brow. "Why do you care? You can't get hurt. So, while I finish up doing what I want, you can go home," She reaches over me to open my door, and I stop her with my hand on hers.

Why is she so warm?

I could tell I was getting on her nerves, her constant glaring at me was an obvious indication. I found some respect in the fact that she would speak to me in such a way. She had some form of a backbone. "I'll stay, and I'll be quiet," I grumble. She slowly leans away, putting the car back in drive.

The ladder slightly wobbles as she gets on, and I hand her the lights she so desperately wanted to put up. There were three weeks till Christmas. She seemed cheery. She had gone to visit her father, and I gather that she had come to terms with certain things in her life. She and I seemed to create an odd tension. She wasn't as uncomfortable, and I wasn't as annoyed. Like a normal human reaction, she was wary of me, reserved about me.

She wasn't so bad. She was stuck in her head a lot, and very stubborn. She speaks to me with more vocabulary instead of just two worded sentences or glares. I watch her wobble, and she uses the wall to keep her balance. "You're very uncoordinated," I point out, walking towards the ladder.

"Tell me something I don't know," She grumbles, standing on the tips of her toes. I purse my lips as she can barely reach the ceiling with the tape. "Can you get me some more tape please," She asks, looking down at me. I grunt but go to get what she asked for. I make my way into the kitchen, hearing her struggle and grunt as she tried to reach the top. "The tape is not where you sat it," I call, and I can hear her mumble something. "Are you sure?" She calls back. "Quite!" I growl, although I wasn't as annoyed as usual. I hear that damn ladder wobble and I was this close to destroying it.

I walk back into the living room to see that her shirt had caught on a hook. She didn't notice it however as she started to climb down. With her horrible balance and the shifting of weight, the ladder started to tip. "Watch what you're doing," I warn, but it is useless as the metal ladder started to fall with her. I'm there in a matter of seconds, catching her before the ladder could crush her into the glass coffee table below. I simply raise a brow as the coffee table's top glass shatters into pieces.

With my arm around her waist, she's pressed against me, hands clinging to my robe. Her usual scent passes through my nose, and I blink my eyes a few times, shaking my head. I stare down at her for a moment, searching her face. Her sudden squirming to be let down distracts me.

"Caius?" She asks, her brows furrowing. I snap out of it. "I'll clean it. You have on no shoes," I deposit her on the couch.

When did I ever pick up and clean anything?

The human only had a week left and I could leave this horrid place. She seemed very excited about Christmas; a bit sad as well. I didn't question her mood swings. She had told me a few stories over the past week about the pictures here, her whole life story. In turn, she asked about mine, which I was proud to boast. She seemed quite intrigued by my love for bloodshed and war. She also called me an animal but…she wasn't wrong.

I learned that for her, when the ones she cares about are hurting, she hurts, and tries to do everything in order to fix it. She also is willing to protect people around her even if she knows it's futile. She does what she thinks is right even if it isn't a good thing for her.

She has no problem speaking out when something isn't right as she has told me many times what an asshole I was, yet it now lacks its truth. Aro had called to check on us and I had given him an update. He was pleased and otherwise kept his mouth shut about whatever it was that he knew.

I had gone hunting once again, returning in the evening. When I arrived on the front lawn, there was another vehicle in the driveway. She hadn't mentioned that she would be having guests. I pause however at this disgusting smell.

Before I can dwell on it any longer, I can hear the human harshly talking with someone.

It's none of your business! Don't you dare bring Charlie into this! I'm not your concern!

I pause as I hear what sounds like bones cracking, and then I hear the human's cry of pain. I clench my teeth, making my way to the door and letting myself inside. I take in the scene before me, the human was clutching her hand, this…thing breathing heavily. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to put two and two together. I start to stalk my way into the living room, but the little human quickly gets in my way. "Move," I snap, glaring down at her.

"You're going to start a war," She presses, stepping closer to me. "I live for wars love," I respond. She places her hand on my chest, and I can feel the warmth seep through my clothing. I glare as I look down at her. She was slightly sweating, brow creased in worry. "Please don't do this. There's only one of you and like 8 of them. That's slaughter," She whispers.

"Right, tell our secret why don't you? Jesus Bella, what the hell have you gotten yourself caught up in this time?" She rolls her eyes and I purse my lips. "You just broke my fucking hand okay? I really don't want to hear your voice," She snaps, closing her eyes. "It was an accident. I told you it's hard to control my emotions. I'm trying to save you,"

I raise a brow as an emotion crosses her face. She's then swiveling on her feet, pointing a finger at this….mutt. "Save me? You've done nothing but hurt me. You abandoned me, left Charlie to die, all because I didn't love you,"

Well…now that's new.

The boy had nothing to say, and I stare at her for a moment. "Go get your keys, you're going to need medical attention," I lay a hand on her shoulder, and she nods, turning away from him and gliding past me, doing an uncharacteristic thing. She nuzzles her face into my cloak for a moment before heading upstairs.

The boy watches her leave, sneering at me. I just raise a brow. "You touch her again and I'll declaw you and put your head on my mantle. Do you understand?"

Brown eyes stare at me as I sit next to her. I take her hand, holding it in my own. "Thank you," She whispers. I just grunt. "For doing this and defending me,"

"You have earned my respect," I say simply. "I have?" She asks surprised. "Yes. No one has ever told me off like you have, nor have they had the balls to stop me from what it is I want," She hums. "Caius? I'm scared to die," She admits, and I can feel her shake a bit next to me. "Death is only the beginning," I soothe.

Her house was decorated to her liking, a small tree sitting in the room. She suddenly stands, looking nervous. "I uh…I got you something. I know that you probably have way cooler things…and I thought this would be a good way to…I don't know…make make it easier," She stumbles over her words, looking everywhere but at me. "Spit it out woman," I say, and she rolls her eyes at me. "You're a barbarian. I have a name," Of course she did, I just didn't want to use it. She walks over to me, handing me a long, wrapped box. I furrow my brow. No one had ever given me a gift.

Ever.

"Open it," She urges. I do so, pausing in surprise as there in a glass case in an authentic sword, one that I haven't seen before. I could tell just by looking at it that it was real. "How did you find this?" I ask, looking up at her. "An antique store. On 5th. Do you like it?" She asks, bouncing on her own two feet in anticipation. "I do. Thank you," I meant it too.

She beams at me. "I have to do something tonight, and I'd…appreciate the company if you wouldn't mind," She offers, looking down at the floor. "Be assertive. If you want something, ask for it," She meets my eyes, a small smile on her face. She clears her throat. "I would like you to accompany me. It'll be fun,"

It was Christmas Eve, so why not?

This was certainly interesting. The lights shined everywhere, and the warm arm in mine was practically buzzing with excitement. "Isn't it beautiful?" She asks, looking around in awe. "Sure," I reply. She looks up at me with a glint in her eye. "Oh come on Caius, I know you have to like something," I open my mouth to reply, but she speaks again. "Murdering doesn't count," I glower at her, and she leads me along the large lit up park.

We walked for a while, seeing different things. I realized she wasn't so bad of a human. She was tolerable. Almost likeable. As I look down at her again, there's a different look about her, she's…pretty. This is the first time she has laughed, and the sound was….riveting. I for some reason craved it. What was wrong with me? She looks up at me, mouthing the words 'thank you' to me. I just grunt again.

"I have to use the restroom. I'll be right back," She unhooks her arm from me, disappearing into the crowd. I look around, seeing a little booth off to the side. There were various trinkets about. I walk over, eyeing the things. There were a few stuffed animals about, and Christmas related items. "I would like two of those," I point, giving the man my black credit card. I wait rather impatiently as my purchase is given, wondering how long it took a human to pee. It normally doesn't take her long, not that I count. Two minutes turn into five, and I sigh in agitation Where was she? She better not have run off. I start to go in the direction she had left, not seeing her anywhere. I let my senses overtake me, listening beyond the numerous voices and music.

Caius?

I open my eyes, following the sound of her voice back the way I came. I find her almost immediately, pushing past people. I was about to nag her about how slow she was, but before I could, she had spotted me, making her way to me in a hurried pace. She practically clings to me, hiding her face. Since when had she ever been….like this? We weren't close, but we both had our limits when it came to space.

"I'd like to go home now," She murmured into me, her voice muffled, but I could understand her clearly. "Why?" Wasn't she having fun? She was just bouncing on her feet ten minutes ago. She shrugs but doesn't remover herself from me. I reach down, pressing my hand under her chin to lift her head, narrowing my eyes at her off expression. My nose twitches as a faint smell reaches my nose.

The longer I looked at her, the more her eyes betrayed her. What happened in a span of five minutes? I sniff, and she bites her lip. To anyone else, it would look like two lovers, but I was sniffing at her. It was faint, but I smelled dog. My lip curls and I lift my head, looking around. "Caius," She warns me, but I ignored her this time. "What did that mutt do to you?" I growl, looking her over. She heavily swallows, and I can tell by the way that she shifts and covers herself that something happened.

"Did he violate you?" I hiss, roaming my eyes over every inch of her as she held herself a certain way. Her brows raise and she frowns, slowly nodding, looking away from me. This time I do wipe the tear that slides from her glassy eyes. "He didn't…not like that…he cornered me and…touched me," That disgusting mongrel. "Find your way back to the car and wait for me," I order, and she warily looks around us. "I'll make sure no harm comes to your precious town. Now go," She purses her lips. "It's not them I'm worried about. It's you,"

She reaches her hand up, and her warmth spreads through my cheek. "I can handle myself. Now go on," I hand her the things I bought her, and she scurries into the sea of bodies. Now, off to catch a dog.

Half an hour later, I emerge from the park. I dust off my jacket, heading towards the car. I could see her clear as day, curled up on the passenger seat, my gifts clutched in her head. I knock on the window, and the sound jolts her awake. Upon seeing me, she unlocks the doors, and I get into the driver's seat, closing the door. "Did you…" She trails off. I shake my head. "No. It's not a risk I am willing to take. He won't be bothering you ever again," I promise.

As I put the car in drive and start the drive back to her house, she moves across the seat and next to me, laying her head on my arm. "You don't mind, do you?" She asks softly, and I look down at her for a moment to find her attention on the road. "Aren't I cold?" I ask. She nods. "Yes, but I like it," She yawns, and I can hear her heart slow as she starts to fall asleep.

The drive left me with my thoughts. Something had changed. My feelings had changed. She was so warm against me, filling my black soul with a small light. The thought of somebody putting their hands on her made me angry. Filled me with more rage than I ever had experienced. I mull on these thoughts the whole drive, and as I pull her from the car, my name fell from her lips. For a moment I thought I had awoken her. However, she was still asleep. I hold her tighter to me, my brow furrowing.

Christmas day was quiet, and Bella made the last trip she'd ever make to her father. There was a reason she asked until after Christmas. Her father had finally succumbed to his injuries. He died peacefully in his sleep Christmas afternoon. She cried the whole way home, clinging onto my arm. I sat with her in her room as she had finally quieted, laying down.

As she started to fall asleep, I reach over with my hand, moving the hair from her face. It's the way that she looks at me. So different. Like I mean something. "Caius?" She whispers, and I look at her. "I want you to do it. I want you to change me," I lean over, skimming my fingers across her neck. "If that is what you wish," I promise, and she nods, leaning into my hand.

I made a decision then and there. She would not die tomorrow. To be turned at a state full of such grief is not a good thing. I had a feeling Aro would understand.

Bella was quite confused when I told her that she was given another month, but she didn't argue. She spent the next two weeks planning her father's funeral. She and I only grew closer. I helped her throughout the process, telling her things about vampirism so that she would be prepared. She leaned on me emotionally which I was never good at, but I seemed to do something right for her.

She tried to be strong, and some days she had her weak moments. It was what made her strong. Every day was a new day. I admired that about her. She tried. She had spirit. She had courage. Two weeks before we were officially set to leave, everything changed. She had come down the stairs, one of the stuffed animals from the park under her arm. I didn't have to ask as I started to become quite in tune with her wants and needs. I wasn't sure how though. She sat down beside me, and I wrapped an arm around her. "You're insufferable," I murmur to her, skimming her hair with my nose.

"You're an asshole," She retorts quietly, looking up at me. I just chuckle. She suddenly grabs my face, pulling me down to meet her lips. I hesitate for a moment, and she stops, turning a bright shade of red. "I…I'm sorry," She whispers, scrambling up from the couch. I just follow her with my eyes, slightly confused. I grab her hand before she could move too far. I tug her back to me, narrowing my eyes at her. Her hands land on my chest, and she swallows. I caress her cheek, part of me warring with myself.

"Caius," She breathes, closing her eyes. "You can't change what you are about to start. Please tell me you understand," I practically beg. "Kiss me," She whispers, and I grab her face with a soft growl, feelings overtaking me.

The night I shared with her would be forever burned in my memory. She was so warm, so soft. The noises she made, the way my name rolled off her tongue. It was infatuating. I had come to care for her. Love her. She made me different, and yet accepted all parts of me. Four days before we were about to leave, I was informed that the Cullen's had been found, and we were now needed. I had to make the decision if we were better off with her as a vampire or human. She was worried, for her safety and my own. She knew I could handle myself and she worried that the Cullen's may try something with their talented gifts. She kept biting her bottom lip, worrying over every little detail.

I pull her toward me, "La mia piccola colomba," I whisper, nuzzling my nose against her. "Shall anyone lay a finger on your head…I'll rip them to pieces," I lean down to capture her lips, and she wraps her arms around my neck. "I love you," She whispers.

When I returned to Volterra with my human lover, everyone was surprised, aside from Aro. I finally learned what he knew, and I think we were both surprised when he told us of his newfound history. She was literally royalty. The Cullen's were put to death upon my arrival. They exposed a human to our world and deceived us. Alice and Jasper served on our guard for 1 year where Bella remained human. We married with Aro as our 'priest'. He was saddened by the news of his late nephew but gained a niece forever.

I had Demetri and Felix track down the vampire Victoria where she was brought to us and sentenced to live forever in our dungeon. I changed Bella three months before Christmas. Which is where that takes me now. "Caius…." She sings to me, kissing down my neck. "Hmmm?" I look down at her, running my fingers thorough her hair. "It's Christmas," She whispers into my neck. "Yes, it is," I agree, rolling over, pinning her down. "Do you think Aro will let me put up lights?" She wonders.

"He lets you do anything love. Although, I'd like to unwrap my gift first," I murmur against her skin, skimming my hand across her robe. Her giggling laughter fills my ears and warms my soul.

AN: Ta-da? Lol This was different like I said. I hope you all enjoyed, and I'll stick to a more light-hearted theme next chapter. Here's a quick translation of - La mia piccola colomba- My little dove

I will also be posting this in my Vampire Series as well as I feel like it belongs there too, I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. Also, we are about to be in 2022….is anyone ready?