I Do Not Own Twilight

After Edwards confrontation with Bella the pair decided to keep to a more routine schedule so Edward would at least know when Bella was going to be talking with him. She had enlisted the help of his brothers to keep him occupied on those days. It wasn't like she didn't still see him her rule was he had to be far enough away for him to not overhear.

Things went on this way throughout the summer. They would meet twice a week but the rest of her time was Edwards. Aro knew all about Edward and his family although she used nicknames for the family. She said they deserved their privacy so she never spoke their names when discussing things about them.

Aro was happy for Bella. He knew she had always wanted to have a large family and through Edward she got what she wanted. He knew Edward was possessive which he didn't like but he seemed to care about her a great deal and the possessiveness was born out of his desire to keep her safe. This was something Aro understood because above all he wanted her safe and happy.

The mate search had ended. It wasn't as if Aro lost the pull in his chest but he knew who he wanted. He wanted Bella more then a mate he had never met. When she decided to come looking in Italy, he was sure he would meet her then. Until this happened, he was content to be in Bella's life.

Summer had ended and now Bella was back in school. Aro was thinking that perhaps when she graduated, he would send her plane tickets for a trip to Italy. He was hoping he would be able to show her all the sights and she would get a chance to put her Italian lessons to good use. He had also decided they would make a side trip to France and Spain to put her other language lessons to use. He hadn't told her this yet but he was already making these arrangements. He was sure Edward would insist on coming but as long as she was there, he would deal with her idiot boyfriend.

For now, Aro was excited because today was his Bella's eighteenth birthday. He had sent Demetri to deliver her some gifts. He wasn't to be seen but he was supposed to make sure they arrived when Aro wanted them there.

Bella woke up to a knocking on the front door she opened her eyes and groaned. Charlie peeked in to see that she had woken up and brought her a birthday present. It was a camera and scrapbook from both of her parents.

"Who was at the door, Dad?"

Charlie smiled, "Well, I'm not sure who sent you something but you might want to come downstairs."

Wrinkling her forehead Bella pulled off her covers and made her way quickly down the stairs. On the front table was a huge flower bouquet filled with roses, lilies, and a number of other flowers which made the entire front room smell like a garden. Next to the flowers were two beautifully wrapped boxes with large bows on each. She picked up a card from one of the boxes. It read, "this is your birthday present."

She carefully picked up the box the card was attached to and pulled out a first edition of Wuthering Heights inscribed, "Aro, thank you for supporting my work, Emily Bronte." She gasped. A first edition with the authors note and signature on the inside front cover was priceless. She was shocked it was signed to Aro but he couldn't have known Emily Bronte, she smiled to herself, unless he was immortal. She shook the thought off and decided it must be a family name.

She went to the other box and read the card, "this is a gift for me." She pursed her lips wondering what he meant by that. When she opened the next gift, she laughed and rolled her eyes. It was a new laptop and she could tell it had a much better camera and speaker system then what she was using. She smiled he wanted them to be able to see and hear each other more clearly. This brought a smile and a blush to her face. When she opened the laptop, it sprung to life and Aro was on the screen grinning widely.

"Happy birthday, Cara mia!"

"Aro, this is too much. I can't accept such expensive gifts."

Waving his hand to dismiss her concerns he grinned at her, "The book has been in my family since it was written. I was named after the original owner," he smirked not realizing she had guessed his immortal status but dismissed it due to the silly contacts he wore, "and the laptop is something I deal with at work constantly. These gifts were almost like giving you nothing. In fact, the flowers were the most expensive thing." He rolled his eyes at the idea he would need to worry about money.

Bella flushed she normally didn't like presents but Aro made her feel like she didn't owe him something in return. He made her feel like her presence in his life was the only thing he needed. She was correct.

"The flowers and the presents, everything in so lovely Aro. Thank you." She smiled widely at him.

Aro sighed and gazed at the beauty on his screen. "What do you have planned for today, Cara mia?"

"Well, Edward and his sister are insisting on a birthday party for me. I'm not really looking forward to it. I don't like being the center of attention." She frowned and brushed her hair back.

"I will never understand how a woman who is so charming and beautiful would not be interested in the few friends she has acknowledging the truth. I am quite surprised everywhere you go you are not the center of attention. Everyone stares for hours at the Mona Lisa and you are far more beautiful than she is." He said this in a matter-of-fact way which left no room for doubt.

Bella's face was bright red now. The thing about Aro's compliments was he said them with complete conviction and straightforwardness. Like one would say the sky is a pretty color today. This was how Bella felt about Aro's compliments. They were the truth without an embellishment. This was why she could believe him when he told her those things.

"Thank you," she said quietly, "I do have to go to school."

"Of course, Cara mia, I will wait to talk to you again until our next scheduled meeting. We don't want to annoy Edward. Unless you need me sooner and then I would be there."

Bella shut down the laptop and picked up her book to take to her room. She leaned down and smelled the flowers. She had never had such a wonderful birthday. She thought maybe she wouldn't mind a party so much.