1663, November - Baby Steps

"Here? You want to leave him here, with me?"

Aro thought at first that his father must have been joking. He wouldn't leave me with a newborn to drag around the castle, surely? The look on Basileus' face said otherwise.

Knowing he was sounding like a child, but not caring, Aro wined, "Why? Why would you do this to me?"

Basileus had already bored of his son's complaining. Since he had told Aro his intentions to add another son to his direct rank, Aro had complained. After Basileus had told him the main reason he was doing so was because he didn't approve of Aro's lifestyle, he was incensed. "I have already explained I will be going back to Greece, I will only be gone a month at most."

"And why are you taking Eleazar." Aro really did sound like a child now. How does he do always make me feel like a petulant youth in his presence?

Basileus' reply was fuelled Aro's rage, "Because I want to Aro," he spoke with such cool indifference.

Aro saw red and it took everything in him to contain his anger, he tried to 'talk' but instead he half shouted his reply to Basileus, "What, is that it? You are making my life as difficult as possible because you want to? What am I supposed to do with him? I can't have him in my quarters if I'm not there, I won't risk him alone with my wife!"

Basileus understood Aro's protests, he just didn't care to hear them, particularly not in such a disrespectful manner. He remained calm on the surface. "Alec and Jane are usually with Sulpicia, ensure they are there and Carlisle offers no threat to your wife. Besides, I don't want him stuck in these quarters, take him around with you and teach him how this place works…" Basileus turned away from Aro and waved his hand to gesture the castle.

You cannot be serious, you want me to get Carlisle - a fucking newborn - involved in running this place? Aro's thoughts were racing "Do you want him in the throne room?" he asked his father incredulously.

Basileus simply nodded and smiled at his son.

Aro desperately searched his mind for a way out of this. "A newborn in the throne room is not allowed. It's too dangerous." Folding his arms and believing he'd won a point there he smiled smugly to himself.

Basileus was pissed off now. "We have newborns in the throne room whenever we have a celebration, there is never a problem. Besides, Carlisle is not just a newborn Aro, he is MY son, and he is YOUR brother! You are overreacting and I strongly suggest you calm yourself! How many guards do you keep in that damn throne room - you will have enough help if there is a problem!" Basileus' nostrils flared and he was squaring up to Aro.

Rather than accepting the very clear warnings to back down, Aro continued with equal ire. "So now he's the guards' problem too?"

Pissed off with Aro's attempt to stand up to him, Basileus got in his face, shoving his boy backwards he spoke darkly. "Carlisle is nobodies problem Aro. He is your brother and you will do well to treat him as such."

Aro backed down this time, there was something in that dark quiet tone that told him he'd gone too far. He looked down to the floor to show his submission, but it was fake, and in a voice just loud enough for Basileus to hear he said, "You were the one who told me not to get attached to newborns, daddy dearest."

CRACK!

Basileus nearly took Aro's head off his shoulders with that back-handed slap. Yeah, he knew that was coming.

Many years ago, before the Volturi was even an idea in his head, Basileus fell in love with a human woman back in Greece. He already had Aro by then, and this woman, Xante captured his heart. She knew what Basileus was and wanted to join him in immortality. Basileus bit her, the same way as he had with countless humans before and she successfully turned into a vampire. Xante was a particularly feisty newborn and with Aro only 9 months in, too, Basileus had a lot to deal with. Aro and Xante hadn't met whilst she was still human, though she knew about him and Basileus talked of his son often - she seemed so keen to join Basileus as his wife and create a family. Xante was significantly less keen on Aro, and more importantly, sharing Basileus, after she was turned. Sadly, only four months in Basileus returned from a day hunting vampires to find his new dear mate trying to tear his son's head from his body. The struggle that ensued as Basileus tried to save Aro cost Xante her life. Nearly three thousand years had passed since then and Basileus still hadn't taken another mate. Many lovers, but never a mate. For Aro to bring up newborn fragility now was a low blow in Basileus' eyes, and in Aro's, too, which is why he used it.

Basileus willed himself to calm down, to be rational, to not rip his son to pieces for dragging up the most painful of all his memories. Finally trusting himself to speak again, he told his son simply, "I want Eleazar with me, so he is coming with me. I want you to take care of Carlisle so you WILL take care of Carlisle - I fail to see what is so difficult for you to comprehend?"

Aro tried to respond, "Well…"

"That question was rhetorical! You have three days to get used to the idea before we leave."

Basileus moved to fetch his cloak, unsure of whether he was going to receive more chastisement, Aro grimaced as he passed him. Basileus caught it, he liked it. You should wince I've half a mind to take you in hand, boy! Cloak attached he was making for the door when another thought crossed his mind. "Aro, when I get back… if I find out you've left him in the dungeons with the other newborns there will be hell to pay!"

Aro released his frustrations with an almighty growl which Basileus heard from the other side of the door but decided it wasn't worth arguing with his son any longer, particularly as his mind was set. He needed Aro to be involved with Carlisle, he needed them to bond, to grow a relationship, and he hoped that even if all this failed, the time Aro would have to devote to his new brother would be time he gave up his hold over the guards and royal duties.

Aro had made a wonderful leader of the Volturi - a strategic master mind and all the gifted vampires in the world couldn't match Aro's strength there. But he couldn't let go. He oversaw everything, from selecting potential newborns to training the high guard, from addressing each and every passing vampire personally to hunting down rogue covens. He will be the first vampire in our history to have a heart attack! Basileus joked but a part of him worried if it could be true. The Volturi was supposed to be Aro's job, but he'd allowed it to become his life. Now everything was the Volturi and he had no life outside of his work. Quite simply Basileus wanted more for his first chosen son, and if Aro couldn't do it for himself, he would do it for him. Hearing his son complaining loudly from his quarters, Basileus left the top floor and returned to his own suite, he had much to prepare before he could leave on his next quest.

From the moment Basileus stepped foot in his chambers, Carlisle started nagging him again. with his eyes half closed to shut out the whinging, Basileus made his way to his trusty chair and collected the book he was part way through.

"You have only been a vampire for six months Carlisle," he explained. "You will be drinking human blood for your first year at least. Deal with it!"

Basileus was starting to lose it with his youngest son. They were just entering his seventh month of the newborn year and though, compared to Eleazar, and certainly Aro, Carlisle was calm and fairly placid, his newborn tantrums were still coming a few times a day and grating on Basileus' nerves. He watched his agitated son stomping around their living quarters.

Today's tantrum was over Carlisle drinking human blood. Basileus couldn't understand the issue, We only feed once a month, why is it such a big deal?

"But it makes me feel sick!" Carlisle continued his whining.

Slamming the book down he was trying to read, Basileus ground out his reply, "You have only fed seven times for god sake! You have hardly achieved a bench mark for how you will react." If he doesn't stop soon I'm going to belt him again - and its only been three days since the last time!

Carlisle took a book from the well-stocked shelves and flopped down in front of the fire. He leafed through but paid no attention to the words, he felt far too frustrated to read.

Basileus watched his boy closely. And he's going to start whining again in one, two, three…

"I don't want to kill humans." Carlisle threw his book to the opposite sofa in a very minor act of defiance, he knew Basileus was precious about his books.

"Pick that up and put it back, NOW!"

Carlisle ducked his head as he stood. He retrieved the book and tried to hide that the spine was now dented. Oh crap, I didn't think I threw it that hard!

Basileus heard his thoughts, "You still don't realize your own strength, boy. Which is precisely why you shouldn't be throwing things around - particularly my things." Seeing his son freeze waiting for a possible punishment, Basileus toyed with walloping Carlisle and depositing him in his bed chamber for the rest of the day - just for some peace! "You really are begging for it today, aren't you? Just put the book back and quit whining."

Carlisle did as requested but his father caught the 'I'm not fucking whining' said under his breath as he did so. Shaking his head at his newborn brat, Basileus patently explained that complaining about a problem without posing a solution defined whining, in his book.

Carlisle scowled as he replaced the broken book in the space on the shelf, repeating his father's words mockingly in his mind as he did so.

"Come and sit with me, son," Basileus called over. He really didn't want a fight with Carlisle - he had too much on his mind already.

Carlisle obeyed, slinking down into the seat beside his father, sulking like moody teen. "You said you would teach me to feed without killing them."

More whining! Basileus thought. "I did. I will. When you are older," he replied absentmindedly as he re-read the letter in his hand for what must have been the tenth time that morning.

"You said I won't get any older," Carlisle continued.

"Carlisle!" Basileus ground out his sons name in warning to cease.

Carlisle was far too self-absorbed to notice the threat and continued his nagging, "But you did!"

Basileus rolled the parchment back up and returned it to the leather bound cylinder in which it had been delivered. He took his time retying the clasp, trying to gain composure as he did so - Basileus was ready to blow in frustration over his newborn's agitated moaning. "Fine. When you are more mature… and not stomping around like a whiny toddler!"

That stung, Carlisle was getting pretty sick of being referred to in childish terms. I'm a man for god sake! "I am not whining!" he replied forcefully, though cursed himself when he realized he'd stamped his foot into the floor as he spoke.

Done, I am done, if he isn't out of here soon I will bloody kill him! "ELEAZAR!" He called out loudly for his eldest boy. Basileus knew he was leaning on Eleazar a lot to help occupy Carlisle's time. It had not been his intention when deciding to bring another son into his fold, but the letters he was receiving on an almost daily basis now were taking up so much of the creators head space and he couldn't focus of raising a newborn alone.

"You bellowed?" Eleazar asked as he entered through the arched doorway leading to the bed chambers.

"Take him, just take him!" Basileus gestured to the petulant younger vampire.

Eleazar glanced at Carlisle and grimaced. Well he seems in a great mood! "Where?" Eleazar was slightly worried his father wanted Carlisle taking to the dungeons, or something.

"Right now, El, I do not care. Just take him."

Basileus stood, scrapping his chair loudly across the floor, and collected his scroll rolls up carefully. Eleazar wanted to ask his father what was going on. You seem more and more distracted, and what are all these letters for? Who are they from? Eleazar knew his father could hear his thoughts and if he wanted to answer them, he would. The slight, awkward glance from the elder showed Eleazar that whatever was going on with his father, he would not be finding out any time soon. Basileus passed his sons, first Carlisle who ducked lower in his chair in case an errant slap was coming his way, and then Eleazar who he offered a small smile and told him not to worry.

"Come on," Eleazar smiled kindly to his little brother. "We'll go and find Aro."

Carlisle followed his brother who was already striding for the door to the castle.

Seeing Eleazar was making for the stairs to the higher suite rather than into the main castle made Carlisle nervous. "Eleazar, Aro doesn't want me in his quarters, he said I'm not safe…" his voice trailed off, it hurt that Aro thought him a danger.

Eleazar stopped on the stairs. "Brother, you are not a danger to Sulpicia, Aro is just very protective, that is all. Trust me, all will be fine." Eleazar turned and continued towards Aro's suite, passing his own on the way.

Carlisle wasn't sure Eleazar was right, but he did trust him so followed all the same.

Eleazar knocked and entered their brothers quarters before Carlisle had finished trudging up the stairs at a slower than human pace. Carlisle listened for the conversation, waiting to see if he was welcome before he presented himself.

'Sully, my lady, is Aro here?',

'Good morning, El. Yes, come on through, he is having words with Demetri about the new-newborns.'

Fuck, Carlisle cursed. He'd hoped that Eleazar would mention his presence so he could be sure he was okay to enter, too. Ready to turn and go back to his father's quarters, Carlisle was stopped by the beautifully gentle voice of Aro's wife.

"Carlisle, do come in, please."

Taking a steadying breath Carlisle returned the woman's kind smile and allowed himself to be led into the king's quarters. I will be calm if it kills me… or Aro will kill me! he thought as he passed over the threshold. As Carlisle entered the main room he could here Aro bellowing at his young guard in what Carlisle presumed was the bed chambers:

"Demetri if you dare go near this new batch you wont see the outside of these walls for a century!"

"Take a seat, brother, we may have a while to wait," Eleazar said as he winced to the sound of a pretty hard slap.

Carlisle mimicked his brother's movements, taking a seat opposite him beside the fire.

Looking around the main room, Carlisle was surprised how much smaller it appeared to be than those in the apartments below. Perfect though; a roaring fire, a pile of well used books on a side table near to where he sat, and a marble dining table to the side with fresh cut flowers in a crystal vase. The main window was made of stained glass and cast a dancing dappled rainbow of colours across the floor as the morning sun flowed through.

"Your home is beautiful, my lady," Carlisle said softly to Sulpicia as she returned to the room.

"Thank you, Carlisle, but please, call me Sully," She replied as she plumped up cushions on the wooden love seat. She took the seat next to her husband's new brother, new people were so rare and Sulpicia was happy to finally spend some time with the man. "Of course our chambers are much smaller than Basileus' or Eleazar's."

She spoke so kindly that her voice alone put Carlisle at ease.

"We had to re-model to put in an extra bed chamber for the twins when Aro turned them so…" Sulpicia was going to continue but Carlisle cut her off.

"The twins lived with you as newborns?" he asked.

"Of course," she replied easily, "Felix too. Demetri was already out of his newborn year when he came to us thankfully, though I'm not convinced that such young vampires ever really mature past that first year."

Eleazar nodded in agreement with his sister in law.

Carlisle took a little longer to digest the information. So I can't be trusted around Aro's wife but three of the most powerful vampires in this coven posed no threat whatsoever… how does that even work?

"Carlisle, are you okay?" Sulpicia asked the young blond, he looked confused.

"Yes, sorry, I, well. It doesn't matter." Carlisle wasn't sure if it would be considered rude to ask why the twins and Felix were safe but he wasn't. I will speak with Eleazar later, he is always kind at least.

Sulpicia was ready to probe further with Carlisle, but the main doors swinging open distracted her. "My little ones," she said as she smiled to her youngest vampiric guards.

The twins hung their black guard coats in the hall and came to join the three at the fireside. Alec sat on the floor at Sulpicia's feet and looked entirely content when she began stroking his face.

"Are you both well?" Eleazar asked them - they looked exhausted. They said they were fine but they didn't look it.

"Where have you been?" Carlisle asked, not knowing what else to say really. He still wasn't entirely sure what the guards spent their time doing on a day to day level.

Jane sunk into the seat beside Eleazar and leaned into him as he placed a comforting arm around her. "We have been out all night with Caius and Marcus to find some more newborn stock," she replied sleepily.

"You two should really go to bed for a few hours, my little ones," she suggested softly.

Neither moved.

Aro came through the archway, followed by a smirking Felix and gloomy looking Demetri.

"Do not let Demetri leave this tower without…" he stopped mid-sentence seeing they had guests.

"Brother!" Eleazar stood and beamed at Aro, hoping he wasn't about to kick off about Carlisle being there.

"Brothers." Aro replied uneasily, stressing the plural. He wasn't sure how he felt seeing the newborn in his quarters. A strong, fast, volatile newborn. He didn't like the idea of such an explosive person sitting next to his dear, fragile wife. "How are you feeling Carlisle?" Aro asked tentatively.

"Fine, I'm fine Aro." Carlisle replied, trying to show his brother he offered no threat to his family.

Aro nodded, still unhappy with his presence in his quarters.

"Aro, my love, the twins have returned," Sulpicia interjected, gesturing to their young vampire guards. "They are exhausted."

"So I can see," he replied as he walked around to them both and knelt between them. "How was it?" he asked them simply.

"Everything went well, I believe we picked up another twenty humans for turning," Alec offered.

Aro smiled and laughed lightly. "I don't really care about that. How did you two get on? More importantly, how was Caius with you?" Aro asked, sounding sterner than he'd intended but his rocky relationship with Caius was playing on his mind - particularly when Caius had access to his high guard.

"We stayed with Marcus, Caius left us alone to do our work. It was fun," Jane added, clearly impressed with herself.

Alec rolled his eyes at his sisters 'modesty'.

Aro stood back up to full height, happy to hear Caius hadn't been his usual self with the young vampires and satisfied they were both okay. "You've done well, but you must rest now. Go to bed."

"Couldn't we sleep here?" Jane asked as she snuggled back into Eleazar's lap as he retook his seat, closing her eyes as she spoke.

"No," he replied as he picked up his princess of darkness in a cradle hold. "You can go to bed."

Aro carried Jane from the room, with Alec quickly following.

"Well that was new!" Eleazar said to no one in particular.

Looking around at the faces in the room, no one else seemed surprised with Aro being so kind to his young guards. Not that Eleazar ever thought his brother cruel with them, but a few months ago Jane wouldn't have asked to stay, she would have followed Aro's request without question. And Aro wouldn't have carried the sleepy child, he would have pulled her up and pushed her in the right direction, and he would be annoyed that he'd had to do so.

"Pft, nothing new there Eleazar, those little witches get all the special treatment around here!" Demetri rarely spoke out of turn so publicly, that was generally Felix' gig.

"Demetri, come and sit down, don't antagonize Aro any further today," Sulpicia spoke quickly to her young guard; she knew how much trouble he was in already.

"Me antagonize him! Are you serious? He's given me a right round of fucks for something I haven't even done yet!"

Demetri was on the war path, Sulpicia could see the boy was already heading down the teenage emotional road of no return. Sulpicia stood and joined the angry youth. "You need to calm yourself, go back to your bed chamber and relax a while." She tried to lead him away from Aro's brothers and Felix' barely restrained laughter. "Shut up Felix!" she threw over her shoulder to the bruin who pretended to be offended as his giggles continued.

"I don't need to go to my room!" Demetri said as he roughly shook off the woman hand from his arm. "I'm not a fucking child!" He said as he pushed Sulpicia a little further away.

Carlisle scrubbed his hands across his face, he could see now why Basileus was getting so wound up dealing with his newborn tantrums. I will apologize as soon as I see him, he resolved.

"Hey!" Eleazar flashed to Sulpicia's side, standing slightly in front of her. "Who do you think you are pushing at, boy?"

Demetri knew better than to talk back to Eleazar and he paled.

Eleazar stepped into the boy's personal space and leaned in close to his ear. He could feel the boy shake a little beneath him. "You were told to go to your room, I suggest you do so before Aro gets back in here and…"

"And tans your backside for your insolence!" Aro had re-entered the room and finished Eleazar's sentence form him. "Thank you, El, I can take him from here," Aro said as he smiled gratefully to Eleazar.

The brother stepped back as Aro grabbed hold of Demetri roughly by his hair, pulling sharply on the boys bronze locks. "You will go to your room and stay there until I release you."

Demetri winced in Aro's grip, but his master expected a response. "Am I understood?" Aro asked as he delivered a particularly painful swot to the boy's backside.

"Yes, yes master!" Demetri rushed as he danced on the spot with the gulf of pain ignited across his rear end.

Aro released him, "Don't call me that," he said in a much calmer tone. Offended, even, in Eleazar's opinion. "Not in here," Aro finished.

Demetri nodded his understanding slowly. "Is that it?" the boy asked.

Felix couldn't contain his laughter any longer. "Brother you really are a special kind of stupid!"

Aro spun around to face his eldest. "And you can keep him company!"

That wiped the smile off Felix' face. "What! You cannot be serious! HE shoves Sully and gets sent to his room and I LAUGH, and I get the same treatment! That isn't fair!" Felix fumed, he was embarrassed at being punished so childishly in front of Eleazar and Carlisle. He would have liked to include Sulpicia in that list but she was so used to Aro belting them in her presence that she hardly noticed their chastisements anymore.

Aro stayed calm. "I am not discussing anything with you whilst you are throwing a fit like a five year old. Come back to me when you have calmed down." With that Aro took a seat next to Eleazar and started asking about why they were up in his quarters and chatted easily about what the hell was going on with Basileus.

Felix looked on incensed at the humiliation. Demetri, of course, had long since scarped - he knew he was onto a good deal after pushing Sully and escaping with only one smack and being sent to his room.

Aro looked over from his conversation with his brothers. "You can walk there, or I will drag you there," he offered the boy. "But you WILL go to your room either way."

This just isn't fair! If I had laid a finger on Sulpicia, Aro would have knocked me through a fucking wall, and golden bollocks just gets sent to his room! He's been picking on me since Carlisle's welcome party. I will not keep taking this. Felix folded his arms across his broad chest, tightly, and replied to his master. "I'm not going!"

Aro continued to talk with his brothers over plans to find out what was going on with their father as he slowly rose from his seat.

Felix started to worry. He expected an argument, he was ready for one - he was not ready to be dragged from the room in front of Aro's brothers. Eleazar dropped out of the conversation, watching Aro's slow and deliberate stalking towards his young guard instead. Carlisle soon did the same realizing he was now talking to himself.

"What are you doing?" Felix asked as his menacing master approached him. I sound like a scared little boy for fuck sake what is wrong with me!

"I hope you start moving soon, boy!" Aro ground out to a now frightened Felix.

"Aro, I haven't done anything wrong! You have been riding me since the party, I know I fucked up, but you have punished me for that already!" Felix rushed through his words, partly so he could get them all out before Aro touched him, mainly so he didn't chicken out of speaking up! Wincing, ready for the slap he expected, Felix waited.

Nothing.

Why isn't he slapping me? He looks a little shocked… why is he shocked?

"Me!" Aro coughed out in surprise. "You think I have been riding you hard! Are you out of your mind?" Aro was shocked! "You have been ignoring everything I have said for the last seven months you impudent brat!"

Felix stood his ground as Aro jabbed his finger into his chest, accentuating each word he spoke. Whenever Felix was in the firing line, he always made whatever he had coming worth it! "Like what?" Felix asked in reply with his hands on his hips, he definitely didn't think he had been ignoring Aro, he was sure he wasn't that stupid.

Eleazar watched the scene unfold in front of him. Aro had been more lax with his guard since the party, he thought, and he'd seen no evidence of Felix being badly treated. Of course, Eleazar knew that didn't mean he wasn't being badly treated, but Felix wouldn't have spoken back to Aro how he just had a year ago. not even a few months ago. And more shockingly, Aro wouldn't have taken the time to explain either!

"I tell you to be back here after guard duties, you get here an hour late. I tell you to stay away from Caius, you go out of your way to piss him off. I tell you to go to your room, and you stand here arguing with me." Aro was trying to stay calm but his voice was already raised and part of him just wanted to throw Felix in his room and have done with it.

Sulpicia had begged Aro to spend less time working and relax a little with their guards whilst in there quarters. He was trying, he was really trying. Truthfully, Aro had enjoyed spending time in his chambers with his wife and their guards whilst allowing the pretence of the outside world to drop a little. The 'master' had gone in their chambers, mostly. Their guards were talking more freely and easily with both Aro and Sulpicia, they all considered that a plus point, generally. The older boys were also talking back more freely and easily… Aro wasn't so keen on this part. Sulpicia had told him they would settle soon - 'it's all new', she said. Right now Aro wished his dear, compassionate wife would leave the room so he could beat the crap out of their petulant boy and hurry along this 'settling' she had promised!

"Well, yeah, I suppose that's true," Felix conceded. He couldn't deny that he'd been treating Aro's orders a little loosely over the last few months. But he wasn't entirely to blame, at least in Felix-logic. "But one minute you are relaxed with us and we're joking around, and you tell us not to worry about things… and then the next you are doling out the orders again and beating my ass for teasing my brother! It's not fair!"

As Felix spewed out his thoughts Aro wondered if Basileus had planted them there. He's saying exactly what Basileus said to me last month, if that conniving bastard has been filling his head with ways to rush this family shit he keeps talking about… Aro let his thoughts trail off, he didn't want to leave a threat to his father there for Basileus to find next time he read his mind.

"Give me your hand," Aro ordered, his own outstretched and waiting.

Felix obliged, he hadn't done anything too bad recently for Aro to find. No Basileus. So that's what you really think then. Original thought is rare for you, boy, I suppose I should be happy for that. So, he thinks it's my fault, as does Basileus, and Sulpicia. What do they really expect me to do though? I am changing what I can, things are more relaxed in here, but they can't be outside of our private chambers. They all know that! We have to keep appearances in front of everyone else.

"You know damn well we need to keep up appearances in front of other people Felix, I am not being flippant with you - if I tell you to do something, you do it. It really is that simple!" Aro stepped into Felix' personal space, he wanted to unnerve the boy into submission so he didn't have to deal with a pissed off wife when he was forced to belt their guard.

Felix wasn't ready to submit, though, he saw a major flaw in Aro's 'as simple as that' line. "But they aren't other people! They are just Eleazar and Carlisle!"

"Well thanks a bunch, Felix!" Eleazar butted in with mock hurt, he understood what Felix meant.

Aro tutted into the air. "I'm not any different with you when my brothers are around Felix, you are being ridiculous."

"Yes you fucking are!" Felix implored.

Crack!

Yeah, Felix knew that was coming as soon as the words left his mouth. But still, he couldn't help the hiss that came as Aro whipped the back of his hand across his face.

"You have clearly taken leave of your damn senses if you think you can talk that way to me boy. I am done with you. DONE! Go to your room, NOW!"

Felix went to leave, he was glad to get away from Aro truth be told – he had tears in his eyes from that smack and Aro looked ready to rip him to shreds.

"My love," Sulpicia interrupted.

Felix waited to hear what she had to say, praying she would back him up.

"You are different when your brothers are around. Basileus too."

Felix beamed, I knew you'd save me Sully. By the Gods I love you!

Aro spun around to face his wife trying to decide if he should be glad she was truthful with him, or annoyed at the treachery. "What do you think?" Aro asked his big brother. Eleazar was good for guidance - he could trust Eleazar.

"Well, brother, you have told me that things are more relaxed in your quarters now but I am yet to really see it. With Demetri and Felix at least. Today is the first time I have seen you being less 'masterful' with the twins. Our father has asked me many times about such things - he hasn't seen you treat them any differently either."

Aro racked his brain, going over every moment of the last few months. Fuck. I have switched to public face as soon as anyone enters my quarters. Anyone. Including Eleazar and Basileus. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I hate it when Felix is right. Thank the Gods it is so rare. Aro looked at his eldest guard, I really want to belt you for insolence but… "I'm sorry."

The whole room became suddenly dumbfounded. Aro had never said that before, like ever, if you excuse the times Basileus was hounding him for some error. The whole room was stunned into silence.

Before anyone had the chance to react there was knocking at the door.

Didyme - She didn't wait to be announced before strolling into Aro's chambers.

"Brother, you are wanted in the throne room," she said, sailing past Aro to join Sulpicia by the fire.

"Hello sister dear," Aro breezed, he loved his sister, but she would always be the annoying little sister she was when they were children - interrupting his life, and being a general inconvenience.

"Why is it so quiet in here, what's going on?" Didyme asked the room generally.

"Nothing is going on, we were just talking, privately, in my private quarters." Aro said pointedly to his little annoyance. "Why are you here anyway?"

Didyme pulled the small side table between her and Sulpicia, took a deck of cards out of her bag and started to deal. "Marcus was called to the throne room too, and I no longer have my own guard since Caius ripped Belle's head off so he walked me here. Surely you wouldn't want me unguarded in this prison?"

Aro collected his cloak from the rack near the door, taking Felix's too. "It is not a prison, sister dear. We only wish for your safety. Why did Caius kill you guard anyway?"

Didyme laughed, "You know what Caius is like, does he need a reason? From what Athenodora was saying last week I think it was she who wanted her gone. Caius was spending too much time with Belle and Dora felt threatened by it."

Aro shook his head in dismay. "We can't keep replacing guards because Caius can't keep his wife under control, for God sake!" He didn't miss Sulpicia raising an eyebrow to him as he spoke. He wasn't willing to deal with that right now. "So you need another guard?" he directed to Didyme.

"Yes, may I have one of yours brother, at least I know they won't disappear on me anytime soon."

"They won't disappear anytime at all!" Sulpicia added firmly as she collected her hand of cards.

"Felix?" Aro asked his eldest guard. "Could you guard my sister?" he asked, adding with a glare to Didyme, "In her own quarters?"

Jackpot! Guarding the wives is such a cushy job, this will be brilliant. "I would be happy to! Shall we go now?" Felix was eager to get out of his quarters for a while and hopefully give time for Aro to cool down, or at least work out whatever was going on in his head.

"Aro, my love, leave Didyme with me this time, we haven't spent any time together for an age and you need to go to the dungeons soon and…"

Aro interrupted his wife with a wave of his hand. "Yes, I do. He can come with me."

Perhaps the 'he' is Eleazar, or Carlisle, please be Carlisle, be Carlisle - please! Felix' hopes were soon quashed when Aro walked over to him and gave the boy his cloak

"Let's go and bond while we turn humans into vampires." Aro's calm voice and sweet smile fooled no one. He wanted to talk to his young guard away from prying ears - that was clear.

"Sounds great, I'll fetch Demetri," Felix said as he tried to walk away.

Aro pulled him back. "No, you. Just you," he whispered.

Felix wasn't too sure where it was heading, but he was sure it was going to hurt! "You two should come too!" Felix asked Aro's brothers in desperation.

"You know what Felix that is a damn good idea," Eleazar crowed, rising and gesturing for Carlisle to do the same. "Carlisle wants to learn to feed without killing, it will be a perfect way to practice. Aro?"

Aro smiled to his quivering guard. "Why not," he replied whilst still smiling at Felix - that smile was scaring the crap out of him. "Come along then, throne room first and then the dungeons." Aro walked out of his apartment with his brothers, and eventually, Felix followed.