Author's Note:

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A mostly AroxBella centric chapter in plea for your forgiveness for being gone so long, lovelies. As always, the characters are not mine, I just play with them... consensually. On with the chapter.

Chapter 21

Avid conversation and joyous laughter swirled in the breezy Italian air as the sun began creeping towards the horizon. Warm, amorous hues of burnt orange, gold, and fuschia painted the horizon. Such was the pleasant atmosphere Isabella found herself each afternoon turning to eve. The small rooftop alcove was nestled just beyond their quarters of the castle— cast partially in shadow due to the fading light. It provided a small respite from the dually happy and busy environments in the castle that seemed to overwhelm her now.

While Isabella had shown remarkable control and grace in her first weeks within this life, it was what had been necessary. With said peril no longer hanging directly over their heads, and her gift receding back until needed once more, Isabella's inexperience with immortality called for her attention. Despite her wariness and paranoia— things she attributed to her traumatization by the last weeks— she allowed herself to experience the world as a newborn would. Emotional turmoil, insecurity, easy startling, sensory adjustment, bloodlust, grief… they were all well known to her, as it was for each newly made vampire. Sights, textures, and sounds were at the forefront of her mind. Sunsets with their near-hundred hued brilliance had become a favorite sight— it reminded her of those she had seen in the deserts of Arizona in her youth.

Arizona.

Blinking, her mind recalled such a sunset years ago while visiting Renee.

"Yeah, I am going to miss this." Isabella sighed wistfully, eyes closed.

"You know, colleges in Florida are a lot sunnier…. I'm just saying if you go to the University of Washington, I'm never going to see you."

"They have a really great English program."

"Alright, alright. Enough with the heavy. Congraduations…"

"Are these all our old trip t-shirts?"

"This one is my favorite here… the three headed lobsters…. I just figure that when you're older and have kids we can add to it."

Grief would bubble to the surface— all encompassing and earth shattering before receding once more. She was not resentful or unhappy with her new life, but did grieve for those she had to say goodbye to. By now, all those she had known— friends, family, believed she was dead. Under the cover of attending a study abroad program in Florence, Isabella's plane had gone down near the Mediterranean due to extreme turbulence. Wreckage from the small plane washed up on shore, but bodies of the fabricated crew, passengers, and Isabella were never recovered. Gone without a trace. The belongings they did recover were cremated and buried in an empty casket on a rainy morning in Forks, Washington.

Aro held her that evening as she shook with tearless sobs. Nothing was said, it didn't have to. Her sacrifices were never lost on him, and each time she felt as if she might crumble he would be there to hold her up. Her constant. Her forever. The bewitching, somewhat chaotic love between them still befuddled her senses when she thought on it too much— the unwavering pull and deep bond that came so unexpectedly. It felt as if she had known him for hundreds of years, where eternity would never be enough to sate the fire that exploded against her skin each time they touched.

She asked him some hours later as they were wrapped in each other's arms how he coped with the passage of time, knowing many he knew and loved had faded with it. Looking thoughtful for some time, he cleared his throat just slightly to signal his answer.

"In my younger years," he began, sending a steely expression to Isabella at her mirthful gaze upon his admittance that he was old, "the despair... when it came, was...so compelling. I longed for simplicity of mortal life. A wife. Children. Grandchildren. And so on."

This took Isabella aback as she was unaware of Aro's human desires. Of course a man at the time he was changed was expected to...

"Did you?" Her question was unanswered for a moment. "Have children, I mean."

"No." He stated smoothly, though forlornly. "To my recollection, I had begun to make something of myself. My father had begun searching for a wife for me before I was changed." A pause. "Didyme was much too young."

Isabella placed a small kiss to his clothed chest as she pondered, before pushing herself up on her elbows. This way, she could see his face. "Do you ever regret your change?"

The slender fingers that stroked random, soothing designs against her spine stilled momentarily. Aro had been stumped. No one had ever asked him. Sulpicia had complimented him for centuries in his thirst for power, and equal conviction of doing what it took to attain it. But there was a time after Didyme was murdered, with Sulpicia executed shortly after, where Aro had questioned the humanity he might still possess.

Aro's eyes remained fixed to the ceiling. "No," was his simple reply. He turned slowly to his mate, still wrapped in his arms with a troubled expression. "Do you?"

A pregnant pause followed. "I do regret the people I've hurt making this choice. I'm still struck with the impossibility of it, should I think on it too long. In another life my destiny may have been to settle in my small town, fall in love, get married, have a few kids, and grow old in complete contentment." Her nose wrinkled. "Instead, I'm some savior of the vampire universe getting married to a 2,000 year old vampire king." A wry smile graced her lips as Aro mockingly soured at the mention of his age once more. "But to answer your question," she murmured, fingers splaying out across the lapels of his dark suit jacket, "I don't regret it."

Isabella's engagement ring glinted in the soft light, capturing her focus momentarily. At Aro's soft laughter, she huffed in fake exasperation. She still had not reigned in her affinity for sensory input in her newborn stage. "Maybe I regret having to put up with you," Isabella snarked.

"I am wounded, cara mia." Aro feigned hurt, though his acting was ruined by the smile that stretched across his lips.

"Yeah, sure." Isabella rolled her eyes. "Really, Aro, you must know that I don't. Do you see me as a woman content with a small, ordinary life? Perhaps an earlier version of me might have, but knowing now everything that was possible... immortality and all that comes with it is a gift that I do not plan to waste. However much time I may have, I will use it making our world better by your side. I do not regret the admittedly complex, but wonderful task of loving you and being loved by you, you complicated man."

With a low growl, Aro's lips met her sensuous ones as this age old dance began once more...

Early Morning - Castle Grounds

The ancient man had shown great patience with her antics as of late.

But the blissful bubble was not to last.

Caius was not so patient. He was adamant that Isabella receive proper Volturi training in combat, much to the displeasure of Aro. A guard member, even elite, would not do in training a future queen. No, she would have to learn from the best.

It still remained unclear whether this initiative was as he said, or a personal vendetta upon being beaten so publicly just a week ago. Her gift had not aided her since the changelings defeat, and she was nowhere near skilled enough to access and control it on a whim.

So, to be plain- Caius was kicking her ass.

Groaning, Isabella's limbs twitched as the rubble fell around her in the person-sized crater in the earth. Resting her head back against the earth, she closed her eyes and willed herself to disappear. She was tired and fed up with the haughty, unrelenting attitude of her "teacher."

"Isabella." Came the classic sneering voice, though it was somewhat softened. Perhaps he'd pulverized her enough for the grudge to lift somewhat. "Get up."

A frazzled mix of emotions swirled in her mind. Anger. Exasperation. Annoyance. Insecurity. Anger again. "Why?" Isabella hissed, eyes open and glaring at the figure who stood above her form, two yards into the earth. "You would much rather I wasn't here. You win. You've beaten me. Are you happy now?"

Caius' expression was blank. His gaze never wavered from hers- crimson like fresh blood and calculating. "Is your tantrum over?"

Isabella willed herself to take a deep breath despite her fuming. It did little good. She sat up averted her gaze, not wanting her expression to make him more self-righteous in his accuracy.

"Hm." The sound from his lips was discontent. "Contrary to what you might believe, Isabella, I do not waste my time on hopeless cases. You are exceptionally gifted, but lack the control to bend it to your will. That leaves you vulnerable. Vulnerability in this world is weakness, and it will get you killed."

The words were scathing, but they were true. "You are young in this life. Immortal life as a Volturi does not grant you the grace of time. Our power will be threatened so long as we remain as we are. To understand this is to remain alive. You are a mated vampire- mate to one of the most powerful of our kind. Your downfall would be his."

Shame. Disappointment. Self-loathing. Worry. Apprehension. Insecurity. The emotions readily bloomed in her heart, only to be shaken away a moment later in Isabella's search for clarity. She told herself this melodramatic pout needed to stop, and stop now. Straightening her back and dusting the remaining rubble from her clothes, Isabella jumped up from the small crater to land lithely next to Caius. "You're right. I forgot myself."

The pair moved away from the crater to the unscathed area of the wide field on the Volturi property. They squared off in the center space, 10 yards distance separating them.

"Now," came Caius' austere voice. "Center yourself. Control your emotions, or they will be your downfall."

They sparred for the next hour. Although Isabella was unable to get the upper hand due to Caius' skill, she was able to evade the easier attacks he presented towards the beginning. But, as the sparring progressed, Caius pushed her. His attacks became more and more difficult to deflect. Isabella wrestled with a combination of panic and anger, something he would reprimand if she began to respond sloppily. "Focus." He reprimanded again, sternly, with a blow to her side. "You know how to defend yourself. Protect yourself."

Caius stalked away from her, readying himself for her attack, as they switched back and forth in their sparring. In one last effort to calm herself, Isabella planted her feet firmly on the ground, rolling the tension from her shoulders and neck with small, grinding sounds as her body still repaired itself in areas she had received direct blows. An unessecary inhale and slow exhale followed, her eyes falling closed. She envisioned Aro. He was the one figure who could instantly put her at ease. With him, it had been so easy, intrinsic even, to motivate her gift. He was everything to her- and losing him was something she could not fathom. She imagined he felt the same... with whatever magic or properties of the universe their bond was made of. She had to protect herself for him.

Twinge.

Footsteps circled her in her mind's periphery. Caius wavered between well-intentioned and potentially malicious to get a rise out of her, she could feel it. Isabella's eyes opened, a satisfied gleam within them at finding a readily accessed trigger to her protective gift.

Rolling her shoulders, Isabella's eyes locked with Caius's. She stretched out her hand, antagonizing him swiftly with a bend of her middle and forefinger. "Give it your best shot, ancient one."

A look of elation sparked in Caius' gaze at the challenge. "Not when it's your turn." He challenged back.

Resisting a giggle, Isabella smiled sweetly before running straight at him, skidding on her knees beneath the pocket of space left as he jumped in time to avoid her. Digging her heel into the earth she swiveled around as Caius began to descend back to the ground. Seeing him had no value, as her mind tracked his motion, allowing her to time her leap straight into his back- sending him sprawling forward, her hands clinging to his cloaks.

In the air, Caius snarled and swiveled, tearing the cloak she gripped from his form. Landing on his side, Isabella was momentarily stunned by the ripped fabric in her hands, allow Caius a step away before she pounced again. This, he expected, his arms coming up to lock around Isabella's waist before spinning her so her back was to his chest.

Her hands stilled his hands ascent to her throat as they hit and skidded across the earth, Caius' back taking most of the blunt force. Isabella grunted, forcing Caius' arms open from his wrist with her newborn strength, her foot finding purchase in the earth to kick up to a crouch. Wrists still in hand, Isabella's foot pressed against the column of Caius' throat, the skin there cracking slightly at the pressure.

She had won. Finally.

Isabella paused just for a moment to smirk down at Caius before jumping away in glee. "Fuck yeah! I did it!"

A groan came from Caius with a tilt to his neck. It was stiff from the threat of decapitation. "You certainly did." Caius assented once he had risen gracefully to his feet. "Now let's see if you can do it again."

Early Evening - Aro's Study

The evening light held a purple hue as it filtered through the glass panes that framed the room. Aro had attended to the written matters of a few wayward covens for some hours. Another qualm over coven territory due to lacking treaty documents. Marcus would have to peruse the archives to find the history of transgressions and verbal agreements between the covens.

A nearly imperceptible click of the door latch caught his attention, though he did not make a show of his recognition. Aro looked forward to his young mate's next attempt to sneak up on him.

A slight change in the air just over his left shoulder. Then there were deft fingers in his hair. Growling, Aro caught his mate's hands, pulling them around to his chest; that very action twisted her body so her back arched over his shoulder, her lips just inches from his. "Whatever are you up to, cara Mia?" He smirked, humming to himself mirthfully before pressing a kiss to her lips and moving Isabella to perch on the desk to the left of the scrolls he had been reviewing.

"You're no fun." Isabella pouted, crossing one leg over the other and resting her crossed heels on the arm of Aro's chair. The motion exposed the tops of her creamy thighs, which peeked out from under the black lace hem of the dress she wore.

Aro bit back a groan, redoubling his efforts to respond to the letter in front of him. The quil pen in his left hand scratched against the parchment in the silence that followed as his mate pouted. The long, black feather bent precariously close to Isabella's exposed skin as he wrote, just ghosting across her skin as he started back towards the leftmost side of the parchment.

"Guess what?" Isabella posed.

"Hm?" Aro hummed in a noncommittal way. Her following huff confirmed that he had successfully begun to rile up his mate. Her increasingly aroused scent also indicated this delicious truth.

"If you're not going to guess, then do you really want to know?" Her voice drew somewhat husky.

Glancing to his left, Aro's eyes lifted to Isabella's. His eyebrow arched perceptibly as his answer.

Isabella's lower lip jutted out in her lovely pink pout more. "I suppose I'll go then..." Turning lithely over, she made to crawl over the desk away from Aro when his hands found purchase on her hips, stilling her movements. He pulled her hips downwards, sliding her knees from the desk, planting her feet on the ground, one foot on the outside of each of his. Aro hummed in satisfaction, circling her hips gently with his fingers before pushing lightly on her lower back until she bent at the waist so the front of her thighs were flush with the front of the desk, and her stomach and chest flush to the top.

"Always toying with me, cara." Aro purred, languid in the strokes up the back of Isabella's thighs. "Tell me already."

Isabella gave a muffled moan as her mate's fingers climbed higher to brush against the swells of her ass cheeks. "I b-beat the shit out of Caius today," came Isabella's breathy reply. It was not the most eloquent statement she had uttered, but it certainly got her point across.

"With you gift?" Aro questioned, his palms cupping the round mounds and squeezing beneath the fabric of her dress, kneading the marble flesh as Isabella mewled.

"Y-yes. With my gift." Arching her back, Isabella moaned and the scrape of his nails.

"Hm... then you should be rewarded, cara." Aro learned forward then, fingers lifting the hem of her dress to her lower back. Her plump bottom was revealed, hugged perfectly by sheer, black lace panties. His lips pressed softly to the left globe of her beautiful bottom before his tongue and teeth followed. Between Isabella's attempts to remain quiet by biting her lip and her unsuccessful, strangled moans, her mate's fingertips hooked under the hem of her panties before ripping them to shreds. His lips paused the assault as they drew nearer to the apex of her thighs. "Mm..." Aro exhaled. "Would you like that, Isabella?"

What was left of her composure melted away. Isabella arched her back further against the mahogany in her want for further contact, a wanton hiss of yesssss leaving her lips.

"As you wish." Aro growled, pausing only for a moment before plunging his index and middle finger into her heat. Isabella's hips wiggled and twisted, which pushed his fingers deeper. His other hand came down sharply on the left globe of her ass before resting firmly on her lower back, keeping Isabella in place as his fingers quickened their rhythm. Taking pity on Isabella's swollen clit, he ground his palm against that bundle of nerves with each come-hither flex of his fingers.

Unessecary breaths filled Isabella's lungs, her chest heaving with uncontrollable moans and higher pitched sighs. She bit her lip desperately as her entire body tingled with her imminent orgasm. A sharp gasp and guttural moan came then, her entire body tensing and shaking all at once as she came.

"Oh..." She moaned raggedly after some seconds, body completely relaxed against the desk and Aro's fingers stilled within her. They left her center then, Aro smirking with ultimate satisfaction.

Aro stood then, traveling his hands from her thighs, over her smooth bottom and to the bunched fabric of Isabella's dress at her lower back. The fabric was pulled taught slowly before being ripped from her body, leaving her skin bare. A shiver of excitement ran across Isabella's spine as she picked up Aro's possessive, rumbling growl. He would never tire of claiming his mate.

"Please..." Isabella whispered as her hips swayed enticingly.

Aro made her wait, inhaling her scent as he undid his belt, removing it before unbuttoning his pressed dress pants. Pulling at the zipper, he slid it down tooth by tooth to the bottom until the fabric pooled at his feet.

He was hard and wanting as he palm his length in his hand, allowing the tip to trace Isabella's inner thigh as she moaned in anticipation. Aro rolled his hips, dragging his length along her ass before coating himself in her wetness and brushing the tip of his member against her clit.

Not seeing how much longer she might cling to her sanity in this state, with one last drag along her wetness, he thrust himself into her, the motion slamming their bodies together audibly. Isabella's fingers had already gouged the wood beneath her as her body came alive with the pleasurable, passionate sensations only he could elicit.

Aro's hands roamed Isabella's body, tracing up her spine, curling tendrils of her hair, reaching under her to tweak her rosebud nipples. Teasing led into firmer touches, hands gripping her waist for leverage with each thrust. And, as their climaxes drew closer, his hands clasped the tops of her shoulders, pulling her more sharply against him with each thrust- bringing them closer to euphoric oblivion.

Had she known this would be her reward, she might have honed her gift much sooner.

Author's Note: Am I forgiven? ;)