Disclaimer:

I do not own any part of the 'Twilight Universe', only the idea to this story. This is strictly for fun.

Author's note:

I would like to send a big hug and 'thank you' to everyone, who reviewed/ added my story.

Also, I ow you an apology: Sorry for the long wait!

Recap:

Bella falls asleep with her hands in Marcus', after Caius once again lost his temper, because Bella defended Jake and the pack.

Marcus POV

I did not know how long I had been sitting there, holding Bella's delicate hand in mine, when I heard a knock on the door to my study, accompanied by Aro's voice.

"Marcus, may I come in? I am alone; I wonder if we could talk?" He sounded subdued and sombre, highly unusual for him.

"Make it quick," was my clipped reply. I did not really want anyone here at the moment, but I trusted Aro.

"Take a seat," I told him bluntly. My emotions were still running wild, the prominent ones being rage and love, combined with fierce protectiveness. It was strangely exhausting; it had been ages since I had last felt such emotional turmoil. Rationally, I knew Aro was not to blame for our brother's behaviour, but my grasp on rationality was wearing thin and if he did not choose his words carefully he would bear the brunt of my anger towards Caius.

"How has she been sleeping?" Aro took a seat at the bottom of the bed, looking intently at Bella, his gaze lingering for a moment on our entwined hands.

I shrugged. "It could be worse. She is restless and mumbles a lot, but she has not yet awoken with a nightmare. I think tonight's events have not sunken in yet, not completely at least." My voice was still gruff.

My brother indicated his agreement with a deliberate nod.

After this we sat in silence for a few minutes, during which I carefully thought of a way to phrase my decision on the matter at hand. "Aro, I don't wish for Caius to come close to Bella again, until I say otherwise," I said finally. "He is not to enter our chambers and if he attacks her again, no matter the reason, so help me Aro, I will not hold back." To enforce the meaning of my words, I looked into my brother's eyes with blazing determination. We both knew I would win. Caius and I were the same age, but in our past lives I had been a warrior and he a strategist; it showed in our physique as well as our fighting skills.

Aro looked thoughtful, pondering my words before he slowly nodded. "I understand. Personally, I wish we could find another solution, but putting myself in your shoes, I guess I would make the same decision."

We sat in silence again, both our eyes trained on the fragile creature.

"Marcus, you do know that Caius loves you as a brother, don't you?" Aro said finally. "He would never intentionally hurt you, or Isabella, as that would equal hurting you. He bitterly regrets how he acted this morning."

Aro; always the conflict mediator. A morose sigh escaped me. "Yes, yes, I know. But don't you understand, Aro? Even if he did not mean to hurt her, even if he regrets what he's done, it doesn't change the result. He could have hurt her, Aro, or even worse! Look at her! She is so delicate. A single move could break her! How often can I... can we expect her to forgive us, to trust us again? Every time she opens up a little – at our request might I add – Caius flows off the handle and…"

My harsh words grew louder by the second and I had to stop myself and calm my anger before I woke Bella from her shallow slumber.

"It's like we punish her for trusting us. You know her story, it has happened too many times already. I will not allow it to happen again!" I finished my rant. Aro was a rare sight. He looked absolutely staggered, and for a second he stayed frozen, before he blinked once to regain his wits.

"I... I must admit, I have not quite considered this aspect of the situation before. Of course. Forgive my ignorance, brother." The words came out reluctantly, grudgingly, and he looked embarrassed and a little ashamed. It was rare for Aro to have to admit a mistake. And if one of us was right, he hated it even more.

A second later he cleared his throat unnecessarily and spoke again, obviously trying to change the subject: "As Demetri has never met this redhead, he cannot track her, obviously. Sulpicia has drawn a picture of her, based on Isabella's description, which will be shown to every member of the guard, so they can watch out for her. I am afraid there is nothing more we can do at the moment."

"Someone eager for a change of topic, brother?" I asked him mockingly. A situation like this occurred so rarely that I just could not resist the temptation to taunt him. I received a glare in return saying it all. It might have silenced anyone else, but I knew I would have to fear no consequences. We were family after all. So my lips turned upwards and I found myself smiling unabashedly at him, silently challenging him to deny it. I was amazed at my own actions. I had not partaken in any such shenanigans in centuries. Now that I thought about it, I couldn't even manage a grin like this, even if I had seriously tried. However, here I sat, a huge smirk on my face, effortless, and it just felt right. My mood was completely altered.

At first, Aro looked like he wanted to retaliate, but then his features softened and he gave me a genuine, indulging smile. "I love to see you like this, Marcus. You are so much more alive. Your eyes shine with emotion, and you are actually aware of your surroundings, not to mention that disgusting smile you're wearing right now..." He glared at me in mock anger, but couldn't hold up the charade any longer, and had to chuckle himself. In a swift movement he stood behind me, his left hand resting on my shoulder. I felt no offence in his actions and closeness to Bella; my eyes stayed trained on her, not wanting to miss the slightest movement or change.

"I told you before and I will say it again: I am glad you are on your way back to us, Marcus." He squeezed my shoulder once, to convey his positive feelings."Have her bonds changed in any way?" he asked in a speculative tone that caught my attention.

His question took me off-guard. I had not paid attention to the lines swirling around her as much as I should have. Now however, with the topic in the forefront of my mind, I concentrated on the bonds she emitted.

The bond to me had not changed much; it was perhaps a little stronger – not by much, but the change was there. It was still a promising golden hue. What surprised me was the new, soft, familial bond, connecting her to Aro. No question a response to his persistent help and care. Another one similar to that stood out, leading from the room to a person that was evidently close by. If I had to guess, I would say it was connecting her to Cia. I could not imagine Bella forming a familial bond with Caius, or Dora for that matter; not with how they had behaved. But to be sure, I would have to wait and see who the recipient was.

Aro regarded me patiently, waiting for my assessment. He knew that reading human relationships was different. There were other bonds leading outside of the room, but their quality was yet undefined.

"Yes, come, look for yourself." I wanted Aro not only to see her bonds, but to show him my reasoning behind them as well. He took the hand I offered him without further ado.

"Ah, how flattering. And I am glad for you, Marcus, you two are definitely headed in the right direction. Oh, my Sulpicia will be elated. I thoroughly agree with your reasoning. It is exciting, unseen and unheard of until now; a human forming intimate bonds such as these with our kind. She certainly is something else. To be honest I had thought that perhaps her bonds were unrequited and weeping for that very reason. True, the fact that the one bond was mate-like suggested that it must have been reciprocated, at least to some extent, as how else should a human form a bond usually made between vampires?

"And now she found a mate in you, again a vampire. It is almost as if fate was desperately attempting to make her a part of our world. Fascinating. So many possibilities," Aro mused. He threw me a reassuring glance, and ever so slowly, he bent down and gently pushed back a stray lock of hair behind Bella's ear. "Ah, Isabella, what a mystery you are to me," he whispered. When he straightened up again, he slowly shook his head, still watching Bella with a sweet, indulgent smile.

"Still put out that you can't read her, Aro?" I smirked. "That might never change, you know..."

"Not put out, Marcus, rather intrigued... Everything about her is different from other humans and yet she is one. I cannot figure her out." Aro's expression was priceless. When, or if Bella became immortal, she would forever baffle him. Aro was not a man to simply accept things as they were. He always had to have an explanation. Good luck with that, I thought sarcastically. Next time he read me, he would not be happy. My lips curled up in anticipation of his reaction, mischief clear in my thoughts.

"What are you planning to do to entertain Isabella for the duration of her stay, Marcus?" Aro asked. "Surely the castle and town will hold her interest only for so long. She seems a clever girl, perceptive and terribly observant; you will have to come up with some things soon. Then again, I would recommend the both of you to stay inside the city, until this redhead poses no threat any more."

I agreed full-heartedly. Although I did not regard the female as a particular threat in general, to Bella she certainly was one. I longed to take care of her myself, to eliminate anyone who'd even think about hurting Bella.

"Aro, surely there is a way to ensure this woman is brought before us, is there not? I would rather like to talkto this creature." I put a particular stress on the word talk, making it it perfectly clear that I wanted to do much more than talk. My mind reeled with the things I could do to make her suffer, not only for the torture she had inflicted on Bella, but especially for the emotional trauma she had caused her and that Bella would always carry with her, probably even to an immortal life.

"That's been included in the order already. Believe it or not, even Dora and Cia have expressed their wishes to converse with this lady. And you know me, always excited to meet new people..." Aro smirked. That actually shocked me. Dora and Cia hardly ever set foot into the throne room to attend court; they even preferred to dine in a separate room. Caius and Aro of course indulged their wives' wishes.

I would have to pay more attention to the bonds leading to Bella, as well as those coming from her.

Also, the menace in my brother's voice did not escape me. I almost felt sympathy for this woman who had unknowingly brought our wrath upon herself; but only almost.

Aro and I continued to speak quietly, so as not to disturb Bella's rest. She did not move or mumble much for the rest of her sleep. Sometime around eleven she started to twist and turn a bit and the pattern of her breathing and heartbeat changed. She was waking up. My brother excused himself and left shortly after. I stayed in the chair, still holding her hand; not once had I let go of it. The remaining minutes seemed to last forever. I was longing to hear her voice again, to look into her beautiful, mesmerizing eyes. Finally, she yawned and stretched, but stopped abruptly and winced, whimpering in pain. I would definitely punish the monster who had hurt her this way.

"Bella..." I was unsure whether she would want to see me here or not, but the thought of her in pain made me wake her completely. "Are you in pain? Shall I get you something?"

"Hmm? What?" With that, her eyes opened and met mine. So beautiful, was the only coherent thought I had left.

A loving smile crept into my face, despite the situation. She looked adorable: her hair stood out in all directions, her eyes were still a bit glazed over from her sleep, and a breathtaking blush painted her cheeks pink. Slowly, the pink turned to crimson and she found her voice. "Oh! Uh, good morning, Marcus. I didn't think you would... I mean I expected you to..." she rambled frantically, searching for words, but she did not break the eye contact; she pulled her hand away from mine, though. The loss of contact was like a slap to my face, but I could understand. She did not know about the bond we could have.

"Good morning. Everything is quite in order, Bella. I told you I would stay, so that is what I did. You seemed to be in pain before. Would you like to take your medication?" The thought of her in pain still had me anxious.

"Oh. Yes, please? I took the antibiotics last night when I was in the bathroom, but forgot about the pain medication. I should have remembered. And thank you... for staying and all."

"Don't mention it, Bella. Is the pain bad? Would you like to see a doctor?" She was in pain and I could do nothing for her except offer medication and a doctor. It was frustrating.

"No, no, that's okay," she said quickly. "I'm sure I'll be fine with just the meds."

"As you say. I will get them for you. Perhaps you should stay in bed a little longer, until they take effect?" I would do anything to make her more comfortable.

She moved to get up, but winced again."Hmm, perhaps you're right. Sorry."

Why would she apologize? I didn't understand her. She had done nothing wrong. "What exactly are you apologizing for, Bella? For pain that someone else had caused you? Please explain. I don't understand."

"Well, for being such a bother. I'm wasting your time and – " she stammered.

"Stop right there. Bella, look at me." She had lowered her gaze once again. She seemed so tiny, curled up in the huge bed. Her hands were busy fidgeting with the sheets again. She was a pitiful sight.

I waited until she raised her eyes to me again, gave her a firm look, and continued resolutely: "Listen to me carefully, Bella. I offered my help. I would not have done so, had I not been willing to provide it. You are human. I understand you need to eat and drink periodically, you need to sleep and keep warm, and when you get sick, you need the help and care of others. That is perfectly natural and nothing to be ashamed of. Yes, I am a vampire and have no such requirements; but I was human once and needed exactly the same things.

"You may be grateful for the help you receive, but never be ashamed. Do you understand that, Isabella?" I knew my voice was stern, but I had to make sure she understood completely. For now, she seemed speechless.

"Now, let me get you your medication," I told her and walked away slowly, giving her time to process my words. Her self-confidence was sorely lacking, something we would have to work on. She had to realize her own value.

When I came back she still looked incredulous. Wordlessly, she accepted the medication and the glass of water I offered her. "Thank you, Marcus," she whispered. Her eyes met mine, showing bewilderment and wonder. I would ask her about that later. My priority was to alleviate her pain.

"As I said, you are welcome. And it is absolutely no bother," I assured her. A small smile graced her lips at my blatant reminder.

"May I take a seat? I would like to know what you would prefer to do today. The weather is supposed to be capricious, so I am afraid the promised tour of the city will have to wait," I said with an encouraging smile. "Oh, yes sure, sit down," she stuttered out. "I would rather stay indoors today?" she added timidly, making it sound like a question.

"Of course. Anything in particular that you would like to see in the castle?" I asked her.

"Er, Marcus, when I said indoors, I meant more like in this room and the study, perhaps? You don't have to stay if you don't want to." Her pinkish blush would undoubtedly become permanent one of these days. I would definitely welcome that. It was so very beautiful and made her look much healthier.

"As you wish," I agreed. "I don't mean to sound nosy, but what were you planning to do here all day?" I asked curiously. My quarters had none of the modern contraptions that humans used to entertain themselves these days. Perhaps I should consider adding some.

"To be honest, I thought I might write some more in my diary. Quite a lot happened since I last wrote in it. And I thought I could read for a bit when I was done with that..." she trailed off., looking at me uncertainly.

"Ah, yes, that makes perfect sense. I would suggest you take some rest though, perhaps until the pain medication starts working? Would it be agreeable to you if I sent Heidi in, to serve you breakfast and help you find some appropriate attire for today?" I suggested.

"No, of course, that's very kind, you don't have to..." Bella said quickly, blushing again.

"Bella, I know I don't have to," I said, exasperated. "As I said, I would not offer anything I wasn't willing to do. I merely meant to inquire whether Heidi's presence would make you uncomfortable. If so, I could ask Jane or someone else to bring your breakfast."

I realized it would be hard work to convince her she could accept an offer without having to apologize for her humanity. What was the cause of her insecurity? Could her abandonment by those vampires have given her such an inferiority complex? Or was it an inherent trait? She seemed shy by nature. What had magnified it to such proportions, though? Had someone treated her improperly? I only knew so much about her, not nearly enough for my taste. Perhaps she would confide in me more over time. I was eager to learn every little detail about Bella: her favourite colour, things she liked to do in her spare time, her life in Phoenix... anything concerning her.

"Oh, no, I have no problem with Heidi being here," Bella assured me hurriedly. "I think I like her, even if we didn't start off too well." I didn't think she would have objected even if she disliked Heidi, though. "Very well, Bella. I will be in the study. You can join me whenever you like," I told her and headed for the door. I had it open and was about to walk out when Bella spoke again: "Marcus, are you meeting up with your family again? It's just that I wouldn't want to keep you from them," she said timidly.

Her tone and carefully chosen words indicated nothing but polite interest, but the elevated frequency of her heartbeat and rapid breathing betrayed a deeper meaning. She was afraid to meet them again; well, not all of them, but Caius most likely. He had done it. She feared him. She would not trust him again any time soon.

"No, Bella, I have planned no such meeting," I told her. "We usually convene in the throne room to discuss matters, not in my study. You are welcome to join me whenever you like. Make yourself at home, please." Caius could deal with the consequences of his quick temper himself. Bella only nodded in answer, but the relief in her eyes confirmed my earlier assumption.

I went into the study, called for Heidi and gave her my instructions. She was happy to fulfill them and eager to meet Bella again.

While waiting for Bella to grace me with her company, I decided to follow her example, and began to bring my journals up to date.

End note:

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