AN: Thank you for all the new follows and favs or reviews, each one made me smile!

This was a bit longer in coming to you, simply because I do most of my writing during half-terms (about every 7 to 8 weeks in the UK) and then edit the draft before posting during term time. Truth be told, term time is usually sooo busy and January has been no exception.

I have this chapter and the next written. After that, lucky us, February half-term will be upon us, eheh. These are the last 2 chapters in Volterra, which mark the end of the first part in the story and I am still looking for a song to inspire part 2. I need music to write!

Quick recap, in the previous chapter, Bella opens up to Marcus about how Edward left her and what transpired after that and Aro and Marcus take precautious steps in preparation for Marcus and Bella's travel to Forks.

Happy reading!

BPOV

I awoke, still feeling tired but unable to sleep. The crackling of a fire was the only sound I could hear and the flickering light was enough to make me realise I wasn't home.

My heart accelerated as I took in my surroundings, reminiscing about the day's events. Of course I wasn't home. I was in Volterra, Italy, in my mate's quarters.

I breathed out, keeping myself calm. What a mess of epic proportion. I had run out on Jacob, following Alice in a desperate race to save her brother, barely taking the time to leave a note for Charlie.

God, Charlie.

My dad was going to ground me until I turned 100. I chuckled at the thought. I sat up, letting my legs fall down on the side of the bed, or actually of the sofa, I realised.

And then I remembered that I only had 4 months left with him and Mom and my throat tightened painfully, my stomach protesting in concert.

I sighed, standing up and walking to a set of stained French doors that were opened, leading to a balcony. The town was now illuminated by sporadic street lights that gave an orange glow to the town. The number of lights became less as it neared what I assumed to be the edge of the town and further in the distance, I could only see shapeless fields illuminated by a half moon hanging in the sky.

Trying to make out details kept my mind busy for a little while as I breathed slowly, calming myself down as I worked to rationalise my thoughts.

Charlie and Renee had their own lives and I wanted them to be happy and safe. I had always fit in it but more as a caring presence than the one being cared for. I wouldn't expose them to my world of supernatural, forcing their hand in joining me or being responsible for their… no, they couldn't know. It was all for the best, I decided, setting my resolve. I sighed again, wondering how I would get my dad to see why I had had to go to Italy.

"Bella?" Marcus' softly called behind me, making me aware of his presence before walking onto the balcony, standing next to me. "Couldn't you sleep?"

I looked at my watch, wondering briefly what could have woken me up.

"It is only 5pm in Forks, I guess I just needed to catch up. The last 24 hours have been… well, busy." I smiled at my understatement and felt warmth go through me as Marcus, my Marcus smiled back in mirth. I licked my lips, realising how dry my mouth was, and I asked him where the bathroom was. "I need a human moment," I explained, apologetic.

Marcus looked stumped for a second before he nodded, "I apologise, beloved, I should have thought of it. There are fresh towels on the shelves and soap in the shower. I will have fresh clothes brought to you as well if you wish?"

"I don't…" I began to protest, but his offer suddenly made me feel very self-aware of the fact that I had been in these clothes for nearly 48 hours. I really needed a shower too. "Actually, that would be nice, thanks."

"Anything, you just merely need to ask, it will be yours." I would have protested, but the intensity of his gaze made me unable to formulate a coherent thought so I smiled stupidly. "The bathroom is through this door," he pointed behind me. "Take all the time you need."

And he was gone again.

Damn, would I ever be able to not be enthralled by his simple presence? I breathed in and out, focusing. Right, shower, now, Bella. Before he comes back and finds you standing here like a lunatic.

The shower was divine and much needed. I let the hot water relieve my aching muscles, full of tension from the stress and lack of proper sleep. There was only one bottle of soap, no shampoo, but I still washed my hair, hoping I would find a hairbrush to smooth the mess that was sure to create otherwise.

As Marcus had said, I found towels on the shelves by the shower and I wrapped myself in the soft and thick fabric, finding another smaller one to wrap my hair in as I looked around. My old clothes were gone and some had been left in their place. I blushed furiously, realising my mate must have been in the room without me noticing and I wondered how good that vampire sight of him was against a foggy shower wall.

I finished drying myself and unfolded the offered clothes, which were not too unlike what I had been wearing. They just looked… better. I couldn't quite say why but if I had to take a guess, I would say the price tag. I put on the black jeans and white T-shirt. The sleeve stopped in the middle of my forearm and I looked at them, crossed that I couldn't fidget with them.

Shrugging my annoyance off, I went in search of a hairbrush and got lucky with the first drawer I opened. I untangled my mess of hair before towelling more of the wetness off of it. Looking in the mirror, I smiled at my reflection, looking definitely better than before. Human and clumsy but clean and fresh, that was the best I could do right now.

I came back into the main living area, finding Marcus working at a beautiful antique desk that looked perfectly in tune with the atmosphere of his quarters. He looked up at me and smiled.

"Come and sit with me, beloved," he said as he pushed the heavy fabric chair as if it weighed nothing and showed me to the sofa I had been sleeping on earlier.

There was a thick white throw wrapped on the side, which had not been there before and it made me content to see the little ways he was trying to make me feel more comfortable. I grabbed the throw and placed it over me as I sat, sighing happily.

"Thank you for the clothes," I said, eloquent as ever.

He waved it off, his hand brushing my hair back in a gesture that exposed my neck to him. I shivered instinctively. "You do not know how much I desire to hold you and never let you go."

I gulped at the intensity of his stare and words. I could hear my own heart beating so there was no doubt that he would have picked up on it too. "After Didyme…" his voice faltered so I placed my hand on his chest, raising myself on my knees to come closer to his face.

"Marcus…" His eyes closed, pain clear on his face. "My love," I prayed and his eyes opened to look into mine once more. The pain in them wrenched open the hole in my own heart and I knew it to be but a pale comparison to what I could see haunting him. "Tell me about her?" I asked, and he looked surprised. "Please?" I encouraged him.

After what felt slightly too long, I started to doubt that this had been the right thing to ask and I began to sit back down, feeling horribly guilty for even thinking it would be okay to ask. How could I ever hope to compare with a love so deep, that it had kept him in mourning for over three millennia?

He stopped me however, instead sitting me on his lap, so close that our faces were inches apart as he started telling me of his first mate, of the one that had defined love for him and made him so sure that his immortal life had been worth living… until she was taken from him, destroyed by a coven that was no more.

Tears were flowing freely along my face, I had long lost the fight to keep them at bay. I thought I had known pain, loss and despair. What my mate had to endure was more than heart-breaking, it was soul-wrenching. In that moment, I promised myself that I would do my everything to protect him and not let anything come in between us. I couldn't comprehend how I was even remotely good enough to mend the sorrow left by his lost love but deep within, I simply knew we were meant for each other. I could almost see the bond linking us, in the way Marcus had described seeing it earlier.

He pressed his forehead to mine and our eyes closed. I breathed in his delightful smell, strangely warm for his cold body. It was so enticing and comforting at once, familiar despite having met only hours ago.

It was the undignified growl of my stomach that brought us back to reality and I couldn't help the blush of my cheeks, trying to hide it by hugging closer to his neck but he pushed me back, a soft smile on his youthful face.

"I believe you are in need of some food, precious." he teased and I felt my cheeks reddening even more. Marcus surprised me by kissing me there, inhaling deeply and he continued down my chin, towards my throat and I instinctively leaned back as the light stubble on his face, along with his cold breath, sent shivers of heat down my entire body. I moaned, craving for more as he finally kissed along the pulse on my neck, following the vein down to my collarbone. I moved to straddle him, kissing his temple. "Delicious," he said as he pushed me away, helping me to stand on very shaky legs. I must have looked as put out as I felt as he chuckled and leaned down to kiss my forehead. "You need sustenance, beloved. When was the last time you fed?"

I thought about it and looked down at my watch. "I had some crisps and a coke on the plane."

"And is that considered a meal nowadays?" he enquired so genuinely that I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me.

"No, not really, if anything, it is considered junk food."

"Junk food?" he asked confusedly

"Hmm… unhealthy food," I clarified in Italian. "It's been too long since I ate properly," I finally confessed. "I am starving."

He nodded before disappearing, reappearing less than a minute later. "Food should arrive shortly."

"Thank you."

"Anything, beloved. Come, let us discuss our trip to America," he led me back to the sofa, but we sat next to each other, still holding hands but in a much more respectable fashion than a moment before.

He explained the arrangements Aro had made for us to be protected by three of Volturi guards as well as the Cullens, including his warning to the wolves. I didn't really like that part, but with Marcus not sharing the Cullens vegetarian diet, it was necessary, and I was grateful to Carlisle for taking care of it.

"I can't wait to see them all again. I missed them so much," I smiled softly.

"I am certain they feel the same way, beloved."

"Have you met them? I know Carlisle stayed with you for a while, but what about the others?"

"I have not, though I have heard of them often. Aro is very keen on getting some of Carlisle's most gifted protégés to join us."

"I have heard he is quite the… hmm… passionate collector," I said and Marcus laughed, a booming laugh that gave me happiness.

"That he is. I am afraid he will want to spend too much time with you once you are turned. Being already gifted as a human, you will surely become a fascinating vampire."

"As long as he remembers who I belong with," I tried to sound nonchalant and failed.

The desire in my mate's eyes told me that I must have said something right, however and before I could formulate another thought, he had me pinned against the sofa, his body weighing me down, making escape impossible. As if I would have wanted to escape anyway. His lips were over my face again, trailing down towards my neck in a delicious caress that left me breathless. My hand grabbed his neck, locking in his soft hair as I tried to pull him closer to me. I needed more. It felt that it would never be close enough.

A knock on the door interrupted us and a deep growl escaped my mate, sending shivers down my spine and I realised a little shamefully that I had found it arousing despite it being so clearly threatening. He helped me up and before I knew it, we were sitting once more, not a hair out of place on him while I was sure that I looked flushed and a mess.

"Come in, Andreas," he called and a minute later, a very human man who looked to be in his twenties entered the room. He was carrying one very full fabric bag in one hand and what could only be a pizza in the other. My stomach rumbled again at the delicious smells coming from the delivery and my mouth watered at the thought of the feast Andreas was now laying on the low table in front of the sofa. "Master, Mistress," he bowed before leaving us alone once more. I barely even noticed as I was already diving into a box of mouth watering pasta dish, moaning in pleasure at the taste.

We talked while I enjoyed my food. I told Marcus more about Forks and my life since I had moved there a little over a year ago. I told him about the wolves - he called them shifters instead of werewolves, insisting the difference was important. I had simply nodded and continued on with my tale. I recalled my times with the Cullens and, despite their strange eating habit - again his own words - my mate was looking forward to meeting them and seeing how they had managed to blend in with humans. I also explained how I had gotten my scar, James' one. This part of the conversation had been tense but the fact that James had been dealt with by the Cullens helped him remain as calm as possible. We had talked about school and agreed that rather than travelling down south to visit my mother, it would be more practical to invite her to stay in Forks for a few days, maybe a couple of weeks for my graduation. I would persuade her by arguing that I would like to see my family all together before moving to Europe for the next three years. It would take some arguing, but I was sure I would make it happen.

As I was barely refraining myself from licking the remnants of tiramisu from the side of the dish it had been in, I felt tiredness take over me again. Of course, Marcus noticed and I didn't put up much of a fight before I fell back asleep for a much more restful sleep.

AN: The next chapter will be a little chat between Bella and Edward... it will be the first time they get to really talk in over 6 months and the circumstances being what they are... what do you think will happen?

Thanks for reading xx