She winced as the big one grabbed her arm and marched her into the building. He took her up a staircase to the second floor where a man was standing alone. He was facing the opposite wall but as he turned to look at her, he was smiling and she could see his eyes were the customary red but clouded over like you see sometimes in the elderly. Stefan had told her a lot about Aro and the Volturi and the power they possessed; and she had built them up so much in her mind that she was expecting some kind of super-being that radiated beams of light, something straight out of an action movie. Instead she was looking at what appeared to be just a man of average height and build. His hair was longer than what fashion dictated these days and he dressed as if he didn't realize what century it was, but other than that he didn't seem all that impressive.

"So you're Aro" she said.

"You sound disappointed" he replied.

"Where is Stefan?" she demanded

Right on cue Demetri emerged from the shadow. He had Stefan by the arm and he yanked him over and stood him in front of Aro before taking a few steps back and stood watching in silence. Stefan looked defeated and hung his head as Aro looked at him.

"Stefan!" Charlotte cried out. He looked up and took an involuntary step toward her but froze when the one that was holding her put an arm around her neck in warning.

"You made a mistake in telling this human about us, Stefan. It's unfortunate that Alice is not here to verify your words. I cannot be sure you are telling the truth about changing her and so I must rely on my own instincts" Aro said.

"Everyone makes mistakes Aro, even you. I thought your last meeting with the Cullens would have taught you that" Stefan said.

Aro frowned, the first change in expression that Charlotte had seen.

"You are in no position to criticize me Stefan, not when I have the power to take the thing you love most"

"If you kill her you'll have to kill me too"

"I don't think so" Aro said "It would be more amusing to watch you try and find a reason to go on without her"

Stefan smiled and leaned closer to Aro, whispering so no one else could hear.

"I've spent my life trying to find a way to make you pay and along the way I found out a few things. I know your secret Aro. If you make me, I will go to Marcus and tell him who really killed the one he loved"

"You have no proof" Aro whispered back, angrily.

"I don't need proof. Have you ever seen a garden Aro? All you need to do to make it grow is plant the seed. He may not believe me at first but once the thought is there not even you will be able to get rid of it. I have no desire to be your enemy, all I want is to live my life with the woman I love. If you leave us in peace you will never see us again, I promise"

They stared at each other. Aro waited for Stefan to drop his gaze but he was calm and unfazed. The tension in the air between them was so intense that no one in the room dared to move or speak and they forgot that they weren't alone, until…

"I have something to say"

They all turned and looked at Charlotte. There was no trace of fear in her voice as she faced them, and even Aro managed to look surprised. Charlotte however, only had eyes for one person.

"One night" she began "That's all that it was supposed to be. For a long time, I was convinced it wasn't real, that I was nothing more than a distraction. But you came back, again and again. You woke me up, body and soul. You gave me so much; more than I could ever make you realize. When I'm with you I feel beautiful, special. I feel more alive than I ever have before. For that, I want to thank you. I would never have experienced any of it without you. I love you Stefan. The words seem so inadequate because it's so much more than that. You keep saying I'm not ready but what you don't understand is I was ready before we even met. My whole life I've been waiting for this; I just didn't know it until I found you. Without you I have nothing. If my choice came down to living without you or not living at all, then I welcome death with open arms"

Stefan made a low moaning sound, as if he were in pain.

"You don't know what you're saying" he said.

"I do. I know exactly what I'm saying. I know what you are and I know what it will take to be with you, and I'm telling you it's what I want – but even if that isn't my fate. Even if this is my last night on earth, I'll still be happy…because the last thing I'll get to see is your face."

There was silence in the room for a moment as Stefan and Charlotte stood still and looked at each other. Then a snort of derision came from behind Demetri. It was Natasha. She came forward from where she was hiding in the shadows and rested her hand on Demetri's shoulder. Her smile was so evil and full of haughty distain and it made Charlotte angry. Angrier than she had ever been before. Everything had been perfect until this vindictive bitch came along. She returned the stare of hatred, her nostrils flaring as she struggled in the grasp of the large tree-like vampire holding her.

"Ah Natasha, here you are at last. You have an issue, my dear?" Aro said as he turned to Natasha with a smile.

"The rules are clear. She is human and she knows about us. Kill her and let's be done with this Aro, it's not like you have another choice"

Natasha was used to her looks getting her what she wanted, and over the years she had become complacent about what she could and could not get away with. She was so fixated on destroying Charlotte because she was jealous that she didn't see the way Aro frowned at her words.

"Is that so?" he asked softly. Even Charlotte caught the warning note in his voice. Stefan picked up on it immediately and he quickly seized the opportunity.

"Does she speak for you now?" he said to Aro. Natasha's eyes lit up and she moved even closer to Demetri, her hand caressed his shoulder as she looked at Stefan in triumph. The intimate way she was touching him made it obvious they were sleeping together. So that was her conquest. She couldn't have Aro so she settled for one of his guard. Charlotte felt her heart sink. She was doomed then. This truly would be the last time she got to see Stefan.

As it turned out, it was her first lesson in not underestimating the Volturi. Aro moved too fast for Charlotte to see. One second he was standing with Stefan and the next he was right in front of her; taking her hand with his. The air left her lungs as he exercised his power. She could actually feel him picking through and discarding her every thought. When he was done he looked at her and despite the fact that she was standing in the room with a bunch of vampires and this could possibly be the last minute she had to live, she wasn't frightened by him. He turned then, his blood-red gaze falling on Natasha. She finally seemed to realize that Aro wasn't taking her side and her smile faltered.

"Aro?" she said. He tilted his head to side and looked at Natasha, but his words were directed to someone else.

"It would appear, Demetri, that your new friend has deceived you"

Demetri had the good sense to take a step away from her.

"What!?" Natasha said in shock. "What are you talking about?"

"Stefan did not reveal our secret to this human, you did" he said in dangerous tone, speaking to Natasha.

"I didn't tell her anything" Natasha said, holding out her hand for Aro to take. He only looked at her with a smile that chilled everyone to the bone.

"Sometimes my dear, actions speak louder than words" he said.

His tone was soft and lilting and yet the danger that lay under it was palpable. Natasha seemed to finally realize that she had made a mistake. A horrible, horrible mistake. She took a step back, then another before Aro spoke again.

"When I take care of this situation, you and I must have a very long talk my dear" he said to her. He nodded to the one that was holding Charlotte and he released her and he walked over and stood behind Natasha. The meaning was clear; Natasha was not free to go. Aro turned back to Stefan.

"I have seen her thoughts and her words to you were true. Her heart lies with you. The question I must ask myself is do you truly intend to make her one of us? Do I believe you, Stefan or do I take matters into my own hands? Is she the one you wish to spend eternity with?"

The tortured look on Stefan's face was too much for Charlotte. A single tear coursed down her cheek as she watched her love struggle with his answer. Aro was unpredictable and hurting Stefan was something he'd been waiting for. Admitting what he truly wanted might make him want to kill Charlotte just to see Stefan suffer, but lying was not an option. Finally, he looked up, licking his lips nervously he said;

"She is my life. I love her"

Things happened fast after that, so fast no one had no time to think. Aro grabbed Charlotte and sank his teeth into the tender flesh of her neck. Stefan and Natasha yelled out 'No!' simultaneously as the blood flowed and Aro drank. His control was amazing and he only sampled a drop before pulling back and letting the venom take effect. Charlotte immediately dropped to the ground, screaming and writhing in pain as it coursed through her, setting her veins on fire. She felt as if she was burning from the inside out. Stefan stood in stunned disbelief. He was in such shock at what just happened that he couldn't move for a moment. Then he rushed to her side, crying out in despair each time she screamed. She writhed on the ground, her face contorted in agony. He couldn't take it and whipped his head up, looking straight at Aro.

"Why?" he said, his voice breaking with emotion.

"Would you rather I killed her?" Aro replied. Stefan simply hung his head and turned away, unable to watch the woman he loved in such pain. He sat and tried to block the sounds. Aro came and stood behind him.

"You didn't even let her prepare herself for the pain. I would have turned her when she was ready." Stefan said.

"Promises I've heard before" Aro said with a sneer "I will not take the chance of there being another child. The outcome could have been very different Stefan. I granted you this gift because I was feeling generous, and because I have a more interesting situation to take care of" He said with a quick glance toward Natasha. "I will assume that being this ungrateful is simply a result of what is transpiring now."

Words that would have set his anger aflame any other time, but right now Stefan could only sit and try to not listen to the sounds of agony. He covered his ears and rocked back and forth, forcing his mind to think of her. He went back through each memory he had, sifting through them and cherishing each one. From the first moment he saw her, sitting alone trying so hard to look confident. She was irresistible and the fact that she didn't know it just made more impossible for him to stay away. The fear mixed with desire that he saw in her eyes when he first took her. They way it turned from fear to absolute trust each time they were together. The first time the weather made it possible to stay with her for more than just a few hours. If only she knew the sweet torture of having to leave each time the sun came up. For centuries he had walked the earth, never knowing in all that time that he was capable of love. Until Charlotte. She saved him and he vowed that he would spend eternity showing her how much she meant to him. If he could just get through today.

Eventually the sounds diminished, but Stefan was concentrating so hard he didn't notice. Not until a hand reached up and caressed his shoulder did he come out of his reverie. He looked up, startled. And from behind came the sweetest sound he'd ever heard. His heart rejoiced as she spoke a single word.

"Beloved"

Everything was going to be alright.

THE END