A/N: Full chapter is on AO3 as always. c: There should be one or two more chapters before this is over. Thank you to everyone who followed, favorited, or left a review; the fact people enjoy this little (not really) story makes my heart happy.

Blood Bound
Chapter VI :: Sun and Stars

After everything, Alec couldn't blame his mate for sticking to him like adhesive. Carlisle refused to let him out of his sight for more than a few minutes, the fear in his eyes making Alec kick himself for making Carlisle feel in such a way.

He can feel it through the bond as well, and that's the worst part of the whole ordeal. Every bit of terror, the thought of losing him forever, what if he hadn't come back in that moment - it makes Alec snarl at himself.

He shouldn't have done what he did, he should have stayed and told Carlisle what he remembered so they could work through it together, but in that raw moment, rationality wasn't exactly what was going through Alec's mind.

Sending as much reassurance through the bond as he can, Alec knows it won't make up for what he did. It'll always linger in Carlisle's mind he could have lost him forever, before their own could even begin, and that's definitely the most horrendous part about this situation. Alec doesn't know if he'll ever forgive himself for what he did to his beloved, but all he can do is try.

The most shocking thing, though, was when he was introduced to Edward and Bella's daughter. She was beautiful, and Alec felt himself smile as Carlisle weaved his arm around his shoulders and pulled him close.

"Why don't you tell him her name?" he hears Carlisle murmur, and Alec blinks, confused. Her name?

"Alise," Bella says, and Alec's eyes wide. Alise. A combination of his and Carlisle's names.

"That's-..." Alec chokes. "Beautiful. But why?"

"We knew you'd come back," Edward explains, and leaves it at that. And, if Alec could cry, he knows he'd be sobbing. No one's ever done such a precious thing for him, for someone as useless as him, and he hears Edward click his tongue. "You're not useless, Alec. Don't ever think that."

A soft nuzzle in his hair makes Alec go pliant, and he leans his head on Carlisle's shoulder. "Yes, my darling, you are the furthest thing from useless. You're the stars in my sky."

"I see you're still corny," Alec mumbles, amused, but closes his eyes in pain. "I'm so sorry. I just-... I couldn't watch what happened to Aria happen again. It was… it was horrible."

Carlisle shushes him, nuzzling him again, and Alec breathes out a sigh. "You have nothing to apologize for. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"I figured I was dying soon," at this, his mate let out a low, painful noise, "and for some reason, my feet led me back. I had no intention to, but I guess the bond was yelling at me not to die."

Bella's lips curl to a tight smile. "If I wasn't in the state I was, I know Carlisle would have gone after you. But you better not vanish on us again, okay? I don't think you two could take another separation."

Alec gives a joyless laugh. "Believe me, I'm not leaving again. Someone would have to drag me away kicking and screaming."

"And I wouldn't let them."

The newborn tilts his head back to look into beautiful gold eyes, and he weaves his arm around so it can tangle in blond tresses, a soft smile on his face. "Good, you better not. I still don't know how we survived the separations we did, but you're stuck with me now, Cullen."

Carlisle shakes his head, his own gentle smile on his face. "Speaking of that. Come with me for a moment, hm?"

Alec blinks, confused, and doesn't miss the snicker Edward emits at his mate's words. "Yeah, sure. You're not gonna divorce me or anything, are you?"

For once, Alec can't read the expression in Carlisle's eyes, but he can feel the trepidation and nerves through the bond. He lets his mate pull him along until they're in Carlisle's study, and his beloved frames his face in his hands, kissing his forehead softly.

"I've wanted to do this from the moment we met, but I needed to do so the right way, the human way," Carlisle whispers against Alec's skin, and Alec doesn't know where this is going, but if his heart still beat, he knows it would have skipped one at the tender tone his mate uses. "And, after nearly losing you twice - and actually losing you once - I knew I couldn't put this off any longer."

"What are you saying, Carlisle?" Alec murmurs, speaking quietly, almost as if talking louder would break whatever's happening.

"What I'm saying is, despite the fact we're tied together as mates, I want you as more than that. I want you as," a soft breath, "my husband."

Alec definitely would be crying if he could as Carlisle gets down on one knee, taking a box out of his pocket and presenting it to him. "Alexander Michael Davis, from the moment I saw you, you became the most important person in my entire life. You were created for me, just as I was for you, and although I've failed to protect you more than once, I swear on our forever I'll do whatever I can to keep you safe for the rest of eternity. I'll love you until the sun stops burning in the sky, and even then my adoration for you will not cease." Carlisle takes one of Alec's hands in his, kissing his knuckles. "So, my darling, my sun and stars, will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

Alec doesn't even need to think about it. He throws himself in Carlisle's arms, hearing the surprised noise from his mate, and nuzzles his nose against his neck. "Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes, I'll marry you."

A soft puff of breath against his hair is the only answer Alec gets as Carlisle weaves his arms around him, holding him close. His mate constantly nuzzles him, and Alec can feel the happiness and joy radiating through the bond, returning with his own bliss and delight.

This is the beginning of healing, and when they finally break apart, Carlisle lifts Alec's hand, sliding the ring on his finger. It doesn't matter what the ring looks like - Carlisle could have proposed to him with a ring pop and he still would have accepted. But that's not his mate's style, everything he does has meaning behind it.

Looking closer at the ring on his finger, Alec can't help but laugh. Rose quartz, of course. The ultimate gem for love. Surrounding the quartz is an aquamarine and topaz stone, signifying their eyes, and Alec smiles, pushing Carlisle onto the floor and kissing him gently.

He isn't sure how long they kiss, as air, thankfully, is no longer a problem for either of them, but as always, Carlisle breaks the contact, dusting his fingers across Alec's cheeks before running his thumb over his lips.

"I adore you," Carlisle whispers, voice full of love for him, and Alec feels his undead heart beat once more within his ribs.

"And I love you. So damn much."

His beloved smiles, the first true one Alec's seen since his near death experience, and he resolves, then and there, to ensure Carlisle's always smiling and happy, never in despair again.

It's his duty, as his mate and now fiance, to ensure this man's well-being, and it's one Alec takes very, very seriously.

Never again will they separate. Alec will rip apart anyone who tries to take Carlisle from him, and he knows the opposite holds true as well. They barely survived the separations they did - Alec grimaces when he realized he didn't survive their first one - and he refuses to see what would happen a third time.

"Where did you go?" a soft voice brings Alec back to the present, and he kisses Carlisle's cheek when he sees his mate looks worried. "What's going on in that head of yours?"

"I was just thinking about things," Alec reassures, a loving smile on his face. "Like how I wish I could marry you right now and elope."

That wins a laugh from Carlisle as he nuzzles their noses together. "As much as I wish for that as well, I think Alice would kill both of us if we did such a thing."

"Oh, yeah, no, we definitely don't want Alice's wrath," Alec teases. "But that doesn't mean we can't elope once the wedding's over."

"Hm," Carlisle pretends to think about it. "I suppose I could be convinced to elope with you."

"The charm scores another point."

"Yes, well, you are quite the charming little devil."

Alec grins, kissing his beloved once again, and the way Carlisle devours his mouth leaves him breathless. "I don't think having sex on the floor would be great, but if you kiss me like that again, I'm not responsible for my actions."

Carlisle smirks at him, pecking his lips before sitting up and pulling Alec up with him. "We can't have that, can we?"

"Nope. I'd much rather you be inside me when we're on a bed. That's the only thing they're good for now anyway," Alec quips, loving the way those eyes darken. "And I don't plan on letting you leave said bed once we're married."

"Good, because I think the matter would be I wouldn't let you leave," Carlisle murmurs, voice husky.

"Oh really? I'm intrigued."

"Can't spoil all the surprises, can I?"

Alec pouts. "Fine, be that way, jerk."

Carlisle chuckles, tangling his fingers through his mate's hair and stroking his scalp. "Don't pout, my dove. Trust me, you'll thank me for keeping some things in the dark."

"Hmph. I guess so."

A knock comes on the door. "Are you guys done? We need to celebrate your engagement!"

Carlisle snorts, amused. "Of course Alice wants to plan the wedding and engagement."

Alec laughs. "Aw, let the girl have her fun. It's not every day your father figure gets engaged and you get to plan his wedding." His nose scrunches. "I just don't think I can handle it if they start calling me Dad."

That gets a smile. "I don't think they would, but I'm sorry in advance for laughing if they do."

"Jerk," Alec mutters playfully.

I'm marrying this man.

That's the only thought radiating through Carlisle's mind as he watches Alec interact with their family with a wide, happy grin on his face. The entire world will know they belong to each other - both the vampire and human ones - and it makes Carlisle's own smile quirk his lips.

God, he's hopelessly in love with his little rascal, and it makes him feel like a teenager all over again.

Alec saunters over to him after chatting with their family for a good while, leaning his head on his shoulder. Carlisle can feel delight and contentment through the bond, and it makes him send his own waves of positivity back through it. He weaves his arm around Alec's shoulders and pulls him close, nuzzling his nose against blond tresses.

"I thought Alice was bad when she was planning Edward and Bella's wedding, but god, she's even worse with ours," Alec muses, a teasing edge to his voice. "I don't know how we'll survive her antics."

Carlisle chuckles, squeezing Alec's shoulders. "We'll find a way. We always do."

"True, but jeez, women can be scary when they're in wedding planning mode," Alec mutters, amused. "Although I'm tempted to drag you back to bed so we don't have to deal with this, I don't think our family would forgive me if I did that."

"Hm," a soft laugh, "I could be convinced."

"Yeah, you could be, but everyone else? Nope."

Alice skips over to them, a pleased look on her face. "I'm glad you realized that, Alec, because none of us would forgive you if you dragged Carlisle to bed when we have a wedding to plan."

Alec grins at her. "I know you well."

The rest of the evening passes with excited chatter and by the time night falls, Carlisle wants nothing more than to drag Alec into bed and keep him there for the next few years. Yet before he can, Alice approaches them with a glint in her eyes that makes him quirk an eyebrow in curiosity.

"We have an engagement present for you guys," she says with a smile.

"It's barely been 24 hours and you already have a present?" Alec grouses, making Carlisle tousle his hair. Alec was never really receptive to presents, although he's slowly starting to change his mindset.

"Trust me, you'll love this one. C'mon!"

They follow her into the thickest parts of the forest, where a house greets them. Carlisle blinks in confusion while Alec looks like he might pass out. "A house?" Alec manages to say after a minute. "You got us a freakin' house?!"

"Edward and Bella have their own place; we figured you two deserve your own too," Alice says cheerfully. "And that way we don't have to leave whenever you get up to… extracurricular activities."

Carlisle laughs. "Thank you, Alice."

"Yeah, no problem. Get in there and reacquaint yourselves. We'll see you tomorrow."

Placing a kiss upon each of their cheeks, Alice bounds off, and Alec still stands there, eyes comically wide and if he wasn't thinking his mate was actually going into shock, Carlisle would have chuckled. Instead, he grips his shoulders, locking eyes with him, and sends soothing emotions through the bond until Alec's eyes refocus.

"A… house. A fucking house."

"Language," Carlisle teases, and Alec smacks his shoulder.

"A house!" he repeats. "How did they hide this from us, hell, from you? You're usually on top of everything."

The older vampire shrugs. "My attention hasn't really been on anything but you in recent times, so they used it to their advantage, I presume."

Alec sighs, grasping onto Carlisle's arm. "Guess we should check it out, and maybe check out other things."

Carlisle smirks at the husky tone. "Like what?"

"Oh, you know. Things," Alec murmurs with a grin.

A low, possessive growl rumbles through Carlisle's chest as he grips onto his mate's arm, pulling him inside. He barely pays attention to the inside as he tosses his little rascal on the couch, devouring his lips with his own, hissing when Alec's hands glide over his body.

"Still can't believe an Adonis like you belongs to some scrawny kid like me," Alec jests, and although his tone is light, Carlisle knows Alec doesn't really view himself as attractive, so he has to put a stop to those thoughts.

"You're perfect in every way," Carlisle whispers against Alec's skin, capturing his lips yet again. His hand glides over Alec's form, and he smirks into the liplock when Alec quivers under his hand. He palms him through his jeans, loving the way Alec moans into the kiss and bucks his hips up, desperate for some kind of gratification.

"F-Fuck," Alec groans. "D-Do that again."

"As you desire, my love."

Centuries of self control makes it so Carlisle doesn't rip Alec's clothes clean off him. Instead, he disrobes him in a loving and caring way, kissing each inch of skin as it's revealed to him. Alec's breathing is ragged as he's laid bare before his mate, and Carlisle lets out a pleased hum, nuzzling Alec's shoulder and sighing in content.

"I love you," he whispers, and Alec lets out his own content noise.

"I love you too. So fucking much."

Alec never imagined himself so blissfully happy and utterly in love, especially after everything he's been through in his thirty mortal years, but fate works in strange ways. It gave him forever in the form of a single man and his family, and Alec doesn't know if anything can get better than this.

It's a bit hard on the head as Alice plans his and Carlisle's wedding, but he can't bring himself to be annoyed by her antics. Her, Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie, Edward, and Bella are all over the moon for them and Alice sets them to do different tasks, to make their day utterly perfect, and Alec throws his trust in them.

He knows Carlisle's family - their family - wants nothing but the best for them, to make their day special and amazing, and Alec would have cried if he was able. He's never had anyone do so much for him in all of his years. Who would have thought a broken, lost man like himself would find his forever in anyone, really?

His mind reels to the first day they met, when a nomad attacked him and sent him to the hospital. What if he hadn't gone that day, and just let the injuries heal by themselves, no matter how fucked his arm would have been afterwards? What if he hadn't caught Carlisle's beautiful golden eyes across the hall, and what if-...

"God, your thoughts hurt my head," Edward teases, and Alec blinks, staring at him with surprise. "You don't have to worry about any of that, you know. If you hadn't encountered Carlisle that night, you would have sooner rather than later."

"How can you be so sure?" Alec whispers, voice small. "How do you know I wouldn't have been torn apart by the nomads who were after my blood? What if-... oh god, what if Carlisle was alone forever-..."

"Shh, my darling." Alec didn't hear nor feel Carlisle approach, but those arms wrap around his shoulders and pull him towards Carlisle's chest. "Don't think of such things. I found you, you found me, and we have forever and eternity together." A strange sensation pools in Alec's eyes, and cold fingers wipe away the venom gathering in his eyes. "Don't cry, my beloved. It's okay. Everything is as it should be."

"Carlisle," Alec murmurs, hating how broken his voice sounds. "What if Sam hadn't gotten your scarf to me? What if my feet hadn't carried me back? What if… what if I had died before our lives together could have even started?"

Alec turns in his mate's arms, burying his face in his shoulder, body quivering with the force of his emotions. A soft nuzzle against his hair soothes him, and Carlisle murmurs, "Then we would be together in the afterlife, whatever there is for us."

"N-No." Alec wraps his arms around Carlisle's waist, pulling him close, closer, closer still. "If-... if something ever happened to me, I want you to live. I don't… I don't want you to die just because I'm not here anymore."

"You should already know this," Edward murmurs, "but mates can't survive without each other. If one died, the other would become frozen in time, never moving, or kill themselves to be with their other half. And, with how strong your bond is, I know Carlisle wouldn't be able to handle living in a world where you didn't exist."

A painful whimper leaves Alec at those words, and Carlisle shushes him, holding him close. "We don't have to think of those things, my love. We will always be together, and I will protect you."

"I'll protect you too," Alec whispers. "My powers are weird, but they can work well in a fight."

"Huh," Edward says. "Yeah, your powers are definitely different. I've never met another vampire who could control and freeze time."

Carlisle chuckles. "You always were special and unique; your powers should be no different."

Alec smiles, leaning up to press their lips together. He hears Edward excuse himself as Carlisle pulls him close so nothing, not even air, lingers between them, and a low snarl drips from his mate as his eyes turn ochre.

"I just had you in bed for two days, and yet I wish for nothing more than to throw you back and have my way with you all over again," Carlisle growls against Alec's skin. "You do wicked things to me, Alec."

"Yeah? You do the same to me," Alec purrs. "But we should restrain ourselves until we're back home."

A playful sigh spills from Carlisle's throat. "I suppose we should. But once we return," a harsh bite to Alec's neck, "I won't let you leave our bed for a good week."

"I look forward to it," Alec replies with a grin.

Things are peaceful for a while, except for one thing - Alise is growing faster than anyone expects her to, and time seems to be their mortal enemy. Carlisle keeps track of her growth in a little black book, and even he seems perplexed by it.

But all of a sudden, Alec feels like everything will suddenly be violently ripped away from them, that everything will end and people will die, and it makes him sick. As they're at the main home, Alec gets hit with a violent wave of nausea, and it makes him dry heave.

Carlisle is beside him in seconds, the coolness of his hand on his neck making Alec feel the nausea recede for a brief few seconds before it takes over him again. By the time it's over, he's clutching his stomach, groaning in pain, and Carlisle pulls him against him, burying his nose in his neck and nuzzling him to try and soothe the torment lingering in his very core.

"What happened, sweetheart?" he whispers, voice laced with concern.

"I– I don't know. I just." Alec swallows thickly. "I can't help but feel everything is about to end."

When Bella, Jacob, and Alise return some time later, and Bella tells them Irina saw them, Alec feels nauseated again. His face must have betrayed something because Carlisle pulls him against his side, whispering soothing words in his ear, and once more, his mate's voice and scent calms him, as it always has.

Alec's worst fears are consummated when Alice has a vision.

The Volturi are coming for them.

They think Alise is an Immortal Child.

And Alec's entire world goes dark.

Seeing his mate's eyes go blank and soulless, his entire body becoming rigid like stone, scares the hell out of Carlisle. He grasps onto Alec's shoulders, feeling nothing from his love, and he aligns their foreheads, trying to see into his mind and what caused this sudden shift.

"Alec, sweetheart, what's going on? Come back to me, my love," Carlisle whispers, but Alec doesn't react. His eyes remain dull, his form unmoving and frozen. The older vampire has only seen this but once - it's the vampire equivalent to shock, except it's much, much worse. The vampire Carlisle saw this in never recovered for decades, and pain rips through his undead heart at the thought of Alec remaining frozen for so long.

"Is… is he okay?" Carlisle hears Bella ask, and he can't bring himself to answer her. His inner beast screams at him to protect Alec - he's no longer with them, he's vulnerable, he needs to be kept safe. Dimly, he thinks he hears Edward whisper something to his mate, but his entire focus is on his beloved.

"Please come back, my darling," Carlisle murmurs against Alec's skin. "I cannot face this without you."

Alec's eyes swim for a brief second, and it almost looks like Carlisle's words reach him, but they return to dim gold as quick as life returns. A soft, painful sigh slips from the older vampire as he lifts Alec in his arms, hating how his body is far too cold, even by vampire standards, and he kisses his forehead softly.

"I swear to protect you, no matter what," Carlisle utters. "I won't let anyone take you away, not even yourself."

Alec isn't sure how long he stays in darkness, violent images swimming through his mind over and over again. The Volturi destroying everything he ever loved, tearing the family apart, Carlisle's head being ripped from his shoulders–

No. He has to snap out of this. He has to wake up and protect his mate, his - their - family. He can't stay in this void forever. He needs… he needs to wake up, damn it.

A yell of let him go makes Alec's eyes go wide. He sees a field, snow covering it, his lifeless form being held down by the Volturi, feels fury and rage and despair, and those beautiful eyes are completely black. He needs to get out of this hell. Now. Before Carlisle does something he can't ever take back.

Before he's destroyed.

Light.

Gathering witnesses, even though it's quite likely a fight will ensue instead, having Alec's body frozen and unmoving, Alice and Jasper leaving… It's all too much for Carlisle. He feels his control fraying at the seams. He wants nothing more than Alec to break out of his stupor, to hold and kiss him until they're both desperate and gasping for air, but knows it's an impossibility.

Who knows how long Alec will remain in a vegetative state, but Carlisle swears to be by his side for as many years, decades, or centuries it takes until he comes back to him.

And then, it's time. Gathering their witnesses, they find their way to the field. As much as Carlisle doesn't want Alec here, he knows he wouldn't be able to focus if his mate wasn't beside him. He keeps a tight arm around his shoulders as Aro, Caius, Marcus, and the guard approach them, and it begins.

After exchanging a few words, Aro looks at Alec, red eyes curious. "Carlisle, if I may?"

A snarl rips through Carlisle at those words, but reluctantly, he lets his arm drop from Alec's shoulders. For the first time in months, Alec's feet move on their own, and he approaches the Volturi, stopping in front of Aro.

Aro takes Alec's hands within his, and, after a few moments, laughs. "Marvelous… this boy possesses such unique powers for our kind, unlike any I've ever seen. Offensive and defensive skills…" His eyes flash. "Far too dangerous."

The guard grabs Alec, and Carlisle screams. "Let him go!"

All of a sudden, Aro gasps for air, and his body turns in on itself. After a brief few seconds, it stops, and the leader of the Volturi turns on Alec, who looks at him with a smirk.

"You'll hurt him over my dead body," he snarls, and hearing Alec's voice after so long makes Carlisle want to sob. "You know what I can do, Aro, so I suggest you don't tempt me."

"My, my… such anger," Aro says. But then movement appears from the furthest side of the field, and his eyes light up. "Alice!"

She and Jasper walk towards the Volturi and the guard, and she says, "I have evidence the child won't be a threat to our kind." She holds out her hand. "Let me show you."

Aro bounds towards her and takes her hand, and seeing the haunted look in his eyes, Carlisle wonders what she's showing him. But he pulls back, eyes wide, and Alice says, "If you kill Alec, the vision I showed you will be much, much worse. So I would suggest letting him go."

Waving a hand, the guard releases Alec, and he runs over to Carlisle, practically knocking him down onto the snow.

"You stupid idiot," Alec murmurs against his chest. "You could have - you would have - died if you attacked them. What were you thinking!?"

Carlisle lets out a sigh, breathing in his love's scent, and buries his nose within his hair. "I wasn't. All I knew was they were going to kill you, and I was going to stop them or die trying."

"Stupid, idiotic vampire," Alec whispers. Their lips find one another's, and for a moment, Carlisle forgets about everything except for this man in his arms, his sun and stars, his precious, beloved mate. He kisses him back with every bit of love he feels for Alec, and once they break away from each other, it seems everything is over.

"You guys done?" Rosalie jests. "Because Alice just saved all our asses."

Looking around, he notices the witnesses Alice brought, another half mortal, half immortal, and he can't help but smile. "I should have known she hadn't abandoned us."

Alice runs over to them, wrapping her arms around Carlisle and holding him close. "I'm so glad I got here fast enough. I saw-..." A shake of the head. "It doesn't matter. We made it back, and it's over."

Carlisle hugs her back, a soft smile on his face. "You truly saved us, Alice. Thank you."

She lets him go after a moment, embracing Alec, a soft laugh leaving her lips. "You really gave it to him with your powers, Alec. Gotta say I'm impressed."

Alec smirks, returning the hug. "Have to protect what's mine, don't I?"

Alice giggles. "Yeah, guess you do."

Pulling away, Alec finds himself in Carlisle's arms, and Carlisle frames his face within his hands, kissing him softly.

Everything is over.

They have a wedding to plan.

TBC...