The morning light came and found Cauis pacing in his room. He tried to build on plans that flowed through his mind; he was not a gentle soul like Marcus. He couldn't be childish and joyful like Aro. He was only calm with the child, and Jennifer was not a child. He could always make her spend time with him

This train of thought slowed his pacing as his thoughts turned in another direction, a glimpse of a pleasure filled face shook him to the core.

She was far from a child.

As he cleared his thinking, he barely heard a soft knocking on his outer chamber door. Perhaps it would be the new secretary; he was in need to let out his anger. Grinning maliciously, he strode to the door and threw it open.

It was chestnut hair that greeted him and a pair of dazzling blue eyes watching him behind a pair of elegant frames. He could see a bit of curiosity in her lovely eyes.

"Master Aro sent me to you in order to finalize the art for the event and to order your suit from Matteo." Jennifer focused her attentions on the planner in her hands, all the while managing to look at everything except him.

Of course Aro would send her .. the man has the subtlety of a Navi stormtrooper.

"Wait here." Cauis said to her, startling both of them with the calmness of his answer. When he returned he passed the folder to her, brushing his fingers against hers on accident. He could hear her heart pick up and saw her cheeks turn a slight pink.

Cute

Caius watched her while in a daze as she thanked him and quickly turned to almost run down the hall away from his chambers. A part of him was angry for the feelings that were thrust upon him quickly, however it would seem that learning that one was your mate changed a person's outlook rather quickly.

No, she was most definitely not a child.

This would not do at all.

(Page Break)

It was a lovely morning when she woke in her bed, snuggled in her fluffy blankets! Today was a good day! Jennifer took three steps at a time to her bedroom and walked to her closet.

Today was a cute day! She was going to wear pink! She pulled on her pink buttoned shirt and tucked it into her grey pencil skirt. The pencil skirt was in a pink and grey tartan design and had a couple folds in the back that flipped when she walked, close to her knees. She loved this skirt! It went perfect with the grey Lou Batons with pink bows! A gift from Demetri.

Checking herself in the mirror, she flung open the door and walked straight into a hard and lean figure. Stumbling slightly, she was righted as strong arms held her waist tightly. She looked up into the normally stoic face of Master Caius. His fine blond hair looked slightly tussled and he was wearing a deep charcoal grey suit with a deep burgundy tie.

"Umm…" Jennifer looked out the door both ways before standing taller and watching him, watching her. "Am I in trouble?" Silence .. "I'm confused."

Caius continued to stare at the woman in front of him. Had she always smelled this lovely? Were her eyes always this shade of blue?

Jennifer continued to fidget in front of him before noticing a folder in his grasp, "Is that for me?"

The simple question brought him to her attention. She was looking at his hands with a questioning gaze.

"Yes," Was all Caius said while shoving the folder towards her.

"Oh! Thank you!" Jennifer said taking it from him, looking the folder over, she noticed that he had abruptly turned and began striding into the castle, "I will get started on this right now Master Caius!"

She chuckled and started walking to the castle, ready to work for the day. As she walked into the castle, she felt a firm hand on her waist, twisting her body towards a pair of awaiting arms.

"Pleasant Morning."

"Oh for goodness sake, must you start immediately this morning!" Jennifer groaned while looking up at Demetri with a playful glare in her eyes. Demetri grinned and pulled her closer, her head under his chin, until she pushed him away and began to walk down the halls to her office.

"You are most playful this morning," Demetri called from behind her as he followed her light steps. He smiled when he saw her twirl with her arms wide and a gleeful smile on her face.

"Today is a wonderful day!" She replied with a grin as she moved away from him, knowing he would follow. "I might even let you go with me to the town today!"

"A date I would never miss!" Demetri replied as he watched her walk away from him, a skip in her step.

It was in times like this that she was most beautiful, all around her smiled in her presence. She was bright and full of life, a creature that was meant to be protected and cherished. It wasn't long into her morning before the form of Master Aro revealed himself to the doors of her office. He was quite shocked to see the object of his desire balancing precariously on a stool will reaching high to get a book from the top shelf on the bookshelf in front of her. Her shoes lying innocently on the floor.

Aro was by her side immediately when he saw the stool begin to move out from under her, steadying her once more.

"Now, my dearest, was that the brightest plan? Surely it would not have taken much to have asked for assistance." Aro chided, while holding her in his arms, pulling her close to his chest. Once again he could feel tremors in her tiny body, before turning her to face him. It would seem that she still was leery of him. "Something weighs your mind even on this most delightful day! Please tell me, for I am unable to read your thoughts, Mia Cara."

Aro pulled away from her and sat on the edge of her desk and watched as she slowly walked away from him and turned back to the bookcase and putting the books away once more. He patiently waited for her to speak to him.

"I met Alexandria yesterday," She started and Aro's thoughts quickly flitted from wondering if the new mortal said anything to her or perhaps she felt jealous of the new addition. "I guess I wonder when and what I will do to anger you and then it will be my time to …"

Aro watched with wide eyes, "How long have you feared for your safety?" He stood and turned her to face him, "It hasn't been long and you have never felt threatened before. Did dear Alexandria speak to you and settle these thoughts in your pretty little head? Not Alexandria, but another perhaps?"

Jennifer ducked her head and refused to look at him, before a booming voice cut into the silence of the room.

"You tell him or I will little one," Felix spoke from the door before bowing lowly to the vampire king in front of him. An outburst such as this would normally warrant retribution but the Masters made the mortal woman and her child his charge and he knew it would be allowed.

Aro looked between the two before a light literally clicked in his mind, "One among us placed such fears into your mind."

Jennifer looked at her planner, refusing to speak, against another. Felix rolled his eyes before stepping into the room. It was at this moment that Aro truly wanted to curse her gentle soul, to think, a mortal trying to protect a vampire. The room went still as Felix relayed what he saw and part of what he heard to his Master, on the outside he could see a change in his Master. As Felix spoke to him, Aro began to turn slowly to look once more at the woman who now moved to her chair. Shame filled her very soul as she could feel her eyes heat up, tears would be next and she refused to cry in front of him. She swore she would never cry in front of him again.

In the Past

"I am not trying to undermine you, Valencia, the memo you are sending them is horrible. They will literally wring your pretty neck."

The leggy blonde turned to her, the silver tray delicately held my slim hands. Her eyes were cold before she opened her mouth. "You think you are important to them, don't you? You are nothing to them, simply a body to work. You will never be one of them, you will never be with one of them. Too homely to even keep the father of your offspring by your side, so do be a dear and finish your work. After all, is it not what you are good at?"

With a flip of her hair, she turned and strode towards the throne room. The halls echoed her footsteps, leaving Jennifer to stand in silence. She could feel the anger build within her, how dare she? Striding to follow, she could her conversation in the throne room. The smooth voice of Valencia talking to Caius could be heard, while Marcus looked up from his book. She was everything she wasn't. Beautiful, elegant and wanted, even with a cruel heart, turning she slowly walked to her office.

Praying that he was in the throne room, even though she had not heard his voice, finding her office she took a deep breath and closed the door. She looked at the things she was gifted during the years of her employment and just saw objects. Elegant objects, not like her at all, standing near the window, she sighed. The tears could fall in her office, then she would be alright. It would all be alright.

"What am I doing here?" she thought, so into her thoughts she should have known that he always had a flair for showing at the worst time. He threw open her door with his normal cheery voice and a childlike smile on his face.

"Buongiorno Jennifer!" He said, before he stopped sharply at the scent of salt in the air. He slowly walked to her as he watched her tiny hands rub her face quickly. With a deep breath, she turned and smiled. She knew that it was a fake smile given to reassure him, but still a fake smile.

"Now, I have my fair share of fake emotions daily, Mia Cara, I will not accept it from one such as yourself." Aro spoke to her with words of stone; she flinched when she heard them.

Aro watched her flinch and close herself quickly, attempting to turn from him once more. He rushed her before she could turn, catching the skin of her shoulders. The events of the morning flowed into him and he looked down at her, still hiding from him. In hindsight, he should have known the look that he was giving her at this time. Abruptly, he let go of her before speaking to her in a cold voice, a dead voice.

"Così sia" (So be it), he bit out before turning to leave her office, shutting the door forcefully. The echo of the door jolted her, she could hear the forceful steps of his dress shoes at the strode towards the throne room. As he strode towards "her"

It was Marcus that came to her much later in the day, knocking on her door softly. Waiting for her to open the door for him, she looked apprehensive and almost frightened to see him. He quickly realized that it was in fact a good idea that he came to her instead of Aro. After watching her for a time, he spoke to her gently.

"Emaline will be released from school shortly. Take your time getting her, to collect your thoughts and yourself. Once you have taken her home, I will come retrieve her for her lessons. You have been given the evening off, take time to rest at home." He knew she would resist so before she could start he held up his hand, "You are expected for your duties in the morning."

The next morning, she noticed Valentia was gone.

Present return

"Felix". His voice cut sharply, "You are dismissed."

He watched her with a slight tilt of his head, taking a few moments to collect his thoughts; he sat slowly in the chair in front of her desk. "I believe the matter of this issue does not lay with the callus words of my newest guard, but rather the troubling thoughts you have floating in your pretty head, Mia Cara. If there is one of us that could deserve your insecure reasoning, it should not be me. I have been firm with my decisions and I decided, very early on that you were worthy of my time and attentions. Am I to assume that you doubt my decisions?"

Jennifer turned swiftly and stuttered, "Now hold on right there! That is not what I said at all!"

Aro watched with glee as she quickly recovered and truly realized her outburst, before she could apologize he stood quickly and smoothly moved to stand in front of her, reaching for her hands once more before holding them close to his chest "Then let's forget all the nonsense! You have other things to be planning! The event is in 2 short weeks!"

Jennifer looked up at his childish look before chuckling while shaking her head. The smile that she gave him was true, the clouds that were looming over her mind were beginning to clear.

"Yes, Master Aro. You can count on me!"

"Aro." He corrected, "I insist it is Aro ..."

"In times as such as these." She finished, bringing back words from the distant past. Jennifer was pleased when she saw a small smile appear on his face. "I remember. Thank you ... Aro."

Author Note – Rewrite