A Day at a Baseball Game with the Volturi masters : San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park

Summer Fun with the Volturi masters series

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You have managed to persuade Aro to fly the four of you to America to watch a baseball game, by convincing him it is a seasonal requirement of humans. Go to a game and support a team, or die. He is intrigued by this, unaware that humans have such laws. You run to the throne room where you find them sitting off to the side, studying at the table and reading old manuscripts in languages you don't understand.

Aro turns and moves quickly to your side. "Is something wrong, my dear?"

"Not at all, Aro," you reply, breathless. "I was able to acquire tickets to a baseball game in San Francisco, America! A luxury suite," you tell him. "Now, if you can provide the transportation to get there..."

Aro smiles. "Of course, we'll take one of the private jets and rent a limousine for our arrival at the airport. When is this...sporting event?"

"Next Tuesday," you reply, grinning.

"What accommodations have you acquired for us?" Caius asked, interested.

"They're called luxury suites, Caius, and they have various types. Ours will hold up to 20 people, so if you want to invite any of the guards to come..."

"Not this trip," Aro interrupts. "Perhaps later, we will go back, if we enjoy this venture."

"Well, the luxury suites have privacy, with interior seating, should it be sunny that day. And there are seats out in front of the suite, where we can mingle with our neighbors." You become more excited the more you describe the trip to the masters. "If you don't mind, Aro, they cater food. May I choose something to order for myself?"

"You have no need to ask, child. We don't want you starved," Marcus remarks with a small smile.

"It's not the healthiest food, and you know how our chef is." The Volturi's chef generally makes you healthy snacks, by order of the masters, although he will sneak fresh-baked cookies to you when he can. You see hot dogs, chips and dip, chicken tenders, and ice creme sundaes served in mini baseball helmets in your future.

Once all the arrangements have been made and approved by Aro, he calls the Volturi pilot to have one of the private jets made ready for a quick journey to America Tuesday next.

On the day you're to fly to San Francisco, you rise early and shower, and dress in jeans and a sweater shirt, knowing the city by the bay can be cool, even in Summer. Excited, you throw some things into a tote bag, and leave your quarters to go in search of the masters.

You find them in the throne room, waiting for you. You greet each with a hug and kiss on the cheek. Your smile is reflected on their faces. You hope they enjoy this sample of human sporting events, considering that they may have seen the original Olympic games or the gladiatorial games in ancient Rome.

Felix brings a car around the back gate for the drive to the Pisa airport. When you arrive there, you all head for the private jet gateway. The pilot, who is a vampire as well, is there waiting for you.

Aro goes to speak with the pilot while you, Marcus, and Caius enter the jet and get settled. Not the largest jet in their inventory, this one is suited for long hauls. There are four oversized seats at the back of the interior that face each other, while two sofas sit opposite one another and closer to the flight deck. Since there are only four of you, it is more than roomy.

The flight begins and you look out the window to see Italy fall away, but you know you will be back. It's your home now. Soon, you begin to think of the coming trip, short as it will be. You sit next to Marcus on a couch, and show him the brochure of the baseball stadium called Oracle Park. It sits on the San Francisco Bay, with their suite having great views of the entire park. The suites are high up in the stands, with interior and exterior seating. There is a small fridge that will contain drinks for you. You've also ordered one of the food packages that will be in the suite, waiting upon arrival. You haven't had an honest-to-goodness hot dog since you left home.

The limousine is at the San Francisco airport, picking you up for the ride into the city. It pulls up to the front of the stadium, letting you all out. It will come for you as soon as you call to let the driver know the game is over, or the masters have grown bored and wish to leave. You hope it won't be the latter.

Once you get out of the car, you inhale deeply of the bay air. You've been to San Francisco before and remember it with fondness. Smiling with excitement now that you're here, you check to make sure the masters are ready to go inside. "Come, Aro. This way inside, everyone."

The masters have dressed casually as suggested by you. All are donned in black jeans and grey or blue Italian wool pullover sweaters. You think them all very handsome, and notice more than one woman you pass seems to be thinking the same thing. You smirk when you ponder the fact that these men, these vampires, look at you as their companion and assistant, and trust you completely.

The group is met by a park docent, who leads you to the suite assigned to you. Marcus has placed his arm around you, feeling you need protection in this crowd. Aro and Caius lead the way, looking around with mild curiosity. You know they're probably thinking with distaste, "Too many humans". They have, of course, fed only a couple of days prior to this trip, and you've warned them to keep a low profile while here.

Finally, you reach your suite and enter the spacious unit perfect for private game viewing. You'd never be able to afford this on your own, but with the Volturi, money is no object. The docent hands each of you a team mini bat as a souvenir. The Volturi masters look at the strange object, but you thank the docent and close the door after he leaves.

"What are these?" Aro asks you, looking the small bat over, turning it around in his hand.

"It's a souvenir of the game. Some days, visitors get free items to take home. Today is what they call Bat Day.

Caius' eyes gleam when he begins to swing the bat around as if it were a weapon.

"Caius, put the bat down," you warn him.

"But they gave them to us," he protests.

"Not to use against anyone!" You hold out your hand, silently asking for the bat. Caius refuses.

"There is no one here in our private suite. I promise not to hit anyone with it while here."

You lean in and kiss his cheek. "Make sure you keep that promise."

Aro turns to you. "My dear, you do seem to be taking liberties with the freedom we give you. The way you speak to us..."

You move to Aro's side, placing a hand on his chest. "Master Aro, I love you all, and I just want to help protect you from discovery by humans." You caress his cheek and smile sincerely. "You have given me your trust. You and Marcus and Caius may be thousands of years old, but because you rarely leave the castle, you're actually quite naïve to modern ways. I can help with that, if you heed my suggestions. Please? You know how much I respect each of you."

Aro smiles and turns to you. "You're right," he tells you. "We do trust you, and look to you for knowledge of this modern world." He kisses you on your lips with typical familiarity.

You walk around, checking out the suite. Seeing a table to the side covered with bowls, you inspect them to see food inside. You grab a potato chip and dip it in a small bowl. "Mmm...ranch." Then you take a chicken tender and dip it was well, and go to check out the outdoor seating.

You stand where the seats are, perusing the entire stadium. "This is fantastic. Marcus, come look!"

Marcus comes up behind you, placing his hands on your shoulders. "It is larger than the Coliseum."

"You were really...there? I knew it," you say, laughing.

You excuse yourself to run to the restroom, and make a stop at the stadium store. You buy hats for everyone, wondering if they'll agree to wear them.

When you get back to the suite, you're wearing your hat and offer each master one. .

Caius sees someone wearing their hat backwards, so puts his on that way. You marvel at how easily he would fit into modern times with his blonde good looks.

Marcus allows you to put his hat on him. His long hair is pulled back into a ponytail, and you admire him with your eyes and a smile.

Aro dons his hat and sits in his chair, his legs crossed, still acting as if he were lording over his realm.

When it's time for the game to begin, everyone stands for the anthem. As an American, you do as well, but the masters keep their seats. You just hope no one notices. When someone does cast a glare at the seated trio, you say, "They're Italian." The person shrugs and looks back at the field.

Caius sits on the far-left chair while Aro sits at his right. You are sitting next to Aro, with Marcus on your right. The game begins, and you explain what's happening whenever one of the masters asks a question. The game continues, the Giants currently ahead, 3-1 in the fourth inning.

You make a plate of food for yourself and grab a beer from the mini-fridge. The masters peer at your plate, unable to avoid making faces at what you are eating. You just laugh and eat more.

The next batter steps up to home, and misses the first two pitches. On the third pitch, the batter swings hard, and the ball flies straight and fast, right for your part of the stadium. Suddenly, you see Aro lift up his right hand, and the next thing you know, he catches the fly ball, bare-handed. You look at the jumbotron, with all of you on it, the camera pointed right at your box. The announcer is talking excitedly about the speed of that fly ball and Aro's bare-handed catch. The stadium is cheering. and Aro is smiling, enjoying seeing his face on the display, larger than life. You tell Aro to give you the ball, raising your hand in the air once he complies. You smile broadly at the camera, then go inside the box. Aro follows you, confused.

"You are upset. What is the matter?" he asks you.

"This is not keeping a low profile," you say, waving the ball around.

"It's not like I asked to have this ball thrown at me," he protests. "I thought it was well played myself."

You sigh and relent, hugging Aro while you apologise. "If you're not worried, neither am I. Being a good catcher doesn't tie you with being a...you-know-what."

When he smiles at you, you give him a wink. He returns to his seat while you go to the food table to fill a plate with more food. The hot dogs look good, so you make one up with mustard, relish, and onions. "It's too bad you can't eat any of this yummy food. I can't even imagine not being able to eat food like this." You sit down and take a bite of the hot dog.

Aro reaches over and with a finger, removes a dab of mustard from your mouth. You offer him your napkin to wipe it off his finger. He does so, and tosses the napkin in a nearby trash can. He then gazes at you.

You know why too. "Aro, I didn't mean that I won't. I will, eventually. You've never mentioned a deadline or forcing me." You reach up to touch the Volturi pendant that sits on his chest. "One day, you will place one of these around my neck, and it will be official."

"Aro, the game? Let's not discuss family business with our dear one, while the game is being played."

You take Marcus' hand and squeeze it, grateful for his intercession.

You receive the ordered ice creme sundae from a docent, who is told only one is necessary. You eat it from the souvenir mini baseball helmet, making noises while devouring the cold treat.

Caius starts to make denigrating remarks after what he deems a poor play. The man on a chair in the next suite hears him, and demands Caius shut up. Now Caius is angry at the human, and begins to wave the small bat.

The man rises from his seat and hangs over the dividing rail, blocking Aro, who is trying to hold back Caius and maintain his own temper.

You get up from your seat and tell the man, if he values his life, he had better sit down. The tone of your voice and the stare you give him, makes him back down, and he returns to his seat while muttering. "You see, Aro, I'll make a great one." You then face Caius, giving him a look begging his indulgence for the sake of peace, and to avoid getting kicked out of the park. He relents and sits down.

The last inning is being played, and the Giants are winning. People start to leave the park and Caius asks if it is over, since the players are still on the field.

'It's a thing," you tell him. "When the game looks like an obvious win, people leave early."

"Then shall we go?" he asks you.

"We can, if you wish," you say, going to put the rest of the food on a plate and covering it with several napkins. You put the now washed mini helmet into your tote along with anything you can take with you.

Aro leads you all out of the suite and goes back the way they come in, easily remembering the route.

You happily follow him, full and content. "Marcus, did you enjoy the game?" you ask.

"It was unusual. Not as exciting as the gladiatorial games, but interesting. Your team won, which is laudable. I enjoyed the company, child." He graces you with a smile, then again, places an arm around you to protect you from the now exiting crowd.

The limousine is waiting for you all, so you all climb in for the trip to the airport. You lean against Marcus, fatigue finally overtaking you.

The pilot is waiting outside the jet, and greets Aro, giving him the status of the flight, while Caius gets in, holding all the mini bats. Marcus picks you up in his arms and carries you inside while you hold your plate of food and the tote.

Once everyone has settled in, the flight takes off for the trip back to Italy. You look out the window, watching the city off in the distance. Then you snuggle against Marcus, sighing happily. You smile, grateful to be friends with such inquisitive vampires.