Aro told me he had a surprise. We were going to Rome for the weekend. He had reserved for us a room in a luxurious hotel in the heart of the city. Nothing was too fine. I packed a bag and waited for Aro to come to my room. He arrived on time, and led me to his car out back. Even his vehicle was all class. The man had great taste.

Aro leaned over and kissed me, slowly, deeply. His passion sent goosebumps down my arms, and I imagined with anticipation that this would be our first time together. If he didn't bring it up, I was determined I would. I smiled at him just before he pulled out through the wrought iron gates.

When we arrived at the hotel, I was shocked at the appointments of our room. The tub in the bathroom was huge, big enough for us both, if Aro would accommodate my lustful imaginings.

We left the hotel at dusk and walked the streets of the Eternal City, checking out portions of the shopping district, of all places. I was sure Aro had been to Rome before, probably hundreds of years ago. Sure enough, he began to explain the history of ancient Roma, pointing out various sites to me. We even spent time looking in shop windows. Aro repeatedly asked me if I saw anything I wanted, but I had what I wanted, I knew that now. It happened so quickly, yet when I spoke to Marcus when I'd heard about an ability he had to see relationships between people, he said this was normal for vampires and their destined mates. It didn't take long for them to know their heart's desire, and their future mate would feel it as well. Marcus said it would last a very long time, growing stronger with time, unlike humans who grew easily bored over time.

We had been walking close together, our shoulders touching, Aro being only two to three inches taller than me. I reached out to take his hand, my fingers grasping his. He looked at me in a way that made my heart beat faster. I was sure he could hear it. He kissed me, a smile touching his eyes. I knew then I loved him.

Aro had told me about the allure, the characteristics of vampires to draw in their prey. Their scent, which I had experienced, the sound of their voice, and their natural grace and beauty. As we walked, I noticed women glancing at Aro. He noticed me noticing them.

"Jealous, my love?"

I shook my head. "No, I trust you. It's them I don't trust. What would you do if a woman threw herself at you?"

"I'd have her for lunch, then buy you flowers." Aro gave me a kiss, knowing I understood he could love no other now that we were bound together.

"I love you, funny man," I said, hugging him, my eyes glaring at one passing female whose eyes never drifted from Aro until she was out of eyesight.

We continued with our walk, when I was suddenly being pulled into a well-lit jewelry store.

Aro led me to the counter, speaking to the store manager in Italian. The man spoke in turn and gave Aro a nod, going to the back room. He returned with a small box and handed it to Aro with a broad smile. "Penso che la tua sposa lo adorerà."

"Grazie." Aro turned to me and said, "Lydia, I asked you to stay here with me, but I want more. I'd like for you to agree to be my mate. My wife."

I felt some surprise, since I was willing to stay here with Aro as his live-in girlfriend. I should have known his heart was old-fashioned. When he opened the box and offered its contents to me, tears formed in my eyes even as I tried blinking them back. I nodded excitedly like any woman who was being proposed to. "Yes, Aro, I will be your mate."

Aro took the ring from the box and slipped it on the third finger of my extended left hand. It was heavy enough that I knew it was platinum, in a crown-shaped setting with a large, perfect white diamond surrounded by smaller blue diamonds. I was an amateur expert on jewelry after having seen so many antique pieces over the years.

"Aro, it's beautiful. You're far too generous." I meant it too, but I also knew his generosity was something I'd have to live with.

"Nonsense. You are my queen. I know about your love of blue diamonds, so I had this specially made for you." Aro kissed my hand, smiling proudly.

I kissed Aro back, burying my face in the crook of his neck. I felt his cool lips on my neck, sending shivers down my back while he held me.

We remained that way for a few minutes, me laughing now that the tears had stopped.

Even the store manager was moved by our obvious affection. Eventually, he left us to help another customer.

"You're so sweet, Aro. No man has ever called me his queen."

"I meant it literally, my dear," he said.

I stared at him. His queen. I would have to speak with him about that later. For now, we kissed, the two of us uncaring if anyone watched us. Life was good and I was in love. Only one thing could ruin it my happiness. Aro's insisting I be changed as soon as possible.

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The weekend was over, and we had returned to Volterra. An announcement was made to the entire coven that Aro and I were formally mated. Chelsea and Felix came over to congratulate me. That felt odd in itself. But if they were happy, my two best friends here, I was happy.

Marcus gave me a welcoming hug. "We are fortunate in having you as a sister, my child."

"Thank you, Marcus. That pleases me." I looked over at Caius, who grudgingly welcomed me with a hug, calling me 'sister'.

That evening, Aro and I lay in his large bed, taking up only a part of that space as we nestled together. "Now that it's official, my dear, will you name the day?"

"Aro, please. Not now. We had such a wonderful time in Rome. Our first time together was incredible. Having a vampire lover is something I'm loathe to give up, but I feel the differences make it that much more special. When you took me, the coldness of your cock inside me was unlike anything I've ever felt. You said you loved my heat, that it only aroused you more, feeling my body wrapped around you. So if I change, will it still be that way?"

"No, love, we'll feel the same to one another. There won't be the differences we experience now. But there is so much more. We never have to sleep and we don't tire. Imagine having as much sex as you wish from me."

That made me laugh. "My own personal stud, hmm?" I kissed Aro, my hand on his neck, pulling him closer. I draped my leg over his hip, drawing him to me. My legs were open for him, and he soon pressed against me, his hard length seeking that core of warmth he loved. His eyes darkened as he took me.

Once we were joined, we moved as one, thrusting and pulling back, only to move our hips against each other again. I heard Aro growl low into my neck as I threw my head back, unable to keep from panting his name over and over. He gave me pleasure I could only imagine until he made it come true. My cries pushed him over the edge, his cold seed spilling into me, and I whispered 'I love you' even as my heart beat strong from the exertion. I loved having sex with Aro, I loved being with Aro. He was like no man I had ever known. Some might say he wasn't a man, but a monster. I disagreed.

As we lay on the bed side by side, Aro started in again. "I've been a vampire for thousands of years," he said emphatically, trying to get me to see his way.

"And I've been a human all my life," I replied just as vehemently. Aro had to be made to understand my stance on his offer. He was not asking me to change my hair colour. He was asking me to change my existence.

"I won't lose you to the curse of time, my love. We are bound together, mated for eternity. Didn't Marcus explain it to you?"

"Yes, he did. But I have to make the decision, not you." I heard him sigh, a physical act he didn't need to exhibit. So when he sighed, I knew he was frustrated, but he didn't push it anymore that night.

Later, Aro told me when a vampire loses their mate, the pain of that loss becomes very real and never ending. He told me why Marcus was so disinterested much of the time. Having lost his own first mate Sulpicia to vengeful werewolves gave Aro pain for centuries, and then I showed up in his life.

"So you can love another even after you've lost a mate." My argument only made Aro regret mentioning Sulpicia to push his point of view. He finally gave up for the night and let me sleep in peace.

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I was in the bathroom, brushing my teeth. The morning had been wonderful, with Aro giving me his usual attentions, but I also noticed his alluding to the same now-unspoken question. When was I going to accept the change. I had hoped that he enjoyed our regular unions and would stop asking me in his various ways that didn't actually say "When are you going to let me make you a vampire?".

When we had sex, his coldness was a delight for me to experience, very different from the couplings I'd had with human men. And didn't he often mention the warmth of my body exciting his, with the feeling of being surrounded by wet heat when he thrust into me.

I reached for the tissue box on the counter and found it empty. I bent down to look under the sink and grabbed a new box. My eyes caught the Tampax box sitting next to it. How many weeks had it been. It wasn't possible...was it? Aro had never indicated in any way he could impregnate me. He wasn't human. But he had been at one time, hadn't he? I would need to take a test.

Since Aro hated to let me go out alone, I decided to pretend I was going to buy some clothing or other. Money being unimportant to the Volturi, he never asked me anything about my needs or subsequent purchases. I didn't want Felix to accompany me, so decided to ask Chelsea to go with me.

Aro was in his office taking care of some paperwork when I went in to ask him if Chelsea could come with me to the village.

"Of course, my love. Take as long as you wish. I will be busy for at least a couple of hours." He gave me a kiss and went back to his work. I left with a smile on my face. Would he be happy to hear I was pregnant? The smile faded when I had the thought that I would be having a half-breed child. What would he or she even be like? Half human, half vampire. One step at a time, I decided to myself.

Chelsea met me in the reception area, where we took the elevator up to the next floor, navigated the old stairs, and through the entrance hall to the outer doors. We walked through the piazza to the area where a pharmacy was located.

When I told Chelsea why I wanted her to come with me and not Felix, she was shocked. She knew Felix was my usual guard when I went out, but I explained this was a girl thing and I needed her.

"You might be with child?" The faraway look on her face forced me to stop walking and turn to grab her shoulders.

"Chels, what do you know?"

"Well, I hope Master Aro doesn't find out I told you, but a few years ago, we met up with a coven in America that had a hybrid child, the daughter of a pair of vampires. Apparently they married while the woman was still human, she became pregnant, and gave birth to the baby. She nearly died in the process, but her mate was able to change her with his venom before her heart stopped completely."

I listened to Chelsea's story, anxiety making my heart beat faster. We continued on our way to the pharmacy while she familiarized me with the story of the immortal children.

"Master Aro had been told the child was an immortal. We traveled to America to confront the coven. Suffice to say, it wasn't true and we returned home. End of story."

"So I could die if I am pregnant, before I even give birth." I felt Chelsea take my hand as we entered the pharmacy doors. She wore sunglasses along with a scarf to hide her eyes, and most of her skin and the way it sparkled in the direct sunlight. We looked for home pregnancy tests and found them, buying two, just to be sure.

We left to return to the palazzo and were nearly there, when my vision blurred and I felt suddenly faint. She was able to get me back to the entrance of the castle, then called out to Felix once we were inside. He heard her, of course, and flashed to our side from somewhere in the castle. I groaned and bent over, dropping the paper bag, one box falling out. He bent to pick it up and read the words on the box before putting it back into the bag.

He looked at Chelsea, then me, his red eyes questioning us.

"Now Felix, don't you start. I'm still human and I had no idea this would happen. Aro never said a word to indicate it could happen." I looked at Chelsea. "I'll take the test in the morning. Please, would you sit with me while I wait for the results?"

She held my hands and nodded. "Of course I will."

"What about me?"

"Felix, you're a man, even if you are my friend."

"The key word here is 'friend'. I want to lend you my support."

I looked at Chelsea who nodded and smiled. I turned back to Felix and nodded, giving him a hug. "Be at my room around 9:00 am. Aro told me he will be going out early to meet with the mayor. I'll take the test then."

"And if it's positive?"

"One thing at a time, Felix."

The next morning, once I had made my contribution, we waited for the necessary time to pass. I checked the stick and found the plus sign indicating pregnancy. I took the test again with the same results. "Well, I guess that's that. I'm pregnant." Chelsea hugged me, with Felix hugging me more gently. He knew his own strength. At least someone was happy for me. Now all I had to do was tell Aro.

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I waited in our rooms for Aro to return from town. I paced the floor, anxious as hell. Would a vampire be happy his human mate was with child, or would a baby merely be an inconvenience, something to be rid of. Suddenly, I was afraid. I didn't want to have to fight my mate for the life of our child.

When Aro returned, I gave him the test stick. He looked at it, then me, questioning me with his eyes. I pointed at the words on the stick. He saw the most important word and froze. Aro gazed at me and I nodded.

"Are you happy about the news, Aro?" I asked, afraid of the answer I might get.

My mate said one word. "Ecstatic." He gathered me in his arms and hugged me none too tightly, spinning me around. From then on, he would treat me as if I were made of fine crystal. He later told me why.

We were sitting in his office, worry written on his flawless face.

"Will Dr Cullen come to help us?" I asked.

"He's my friend and a good man. He will come." Aro called on his cell phone to the vampire he named Carlisle Cullen. Aro told me he was a real doctor who had helped his then human daughter-in-law have her hybrid child. The only vampire doctor Aro knew of who treated humans. He'd know what to do. After hearing Chelsea's story, I was frightened.

Two days had passed when he appeared at the castle, a pleasant man with golden eyes in a kind face and gente way who took time to examine me, declaring me healthy. He said the hybrid pregnancy lasted about a month more or less. The fetus would grow rapidly, and he told me to tell him at once if I felt any pain.

It was odd watching Aro talk with Dr Cullen. He had mentioned they were old friends, but that they had had a falling out. Now it was if they had never parted. Later, I asked Aro about the difference in eye colour. The fact that Dr Cullen drank only from animals intrigued me, but Aro was too disgusted to say too much more.

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My belly grew over the next weeks, and Aro couldn't keep from placing his hand on it while we lay in bed together. He truly seemed eager for this baby to be born.

"I never expected to become a father, Lydia."

"And if I had accepted the change, we would not be parents at all." I instantly regretted my words. I brought Aro's hand to my heart. "I know it may still have to happen. If I am near death, once our baby is born, I want you to do it, Aro. Change me."

His eyes lit up. "You will not perish, my beloved, because I will be ready for you. I promise. I won't let you die."

Carlisle wouldn't let me walk around much, and it wasn't long before his orders worsened. I was losing weight and feeling weak. He never divulged his fears to me, but I knew he was telling Aro everything.

One morning, Dr Cullen brought me a cup with a lid and straw.

"What is this?" I asked, taking the cup.

"Lydia, when Bella started losing weight, we could find no food she could keep down. We discovered since the child was part vampire, human blood proved to be what she needed. Aro made sure you'll have all you'll need. If you drink this, you should feel better. It's only a matter of two to three weeks or so, and this will be over. Do you think you can drink it and keep it down?"

I was willing to try anything. I raised the cup, the straw at my lips. I sucked on it, the liquid filling my mouth. Aro and Dr Cullen watched me. It tasted coppery, salty with the slightest sweetness to it. I could tolerate it, and so finished the cup.

I hadn't realized the interest in my new need. I saw Marcus, Caius, Felix and Chelsea standing at the door. When they saw I was able to keep down the blood, they all smiled. I knew who was fetching the blood for me, and I winked at them. I was less frightened now as Aro held my hands and kissed me. "Mmm...tasty," he said after kissing me.

The next morning, I felt a sharp pain in my gut. Something was very wrong. It was too early for the baby to come, far too early. Was I having a miscarriage? I got out of bed and called for Aro, knowing he would hear me even from here.

In less than a minute, he ran into our chambers and came to me in the bedroom. Concern was etched on his face. "Cara, what is wrong?" He helped me back onto the bed, forcing me to lie down.

"It's the baby, Aro. Something's wrong. I think I need to get to a hospital."

"No! No humans may examine you. Carlisle will take care of you." He paced the room, waiting for Dr Cullen to appear. When he arrived, he quickly examined me. Then he pulled Aro to the other side of the room. They spoke in hushed tones while Chelsea came in and sat next to me, using a wet wash cloth on my forehead. I was sweating and she was attempting to keep me cool. She held my hand, and whispered words of encouragment.

Aro flashed to my side."How are the pains, amore?"

I held my stomach, noticing they had receded somewhat. "They've lessened, Aro."

Doctor Cullen was kind and gentle when he checked me again. Having had experience with his daughter-in-law, he would have known what to do. But he told Aro my pregnancy was not even normal for a hybrid.

"We should remove the fetus from her, or it will kill her."

Aro was beside himself. "But Carlisle, Bella was almost killed by her own child, and you knew what to do. Surely you can do something for my mate."

"I'm sorry, Aro. If the baby dies while inside her, it will poison her. I have no choice if you want Lydia to live. It would be diffeerent if the baby were viable. We could remove it after a certain time, then you could change Lydia. But..."

"I know," Aro said.

Aro came to my side, and kissed my forehead. "I want you to live, amore. I won't lose you."

Tears streamed down my face. "I know, Aro." I peered up at Chelsea who gave me a sympathetic look.

I was surprised to see Alec enter the room. Aro told me he had him on call in case Dr Cullen needed to put me out. Aro kissed me, then kissed both my hands. He stepped back and nodded at Alec. I saw the tendrils of dark grey smoke envelop me, then I felt and heard nothing.

I must have been given something, for I dreamed I was in