The Inauspicious Beginnings Of A Prince
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 27
"Come si potrebbe dire che alla tua mamma?! Ero preoccupato male! Sarò arrabbiato se voglio! Perché sei fuori dal letto? Dovresti essere a letto! Caius, perché è nostro figlio fuori dal letto? Sei pallido! Go! Tornare nel tuo letto e lasciate che la vostra mamma prendersi cura di voi. Vai ora!
("How could you say that to your Mama? I was worried sick! I'll be upset if I want to! Why are you out of your bed? You should be in bed! Caius, why is our son out of bed? You look pale! Go! Get back in your bed and let your Mama take care of you. Go now!")
Jasper rolled his eyes as he stepped back, throwing up both hands. "Ai, Mamma, ti prego, sto bene!" (Ai, Mama, please, I'm fine!)
Athenadora pinned her husband with a steely gaze. "Marito, informi il figlio di obbedire alla sua mamma, ora!"
(Husband, tell your son to obey his Mama, now!)
Jasper knew he had lost this particular battle when his father met his eyes, his gaze serious.
"Mio figlio, sono d'accordo con tua madre. Andrai a letto adesso e rimanere lì fino a quando lei dice che si sta guarito."
("My son, I agree with your mother. You will go to your bed now and stay there until she says that you are healed.")
Jasper stood straight and bowed to his father formally.
"Sì, papà."
He turned to his mother and kissed her cheek.
"Ti amo mamma."
She caressed his cheek with tears in her eyes. "Oh, il mio bambino. Non so cosa avrei fatto se ti ho perso."
(Oh, my baby. I don't know what I would have done had I lost you).
Jasper smiled sadly. "You didn't lose me Mama. I had three of the best and bravest protectors fighting for me."
She choked on her emotions. "I shall miss Marcus terribly."
Caius rose, taking his wife in his arms to comfort her. "Go son. Your mother will be up to see you in just a bit."
"Yes father."
He left the room and climbed the stairs slowly, stopping halfway up to lean against the wall. It seemed that he had overdone things just a bit after all. He was shocked by the feel of a strong arm wrapping around his waist, carefully avoiding his injured side. It was Peter, his brother.
"You looked like you were going to need some help. Felt like it too. I'm glad I didn't ignore the feeling."
He smiled at his twin. "Thank you brother. You know, I've missed you."
Pete smiled until he felt his brother weaken and caught him just as he passed out. He quickly called for Caius and began to carry his brother the rest of the way.
Bella was just spreading the bed smooth after changing the sheets and blankets when Pete carried Jasper in calling for her to pull down the covers.
She gasped. "Jasper! Oh god Pete, what happened?"
He laid his brother in the bed. "I felt him getting weaker as he climbed the stairs so I went to check on him. He was leaning against the wall half way up, resting and we were talking when he passed out. I think he simply overdid things too soon after the injury. He hasn't had enough healing time and blood."
Bella nodded as she began undressing him. She smiled at Athenadora as she began helping. She was grateful for the help because she couldn't exactly lift him to get everything off and his mother could.
They were both alarmed to see the wound in his side bleeding again and Bella looked at Pete. "Can you get him another meal Pete?"
He nodded but stopped when she laid a hand on his arm. "Take some of the others with you please, the more the better. I don't trust the wolves not to ambush you guys, and I would hate to see this family lose any more members."
Caius spoke then, his gaze focused on the wound in his unconscious son's side.
"Worry not Isabella. I will be going with him and I would welcome the wolves to try to attack. I am in the mood to kill some dogs today."
Bella nodded solemnly. "Please be careful. I don't think he could handle losing his father. He loves you deeply."
Caius embraced his wife as he answered his son's mate. "He shall not lose me. I shall not fail him and one day, when he is back to full strength, we shall return and destroy these dogs together for taking the life of my brother, his uncle."
He looked at his wife, caressing her face gently. "My love, please ready everything for our departure. We will take the Volturi Jet and transport our son home where he has ready access to as much blood as he requires for a full recovery, not to mention the comfort of home. I believe that we can do a much better job of taking care of him in Volterra than we can here."
She kissed him and clung to him for a moment. "Please be careful my heart. Come back to us safe and whole."
He nodded and left, Peter following.
Athenadora focused her attention on her sleeping son then, watching as his mate cared for him tenderly. She smiled as joy filled her for her son in finding such a mate. The girl was all she could have hope for in a mate for her most beloved son and she wanted to get to know her.
To that end, she pulled up a chair and sat, beginning a quiet conversation that would last through the morning hours, binding the two women together over their common love of the Prince who laid in a healing sleep in the bed between them.
When their conversation lulled, Athenadora sighed and looked around the room taking in everything that needed to be packed for the journey home.
Looking back to her son and his mate, she spoke. "Isabella, we must move him to another room so that I may ready everything for our departure. I will carry him if you lead me to another suitable room. Just don't ever tell him that I did so." She giggled. "He would be beyond offended, and his pride would be wounded for years to come!"
Bella chuckled. "He won't hear a word of it from me. I know how he is with his pride. It's almost a separate personality."
She hurried to another guest room, turning the bed down just as Athenadora carried her son in, laying him in the bed and covering him lovingly as she smoothed his hair back from his face. "I remember tucking him in at night when he was such a little thing. I loved him the moment that Caius brought him home to me. He always had such a lost and haunted look in his eyes the first few months that he was with us and I vowed that we would love him into happiness. I watched as he came to revere my husband as his father and Aro and Marcus as his uncles.
He loved all three of them, but he worshipped his father, and still does to this day. I've never seen such a deep and instant connection between two individuals outside of a mate bond. It was remarkable to witness as my husband loves him just as much. He would burn down the earth for his son if necessary."
She looked at Bella then and gasped in alarm at her pallor, as she looked absolutely green. "Are you well Bella?"
Bella shook her head slowly as she covered her mouth before dashing to the nearest washroom, making it over the toilet just in time as she emptied the contents of her rolling stomach.
Athenadora was there with a glass of water and a cold cloth. "There was only one time when my son caught a human virus but I remember how to care for a sick person from that. Would you care for a glass of sprite sweetheart? It may help settle your stomach."
Bella nodded as she rinsed her mouth with the water, placing the cold cloth on her face as she leaned back against the side of the tub. "Yes please. There are also some crackers in the cupboard. Two or three of those would help too."
Athenadora nodded and left Bella to her whirling thoughts. She was terrified as she thought about the cause of her sickness. She knew this wasn't a virus or bad food. She knew that she was due for her period and it hadn't come. She only prayed that this was the child of her love. She almost knew it was, but there was that tiny shred of doubt that scared her beyond belief. Would Jasper doubt that he was the father? She had no way of knowing and she shuddered to think what their relationship would be like if he did. He had been beyond wonderful and understanding when it came to dealing with what had happened to her, but this was a child and could therefore be a whole different set of circumstances.
She smiled in thanks at Athenadora as she brought in a small tray with the drink and crackers. "Would you like to move into the room and sit somewhere more comfortable my dear? I can't imagine that the floor is comfortable at all."
Bella chuckled as she rose. "You would be correct. I was simply lost in thoughts."
She moved to leave the washroom but froze when Athenadora placed a gentle hand on her cheek while meeting her gaze. "He will understand you know? He loves you. I can see that plainly and my son will not let you down, no matter what. Trust him and his love for you. Give him that opportunity to show you."
Bella's eyes filled with tears as she nodded. "Thank you for telling me. I should not doubt him. He's never given me cause to."
Athenadora smiled. "He won't this time either. He's too much like his father. He loves with all that he is and he will love your little one just the same, no matter what."
Athenadora hugged Bella to her as she shed silent tears of relief, glad that someone else finally shared her secret. "How did you know?"
Athenadora laughed quietly. "Well my dear, I can hear the little one's heart beat. It's a faint flutter, but it's there if you listen for it." She shrugged. "When you got sick, I listened for it."
"Come si potrebbe dire che alla tua mamma?! Ero preoccupato male! Sarò arrabbiato se voglio! Perché sei fuori dal letto? Dovresti essere a letto! Caius, perché è nostro figlio fuori dal letto? Sei pallido! Go! Tornare nel tuo letto e lasciate che la vostra mamma prendersi cura di voi. Vai ora!
("How could you say that to your Mama? I was worried sick! I'll be upset if I want to! Why are you out of your bed? You should be in bed! Caius, why is our son out of bed? You look pale! Go! Get back in your bed and let your Mama take care of you. Go now!")
Jasper rolled his eyes as he stepped back, throwing up both hands. "Ai, Mamma, ti prego, sto bene!" (Ai, Mama, please, I'm fine!)
Athenadora pinned her husband with a steely gaze. "Marito, informi il figlio di obbedire alla sua mamma, ora!"
(Husband, tell your son to obey his Mama, now!)
Jasper knew he had lost this particular battle when his father met his eyes, his gaze serious.
"Mio figlio, sono d'accordo con tua madre. Andrai a letto adesso e rimanere lì fino a quando lei dice che si sta guarito."
("My son, I agree with your mother. You will go to your bed now and stay there until she says that you are healed.")
Jasper stood straight and bowed to his father formally.
"Sì, papà."
He turned to his mother and kissed her cheek.
"Ti amo mamma."
She caressed his cheek with tears in her eyes. "Oh, il mio bambino. Non so cosa avrei fatto se ti ho perso."
(Oh, my baby. I don't know what I would have done had I lost you).
Jasper smiled sadly. "You didn't lose me Mama. I had three of the best and bravest protectors fighting for me."
She choked on her emotions. "I shall miss Marcus terribly."
Caius rose, taking his wife in his arms to comfort her. "Go son. Your mother will be up to see you in just a bit."
"Yes father."
He left the room and climbed the stairs slowly, stopping halfway up to lean against the wall. It seemed that he had overdone things just a bit after all. He was shocked by the feel of a strong arm wrapping around his waist, carefully avoiding his injured side. It was Peter, his brother.
"You looked like you were going to need some help. Felt like it too. I'm glad I didn't ignore the feeling."
He smiled at his twin. "Thank you brother. You know, I've missed you."
Pete smiled until he felt his brother weaken and caught him just as he passed out. He quickly called for Caius and began to carry his brother the rest of the way.
Bella was just spreading the bed smooth after changing the sheets and blankets when Pete carried Jasper in calling for her to pull down the covers.
She gasped. "Jasper! Oh god Pete, what happened?"
He laid his brother in the bed. "I felt him getting weaker as he climbed the stairs so I went to check on him. He was leaning against the wall half way up, resting and we were talking when he passed out. I think he simply overdid things too soon after the injury. He hasn't had enough healing time and blood."
Bella nodded as she began undressing him. She smiled at Athenadora as she began helping. She was grateful for the help because she couldn't exactly lift him to get everything off and his mother could.
They were both alarmed to see the wound in his side bleeding again and Bella looked at Pete. "Can you get him another meal Pete?"
He nodded but stopped when she laid a hand on his arm. "Take some of the others with you please, the more the better. I don't trust the wolves not to ambush you guys, and I would hate to see this family lose any more members."
Caius spoke then, his gaze focused on the wound in his unconscious son's side.
"Worry not Isabella. I will be going with him and I would welcome the wolves to try to attack. I am in the mood to kill some dogs today."
Bella nodded solemnly. "Please be careful. I don't think he could handle losing his father. He loves you deeply."
Caius embraced his wife as he answered his son's mate. "He shall not lose me. I shall not fail him and one day, when he is back to full strength, we shall return and destroy these dogs together for taking the life of my brother, his uncle."
He looked at his wife, caressing her face gently. "My love, please ready everything for our departure. We will take the Volturi Jet and transport our son home where he has ready access to as much blood as he requires for a full recovery, not to mention the comfort of home. I believe that we can do a much better job of taking care of him in Volterra than we can here."
She kissed him and clung to him for a moment. "Please be careful my heart. Come back to us safe and whole."
He nodded and left, Peter following.
Athenadora focused her attention on her sleeping son then, watching as his mate cared for him tenderly. She smiled as joy filled her for her son in finding such a mate. The girl was all she could have hope for in a mate for her most beloved son and she wanted to get to know her.
To that end, she pulled up a chair and sat, beginning a quiet conversation that would last through the morning hours, binding the two women together over their common love of the Prince who laid in a healing sleep in the bed between them.
When their conversation lulled, Athenadora sighed and looked around the room taking in everything that needed to be packed for the journey home.
Looking back to her son and his mate, she spoke. "Isabella, we must move him to another room so that I may ready everything for our departure. I will carry him if you lead me to another suitable room. Just don't ever tell him that I did so." She giggled. "He would be beyond offended, and his pride would be wounded for years to come!"
Bella chuckled. "He won't hear a word of it from me. I know how he is with his pride. It's almost a separate personality."
She hurried to another guest room, turning the bed down just as Athenadora carried her son in, laying him in the bed and covering him lovingly as she smoothed his hair back from his face. "I remember tucking him in at night when he was such a little thing. I loved him the moment that Caius brought him home to me. He always had such a lost and haunted look in his eyes the first few months that he was with us and I vowed that we would love him into happiness. I watched as he came to revere my husband as his father and Aro and Marcus as his uncles.
He loved all three of them, but he worshipped his father, and still does to this day. I've never seen such a deep and instant connection between two individuals outside of a mate bond. It was remarkable to witness as my husband loves him just as much. He would burn down the earth for his son if necessary."
She looked at Bella then and gasped in alarm at her pallor, as she looked absolutely green. "Are you well Bella?"
Bella shook her head slowly as she covered her mouth before dashing to the nearest washroom, making it over the toilet just in time as she emptied the contents of her rolling stomach.
Athenadora was there with a glass of water and a cold cloth. "There was only one time when my son caught a human virus but I remember how to care for a sick person from that. Would you care for a glass of sprite sweetheart? It may help settle your stomach."
Bella nodded as she rinsed her mouth with the water, placing the cold cloth on her face as she leaned back against the side of the tub. "Yes please. There are also some crackers in the cupboard. Two or three of those would help too."
Athenadora nodded and left Bella to her whirling thoughts. She was terrified as she thought about the cause of her sickness. She knew this wasn't a virus or bad food. She knew that she was due for her period and it hadn't come. She only prayed that this was the child of her love. She almost knew it was, but there was that tiny shred of doubt that scared her beyond belief. Would Jasper doubt that he was the father? She had no way of knowing and she shuddered to think what their relationship would be like if he did. He had been beyond wonderful and understanding when it came to dealing with what had happened to her, but this was a child and could therefore be a whole different set of circumstances.
She smiled in thanks at Athenadora as she brought in a small tray with the drink and crackers. "Would you like to move into the room and sit somewhere more comfortable my dear? I can't imagine that the floor is comfortable at all."
Bella chuckled as she rose. "You would be correct. I was simply lost in thoughts."
She moved to leave the washroom but froze when Athenadora placed a gentle hand on her cheek while meeting her gaze. "He will understand you know? He loves you. I can see that plainly and my son will not let you down, no matter what. Trust him and his love for you. Give him that opportunity to show you."
Bella's eyes filled with tears as she nodded. "Thank you for telling me. I should not doubt him. He's never given me cause to."
Athenadora smiled. "He won't this time either. He's too much like his father. He loves with all that he is and he will love your little one just the same, no matter what."
Athenadora hugged Bella to her as she shed silent tears of relief, glad that someone else finally shared her secret. "How did you know?"
Athenadora laughed quietly. "Well my dear, I can hear the little one's heart beat. It's a faint flutter, but it's there if you listen for it." She shrugged. "When you got sick, I listened for it."
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.