The Volturi

The Morning After Pt. 2

Requested by Haliecorbeil2010

Stella waited in line as the cashier scanned the elderly woman's groceries. Her gold eyes drifted to the candy display as a pained thought crossed her mind.

Why can't I remember what chocolate tastes like?

It had been merely four years since her transformation. Since her-

Stella's hands tightened on the bar of the shopping cart, the metal protesting under her grip.

"Mom?"

Stella felt a hand tug on her shirt. "Mom?"

Stella loosened her grip and looked down into the blue eyes of her son. "Can I get a candy?" He motioned to the display case. "Please?"

Stella nodded. "Just one, Ares."

Ares smiled, a sight that pained his mother though she would never voice it. The boy, who may have looked ten, was simply four in a chronological sense and paid no attention as he bounded over to the candy and grabbed his favorite.

Stella couldn't help but compare him to his father. They were so alike yet so different. He may have had his father's mannerisms, facial features, and confidence, but his heart and mind were of his mother's.

Ares returned to his mother's side and dropped the candy into the basket. Stella smoothed down the blond cow lick that plagued her son's temple only to stop.

Being a vampire had its disadvantages, specifically that Stella could never go to the beach again for fear of blinding someone, but there were advantages as well. Primarily, her incredible sense of smell. Stella straightened, casually looking above the magazines and towards the front doors of the grocery store.

She sighed, an action that would go unnoticed by other impatient shoppers, but let her fully smell the scent of the other vampire that had entered the store.

Lilac and honey.

"Mom, what's that smell?" Ares whispered as he moved close to his mother's side.

Subconsciously, Stella grabbed her son's hand. With her other hand, she reached for her phone, pretending there was some message of an emergency. Swiftly, she picked up her son and got out of line, making a beeline towards the other doors on the other side of the store.

"Mama-"

"-Not now Ares," she interrupted, using her hip to open the door and nearly stopped in her tracks.

There, leaning on her beat-up truck, stood a tall figure illuminated by the lamp post above. Stella tightened her grip on Ares and walked the opposite way before turning and heading down the alley.

"Mommy-"

Stella had been looking over her shoulder, fearful that the tall figure had seen her and followed. She collided with something hard.

"I'm sorry-" She apologized only to stop.

There in the early hours of nightfall stood the man that tore out her heart all those years ago. Stella bit her tongue as she nearly whispered his name like a prayer.

Demetri's red eyes roamed over Stella. She was still as beautiful as ever, if anything the venom had made her more flawless, something Demetri never thought was possible for her. Her hair was pulled back revealing the soft planes of her face, her body seemed more mature with rounder hips and breasts the tracker observed and those golden eyes were the cherry on top.

Demetri turned his attention to the young boy who clung to his one-time lover and felt a chill go down his spine.

The boy was strikingly similar. He had the sharp planes of Demetri's face and though still carrying baby fat had a similar build. Even in the dim lighting of the store lights, Demetri could see the olive complexion and blood that tinted the boy's cheeks.

"You-" Demetri began.

'-Ah! I see you have found our young friend!" Aro exclaimed, making Stella whirl around and clutch her son tighter to herself.

Aro's film-covered eyes glided down Stella and her son like one would savor the taste of a good wine. Slow and unrushed. To his side, Jane and Alec had appeared with Marcus and Caius not far behind. Felix brought up the rear, his carefully curated mask of boredom replaced by surprise as he saw a miniature version of his best friend.

"I have given you no reason to hunt me down, Aro," Stella stated. She surprised herself when her voice didn't shake. "I have broken no laws nor incited the wrath of the Volturi."

Aro turned his attention back to her. "I see you've grown bold in your time as an immortal," Aro smiled, "I assume being a single mother would cause such a change in most."

Stella felt Ares's hand tighten on her shirt. Every instinct in her told her to run, but she couldn't, not with Demetri and the others blocking her only exits. She would have to fight her way out but that meant she would risk her child's life and safety, and that thought didn't sit well with her.

"We mean you and Ares-"

"-Keep my son's name out of your mouth," Stella growled.

Aro paused but quickly recovered himself. "We mean neither of you any harm," he explained, "I just felt that Demetri deserved to know his offspring."

Stella felt Demetri stiffen behind her. "Carlisle has such," Aro paused, no doubt for dramatic effect, "interesting memories of your pregnancy, all the Cullens do."

Stella felt the need to run again flood through her veins. "Not once did you think to reach out to Demetri," Aro tsked, "I would assume a mother would want to let the father of her child know she was expecting."

Stella took a step forward, her tone cold and venomous. "Then you saw I came back to Forks feeling cheap and used by your prized dog," Stella turned to Demetri. "He didn't deserve to know."

Demetri looked away, ashamed of his actions.

"I saw from Carlisle's memories you have decided to raise your child without their help," Aro continued, "We can provide-"

"-I don't need or want your money," interrupted her. "And I don't need or want him."

Stella adjusted Ares on her hip and squared her shoulders. "I brought my son into this world by myself and I can raise him without any of you."

Stella pushed past Alec and Caius. Felix moved to the side as she walked past, motioning for Demetri to follow after them but the tracker didn't move. Demetri watched as his and Stella's roles reversed.

Only this time he was left with a gaping wound and feelings of despair.