Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Bella looked at the man who stood in front of the room. He was young, no older than his mid-twenties. Copper hair was pulled back into a short ponytail and his ivory jaw was dusted with a light stubble of the same colour. Bold green eyes flickered over the students who were walking into the classroom then gossiping about the man standing before them. 

The man glanced over Bella once, twice, then smiled before taking a pen from his black shirt pocket and clearing his throat.

"Is that about everyone?" The man's voice was a pleasant type of husky that caught several girls attention. 

Emerald eyes searched the door once more before he walked over and closed it. A small smile caused the man's cheeks to puff out as he regarded the class again. 

"My name is Mr King, I'll be your new English teacher for the rest of the semester after the incident with Miss Alick. I do expect to be here in the next semester so get used to the sound of my voice," Mr King awkwardly rubbed his chin, "So, I know you guys and gals are all very bored high school kids but I don't know a single one of you. Make my rollcall a little interesting and introduce one fact about yourself please."

Collective groans echoed the room while Mr King rolled his eyes and made a funny groan back at the students.

"No need to groan about it, quickly now! Miss Springs!"

The class slowly went through with witty retorts and snickers echoing as Mr King didn't reprimand the teenage humour the boys sent his way or the flirtatious remarks some of the girl's swooned.     

"Bella Swan?" Mr King's eyes searched the room until Bella raised her hand, "A fact, Miss Swan?"

"I'm... My dad's the Chief of Police?" Bella looked unsure about her answered.

"Ah yes," Mr King nodded, his smile not once having faded, "Thank you, next!"

So, the roll call went on for double the time. After the roll, Mr King decided to scare the students with a quiz. More complains rung out as students whined about the sudden test.

"Quit whining," Mr King sighed, "It's just a general knowledge test to see what you know." 

"Then why are we doing it?" One of the boys called out with a smirk.

"Because I'm the teacher and I asked you to take a test, Mr Loudmouth," Mr King's ever so slightly narrowed into an amused frown before the expression was gone, "Take one, pass the rest down please!"

The papers were handed back and silently the class set to work as Mr King hovered like a hawk. Bella gawked as she glanced over the test, questions relating to the 18th and 19th century were listed not to mention the questions on obscure yet still known famous authors. The brunette didn't even try to answer the questions about the philosophers. 

"Yo, King," another student suddenly called out, "What the-"

"There will be no talking during this test," The flat words and steely glare of Mr King made the class realize they couldn't slack off too much with their new teacher. 

"How are we supposed to know any of this?!" 

"Silence!" Mr King merely deepened his voice, no yelling as some teachers would but certainly no room for argument. 

By the time Bella guessed half of the questions and the class had finally settled, it was time for the bell to ring. Mr King collected the tests, giving off some students nicknames if they tried to give him witty remarks. 

Before Bella could get far out of the class a familiar voice sang out to her as she moved down the hall.

"Bella!" said girl turned at Alice's word, "Did you just have English?"

"Um, yeah," Bella slowly answered, "We got the new teacher today. Mr King."

"Oh!" Alice clapped excitedly, "What's he like?"

"He's pretty normal, for a teacher I guess," Bella pursed her lips, "If anything he's really casual. He gave us a really hard test thought."

"What was it on?" Alice's eyes lit up with excitement. 

"Trivia between the 17th century and now," Bella mused with a raised brow, "I guess you guys could ace the test."

"It would probably be too suspicious," Alice giggled, "But I think Mr King is really intuitive." 

"What makes you say that?" 

"A feeling," Alice beamed, "Try to get along with him. I think he knows your dad."

"Will do..." Bella trailed off.

...

By the time Tony King had reached the last class of his first day, he was growing weary of teenagers and their drama already. One person, in particular, had caught his attention amongst the throng of students entering the room. He sat muscular and bulky compared to most of his peers, amber-like eyes lazily flitting around the room porcelain skin. Tony took one look at the teen who looked almost too old to be here, noting that he seemed more than capable of crushing the desk he was sitting at. The two factors that stood out to the teacher was the placid amber eyes and snowy skin with no imperfections. There was only a handful of people that could pull off such beauty. 

Deciding to not jump the gun, Tony greeted the class and repeated what he had done with the previous classes. An introduction and a test. This class held less complains but more sighs and eye-rolls which Tony much prefered. 

Then, soon enough, the bell rang for the end of the day. 

"Papers on my desk please, have a good afternoon everyone!" Tony smiled at the leaving students as they handed the tests back.

The one who had caught his attention, Emmett Cullen, locked eyes with Tony for a little longer than one usually would. A happy grin spread across the boy's face but before he could speak a  blonde girl reached into the room and had pulled him out of the door and around the corner. 

Without missing a beat as the last student left his class, Tony grabbed the Cullen's papers and glanced over it with a curious smirk. All of the answers were correct, one even pointing out a mistake in the question that Tony willing slipped in. With a satisfied grin, Tony had gathered more than enough information. The next sunny day would only confirm his theories more. 

In the meantime, the teacher had to mark three classes worth of tests and one class of course expectations for photography to plan for the next semester which was only six weeks away. By the time that Tony decided to just take all the work home for the day, he realized he was almost too late for his last task of the day - transferring his medical records. Having just moved down two days ago, moving for the job more than moving out of his desire to return to his childhood home, the was a lot to do in the small house that Tony now called his own even if it was just a rental. 

Heading to the teacher's park, Tony unlocked his red Mercedes before stuffing his laptop bag and paperwork into the passenger seat. Jumping into the front, Tony buckled his seatbelt before pulling out of the park and finding his way down the familiar roads to the hospital.

Pulling to the car park, locking the car and swiftly making his way to the reception, Tony waited for a person to finish their business before walking up to the receptionist.

"Hello, how many I help you?" The woman behind the desk spoke.

"Hey, I'm looking to transfer some medical records back. I just moved back the other day," Tony offered a bright smile, "names, Tony King."

"You've come crawling back then, Mr King?" The woman raised her brows, "Last time we saw you here you were on death's door... must have gotten over the trauma?"

"Well," Tony awkwardly cleared his throat, "Trauma doesn't really go away but I'm capable of being back in Forks."

Tony offered a tight smile and the woman nodded absently.

"Right, I've sent the request through. You're all good to go," she smiled before waving him off.

With a silent sigh, Tony glanced down the familiar halls with a perplexed face before turning to head his way. Not without catching sight of another set of amber eyes that made him stop dead in his tracks.

The man with amber eyes and slicked back blonde hair stopped too. The pair just stared at each other for a long moment. A smirk pulled at Tony's face he read the man's nametag before offering a wave as he went on his way.

Doctor Cullen... what an interesting occupation for someone who looked after such peculiar kids.

He might have to make a phone call about amber eyes as opposed to those that he'd seen before. Though marking came first. As Tony pulled up at his new house, ignoring the slight shabbiness of the place, the small cottage had brickwork covered in crawling vines and moss, the windows were horribly thin and there was always a draft around your ankles. The cement roofing tiles were growing their own garden up there and the small arch outside the main door was a wide variety of bugs' home. If in it's prime, the cottage would have been a wonderful place to live. Maybe that's why the rent was overpriced and the landowner had neglected to do much other than give Tony a few extra blankets. 

It wasn't a great home, Tony mused as he pulled up to the building, but it was Forks and it wasn't his childhood home. The red-head jiggled his keys in the old door before lifting and pushing the front door open with a small sigh. Green eyes snapped towards the woodlands surrounding the cottage before he let out a deep sigh and picked up his laptop bag from the ground and hauled it inside. The house smelled of old paper, faint floral perfume from the previous tenant, and the underlying musk of dampness. As soon as Tony entered the door, he was met with a pile of boxes that lined the kitchenette and dining room. 

He hadn't moved many of his kitchenware into their new homes and his cutlery sets were well beyond squashed at the bottom of one of the packed boxes. The wallpaper that looked twice Tony's age was starting to tear and faintly Tony mused it looked like a grandmother's house only he was the grandmother and had too many books littering the place. He was sure even grandmothers' didn't collect as many books as he did. 

The ginger grumbled as he flicked the jug on, he didn't really want to mark the test and finish the end of the week's plans but he supposed it was that or unpack. Tony ventured up the creaking stairs, that he was sure would fall apart if he so much as brushed the banister, towards his bedroom and bathroom - alongside a guest room that making the first floor of the house. Tony happily traded out his tie and stiff blazer for a much warmer navy sweater that he couldn't help but feel more comfortable in. Tony hummed a tune to himself as he heard the jug finish and kicked off his dress shoes before grinning as he slipped into ugg boots with cute pompoms that jumped about as he walked. 

Tony might not have been the definition of masculine but the ginger would be damned if he couldn't be comfortable in his own home drinking hot chocolate and marking papers while listening to Red Hot Chilli Peppers while marking teenagers English papers. With a small glance at the boxes that needed unpacked around the house, Tony grinned to himself with a sheepish chuckle before setting about marking papers until it was time for dinner. 

When it came time to eat something other than crisps and hot chocolate, Tony found himself in the town's diner where he came face to face with the Swan father and daughter duo. Charlie looked ecstatic to see him while Bella looked more than confused. Needless to say, the Chief of Police was overjoyed that a friendly face was his daughter's new English teacher and swelled with pride when Tony mentioned that Bella had done the best in her class - which she had. 

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Chapter Text

The next day followed a similar pattern; wake up, go to school, teach, lunch, teach, mark/ plan, go home, dinner, mark, sleep. It was the pattern that Tony was all too used to with his two full years of teaching behind him. Teachers College really didn't prepare one for all the damned marking. Sometimes Tony wondered if it would be easier to be a vampire, seeing as he wouldn't need to sleep he might not have to stay up late to try and process the utter crap that Mike Welch came up with. 

It wasn't until Emmett Cullen kept sending Tony smirks on his typical Friday lessons that the ginger felt a sense of unease seep deep into his soul. It didn't take a genius to guess that something was going to happen in Forks - something most likely life-threatening. 

However, the school day ended much like the rest of the week. Staying an extra hour to cram in some extra marking, meeting with the Head of English at the school before going home and settling down with a hot chocolate.  

As Tony spared a glance out the window, setting the now empty mug on the kitchen counter, he couldn't help but wonder about what had the Cullen boy so stirred in class. After asking around, it was painfully obvious that the Cullens were vampires their good grades were evidence if not the fact they always went in 'family trips' on sunny days. It wasn't hard to see that they had outcast themselves from the town - not the Tony would blame them, he was avoiding people as much as he could - but people only saw the Cullens as rich and private. Nothing new.

The ginger decided to make the impulse decision to go for a walk as soon as he saw the moon glowing in the sky. It was dark out by the time that Tony had wrapped himself up in a warm coat with a scarf tucked tightly around his neck. He made a small sigh as he locked the door, surprised to see a puff of condensation. Slipping the house key into his pocket, Tony was off and down the dimly lit road. Forks was overly familiar seeing as he grew up here, played in the forests as a teenager and got into trouble for it.  

Slowly, Tony made his way further and further from the homes and closer and closer to the forestry and rushing rivers that followed. Along the road, a glimmer of light caused Tony to glance behind him. There was a ute following behind him and Tony tried to ignore the spark of nerves that pulled at his chest. Surely there wasn't anyone in Forks who would mug him at almost midnight, it's not like a vampire would try this hard either and it certainly wasn't shifter territory. 

Tony spat out a quiet curse as the ute pulled up just in front of him, the driver's door open with a might squeal and a gruff voice made the ginger cringe. A scruffy man decked out in loose jeans, a faded flannel and a hunter's coat peered at Tony from where he stood. Now, Tony wasn't dumb enough to just stand there and look at the man. The green-eyed mess decided to keep walking, passing the man and his ute before a hoarse voice called out,

"Hey, the fuck do you think you're going?" The rasp on the man's voice sounded painful but red eyes weren't glowing back at him. 

"A walk, if you don't mind," Tony curtly responded, wondering how dumb of an idea that was. 

"T' where?" 

"My friends, if you must know," Tony started to walk away but not before running into someone's chest.

The ginger jumped back with a scowl, this person in front of him was new and was packing a blazing set of red eyes. 

"Fucks sake, I just wanted a walk," Tony sighed.

Before Tony knew what was happening, the man behind him sprinted at him. It wasn't until the human was feeling him up and ravaging his pockets that Tony's brain clicked over to the pain in his side.

"Fuck," The man muttered, finally seeing the vampire in front of them.

"You're not the one bleeding," Tony snapped at the man, not before taking the knife that was sitting inside his abdomen and holding it there. 

The vampire looked humoured at the quip Tony shot out. Red eyes dancing across the ginger's clammy, shaking form. 

"Why doesn't your blood smell?" The vampire, now very obviously male, asked.

"Reasons, so go ahead and eat the dude who's trying to rob me," Tony shrugged before wincing in pain and muttered insults at himself.  

To Tony's mild horror, the vampire did just that. The was the all too familiar wet sound of teeth carelessly sinking into his flesh before the wet gulps of a vampire drinking. The ginger's head span with memories for a brief moment before he rounded to go back the way he had come. Blood was seeping past his fingers at his side as the wound burned in firey pain. Where had the blade gone?

"Where do you think you're going?" A female's voice joined the party and all Tony had was the will to glare at her.

Another vampire, the male behind him's companion, stood tall in a ratty overcoat with a dress hugging her alongside bare feet. Tony cursed his luck and made a note to not walk in the woods again. 

A hand grabbed onto Tony's wrist and emerald eyes flared with authority. There was a mental tick, the world became painfully clear and the atmosphere changed.

"Do not touch me," The ginger's words were grated as his eyes flared in rage. 

A simple cool touch to his wrist and all the control that he thought he had was gone. Fear like a hot iron was pooling inside of his mind and trying to consume him. Fear and anger, his best friends that he hated. The two emotions did give way to the regal sense of authority that the ginger felt pool in his stomach. Such an unusual mix that paired poorly.

"W-What?" The vampire before him whispered. 

"I said, 'do not touch me.' You cannot refuse, vampire," Tony hissed through his teeth before his neck snapped towards the treeline.

Golden eyes blazed at him in confusion, Tony could see three pairs in total before the vampires near him noticed. Snapping the man behind him's neck and drinking him dry, the pair were gone in an instant. 

"Oh to have that effect," Tony dry mused as the golden-eyed vampires came to the treeline.

Leading the force was a teen with bronze hair, his brow inclined in confusion. Behind him was a pretty blonde woman with the build of a model and a familiar muscle stud that was Emmett. Tony offered the new vampires a wide grin and dryly chuckled. 

"This is a lot easier than confronting you about the whole vampirism thing, huh."

"We should probably get him to a hospital," The blonde commented, glaring at the wound he had. 

"We'll take him to Carlise," The bronze-haired vampire decided. 

"Home?" The blonde hissed back.

"What are your names?" Tony cut in, sweat starting to form on his brow.

"Well, you know me," Emmett grinned, "This is Rosalie and Edward."

"An absolute pleasure," Tony nodded like he had greeted them normally, his breath catching partway through.

Edward scoffed and approached the man while Emmett bellowed out a short laugh. Tony didn't see much from the cold arms of Edward which he found to be oddly okay in, the hushed words from the three vampires went over his head as he was whisked away at speeds unknown. 

Within a mere minute, the three of them had brought them to a stunning house in the middle of the woods. Tony's drooping eyes went wide with a spark of awe before falling back into their half-lidded state. The pain was numb to him now but the ginger wasn't alarmed like Edward seemed to be. The two were opposites in those moments, a calm shore and a raging ocean. 

"Why aren't you scared?" Edward's words made Tony flick his gaze up in question before realization hit.

With the thought of Edward being psychic came the memory of red eyes. Red eyes, high walls and stone structure. There was a flicker of a refection in a mirror, scars decorating the ginger's freckled skin. 

"I have... a history in Forks," was all Tony could supply after knowing the from the vampire's wide eyes he had seen the memories. 

There was bleak silence before Rosalie called out for Carlisle. Tony supposed if he hadn't read Carlisle's nametag a few days back this would be all the more confusing for him. 

Tony heard a door open and close more than he saw it. Slips of warm modern decor and what appeared to be graduation caps in a frame piqued his interest for a moment before corners were taken and a sweet slightly floral smell swamped his senses as Edward came to a still in a room.

"What happened?" A voice that was soft yet minutely authoritative rung out.

"A man stabbed him before two vampires attacked," Edward explained before lying Tony down.

"He didn't get bitten, the other man was killed," Edward kept speaking as the other, assumingly Carlisle, started to pull up his shirt to look at the wound.

"It's deep, but I should be able to help him," the warm voice made Tony slightly relax further into the plush surface he was on.

The two were muttering together, Tony's vision started to swim and silence rung out on the room. There was a pinch in his arm before slowly the remainder of the pain took over and Tony didn't have the will to keep his eyes open.

...

When Tony's green eyes fluttered open he was met with a room that had its curtains closed, soft light trying to filter inside. His side flared with pain, something seemed familiar about the sharp sensation that radiated from where he managed to recall being stabbed. 

Slowly but surely he was able to regain a sense of where he was. Inside the Cullen's house, saved by Emmett, Rosalie, and Edward and likely medically cared for by Carlisle. It made sense then, that no one had entered the room as it was seemingly a house filled with vampires though he didn't know why their eyes were golden. 

The more he sat pondering, the more Tony realised the pain in his abdomen was progressing and causing him a fair bit of grief. The pain kept increasing as it was likely the morphine he'd had early was wearing thin. 

"Do you mind if I inject you with a smaller dose then?" a familiar voice suddenly spoke up.

"Edward, how long were you there?" Tony muttered, grimacing as his voice strained into use. 

"I just sensed you were awake," the vampire responded, his brow furrowed. 

"You have enough medical knowledge to inject me as a 'high school student'?" 

"More than enough with Carlisle as my tutor," Edward curtly responded. 

Tony merely offered a dry chuckle, not at all put out by the joke. 

"You know what we are, yet there isn't a drop of fear in you towards our family," Edward commented, starting to prepare the syringe. 

"Because I've seen much scarier vampires," Tony mused.

"The kidnapping seven years ago?" Edward asked, his eyes strictly avoiding Tony's curious gaze. 

"Well, you're not wrong. Dunno which source you got that from but its probably the biggest case the police here had ever seen. Charlie was the poor bugger who managed to find us- me so it's almost weird to see his daughter dating a vampire given he unearthed the most dangerous vampire case in Forks." 

There was a tense silence for a long moment, Tony reflecting on his words and wondering if they were too harsh. 

"You're not wrong at the irony," Edward stiffly commented, "When my family's back and you're better we'll ask each other questions. Carlisle said he'd seen your files as an interesting case when they transferred so you're in good hands without having to go to the hospital." 

"Any normal vampire would have left me or in fact dumped me at the hospital doors if they hadn't eaten me first. You should have especially given Carlisle works there - why didn't you?"  

Edward didn't respond for a long minute. That minute was interrupted by him giving a heavy sigh.

"I'm not one to say anything, Esme, our mother, wishes to look after you for a while," the teen looked like he'd rather anything else happen.

"One of the few faces I have yet to meet out and about." 

"You'll be fine." 

Edward offered a weak smile before taking his leave, humanly walking to the door and letting in a pretty woman. 

"Tony, right?" The most motherly voice Tony had heard asked.

"Mrs Cullen," the ginger smiled, something that made the woman's golden eyes light up. 

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Chapter Text

Esme turned out to be a very kind woman. Tony found himself fascinated by how soft she seemed, how something had clearly happened to the point she wasn't fond of holding on to the bitter emotions in her undead life.

"So you designed the whole house?" Tony murmured, the morphine well working into his system this time. 

"Yes, when we were in Alaska we had a hard time designing the house so Alice left it in my hands," Esme smiled at the memory. 

"You have an eye for beautiful things," Tony mused, his mind trailing further away, "It truly is poetic in a sense."

"You flatter me," Esme softly smiled down, a flash of sympathy in her eyes, "I think the family would really like you, you know. You have a very bright smile."

"Now whos flattering who?" Tony chuckled. 

The room was warm, Esme having opened the curtains away from her. It seemed they didn't favour glittering despite Tony knowing full well they did in the sun - even if it was the weirdest concept he'd seen about vampires. 

"You need to get some more rest so you can heal, I'll prepare a meal for you when you're up," Esme kindly offered as she shut the curtains again, "Is there anything you'd like?"

"Is there anything you feel like cooking? I'd hate to impose but if you do have food I will politely eat it," Tony grinned. 

"A surprise then?" Esme tilted her head softly, "I can arrange that. Please feel better when you wake."

With that, Tony was left to fall asleep into the depths of his dreams. Flooded by a creeping past, it took a lot of effort for him to keep at bay for not only his sanity but others as well. 

...

Tony woke to the smell of chocolate hanging in the air, immediately being able to smell the accompanying meal left out for him. There was a berry yoghurt set out in a cute bowl with actual berries and a glass of water. The chocolate scent apparently came from a complimentary block that had been broken up for him.

"What did I do to deserve this kindness," Tony muttered, eyes wide at the meal.

"Esme insisted on making something to help you and Emmett claimed you always had chocolate in your desk at the school," a new voice spoke from the other side of the room that Tony now saw held a desk and bookshelf. 

"Carlisle Cullen, I assume?" Tony smiled, looking at the godsend of a man - er, vampire. 

"Yes, a pleasure to formally get to meet you, Tony King." 

"Thanks for, ya know patching me up and not trying to eat me," the ginger chuckled, not at all phased by the fact this vampire could turn him.

"You really aren't scared?" Carlisle asked, putting his book (that Tony didn't notice he had) back and walking towards the temporary bed the human was on.

"Nah, you guys aren't nothing compared to the guys I met when I was seventeen, no offence." 

"I believe there's a heck of a story to be told there," Carlisle politely queried.

"You could say that, but it's certainly not one for a first meeting if it can be helped." 

"We won't push," Carlisle promised though it seemed to be more aimed at the other vampires in the house.

"Your wound wasn't as deep as it looked to be, your body is healing it well." 

Carlisle implied what Tony knew all too well.

"The weird healing rate, right? I'll explain what I can later on, sorry," Tony made to sit up slowly, testing his limits. 

Carlisle offered him a hand in sitting upright and both nearly withdrew at the sensation the touch brought. The two men shared a confused glance, a woman's squeal echoing the house somewhere else. 

"Alice," Carlisle sighed.

"Another one who's at school," Tony recalled. 

"Yes, she seems quite fond of your classes. Likes looking over Emmett's shoulder while he does your homework."

"I'm between surprised and flattered your lot actually do the homework set." 

Carlisle laughed, a small smile gracing his features as he looked out over the dusk sky. The curtains had been opened at some point, no doubt when the food was brought in. 

"After you eat we can see how steady you are on your feet, I know the rest of the family is curious to meet you." 

"Really? I'd think knowing your English teacher was brought into your house bleeding out was a bit of a ... of a situation." 

"Ah, you weren't told?" Carlisle seemingly giving Edward some very pointed thoughts, "We consider ourselves vegetarians, we only feed off animal blood." 

"That's impressive!" Tony perked up, "Really, it's possible for vampires to survive off animal blood?" 

"Yes, it takes a lot of will to make the change. We have another coven who agrees with our ways in Alaska too."

"So totally keeping that in mind for the future," Tony mused, eyes wide at the information.

"I was curious about how a human knew of our existence," Carlisle sighed, "Edward seems to think you know the Volturi?" 

"Mm, I'm not exactly supposed to talk about it, but I've been made an exception. Interesting days those were," Tony tried very hard not to think about his time in Italy. 

"I see, sorry for pushing," Carlisle apologized.

"Don't stress," Tony smiled, "You're already doing better than 90% of Fork's community. I'm not afraid of explaining what happened either, though the images aren't all that nice so I'll let the mystery fester a bit." 

Carlisle offered a tight-lipped smile, Tony not entirely sure what part of his statement had somewhat upset the man. 

"Eat, we'll speak after," Carlisle smiled. 

The doctor left him in the room to attack the food, down the glass of water and very happily nibble at the chocolate left for him. Before the vampires thought to come back up, Tony poked a look at his newly stitched would which was wrapped in gauze. It hadn't bled through, so no doubt it was well on its way to healing. 

The small raised scars down by his hips sent a dark feeling down to his gut. Though they were hardly the gnarly scars. The thought of the Volturi reminded Tony of the pendant he owned, not willing to bring it out into the world just yet - despite Edward probably passively figuring out that he owned what he owned. He almost begged the psychic to keep his secrets for the time being as he hardly posed a threat. 

Soon enough Carlisle had come back up the stairs and into the study or office to see Tony again. 

"I'll check your wound and then we'll see about getting you to stand." 

The blonde vampire worked quickly yet carefully, clearly switching into doctor mode as he peeled back the gauze and assessed the stitching on the now visible ugly red slash on his skin. Looking at its placement and from what Tony knew of human biology - which wasn't much - he was lucky he didn't actually have to be hospitalised. That didn't stop the awe of Carlisle's work. Delicately trained hands worked seamlessly to get the job done, Tony ignoring the cool shiver that ran across his skin as Carlisle's fingers bumped and brushed against his skin. 

Another notable fact about vampires, Tony mused, was that their marble-esk skin was always much cooler than the human body temperature. It seemed Carlisle picked up on his wavering attention as he was soon to speak up.

"Are my hands cold?"

"Not uncomfortably so," Tony mused, looking up to meet golden eyes, "Besides, I know you lot don't really run at the standard 98°F (37°C join the metric system nerds), right?" 

"Clever," Carlisle grinned shyly, "Need to know?"

"Need to know," Tony confirmed, again not yet ready to list off why he knew so much about vampires. 

After Carlisle had put more gauze on, helped Tony fix his shirt and showed him to the bathroom the pair descended down some stairs. Tony was, yet again, in awe of the house. The light that flooded in in the dying evening made everything have a warm orange glow cast out over the wooden floors and decore. Passing past a stairwell, Tony took one look at a large collection of graduation caps and gave a small snort of amusement. 

"I see you found a use for all the caps you lot have gained over the years," Tony teased. 

"It's like our own family joke," Carlisle smiled, pleased to know that someone understood it.

Rounding a corner, Tony and Carlisle came into full view of all of the Cullens. There was the familiar Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, and Edward followed by an adorable girl with a pixie cut, an exhausted-looking boy by her side and for whatever reason, Tony was slow to notice, Edward had Bella Swan cuddled up behind him as if to protect her. 

"Feeling better there, teach?" Emmett grinned, the most playful look Tony had ever seen on the boy spreading across his face.

"Better than when I last saw you," Tony nodded, smiling at the tease. 

"As everyone knows, Tony is aware of our existence as vampires," Carlisle stated, "So I'd like for him to get to know everyone."

The young girl was the first one to move. Speeding to stand in front of Tony who looked amused at the action, "Hi, I'm Alice! The brooding one over there is Jasper my mate."

Tony looked between the two, something clicking at how everyone in the room was practically paired up. A Coven full of mates, Tony mused glancing towards Edward and Bella before nodding to himself as he did the math - then there was a far more daunting question - why was he been allowed in? 

"You quite intelligent," Edward commented as if to give the hint to his family, golden eyes peered back at Edward for the comment.

"Well, take one look at the school dynamic and repeat it back here it's quite clear to see," Tony evaded, having a mental conversation with Edward who seemed more than happy to oblige. 

"You've been with a coven before, haven't you?" Edward pushed, trying to get the man to think about something but the human had caught on too fast.

"Really?" Bella asked, her wide eyes honing in on Tony.

"Well, you're not wrong. I've been held hostage by one coven and guarded by another," Tony's felt his brow twitch in a deadpan sense at the awkward turn.

Bella fell silent at that, somewhat seeming the reminder that vampires were in fact scary when they wanted to be. 

"All that aside, it's nice to meet you all," Tony broke the tension, a small smile gracing his features. 

Alice gave a small giggle while Esme smiled from the kitchen island. It was, unsurprisingly for Tony, Emmett who opened up a game of 21 questions for Tony.

"So why are you a teacher?" 

"Because I was interested in teaching?"

"What's your favourite colour?" 

"Blue."

"Favourite food?" 

"Chocolate."

"Called it!" 

Tony scoffed with a smile. 

"Why did you do the ridiculous quiz when you first arrived?" Bella asked, cutting off the flood of question from Emmett.

"Hm? That test was more of an inside joke for myself as lame as that sounds. You generally came second overall, Bella. For whatever reason Emmett decided to answer almost everything on the paper perfectly."

"You did what?" Rosalie hissed at her partner. 

"Alice told me to!" Emmett quickly defended, getting ready to flee the room as Alice whipped around at him. 

Edward sighed in annoyance before politely excusing himself and Bella. The pair likely headed up to the boy's room from what Tony knew. Emmett was chased out of the house by Alice with Jasper being quick to follow. Rosalie gave Carlisle and Esme a very pointed look before leaving too.

"That went well," Esme smiled, slightly irked at her children's behaviour. 

"It seems they're trying to hide something," Carlisle sighed, patting Tony's shoulder as he walked towards the counter. 

Tony faintly realised that Carlisle had stayed rather close to him throughout the exchange, there was a teasing look shared from Esme to Carlisle for the former offered Tony a seat as the three exchanged pleasantries. 

After spending longer than expected talking, Carlisle was due to work the night shift and Tony due to be dropped off home. As the pair were getting ready to leave, Alice raced into the room whispering something to Carlisle before taking off around a corner. 

"Do you have your phone on you?" Carlisle asked while hiding a sigh that Tony saw right through. 

"Uh," Tony fumbled with his pockets before his eyes widen, "I went on a walk without my phone?!" 

The small cry of panic at his stupidity made some of the vampires chuckle in the house. Carlisle laughed it off, ushering Tony into a fancy looking sports car that Tony could appreciate despite not knowing anything about cars - even the one he was gifted a year or so ago. 

The car ride was filled with classical music, some of which was familiar hits and the others more mysterious and intriguing. Tony was directing Carlisle to his house with ease, noting that the vampire was the first person to know where he lived other than those who had his address in his paperwork.

Upon pulling up the cottage, Carlisle lit up in a small grin. Golden eyes quickly tracking and savouring the view of the suited home. 

"Ah, you can come inside to see if the ointment I have will be any good," Tony spoke after a pause, subconsciously staring into Carlisle's eyes which the blonde happily took note of. 

"If it's no hassle," Carlisle smiled, his voice becoming much more mellow than what it was at his house.

Tony found his key stuffed in his pocket and worked on opening the door, apologizing for the boxes still lying everywhere. Carlisle was tracking the house more with his eyes flitting around, Tony noticing he was scenting the place too. 

"Just you here?" Carlisle asked, his tone taking on a form of a concern.  

"Yeah, I don't have any biological family left so it's just me," Tony shrugged.

"Sorry," Carlisle sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.

"No worries, it's all in the past now. Besides, maybe I can invite my awesome vampire friends over some time," Tony smirk as he went up the creaky stairwell. 

Carlisle's short laugh seemingly echoed and made Tony's ears burn in a warmth he wasn't particularly happy about but didn't mind overall. 

Pointing out the ointment was the incorrect type and that Carlisle would drop some around in the morning, Tony telling the vampire to just come in the window if he was asleep, the pair were about to part ways when Carlisle scribbled a set of numbers down that the ginger quickly realised was a phone number. 

"Just in case," Carlisle smiled before taking his leave and pulling away. 

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

Tony's first action was to put the number into his contacts before promptly decided to knock out for a couple of hours before making a phone call to call in sick for Monday as he was unlikely to be anywhere near work ready by then.

The clearing of a throat woke Tony up, there was a startle before the slightly panicked voice of Carlisle registered in Tony's mind and the man cuddled back up into his blankets.

"You did say to come through the window, the door was locked and you didn't hear me knocking," the blonde quickly tried to cover up, upon the small race in Tony's heartbeat.

"You're good, was just sleepin'," Tony mumbled, his face well smushed into his pillow.

"Too much sleep won't do you any good," Carlisle sighed, somewhat fondly, "Did you eat?"

"What time is it?" Tony risked a peek at the vampire only to feel his ears grow warm.

Carlisle looked slightly flustered but was looking around the room holding a small paper bag. The vampire looked rather interested in the small bedroom, Tony supposed he hadn't actually managed to give the vampire a tour of his house the healing wound was a bit of a setback.

"It's 5 AM," Carlisle informed after a moment and a glance at the clock Tony had placed somewhere on his desk.

"Then no," Tony huffed, unimpressed that it was a Monday morning already.

Carlisle's posture changed immediately. The vampire rounded to face the nestled human and was fully ready to lecture him on how important it was for humans to eat to heal. Though it seemed that whatever train of thought he started with was cut short, Tony didn't really know why until Carlisle sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.

"You look down," Tony murmured, unable to quite tell what the doctor was feeling.

"Not quite, I just don't like seeing you like this all alone," Carlisle explained, a hand running through his slicked-back hair.

"Well, I have you," Tony responded before shuttering and blushing, "Shit that sounded so lame."

Carlisle, thankfully, offered a kind chuckle and reassured Tony. The ginger was started to look a bit red but was overall well awake after the social shock of what he'd said.

"Ah, right, ointment and food," Tony pondered, trying to shuffle his way out of his cacoon.

It didn't take long for the ginger to wiggle his way out of the blankets, his hair a mess and sleep dusting his features. Carlisle helped him to stand up, a soft smile permanent on the vampire's face.

"Ya know, you've really gone out of your way to help me," Tony started as he started to wake up, "Your whole family has."

"It's not often we see someone who knows and accepts us as being vampires," Carlisle seemed to be careful with his words.

"You're very different from the vampires I've come across. Far kinder, in a human-like way. Not to say the coven that looked after me wasn't kind, but I had to live with human blood-drinking vampires," Tony paused, the thought washing over him.

"What is it?" Carlisle asked.

"Your family confuses me, I like them - and you," Tony struggled, "But I don't think you'll like the end benefits - or rather, cons - of associating with me."

The pair had reached Tony's bathroom which looked almost unpacked if the candles and bath bombs were anything to go by.

"I don't see the harm. Alice seems to think you're in our future and Emmet is actually fond of you," the vampire spoke as he went through the motions of checking Tony's wound.

"Alice, does she have a gift too?" Tony furrowed his brows, "Clairvoyance then?"

"Somewhat, but it often open to change," Carlisle explained as he pulled out new ointment and wrap from the bag.

Tony sighed and simply watched with a bitter frown as Carlisle looked after him. The wound was nearing healed, a couple more days and it would be no more than a gross scab. The chain around Tony's neck almost seemed to burn him, like a pang of guilt so heavy his soul was screaming in agony. It was weird, not only because the situation was new, but because he felt obliged to spill his guts to Carlisle and in extension the Cullens.

"What's eating at you?"

"You helped me instead of sending me to hospital, my life was in danger yes - but honestly, not enough to care for me yourselves," Tony commented, lying through his teeth.

"Alice had seen something go awry if you went to the hospital, that's why Edward, Emmett and Rosalie went to get you," Carlisle's voice almost wavered, surprising the pair.

"I turned into a vampire, didn't I?"

Tony had pulled away to clutch at his shirt, unable to hide the shiver in his shoulders at the thought.

"Yes," Carlisle breathed, "But that wasn't the right option to take."

"I should be clear," Tony frown, his eyes dimming, "I'm destined to become a vampire. Edward should have seen that I know Aro?"

Carlisle froze, deciding to take a seat on the rim of the bathtub while Tony reseated himself on the toilet lid.

"He mentions you had thoughts of Volterra."

"Have you been close to the Volturi?" Tony asked, his eyes drifting to meet Carlisle's.

"I'm somewhat friends with Aro, years ago we stood together," Carlisle informed, surprising the ginger.

"Do you know of his soft side? The side of a bitter, power-hungry man that can turn kind?" Tony asked a new type of light in his eyes.

"I haven't seen it, but I can believe it."

Tony pulled his necklace chain, it pulling tight with the pendant being just under his collar. His breathing had turned shaky, something he wasn't expecting.

"You don't have to tell me anything, Tony," Carlisle had his hand over Tony's before he knew it.

"I can't properly tell," Tony whispered, "But you're different. Different to anyone I've interacted with in my life. I want to tell you things I've been sworn to keep secret, to tell you the horrors and joys of my life - and I don't understand it..."

Carlisle looked like a deer in the headlights, something sitting on the tip of his tongue that he couldn't spit out.

"You don't have to say anything, we've just met after all. But I'm aware of vampire aspects like Blood Singers and Mates, Aro informed me."

"Why would he tell you all of this?" Carlisle pondered, clearly missing the common sense in what he knew.

"Because I can only become a vampire, and from his word a powerful one."

Tony flicked the pendant out, showing Carlisle the Volturi crest in all its glory hanging from his neck. Carlisle gingerly asked if he could look at the necklace, to which Tony allowed with a mute nod.

The tension wasn't as tempered as Tony thought it would, Carlisle wasn't booking it out of there as fast as he vampirically could.

"You've been sworn to the Volturi, so why did Aro leave you as a human?" Carlisle's words were stiff, somewhat broken.

"Help me take my shirt off," Tony quietly asked, not entirely comfortable with the situation but willing to share some more of the story - what he could share.

"Are you sure?" Carlisle asked, his eyes wide.

"It's just you, no others to see, no Edward to relive my memories that come forward every time I look at myself. I trust you so far, and I hope this isn't a foolish mistake."

Carlisle's hands froze at his shoulders, having released his midriff before stopping.

"I'd never hurt you, Tony, I'd never dream of it."

"But you can judge me," was the whisper in return.

The soft English teacher had never looked so raw, so exposed and so human in front of another.

Carlisle continued to remove his shirt, allowing the faintly toned yet pale body of Tony to reveal itself. There, littered across what Carlisle would call perfect skin, was an array of bite marks, scars all too similar to the one Bella had received recently and all too clear what had caused them.

"Bite marks," Carlisle whispered, just loud enough for Tony to hear.

"Nineteen in total if I recall," Tony added, "Some are on my legs too... This is the reason Aro let me live as a human. I was kept as livestock, so when saved I demanded to live at the cost of knowing my fate is eventual."

"How is this possible? Vampires aren't known for this type of restraint at all," Carlisle's eyes were blown wide yet seemingly hardened into a gold glare for each bite he found.

Tony was quick to ask for his bathrobe, something Carlisle was quick to help him put on.

"There's more to the story, obviously, but not all of the venom was sucked out of me for each bite. Aro thinks that I'll slowly die until I turn but there's no evidence yet. So, realistically, I've got two years before my deal with Aro expires and Demitri will come to drag my ass back to Volterra."

"That's horrible," the blonde frowned, not looking at all pleased.

"Even if we share a bond Tony, I couldn't wish the fate of a vampire on you unless you were in dire peril. But, I can't protect you from the Volturi when you wear that around your neck."

"Then consider," Tony mused, "If I end up being close to you, a Volturi-Cullen wouldn't be impossible would it?"

"It's unheard of," Carlisle was quick to answer.

"Then I'll make it happen. Because I share too many bonds, one with you and one with the Kings. Markus didn't tell me much because Aro and Cassius were being stingy about how much I could really know before I was turned."

"You're that determined?" Carlisle softened.

"Hey, it's only if we get on," Tony teased, offering a weak smirk at Carlisle, "It's weird just connecting with someone, but I'm cool to experience it."

"Thank you, Tony," Carlise looked at the man, "Can... Can I hug you?"

Tony blinked in surprise, a happy blush dusting his cheeks.

"Sure, I think a hug would be nice after such a dull story."

And so Carlisle kept Tony in his cool embrace until the vampire remembered that Tony had yet to eat an actual meal and rushed them to the kitchen to cause chaos on the empty fridge and unpacked pantry.

...

Tony was surprised to wake up tucked into bed with his alarm set and an email pre-typed on his phone to the school.

The email sent, the ginger slowly nuzzled back into his bed, playing his mp3 through the speaker he had in his room. More Red Hot Chilli Peppers, naturally.

Nodding off, Tony was awoken by the need to use the bathroom. After seeing to need, cleaning himself up and dressing his wound, he stumbled down the stairs towards the kitchen.

Tony sent a thank you text to Carlisle, blushing faintly at the memory of the hug but somewhat felt regretful of the circumstances surrounding the intimate moment of vulnerability. He shouldn't have to be vulnerable - he shouldn't have known about vampires nor hold the memories he does.

There was a lot Tony wished differently upon the world, there seemed to be a fresh emptiness upon him. A sense of something missing, but not a particularly bad thing to be feeling. The ginger could assume it was related to explaining his ties to Carlisle, someone he wanted to be close to but was slipping from his fingers as quickly as he came.

Hugging a cup of hot chocolate at 11 AM was when Tony got the email wishing him well and a further day off. He sent an unthought text to Carlisle asking about his day at work given the vampire had said that he'd be working the late-morning to evening shift earlier that morning. 

As he was making peanut butter on toast, Tony received a reply from Carlisle. 

𝘏𝘪, 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘰𝘯. 𝘏𝘰𝘸'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨?

𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬. 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨?

𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥. 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘵. 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘱 𝘣𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵?

𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯!

Tony put his phone down with a small smile. It was so easy to talk to Carlisle, the blonde was just a new level of easy to talk to. Meanwhile, as he was busy texting, Tony had noticed another message pop up on his screen. One that made him Yahoo if having a bath while healing stitches was a good idea. The information was uncertain leaving an unamused Tony to hike upstairs to cacoon in his bed while making a phonecall he really didn't want to make.

"Hello, Tesoro, how are you?" a cool voice spoke through his cellphone.

"I've been well enough. How about you, Aro?" Tony softly sighed at the familiar voice and the scolding to come.

"We've been well, Tony. Waiting for you to come back to us."

"The usual then," Tony smiled sadly.

"You've moved to Forks again, my Tesoro is this a good idea?" Aro's concern was genuine.

"It's a lot of things. I'm still working out if it good, however, I've decided one thing," Tony's voice faltered into a silence that Aro waited for him to finish.

"It's been very complicated, emotionally and mentally I mean. I've met the Cullen Coven, one of the reasons you no doubt got in touch, as they've already helped me."

"What have you found in them?" Aro asked, his voice holding something akin to jealousy but not slandered in malice. 

"I don't know yet, weird emotions I don't know how to deal with. If I ever figure it out I'll tell you," Tony smiled, knowing what he said was a type of the truth. 

"If that is what you think, my Tesoro, then I'll leave you be. You sound tired, please rest."

"You can read me that well even on a call? I'm impressed. Thank you, Aro. Talk to you later."

Aro's soft hum was heard before the line went dead and Tony fell back onto his bed.

"Why are these phonecalls so hard?" the ginger whined before his mind gave way to exhaustion he didn't know was there.

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

Tony had gone through hell the rest of the week between Carlisle noticing his eating wasn't great and half of the staff making sure he wasn't going to topple over as they had no extra staffing members - Tony was tired. There was also the small fact that the Cullens had dropped by for social calls every now and then throughout the week starting with Carlisle and Esme. 

So when Alice Cullen bounced into his classroom after teaching Emmett's class, he was a touch wary. The adorable girl stopped before his desk and extended a piece of paper to him.

"We're giving Bella a birthday party tonight and thought to invite you, give her some 'normal' company. Wear the suit that matches the sapphire tie and buy her the book on the left," Alice smiled. 

"A touch more warning would be nice. Does Bella know her teacher is going to be there?" Tony raised a brow and listened to Emmett laugh down the hall.

"Of course!"

"Did she agree because she's socially awkward?" 

"Come on T- Mr King! It'll be fun, I'll get Bella to tell you herself then!" With that, Alice bounded out of the room seemingly set that Tony would come. 

"I haven't worn that suit since Markus gifted it to me when I turned twenty-one," Tony sighed as his next class filled in with a stunned Bella walking in second-to-last.

Tony took a chance to glance at the paper, a time, place and dress code was scrawled in perfect handwriting. 

Focusing back to the class on meaningful cinematography to purposeful camera dynamics went quickly as Tony forgot about his conversation while teaching. He only pulled his scab once this class too which was a win as he generally went too far out on explaining and pointing out aspects of a scene due to his artistic nature. 

Tony caught himself not three minutes till the bell and let the class pack up and leave early. Unsurprisingly Bella waited at his desk until most of the students cleared out.  

"How are you, Bella? I believe a quiet happy birthday is in order," Tony smiled.

"So Alice did get to you," Bella sighed, "Did she invite you?"

"Yes, but what's your take?" 

"Huh?" Bella looked bashful and confused.

"Did you want me to come? It is your party after all and I don't particularly know you as an adult."

"As an adult?"

"I know Charlie well, but my events happened when you were in Arizona. I was in the town when you were a kid too, though I can't say I knew you well at all. Knew Jacob better, babysat the kid for Billy."

Bella looked stunned, her jaw slackened for a moment.

"I'll catch you up over a coffee someday," Tony smiled. 

"I'll hold you to it... You should come, it would be... nice to get to know you better. Alice seems to think it's because I need more humans to bond with."

Tony snickered, the idea of 'human' bonding was an odd concept.

"Sure, I'll come. Don't expect me to not bring a present though - oh, and tell Charlie I'll have a beer with him sometime. I'd hate to just have to hope he's home." 

"Sure, I'll tell him," Bella weakly smiled.

"Get to your next class, I have paperwork to finish now my evening is booked," Tony teased as he ushered Bella out. 

With exasperated vigour, Tony closed his laptop and gathered his papers into his laptop case and gathered everything he needed. With a slightly narrowed gaze, the ginger cleared the room and made his way down the mostly empty halls. Tony only stopped by the staffroom to say his goodbyes before taking his leave and heading immediately down to La Push. 

The drive had an edge to it after Tony had flicked a text to an old friend. He made a beeline to his favourite bookstore to look for something for Bella, something that Alice had seemingly picked for her already. It took twenty minutes of looking both at books for himself and Bella before he made his purchase and checked his phone. There was a location listed in the text, supposedly a house he was supposed to go to. 

Tony assumed he'd have time to mark and wrap Bella's present later on in the afternoon seeing as he left an hour before the last bell. Picking up a coffee on the way, ignorant to the fact he hadn't had one in a few months now, Tony followed himself down roads that grew familiar.

His Mercedes outgunning the area a fair bit as a few familiar faces raced out to see the sleek car. Sam Uley's face had matured a fair bit, no longer was a maturing teen before the ginger but a man with some serious looking muscle. 

"The hell Tony?" Sam called as said ginger got out of the car, wrapping the younger man in a side hug. 

"What can I say, seems shit happened," Tony grinned, overjoyed to see his friend again.

Two new faces gawked at the car, one of them circling around it while the other seemed too scared to approach. 

"What's with the wheels?" one of them asked.

"A gift, I suppose," Tony raised a brow, not sure how to say that Aro gave him the car by literally dropping it in his driveway and having Demitri throw him the keys. 

"You still smell like ass, if not worse than when I saw you last," Sam grumbled, eyeing the teacher hesitantly.

"Ah, right. Well, I've never been good at avoiding vampires have I?" Tony bluntly stated as the two new boys nearly choked.

"Like hell, you've met those Cullens then?" Sam sneered.

"Yes, and I quite like them - kinda, gotta remember I appreciate your wolf ass as well Sam," Tony teased.

"Wait, wait, wait," one of the boys, the one with brown hair called out, "He knows?"

"Jared, Paul," Sam called out, nodding to each boy, "This is Tony King."

"Holy shit! You're the one who survived two leech groups!" Jared, the louder one, gasped with wide eyes.

"You could say that," Tony grimaced, raising a brow at Sam.

"Jared and Paul shifted recently, the Cullens were the cause for our proper shifting," Sam explained as the group headed for the house.

"Wait so like within the last four years?" Tony looked at the boys.

"I did, these two were a more recent addition," Sam smirked as the boys raced each other inside.

"It did you some good I see," the ginger mused, "Expect many more to turn?"

"We've got our eyes on a few. Do you remember Jacob Black?"

"Of course, babysat the kid while mum- while mum was at work," Tony winced as the words left his mouth.

Sam waited a minute before speaking, just outside the door.

"Are you okay to be back? Not that it wasn't great to see you and all... but you lost everything here, time doesn't change that."

"I- I..." Tony took a moment to process his words, "I don't like it that much but I need to be here for now. An opportunity arose, I'll be calling it fate soon enough."

"I don't want to know do I?" Sam huffed, his gaze narrowing at the ginger.

"Not just yet, no. We'll pretend everything is okay for now." 

"For now," Sam sighed as he opened the door and lead Tony inside.

The house was quaint, much homier than anything Tony had lived in for years now. The house definitely had a woman's touch lingering around. Tony found that to be true when Sam walked them into the kitchen where Jared and Paul were scoffing down some sandwiches. At the counter, where Sam was bee-lining to, was a woman with long dark hair and a deep scar resting on the right of her face. 

"Tony, this is Emily, my fiancee," Sam introduced while wrapping his arms around her waist and giving her a peck, "And this is the legend that is Tony King."

Emily's eyes seemed to widen at the name and offered a kind smile towards the ginger.

"Shit you make it feel like I haven't seen you in a lifetime, Sam," Tony sighed, "Lovely to meet you Emily, and Jared and Paul." 

"You make those three look like slobs already," Emily teased, "Good to meet another of Sam's friends."

The group shared a few stories and a lot of teasing at Sam's expense while eating sandwiches, Tony quietly timekeeping as the evening drew nearer. This was a tad more painful than Tony expected even if he was ecstatic to see Sam again. 

The shifter was the human to come across Tony when he was trapped when the Volturi were saving him Sam was the human that sent them hiding and called the cops. Sam was Tony's friend whose extra sense allowed him to save Tony but witness the horrible state he was left in. 

There would always be many unspoken words between Tony and Sam, they were a survivor and a witness, support to each other that they acknowledged. Tony was the reason Sam fell into his shifting phase early while the Quileute tribe accepted Tony and all his flaws to explain to him what was happening. 

Then Tony left, he didn't drop contact but he left and he was left to be painfully human alone. 

However, it seemed that there at the moment, the tribe and Sam himself was more than enough to offer Tony the mental break he so needed. The peace and humanity he often missed. The small laughs and lighter shoulders said as much... until it was time to go and get ready for Bella's birthday.

With farewells, a few hugs and a promise to catch up soon, Tony was on his way back to the cottage. After a shower and shave, Tony hunted down the suit that Alice had pointed out for him to wear. Skipping the blazer and simply donning black pants and shirt accompanied by an iridescent sapphire-pearl tie that brought out the green in his eyes.  

After hunting down some old newspapers and some string, Tony made a makeshift wrapping for the book 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Brontë. Possibly a tad too classical for Bella but Tony was willing to take the chance since Alice told him to. Double-checking everything on his mental itinerary, Tony was about to text Carlisle to see what time they wanted him over only to receive a text from said man.

𝘏𝘦𝘺 𝘛𝘰𝘯𝘺, 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰, 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.

The text was sweet and something that Tony was grateful to accept as he was behind on his marking. With all said and done and the still packed laptop case put on the passenger seat, Tony was on his way to the Cullens in his Mercedes. 

Pulling up in the Cullens' driveway made everything much nice than when he'd seen it last but also more intimidating. It helped to have Alice outside the moment he looked at the door. 

"You came!" Alice buzzed as soon as Tony pulled up. 

"I did," Tony smiled as he got out of the car, the damp Forks air attacking him through his shirt. 

"Perfect! Bella and Edward are upstairs together so you're welcome to come and see everyone!"

Tony nodded along, his messy ginger locks bobbing with him as he followed Alice inside, the vampire taking the present from his hands. As they walked he took the house in again, it was indeed a beautiful house that would be anyone's dream if they loved looking out over an isolated forest - something Tony had always found to admire in Forks in his teens.

The room they walked into was covered in pink candles and petal filled crystal bowls that sparked awe in Tony's eyes.

"Mr King!" Emmett's familiar call snapped Tony from his light daze quickly as a cherry smile found its way onto his face.

"I believe I saw you not too long ago Emmett," Tony teased, "I'm still pretending you weren't doodling in your book."

"Hey," Emmett whined at being called out as Esme, who was standing near a window, rounded on the teen. 

"It's good to see you all again," Tony smiled upon seeing the Cullen clan as a whole instead of in passing.

Carlisle seemed to light up from his perch behind the counter, another look between him and Esme before Rosalie made herself known.

"Was it really such a good idea to have two humans in the house?" the blonde frowned, a light line marring her brow.

"I'd only be worried if I hadn't been brought back from potential death here," Tony raised a brow, hoping the joke wasn't too much and being mindful to keep his tone light. 

"That's what friends are for," Alice saved with a cheeky wink, "Should I go get Bella then?"

Tony smiled as Rosalie seemed to soften in the arms of Emmett a bit. Carlisle walked over to the perch at the side of the room Tony had selected for himself and came to stop at his side with Esme not far behind. 

"Did you have enough time to finish your marking?" the blonde's words made Tony chuckle a bit.

"No, not at all. There's never enough time in the day to finish marking but that's okay. I can afford to make Emmett's class wait a bit longer," Tony smiled. 

"You can't keep picking on me like this man," Emmett complained, a mockingly hurt pout on his face.

"Ah, but I can because I'm the ass who teaches you."

Tony stifled a laugh at the look Esme sent him but a lopsided grin slipped past anyway. Alice was back the next time Tony blinked and sat beside Jasper at the back of the room away from Tony. Everyone was dressed semi-formal which was cute but Tony was getting the impression that Alice had one thing or another to do with that. 

With that, Bella descended the stairs in a modest green dress to which the colour suited stunningly with Edward right beside her.

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

"Sorry about this, we tried to rein Alice in," Carlisle apologised after he and Esme hugged Bella.

"Like that's even possible," Esme smiled.

A small flash went off and attention was drawn to Alice who was holding a small digital camera. 

"Found it in your bag. Mind?" Alice directed at Bella and Tony smiled at the antics.

Emmett makes a move to tease Edward about dating an older woman, given Carlisle had told Tony all their mock ages as well as the gist of their actual ages Tony could see the humour in the joke. 

It made Tony laugh internally when Rosalie stepped up to Bella and handed her a silver-wrapped present.

"It's a necklace. Alice picked it out," the blonde woman curtly spoke before retreating.

Jasper and Bella greet each other with a wave which was about the same response that Tony got. Though he supposed that it would be hard for Jasper to be around his emotions for the dark shadow that hung behind him at times - again more information Carlisle had given him more recently.

When Tony looked back to Bella she and Edward were in an embrace that Alice snapped a photo of. It was cute, Tony decided that the pair were so totally in love that it was cute. Edward seemed to sense the thought and glanced at Tony with a slightly warmer attitude than normal.

"Now, time to open your presents!" Alice pulled Bella over to a table that Tony sat ignorant about until he saw the presents and massive cake that almost made him start in hysterics. 

"Alice that thing can feed fifty, there's only T- erm, Mr King-"

"Tony's fine out of class," the ginger chuckled and ignored the fresh sense of estrangement that tried to slam its way into his mind.

"Well," Alice cut in, "I hope the two of you are hungry."

"Here," the bubbly vampire handed another present to Bella, "This one's from Emmett."

Everyone migrated towards the table, Jasper staying a bit back as well as Tony though for likely different reasons.

Bella opened the gift only to find an empty car radio box.

"Already installed it in your truck," Emmett beamed.

"Here's Tony's!" Alice cut in before Emmett could insult Bella red truck that Tony had seen in passing.

"You didn't have to get me anything," Bella suddenly wound up at Tony.

"Eh, I had to pick up some things so it was no hassle at all," Tony brushed off, the casual attention making his skin crawl a bit, "Hope you like it."

Bella opened the gift to find a copy of 'Jane Eyre' she regarded with curious eyes. After skimming the blurb she offered a new type of smile, a horribly awkward but real smile. 

"Thank you." 

Tony nodded as Alice pushed her gift into Bella's hands. It seemed like minutes ticked by after Bella winced back, a small drop of blood already resting on her finger. 

"A papercut," Bella brushed off tensely before Edward rounded to glare at Jasper.

Tony was moving to body block Bella from the vampire's sight hoping to use methods that had worked in his past days. Before Tony could move much at all, his human speed being nothing compared to the rate that Edward pushed Bella back - somehow accidentally launching her into the table. Tony didn't register the growl that had fleed Jasper's form as black eyes trained on Bella who was now bleeding significantly more from the plates and glass shards thanks to the push.

"It's okay," Tony's voice was the first to speak as he settled beside Bella.

Jasper slammed into Edward who launched him back, the sound horrendous but not unfamiliar to Bella or Tony. Emmett and Carlisle jump in and tackle Jasper to the floor, Alice rushing in to calm Jasper. 

"Bella, look at me," Tony called, directing her attention from her bleeding arm back to him.

From the pale look on her face and how clammy she went, it was obvious that Bella didn't handle blood well. The ginger was well unaware of what was happening behind him until his voice reached out to Jasper.

"There's been nothing done wrong, I think most of you should perhaps go get some fresh air?" the vampires behind him stilled, the calming tones of his voice surprising most of them and his serenity even drawing Jasper back as a grounding feeling to latch onto. 

"How-?" Bella was cut off by Tony shushing her, keeping her looking at him by tilting her chin with a finger.

"Let me look, but don't focus on anything other than me until things calm down," Tony explained, his fingers growing cold. 

Kneeling on one knee was easy, Tony was supporting his balance with his left hand as he checked over Bella's wound with his right. Making mental notes as he went but mostly waiting for Carlisle to take over.

When Tony's favourite blonde vampire quickly came to take over, making sure even Edward was outside, the trio went to the kitchen to patch Bella up. Tony watched Carlisle work for a good few moments before he had to excuse himself to the bathroom. Following the doctor's directions, the ginger nearly fell into the door as he shut it behind him. 

Finally allowing his breathing to stagger, Tony cursed himself several times over as his head screamed and pain blossomed in his head. Why did he let it slip, why did it slip? What mentality did he just enter to control the hunger of a vampire to a degree? Mainly, why did his fingers feel like they were on fire? Sure, Tony had quietly picked a piece of glass out of his finger earlier but that didn't explain the literal fire in his fingers.

"Ouch," Tony hissed as his fingers flared again, washing them in the sink with both warm and/or cold water made them feel numb. 

Deciding he'd spent enough time to himself, Tony found his way back to the kitchen as Bella decided to break the ice.

"I sure know how to kill a party," she mused dryly. 

"It's not your fault," Carlisle reassured, "Jasper hasn't been away from human blood as long as the rest of us."

"Seems like you're the only one it doesn't affect," Bella commented.

"Centuries of practice," Carlisle smiled, "I'll give you credit too, Tony. You handled that surprisingly well."

"Would you believe me if I said I was used to it?" Tony hummed, coming to stand beside the two and watch as Carlisle worked.

"Do you ever think of living differently?" Bella asked after a pause.

"I enjoy my work too much. Helping people, saving lives. I'm hoping there's a point to my existence even if I am damned," Carlisle explained.

"You're not damned," Tony and Bella rebutted at the same time, making Carlisle chuckle with a smile.

"Then we three agree. But, Edward doesn't believe there's an afterlife for our kind," Carlisle looks at Bella, "He thinks we've lost our souls."

Something seemed to click for Bella as she trailed off, "That's why he won't... He thinks he'd be damning me."

"If you believed as he did, would you risk it?" Carlisle pondered.

There was no answer, but there really didn't need to be.

"Even I... don't believe vampires are damned," Tony mused, not really for ears to hear but more to resolve his own belief in those words.

Carlisle glanced back at Tony, looking over him before finishing with Bella's arm and burning the pads used to catch the blood. Tony's eyes reflected the flames as he tried not to lose himself to thought. 

Edward came to take Bella back home, Tony giving her a stiff pat on the shoulder as a comforting farewell. Edward and Tony shared a long look for a moment. While there wasn't anything really to be said, it seemed that the vampire had resolved to do something. 

"I suppose I should be going too," Tony sighed, now that his hyperfocus was gone and headache back with a fight.

"So you really didn't notice?" Carlisle asked.

"Huh?" the ginger looked dumbly at the vampire.

"Your knee," the doctor pointed, a wry smile painting his features, "It must have gotten cut on the glass."

Indeed there was a rip in the knee of his pants where he'd knelt. A small twinge of pain made him carefully pull the fabric up and see the ugly chunk of glass that was sitting cozily inside. Blood was leaking down slowly, likely to how he's been walking and using it as usual.

"How didn't I feel this?" Tony stressed, his brow scrunching at the mere notion.

"There was a lot going on, and there seems to be something worrying you as well," Carlisle countered, concern lacing his voice for the latter.

"'Worrying me'?" Tony mused, "I guess you could say that."

"Do you want to talk while I patch you up? I believe the others went to go hunt."

"I don't know if you can help," Tony honestly spoke, unaware of his voice slightly wavering. 

"Sit," the blonde gestured to where Bella sat. 

Doing as he was told, Tony sat down and felt all of his energy drain out of his body. The numbness in his fingers settled and his calm shattered before him as his breathing became a touch too shallow for Carlisle's liking.

"You're okay Tony, you're here with me," Carlisle calmed, moving from assessing the glass to tipping Tony's chin to look at him.

"Sorry, I don't know- Sorry," Tony struggled out in two breaths, his eyes replaying the sensations he lived through years ago. 

"Wherever you think you are, you're not. You're with me Tony, with Carlisle," the blonde pushed, warily as he didn't know how to approach Tony.

"Carlisle?" Tony repeated, not seeing the man before him but instead one of the vampires that the Volturi killed to save him.

"Tony, look at me, I need you back here," the blonde calmed seeing he got a better response, "I need to look at your leg and make sure you're okay."

...

"Do you see me, Tony?" Carlisle asked, receiving a stiff nod, "What am I wearing?" 

"A- a... a black sweater," Tony managed, his mind finally returning, "Carlisle-."

Tony paused to rest his head on his hand, his breathing shuddering before returning to a normal albeit fast pace.

"You did well, Tony," Carlisle affirmed, holding onto his free hand in hopes to ground him more. 

"Thank you... Carlisle," Tony breathed, his eyes darting to meet golden before closing again.

The two sat like that for a long while, Tony bringing himself back together again slowly but surely.

"I'm sorry Tony, I should've realised sooner," the blonde held his hand tighter, "I didn't think."

"No, I haven't relapsed in a long time. I should have warned you of the possibility. I wasn't aware I could even have an episode anymore," Tony sighed, his mind exhausted as well as his body.

"I'll short your leg so we can get you home. Would you be comfortable with me driving your car back?" 

"I can- Yeah, that would be good. Thank you," Tony agreed, realising he was not in the state to drive his car back mentally.

"Thank you," Carlisle smiled as he set to work on cleaning the glass from Tony's leg. 

The two remained quiet for most of the event, Tony trying to gather his energy as he did so.

"Hey, Carlisle," Tony quietly spoke up, "are we still alone?" 

"Yes, is something wrong?" Carlisle was able to hide his expression well.

"I wanted to tell you something I only want you to know," the ginger continued, his head jutting forward to see the vampire.

Carlisle paused his movements, looking up to see sad emerald eyes waiting for him. 

"I think I've started to die."

"What?" Carlisle reeled a bit with the information, the small hole in Tony's knee left until he placed a heavy-duty bandaid on it.

"Here," Tony held out his hands, reaching for Carlisle's own.

When the blonde's cold fingers made contact with the human he was more than astonished to find that the tips of Tony's fingers weren't warm to him. The further up his hand he went the warmer the ginger's hands were and the more he could feel Carlisle's cold touch.

"What is this?" the doctor sat fascinated. 

"I think I used something I shouldn't have accidentally to help Jasper," Tony dropped his head down, ginger locks bouncing with the movement.

"You're going to have to explain that better for me, Tony," Carlisle pleaded. 

"At home? I really don't want anything overheard- especially about this?" Tony's face had more colour in it now, but his eyes had a watery glaze over them.

It didn't take that much longer for Carlisle to politely force Tony to wear one of his sweaters over his shirt and bundle up in Tony's Mercedes. A short drive later, the pair had pulled up to the empty house and were waiting to spill more secrets into the old cottage. 

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

Tony had quickly unlocked the door, Carlisle helpfully dropping his laptop case to its place on the kitchen table before following Tony upstairs. It was somewhat unspoken, but Tony had much prefered any important conversations in the house to be in his safe places be it the bathroom or his bedroom. Tonight he chose the latter, Carlisle more than happy to sit beside him on the made bed with their shoes kicked off at the door. 

The doctor found himself lightly clasping onto Tony's hand as the human prepared himself to speak. 

"You know that Aro saved me, that I was somewhat forced to swear myself to the Volturi... but that's just the public part of the story," Tony sighed as he faced to look at Carlisle, "What is our relation, Carlisle?" 

Carlisle softened at the question, his hold on Tony's slightly tightening.

"What do you want it to be?" 

"I like you, like a lot," Tony conceded, "But I need to know how you, yourself feel."

"I don't know how well Aro explained the concept of mates to you, but I fully believe you're my mate," Carlisle's words were resolute, strong and every last piece of confirmation that Tony needed.

The pair were facing each other, emerald meeting gold in a space lost from time. It seemed as if the warm light that hung above them was like the moon outside, the cool nip of the room unfelt as warm emotions bubbled up inside the two. Cold fingers reach up for Tony's jaw and the ginger leant into the cool touch. Watery eyes turned warm, green pools of wonder and a story yet to be told. Golden eyes shimmered with hope, with an affectionate lustre.

"Would it be okay if I kiss you now?" Carlisle's words made Tony's eyes widen before a happy grin split across his face, his eyes holding a new yet sombre emotion.

"If I say yes, you can't get mad after my story."

Carlisle pulled back, not disheartened at all seemingly but not willing to make that move now. He offered for Tony to sit in his lap while he spoke. For comfort, the doctor excused as the other man nowhere near gracefully managed to position his back against the vampire's chest.

"Tell me only what you wish to," Carlisle smiled, his voice making Tony further relax into his hold.

"The private story begins a little over seven years ago...

A vampire named Malakai had followed me home after a walk in the forest. He killed my mother immediately, didn't even drink her blood. Just, killed her...

My father and I were taken, another vampire had grabbed my father while Malakai held tight to me. We appeared at a house, Klahndike Bulivard if I remember...

There was a blue house, we entered around the back... and were dumped in the most horrific basement to exist...

We were held by chains to the walls, about six of us at a time with collars made to puncture our necks. It smelt like a human dump, riddled with dirt, rust, and blood. There was no escape when they turned the first into a newborn...

It was like a roulette: who was going to be eaten alive and who was going to be turned. My father lost out rather quickly, not even two days in. I, however, apparently stayed for three months. Barely alive, being force-fed supplements for the coven's own humour...

There was no end to the torture, what they did to me there -  there isn't a way I wasn't violated. The worst was when Malakai figured out I was his singer - that my blood screamed the upmost pleasure to him. He wanted to savour that...

So he did. He always bit hard, embracing me as if I were the last thing left alive, then sucking out his venom and my blood until I was so weak I couldn't move. I was left to survive the newborns then too, unable to move aside for the sharp orders I was able to cry out as a plead to live...

Then, later, Aro came in a cloak of red. Aro and some of the guard had come to snuff out a mass kidnapping case with vampires at the heart. I was freed but alas I knew too much, Aro was going to turn me himself once he touched my hand... 

Until I begged for my humanity...

My right to live...

He couldn't deny my plea, my order...

So he gave me a time, allowed the humans to confirm I was alive...

I was the only one who was alive...

I survived only for the Volturi to moved me into their castle. Their grand walls, hidden emotions and slowly growing fondness of the wild yet broken human I was...

Then Aro and I discovered something. We shared a bond, not that of a saviour and victim - but something much closer to lost love, perhaps. Maybe even romantic endearment. We were not mates, yet Markus foretold us of a bond strong, more concrete than what it should have been...

Markus once told me I was yet to find my absolute, my grounding, my moon. But Aro could be my stars, my light alongside the beams of the moon...

That was what I have laid bare, my promise, their promise and a story yet to be written nor tempted by fate...

My beginning to an end.

Now, I feel that I've turned my hourglass and the sand is running out grain by grain. 

You understand now, right, Carlisle?" 

The blonde vampire's hold was tight, Tony was sure that seeing as he was talking unnecessary breathes he would be close to if not crying given he had the capacity to do so. Tony was wrapped in such a way he was sure that Carlisle would shield him from the world if he could. 

It took several minutes before the vampire opted to speak, his voice cracking as he did so.

"You've survived so much, honey you've done so well," Carlisle's words were just above a whisper.

"Thank you, knowing means so much to me. Thank you," the doctor's words were sweet, Tony hadn't realised he himself was crying yet either.

Carlise moved their position, laying on the bed now while holding Tony tight in his arms yet mindfully so. Tony nuzzled his head into the vampire's chest easily, the crisp scent of something pleasantly floral yet light and the smell akin to the old books that Tony relished as something he loved. 

The ginger felt himself blush and more tears well in his eyes when he felt Carlisle kiss the top of his head. They stayed like that for countless amounts of time. Carlisle would occasionally whisper sweet words to Tony as they sat, the ginger nowhere near asleep but drowsy in the most content way he'd been in years. 

Once the two had calmed down, the chill of the room creeping up on Tony, Carlisle decided to shift their position.

"The venom remnants in you... you think they're starting to turn you since you used that gift of yours?" Carlisle's words were careful, kind and patient. 

"Yes, the feeling in my fingers is all too similar to the pain of venom... My deal with Aro expires in two years but I don't think I'll make it that long."

"That's okay," Carlisle turned to look at Tony head-on, "If you ever need it, you're more than welcome in our family and if it progresses too much all you'd need to do is ask."

The resound promise that the doctor made sent a happy shiver down Tony's spine. A look of relief he didn't know he was waiting to show spread across his face as his emerald eyes sparkled a bit more than they had been.

"Thank you, Carlisle," Tony smiled, leaning towards the vampire slowly.

Carlisle reciprocated the action, the two able to feel the other's breath on their face. Well, Carlisle could feel Tony's hot breath. A cold hand reached up for the ginger's face, Tony melting into the touch as the doctor held him. 

Tony didn't know who initiated it but the two had their lips pressed together before he fully registered what was happening. As his eyes fluttered closed, Tony kissed Carlisle and felt the kiss being delicately returned. The sensation that worked its way through Tony's mind and body was damning. With the tingles in his skin and the butterflies in his stomach, he felt like he only ever needed this to be complete - this was all he needed in life. This was his rapture. 

It took Tony a minute to realise he had broken off the kiss for air before pulling Carlisle in for more. Their bodies were shifting positions, the ginger relaxedly on the doctor's lap as his back was against the headboard. Carlisle was been attentive to Tony's state, looking beyond content yet accurately aware of how Tony was reacting to everything and making sure he didn't become overwhelmed before the pair settled to catch their breath in each other's space. 

"That was exhilarating," Tony managed between his shallow breathing. 

"Exhilarating?" Carlisle chuckled, giving Tony's nose a quick peck. 

"Amongst other things," the ginger smiled, the two no doubt felt as if the whole world was paused for them and their peace.

But the night was old, Tony had a class in the morning and Carlisle had to console his family from the evening's mishap. A long hug was shared at the door, a parting thought before the doctor vanished into the night and the teacher retired to marking in his room.

That was perhaps the most emotionally vulnerable that Tony had allowed himself to be in years if not his whole life. He'd found his mate - his moon. He'd found love that wasn't outcast and he was accepted for loving another too. There would be a day where things had to be worked out alas tonight was not that time. 

A few hours later and Tony was dead asleep to the world, none the wiser about what tomorrow would bring. 

...

The schooling day was business as usual for Tony, though he'd caught the fact he was the only fancy car in the parking lot. By the time he'd had his class with Bella, she seemed rather put out by something. Tony wasn't in the position to ask until he made it come after class.

Carlisle was sitting on his doorstep, something in his hands. The warmth that sparked in Tony as he pulled up was sapped away when he took one look at the mask Carlisle tired to wear. He looked upset as if something had been taken away from him. 

"Tony," Carlisle called, almost unable to control his speed for once in his life.

"What's wrong?" Tony's hand reached out to take Carlisle's but the doctor didn't take his hand - nor did he move it away.

"There's been a decision," the blonde started, "Would you rather hear it outside or inside?" 

Tony looked at his cottage, his safe space before taking in the expression Carlisle wore. 

"I'm going to want to hear this outside aren't I?" Carlisle didn't respond but linked their arms and started towards the treeline. 

The two didn't walk all that far into the forest, the treeline remaining just insight. The doctor didn't hold his facade much longer and snatched Tony into a hug. The gesture was quickly returned albeit the confused look on Tony's face.

"Let me guess, you're leaving?" Tony grimaced out, his heart stuttering at the mere thought and praying to be corrected.

"Yes," Carlisle sounded very much like someone had committed a heinous crime. 

"When?" 

"Do you want to come? I can try to talk to them again," Carlisle offered, not filling in any blanks. 

"Carlisle, please, explain properly," Tony pleaded, wanting a proper story here.

"Edward decided to leave, we can't leave him," Carlisle stated, "He wants what's best for Bella. To leave her here, to be away from vampires."

"Aren't they near enough to mates?" Tony questioned, wondering what hell Edward was putting them all through for the concept of safety. 

"Edward doesn't want to turn her, so he's leaving... He wants you to stay here too because Bella can't come it would be wrong for her to leave her without support." 

"Carlisle that's too much," Tony's voice was a bit pitchy, "I can't leave you when I just let you in - you know as well as I do!" 

"I'm sorry Tony, I really am," Carlisle's voice was dry, with no physical way to express the emotion in his eyes.

Tony wasn't sure what hurt more, his heart or seeing the raw pain in Carlisle's eyes.

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

Tony was seated in his kitchen, a silver ring resting in his fingers as he looked past his friend. 

"Dude you've gotta tell me why you called me over," Sam's rough voice was demanding, as usual, but all Tony had the energy for was to shift his focus back into the room.

"Carlisle..." Tony winced, his grip on the ring loosening so it could fall into his palm where he grabbed it in a fist. 

"This is the Cullen stuff I wasn't going to like," Sam growled before sighing and taking an aggressive seat on the spare wooden chair. 

"We're mates," Tony forced himself to look at the shifter, "Like imprinting, but vampiric."

"Wow," Sam tried to contain his anger, "Why the hell-?!" "He left."

Tony cut in, his voice breaking.

"They just left."

Sam's brows pinched, his muscles flexing as he really tried to contain his rage. 

"Why would he just leave if you were 'mates'?"

"Because Edward wanted to leave, to let Bella live a human life."

The pair sat in silence.

"You managed to love him in such a short time?" Sam's voice had mellowed, processing the information he was given.

"I told him everything, he's just as broken as I am but he has a coven to lead," Tony winced at the similar situation he'd left before.

"I may hate your choice, but I see where things are gonna go. As Alpha, I can't support you, but as your friend... I'm here for you," Sam put a hand on Tony's shoulder.

Tony choked on a sob, Sam tensing with not knowing how to deal with the emotions but pulling the teacher into an awkward hug all the same.

It wasn't much later, while the two were together that Tony got a call from Charlie. Bella hadn't come home yet her truck was home and there was no answer from her phone... nor the Cullens. Sam and Tony raced over in the Mercedes to help look. The two break up as a pair immediately and comb the forestry before Tony explains why Bella is likely too traumatized to come to her senses.

Sam shifts away from Tony before allowing the teacher to climb on his and hunker down as so to increase the rate of the search. Sam's easily able to scent Bella and likely Edward'd fading trail, letting Tony off before approaching and seeing Bella freak at the sight of a wolf. 

Tony waited until Bella was feeling safe to approach while Sam shifted back, the teacher checking her vitals and realising the rain he'd barely noticed was freezing her to the bone.

"Sam, can you carry her? You're warmer," Tony called to the trees a bit back where Sam was fixing his pants.

"On it," He gruffly said as he easily picked Bella up in his arms. 

The group made their way back easily, Sam and Tony sharing quiet words so as to not allow Bella to know much of anything as they theorised that Edward and Bella were mates all too similar to Carlisle and Tony.

"There!" Jacob Black's call made the pair fall silent as they breached the treeline.

Charlie runs faster than Tony's ever seen him run and grabs Bella from Sam's arms.

"Thank you, Sam, Tony," Charlie manages, his worry agonising to see.

"Tony, would you mind?" Charlie asks, clearly needing a friend at the moment himself.

"Right behind you," Tony earnestly replies, "I'll talk with you tomorrow, Sam."

The Quileute nods, eyeing Jacob before the younger teen follows the adults close to Charlie inside. The chief mutters to Bella as he takes her up the stairs, the others waiting in the living room. 

"How've you been, Tony?" Billy asks, his tone was a bit hesitant. 

"Alive, well, alive enough," Tony mindlessly responds, back to touching the ring in his pocket, "Yourself?"

"Oh you know," Billy brushes off, "Just making sure Jacob here gets his schooling done before throwing himself into mechanics."

"Still trying to figure out how to use a screwdriver, huh kid?" Tony smirked at Jacob who was quick to rise to his defence. 

Harry Clearwater laughed, having a small input on the conversation before excusing himself not long after Charlie returned. Then Billy and Jacob went... and Tony forced Charlie into a hug that he knew he needed.

"What's happening Tony? You were close to the Cullens too from what Bella said?" The two had melted into the sofa with a cold beer in hand and a makeshift toastie that Tony had made for them.

"I was, I was friends with Carlisle. They just told me after school that they were leaving and I suppose Edward broke up with Bella," Tony sighed, "A bit harsh if she managed to be left in such a state."

"I'll shoot him next time I see him," Charlie huffed before taking another bite of a toastie. 

"Get on in for me, I'm gonna miss them. Though, that's enough about the Cullens. How are you? How's it been having Bella back?"

"She's a bit different to you," the chief mused, "Less of a rush to do things and less sociable."

"God, I wouldn't consider myself sociable unless you're on about my tendency to get into messes," Tony scoffed a laugh, "Managing it okay?"

"I think so, the boy drama is hard... I don't know how to be there for her, but we're making it work." 

"Doing anything is doing enough... It'll be on Bella to pull herself through," Tony smiled tiredly, glancing upstairs briefly. i

"Charlie, if you need a hand or a break give me a call. I don't mind being a friend for you," the ginger focused his gaze back at the tired chief, "I'd best get home but you're welcome to call me any time."

"Thank you, Tony, truly," Charlie smiled, clapping Tony on the arm as they got up and walked to the door.

Tony bid his farewell before retiring to his house, promptly allowing himself to fall asleep and into the dark void that consumed his dreams.

...

The flow of time was lost to Bella, Tony had noticed as she was barely there in class is she showed up. It showed for the rest of August, then October when the class and school Halloween events had no effect. November was lost and it seemed that December was a bit more of a breaking point, especially for Charlie. 

Tony himself had been looking worse for wear but it soon became a common occurrence as the dark sunken bags by his eyes lingered. While his weekdays were mostly going through the motions of teaching, feeling adrift in his own life yet again... his weekends were comprised of entertaining Sam, Jared, Paul, and the newly turned Embry. He also dappled in some baking with Emily as the two had become rather close-knit as the 'normal' humans in the know.

Then one weekend in early January, the boys introduced Tony to cliff diving. The extreme sport that the teacher found himself incredibly excited for as a mental break and to feel something stronger than his pain - adrenaline was a much-prefered escape to returning to cigarettes or drinking. 

It was his second time diving when Paul suggested that Tony join them at the top despite the cold. They were more than willing to jump with Tony as a precaution if he struggled or got shocked by the cold water. Agreeing, Tony was watching and laughing as the boys struggled together trying to push Jared off the cliff. 

In their success, Tony belts out a laugh before Paul makes a show of cartwheeling on his way down into the waves. Sam takes Tony with him, the teacher being the only one in something warmer than denim shorts, and spaces them out as they fall. Sam managed a flip while Tony simply made sure he landed as he was taught and didn't snap his neck upon slamming into the water.

"Way to go Tony!" The boys holler, Embry joining them quickly. 

Tony laughed with them, hyping the others up as they swam to shore. The ginger happened to notice a familiar red truck parked on the side of the road with two faint figures standing and watching.

Sam booked it up the cliff, seemingly just to eye who from what Tony knew would be Bella and Jacob. Tony was about to yell at Sam, telling him to stop scaring the kids but it seemed Embry had other ideas and he kindly pulled Tony back into the water with a startled scream. 

Pushing his head above water with a stricken look, Tony was meet with belting laugher from the boys hence the sharp kick he gave Embry under the water before hauling himself ashore again. 

He was partly sure he could see Bella's heated gaze on his back, something akin to empathy set on Tony's shoulders as he realised to her this must look tragic. Tragic for the glorified Cullens that is.

"Tony, you good?" Embry's warm hand rested on his shoulder.

"Just zoned out a bit again, no worries," Tony smiled.

Though behind that smile was pain.

...

Tony had been splitting his time between work, the pack, Charlie, and trying to come to terms with some of his realisations.

Charlie had become a bit better at understanding Bella's pain though that was due to the careful wording Tony put in behind the scene. Though all in all, it seemed that the Cullens absence was draining at him in a familiar way, something that he'd dreaded to think about especially if he were to ever return to Volterra before his dues. Sam had been helpful, as had Emily the domestics that the pack offered were always a good way to spend the weekend even if the school was like a fresh brand every time he pulled up into the car park - he wasn't alone there though. 

It was sometime later, a Friday evening mid-marking that Charlie calls Tony and the ginger is surprised by the question. 

"Hey Tony, would you be able to do me favour?" the man sounds worn, even across the phone. 

"What is it?" Tony sets his pen down and goes for his cup of coffee, something he'd changed up in his routine. 

"I'm worried about Bella, Harry and I are going fishing tomorrow but Jacob's not answering his phone... Bella doesn't know what to do and since you helped last time," Charlie trailed off.

"I wouldn't mind having a coffee if Bella was happy too, but I don't know about how I'll help Charlie. I know you get that but," Tony sighed, "I just want to help the both of you." 

"I know Tony, you don't deserve to be roped into this... but I'll go see if she's happy to... " 

There was a small clunk as the phone was set down somewhere and the sound of Charlie's retreating footsteps. Tony furrowed his brow and took a long sip of his coffee, his eyes finding their way back to his thumb which currently wore the ring Carlise gave him. A clearing of a throat brought his attention back to the receiver.

"We're all good for lunchtime, you can come over a bit earlier to meet up with Harry if you'd like?" Charlie asked.

"That sounds nice, I'll see you around eleven then?" Tony smiled, sympathetic to Charlie in a way.

"Thank you, Tony, have a good evening."

The line went dead after Tony said his goodnight. Poor bugger, Tony thought. Charlie was the only one who was unaware of the pack that the Clearwaters involved nor the vampires his daughter dated.  What a world... surely the lack of knowledge would protect Charlie in the end?

Tony tossed his phone down and started to get back into his marking after finishing off the rather hot coffee without so much as a wince. His mind was well elsewhere though that didn't seem to matter. 

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

Tony pulled up in the Swan's drive, the damp area of Forks never changing. Bella's red truck was gone, something that Tony didn't put too many worries into, as the cruiser was still out the front alongside Harry's ute.

Knocking on the door, Charlie happily opened it and gave Tony a clap around the shoulder before ushering him inside. 

"Tony," Harry smiled, decked out in fishing gear. 

"Been a while," Tony grinned back, happy to see some familiar faces. 

The three men continued on, the idle chatter about fishing flowed onto sport, then onto the matters with those dangerous animals in the woods that Harry and Tony didn't share a glance at.

The hour ticked away, Tony feeling more at ease the more they talked before the sound of the truck pulling up caught their attention. Harry went and gathered his things, getting ready to help Charlie pack the truck whereas Charlie went to say goodbye to Bella. Those plans got put on hold when Bella stormed in with a pale face and a shake of her hands. Tony was immediately on edge, eyes wide and his phone flicked out to see if he'd gotten any texts from the pack. 

"They're not bears," Bella spluttered, "I saw them in the meadow." 

"Damnit Bella, I told you not to go into the woods," Charlie scolded, worry evident in his brow.

"What did you see Bella?" Harry asked, gaining Tony's attention - surely they didn't -

"Wolves. They're wolves Dad," Bella looked at Charlie with desperate eyes.

Harry and Tony hold back a sigh each, Tony's jaw tight in irritation at having to likely lie his ass off again. 

Suddenly a whole commotion of a hunting party starts up, Tony's lips thin as Charlie asks Harry to get some men from the res. Harry goes to make a call outside, Tony offering to carry things into the car at the change of plans. 

As the two got outside they finally release the sighs of frustration they were holding. 

"Damnit," Tony groaned, "What the hell happened?" 

"I'll call them up," Harry quietly responded, the pair packing things away as they got a hold of a pack member.

Throughout the conversation, Tony realised something with a jolt.

"Wait there's a fucking vampire after Bella?!" Tony seethed, mind flashing to something Carlise had said about Bella being almost turned by a pair of nomads before they killed one.

"It's revenge on the Cullens," Tony hissed, Harry, repeating it over the phone before going back to figuring out how to save the boys.

Tony headed back inside where Charlie had his gun out and the teacher's blood run cold at the thought of a bullet being put in Sam. Cold sweat clung to his neck that he played off when the Chief actually offered him to come with the hunting party.

"I'll pass Charlie, can still have that coffee with Bella," Tony trailed off with a look at the stressed girl.

"Ah, good idea. I'll finish getting people together while you two rest up," Charlie clapped Tony on the back with a wire smile at Bella.

"Actually, I uh- Tony can we go visit a mutual friend?" Bella choked out, clearly running a plan through her head.

"Of course, who were you thinking?" 

"Um, Jacob," Bella quietly answered as Charlie went out of earshot.

"Sure? I thought he was sick?" Tony internally rolled his eyes.

Bella and Charlie went to organise themselves while they decided to take Bella truck as the hunting party went away to go sort themselves out. As Bella went back to her truck, Tony went back to the Mercedes to follow behind her. Upon turning the key Tony's hair stood on end and his stomach felt like it was about to empty itself on the fancy interior. 

"Haa, you always react in such a cute way," a male's voice whispered, inhaling deeply from the back seat. 

"What are you doing here?" Tony frowned, face white and sweat starting to collect on his brow. 

"Watching what you get yourself into..." they responded as Tony peeled out of the drive and waited for Bella to leave.

"That doesn't explain shit, you haven't come after me yet so why now?" 

"Because some curious people were in town and you ended up mixing with a coven that pissed them off... and that coven decided to mess with you, Tony." 

"What, you have a problem with the Olympic coven holding my mate?" Tony snarled, feeling in his fingers becoming like a numb flame.

Bella had pulled up at Jacob's house by the time a very pale Tony had roared into the drive with a start. The teen looked at the teacher wide-eyed before watching him slowly get out, lock the car, and stroll towards the truck and door. Bella jumped out to meet the teacher on the way to the door.

"Mr- uh, Tony, are you okay?" Bella stuttered.

"Yep, just had a wee scare," Tony didn't bother forcing a smile, "Wasn't Jacob sick?"

"Yes.. but I wanted to see if Billy would let me see him," Bella sighed, knocking on the door.

"Bella, Tony," Billy opened the door with a shocked look plastered on his face.

"Hi Billy, I know he's sick but-" Bella cut off, "He's out with a friend."

"Oh-" Bella looked down.

Tony glances over his shoulder while Bella and Billy spoke, his arm suddenly overcome in pain. Wide-eyed, Tony turned to the side and ripped his sleeve up only to see a bloody trail left on his skin.

"Hey, Billy, any idea what the boys are up to?" Tony stuttered out.

"Sam's group?" Billy asked before looking at the obvious fear in the teacher's eyes, "Why don't you have a coffee with me, Tony? It's been a while." 

"Yeah," Tony trailed off, easily walking in before Billy had the hard job of pushing Bella away.

"Med kit," Tony blurted as soon as he had Billy's attention, "I apparently got attacked."

 "What!" Billy looked, wheeling over to Tony and looking at the half mauled wound on Tony's arm.

"What is this? Vampire?" Billy scowled, reaching for the phone.

Tony mainly disassociates for his time bidding until the pack comes back from avoiding the hunters. Billy was making sure the wound wasn't doing anything and Tony was feeding back that he didn't feel the burn of venom. 

It took a minute before Tony realised he needed to make a call and make it quick.

"Hey Billy, I gotta make a phone call to some... friends," Tony winced but Billy seemed to get the hint.

"I'll go make us some coffee," Billy managed a smile.

Tony wasted no time in sending a text and waiting for the phone call to come in. It took less than a minute for the cell to ring. Answering, Tony let out a stressed sigh.

"Aro."

"What has happened Tony?" The King asked, his voice mute as if to remain passive.

"A small problem or ten," Tony winced.

"I will not ask again my dear," Aro warned.

"Malakai spoke to me," Tony physically shuddered, feeling nauseous.

"What?" Aro's voice was cold, deadly so.

"In terms of typical coven messes that the Cullens got into... he's decided to involve himself and therefore me..."

"And where are the Cullens?"

"Separated, I believe Edward had found his mate but decided to leave for some bullshit reasons on her safety," Tony grumbled.

The line was silent.

"What aren't you telling me?"

"His mate is human... we think... and Carlise found an unexpected mate too..." Tony swallowed thick, "In me."

This was not ideal and nor from the sound of the smashed table Aro had probably thrown was it a good means to an end.

"Come back, right now," Aro seethed out of worry.

"And leave the girl alone?" Tony rebutted.

"It is the Cullens fault, if the mate dies then it is of little concern to us," Aro took an unnecessary breath, "You, Tony, are our main concern because you cannot die."

"I won't let you die," Aro said quieter.

"I know," Tony bitterly smiled, "I have some protection and I don't think he wants to make his move yet."

"You come back and you do it soon, even for a short while."

"Okay, that might be a good idea regardless of the situation we've got," Tony sighed but his chest was lighter, "I have to go, the person looking after me is coming back."

"Be safe my Tesoro, and text me daily. Please," Aro added the please last minute.

"Since you asked nicely," Tony smiled before hanging up.

"All good?" Billy asked.

"Just making things as safe as they can be," Tony sighed.

The pair had relaxed back into idle chatter about Bella, the pack, and carefully left the Cullens out of the conversation - Tony had assumed that Billy had a sixth sense in empathy or was just wised up to the idea. 

Soon enough the pack rolled in, Tony seeing the newly shifted Jacob for the first time. The boy looked more distressed than he cared to be, something that Embry was trying to passively console him for. Sam, on the other hand, had completely lost his composure as he was red in the face at the mere thought of that vampire coming back. The pack gather Tony, his car - hesitantly - and drive him back to Emily's where Tony would be made to stay the night if nothing else. 

Food in his belly and blankets swathed around him, Tony dozed on the couch most of the night. Warm and cold flushes would take over his mind, the anxiety he'd assume before shaking and trying to calm the oncoming panic attacks. Emily was good at dealing with them, helping soothe him before he could get too far gone and Tony would never be able to convey his thanks... though it seemed he didn't need to.  

Then, it seemed that shit hit the fan - royally. The boys came back, but not without an extra person. Embry and Jared come inside in good enough spirits, talking about paying up for a bet. 

Tony slowly raised his eyes to the boys, the pair trying and failing to hide a flinch at the look in his eyes.

"How're things?" Emily asks, likely preparing more food while Tony was zoned out, "Oh, who's this?" 

"Bella Swan," Jared answered while Tony snapped his eyes to Bella. 

From there most of the conversation was stinted, the boys and Emily realising that there was a bit of tension in the room.

"Uh, you two okay? I know Tony looks like shit-" Jared tried to play it off.

"You knew."

Tony scrunched his brows -  were they really going to do this now. 

"Hey," Emily tried to warn, to ease the quickly growing tension. 

"You knew about Jacob. You knew about the Cullens - why is it you? Why are you allowed to know?" Bella seethed. 

"Oh no," Embry sighed, the group realising the incoming problem.

"Bella, no is not the time for this conversation," Tony tried, voice dry enough to make  Embry wince.

"Then when?" Bella huffed, finding her rage aimed at Tony.

The boys found it in them to distract Bella while Tony worked himself down from feeling like he'd puke under the sheer stress. Emily had placed a cup of cocoa on the coffee table for him which received quiet thanks.  

Sam and the rest had come in, something about things getting dangerous. Everything goes on just out of Tony's consciousness before one and one connect.

"Malakai?" Bella queries, looking between Tony and Sam.

Tony's dull green eyes find hers and suddenly it all makes sense. Any chance that Tony thought he had in Forks is suddenly dashed as a manic laugh is choked back.

"Tony? You figure something out?" Sam asked, standing to wander near his friend. 

"Bella, what was that vampire who was in the clearing with you - what was his name?" Tony asked, face paler. 

"Lauret? Did Carlisle tell you about what happened?" Bella looked down uncomfortably. 

"Yes... and if I'm correct..." Tony sighed, a weight like a stone on his chest.

"I should return to Italy, it really isn't going to be safe here with two targets," Tony mused, "That woman might be after revenge and if Malakai has allied with them then there's no hope."

"Wait, they're teaming up?!" Sam seethed, eyes wide.

"Makali said something like that I think, my heads a bit..." Tony sighed, defeat creeping upon him.

"Who's Malakai, Edward said something about him being the one to hurt you..." Bella frowned, "But there weren't many details."

"The details are a bit gruesome, Bella," Sam firmly ended the conversation, "and the trauma a bit too fresh."

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

Tony had stayed the night at Emily's. He'd received a text or two from Aro throughout the night, something that made Tony's will to stay at his home waver. He was consulting Emily on regards to if he should return to Volterra without half the details involved.

There was still the lingering thought, the what if... what if Carlisle came back?

His heart shuddered at the thought of being gone. Tony knew, at that moment, he had to wait. He could watch Bella stuff Jacob into her life as a replacement, she could fool her sick heart... but he couldn't. Not with his relationship between Carlisle and the Volturi Kings. Oh, what a mess he was in.

So, as any respectful teacher would, Tony continued to live between the hollow life at Forks and the comforts of La Push.

The next morning Tony found himself bundled up more than needed and sitting at a picnic table with the pack and Bella. Emily was sitting right beside him, occasionally gesturing his attention to someone who was speaking.

"Excellent. If the redhead's after Bella, we've got bait," Jared states, eyes refusing to go past Tony.

Jacob kindly threw a gardening tool at the boy which went largely ignored.

"She is not bait," Jacob defended.

"I should leave town," Bella fussed, brow pinched slightly.

"No use," Tony sighed, "You've got a pack here and a father to worry about. Hunters are different, they'll cling like a bad smell until they win or are killed."

"It is easier for us to protect you here," Sam added, "Easier to catch her too."

"No one can catch her. She can escape anything," Bella objected.

"Oooh, she has special powers," Paul mocked.

"Some of them do," Bella rebutted and Tony raised a thin brow.

"Like what... Bella?" Jacob asked.

"The mind reader you said you knew. He was a suckhead? Can they all do that?" Jared warily asked.

"Tony?" Sam pitched.

"God," Tony grimaced, "I'd get in more shit for explaining things than Bella. All I'll say is that some manifest gifts from their most powerful human attributes and some don't."

Paul ripped into Bella and Tony for protecting the vampires, Jacob defended Bella while Sam walked behind Tony and pat him on the back before hugging Emily. That ends the conversation for the day and Sam returned Tony home and promised that the pack would be protecting both the Swan's house and his.

The teacher set about marking the backlog of papers he had, somehow quickly finishing before returning to his hobby of twisting his Cullen ring on his finger. Time stopped for him, his heart beating in slow thumps against his chest. Something was going to happen, his gut twisted uncomfortably as the thought manifested.

His cell buzzed to life with a call. It was Bella.

"Hey," Tony answered, his voice a bit blander than he recalled.

"Hi... Um, you've been cliff diving right?" Bella's voice was lucid but sounded like it should have been a dream.

"It's a horrible day out," Tony mused, his tone nudging towards something.

"Meet me there? I want to show you something," Bella's tone was uncertain now, scared almost, "I think you're the only other one who can experience it."

"Now?"

"Now."

The line went dead and Tony threw a pre-packed bag in the Mercedes and quietly drove towards the cliffs with the deafening sound of indie artists playing sad ballads. The weather was, while normal for Forks, rather grey and dull out. The wind tried to batter the car around as treelines became exposed. There was Bella's red truck with a pale listless Bella standing just in the treeline.

Tony's tires squealed as he hit the brakes and sharply pulled up, the small shot of adrenaline took the weird ominous edge off him.

Hauling himself out of the car he ditched his cell and wallet in the glovebox before wandering over to Bella.

"What is your plan?" Tony greeted.

"To jump," Bella plainly stated.

"That's not safe, I might have to jump in to save you," Tony dryly remarked as if he didn't know what was happening.

"Yeah," Bella agreed, "But this is the only way I can see him... If even for a moment..."

"You think of him when you put yourself at risk?" Tony muses, wishing he could have the same experience in some sick way.

"You don't?"

"Carlisle didn't... Put his will into my physical safety," Tony choked out, bridging the gaps in thought, "It seemed yours just wanted to keep you physically safe... If I ever see him again I'll hit him for that."

Bella didn't respond as she headed deeper into the trees. As Tony followed he had no way of knowing his cell was ringing with Alice's number back in the glovebox.

It was answered.

Bella stood at the edge of the cliff, Tony standing up to join her.

"Are you scared?" he asked.

"A little," Bella responded.

"Good," Tony mused, "Want to jump together?"

"No... I'll - I'll go first."

Bella stepped back to run and flung herself over the cliff. She plummeted down, disappearing into the scarily dark water. Tony did what any rationally broken person would do...

and jumped in after her.

The cellphone rang out a flat tone as the call disconnected.

Tony was in awe at the rush he got, he finally felt alive again... but he couldn't let Bella therefore himself drown in his unbidden guilty pleasure. The shock of the cold winded Tony, green eyes wide in the salty water as he struggled to regain himself. The waves at the surface were harsh, he caught sight of brown hair before it was dragged into the depths. He was about to start swimming towards her when he heard a splash behind him. As he turned around his head was pulled by his hair as far back as it could. His body arched forward with his waist hanging in the water.

Red eyes, black hair, and a sinister smirk meet his shocked gaze. A muffled scream tore through his body unwarranted as teeth met his neck, body unable to flail in the water as he was held afloat by his wet ginger locks.

The pain was a lot - too much even - as his collar burned. He was off a bit, he guessed. Malakai went for his collar, not his neck. A small blessing as his body went numb from shock and blood loss. He was left awake but barely, Malakai walking him through the water like a rock. His head was held and made to look at the shore where Jacob was giving Bella CPR. Jacob bitterly looked up and screamed something before going back to CPR. Tony was flung, his body skimming the water into the shallows where he lay with water up to his nose, in his eyes, and choking his throat all while his collar stung from the salt... but didn't burn. Malakai was nowhere to be seen as Sam's familiar face stormed into view.

Everything was alright when Bella woke up - at least in Tony's mind.

"He's shaken but good," Sam called out to Jacob as the alpha lead Tony towards the two, "They both should be alright."

"Get her home, I'll drop Tony off with his car too then I'm heading to the hospital. I'll meet you there," Sam curtly informed.

Tony easily followed Sam on shaky legs, stopping the man to let him change into his other set of clothes and rest the towel around his neck.

"Who's in the hospital?" Tony spoke up.

"Harry Clearwater," Sam grimaced, "He had a heart attack while we were chasing Victoria near the trail. Think she was after Charlie."

"Shit," Tony dug his palms into his hands, "I shouldn't have- fuck."

"You're not going to be there, are you?" Sam asked as they drove towards the Swans.

"I think... something else will happen... Malakai bit me this time, he only does that to antagonise those close to me..."

"You're going to Italy... or the Cullens are coming back?" Sam cooly asked.

"Probably." Tony swallowed, "Maybe both... either way my time just got slashed in half..."

"Right, more venom."

Tony sadly hummed in agreement, digging into the centre console for antiseptic and large plaster. Apply those while Sam drove in sombre silence, it didn't take long to make it to the Swan's house.

Sam was the one with who he'd told an altered truth, he couldn't hold the secrets in much longer and if the alpha was smart enough to figure out he was near death was up to no one but the wolf himself.

Tony is left in his Mercedes to wait for Bella and Jacob, thankfully he doesn't wait too long but as they get out of the car he's completely forgotten... and the couple nearly kiss which disturbs Tony to the point he opened his car door making Bella pull back further than what she did originally.

"Tony!" Bella gasps like he's a ghost.

"What, you pretending we didn't willingly jump into a near-death experience?" Tony snarks, nodding towards the house, "It may be night but I want a coffee please."

Jacob has enough humility to take the distraction and laugh.

"How's the neck?"

"Fucking sore," Tony bites back with a roll of his eyes, "Who wants a hot drink?"

No one spoke up causing Tony to groan in annoyance, "Bella what's your poison?"

"A coffee then," she quietly responds.

Suddenly Jacob tries to backpedal them as another Mercedes pulls into the drive, Tony freezing like ice as he skims the number plate.

"Bella, inside," Tony mummers, pulling both Jacob and her with him.

The pang of hurt in the air was mutual.

By the time the vampire had reached the door, Tony was watching the kettle boil as he had two cups of coffee waiting for water and milk. Jacob was between him and Bella as the teen happily let Alice into the house who was shocked they were alive. Jacob looks uncomfortable and finally pulls back to leave, curtly wishing the pair well and that they don't die.

Alice is alight to see both of them alive, though hides her concern for Tony well as Bella is in her arms sharing a hug.

"Tony, Tony they're back!" Bella begs him as if she wants his opinion it's real.

"I see," Tony sniffed as the kettle whistled, "But I don't know what to do."

Bella paused at that, eyes skimming around.

"Carlisle... he's in the car," Alice chimed, frowning when the only reaction she got was Tony nearly spilling the water on his hand.

White knuckled and stressed to hell and back, Tony didn't know what to do. So he put milk in the coffees and passed a mug to Bella.

"Why did you come back?" Tony's words were clipped, something that made Bella mad.

"Does it matter?!"

"Yes."

Tony's calm response spooked Bella.

The words werewolf and Victoria are passed around before Tony takes his mug past the two. He presses his hand onto Alice's shoulder before she grabs him to stop him.

"You're bleeding?"

"I'll... try talking to Carlisle in my car. He'll fill me in, right?" Tony didn't look up.

"Yes, we'll grab you soon."

Tony opened the front door with more effort than he cares to admit and looks Carlisle in the eyes from the dark of the car. God those eyes looked devastated. Heartbreaking, all over again, Tony throws his chin in the direction of his car and wanders to the passenger seat, closing the door before Carlisle slowly approaches.

The driver's door opens slowly, Carlisle hesitant until his nose hits the scent of the car then he's sitting with the door closed.

"I almost forgot you once mentioned the pack," Carlisle's voice was quiet and delicate, so fragile.

"Sam's saved me a few too many times," Tony stiffly responded as he held the coffee tight.

"You jumped off a cliff with Bella," Carlisle breathed in unnecessary and heavy, "But you're both alive."

"Are you going to go again?"

"Alice might... but I can't," Carlisle sounded so broken.

"I hurt, Carlisle, more than I can mend and more than I can forgive quickly," Tony breathed, opting for a sip of burning hot coffee.

"Sorry isn't enough, there are no words in this world Tony to tell you how much I regret leaving."

"There are ways to fix it, but... I have a feeling it is not without a cost," Tony sighed.

"The other scent here, it's a vampire?" Carlisle asked the question on his tongue.

"Welcome to the events in my life... You've finally scented Malakai, just as Victoria wants Bella... they found a mutual interest."

Carlisle was silent, painfully so.

"This is... Malakai... he's the reason you're bleeding?"

"He bit me while I tried to get to Bella in the water. I guess not even Alice can see him," Tony shrugged, taking in another sip of coffee.

Carlisle and Tony stay in the car as Jacob and some of the youngers, Tony sees a new boy he's yet to meet. Jacob looks at the car, Tony waves him off with a tired throw of his hand. The teen listens and goes for the house where Bella meets him halfway, Alice suddenly in the back of the car with the two.

"We need to-" Alice cuts off as her eyes roll and a vision plays out behind her eyes.

Tony, sensing something going wrong, silently chugs down most of the coffee and wrinkled his nose at Carlisle's displeased look.

Suddenly, as Alice's senses return she tells them to get into the other car and for Tony to grab whatever spare clothes he had - which were not limited to a coat and scarf. Carlisle vanished with the bag and returned with odd selections by the time he's taken a seat in the back.

Carlisle passed the bag over from the other side of the car before looking down.

"Would I be able to sit beside you?"

God his timid voice hurt like hell.

"Yeah, we'll talk this out when we can," Alice had come back in a rush as soon as he'd said that.

Carlisle was in the car, the door shut and Alice was in the driver's seat with wide eyes explaining that Edward had decided to ask to be killed by the Volturi and that when they declined he'd reveal his skin to the public for the holiday there.

"Guess we're seeing Aro too," Tony mused to Carlisle.

The blonde was about to question but Tony made for his phone - the screen cracked.

"What-" "Malakai answered when you were cliff diving."

Alice was curt with the answer.

"He's a horrible person Tony, I'm sorry," Alice grimaced as Bella rushed out.

Fuck, he wished he remembered Aro's singular cell number he'd gotten. Why had Malakai intervened with this? He didn't know anything about Edward, nor that he was going to kill himself and have their group in Volterra... did he?

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

The flight beside Carlisle was shared with hushed words of explanation and mild belittlement from Tony. The teacher was still far from over letting Edward call the shots and then try to kill himself to repent - Tony was between wanting to deck the vampire or near kill him. 

While Carlisle had been respectful in keeping their matters at bay until they could talk, it didn't stop the Doctor from checking the wound on his neck several times throughout the flight and asking what Tony had been doing while they were gone. The latter questions Tony was a bit blunt in shutting down because what was he supposed to say? He'd been trying to keep Bella and himself out of deep depression? As if. 

After getting off the plane, Bella, Tony, and Carlisle wait for Alice to pick them up. They were a while off Volterra as per usual when flying, Tuscan was the nearest city airport. Tony had stripped down into his slacks and dress shirt that he'd admittedly started sweating through. As the others waited for the car, Tony popped his top two buttons and pulled out his necklace with the Volturi crest. Carlisle glanced around his dorky full brimmed hat, sunglasses and ascot tie in Tony's direction before noticing that he'd kept the ring on the chain through their exchanges. The two clan crests sat on his chest, worn with a cautious certainty that made hope swell in the vampire's chest.

"What's that?" Bella asked, seemingly trying to distract her anxiety. 

"A blessing or a curse," Tony shrugged, "Might save your humanity alongside mine." 

Bella looked at him like he'd grown a second head.

"That's the Cullen crest... and another?" Bella mused, clearly taking the whole thing as her escape from her thoughts.

"It's the Volturi's crest," Carlisle supplied, "Think of it as Tony's immunity if we have to go before the Volturi." 

"Immunity is too strong of a word," Tony grunted, eyes narrow. 

Before much more could be said, Alice pulled up in a yellow Porsche. 

"Where'd you get the car?" Bella asked as she took the passenger seat with Tony and Carlisle migrating to the back.

"Hope you're not opposed to Grand Theft Auto," Alice quickly answered.

"Not today," Bella agreed. 

The car roared down the highway, nearly skimming a car as Carlisle warns Alice to be more careful. Bella and Alice spoke but Tony was a bit busy in his head worrying about this being how he was to see Aro again. Suddenly Alice puts her foot flat, the township of Volterra coming into view along with a horrible gut feeling.

"What's wrong?" Carlisle's voice drew Tony from his thoughts.

"A bad feeling." 

Silence met his response, Bella's grip on the seat tightening. They get into the town to find everyone wearing red, there was a sea of red cloaks, balloons, scarves, hats and so on. 

"Why are they all wearing red?" Bella asks.

"San Marcos Day festival, I think," Tony mused, trying to recall what the Kings had once taught him.

"It's the perfect setting, large crowds. The Volturi won't let him get far enough to reveal himself - he's counting on that," Alice added. 

"We only have five minutes," Bella stressed.

The police wave Alice down, Tony unclicking his seatbelt as Bella asks where the square is.

"I'll take her, I know the way," Tony quickly spoke, out of the car before Bella was. 

The two vampires were stuck in the car due to the light and had to deal with the police as Tony ran with Bella at his flank. Tony glances behind him, eyes dancing over shaded areas before floating up and catching the hooded figure jumping about after them.

"Ah hell, move it, Bella!" Tony called, offering the teen his hand.

She grabbed on as he took them through the crowd, pushing people over with Tony yelling in broken Italian as people move out of the way. The pair see the clocktower and a fountain pool in their way at the same time Bella sees Edward. 

"Go!" Tony near screams at the girl who jolts into action. 

Tony heaves, his head dizzy from sprinting as he slowly makes his way towards the shade of the building. Legs wet, he sees Bella launch herself at Edward effectively throwing them back into the shade. Tony looks away as they lock lips, frowning and looking for their chaser. 

"Felix, and Demitri too," Tony greets, "It's been a while." 

The two vampires in full black cloaks peer at the human, red eyes boring into him. The three head towards Bella and Edward, Demitri dropping the hint that Aro will be seeing all of them. 

 "I won't be needing your services after all, gentlemen," Edward tries to talk his way out of it.

"Aro wants to speak with you again," Felix blandly states.

"No rules were broken," Edward defends. 

"We should take this conversation to a more appropriate venue," Demitri smiles, something sinister behind the expression. 

"Edward," Tony sighs in annoyance, "You're a fucking prick and an idiot." 

The two Volturi vampires look like they hide their joy at the statement while Bella looks offended. 

"Why don't you and Bella stay and enjoy the festival?" Edward tries, hopefully realising his mistake.

"The girl comes with us," Felix firmly states.

"That's not going to happen-" Edward cuts off when Alice and Carlisle walk over to them.

They take off the protection from the light, Carlisle looking happy to be rid of the silly hat. 

"Come on guys, it's a festival," Alice chimes as she stands protectively in front of Bella, "We wouldn't want to make a scene."

"I'll do that for you if we don't haul ass," Tony grumbles, eyes rolling as he sets off towards the alley only to stop with a small smile.

"Jane!" Tony grins, his comfort making the Cullens wary. 

"Tony," Jane greets with a nod as everyone backs down, "Come with me."

The statement was collective and Tony walked beside her, the vampire matching her pace to his - again to the Cullens' bewilderment. 

Tony whispers to Jane, her mute responses not getting to him as he knows it's just because of the others. They twist and turn through alleys, keeping to the dark the whole time and Tony hates to admit he's got to readjust to so many red eyes. As they reach the end of the road, Tony takes a few steps back to Carlisle, much to the buzzing silence of Jane. Without hesitating the girls walks over the edge and drop down the drain that Tony had only been down a few times.

"It's alright, Alice will catch you," Edward encourages Bella after the said vampire vanishes down. 

Edward drops Bella and then follows himself. Felix and Demitri watch as Tony tells Carlisle to catch him with a bit of cheek. The two vampires left to judge the human as he launches himself off the edge and falls down with a slightly excited smile on his face. Carlisle follows through as easily catches the human, not without stressing over his safety - something Carlisle is realising he should possibly do less in Volterra as it seems to be much safer than anticipated. 

The only one without a drop of tension in them visibly is Tony as he follows Jane in front of the others with Carlisle at his side. They walk closer than either is aware, not that anyone would be able to comment on it at the time. 

Finding the elevator door finally causes Tony to tense his shoulders, the weight of the situation weighing on him as his hand finds the bite on his neck.

"On a scale of-" "Tony." Jane silences his question. 

The human pulls a face, not overly pleased at the reaction but again putting it down to formality. The door opens and they pass into the reception, a new receptionist greets them as they move down the hall and head towards double doors that Tony lets out a heavy breath at. Edward is holding Bella's hand close, the pair joint at the hip while Alice looks to flank Bella at an acceptable range. Carlisle keeps his eyes forward, for the most part, probably trying to pull off the coven leader look, but keeps glancing at Tony.

The doors open as the group is moved forward, Aro immediately sees Tony and is up on his feet as Marcus and Caius watch from their seats. The other three join the guard ranks that line the walls, Tony offering a small smile at familiar faces - the guard hasn't changed. Suddenly the crest on his chest weighs a lot more than it did before as its meaning, especially with Carlisle's ring sitting beside it.

"What a happy surprise! Bella is alive after all. Isn't that wonderful?" Aro near purrs as he takes Edward's hand. 

"Aro," Carlisle greets with a similar response from the ancient. 

Caius sours as he looks at them, his glare sharpening at Tony's presence as does Marcus' attention at Tony. Ah man, something was going on and he was the last to know of their reactions. 

"Her blood appeals to you so much it makes me thirsty. How can you stand to be so close to her?" Aro queries. 

"It's not without effort," Edward somewhat awkwardly replies.

"I can see that," Aro laughs, his eyes skimming Tony's.

"One touch and Aro can see every thought I've ever had in my life," Edward explains to Bella.

"You're quite the telepath yourself, Edward. Though... you can't read Bella's thoughts. Fascinating" Aro muses, looking towards Bella.

"I would love to see if you are an exception to my gifts, as well," Aro explains as he extends his hand.

Bella hesitates, like any sane human would, before giving in when Aro offers his hand further. Tony's thoughts are blank as he sees confusion cloud over Aro's eyes - clearly unable to see her mind either. A shield or something then, Tony's mind suggests. 

"I wonder if-" "No!" Edward cuts Aro off as he reaches his seat a few steps back. 

"Let's see if she's immune to all our powers, shall we Jane?" Aro prompts. 

Edward jumps in front of Bella and takes the hit from Jane, flinging him across the room. Carlisle goes to move but Tony grabs his sleeve and stops him wordlessly. The interaction wasn't missed, but Tony was too happy to see Edward on the group as some form of karma. The brunette seemed to hear the thought and glared at Tony who had half a mind to throw his middle finger up. God, this was bringing the immature side of him out.

"Stop!" Bella cried as she and Alice rush over, Carlisle watching like a hawk but still beside Tony.

"Jane dear, the girl?" Aro pushes.

Nothing happens, Tony confides in the fact that Bella is as good as dead if he can't sweet-talk his way out of here. Jane, clearly ticked off, walks a few steps towards Bella but stops as Aro raises his hand.

"Remarkable! She confounds us all. So what do we do with you now?" 

"You already know what you'll do, Aro," Marcus is clearly done with the theatrics. 

"She knows too much; she's a liability," Caius bluntly stated, "Unless you intend to keep her a pet like you do Tony?" 

Tony pulls a face at the vampire, half tempted to poke his tongue out. 

"That's true. Unless Edward intends to give her immortality," he looks at Edward, "But that's not your intention, is it. Shame."

Before much of the fighting can break out Tony rolls his eyes, muttering the word dramatic under his breath. Aro seems to pick up on what Tony wants and holds his hand out as the human approaches -  some things are better off kept on the down-low anyway. As soon as their hands touch a protective glint takes hold of Aro's eyes before it mellows. The grip on the human's hand is a bit too tight, Tony muttering his complaint half-heartedly. Aro looks at Carlisle - something unspoken going on between the two - then drags his eyes to a desperate Bella. 

"You're optimistic," Aro looks down at Tony, green eyes set in determination. 

Pain on his collar - the bandage was ripped off without hesitation - Tony flinched as Aro put his thumb under the wound left on Tony's neck. The chain of the necklace was pushed up over his fingers as they poked at the wound as if to see if anything would happen.

"What are you looking for?" Tony asked, his face twinged in pain. 

"Your sense of self-preservation," Aro glared lightly. 

"Same here," Tony muttered, not really meant to be spoken out loud. 

"You do, however, have a point. Keeping two humans who are destined to die or join immortality in the same place under the supervision of the Cullens isn't a terrible idea."

"Why delay? Kill the girl and turn Tony now, it saves the hassle," Caius challenged. 

"It happens, I've seen it," Alice speaks up ignoring Edward - who is now pinned on the ground - and explains about seeing Bella being turned. 

"Stay," Aro orders Tony as he reaches for Alice's extended hand. 

Tony glances at the two Kings beside and behind him, the pair look particularly done with everything. Marcus fixes his gaze on Tony, trying to convey something that Tony didn't have a chance in hell to understand though it seemed the vampire understood that much. 

As Aro resolves to have Bella be with the Cullens, Tony's body is suddenly moving, a few cries of his name made sense by the time he crashed into someone's arms like hitting a wall. Winded, Tony glances around now on the other side of the hall and in Demitri's arms. Carlisle is beside him in a second and the guard is positioned in fighting stances as they monitor the room. 

"Malakai." Aro grits out, eyes fixed on Tony. 

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

Malakai was here? Tony was frozen, it seemed that most of the guard was aware of this as a few more moved to Tony's position without order. Bella had Alice and Edward at her side keeping her backed into a wall so they couldn't be attacked from behind. 

The room was pin-drop silent. The two human breaths were laboured with fear and a dash of exhaustion. 

"Was that talk of turning my sweet Tony?" that sickening voice crooned, smooth as always. 

"You have no business here mutt," Caius hissed, all Kings up on their feet now. 

"Tut tut, it's almost as if the past taught you nothing," Malakai mocked, "You cannot touch me yet you have the balls to order me around."

Tony grimaced in Demirti's arms, the vampire looking slightly annoyed that he was the one holding the target. Malakai appeared in a burst of smokey black that clung to him as did the shadows below his feet. Edward had his lips in a tight line as did Alice. 

"I can't read his mind past the smoke," Edward admitted, informing the room, "Neither can Alice."

"I'm not surprised," Aro dryly spoke, "He manages to evade even us."

The confession sent the room into an uncomfortable tension, Malakai looked overjoyed.

"You know we're only in this mess because none of you can let precious little Tony out of your grasp and the little bitch ruins his safety by wishing to remain human. I only want his blood and torment after all," Malakai grins, his eyes ablaze with joy. 

Tony had choice words but found he couldn't say anything less hell broke loose and his and Bella's lives were toast. Carlisle looked like he was going to burst a blood vessel if he had them, he was far too tense and worried for likely not only Tony and his clan but the Volturi too. 

"Well, I think my optimism works out," Tony wheezed out, a tense glance at Aro showed his joke was poorly received. 

His original tactic of keeping both Bella and himself was not hinged on equality so much as false selfish gain - if the Cullens would protect them then they both would be the perfect bait for Malakai until Tony turned and therefore all the more reason to keep Bella human. Aro knew it was simply because he was a softy at heart and didn't want to see Bella turn so young. Tony had acted a lot more playful and teacher-like around Jane and Alec than anyone would admit but it was clear. 

"Which one was supposed to be your mate?" the question hung in the air like a bad smell, Tony's expression changing completely. 

"Tony," Aro warned, knowing of the... switch that the man contained. 

Looking at the position of the room it was painfully clear, that Malakai was enjoying how deadly serious Tony had become and the game was set. 

Kill the blonde beside Tony.

As Malakai vanished in the direction of Bella, Tony flung himself out of Demirti's arms and hit the floor running with his eyes fixed on the smallest of movement that unless Tony had been focused on it the others may have missed. With a skid off his shoes, Tony stood before Carlisle with his hands balled and head high. 

"Stop!" Tony ordered his voice barely more than a hiss. 

Malakai's body froze solid at the command and the room became ice as Aro charged toward Malakai as the shadows released their hold on the devious vampire. Demitri and Felix were holding Malakai's arms by the time Aro had reached the vampire's head. There was a shuddering crack as Aro started to rip his head off - though at the same time Tony's nose started to bleed, blood pouring out at an alarming rate which broke the spell that Malakai was under. Vanished and head intact, Aro opted to turn to Tony who was leaning into Carlisle as he held a shaking hand to his nose. Crimson blood had already splattered his shirt, the material soaked in a large splotch on his chest alongside both crests. 

Malakai, apparently not yet fleeing, flickered into view within reach of Tony who was the first to react with wild eyes and blood still dripping. The human had pulled a tight fist back and slammed it into the vampire, a sickening crack echoing the room before a wooshing sound. Tony was on his knees, blood still dripping from his nose with his right hand cradled at his chest clearly wounded.

Aro's confused hum brought everyone out of their stupor, it wasn't every day you saw a human punch a vampire so hard they staggered back a step. Edward was grimacing at the pained thoughts flooding the human's head, clearly overdoing it one-hundredfold. 

"Carlisle, bring him this way," Marcus' voice caught more attention, though Aro seemed satisfied enough as he was to deal with the rest of the Cullens still.

The tension left the room with Tony who could barely walk, and Carlisle in full Doctor mode. Marcus gave a soft hum at the pair after the door shut and they went down hall after hall. Carlisle was a bit lost, his memory of this place gone to time. 

"It seems you two were correct on your assumption," Marcus quietly mentions, glancing at the bonds between them only he could see.

Carlisle gave a soft thanks in response, mind taken with the wounded Tony completely ignoring the scent of blood that richly wafted off Tony.

"We don't really have anything for a human, but I'm sure you can make use of it," Marcus was back to his softly spoken usual tone, "I'll have someone fetch you clothing as well."

It seemed that alone was an invisible order as Marcus took them to one of many ornate doors and pushed it open. The room smelt faintly like dust and old books, Tony dragging his eyes around the room with a crooked grin behind the hand holding his nose. 

"This was Tony's room while he stayed here, only the guard and ourselves are allowed in here so you won't be disturbed by anyone other than Aro most likely." 

"Thank you, Marcus, truly," Carlisle spoke so sincerely even Tony was a bit surprised.

Marcus waved them off, opting to look Tony in the eye.

"Explain your relationship with Aro, it will help you both," Marcus stiffly pat Tony on the shoulder before vanishing. 

"How are you feeling?" Carlisle asked after a beat. 

"Like a truck hit me," Tony muttered, voice weaker than he thought. 

There was a knock before the door opened a crack and closed in the same few seconds, on a tray was a variety of first aid equipment and a new black shirt that looked a few sizes too big. Carlisle set Tony down on the ornate sofa before grabbing the tray and walking back, setting the shirt to the side and grabbing the clean rags brought in. Pulling Tony's hand away and seeing that his nosebleed was starting to clot, he cleaned off Tony's hand and found a bowl of water under another cloth. Wiping the blood off, Tony tried to get a few words out.

"To follow the advice..." he'd trail off.

"Aro saved and spared me, ...and I once saved him.

Mala...kai... attacked and I......did the same thing...

Here, it was like......I was one of them......a brother... or simply family...

I think... family is right..."

Carlisle stopped, holding Tony's wounded hand as he was now clean of blood. Golden eyes met green and that soft smile on the Doctor's face said everything was going to be okay. 

"You seem to have that type of relationship here, I'm almost impressed," Carlisle mellowed, his concern for Tony easing as it seemed he was doing well enough. 

"Can you move anything in your hand?" 

"I can't even feel my fingers," Tony grumbled, "In either hand."

Carlisle looked closer at the comparison and was surprised to see that only half of the hand that had punched Malakai was yellowing into a deep bruise. From the knuckles down to the wrist were clearly well on their way to bruising and some bones had fractured and would hopefully be fixed with a splint and sling for the time being. After deciding to start making a type of splint using the odd assortment he was given, Carlisle had managed to tape everything in place and Tony was trying to relax his hand into the position. 

As if on a timer, Aro walked into the room with a somewhat flamboyant walk. The vampire had yet to look so threatening in Tony's eyes, he was sure that those red eyes flared darker than they ever had the right to. 

"Perhaps you'd dare to enlighten me to your decisions, Carlisle?" Aro finally spoke, offering a hand out to the blonde. 

"Of course," Carlisle replied as he stood, though he seemed somewhat off. 

There was a pause, Tony blinked and opened his heavy eyes to Aro holding Carlisle up by the neck. The panic was delayed by a few seconds as his brain caught up, too slowly Tony's posture straightened as he got ready to fling himself up and between the two vampires. 

"Aro, please!" Tony hesitantly yelled as he pushed himself up. 

"You know why he hurt you, Tony. You know that he left you in pain for that brat," Aro growled, fingers digging into and lightly cracking Carlisle's neck. 

"I know." 

Tony silently scrubbed away the stray tears that fell from his watery eyes. 

"If you're really going to fight do it elsewhere, I can't take this right now," Tony let out a croaky sigh as he lowered his gaze from the pair of vampires down to the stone flooring. 

Aro didn't let go of Carlisle but rather, as Tony expected of the enraged vampire, left the human alone while dragging Carlisle somewhere. Tony had good faith that Aro wouldn't dare to kill Carlisle his actual mate... but he did fear for property and physical damage to the man he liked. 

Despite it, Tony felt so tired and drained it was all he could do to drag himself from wherever Carlisle had sat him over to the faintly familiar bed he used to call his own. Hand out at an awkward angle and clotted blood hindering his nose, Tony curled himself up and allowed himself to fall into an uncomfortable sleep. 

When he woke next Tony found that Carlisle was sitting on a plush chair beside his bed. Still in the chilly Volterra room he used to live in, still with an aching body and busted hand. 

"What happened?" Tony murmured, Carlisle should have heard him wake regardless. 

"You still have time to sleep if you want," Carlisle offered instead. 

"Well I won't be moving for a bit... but I won't sleep so easily. Did Aro and yourself manage to talk things out or did he throw you around before leaving?" 

"We managed to talk, somehow," Carlisle offered an exhausted smile, "You and Bella still get to remain in Forks for now. Though Aro isn't very pleased overall right now, he said you'd make him come around one way or another."

"I'm glad he knows that much," Tony snorted before rolling onto his back to look at the ceiling. 

The intricate detailing that painted out some type of gothic fantasy was still the same as it was a few years ago. Still some sort of simple comfort in a time of need yet again. 

Something still felt off to Tony, his hands were still numb and his body refused to tolerate more than exaggerated movements. He was supposed to get up and go to Forks feeling and looking like this? The thought made him snort aloud. 

"What is it?" Carlisle asks, still from his position on the chair. 

"I think I'll be dead soon, I can't take much more of this." 

"We... were assuming as much. Your heart rate is a touch too slow and your hands haven't warmed up yet. Ordinarily, you'd be in a hospital now but given there isn't much to be done about the vampire venom... we can only hope." 

Carlisle straightened up with a tight smile.

"That should be Aro then, I'll see you shortly. Don't push yourself too much, okay?" 

"Okay... Be confident, Carlisle," Tony mused, not entirely sure why he said those specific words. 

It seemed to work a charm as the blonde masked a flinch before getting up and quietly holding onto Tony's outstretched hand. The vampire vanished with a soft click of the doors before Aro himself was revealed to be waiting there with a passive look on his face. 

Tony tried to push himself up but flailed with his hands as they didn't work properly for him. Grumpily slipping onto the sheets again the human opted to remain lying down until Aro came further into sight. The old vampire deliberately sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress tilting Tony further towards him. Instead of speaking Tony lamely offered his ridged hand to Aro by moving the limb closer and looking up with what gusto he could. It was a comfort to be back safe in the walls of Volterra and have Aro back beside him with the safety Tony felt. Aro was happy enough to acknowledge such as soon as he took Tony's hand in his. 

"My Tesoro," Aro sighed, seemingly content to have contact with Tony.

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

"Do you remember why I decided to call you my Tesoro?" Aro mused while letting go of Tony's hand. 

"Pieces, it was early on," Tony answered while he shifted to get a better look at Aro.

"You had startled me with your gift, never has it been seen in a human even so close to death that they present these powers without any other factors... but you were different." 

Aro looked towards a wall while recalling...

"You froze me solid and suddenly there was... a change in myself. It had been so very long since I'd last cared for anything much less a mortal, Alec and Jane would be the most similar case yet they were nothing like you. 

You changed the way the Earth moved at that moment, if you were to die I would have lost all sense. There would have been no stopping me. My Tesoro you are not just a treasure for your gift, you may have the last appeal to humanity within you that I will ever have."

Aro turned to look back at a silent Tony,

"How do you think I feel knowing that my trusted friend Carlisle Cullen is sitting here waiting to take you from me?" 

Tony's heart panged in a certain way, he instantly felt like he'd disappointed Aro if not the whole Volturi. 

"He isn't though, we both know that," Tony quietly spoke, soft as he could manage, "You also know that I won't be leaving you."  

Aro's brows furrowed the vampire fully turned to face the human.

"You know full well that I'd like to remain a part of my family here with the Volturi, but Carlisle will not be leaving his coven, nor am I willing to leave him for the moment. You've seen my thoughts and you know my last play is well in the making... Would you not let me have both upon my time?" 

Tony hesitated after the words were put out there.

"Only a madman would dare suggest against me, Tony." 

"Guess I'm mad then," Tony fought a smile, "We can blame it on the trauma." 

"So we shall," Aro allowed a laugh, "So we shall see what becomes of you soon enough. I will be sad if I am not to see you as soon as you turn." 

"I find the vegetarian diet very appealing compared to that of your feasts so forgive me if it takes a touch longer than it should." 

"You will be fine, Tesoro, I dare to think you will be the most humane out of all of us despite your grievances. Yes, even as a vampire I believe you shall finally thrive in your skin and would dare to strive for peace wouldn't you?" Aro laughed to himself with a growing smile. 

"Time will tell, but that does sound rather nice," Tony smiled back, wiggling himself up on the bed as best he could again.

"How are you feeling? Your fingers are still my temperature compared to your own." 

"I can't move them that well, so I can't get myself up," Tony awkwardly laughed at his embarrassment. 

"That won't do, will it? If you wish to join the Cullens they will be flying out soon enough." 

"Really?" Tony asked, eyes wide, "They haven't all left yet?" 

"You didn't sleep for that long, my Tesoro, shall we get you up and dressed then?" 

"I am somewhat capable of dressing myself! Let me struggle through that much at least," Tony huffed. 

Aro bellowed out a laugh before helping Tony from the bed. The vampire fully lifted Tony and helped him onto the edge of the bed where he returned with fresh clothing in a blink. With a small thanks and a lingering touch on Aro's behalf, Tony was given minimal privacy to change into fresh clothing. He'd managed all but the laces and buttons on his shirt before he sighed out a request for help. 

"You are still not beyond asking for help Tony, especially from myself," Aro mused as he easily did up the buttons before moving to offer his hands to Tony. 

The two took a moment to be hand in hand as they were so often years ago, the peace of communicating without actually needing to was good, missed even. 

"You should have words to Carlisle about his leading regarding Edward, despite his talent he is rather... authoritative. Let me get your shoes and we shall go see them." 

Tony didn't need to answer his agreement, Aro surely knew he wasn't about to let the past few months go unspoken. There was something different about one of the literal Kings of the Volturi tieing his shoes that made Tony question himself but Aro never spoke of it and nor would he less it be in an appreciative thought. 

With that, on shaky legs, Aro led Tony down many familiar halls with idle chatter of Volturi and the beings within and how they were going. Most of the guards were still as such if not happy to see Tony's return even with another coven involved. 

Then, finally, Alice and Carlisle came into view as the atmosphere tightened with tension. The blonde looked delighted while Alice held more of a tense but still happy smile. 

"Before you go, it was brought to my attention that your last phone ran into... some issues so I had Demitri get you another," Aro extended a phone that looked to be set up already from some mysterious pocket in his robe. 

"Thank you, hopefully, I'll hold onto this one just as long," Tony guilty smiled knowing he held into the other for a good few years. 

"Hopefully so," Aro nodded before looking to Carlisle, "I do hope to see the two of you soon enough though not too soon." 

"Thank you," Carlisle smiled a little, "You've done us many favours today Aro." 

The King waved the courtesy off and looked towards Tony one last time, "See you again, Cullens." 

With that Aro was gone and Tony left with a weird feeling he had been included in that address. A Cullen now, huh? Not quite yet if you asked him. 

"Shall we go find Edward and Bella? They were going to get the car," Alice offered. 

Tony pocketed the phone for later and left shoulder-to-shoulder with the two vampires. 

...

Carlisle had stayed with Tony, the human needing the far before they were back in America. Some things were just too hard to keep hidden from vampires.

Alice had managed to persuade Tony to stay the night with little room for argument and a lot of jabs at his current health. The ginger was by no means happy to admit to feeling as bad as he did nor was he found of the newfound paranoia trying to creep down his spine now and then. 

They had arrived at the house while Bella and Edward parted to the Swan residence, Tony knew Charlie would have been having more than a bit of a hard time. Seeing all of the Cullens was a good feeling though, Emmett was more than willing to trap Tony in a hug as soon as he was out of the car. Esme had similarly greeted him whereas Jasper gave his curt smile and Rosalie had given him a more distant greeting. 

After that Carlisle had him cosied up in his room while they spoke quietly and tried to find ways to ease the growing tension between the two, perhaps it hurt Carlisle to see Edward and Bella bounce back quickly whereas Tony wasn't so forgiving. 

Tony didn't hesitate to tell Carlisle what he'd been going through, going as far as to mention his and eventually Bella's dependence on the pack, his trying to help Charlie with Bella and even the mundaneness of trying to mark papers and teach. In turn, Carlisle spoke of their time with their Alaskan counterparts the Denali Coven. Though Tony supposed, the more Carlisle spoke the more insecure he had become with himself and his position within this coven... there was also the matter of Esme that didn't have time to properly be addressed. 

Those thoughts were cut short when Carlisle asked that they join the rest of the family in the living room. Bella and Edward had just arrived and both wore differing expressions. 

"You all know what Edward wants. And you know what I want. But I won't force myself on you..." Bella certainly knew how to get to the point, "I think the only fair way to handle this is by vote -"

Edward cuts her off, "You can't be serious -"  "This is my meeting, Edward."

"However this turns out, I'm not letting the Volturi hurt you. I'll go back to Italy alone..."

"The hell you will. I'm not missing another fight," Emmett proudly speaks up. 

"That's not up for a vote, Emmett. I don't want you involved," Bella tried to scold. 

"We've always been involved, honey, and we're not going to stop..." Esme speaks up with all the motherly warmth she has to offer.

"No, please -- I want you to seriously think about this. If I join you, you'll be stuck with me for a long time - forever. It's a huge decision. And I want - I need your honesty here," Bella finally gets her final point across.

The Cullens acknowledge her seriousness with multiple responses.

"Then let's take a vote," Bella nods, "Alice?"

"Like you're not already my sister. Of course, yes!" Alice agrees as she hugs Bella before they turn to Jasper.

"I vote yes. It'll be a relief not to want to kill you," he tries to joke. 

"Um. Thanks? Okay, Rosalie?"

Rosalie looking particularly torn looks at Edward who's cold toward her.

"Edward, I'm sorry for what I did. I am. And I know you're not ready to forgive me..." She looks to Bella, "But this isn't the life I'd have chosen for myself. I wish there'd been someone to vote no for me..." She looks at Carlisle and Tony can't help but note something unspoken there, "So... no."

"I vote hell yeah. We can pick a fight with these Volturi some other way," Emmett interrupts the mood with a big hug. 

"I already think of you as part of the family. Yes," Esme also warmly welcomes Bella in.

"Thank you, Esme," Bella smiles shyly before the attention turns to Carlisle who is looking at Edward.

"You can't go along with this, Carlisle, you know what it means," Edward pleads. 

"You've chosen not to live without her, which leaves me no choice. I won't lose my son," Carlisle turns to Bella, "But Alice has never turned anyone. It'd be safer if I did it."

"You're being biased, Carlisle," the 'because of Tony' remains unsaid but the ginger knows full well that the statement is there. 

"Perhaps, Edward, you'd like to say something to me?" Tony spoke up with stiffness in his voice and steel in his eyes. 

"You're expecting an apology? You of all people?" Edwards scoffs something that makes Carlisle tense. 

"Edward Cullen, you to stay out of my mind." 

Edward's jaw goes slack, as he blinks in surprise. 

"You most certainly owe a few people an apology over me but for the time being, I feel petty enough to hold you accountable for shortening my lifespan much less Bella's. I don't know how much my presence in Voltera contributed to Aro's decision but surely you know that once I die all eyes will be on me and those around me." 

Tony finds himself forcing his lungs to inhale with a bit more thought than one would usually take. 

"Until such a time where you come to your sense, I will make you a stone-cold promise. If the Volturi comes knocking for Bella it will be me who will be turning her less the matter is sorted beforehand," Tony finished with a pointed look at Bella who has tensed up far more than she was. 

"You're no saint," Edward hissed before the front door slammed. 

"I never claimed that," Tony mused as his hands cramped and he flexed his good hand. 

"Can I ask," Tony looked towards the Cullens, "Did you all vote to leave?" 

Bella's eyes widened at the question as she stood in the doorway for a moment before walking back towards the Cullens and Tony. 

"It wasn't unanimous," Esme was the one who decided to speak first, "I believe we all have our regrets over what has happened but it would be in your interest to consider the future more than the past."

She was trying to be nice and Tony knew that - so why did his body go numb for a long moment? It could have been anxiety, paranoia maybe, perhaps even genuine fear. He didn't want to go through the motions of figuring it out or making things any worse than he had. 

"Thanks, Esme," Tony managed, slowly pressing his fingers one by one onto his thumb with his left hand.

It was hurting again, Tony had a good guess that his order to Edward had worked a charm. He was that close to death then. 

"While I can't recommend vampirism to anyone, Bella, I hope the venture is easy enough for you." 

"Likewise," Bella shuffled as she offered a smile. 

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

Tony didn't know what to do with himself. The coming weeks after their return from Italy wasn't getting any easier nor was Edward ignoring him every time they were in the same room. It upset Tony that their current relationship clearly upset Carlisle and in turn was biting Tony in the ass twice as hard but he had made his point and, to him at least, it was valid. Edward hurt a lot of people with the call to leave Forks and the fact they came back as if nothing had happened wasn't helping.

It had stressed Tony out enough that while he was moping around his house in a mess of a state an unexpected visitor arrived on his doorstep.

"Jasper? I didn't expect to see you here," Tony admits with a wry smile and opens the door for the vampire.

"I was hesitant to come, I admit," Jasper smiles back, "Alice suggests that I spoke with you sooner than later about my empath abilities."

"Is this the type of conversation I need a coffee for?" Tony muses as he looks towards the kitchen.

"You look like you need it anyway, teach," Jasper humoured, "I'll wait in the lounge?"

"Yeah, you've got your pick of the sofa or the sofa," Tony snorted before making his way towards his kettle.

Tony took his time making the coffee, Jasper could entertain himself for a few minutes anyway while Tony tried to gather his shit and seem a bit better than he was. Mug in had Tony shuffles back into the lounge and takes up his spot on the recliner he barely used. He tucked his legs up on the chair with his ugg boots hanging just off the furniture.

"I want to be clear, this isn't some type of therapy session," Jasper initiates, "But Carlisle has implied we lived through similar circumstances with newborns."

"Oh? I'd hazard a similar guess, we do share some similar scars."

"I call them battle scars," Jasper slowly rolls up his sleeves to reveal triple the amount of scaring that Tony holds, "None of the training the Confederate Army gave me could me any advantage against newborns. I still never lost a fight."

"Slightly worrying but an impressive feat nonetheless," Tony smiled sadly.

"Youngest Major in the Texas Cavalry hadn't seen any real combat at that point, not until I crossed paths with... Maria. She was immortal. I was riding back to Galveston after helping with evacuations when I came across three women, being the southern gentleman that I was, I immediately offered her aid."

Jasper gave an unnecessary shift, "She had me captivated and then..."

"You don't have to say it," Tony offered before taking a sip of his slightly too-hot coffee.

"Maria won every battle, her army had everything it needed. Newborns, brutality, her smarts, and me. My ability to manipulate emotions served her well as she went, my... personality then was a lot different to now."

"I trained them well as her second in command, they could fight and then culled them for her before they could reach over a year old. I could feel everything they felt... But it turns out I was just a well-played puppet."

Jasper took a moment to assess his flickering emotions through Tony as well as his pains.

"Then I met Alice and she showed me another way."

"Ever since it was declared I was damned to be a vampire I only knew of Malakai's or the Volturi's ways... both have their cruelties. I have constantly been impressed by the fact you all live off animal blood, it must have been a tough yet blessing of salvation," Tony's grip on his mug tightens.

"Shall I give you a story for a story? I won't be able to spare you the agony from my recallings though," Tony looked up to meet Jasper's eyes, "Is that okay?"

"A story for a story," Jasper manages a smile, "I like the idea."

"I don't think I ever mentioned to Carlisle that at first, I watched the Volturi feed when I was first brought in. It was supposed to be a scare tactic or something to make my will falter in Aro's ideal world. Of course, it only brought on fresher trauma and was a constant reminder that I was being housed by human-killing vampires, but I'd gone through hell for just over two and a half years. The Volturi didn't have newborns trying to kill me every other moment so it was fine enough, they opened up to me too and gave me the family I'd lost."

"When Malakai first kidnapped me I was fifteen and by the time I was out I was seventeen, those years were spent in a basement playing coy with newborns. Malakai called it a social experiment or something, what would happen if you turned one human while keeping three others chained nearby - how likely was the newborn to break free of their restains? The obvious answer is highly likely. Malakai managed to get his hands on several coven mates with powers of restraint before he'd started this game - the fittest would join his ranks. He had... probably hundreds of people from all over, he'd put my father and me in the same round and he got ripped apart like a chew toy in front of me."

Tony sighed into a sip of his coffee.

"Malakai found out I was his blood singer about two months in, he was too busy recruiting most of the time. Then, suddenly, I was his obsession. He didn't kill me, obviously, but he bit me enough times that the fucking venom should have - who's ever heard of a blood singer having enough restraint to suck the venom out just to prolong the life of their singer?! Aro hadn't come across anything that weird as of yet!"

Tony laughed with a sob cutting him off.

"Of course, such an attraction caught the Volturi's attention but the Guard wasn't able to quite penetrate the coven's prowess with Malakai's gifts getting in the way. They did their best, but they didn't reach my level on their first infiltration. They caught me on the second and last where Aro himself was present. I'd since unlocked the ability to 'order' vampires and pulled such on Aro when he was about to turn me. In light of Jane and Alec who were turned at fourteen, seventeen seemed a bit too much to be given, but then they figured out I was slowly dying anyway. They let me keep my human life, and with the help of a few fellow Forks residents the ordeal was covered up perfectly although the Volturi took me in for the following years..."

"Those bites, they were all Malakai's?" Jasper selected his question carefully.

"Yeap, each laced with small enough amounts of venom it didn't cause me to die - still hurt like hell though."

"I think you've been through more hell than anyone gives you credit for," Jasper offered a smile and a clear of his throat, "Thank you, Tony."

"No, thank you, you're putting up with the extra emotional baggage," Tony shrugged despite his exhaustion.

"You know, it's not my place to say, but you fit right into our little broken puzzle. Damn what the world thinks, you've been through enough hell I truly hope you only have happiness ahead of you."

"Back at ya, bloody Cowboy thinking he can get all sentimental with my future like that," Tony sighed as he shook his head a laugh peeling from him, "We'll see what lies ahead."

"Damn right," Jasper smirked, "You should know that Edward is getting less angry and more guilty each time he sees you and Carlisle together. Even Esme's given him a telling-off for not apologising yet."

"Really? No one told me that?" Tony mused with a faint smile.

"Oh definitely, should've heard Emmett laughing he couldn't keep a lid on it."

That got Tony into a small fit of laughter that broke out into a coughing fit. Jasper panicked a little when he couldn't immediately catch his breath but Tony laughed and wheezed out about it just being too funny to imagine.

By the time Tony was getting ready for bed he was dead tired and overjoyed to see Carlisle silently coming in through the window - not that he had to, of course, it was just a touch faster than several doors.

Tony had a bit less of a burden on his shoulders, having a laugh with Jasper about their PTSD and trauma was apparently what he needed a bit of to ease the tension in his shoulders. Carlisle couldn't look more pleased that he was finally actually relaxed into his sheets for once. As per usual every night they could, Carlisle and Tony ran through hand stretches to ease the stiffness in his joints and ease the strain that teaching caused them.

"Jasper had said he'd been around, I'm assuming the two of you had a good talk?" Carlisle asked as they settled for the night.

"Yeah, it was nice... I think I'm still getting to know everyone but Edward better at this point," Tony sighed, "It's nice, makes me think that maybe everything will be okay."

"Edward will come around, you're welcome in the family even if he won't admit it to you."

"Have you two gotten onto better terms yet?" Tony shuffled from the mess of blankets to look at the vampire.

"Mostly, it is just a matter of Bella's humanity. He'll learn to come around."

"You know if I wasn't also stuck to the same fate... I'd say she should stay human until she had reason not to. I've seen so many people turned into newborns, struggled against so many... and she just wants to jump right in," Tony frowned.

"I do believe she understands that and that's why she's ready, Rose would be on your side, she had one of the worst circumstances and I can't help but feel bad. I thought I was helping her like I'd helped Edward and Esme... but I was wrong, even if she's mostly forgiven me."

"If anything it proves your sense of humanity," Tony laced his fingers with Carlisle's, "You take chances hoping it's the right decision and deal with the consequences if it isn't."

"Thank you, Tony," Carlisle smiled.

"I'm just saying what I think is true," Tony smiled as he snuggled down into his blankets.

Carlisle pressed a soft yet quick kiss onto Tony's head before telling him to sleep. Murmuring his complaints Tony still settled and eventually let the world of dreams consume him.

...

It was shortly after Bella had happily told Tony about her acceptance to the University of Alaska that the teacher had to dismiss himself from the conversation at school to book it into the staff bathrooms. He didn't have much time to brace himself before he was puking his guts up for the next few minutes, his lunch long lost to the toilet as he struggled to get his breathing under control.

Tony couldn't tell if he was thankful that Edward was staying out of his mind during these moments. His weakness wasn't something he wanted Edward to make the Cullens worry about unnecessarily if possible, then again Carlisle was a Doctor and they were all literal vampires with keen hearing and smell... They could probably guess as much as he had. A few had picked up on the fact he refused to eat unless it was at his own house and now rarely in front of others, Carlisle had commented on his breathing more than once and his hands weren't going to get better it seemed.

It was that same night, that Edward announced he and Bella were going to Florida to visit Bella's mother Rene that very close weekend. Tony was at the Cullen residence, eyes dancing from Cullen to Cullen as the tension in the room seemed to build.

"What's happening?" Tony asked seeing as Bella was at home packing.

"You'll be kept out of it," Edward quickly dismissed.

"Fuck it," Tony sighed as he pushed himself up from his seat, "We're having a chat before you go. Alone."

"Sure thing," Edward scoffed with an irritated look, "Name the time and place."

"What if you took Tony back for the night?" Esme hopefully suggested.

It took Jasper some willpower to not laugh at the slight awkwardness that welled up in the two mentioned people.

"I'd be happy to," Edward nods before glancing at Carlisle, "When will you be?"

"Text me when you're finished," Carlisle ignored the point look and smiled at Tony while patting him on the shoulder.

"Alright, night, the rest of you," Tony grins as he hauls himself up with scattered responses.

Edward is waiting in the driver's seat of the Mercedes when Tony makes it to the car, Tony stifles a laugh at how differently he's treated compared to the man who always gets the door for Bella.

"I didn't expect you to give up so soon," Edward tried to snark, his temper mellowing.

"Oh I'm not giving up, dear sweet Edward, I just think we need to have a proper conversation about things."

Edward's brow furrowing was the only response that Tony was going to get it seemed. 

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

Edward sat awkwardly on Tony's sofa while the human was wrapped up in a few blankets with the heater on and a coffee in hand. The two had been sitting for a minute of silence as soon as Tony sat down with his coffee.

"You know not being able to read your mind makes this all that much harder," Edward finally said.

"I assume it would, but you must have pieced together why I'm mad at you. I've gone through it a thousand times with Carlisle before we got to where we are now..."

"I know he's changed his opinion of my actions somewhat," Edward nodded stiffly, "But he didn't give me much more to go off."

"You realise what choosing to leave Bella meant for everyone else involved yet?" Tony blew on his drink before taking a sip.

"I hurt you, I get that -" "You not only hurt me, but you also hurt everyone who knows Bella, especially Charlie, then the whole thing with the pack..." Tony cut Edward off with a sigh, "Bella wasn't the only one who got depressed from leaving her mate unwillingly and unfortunately you were the reason Victoria was back and God forbid that Malakai might still be around."

"Do you understand that not everyone wanted to leave? You know you guys are a family, right? Not so much a coven anymore," Tony continued to sip at his drink when he needed to make his sentences correctly, "I know how covens function and you guys care far too much about each other for that... Until you appeared more a coven head than Carlisle."

"What?" Edward asked like the fool he was.

"Carlisle loves you, you're his son, Edward, how could he say no to you when half the family saw it fit to leave Forks? Even at the cost of his own heart," Tony finished in a whisper.

"I didn't mean-" "No. If Carlisle had put his foot down on some of the family staying, how would you have felt? You wanted to erase yourself from Bella and somehow that meant that I also got the cut."

Edward didn't speak for a long moment.

"I just wanted to protect her, compared to her safety you were..."

"Say it."

"Nothing. You were nothing to me then, even if you were Carlisle's mate."

Tony didn't notice the tear that ran down his face even if his bitter smile pulled his face too tight.

"Will you even tolerate me when I die?" Tony tried to keep the croaks from his throat, "I can't keep doing this to your family."

Edward looked taken back like the thought hadn't crossed his mind.

"I don't know."

"I know from an individual level that most of you Cullens would accept me, but you Edward, who has to lose the humanity of his mate, how would you tolerate a newborn in the mix?"

"You probably wouldn't stay, Carlisle and you would leave for the Denali's. You wouldn't be anywhere near Bella."

"That I can second, but there is the fact that the family would be split up. I'm doing my best to last to the end of the term so I can pass on from Forks as a ghost but Bella has the same plan and the same destination as I, if Alaska is anything to go by."

"You're saying I can't escape you," Edward laughs, "I don't think it's that extreme."

"It is to me. I do not want to hurt your family, especially Carlisle. I'm repeating myself now, is it not sinking in? I will likely become a Cullen too, Edward, can you live with the scrappy human trash who is next to nothing to you standing at your level as part of your family?"

"You're exaggerating," Edward scoffed, "I'm not that shallow."

"And when I exist as part of the Cullens and Volturi?"

The room went silent.

"Then Bella really will be turned... and everything will be fine. I'll learn to separate you from them and the hand you forced upon Bella."

"She's chosen it at this point, Edward, even if I can't empathise. I'm dying while she's choosing this at the ripe age of eighteen. You understand that I'm not in love with her choice?"

Edward was quiet again before slowly nodding.

"I think we had a misunderstanding," he finally looked at Tony with a small smile, "You don't want this as she does."

"No, I don't. I fought tooth and nail to live this long and even then I've been dying this whole time. Between my teenage years being traumatic to living with the Volturi... I really wouldn't wish this upon anyone."

"I'm sorry, Tony," Edward let his back sink into the sofa in defeat, "I've been holding a grudge for nothing. All you want is the best for the coven and I couldn't even see that."

"Alright then, keep that in mind for the future you dork," Tony sighed, "And do me one more favour."

"What is it?"

"Let me tell Carlisle myself," Tony offered a thin smile before continuing, "You can look at my thoughts now, Edward."

The vampire was up and had a hand on Tony's heart within the second. Tony laughed, his lungs rattling against the additional pressure.

"You'd be damn lucky to make it to graduation," Edward stressed, his eyes racing over Tony's tired form.

"I know, I don't think it's as bad as it seems... If I let it get to me I'd just be a mess."

"Carlisle needs to know so he can help - make it easier on you or something," Edward frowned as he pulled back, seeing into more of Tony's thoughts.

"You don't want it to be easy?"

"Easy would be living on a drip in your house, I have kids to teach, teens' goals to nurture until the years out. You know I can't let their futures down so easily."

Edward shook his head, mind racing it seemed.

"I'll... keep that in mind... and I won't tell Carlisle, but please tell him before this weekend."

"So something bad is happening."

"I'm keeping it from Bella, we can handle it just like we are with Seattle."

"I see... I'll talk to Carlisle about it tonight then, both aspects. You'll be planning with Alice while we're here I imagine?"

"Yeah... I'll go now..." Edward pressed his lips tight, "I am sorry, Tony."

"I think I know," Tony nodded, taking his final drink of coffee, "Go on, I'll hear from you soon."

"I'll let Carlisle know he can come here," Edward said before he vanished into the night.

"That went well," Tony mused to himself as he scrubbed the dried tears from his face.

It didn't take more than fifteen minutes for Carlisle to show up and his first response was to wrap Tony in his arms. The two spent a moment enjoying each other's company before Carlisle rested his hand on Tony's chest.

"Your heartbeat is weaker today," Carlisle commented slowly, "Edward said we had something we needed to discuss..."

"You could say that," Tony said as he looked around the room at all the blankets and the heater running hot before sitting back down, "Obviously I'm not doing well, physically that is."

"I am a Doctor, Tony, I know you're trying to hide how poor your health is," Carlisle took a seat on the arm of Tony's chair, "It hurts to hear how weak your heartbeat is and how raspy your breaths are."

"I'm really dying, huh," Tony showed a grimace of a smile, "It won't be normal, can medicine even help give me until the term is finished?"

"I'll have to run the proper tests but I'll see what I can do if you're willing?"

"Yeah, it might be time for that. I just, I don't know... how to deal with the fact I'm going to die anymore."

"We'll help you, Tony, once we sort this mess out this weekend, things will get back on track," Carlisle's smile softened, "We can even have a small birthday party for you."

"Oh, that is soon, isn't it?" Tony chuckled, "What type of mess are you guys getting into this weekend so I know if I need to iron my shirts."

"It seems Victoria is back and scouting the area, a mix of our territory and the Quileute's territory," Carlisle sighed, "We're planning to intercept her through some of Alice's visions to either kill her or find out what she's up to."

"So that's why Edward and Bella are heading out of town," Tony nodded along, "It sucks but I'll sit at home and keep marking the backlog of papers for now."

"I'd offer for one of us to keep you company but with Edward gone, it will be best we travel in pairs."

"You guys keep safe, that's the important part. We'll deal with the rest of this after the weekend."

"I'll still see you tomorrow if you'd like?"

"That would be nice," Tony smiled, "If you're not working you can stop by in the morning, ya know the whole window thing. It still baffles me that it brings you comfort watching me sleep."

"I'd say it's a vulnerability thing," Carlisle chuckled, "You're at your weakest when you're asleep to the world."

...

Tony spent most of his birthday with Carlisle and a small dinner at the Cullen's house while Bella and Edward were off to catch their flight. They'd had an overly classy ceaser salad with sweet potatoes which, naturally, made Tony feel a bit at odds he was the only one eating Esme and Carlisle's cooking. Rosalie had refused to participate after a previous incident cooking for Bella.

After the dinner and a few activities from the family which weren't limited to video games and Cluedo, Carlisle and Tony finally returned to his humble home and without much energy left to spare Tony readied himself for bed. When Tony returned from the bathroom having finished his nightly routine, Carlisle was waiting for him. Sitting on his bed with a neatly wrapped little box Tony could only note how his heart swelled and a dorky smile crossed his face soon to be mimicked by Carlisle.

"I thought I'd get you something today since the party is later, Esme helped me choose it," Carlisle explained as he extended the box.

Tony took it as he took a seat on the bed beside Carlisle. He ran his fingers over the wrapping in mild surprise.

"You didn't have to, but thank you."

Tony took his time opening the wrappings before opening the box. Inside was a delicate gold ring, different from the crest that still hung around his neck beside the Volturi crest. The gold ring had a flat pattern of silver gems studded into the top of the ring and, upon inspection, there was the date the two had met. The date when Tony had gone for a listless walk at night and had this beautiful man to show for it.

Tony didn't know a stray tear had escaped until Carlisle whipped it off his cheek. There was a soft smile on the blonde's face and Tony couldn't have been much happier in that moment. Without much thought and a soft "thank you" Tony had Carlisle wrapped up in his arms and buried his head into the poor vampire's collar as he basked in the moment. Carlisle had returned the hug and opted to run a hand along Tony's back in a comforting and reassuring gesture.

"I won't let you go again, I'm sorry for all the pain I've put you through, Tony," Carlisle quietly spoke as they sat in each other's arms.

"Don't do it again and we're good, yeah?" Tony smiled, "None of this sad stuff on my birthday."

"Alright," Carlisle agreed with a smile, "You don't mind if I stay the night?"

"Only if you don't get all cramped letting me fall asleep cuddling you this time."

Carlisle's light laughter was all Tony needed to get himself into his spot on the bed and offer the sheets open to the blonde to happily cuddle up with him in the warmth of the bed. Tony's last thought that night was that it was stupid to cuddle a cold-ass vampire when going to sleep but the warmth of the blankets made up for it with the struggle the weekend could bring. 

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

Tony had stuck to marking his backlog of papers while the Cullens went about their hunt for Victoria. He often caught himself glancing at the new ring resting on his right index finger as the ring served more as a promise ring than anything overly severe for the moment. Tony wasn't in a great hurry to be engaged with his human lifespan dwindling, it might as well come after the fact and when he was in better health, not that the conversation had even come up. The pair were still in their early days of dating and Tony wasn't about to jump into more until the rest of the coven had come around to him which wasn't to say there weren't fans of him. He still felt it was a complicated affair for the minute, especially with Bella being due to be changed too. 

It was well into the evening by the time Carlisle came back from the chase, the somewhat sad look on his face had Tony worried for a minute but he correctly concluded that it was merely due to Victoria escaping them. The blonde vampire sat beside Tony as he continued his marking when he suddenly spoke up, drawing Tony away from the crudely written report. 

"Alice has decided to host a party for you on the twenty-first when Bella and Edward are back," Carlisle smiles as he wraps his arm around Tony. 

"That's a whole day away," Tony muses, somewhat surprised as he leans into Carlisle. 

"We've decided on a wrapping paper ban, Esme decided to use a cloth to wrap the family's presents." 

"That's sweet of her," Tony smiled, "As long as nobody goes overkill on the gifts that's fine by me." 

After a moment Tony quietly pipes up, "If there could be no food as well unless Bella would eat... My appetite isn't what it used to be." 

"I can take your blood tonight and run tests on them while you sleep?" Carlisle offered, "See what we can do to help you out." 

"Don't you have to do that at your place?" Tony mumbled, eyes darting to the side. 

"It's where my equipment is, yes," Carlisle rubbed Tony's shoulder, "You can stay over if you'd like, I know you don't like being alone at night." 

"If it's no hassle, I won't say no." 

"I'm sure everyone will be delighted, I'll send Esme a text." 

Tony went about packing up his marking, his movements slow but determined to put everything away so he could return to it with as much ease as possible tomorrow. He'd asked Carlisle to grab him an overnight bag and to toss in whatever he'd need. They were at the Cullen residence within the next fifteen minutes and Tony was being badgered to play video games with Emmett before Carlisle took his blood for testing. After the second attempt, Tony caved, warning Emmett that he hadn't played very much in the last couple of years but still managed to win two of three rounds against the vampire in Mario Kart. Rosalie had taken to watching the game from afar as has Esme and Carlisle which Tony somewhat felt grateful for, even if it was just for a sense of belonging. 

By the time it was nearing ten at night, Carlisle had let Tony change into pyjamas and had him take a spot on the new bed in his room. While Tony was marvelling at the duvet set, the blonde was dutifully preparing his needle and blood tubes off to the side where his office was. After his bemusement at the beautiful grey bedspread that Esme had chosen, Tony noticed the painting of Carlisle with the Volturi and couldn't help the warm dose of hope that flitted through him. They could make his crappy plan work, surely, they could. Being part of two covens would be a pain in the ass, especially as they were oceans away and there was a lot to think about in regards to that, but he was content in trying. 

After the horrid sensation of getting stabbed with the cursed needle, Tony was trying not to sulk at the pain. No matter how good Carlisle's eyes were for spotting veins it was still likely to bruise with how frail he had become and the pain wasn't the most beloved thing in the world. Carlisle did catch the small pout he wore and gave him a big hug and quick kiss on the forehead which did more to fluster Tony than calm him. Before much longer, Tony was in a light sleep, half tucked into the bed after a sleepy conversation with Carlisle. 

As Tony drifted in his sleep, he found himself caught in a haze of swirling thoughts and emotions. His mind flickered between moments of gratitude for the warmth and comfort of the Cullen household and anxiety about the uncertain future that lay ahead. The events of the day had left him both physically drained and mentally wired, and now, in the quiet darkness of Carlisle's room, those conflicting feelings tugged at his consciousness.

As sleep began to claim him more fully, Tony's dreams danced with fragmented images and memories. He saw flashes of his life before he stumbled into the world of vampires, moments of joy and sorrow intertwined with the weight of his current predicament. Yet amidst the chaos of his subconscious, one image remained vivid and clear - the painting of Carlisle standing tall and resolute among the Volturi.

In that painting, Tony found a glimmer of hope. He clung to it desperately, letting it anchor him in the sea of uncertainty. The idea of being part of two covens, of bridging the gap between their two ways of life, stirred something deep within him. It was a daunting prospect, to be sure, but also an exhilarating possibility.

As the night deepened and the hours slipped by, Tony's sleep grew heavier, his breathing slowing into a steady rhythm. The warmth of the duvet cocooned him, offering a sense of safety and belonging that he hadn't felt in a long time. And beside him, Carlisle's presence provided a quiet reassurance - a reminder that, despite the challenges ahead, he was not alone.

The next morning, Tony awoke to the soft glow of dawn filtering through the curtains, casting a warm hue over the room. Stretching languidly, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and glanced around the unfamiliar surroundings of Carlisle's room. For a moment, he savoured the tranquillity of the early morning, the quiet calm before the world stirred awake.

With a sigh, Tony pushed aside his worries and resolved to make the most of the day ahead. He padded across the room, the cool floor beneath his bare feet a sharp contrast to the warmth of the bed. Opening the door, he stepped out into the hallway, the quiet of the house enveloping him like a comforting embrace.

Reaching the ground floor, Tony found himself in the spacious living area of the Cullen residence. The familiar surroundings brought a sense of familiarity, a reminder that despite the strangeness of his circumstances, he was still a part of something - even if he was still working on his hopefully new family. Restless, his thoughts were consumed by the looming challenges that awaited him. But beneath the surface anxiety, there was also a flicker of determination, a quiet resolve to face whatever the future held with courage and conviction. Though the present members of the Cullen family did help keep his mind busy, there were instances where he still slipped into his melancholy. 

And so, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the shadows lengthened, Tony awaited Carlisle's return from work while Esme cooked dinner with him. The others had taken to doing their own thing while waiting for Edward and Bella to return to Forks. With the tension of the weekend melting away and Alice frantically planning a birthday party for Tony there was still a lot going on in the house.

With the tension of Bella and Edward's return looming, Tony spent the day trying to focus on anything but the growing unease in his chest. Esme's gentle insistence on helping her prepare for dinner was a welcome distraction, and Emmett had made it his mission to keep Tony entertained with his usual boisterous charm. Even Rosalie had softened slightly, her sharp comments dulled by the sight of Tony's quiet but determined efforts to keep up with the household's bustling energy.

When Carlisle returned from work, his arrival was heralded by the sound of his car pulling into the drive and the soft click of the front door. Tony turned toward the entrance, his heart skipping slightly not from fear, but from the quiet comfort Carlisle's presence always seemed to bring.

"Welcome back," Tony greeted him with a faint smile, trying not to appear as exhausted as he felt.

Carlisle crossed the room to him quickly, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, "How are you feeling?"

"Still upright. That's a good start, right?" Tony joked though the tightness in his voice didn't escape Carlisle.

Carlisle gave him a knowing look but didn't press further. Instead, he glanced around at the others, exchanging brief words with Esme before turning back to Tony. 

"I have your results," he said softly, his tone measured, "But I think we can save that conversation for after your party. There's no immediate cause for alarm."

Tony nodded slowly, appreciating the tact but also feeling the weight of unspoken truths hanging between them. 

"Okay," he murmured, "Thanks."

As the evening wore on, Edward and Bella's return brought a new kind of tension to the house. Bella's curiosity about Tony was palpable, but she held back, perhaps sensing his need for space. Edward, ever observant, seemed torn between his protective instincts for Bella and his quiet respect for Tony's place in Carlisle's life.

Tony, for his part, did his best to navigate the charged atmosphere. While Bella and Edward settled back into the house, he found a moment of solace on the porch, staring out at the dense forest as twilight settled over Forks. It wasn't long before Emmett joined him, a broad grin on his face as he leaned casually against the railing.

"Pretty wild having both you and Bella around at the same time to spend the night," Emmett said, his voice light, "It's like the house has two humans now, except you're... well, cooler."

Tony snorted softly, shaking his head, "Thanks, I think?"

"I mean it," Emmett insisted, his grin softening into something more genuine, "You've got guts. Not many people would stick around with everything you're dealing with. Plus, you've got Carlisle wrapped around your little finger. That's impressive."

Tony rolled his eyes but couldn't help the faint smile tugging at his lips.

"It's not like I'm trying to make waves or anything. Just... trying to keep my head above water, you know?"

Emmett nodded, his usual boisterous energy tempered by a rare moment of understanding.

"You're doing better than most. And hey, if you ever need backup, you've got me. We could totally team up to prank Jasper or something."

As if summoned, Jasper stepped out onto the porch, his expression calm but curious

"You're plotting against me already?" he asked dryly, though there was a faint twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

"Always," Emmett replied without missing a beat, clapping Tony on the back lightly, "But don't worry, we'll let you in on it. Strength in numbers, right?"

Jasper offered Tony a small smile, his gaze steady. 

"If you ever need someone to talk to—or just someone who understands the weight of all this, I'm here."

The offer surprised Tony, but he nodded, feeling a quiet gratitude for the unexpected support. As the three of them lingered on the porch, the tension inside the house seemed to ease, if only for a little while.

The next day would bring its challenges, with Tony's party promising both celebration and confrontation. But for now, surrounded by the unlikeliest of allies, he allowed himself to breathe.

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

Alice had, unsurprisingly, gone all out for Tony's birthday party. The Cullen home was transformed into an understated yet elegant celebration space, with soft hues of gold and bronze dominating the decorations. Fairy lights twinkled across the beams, casting a warm, intimate glow over the gathering. Esme's touch was evident in the cozy rearrangement of the furniture, creating a circle of chairs and loveseats around the fireplace, fostering a sense of closeness.

Tony was still feeling a little out of place despite everyone's kindness and couldn't help but marvel at the effort. Alice had truly considered his preferences, there were no garish decorations, no overwhelming music, just the Cullens and Bella, as he'd expected. The modest snack table held only a few items for Bella, respecting Tony's diminished appetite and his wish to keep things simple. 

As the family arrived one by one, the mood was light. Emmett, predictably, brought his larger-than-life energy, cracking jokes and teasing everyone in a way that managed to make Tony laugh despite himself. Bella hung back with Edward, occasionally smiling shyly in Tony's direction but otherwise staying quiet. Jasper's steady, calming presence acted as a subtle balm for Tony's nerves, keeping the atmosphere warm and relaxed.

Carlisle stayed by Tony's side for much of the event, his quiet attentiveness not going unnoticed. Tony, pale and more fragile than he'd ever admit aloud, appreciated the unspoken understanding between them. Carlisle's hand on his shoulder or his soft encouragement, when Tony hesitated to join in the laughter, reminded him that he wasn't alone.

As the day eased into the evening, Alice called for everyone to gather in the living room. She clapped her hands together, her excitement palpable. 

"Okay, everyone, it's time for presents! And Tony, don't even think about complaining - this is happening."

Tony raised his hands in mock surrender, chuckling, "Fine, but I still think you're all doing too much."

"Nonsense," Esme said with a warm smile, patting his shoulder as she passed him, "You're part of this family now. It's only right we celebrate with you."

Tony's throat tightened at her words, but he managed a small smile in return. The gifts began to flow. Rosalie handed him a neatly wrapped box, her expression soft but composed.

 "This is practical, I figured you'd use it."

Inside was a digital camera, one that looked to be on the older side and perhaps preowned. Tony was curious but saw a few photos tucked away in another part of the present. In a scrapbook, Emmett had taken the liberty of putting loose photos of the family in funny situations into the first page alongside a chocolate bar,  

 "This is perfect. Thank you, Rosalie, Emmett."

She gave a small nod, a faint smile tugging at her lips, "Don't mention it. Just make sure you don't let Emmett take any more photos."

"Hey!" Emmett protested, throwing a cushion in her direction.

Esme's gift came next, a handmade quilt in soothing earth tones, a clear labour of love that Tony fell in love with. He'd never been gifted something homemade like a quilt. 

"I wanted to make you something you could take with you wherever you go," she said softly.

Tony ran his fingers over the intricate stitching, swallowing the lump in his throat, "This is... beautiful. Thank you, Esme."

Edward and Bella's gift, a leather-bound notebook, drew an unexpected laugh from Tony, "I'll use this. You two just ensured I'll spend way too much time scribbling nonsense in class."

Alice and Jasper's present to Tony was thoughtful and understated - a sleek silver fountain pen that funnily paired with the notebook Bella and Edward had gotten him. 

"For your thoughts," Alice had said with a smile, while Jasper added, "And to keep you grounded on the tougher days." 

Tony had traced the embossed initials, touched by the simplicity and care behind the gift. Finally, Alice handed over a sleek black box, her smile practically glowing. 

"This one's special," she said with a hint of mischief, "It's from Volterra."

The room stilled slightly. Carlisle's hand on Tony's shoulder tightened just a fraction, and Edward immediately stiffened. 

"The Volturi sent something?" Edward's voice was sharp, his eyes narrowing at the box.

Alice shrugged, unapologetic, "I saw it coming and made sure it got here safely. Aro wouldn't miss this chance."

Tony opened the box carefully, his breath catching as he revealed an ornate bracelet made of black metal, its interwoven design resembling waves and flames. A single dark ruby was set at its centre, glowing faintly in the firelight.

"They're watching," Edward muttered, his expression dark.

"Of course they are," Tony said, half amused, half resigned, "It's Aro. Subtlety isn't his style."

"What does it mean?" Bella asked hesitantly, glancing from the bracelet to Tony.

"It means he hasn't forgotten me," Tony replied his tone light but with a faint edge, "And that he wants all of you to know it too."

Edward started to speak, but Tony cut him off with a raised hand. 

"Relax. He's not coming for me or anything. This is just his way of being... Aro."

Carlisle's brow furrowed, though he remained silent, watching Tony carefully. Sensing the tension, Tony grinned and leaned back in his chair. 

"You know," he began, "this isn't the first time Aro's done something like this. Let me tell you about my twentieth birthday, my first in Volterra."

Emmett leaned forward, already laughing, "This is going to be good, isn't it?"

Tony chuckled, "Oh, it was a disaster. I made the mistake of mentioning it was my birthday, and Aro decided to 'honour the occasion.'"

The room was rapt as Tony described the awkward event: a grand hall filled with ancient vampires, an extravagant cake no one touched, and Aro leading an off-key rendition of "Happy Birthday" while Caius glowered in the corner. By the time he finished, the room was in stitches. Even Rosalie cracked a smile, and Edward's tension seemed to ease, if only slightly.

As the laughter died down, Tony leaned back with a sigh, a small but genuine smile on his face. For all the chaos and uncertainty in his life, he felt, for the first time in a long time, that he belonged somewhere. And for now, that was enough.

As the party wound down, the Cullen home settled into a soft hum of contentment. The laughter and warmth lingered in the air, but one by one, everyone began retreating to their own spaces. Alice fussed over tidying the last bits of decorations despite Esme's assurances that it could wait. Emmett and Jasper debated over the next video game tournament as they headed toward the entertainment room. Even Edward and Bella, after sharing a quiet moment with Tony, slipped outside for a walk.

Tony, feeling the weight of the day catching up to him, lingered near the window. The bracelet from Aro sat snugly around his wrist, a stark reminder of the ties that bound him to Volterra and the complexities of his place here in Forks.

"Do you want some air?" Carlisle's soft voice came from beside him, his presence grounding as always.

Tony glanced up, surprised but grateful, "That sounds good. It's been a long day."

The two slipped out into the cool night, the fresh air a welcome contrast to the warmth of the house. Carlisle led Tony down a quiet trail that wound through the woods near the Cullen property, their steps silent on the forest floor. The moon casts silver light through the trees, illuminating their path and adding an almost magical quality to the surroundings.

For a while, they walked in comfortable silence, the only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the distant call of an owl. Eventually, they reached a small clearing, the forest opening up to reveal a view of the mountains in the distance. Carlisle stopped and turned to Tony, his gaze steady but kind.

"How are you feeling?" he asked gently.

Tony sighed, crossing his arms loosely over his chest. 

"Physically? Tired, but that's nothing new," He hesitated, looking down at the bracelet on his wrist, "Mentally? I'm not sure. Today was... a lot. It was good," he added quickly, glancing at Carlisle, "but it also reminded me of everything I've been avoiding thinking about."

Carlisle's expression softened, "It's understandable. You've had so much to adjust to in such a short time. And with your health..."

Tony looked away, his jaw tightening. 

"I know. A few months at best, right? If I'm lucky."

Carlisle's lips pressed into a thin line. He'd deliberately kept the exact prognosis to himself, but Tony's sharp mind had pieced it together, "Tony-"

"I'm not angry," Tony interrupted, his voice quiet but firm, "I just... I need to face it. I don't want to spend whatever time I have left pretending everything's fine."

Carlisle stepped closer, his hand resting on Tony's shoulder. 

"You don't have to face it alone. We're here for you, however you need us."

Tony's lips quirked into a small, wry smile, "Even Rosalie? She doesn't seem entirely sold on me yet."

"She respects you more than she lets on," Carlisle said, his voice laced with amusement, "You've challenged her perspective in ways she wasn't expecting. Give her time."

Tony nodded, his gaze drifting to the horizon. 

"It's strange. Being here, with all of you, feels like I've finally found something I didn't even know I was missing. But at the same time, I can't shake the feeling that I'm walking on borrowed time."

Carlisle's hand on his shoulder tightened briefly, a silent gesture of reassurance. 

"You're not alone in feeling that way. Many of us have felt the same at one point or another. But borrowed time or not, the moments we share are still ours to hold."

Tony looked at him, his expression softening, "You're a lot better at this comforting thing than I am, you know."

Carlisle chuckled, his golden eyes warm, "It comes with experience."

They stood there for a while longer, the quiet of the woods enveloping them. For the first time that day, Tony felt a sense of calm settle over him, a fragile but welcome reprieve from the weight of everything looming on the horizon.

When they finally turned to head back to the house, Tony slipped his hand into Carlisle's, their steps in sync as they walked through the moonlit forest. Whatever the future held, however fleeting, it felt a little less daunting with Carlisle by his side.

Tony found time for him to text Aro in a string of dusty Italian, making sure he knew he'd received the present. The conversation was short, more of a quick swap of what was going on in their lives before Tony went to bed for the night thinking about Volttera. 

Tony found a steady rhythm in the weeks leading up to the end of May, immersing himself in preparing his seniors for their finals. The ebb and flow of school life were comforting, a grounding force as his health slowly ebbed away.

Tony closed the door to his classroom and sank into his chair, the effort leaving him slightly breathless. He let his head rest against the cool wood of his desk for a moment, the sound of the final bell echoing faintly in the empty hallway. His students had been particularly lively today, their excitement over the coming summer palpable, though the thought weighed heavier on him than it ever had before.

Summer. He wouldn't see the next one, would he? Not as a human.

He sat up and rubbed at his temples before pulling out the journal Bella and Edward had given him for his birthday. The leather cover was soft under his fingertips, and the faint scent of it reminded him of the musty old books he used to lose himself in during his time in Volterra. A bittersweet smile touched his lips as he opened it to the first blank page and began to write.

Today, Angela asked me if I was feeling okay. She's perceptive, that one. I wonder if she'll remember me in ten years, or if I'll just be 'that one teacher who seemed a little off senior year.' I hope not. I hope she remembers how proud I am of her. Of all of them.

He paused, chewing on the end of his pen, before continuing.

I can feel it now, this ticking clock inside me. Carlisle doesn't say it outright, but I can tell he knows, too. The venom isn't just changing me; it's speeding up the end of what I am now. And I don't feel afraid of it. Not of dying, at least. But of waking up and not recognizing myself? That terrifies me.

Closing the journal, he tucked it into his bag and pushed himself to his feet. He'd better go do some shopping before he went home and crashed, he still needed some food.

The grocery store was quieter than usual, the hum of fluorescent lights overhead providing a strange sort of comfort. Tony walked the aisles slowly, leaning on the cart for support as he picked out only the essentials: soup, bread, and a few pieces of fruit. His appetite was dwindling by the day, but he couldn't exactly stop eating altogether without raising suspicion.

He was examining a loaf of whole-grain bread when a familiar voice cut through his thoughts.

"Tony?"

Turning, he found Charlie Swan standing a few feet away, holding a carton of milk and a package of bacon. His expression was a mix of surprise and concern.

"Charlie," Tony greeted with a tired smile, "Didn't expect to see you here."

Charlie raised an eyebrow. 

"Yeah, well, small town. Not many options for groceries. You, uh, doing okay?"

Tony hesitated, then gestured to his cart with a self-deprecating laugh. 

"As okay as anyone stocking up on soup and bread can be, I guess."

"You don't look okay," Charlie said bluntly, his brow furrowing, "Have you been to the doctor?" 

"I have," Tony admitted, trying to keep his tone light, "Carlisle's keeping an eye on things."

Charlie didn't look convinced, but he nodded. 

"Good. You're not the type to slack off on taking care of yourself, but... you know, if there's anything I can do, just say the word."

"Thanks, Charlie. I mean that."

As they parted ways, Tony caught the worried glance Charlie threw over his shoulder. He felt a pang of guilt but pushed it aside. There wasn't much Charlie could do, and explaining the truth was out of the question.

That evening, back in the small cottage he called home, Tony unpacked his groceries and settled into his chair by the window. The sky outside was painted with the deep orange and purple hues of sunset, and for a moment, he let himself simply exist in the quiet.

He opened his journal again and wrote:

I saw Charlie today. I think he knows something's wrong, but he's too polite to press. Or maybe he's just unsure of how to approach it. I hate worrying people, especially when there's nothing they can do. Maybe that's why I've started this journal, to carry some of that weight myself, to put it somewhere else.

Closing the journal, he leaned back and stared out at the forest. But as the light faded, so did Tony's energy. He let his eyes drift shut, the journal still resting in his lap, and allowed himself a few moments of peace.

↞―✢―↠

Chapter Text

The night had drawn in around the Cullen house, and the quiet crackling of the fire in the living room created a calm atmosphere that invited reflection. Tony sat in one of the plush armchairs, nursing a glass of water; he'd stopped drinking the heavier fluids a while ago, preferring to stick to something lighter in deference to his fading appetite. Rosalie was nearby, tucked into a chair across the room, her posture perfect and her golden eyes sharp as ever, though a subtle shift in her expression indicated she was lost in thought.

There was a moment of silence between them, the kind that allowed the weight of things unsaid to fill the air. Tony wasn't the kind of person to push for conversation, but lately, he'd found himself contemplating his inevitable change more than ever. Rosalie's eyes flickered over to him, noting the weariness that had begun to etch itself into his features.

"You're quiet tonight," she finally said, her voice light but with a layer of something deeper underneath it.

"It's not like you."

Tony hesitated, glancing up from his drink. There was a trace of sadness in his eyes, but it wasn't the kind he usually wore; this was quieter, more introspective. 

"Just thinking," he murmured, "Trying to wrap my head around... everything. About what happens when the change comes."

Rosalie's lips twitched upward in a brief smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. In a rare moment of vulnerability, she shifted in her seat and spoke in a voice that was softer than usual.

"I know that feeling," she said, her tone distant, as though she was speaking more to herself than to Tony, "I didn't ask for this life, but it's the life I have now, and I've had to come to terms with it."

Tony's eyes flickered to her, intrigued. The Cullens had shared many moments of their personal lives with him, but he knew there was more to Rosalie's story. Something about her icy demeanour always seemed to keep a part of her locked away. He set his glass down, leaning forward slightly as if drawn to her words.

"Do you ever wish you didn't have to live with it?" Tony asked, voice quiet, "This... immortality, this life, this change. I wonder if it will feel the same for me when it happens. I'm not sure I'll be ready."

Rosalie studied him, her expression unreadable. After a long pause, she spoke, her voice careful but firm. 

"It's hard to explain," she began, "But when I was changed, I didn't understand what it meant. I couldn't see beyond the anger, hurt, or fear of what I'd lost. I was torn between wanting to die and wanting to survive. I felt like I'd been stolen from, and I wasn't sure what to do with myself."

Tony nodded slowly, understanding that gut-wrenching sense of loss. He knew that, though it was different in its context, he had experienced his form of grief, watching his body fail him, knowing he didn't have much longer.

"I didn't know what I was supposed to be anymore," Rosalie continued, eyes distant, "But Carlisle... he was the one who made me feel like there was a reason for everything. He told me that I could still be me. I just didn't know how to accept that. I didn't know how to forgive myself or him, but he never forced me into anything. He didn't change me out of cruelty. He gave me a choice."

Tony frowned, sensing the depth of her words. He couldn't imagine being in her position, being turned against his will and then given the illusion of choice. He leaned forward, his gaze more intense now. That wasn't the complete truth; he just had the means to bargain. 

"Carlisle... He did it, right? He changed you, even if you didn't want it at first?"

Rosalie's eyes softened slightly, a fleeting vulnerability slipping through her usual composed demeanour. 

"Yes, but it wasn't as simple as that," she said quietly, "I was dying. It was the only way I could survive. And Carlisle did it because he saw an opportunity to grow his family while saving a life. He never manipulated me into it. It wasn't perfect. It wasn't clean. But he gave me the chance to live... and in that moment, I had to decide whether I wanted that chance."

Tony let the silence hang for a moment, absorbing the weight of her words. He could see the complex layers of her transformation now. 

"And you're... okay with it now?" He asked quietly, though he wasn't sure he was ready for the answer.

Rosalie met his gaze, her eyes clear and sharp. 

"I've come to terms with it," she said, her voice steady, "Some parts of me will always regret how things happened, but I've learned to live with it. I've learned that being a vampire doesn't mean you stop being who you are. You're still you, and that's the part I had to learn."

"It was 1933. I was 18, and I was beautiful. My life was perfect."

Rosalie recounted her tale with a detached calm, though her voice betrayed hints of bitterness and regret.

"It all started with my mother dressing me up to take my father's lunch to work. She hoped the bank owner's son, Royce King II, would notice me, and he did. He sent me roses, called my eyes violets, and soon enough, we were engaged. But it was shallow. Royce was busy at the bank, and we barely knew each other. I didn't notice how empty it was until I visited my friend Vera. Watching her with her husband and baby boy, I realized I wanted what they had: real love and a family."

"On my way home, I ran into Royce and his drunken friends that night. He bragged about my beauty, and that led to... everything. They left me beaten and broken in the street to die." 

She paused, her jaw tightening.

"Carlisle found me and turned me to save my life. The transformation was agony, layered on top of everything I'd already endured. When I woke up, the Cullens were arguing, Edward especially. He thought Carlisle had hoped I'd be his mate, which made me furious, even though I didn't have feelings for him either. It hurt that Edward didn't find me attractive, vain as that sounds."

"When I saw myself for the first time, how beautiful I'd become, it felt like a cruel joke. I wasn't human anymore. All that beauty couldn't give me back what I'd lost."

She leaned back, a dark glint in her eyes, "So, I went back for revenge. One by one, I killed Royce's friends. Royce himself I saved for last. I wore a wedding dress, killed his guards, and made him pay for every moment of my suffering. Seven men dead, and not a drop of blood spilled. I didn't want any part of them inside me."

Her voice softened, "After that, I joined the Cullens, but it wasn't easy. Carlisle wanted me to be Edward's mate, but he's always just been like a brother to me. I found love with Emmett eventually, but sometimes... I can't help wondering about the life I might've had."

She looked at Tony, her expression a mix of sadness and resolve. 

"I know you'll lose a lot if you change, but you won't lose yourself, not you. You're too grounded, too human to let that happen."

Tony listened intently, his brow furrowed with empathy as Rosalie recounted her story. When she finished, he let the silence settle between them for a moment before speaking, his voice soft.

"Rosalie... I don't even know where to begin. What happened to you is unthinkable. You didn't deserve any of it. No one does," His hands gripped his knees, his frustration evident, "You're incredibly strong. Not just for surviving, but for facing it head-on, for standing here today and sharing it with me."

He glanced down, a small, bittersweet smile playing on his lips. 

"Hearing all this makes my fears about turning seem... trivial. You lost so much more than I stand to lose; yet, here you are, still fighting to make your existence your own."

Rosalie tilted her head, her expression softening, "It's not trivial, Tony. Everyone's losses are different, but they matter. Just because mine were devastating doesn't mean yours aren't."

There was a pause.

"His surname was King?" 

Rosalie looked at him, her brow furrowing slightly. 

"King?" she repeated, and Tony could see the brief flicker of something in her eyes, something that wasn't immediately clear.

He bit his lip, realizing that his surname might not be the most pleasant reminder of her past.

"Yeah, like my surname's King," he added with a half-smile, though it faltered quickly, "I don't know if you'd ever thought about it, but... well, it's a bit awkward, isn't it? You know, with...."

"With Royce?" Rosalie finished for him, her voice surprisingly calm.

Tony's face flushed slightly with embarrassment, "I never realized until just now how much that might... well, bother you." He hesitated again, looking for the right words. 

"I know I literally couldn't have known, but it feels like I should say something about it."

Rosalie's gaze softened a little, and she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as she looked at the fire. 

"Royce's name will always be tied to what happened to me," she said quietly, "But it's not your fault, Tony. You didn't choose your name, and I'm not upset by it anymore. I doubt you are related to him in any way, even if you are, I don't care." 

Tony let out a relieved breath, though he still felt the weight of her words, the knowledge that something so simple as a name could have stirred such painful memories for her.

"Thanks," he said, his voice sincere.

Rosalie waved him off. "Don't worry about it. I've made peace with my past. I had to."

Tony nodded, but his gaze remained distant. He seemed to pause enough to shift the conversation, not quite knowing where to go. 

"I keep thinking about what it will mean, you know? Losing the last scraps of my humanity, my identity. What if I'm not... me anymore? What if I become some mindless newborn, driven by instinct, and I can't claw my way back?"

Rosalie's golden eyes locked onto his, "That's not going to happen to you. You're already thinking about it, already worried about how to hold onto yourself. That's more than most newborns ever manage. You'll come out the other side, Tony. I'm sure of it."

He gave her a grateful smile. "I hope you're right. It's comforting to hear you say that, Rosalie."

Rosalie allowed herself a small smile, her usual cool demeanour softening, "You'll make it through this, Tony. You're too stubborn not to."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Tony grinned.

Tony let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. 

"I hope you're right," he murmured, though the words felt strange on his tongue, "I can't afford to... not be who I am, not now."

"You won't have to," Rosalie said firmly. 

She leaned back in her chair, her posture relaxed but her eyes still steady on him. 

"The first time I felt myself slipping, I was scared. I thought I might never be me again, but I pulled through, just like Carlisle said I would, and you will, too. You'll be fine."

There was a long pause as Tony considered her words, the weight of them settling into him with surprising comfort. He had always believed in fighting for what mattered, even in the hardest moments. Maybe, just maybe, that would be enough.

"Thanks," he said, quieter this time, offering her a small smile.

Rosalie nodded, her lips curling up in a slight, knowing smile. 

"I'm not saying it's easy, and I'm not saying you won't struggle, but you'll find your way. You're more than just a body waiting for a change, Tony. You're a person and that matters more than you know." She stood, stretching a little, as if the conversation had drained her more than she let on, "You've got this."

Tony remained seated, watching her walk away. The words lingered in the room, and for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, he would be fine.

"Did you know that Emmett was turned because he was getting mauled by a bear?" Rosalie threw into the conversation with a deadpan expression over her shoulder.

"He what?!"

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