Chapter 15

The New Family

We finally reached the city but Ambrogio was still waking up from his sleep. "Welcome home, my son." I whispered into his ear.

We went through the marble halls, Renata opened the doors, and I saw my brothers take their places in the throne room with Athenodora and Sulpicia standing behind them; I held onto Ambrogio tightly, his head still buried in my chest, and mentally whispered his fears to me.

I replied. "Worry not; they cannot hurt you as long as you are with me, my son. Come and meet your new family."

His heartbeat slightly picked up speed – Ambrogio had wanted to meet his new mother for so long, he had seen her in my thoughts but now he was about to see her in the flesh.

The guard took their place but Jane and Alec remained beside me. "Greetings my brothers, it has been a while and I have missed you all."

Caius was scowling lightly while dear Marcus was looking bored and dying, but his eyes spoke the world of his concerns for me; I sensed that everyone had sampled my son's scent as they all leaned forward with dark red eyes.

"Aro! You bring this human child before us!" bellowed Caius.

My son's hands tightly gripped my chest, startled by Caius's voice. "No! No, dear brother; I have returned with this child who is of my own flesh and blood."

"Impossible!" he hissed.

Marcus rose from his chair with interest. "Then let us see this child." his eyes were boring with curiosity.

I stepped forward to Marcus and presented the child to him.

"Ambrogio Cyrus, come now." Ambrogio raised his head and peered at Marcus from the corner of his eye. "Son, this is your uncle; Marcus."

As soon as the child looked at him, face to face, Marcus's face turned to shock; for the first time in centuries his expression had changed – his eyes opened wide and his hand came to his chest – Gino touched my hand and projected an image into my mind.

I saw what my brother was seeing in my son; Marcus saw a resemblance between Gino and my dearly departed sister, Didyme, and I now saw, aside from his biological mother and myself, that there was a little bit more of my sister in him too. Marcus stood there breathlessly, and Ambrogio held out his arms; after a moment or two, Marcus outstretched his hands and I placed my son into his uncle's arms. Jane came in close, not wanting to take any chances; but Marcus looked at the child once more as Gino wrapped his little arms around his neck… and then... Marcus smiled.

It was a sight to behold to see Marcus happy once more. I had strong confidence that Marcus had already mastered his restraint around Gino, I knew Marcus would never hurt him now, not after seeing the similarities between him and his lost love, Didyme; Marcus could never harm anything, anything that would remind him of her.

Caius then came to our side. "Ambrogio, this is your adoptive uncle; Caius."

Gino held out his hand and smiled – I saw in the corner of Caius's lips a small smirk had formed – but he just looked at the child; and finally the person he had wanted to meet came to his side.

"And finally, my dearest child; this is your new mother." He turned to Sulpicia and smiled.

Her glassy eyes widened but her smile was even wider. "Oh Aro, he is gorgeous!" she sparkled.

Marcus kissed Gino's forehead and passed him to his new mother.

"Mother." Squeaked Ambrogio.

She and Marcus, Jane, Alex, Athenodora and I all smiled; even Caius tried with all his might to fight back his grin.

"Hello Ambrogio. Aww, look at you; Sweetheart, he is perfect."

I smiled so proudly. "Wait until you see and hear his gifts."

Gino placed a hand on his mother's face and her eyes were wide with amazement. "Oh my goodness." her voice went faint.

"Is he not extraordinary? His mind is so free; one of the marvellous parts is watching his dreams while he sleeps."

Gently sunlight peered through the high windows and hit all of us – Marcus chuckled happily, and as did I, for we all sparkled dazzlingly but little Ambrogio glowed warmly like backlit alabaster stone.

"Master?" came Jane's dear voice.

"Yes, my dear."

Alec stepped in, "I suppose me and my sister's services are no longer required, for now that you have a real son to look after?"

I shook my head with a smile on my face. "Oh, good heavens; no! My honourable Alec, I have always considered you my son, and dear sweet Jane how could I possibly consider another to be my daughter; ever since that night I saved you from the village. Had I would've known the cruelty of your fate; I would have stolen you years before and raised you as my own."

Jane's eyes then turned hopeful. "Then I suppose, in time, Master; would it be appropriate for us too to call you..." she swallowed with difficulty, "...Father?"

I placed a hand over my heart, "Of course," I sighed. "After all, who better for Ambrogio to call his brother and sister?" I then opened my arms to them welcomingly.

They both smiled overwhelmingly, and they ran into my arms and embraced me; I kissed each of their foreheads and they too went and embraced their new mother.

As proud as I was with everyone for being so well behaved around the newest member of the Volturi, but I could see that his scent was getting the better of most in the coven – after Sulpicia and I put him to bed in the cot she had made for him, under the guard of Jane, Alec, even Marcus – I ordered them that night to go out and feed immediately. After that it was a matter of teaching them of restraint; I told all of those who wanted to know about my time with the Cullens, I taught Sulpicia, Athenodora and Marcus how to care for him – even showing the photo album that dear Alice had made for me. And once again I was kindly humiliated of the picture with both children asleep in my arms.

Over the years Ambrogio continued to grow, he became an excellent fighter; his abilities began to strengthen to the power of his subconscious mind, as he aged he no longer needed physical contact to project his mental voice, now it was only necessary to exchange memories. This was convenience for me that his powers were strengthening for he searched through all the thoughts of my entire mind and returned every dull human memory I had lost – now I remembered everything about my past life, but there in laid the danger as now so did he.

Everyone learned to control their thirst, Sulpicia and I were always proud of him – as we had hoped he brought life back into the coven – and Marcus had never been so happy for so long; it was only natural for him to spend most of his time with his new nephew. Alec and Jane cared for him so much and Gino came to love them as his adopted siblings, just as I had truly accepted the twins as my children and it made me just so happy to hear them call me 'Father'. Even Caius came to love the boy, though he tried his hardest not to show it; but occasionally smiling when Gino used his power for the benefit of the Volturi.

Jane, Alec, Marcus, Sulpicia, and I went as a family when taking Gino to visit the Cullens, once every six months for two weeks; it was so wonderful for him to spend time with darling Renesmee – the angel grew more beautiful every time we visited – and when the two were together, they were an inseparable pair.

And then finally after several thankful long years; my son, Ambrogio Cyrus Voltago, had finally stopped growing and now was forever trapped at the physical age of eighteen.

The End.