Requested by mmarvelgirl

Lightening flashed across the darkened sky, illuminating the clouds behind the flash in a blueish hue. Water droplets bathed the outside world and some of the poor individuals who got caught in the downpour. 

Thunder rolled overheard, yet there was no cause for alarm from Winnie who sat safe and warm on one of the plush chairs by the window. Every now and then she would glance away from her book, watching the raindrops race down the window only to return to the poems that called for her attention. Santiago, the favored guard of Winnie, was nearby feeding the parakeets that the lady of the castle called her pets. The little flock of birds gave tweets of delight as Santiago slid their little bowls of food back into place, each descending in a flurry of brightly colored feathers. 

Santiago returned to his spot across from Winnie, watching the birds enjoy their evening meal.

"They seem to be enjoying the new seed we got them last week," Winnie commented looking up at the guard as she turned the page in her book.

Santiago nodded. "That they do," he chuckled, picking up the newspaper from the end table, "I think they are becoming spoiled."

Now it was Winnie's turn to chuckle. "Everything deserves to be spoiled sometimes," she answered, closing her book.

"Even Master Aro?" Santiago asked raising an eyebrow.

Winnie pursed her lips and directed her attention to the window. It wasn't unknown that she had been very cross with Aro in the last few weeks since her physical therapy had ended. She could understand, it was only a year and a half ago that she had nearly fallen victim to a vampire within the city of Volterra. The kings did not take lightly to the news of anyone coming to their city and making meals out of the citizens of the quiet town, but, for someone to attack their mate, that was more than enough cause for a war. In only a few short months, Aro had lead the investigation, trying to find out everything he could on the nomad and who he may have been involved with. 

In those first few months, Winnie had learned a lot about each of her mates. Caius, who may have been seen as short-fused and brutal at times, could make the most beautiful of oil paintings. Marcus, a man of few words, enjoyed his free time in the garden tending to his roses. But Aro, Winnie had never seen someone quite like him, she was certain no one like him really existed. He was always plotting, scheming some may say, he always had a way of spinning any situation to benefit himself. It always put Winnie on edge but even more so after Aro had begun plotting on how to fact her death. Winnie understood that one day she'd have to give up mortality and join the immortals but she wasn't ready just yet. She still wanted time to get to know the men she was to be with for all eternity, not just rush in like a fool. 

But, of course, Aro had other plans.

He found a woman who could pass for his mate with a few minor alterations, like hair dye and piercings being added. All he had to do was remove the identifiable markings, such as fingerprints and teeth, and the woman could've easily been been Winnifred. When Winnie found out, mortified couldn't even cover how she felt. A fight ensued that night with Winnie banishing Aro from her sight and room until he came to his senses.

That was 8 weeks ago to the day.

"M'lady?" Santiago questioned.

Winnie looked back at the guard. "He deserves spoiling too, I suppose, but only when he acts right."

"Then I fear I shall never be spoiled," Aro commented from the entryway.

Santiago stiffened almost immediately meanwhile Winnie sighed. "Santiago, you may leave."

"But m'-"

"-That's an order."

Santiago stood, gave a quick bow to both king and his mate, and left the room. Aro was quick to take Santiago's spot in the chair across from his mate. In the time that Winnie had been at the castle she had learned how to read the most unpredictable of the rulers body language. Aro may have looked relaxed, one leg over the other and arms resting on the arm rests but it was his eyes that gave him away. There was something animalistic yet hollow as if he was looking right through Winnie. 

"I thought you would be most pleased to hear that I sent the woman home," Aro began.

Winnie knew he wanted to get some form of a rise out of her and as stubborn as she was, she was still green around the edges. Foolishly, she took the bait. "Home?" she questioned.

Aro nodded as he checked his fingers nails. "I sent her back to Poland, to her family," he clarified, "alive."

Winnie eyed her mate. "Did you really?"

"I thought about what you said about how she didn't deserve to die and how all living things matter. It was wrong of me to think that I could fake your death and have you all to myself and for that I apologize."

Winnie looked out the window once more. She couldn't detect if her mate was lying but she couldn't detect if he was telling the truth either. This time she would just have to have blind faith in Aro to do the right thing.

She stood from her chair, crossing the small space between the two and sat on Aro's lap. "Thank you," she said before nuzzling her face into the side of his neck, "I knew you'd make the right choice."

Another flash of lightening struck across the sky as Aro smiled as he wrapped his arms around Winnie's waist. He thought about the woman who looked like his precious mate and her look of horror when he loaded her veins with enough narcotics to put down an elephant. He thought about how Jane had helped him make the woman unrecognizable before they dumped her in a ditch and left an anonymous tip with the police as where to find her lifeless body with his mates wallet and ID. 

Winnie may have not approved of what he did if she knew the truth, but her family could grieve and the woman would get a proper burial. And Aro? Well, he got to keep his mate.

This was just one more secret Aro had to keep for the rest of eternity.