Marcus raised an eyebrow at her, "Why you? Because you are beautiful, you actually got me to talk which is a sure thing for any girl to acheive. You seem to know me. You cracked through the stone surface in there," he tapped his chest, "and in there,"he tapped his forehead. "And because you make me laugh, you make me happy. I like to know that i make you feel wanted and special." He smiled and stroked her cheek, "Don't worry, Rose, there's no one else. There won't be anyone else."

"You have no idea how horrible I feel when I question that. But how do I know you're honest, Marcus? I want you to be - I so want you to be - but I'm a romantic fool; it wouldn't be hard to lie to me to make me feel better, while you're off with some other pretty...blonde..." she trailed off, imagining this girl. She'd be a typical Slytherin, naturally, and she and Marcus would have sex in the common room almost every day. Straight blonde hair, short skirts and tight shirts with low necklines, amazing cleavage, long legs, golden tan. Everything that Rose wasn't.

Marcus snorted, "I don't want to be with anyone else. I'm sure that if i did want someone else, then i would be with them now and not you. I only want to be with you, Rose. It's up to you whether you believe me or not, but i'm telling the truth." He caught her gaze and looked into her eyes, willing her to believe his words. Because they were all true. He wanted Rose and no one else. He hoped she would believe him but after both of their lives, he could understand why it was hard for her to trust him. He of all people knew that people trusted others far too easily, and he had spent his life guarded protecting himself. But Rose had broken through that hard outer shell and he trusted her fully. He could only hope that she felt the same.

She shivered involuntarily and folded her arms, seeming to shrink in that second. She looked away out of the window, not sure whether she should believe him or not. She wanted to - she really wanted to - but she often found that what she wanted to be true was actually the complete opposite. "If you say so," she muttered, but she wasn't convinced. Edward and Faith, that was true love. Her and Marcus were nothing like that, really. The other two were engaged; Rose and Marcus built their entire relationship on one chance meeting in a pub that resulted in an one night stand. That was no way to begin a romance. If that's how they started out, what was to stop him doing that again? Nothing. Nothing.

Marcus sighed and shook his head. Sometimes he really didn't understand Rose's mood swings. "Look, Rose, there is no one else, there won't be anyone else. I can understand if you don't trust me. We did meet in a pub then have a oe night stand. I can understand if you're thinking this is all too good to be true. But please believe me. Please trust me." 'They're just words,' he thought, 'she won't believe me because they're just words.'

"I expect everyone to be taking advantage of me, and expect everyone to be plotting behind my back, setting me up for one big fall. How do I know you're not in this with Gary and Faith and Alex? You're just waiting for me to make one wrong move and then you can all have a good old laugh." Edward and Faith - true love. Two beautiful people together. They were going to get married once Faith left school - maybe before - and their life was going to be perfect, if a little bizarre and bloodthirsty. Rose and Marcus were going to run away together and probably end up killing more people. They were the monsters, not Sammael or Edward. They were the monsters and monsters weren't meant to have happy endings. Silly, selfish little girls didn't get what they wanted, and handsome boys always took advantage of them. That's how stories went.

[Behind every angel there is a devil.]

Marcus sighed, "Because i don't like Gary or Alex. They are both two soppy fools who revel in self pity and blame themselves for everything that's wrong in their lives. I'm sorry Rose, but i do find them both a little pathetic." He smiled and turned her face towards his, seeing the worry in her eyes. "I'm not playing with you, Rose. 'Beautiful boys should not be trusted,' that's what my mother always said to me. I'm not sure why, perhaps she thought i was gay." He shrugged lightly, "But you can trust me, Rose."

[In the words of Layla: shup.]

"I know... I want to trust you." She sighed. "You of all people know how hard it is. I want us to be in love, properly in love, because I feel more strongly for you than anyone else in my life. I love you so much, but in the past when I've said that to someone they've taken my heart and smashed it up into little pieces, then jumped up and down on the remains. I'm glad of that, though, because it means I have a new, fresh heart to give only to you, but it does make me paranoid. You found it hard to trust me and to tell me everything because of past experience. Now let me try and overcome mine. In the past I've always been thrown away for someone more perfect and more pretty - like Faith, or Alex."

Marcus nodded, smiling gently, "I know, i understand. I'll always be here but just take your time. If you need to sort things out in your head then i can give you some space." His voice betrayed his reluctance to this but he wanted Rose to be happy before he was. "I have eyes only for you. You are beautiful to me." He stroked her cheek softly with his thumb, hoping to comfort her and chase away her fears.

[Jeeze, i'm getting soppier and soppier! *Rolls eyes*]

"No, no, I don't need space - that's the last thing I need." She raised her hand to touch his, turning to look into his eyes. "I need you to be with me. That's the best way for me to decide. I need you to be with me; when you're with me you can't be with anyone else. I've given myself away now, you know how I feel, and I don't think you would but I'm still terrified that you'll somehow use that against me. My heart says you wouldn't, but my head... It's just what I expect of people." She closed her eyes peacefully and tilted her head slightly, allowing her lips to gently brush his hand, the dear affection she held for him clear in that one movement. He could do what he wanted with her; she would rather he killed her than Sammael. Much rather.

Marcus smiled and nodded, "Ok. Well you know my feelings too. I know how hard it is to trust someone, but if there is anyone to trust, it would be me. I won't hurt you." He spoke surprisingly softly for someone who was normally so cold. But then again, Rose had shattered that coldness with just one kiss. Before he would have punished himself for being so fragile, but now he didn't care. Time was on their side, they had the rest of their lives together.

"There's no one I'd rather trust with my life, and I suppose that means everything, doesn't it?" She smiled and put her arms around his neck again, allowing herself to press her lips softly against his neck. It was amazing just to be able to do that; to be able to put her arms around him and kiss his neck. She meant something to someone and that was wonderful - the best feeling in the world. She could never have imagined she'd be with someone as attractive and interesting as Marcus; that was all just a bonus, really.

Marcus nodded and kissed her forehead, "It takes time and, luckily for us, time is on our side." He was amazed that Rose hadn't found someone else before him. She was so beautiful, and intelligent, and funny. Sure he knew that he was good looking but most people were pushed away by his cold voice and icy stares. He stroked her hair comfortingly, running his fingers through the soft, silky strands.

She smiled blissfully as she listened, more to his voice than to his words. They really were a perfect match; their looks, their thoughts, their attitudes, their crime. They even spoke in a similar way, using similar words. Half the time she was able to finish his sentences correctly in her head. That's if she ever heard him say much. It occurred to her that she must be the only person to have ever heard this. Of course, it was true of any conversation, not just this one, but the thought was pleasing all the same. It was something she could keep forever; even if he did sleep with other women, she'd know that their nights were unique. He undoubtedly would cheat on her in the future, with a young, untouched blonde most likely, but that made her all the more determined to give him everything, physically and spiritually. She pressed her body against his, making sure he could feel every curve, every contour against his chest. He'd have to find her attractive for the moment. In fact, this called for some shopping. She'd need new dresses, new underwear, new skirts and tops, all just to please him. He could come too, and help her choose. After all, she didn't really know his taste very well. He liked elegance and style, she knew that much, but did he like low cut tops or short skirts best? Did he like tight dresses or large, extravagant skirts instead? It was impossible to work out. And then, maybe then, if she was attractive and beautiful enough, he would buy her a ring.

Marcus sucked in a breath at her movements then raised his eyebrow at her. She had that strange, far away look which meant that she was thinking of something else. He wondered whether what he had said really was true. The longest he had been in a relationship with someone was 7 months. Was he really going to spend the rest of his life with just this one girl? He was used to one night stands or brief relationships, never anything permanment [spl]. Well he could try and he would. Because Rose really was beautiful and she needed someone like him to tell her that, to reassure her that everything would be ok.

"I love you," she murmured, her breath almost visibly dancing across the base of his neck. "And we can try, can't we? We're both used to infidelity, but... I love you, and as much as I know it's inevitable, the thought of you f*cking another woman makes me feel nauseous as well as horrified and betrayed. I hope you'd feel the same picturing me with another man. Imagine me, on an innocent walk through the forest, being ambushed by Sammael and held against a tree, kicking and screaming, and... You know the rest. I'm not the prettiest, and I'm not the most stable, happy person by far, but I do know that I love you more than anyone else could. Please, please promise me we'll try our hardest."

Marcus smiled and nodded, "Yes, of course we will try our hardest. And the thought of you with someone like Sammael does make me feel physically sick. I still can't stop thinking about the things he has done to you." He shivered lightly but if he was truly honest, this Sammael character fascinated him. He was everything that Marcus wanted to be, tried to be, with the added help of being a vampire. At least he respected women a bit more than Sammael. He twirled a strand of hair around his fingers, "I love you too and i will try my hardest, Rose."

She noticed the curious look on his face at the mention of Sammael and growled internally. Everyone wanted him, didn't they? Alex did, and now he had him, Faith had done, and now Marcus. "Don't ever be like him," she said, a pleading note in her voice. "He's cruel, he's just cruel, and he manipulates everyone. I thought I was close to him, but I was just someone else in his master plan. Do what you like to anyone else - I don't care - but please don't do that to me. I... You've seen how upset he can make me. You can already do the same - you don't have to test it out or keep checking to see if it's changed." She sounded miserable, and desperate, and the downcast expression on her face enforced this.

Marcus blinked, not realising that he had shown his curiousness on his face. "I won't ever be like him, Rose. I do love you and i do treasure you, and you aren't just a person in a plan. You mean a lot to me Rose and i wouldn't hurt you like that." He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, comforting her as best he could. For a fleeting moment he could hear his brother's cold voice, thick with alcohol and anger, in his ear 'You've grown soft, Marcus. And that will be your weakness.' He shuddered at the sound but shook his head. He didn't matter anymore, he reminded himself.

She smiled, satisfied for the moment, and glanced down at her watch. She was late for Charms by ten minutes. Flitwick would murder her and string her body up as a lesson to other students who couldn't be punctual. She could hear his exact words in her head. "Marcus! I've got to go, I'm late!" she cried, placing a quick peck on his cheek by way of a goodbye and dashed over to the door, almost tripping down the rickety stairs in her high heels.

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