Hey, you.
It's been a minute.
;)
Disclaimer: I own the plot and idea. I do not own Vampire Academy. All rights go to Richelle Mead.
PROLOGUE
One cold night...
"Janine, please."
"You can't change my mind, Ibrahim!"
"I know we've been having problems recently, but please! Just give us more one chance! Thank about Ros-"
"Don't, Ibrahim."
Janine Hathaway turned her shrewd, but tired eyes onto the man in front of her. "Just don't."
For the first time during this entire exchange did Abe's eyes flash dangerously. "You want me to not talk about how you're going to leave our baby motherless? About how I'll have to explain to her in the morning how her mom just up and left last night?"
Janine Hathaway couldn't sleep.
She hadn't been able to for a while now.
Silently, she crept out of bed, away from the softly snoring Ibrahim.
He was sleeping like the baby.
She left their room and padded down the hall to the simple nursery, heading straight for the small crib in the middle of the room where the baby slept.
Janine cautiously hovered over the small being, not wanting her to wake up crying.
That was the last thing she needed right now.
So she simply stared down at the baby.
And stared.
And stared.
And stared.
That was all she did for she felt nothing for the baby that was lying in the crib.
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
She was supposed to be glowing like other mothers who had a newborn. She should be feeling something because she so badly wanted to.
Janine was never an overly affectionate person in the first place, and had never really felt maternal feelings towards any person. When it came time to nurse, Janine was not used to the sensation at all and wished it would just hurry up and finish, feeling none of that bonding crap the nurses and doctors told her would happen. Merida, her younger sister, would have known what to do. She would have been better suited to be good mother. Not Janine, who couldn't change a diaper or bathe the baby so Ibrahim was left to do it, though admittedly, Ibrahim had taken on the role of a proud father like a champ. He constantly interacted with the baby, cooing down at her, playing with her, reading to her even though she was only a few weeks old and couldn't possibly comprehend what he was saying.
Looking at the baby, she tried to see if she saw any of herself in it. The hair, eyes, and skin tone were all Ibrahim. None of her in it.
Janine didn't realize that she was crying until she saw a teardrop hit the baby's cheek. She reached to wipe it away but stopped suddenly. She couldn't touch it. She didn't feel like herself anymore. She felt numb and cold, and looking at the baby only increased caused anxiety.
She turned and walked out of the room.
"I don't care what you do Ibrahim," Janine closed her eyes tiredly. "I don't want her. I never did. And I'm tired of pretending."
And what a shit ton of pretending she had been doing for the past 2 years. Rosemarie was a vibrant and loving two-year-old. She was mischievous and clever, her little doe eyes always held a spark in them. She loved running around, frolicking the in the nearby meadow in the park, and of course doughnuts. Ibrahim, the fool, had once let Rose try a tiny bit of the sweet concoction and that was enough to get her hooked. Anyone she met, she got them hooked around her tiny, chubby fingers.
Everyone except Janine. Since that fateful night in the nursery, Janine had never grown to love and cherish the baby girl, always holding her away at a distance. Rosemarie didn't mind though, she loved her mama. She loved playing with her mama's hair, watching her mama, simply being near her mama.
"How the fuck can you say that?" Ibrahim snarled. "She's our baby."
Janine opened her eyes once more, meeting his furious and incredulous gaze
"I don't care. I'm leaving. Now, for good."
"Janine, please stop." He was begging now, and Ibrahim never begged. "You can't do this."
"I can and I am, Ibrahim. I can't do this anymore. I don't want this anymore, this life. I was meant for more! I don't want you, and I don't want Rosemarie."
A whimper broke through.
Both adults turned to the feeble sound.
Standing on the steps, clutching her favorite teddy with tears running down her cheeks, was Rose.
Ibrahim crossed the room quickly, cradling Rose up his arms, holding her closely, trying to soothe her tears. Rose reached out her little dimpled hand towards Janine imploringly.
"M..M-M-Mama?" she whimpered once again, breaking Ibrahim's heart.
Janine took in the scene before her.
From the crying child.
To Ibrahim's imploring eyes.
"Janine, please." He sounded so broken and tired. "I know we don't have much right now. But I don't need a lot. All I need is you, and Rose. That would be enough."
Janine stopped for a split second.
And then she turned around, out the door and into the night, slamming the door behind her.
Not bothering to wipe her eyes as she walked to the bus station, crying.
Well, at least she finally felt something.
Well guys, here we go on another adventure. Buckle up.
If you are new here, welcome! Hello! Make yourself at home, we have cookies and tea/hot cocoa! Thank you for choosing to join me on this journey.
As always, your reviews give me life, so please leave one! I would love to hear your thoughts about this new story! (Yes, I know Janine is cold)
As I have started before, the main plotline will focus around Abe and Janine, but Romitri and the rest of the gang will be in here too. (Yes, even Lissa!)
So, I have nothing else to say (since this has just started) I'll leave you with this...
May you have a good day/night wherever you may be!