(A/N: Greetings, readers. This is my first Jane and Alec full-fledged chapter fic. I may have possibly taken some liberties with them, but I have always believed that Jane and Alec both might possibly be the only other two in the Volturi that would even consider mercy on a child. I hope you guys will read and enjoy. Please take into consideration that this is just my interpretation of Jane and Alec, and it may well be different from anything you may have read.)

Chapter One

Jane didn't do much in the way of kind deeds towards humanity. She never felt it was necessary or her place. She and her brother Alec had more important matters that were attended to. They were part of the royal guard of the Volturi elders, a sort of elite group of the immortals that kept close tabs on all of the other immortals of the world. They rarely had time for such fanciful acts of kindness. They were too busy. However, today, Jane was taking some time away from Volterra castle with her brother. Things were quiet in the world of the immortals for a change, and she really liked that.

Alec kept his guard up, however. He, unlike Jane, never forgave humanity for the way they were treated as humans. Even children fell prey to his harsh attitude. So he was surprised when Jane pulled him to a stop by an alley. "What is it?" He followed her gaze, and his eyes narrowed. In the darkest part of the alley, a group of ragamuffin children were playing, but the game they were playing was one of cruelty and malice. He knew that type of game well enough. He watched Jane wander closer, and he followed, pulling his hood up. "Jane, this isn't our business. Come."

"But it is our business. Listen." She winced as a shrill plea for help pierced the otherwise dark alley. "Alec, the child in there can't be too much older than a toddler. What on earth would warrant any one hurting her?" She got her answer a split second later. Trash receptacles abruptly whizzed over their heads, and she glanced back to the alley, realizing immediately what had happened. The child was gifted, just as she and Alec were. "I'm going in. This kind of cruelty can't be allowed to continue." Despite Alec's best efforts to silently dissuade her, Jane entered the dark prison the child was being held in.

***

"Arresto!" Her voice echoed along the walls of the alleyway. It was dainty, yet hard at the same time. The children surrounding a bundle on the ground all turned, and glared at her, annoyed that an outsider was getting in the middle of their fun. "Shame on all of you. Let the poor girl go." Jane moved towards them, and shoved a boy to the side. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she smiled when she realized Alec had come to assist her. None of the boys were moving now. She unwound the bundle from the struggling form within. When the girl's face became visible, she gasped, nearly dropping her. Alec was quick to support her. The girl was a mess. The child struggled fearfully, too scared to realize that the two holding her were not the enemy. Jane situated her in her arms so that she was resting her head against her shoulder, as she stroked her hair. "Calma giù, è giusto." She felt incredibly angry at these children. At length, she carefully handed the girl to Alec. "Take her out of here. We will talk to her momentarily." Her cruel gaze fell on the group of children that now huddled together against the back wall of the alley.

Alec shook his head, but did as he was asked. Jane wasn't one to play nicely with humans, even if she did seem to forgive their transgressions against her. For her to want to take care of another human being, a child at that, was surprising. Then again, Jane might have had other motives behind her choice. He carried the girl across the street back towards the square, speaking to her softly in Italian. He felt bad for her as well, though he'd never admit it to Jane. He was only warmed slightly when he felt her nuzzle closer to him. He wrapped some of his robes around her, wanting to keep her warm. He studied the girl as she began to relax a little more, too exhausted from the torment to really struggle with her. The child had light brown hair, which went all the way down to her waist. However, it was tangled, and there was gum stuck in several parts of it. He sat her up, and carefully tried to de tangle it. "What a mess...."

"They did it...." The child spoke for the first time. She did not carry an Italian accent, and that told Alec that she was not a native of Italy. Her accent sounded more British than anything. "It was because I was trying to help. Their kites got stuck in the trees." She was shaking as she spoke. The boy that held her stopped playing in her hair, but was gazing at her sadly. "Who are you?"

"Alec." He paused briefly, before pulling her close to him as a fierce wind caused her to shiver. "And you are, little miss?"

"Brittany." She shivered at Alec's touch. He was ice cold, even though it was clearly Spring outside. "Who was that girl?" It was plain to see that Brittany was older than they had assumed.

"My sister, Jane. How old are you, Brittany?" Alec stood up with her, and began to walk wizzth her, holding her hand tightly. If Jane did have other plans in mind for the child, he couldn't let her escape.

"I'll be seven next Tuesday...." She glanced up as another cloaked figure came over. The wearer dropped their hood, revealing that it was the older girl that had rescued her. Jane eyed her with compassion as she spoke in Italian to her brother. At length, they both were staring at her in wonder. "What is it?"

"You're very gifted, Brittany." Jane said now, crouching to her level. "Where do you live?"

"Nowhere, right now. Father and Mother lost their house. So we're sort of wandering." A bell tolled, and Brittany suddenly tensed. "That's the dinner bell. I have to go. Thank you so much for your kindness. It won't be forgotten." She turned to go, and before Jane and Alec could do anything more, she was gone.

***

Jane was discontent to stay in her rooms that night. She wandered the castle, humming the tunes she'd heard in the park during their outing. Mostly, she thought of the fear in the eyes of the girl they'd saved the minute she'd heard the bell toll, and she worried about it. Aro had known something was amiss when the twin vampires had returned, but he didn't question it. She was relieved of that. As much as she cared for Aro, and felt obliged to do his bidding, Jane did not think Aro would understand her befriending a human child. She turned a corner, heading into the library.

"You seem to have a lot on your mind tonight, Jane dear." Aro spoke quietly from behind her. "I don't mind listening, if you need to talk."

"It is nothing, Aro." Jane knew she couldn't evade him. Aro was a reader of memories. But she didn't wish to discuss the girl Brittany with him. It hadn't been that big of a deal, and she refused to make it as such. The girl was safe, and she was sure that the children involved in her torture would never do it again. The chances of running into her again were slim to none.

"Alec says you two ran into a little trouble in the square today." Aro said then. He raised an eyebrow at the girl. It wasn't like Jane and Alec to be reckless in the presence of humans. "What happened?"

Jane refrained from growling. What had given Alec the right to talk about that to the council exactly? "We ran into a group of children tormenting a gifted child. Alec and I rescued her, end of story. No harm no foul."

"Ah, but you can't seem to think of anything other than this girl. What about her bothers you so?" Aro sat down on the bench beside Jane, and gazed at her. He had noticed how different her mood had been the minute she came back for dinner. She hadn't taken in much.

"She was being tormented for her gifts. It is my belief that she was only trying to do good. Alec told me on the way home that she was trying to help the children get their kites down out of a tree. She can use telekinesis. However, that is not the only thing that bothers me. I think there might be something shady going on at her home, wherever it may be."

"I see. Jane, this is not our concern. I am sure whatever is going on with her, it will resolve itself."

"Or it will end badly, with her dying. I think she may be of use to us, once she is older." Jane frowned deeply. "She didn't look too happy to be going home."

"I wouldn't worry. If you run into her again, you do. But I wouln't worry too much about her."

"I will try not to." Jane knew, however, she would be subconsciously keeping an eye out for the emerald-eyed Brit child the next time she went out.