A new baby is like the beginning of all things, hope, a dream of possibilities. ~ Anonymous

Once upon a time there was a man and a woman. They were deeply in love, but they tried to keep it a secret, because they weren't supposed to be. You see the man was a vampire and the woman was a human. They met because they were supposed to have a child together, their boss was making them. But one thing their boss didn't count on was that they would fall in love, and boy did they fall fast. Soon the woman was pregnant; the man was very wealthy so he showered her with gifts.

Something was wrong though, because the father was a vampire the pregnancy was supposed to be over in a month. It was a normal pregnancy though, their boss was really upset by this but very curious too, so he didn't dispose of the girl right away. The man told no one, but he was really happy that it was a normal pregnancy, with no excelled aging, because those pregnancies had a high mortality rate. In fact only one other person ever lived through one of those pregnancies, but that Lady isn't so important in this story. So the woman gave birth to a little girl. They named her Annette Marie; they didn't bother with a last name because those weren't that important.

Two months went by, the little family was happy, but something was bothering the mother. She was very paranoid about her baby, saying that their boss wanted it dead because it wasn't like what the other half-human half- vampires were like. The Father tried to soothe her; he didn't want to think anything bad about his boss. The Mother wouldn't listen though and insisted that they move away. At first the father was torn. His boss had been really good to him in the past, but he wanted to please his lover and their daughter. He reasoned that they just needed a little time away from the castle. Did I mention they lived in a castle? Well they did, in fact their boss lived there too, as did the rest of the father's coworkers. But I'm getting off track. So the father went to tell his boss that he was leaving for a little bit. His boss was understanding and gave them his blessing. A week before the little family was suppose to leave the mom said she was going to go out for a while with their daughter, who was now six months old. The Father kissed them both good bye and continued to pack up their things. But like every other Fairytale there needs to be a tragedy in it to make that Happily Ever After seem so much sweeter.

"Demetri," Felix said as he clapped his hand on his companion's shoulder. Rain fell from the sky and Demetri wondered if the angels were mourning with him. He had a hard time believing it, after all what business do Angels have in mourning a demon's love? Demetri was aware that Felix was trying to convey his deepest sympathies, but his ears had gone deaf in the roar of the wind. Demetri was conscious of everything that was going on around him, though he tried his best to tune it all out. He knew that his daughter was screaming at him to pick her up, but he couldn't bear to touch her. This was all so wrong! Kareena should be here, with him. He shouldn't be staring into the ocean that roared and devoured his love's ashes as soon as they were thrown. His daughter shouldn't be wearing black and sitting in Chelsea's hands as he tried to rein in his grief. Damnit, this shouldn't be happening! The injustice of it all was unbearable. In the background his daughter continued to scream.

Demetri glared down at the ocean, he could sense everyone moving away. Chelsea was still there though, holding onto his daughter. Felix had melted into the forest and was already on his way back to the castle. Everyone was leaving him to have some semblance of privacy. Chelsea shifted Annette in her arms, unsure of what to do with the screaming infant. Demetri fell to his knees; his pale hands shot out and grabbed the ground around him. An inhuman howl rose from his chest, his grief mixing with his daughter's, the rain making a substitute for tears he could not shed as he raised his head to the sky. Vainly he looked for Kareena's tenor, trying to find out this was all some horrible mistake. She wasn't in that fire; she wasn't killed along with fifteen others. But she was killed; she couldn't escape that fire, maybe if he changed her… Why didn't Annette shut up? Her cries were echoing in his head. She needs to be quiet; he can't deal with her right now. She was always crying, couldn't she see that her father needed her to be quiet? Why the fuck won't she shut up! Demetri was filled with anger as he forcefully stood up and rushed at Annette, still in Chelsea's hands.

"Shut up, Shut up. SHUT UP!" he roared at her, "Why can't you shut up? What the FUCK is wrong with you?" Annette cried even harder, her nose dribbling. Chelsea held her closer to her chest. Annette grabbed onto her black shirt, trying to hide herself from Demetri.

"Demetri," Chelsea said quietly, laying a hand on his arm. He shrugged her off.

"You're always crying. You just can't be quiet. I swear to God Annette if you don't shut up soon I'll rip your throat out. I swear to God I will," He growled into her face. Annette couldn't be silenced though, wailing even louder, pounding on his sensitive ear drums. Demetri was seeing red, the day was wearing on him, and his daughter just wouldn't be quiet.

"Why?" he whispered, "Why can't you just do this one thing for me. Please honey, please, do this for Daddy. Please." He held out his hands, wanting to take his daughter into them. Chelsea was reluctant but looking at Demetri's desperate expression she caved and handed him his daughter.

"Please honey, Please, please, please, please," He begged her as he buried his face into her short wet brown hair.

"Daddy, Momma?" Annette asked him as she pulled on his dark hair.

Demetri's entire body froze up; Chelsea also tensed, anticipating something horrible. Demetri's hands started to shake as he fought off the urge to crush his daughter to dust.

"Momma?"Annette asked again, her face started to twist. She was working herself into a tantrum. Demetri recognized the symptoms. The child started to scream as Demetri's hand closed in around her delicate neck.

"For the last time Annette, be quiet," he growled softly as his hand started to close around her windpipe. Annette choked and gurgled, but fell silent, looking up at her Father searching for the man who read her bedtime stories and would laugh when she fell and pick her up and kiss her bruises. But no, right now her Father was Demetri the vampire. A cold, grief stricken inhuman monster.

"Demetri," Chelsea aid softly as she gently tugged Annette out of his hands before he did something he would regret later, "I'm going to take her back to the castle before she catches a cold." Demetri looked at his hands, shame burning through him. He felt oddly empty without his daughters warmth near him, still he allowed Chelsea to slip away taking his child with her.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, and in all honestly he didn't know if he was talking to himself, to Annette or to Kareena.

"Demetri," Aro called to his best tracker. Demetri sat in his office, watching his daughter play with her toys and clay. Annette looked up at Aro as he entered the well lit room, the light from the fire reflected off of Aro's black hair; she wrinkled her nose and smashed the green play dough to the hardwood floor.

"Master," Demetri stood up and bowed to Aro. He threw a look at Annette that meant that she was to behave herself. Annette made a face at him, not comprehending what her father was trying to convey to her, thinking he was just playing a game like they use to do.

"Hello Annette," Aro greeted her as he swept towards her, Annette ignored him and continued her play. Aro picked her up fluidly; she cried out at the contact with his cold skin and started to squirm in his arms.

"Daddy," she wailed as she held out her arms for him to receive her. Demetri sighed and took her into his arms, she nestled herself against the fabric of his shirt, pulling at his collar every now and then.

"How old is she now?" Aro inquired politely, they both knew that he knows her exact age.

"Ten Months," Demetri pulled his Volturi crest out of Annette's hands which were suspiciously getting closer to her mouth. Aro watched Annette with a sad little smile on his face.

"Demetri, this can't work out," Aro said slowly. Demetri's head shot up staring at his master with a mixture of confusion and shock.

"What cannot work Master?"

"Demetri, my son," Aro sighed, "You are too distract by your daughter. I've notice that you hardly go on missions anymore and when you do-."

"Master if this is about the Bosnian Coven I can assure you a mistake like that won't happen again," Demetri pleaded.

"Yes I agree," Aro stared hard at Annette; she glared back at him and pulled on her father's hair, "I think it will be in everyone's best interest if you gave her up."

Demetri froze, his hands which were about to detangle his hair from his daughters fingers froze midair. Annette, not sensing the change in the room continued to pull happily.

"Master, please," he begged, "I'll hire someone to look after her, she won't hinder my performance anymore."

Aro gazed sadly down at him, "Demetri, I know that you are still hurting from Kareena's death," Demetri flinched when he said her name, "but this is no way for a child to live. Shut up in a castle all day, she needs to interact with her peers. She's human enough that she will blend in. I have found a wonderful family that is very willing to take her under their wing, they've been trying for a little girl for a very long time and I think it would be best if she went with them."

Demetri looked down at his daughter, who was vainly trying to tear the Volturi crest off of his neck.

"Master, I can't," his voice cracked, "I can't lose her too."

"Demetri," Aro clapped his hand on his shoulder, "it's for the best. She deserves to have a normal life, and you can't keep on living like this!" Demetri hung his head in defeat, his eyes stung from unshed tears. Annette placed her tiny pale hand against his cheek, her little fingernails scratching against his granite hard skin.

"I'll think about it Master," Aro nodded his head and left. They both knew that he was going to go through with it. He closed the door softly behind him and left Demetri with his thoughts.

Demetri hugged his daughter to his chest for one last time, savoring her sweet smell and committing to memory her soft skin and the feel of her fine hair.

"Daddy?" Annette asked as he let go of her and handed her off to Felix. It was decided that Demetri should not go along to drop Annette of with her new family. Aro thought it would be best if he had a clean break.

"Daddy?" Annette fidgeted in Felix's arms as he started to walk away from Demetri. She attempted to climb over his shoulder to get back to her father, but he yanked her back down.

"Daddy?" she screamed, tears welling into her eyes as Felix handed her to Heidi and closed the car door. Annette twisted and turned her body, pounding on the window calling out for her Father come to her.

"Daddy!" she whimpered as Heidi pulled her away from the tinted window and tucked her into her arm. The leather creaked underneath her as she adjusted herself.

"It's okay Annette," Felix soothed her; "We're going on a road trip. Then we'll be on a plane! You like planes right?"

Annette just stared at him, tears racing down her face.

"Daddy," she whispered defiantly as she tunneled herself into Heidi's pink silk shirt. The car pulled out of their garage and started to head north; towards the airport.

"I'm sorry," Demetri whispered to the retreating black car as it weaved through the buildings and out of his sight.

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