A/N: As by request, I am posting this. It's a companion fic with non-sequential oneshots of Seraphina and Johanna's childhood. Make sure you have read "A Watchful Protector", or you will have NO idea who these two girls are! There will be more chapters as I come up with more past memories.
If you have an idea, or a question about an aspect of their childhoods, shoot it to me, and I'll write it out. *smiles*
This is for you, L .Rm. S! I hope you all enjoy it; please leave me reviews as feedback!
Loves,
Dani Jones
Marcus
The time was approaching swiftly when the sun would shine brilliantly and brightly across the open fields and streets of Italy; the time when children would run through the streets wielding kites, sticks, small toys, dolls, and balls. It would also bring a time when the Natale gifts would be able to be played with without the dangers of snow or frost impeding on the safety of the children.
In other words, bicycles would soon ravage the streets.
"But dad-!" Johanna screeched one night, following Aro around with a simultaneous scowl and pleading expression. "It's never been played with! Please? Please? Please!"
"Johanna; you are seven years old. You're not old enough to learn how to ride a bicycle. Besides, it is snowing outside! Far too hazardous; I won't allow it." Aro replied, brushing off her pleads.
"HAH! Fiona at school says she learned when she was four with training wheels! I'm seven! Seven! You're being a stupid-head!"
Aro spun around as she screeched the insult, visibly working to control his expression. I had to hide my laughter from my sitting position across the room by putting a fist up to my lips, and coughing.
"You are being disrespectful," he said simply.
"You're being mean!" she fired back.
Aro opened his mouth, but I could see that the battle between an unstoppable force and an immovable object was not going to end anytime soon, and not without casualties. I jumped in.
"Johanna, I would be happy to teach you how to ride a bicycle, but you will have to meet me halfway; wait until the snow season has ended."
Johanna stared at me for a moment, folding her arms, and trying to come up with ways to get around the compromise. She was calculating in that way.
"Fine," she finally sighed. She knew it would be a long wait; I only hoped she wouldn't make it longer for the rest of us.
I was wrong.
Every day, she'd pop her head into my small study and make sure that our bargain was still strong. And every day, I would reassure her that it was.
One night, I was walking back from the throne room, and passed Seraphina's room. Since I was not exactly looking forward to working through the night in my study, I was walking exponentially slower; almost a human's pace. As I passed little Sera's room, I heard her call to me.
"Marcus?"
I stopped walking immediately and reversed to stand in her doorway, sending her a soft smile. Though, I knew she could not see me; her room was dark, and I was only silhouette from the torches that lit the corridor behind me.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
Through the darkness, I could see her slide up out of the extremely fluffy covers, sitting up in the almost too-large queen sized bed. I took her queue, and entered the room, sitting next to her bed.
"You should be asleep," I said softly, watching her rub the sleep out of her eyes.
"I couldn't, I'm worried."
"About what, bambina?"
Seraphina took a small breath.
"Johanna,"
"What about her?" I pressed lightly, now curious.
Seraphina wrung the sheets in her little hands.
"I told her I wouldn't tell anyone."
Now infinitely curious – and worried – I further pressed.
"Tell me,"
Seraphina took a breath. "It's not a secret that Johanna has been begging for someone to teach her how to ride a bike. But do you wanna know why she's suddenly so desperate?"
"I know that the others girls at school can; one in particular named Fiona."
Sera bit her lower lip. "They're mean to her. I mean, she's mean to them too…but they're still mean to her. She wants to learn to ride to show them up. She told me that when she gets good, she'll run one of them down to prove that she's better."
My eyes widened. Mostly, because I knew without a doubt that Johanna would do such a thing.
"She has trouble at school?"
Seraphina nodded. "They started it, but you know Jo; she has to get the last hit, has to win…she really does bring a lot of what happens to her on herself. She doesn't know when to stop."
I chuckled deeply. "This I know very well. Thank you for telling me, Sera; I will keep it a secret, I promise you. Now go to sleep. Would you like a glass of water?"
She shook her head no, and snuggled back down into the covers. I tightened them around her little body, then kissed her forehead. As I exited her room, I was thinking worriedly about the next day. For that was the day that Johanna would learn to ride.
"…Now, this is the brake," I instructed, my arms around her from behind as she sat atop her brand-new shimmering red bicycle. The bike was held upright by my legs on both sides of it, and stationary by my hands on her handlebars. Johanna looked more and more impatient.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. Can I go now?"
"One last thing," I said, plopping a large child's helmet with butterflies and underlying glitter onto her head, snapping it underneath her chin before she could react.
"W-what…? Marcus, no!" she yelled, clawing at the buckle under her chin.
"Johanna, this is part of my conditions. You are to be as safe as I can make you while you ride."
"It's ugly!" she swiveled her head around immediately as if someone was watching. "It's got butterflies and stupid glitter on it! Get it off! Get it off!"
She began swiping at the top of the helmet as if I'd just put a spider on her head.
"It's a helmet, or I wrap you in padding." I said, rather unperturbed by her displeasure. "Now, are you ready to ride or not?"
Johanna huffed.
I took that as a warning sign. Not that I was afraid of her, but I was worried that she would do something reckless or – heaven forbid – she would intentionally hurt herself to spite me.
It had happened before.
"Ready?" I asked, moving my legs and letting the bike stand still for a moment, still holding the handlebars.
"Mm-hmm…" she replied with a hint of annoyance in her tone.
"Pedal; go!"
I release the handlebars of her bicycle, giving it a light shove to give her a helping start. Johanna's feet slammed down on the pedals, propelling her forward. She stayed standing.
"I'm doing it! I'm doing it! I'm doing -!"
Her jubilation did not last long, unfortunately.
With a sudden veer to the left, her center of gravity shifted, and the bike toppled. Johanna let out a little squeal, crumpling to the ground. I flashed over, being next to her in an instant, stopping her fall by grabbing the side of the bike.
"Johanna? Are you all right?" I asked gently, not wishing to alarm or smother her.
She growled. "I. Want. To. Do. This. Myself."
"But you were about to fall."
"I don't care! Let me fall, then!"
I sighed. "I'm afraid I can't do that."
"I'll ride into the pond." She threatened. Though I knew I could easily stop her, I didn't wish to antagonize her further.
"All right, all right." I sighed. "But it is not my fault if you get hurt."
She nodded curtly. "Again."
After re-mounting her bike, I held the handlebars once again, waiting for her signal.
"Go," she said. I released her, and let her pedal herself; not giving a push. She struggled and grunted with effort, but then was able to gain momentum. I smiled gently as she looked as though she'd gotten the hang of it. My smile disappeared, however, as she headed straight for Aro's rose garden. Thorns stuck precariously from the edges, threatening injury.
Not being able to stop myself, I rushed forward and grasped her bike, stopping it.
"MARCUS!" she shrieked, wriggling the bike. "LET GO! I TOLD YOU TO LET ME GO! Don't help me!"
"Johanna, it is impossible for me to watch idly as you injure yourself-!"
She hissed loudly, pausing from her movement, and then shaking the bike with renewed vigor.
"Johanna, stop."
"Let. Me. GO!"
I sighed, giving into her demands.
"Do not blame me for your possibly painful downfall."
"Hmph," was all she replied. I walked her and her bicycle back to the top of the courtyard, and prepared her for another launch.
"Let go!" she commanded. I gave the bicycle a gentle push once again, and sent her pedaling. She was able to keep it going in a straight line this time.
Too straight, that is.
"Turn, Johanna! Turn!" I yelled as she approached the courtyard wall.
"Don't help me!" she shouted back, not turning the bike.
"Johanna-!"
Crash.
I rushed over once again, kneeling next to her and the toppled bicycle. Her leg twined between the bars of the body of her bike, her hands splayed out across the dirt, and her helmeted head lied on the ground, propping her head and neck up awkwardly.
"…Ow." she muttered.
"Are you all right?"
She lifted her body up slowly by her arms, eyes closed. "I'm oka – OW!" she suddenly wailed, falling back onto the ground. My eyes widened as my eyes swept her body for a visible wound.
"What is it, piccola?" I demanded urgently.
She clutched her left wrist with her right, tugging her leg frantically to untangle it from the bike, visible panic setting in. "Get-it-off-get-it-off-get-it-off-get-it-off!" she cried, holding her wrist to her body now.
"Sweetheart, I need you to hold still." I instructed gently. I did indeed feel badly that I wasn't able to stop her from falling, but I knew that I would have received hell from her if I had helped. Besides, now she will learn from experience.
I guided her leg out from the metal frame, and laid it to the ground gently, shoving the bike away from us, and letting it lay uselessly several feet away. Johanna wept very quietly, working hard to hide her face from me.
"Johanna, look at me please. I need you to tell me what hurts."
"Leave me alone," she sniffled, beginning to slide away from me.
I sighed, giving her a moment.
"Is it your wrist?" I asked.
She hesitated for several seconds before nodding once.
"May I see it?"
Johanna huffed threateningly, but then suddenly softened as her face contorted into one of suffering. She extended her arm slowly and gave it to me. I held her forearm gently, touching her wrist with my other hand.
She jumped. "Ow-!"
"I'm sorry," I said kindly, continuing to probe. "You've strained it, piccola. You'll need a brace."
Carefully, I picked up little Johanna into my arms, holding her securely as I walked into the fortress. I took her straight to the library, grabbing a First-Aid kit on my way. I sat her down onto one of the plush couches and knelt in front of her, taking her wrist, and beginning to apply a splint. Johanna was very compliant, staying quiet.
A small whiff of blood met my nostrils. I immediately held my breath, inquiring further.
"Johanna, are you hurt anywhere else?"
She pointed to her knee wordlessly, looking at the ground. With care, I rolled up her pant leg, seeing a little scrape. Removing a small Band-Aid from the kit, I stuck it easily over the small scrape, kissing the wound gently, hoping that my cool lips would somewhat soothe her burning wound; also to display my affection towards her, and my hope for her to heal.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled.
"Why are you sorry?"
She nibbled on her lower lip. "For being mean."
I smiled gently up at her. "You are forgiven, Johanna."
"Thanks," she sniffled, wiping her nose with the length of her arm. "I just wanted to do it myself."
"I know,"
The room was quiet for a short time while I wrapped a temporary splint around her wrist, immobilizing it. I'd have to speak with Aro about how to obtain an actual brace for her. Of course, he wouldn't be happy with me that she was injured; I was unsure that he would trust me with watching her again.
"Can we try again tomorrow?" she piped up suddenly.
I stared at her, and then burst into laughter. She glowered back at me.
"Stop laughing,"
"Johanna, if we try again tomorrow, you may have a broken arm to accompany your sprained wrist!"
"So?"
I simply shook my head, taking her into my arms again and hugging her to my body, being mindful of her wrist. "I love you too much to watch you get hurt again."
Johanna sighed, wrapping her arms around my neck, and surprising me by returning the hug. "I love you too, grampa Marcus."
I walked her to her room and left her to play with Sera, going to the throne room, and bracing myself to receive a scolding from Aro.
Of course, it didn't matter what Aro said, or insisted upon. For Johanna did whatever she wanted anyway. As proven by the next day, when she tried to ride herself without supervision.
And required stitches.
Oh, Johanna; you're giving your pseudo-parents gray hair! I just adore her; even her troublemaking side. Let me know what you thought. *grins*
