AUGUST 1ST, 1898
"Aaron?" Serena called out for her husband, who was by her side in an instant.
"Yes, my lo— what on earth is that?" His eyes were on the small, whimpering human in his wife's arms.
"I just— found her in the woods. She's been abandoned." She explained, not taking her eyes off the baby in her arms. The two of them knew that children were never on the cards for them, their lifestyle was far too dangerous for any human to be involved in, but on the other hand— could they really let this baby girl be subjected to an unhappy life when they could do something about it? When they could at least try and give her the life she deserves?
"What do you want to do?" Aaron asked, taking a step towards the two. He would let his wife choose, he knew how much she had longed for a child ever since he bought her into this life all those years ago— if she wanted to raise this child, then so be it.
He looked down at the child, she couldn't have been more than a few days old. Her big, chocolate brown eyes locked onto his own golden ones, no fear evident— it was almost as if she knew she was safe in their company.
"Would it be so bad if we raised her?" Serena asked her husband who shrugged, "We are both comfortable within our diet, so the blood wouldn't be a problem.."
"It's just the Volturi, if they found out." Aaron finished. The Volturi would have no mercy, whether it was a child or an adult. They would kill anyone who knew their secret.
"Then we don't let them find out." Serena looked her husband in the eye, "We raise her, we give her the best life possible. Protect her at all costs."
Aaron knew his wife had already made her decision, the determination on her face told him that much, plus he could already feel himself feeling somewhat protective over the human.
Serena looked deep in thought for a moment, "Taryn, we'll call her Taryn."
"Taryn De Luca." Aaron said more to himself, smiling slightly at the thought of raising a child with his lover.
It was safe to say their decision was made.
NOVEMBER 26TH, 1905
"The child is a witch." Aaron's good friend, Eleazar told the family of three. Taryn, now at the age of 7, barely understood what was going on. She knew enough to know that witches were executed all the time. Would her parents sell her out?
"Are you sure?" Aaron asked, Eleazar nodded, "And how do we help her get this under control? We cannot let her get found out."
Aaron and Serena would protect their daughter at all costs, whether that meant drawing attention to themselves to protect her— they would do it.
"There's someone, her names Katya Langford. Last I heard, she was heading go London." Aaron nodded, thanking his friend once again before leaving with his family.
"Are you going to tell everyone what I am?" Taryn asked quietly, her eyes had already welled up, she was scared of the answer.
"Of course we aren't, honey. We're family and family protects each other at all costs, okay? We will work this out, together." Serena told her daughter, wrapping an arm around her shoulder to comfort the young girl. The past few weeks had been distressing for her, coming into her powers and doing things she thought impossible had taken its toll. She was exhausted.
Aaron and Serena shared a look, one that said that even though the stakes were now higher, they would always protect their baby girl.