School starting back up has been crazy lately. XD Haven't had time to write as much as I want anymore. Well, nevertheless, here's another chapter and thank you guys for the reviews! Oh, you should all totally check out my one shot Now I See You, it has snippets of Carina/Sirius in it and you might like it! Besides, I need feedback.

This is my confession.

As dark as I am,

I will always

find enough light

to adore you to pieces,

with all of my pieces.

–Johnny Nguyen

Things between Rosalie and Carina had been on the mend for awhile now, and they were moving along smoothly. They had been spending time with Teddy this week, however, and Renesmee (in Rosalie's case), which did not leave for much alone time.

That, precisely, was why Luna had offered to watch Teddy for them, and so now, the two sat in across from each other in a restaurant. Though Rosalie could not eat, herself, there was a glassful of water in front of her, untouched, and she had been politely refraining from staring as Carina ate.

The raven haired girl herself had a plateful of food, having been quite hungry, and was talking around a mouthful of steak.

Rosalie, of course, had absolutely no idea what she was saying, and it was perhaps not the most flattering image, but it made her smile nonetheless. Her mate's enthusiasm when describing Remus Lupin and Sirius Black was nothing short of endearing.

Typically, Carina would shut down at the mere mention of the two men, but today, she was in a better mood than usual and willing to tell a few tales.

As Rosalie nodded along, Carina seemed to realize that she wasn't being very manneristic and swallowed hard.

"Sorry," she apologized, and though she did not look particularly embarrassed, seemed to be inwardly cursing herself.

"It's alright," Rosalie told her, urging, "Keep going."

Carina tilted her head, but continued nonetheless, "After Dad and I got drunk, I remember, fuzzily, screaming and cursing my grandmother's portrait, knocking over a vase, and falling over in the kitchen floor. It was a mess. We fell asleep after. Remus took pictures."

"I've never seen them before," the blonde frowned.

"Neither have I," the witch admitted, letting out breath. "He put them in an envelope and gave them to me after Dad...after he died," she swallowed. "I haven't opened it."

"If you want to," Rosalie reached over to grasp one of Carina's hands. "we can open it together sometime. I'd like to see them."

"I would, too," Carina squeezed her hand, before using the other to return to her meal.

"I had two brothers," the vampire conversationally remarked. "I remember that much. I believe they were younger, a few years at most. My mother used to dress me like a little doll, and my father spoiled me rotten. Affection wasn't exactly something I got, but material things, I did. I didn't get to do as many of the things you did, I'm afraid, so I don't have any stories to tell. I did have a friend, once."

Carina did not speak when her mouth was full, this time, but she squeezed Rosalie's hand again and hummed in acknowledgement.

"Her name was Vera," Rosalie smiled a bit at the memory, which was bittersweet. "She was my best friend since childhood. We were very close, though not quite like you and Luna. I remember when she married her husband...he was of a lower class than she was, but he loved her, and anyone could see it. He treated her well, and the way they looked at each other…they had a baby boy together, Henry. He was all dark, curly hair and dimples, like Emmett. That's actually the reason I brought him to Carlisle to be changed, because he resembled Henry."

"I met Luna when I was maybe fourteen," Carina shrugged. "She tagged along to the Department of Mysteries, was in Dumbledore's Army with us, but I didn't know her as well as Ginny did then. I only really got to after Azkaban. She found me on a hillside one day, I'd run away, and we just...clicked. That's what a Soul Companion does, I guess."

"I was worried about you and Luna at first," Rosalie confessed, watching as her mate quirked a brow. "The very first time we saw you, you told her you would do anything for her. And then, she was always so close to you, getting what I didn't have...I wasn't too fond of her at first."

"And now?"

"I like her," the blonde gracefully lifted and dropped a shoulder. "She's quite the character, and I suppose I only did at first because of how close she was to you, but I genuinely do now of my own accord."

"I would do anything for Luna. She's special," Carina smiled a bit at that, reaching for her roll. She chewed thoughtfully for a moment, before admitting, "I'd do nearly anything for you."

"Nearly?" Rosalie could not help from raising a brow.

"Our last situation in mind, yes, very nearly."

"I see," the vampire hummed. She watched as Carina, obviously not knowing what else to say, continued eating; the girl could have quite an appetite sometimes.

Rosalie leaned forward, unable to resist commenting, "But you're warming up to Renesmee."

Carina scrunched her nose, swallowed, and then spoke. "I haven't so much as looked at her for two weeks."

"I saw you talking to her yesterday."

The raven haired girl stopped abruptly, roll half hanging out of her mouth, before removing it with a scowl. "You bloody well know that was because she thought I was supposed to have green skin and warts and I had to explain."

"Explain how you're so attractive, you mean."

"Yes, exactly."

Rosalie rolled her eyes at Carina's arrogance, but couldn't help but smile. She herself was much the same. "Quite so."

"You know," the witch carefully sat her fork down beside her empty plate, and when Rosalie called for the check and paid, continued as they walked out, "I look so much like my dad...I don't think I look anything like my mother. I think the Black genes completely won out on me. I always wondered about her...but, like I told Esme, you can't miss something you never had."

The topic had been brought up mainly for conversation, for Carina did not look very much upset by her words. She did not look bothered at all, actually, as she shrugged.

"When I was human, I think I took after my mother most," Rosalie took Carina's hand in hers and entwined their fingers as they walked down the streets of Port Angeles. "She had the same bone structure, the same build, the same skin tone. The only thing I got from my father was my hair color."

"And your eyes?"

"They were violet."

"Violet."

"Yes."

Carina paused, head tilting, but did not speak.

"What?" Rosalie frowned at her. "What is it?"

"Imagine if one of our children had violet eyes and black hair," the witch stopped suddenly, eyes wide. "Merlin, it would be…"

"You've thought about our children?" Rosalie was teasing her, of course, but could not stop her surprise. She had not thought Carina considered it much, just saw it as something she would do later on in the years.

Carina's eyes flashed pink, and she did not seem to realize as she purposefully looked away. "Let's get back, yeah?"

Rosalie pulled her closer, purring, "Oh, I'm not done with you yet."

The raven haired girl huffed and ducked under her arm. "No."

"Carina…"

"No."

"Oh, really, all you have to do is truthfully answer my question," Rosalie followed along after Carina as she stubbornly looked ahead and kept walking.

"No."

"Carina."

"No."

"Really?"

"No."

"Come on!"

"No."

"Please?"

Carina peeked back at Rosalie as she pouted slightly, cheeks tinting pink for some reason, before hurriedly looking away. "No."

"Please."

The raven haired girl slowly turned around, grumbling, "Yes. I've thought about it. How can I not have? They'll be living in me for nine months."

Rosalie had forgotten about that part. The image presented to her was nothing less than stunning, either way. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"

"Embarrassing, more like."

"There's nothing embarrassing about it," Rosalie reached out to kiss her, briefly, before retaking the witch's hand. "Why did you look at me so funny?"

"Let's just say that you can't pull off the puppy eyes," there was a snort.

"Why is that?"

"Because it looks extremely seductive."

Rosalie blinked, and the witch laughed at her.

~~~xxx~~~

The second time Carina found herself confronted by Renesmee, it was because the girl was asking to fly.

The older girl was not sure why she would ask this while Carina had an armful of her godson, who just so happened to be smitten with Renesmee.

"No," Carina said flatly, before turning on her heel to march away. She was, of course, quickly intercepted by Edward.

"She's only asking for one ride," he told her firmly. "Let her go with you."

"I said no."

"You're at my house, in case you've forgotten, Carina."

"I realize. But it is still my broom, and my choice. I've no time to deal with your little bugger, anyway, I've got to get Teddy home for a nap…"

"I'll do it," Luna volunteered, suddenly appearing at her side, touching Carina's arm lightly as she whispered, "One ride wouldn't hurt, you know. You remember how it felt to be in the air for the first time, don't you?"

Indeed, she did, but it didn't mean she wanted to take Renesmee up in the air on her broom.

"Carina," Rosalie was suddenly at her other side, requesting softly, taking her hand, "She'd enjoy it."

"I…" Carina wanted to badly to be stubborn and say no; most days, she would have been able to. However, with a blonde on each side, she cursed them both.

"Please?" golden eyes appraised her.

The raven haired girl growled and jerked away from the two, leaning over to sling poor Renesmee up and over her shoulder. "Let's get a move on, then."

She apparated them to the forest, where she promptly dropped the child onto her feet, drew her wand, and set about summoning her broom.

While they waited, Renesmee hesitantly tugged at her sleeve, asking, "A-Are you really okay with it? You don't have to…"

The brown eyes gazing up at her, wide and perhaps a bit frightened, made Carina growl again, deeper this time. She bit back a wince when the half-breed took a quick, startled step back.

The broom slammed into her side so hard it nearly knocked her from her feet, and Carina gripped it tightly, her frustration mounting.

You are an adult, she repeated to herself. You are an adult. Be an adult. Act like one. Stop pouting and get your arse on the broom like you said you would.

Carina opened her eyes and let out a breath, turning her attention to Renesmee, who was fidgeting uneasily, and wondered if she really were that frightening.

"I-I guess," Renesmee answered her, and the witch inwardly cursed when she realized she'd said it aloud. The girl ducked her head. "I mean, kinda. Sometimes I'm scared you'll hurt me, but a part of me knows you won't. I want to spend time with you because you're Aunt Rose's mate. I don't know very much about you."

Carina tapped her fingers on the broom handle, a sharp retort of, Well, of course I'm not going to hurt you! on her lips, but let it die. It would be hypocritical to say so when she had been the one wanting the girl dead before she was even born.

Then again, so had Edward, and Jacob, too, both who loved the girl fiercely.

This would be harder than she thought, if conversation was involved.

~~~xxx~~~

Renesmee shifted uncomfortably under Carina's intense gaze, unable to help herself.

There was something about the witch that intimidated her. Perhaps it was because of the way she towered over her, or the scars she bore, or how her stormy gray eyes seemed to cut right into your very soul. It were as if she could see straight through you, knew what you'd done and what you would do.

She anticipated everything.

Being thrown over Carina's shoulder in the beginning hadn't helped, either, and now, with the girl towering over her, Renesmee was not sure what to think.

So, she merely watched as the witch's fingers tapped restlessly against her broom handle, eyes boring into Renesmee as though she were not truly there. Her mouth opened once, and then snapped shut again, a scowl in place.

Renesmee did not think Carina knew it was there, but it made her look so much more fierce when she did. It was certainly a change from the loving mother she got glimpses of when the young woman was with Teddy.

She wished Carina would look at her that way, become the aunt she was supposed to be.

"We don't have to ride," Renesmee repeated quietly, her heart dropping. She had truly been looking forward to it. "Not if you don't want to. It is your choice."

Carina gazed down at her, still silent, and there was a moment that the child admired her features. The sharp, aristocratic face with the high cheekbones and straight nose, to the dark, arched brows and fair skin. This was soon followed by the long lashes and the striking eyes, which Renesmee was a bit envious of.

Hers were brown. Not gold, not silver, not gray, but brown. Jacob's were brown and that was perfectly alright, but Renesmee wanted a more unique color. Carina could have any color, any appearance she wished, but always stayed the same.

She was satisfied with herself, and that was one reason her Aunt Rose found Carina so beautiful. She knew she was, but it did not matter much.

Renesmee remembered late night talks with the woman about how she and Carina had met and fallen in love. It was a bit hard to imagine such a hard woman to be so tender and kind at all with anyone other than her own child. Well, or Luna.

Luna was special to everyone.

Renesmee's attention was snapped back to Carina when the woman's voice hit her ears.

"I won't hurt you," she said finally, perhaps a tad too roughly, but meant well nonetheless. "Get on the broom."

"Are you—"

Carina's lip started to curl, but then went back down as she repeated, firmer, "Get on the broom before I change my mind."

Dutifully, Renesmee did.

"Hold on tight."

They took off into the air, high above the trees, and the wind whipped around them as Carina slowed their ascent when they reached a good height.

Renesmee was wonderstruck at how Forks looked from this high, how everything did.

It was completely and utterly beautiful.

"This is amazing!" she breathed. "Thank you!"

She could not see Carina's face, but the older girl still did not relax, tense under her arms. She was not rock solid like a vampire, or even quite as solid as Jacob, nor as swelteringly hot. No, she was pleasantly warm and had just enough give in her, no matter how leanly muscled, that it made Renesmee lean closer unconsciously.

She smelt good, too. Aunt Luna felt the almost the same when they touched, yet somehow different, and though her scent was sweet, this wasn't the same.

Renesmee had never been this close to Carina before, and could smell vanilla and pine, contrasting scents that relaxed her somehow, all the same.

"Are you done looking?"

The body pressed to hers vibrated as Carina spoke, and Renesmee nodded, before realizing that she couldn't be seen and said instead, "Yes."

There was a pause. "How about some tricks?"

"Tricks?"

"You'll see."

There was no warning, and Renesmee let out a shriek as they went plummeting to the ground, closer and closer and closer...she closed her eyes, fearing the worst.

No crash came. When she opened her eyes, they were gliding through the air, doing almost lazy loops through the sky, and then Carina suddenly shot the broom forward and barrelled them toward the forest.

Renesmee gripped her tighter, both frightened and exhilarated as they swerved through the trees, just barely avoiding them, until they came upon the ocean.

Carina tilted the broom, and Renesmee could not help but yelp at the action, watching as the witch skimmed her fingers across the surface.

Hesitantly, she leaned over and did the same, watching as the water skidded after them as they moved, her fingers dragging through the waves.

They came to a stop on the beach, where Carina dismounted and Renesmee hastily followed.

The raven haired girl leaned against the broom, arching a brow. "Well?"

"That was so cool!" Renesmee cried eagerly. "Next time we...I-I mean, sorry, I shouldn't assume, but…"

She fell silent when the brow raised higher, and nimble fingers tapped against the broom handle.

"You got what you wanted," said Carina, eyes flitting away from her disinterestedly, raking across the horizon. "I should be getting you back now."

Renesmee did not move. "Can we...I mean, could we…maybe do this again? I had fun. I-I'd like to spend more time with you. Please."

Those gray eyes snapped to her brown so quickly that Renesmee almost didn't catch it.

"No," came the flat response, and the broom was shrunken and pocketed away.

Renesmee deflated.

Carina stared at her, a funny expression on her face, and then sighed. "You can't get everything you want in life."

"But I want you," the child sadly mumbled. "You're my aunt."

There was a sharp intake of breath, and then Carina Black was gripping her arm hard and apparating them away.

~~~xxx~~~

Rosalie perched herself next to Carina on the girl's bed, a large shoebox in between them. The latter was merely staring at it, as if unsure what to do next.

"Open it," Rosalie softly urged.

Carina, slowly, carefully tore open the box and pulled out a picture at random. Her hand shook when she saw it, so furiously that Rosalie had to hold the photo, instead.

A young Carina Black sat next to a dark haired man who could only be her father, both making funny faces at the camera, blowing raspberries and tugging at their ears.

Another photo came out.

Carina, sitting upon the kitchen counter next to what was clearly their breakfast being cooked, Sirius leaning against it beside her, mug in hand. Both were chatting to each other, small smiles on their faces and eyes shining.

And another.

Sirius and Carina both shifting before the camera and lunging for each other, their tails wagging and tongues out. The dog was clearly bigger than the wolf, large as it was, though it was not fully grown.

Rosalie watched Carina from the corner of her eye as the raven haired girl pulled out another photo, this time of she, her father, and a scarred, sandy haired man with shabby clothes and a tired smile. He did look happy, at least, then, as both dark haired people on either side of him slung their arms around his shoulders and waist respectively, grinning.

"That's Remus," Carina murmured, fingers ghosting over the photo. "Teddy's father."

"He looks like him," Rosalie marveled quietly, having seen Teddy's true appearance as he slept. He had lighter brown hair, and she was not quite sure of his eye color; her mate informed her then that they were amber.

"Just like Remus…"

Carina sighed and sat the photo aside, moving instead for another one. She could not even hold it, this time, her hand trembling again, and Rosalie gingerly took it from her.

Sirius and Carina were both standing before a grotesque, shrieking portrait, Carina herself red in the face with her hands planted on her hips, silently screaming back.

Her father, on the other hand, was looking positively gleeful at the turn of events, it seemed, as he clapped her on the back.

Rosalie produced another picture from the box, this one of two slumbering figures, black hair strewn about, on the floor.

Carina was safely encased in her father's arms, her head on his chest, and breathing evenly; his arms tightened around her.

The real Carina lay back on the bed, away from the box, and stared at the ceiling with shining eyes.

Carefully, Rosalie sat the picture aside and lay beside her.

"Are you alright?"

"I just miss them," the raven haired girl sighed. "I love Teddy, but Remus would have been such a great father...Merlin knows he was good to me. I can't believe it's been a year…"

"I see."

"Dad would have liked you," Carina turned her head to the side, so that she could look Rosalie in the eye. Her voice had softened considerably. "So would Remus."

"They wouldn't mind that I'm…"

"A vampire, or a woman?"

"Both."

The witch stared at her for a moment, a crease forming between her brows, before shaking her head. "Remus was a werewolf. They wouldn't have minded, nor about you being a woman. Dad would have teased me for it, but…"

"That's good," the vampire reached out and found Carina's hand, squeezing. "That they'd accept it that easily. I know the majority of Forks is still talking."

"Let them," her mate's voice was suddenly loud, fierce, and she did not seem to notice her volume. "Their judgement doesn't matter. I love you, and they can't make me feel otherwise."

Rosalie's undead heart skipped, as it always did when she heard those three words. Carina had said it so casually, as though it were an everyday thing. It wasn't, of course.

It was a rare thing, but if only because Carina showed her everyday she cared, and did not see the need to say it.

"Thank you for taking Renesmee flying," Rosalie said instead, flashing Carina a smile.

The witch quirked a brow. "I have a thing for blondes."

"You just don't want to get close to her."

Carina fell abruptly silent, then, and kissed her hard.

It distracted the blonde, like she had wanted.

For now.