Hiding her face into Rosalie's neck, Alexis tries to calm down. Wrapping her arms slowly and shyly around Rosalie's neck, Rosalie pecks Alexis's head.
"Shh, you're okay, honey." Rosalie whispers into Alexis's ear. Knowing she is safe, Alexis peeks out to find they are in the living room again. Fearfully looking at the woman and two men, Alexis hides her face again. Holding onto Rosalie's shirt in her fists, Alexis is scared.
"Rosalie, I'll show you to your room and to Alexis's." Esme steps in slowly getting to her feet in case Alexis catches her.
"Okay." Rosalie agrees. Shifting Alexis in her arms, Rosalie has her daughter on her hip. Carefully following her mother upstairs to the second floor, Rosalie stops taking in her new home, "Alexis, would you like to see your new home?"
Peeking out after turning her head, Alexis is in shock.
"Wow." Alexis gasps looking into everyone's bedrooms as Rosalie follows Esme.
"Here's your room, Rosalie." Esme smiles opening the door. Stepping into her new room, Rosalie smiles.
"Thank you, mom." Rosalie speaks sincerely. There, next to her bed is a small bed, just Alexis's size.
"I figured you would want Alexis with you for a while. When she is ready for her own bedroom, all we will have to do is move her bed." Esme sighs, "Would you like me to home school Alexis until it is time for her to go to school?"
"Once she is ready and used to you." Rosalie nods, "Until then, I will stay here and then go to school."
"Sounds good to me. You have grown up since you adopted Alexis."
"I know." Hugging Alexis to her, Rosalie pecks Alexis's forehead.
As the vampires unpack Rosalie's and Alexis's things from boxes and showing the movers where things should go, Alexis is playing with her toys in the toy backpack from the car ride. Sitting on the floor in the living room, close to Rosalie but far away to stay out of the way, Alexis suddenly gets up. Hurrying over to her mom, one of the movers bumps into her.
"Oops." Alexis looks up at the mover sadly.
"I'm sorry." Alexis apologizes. Seeing Rosalie look behind her at her, her mom comes walking over.
"It's okay." The mover speaks giving Alexis a nervous smile. Getting back to work, Rosalie picks Alexis up.
"What's up?" Rosalie could tell by her daughter's expression that something is wrong.
"I need to go." Alexis whispers. Nodding Rosalie hurries to the washroom with Alexis in her arms.
Once Alexis has gone to the bathroom, Rosalie is holding her daughter up so she can wash her hands. Drying her hands on the towel, Rosalie is content. Alexis has always, since she has lived with her, won't go to the washroom without Rosalie there. Alexis gets so embarrassed but Rosalie understands. She's scared of being alone.
"Rose?" Breaking out of her thoughts, Rosalie looks to Alexis who is looking at her. Tilting her head curiously, Alexis speaks again, "What's up?"
"Nothing, cutie." Rosalie smiles pecking Alexis's lips. Leaving the washroom, Alexis sits back down on the floor in the living room. After around an hour, Alexis is lying on the floor, shivering from the open door but still between awake and sleeping. Her little brown eyes are closed but open at each bang.
Feeling something warm wrap around her before getting picked up, Alexis opens her eyes. It's Rosalie. Wrapping her tiny arms around Rosalie's neck, Alexis hugs her and falls asleep. Feeling her mom lay her down, Alexis struggles to open her tired eyes.
"Shh, just relax, Alexis. You're on the couch next to the fireplace." Feeling herself relax and fall into a full dream world to Rosalie stroking her hair, Alexis buries her face into the pillow at her head. Her tiny fists are attached to Rosalie's shirt. As she tries to remove them to make her daughter more comfortable, it's no use. Not wanting to hurt Alexis, Rosalie sighs.
"Rosalie, just lay down with her." Esme speaks softly walking over to them.
"Are you sure?" Rosalie asks. Nodding, Esme smiles. Smiling back at her mom, Rosalie nods back in thanks before lifting Alexis up and takes over her spot. Laying Alexis beside her on the couch, Alexis immediately cuddles up to her vampire mom.
Playing with Alexis's hair, Rosalie is content. Closing her eyes, Rosalie just focuses on Alexis's soft breaths.
A couple of hours later, the movers are gone and everything in the house is sorted out. Alice is organizing Alexis's clothes in her little closet along with Rosalie's. Edward, Jasper, Emmett and Carlisle are out hunting in the woods so Alexis's scent won't affect them, too much, if at all.
Esme however is out shopping for human food for Alexis. Rosalie wrote a list of foods that Alexis likes and informs Esme that Alexis only eats a little bit, not the right amount for someone her age.
Hearing groaning, Rosalie kisses Alexis's forehead and starts to stroke her hair soothing her. Hearing her breathing pick up as she starts to awake, Rosalie opens her eyes and waits for Alexis to wake up fully.
"Rose?" Alexis whispers groggy and tired still.
"I'm here." Rosalie smiles looking down at her daughter. Looking up, Alexis's eyes light up seeing her new mom. Sitting up slightly, Alexis wraps her arms around Rosalie's neck, "What's wrong, honey?"
"Nightmare." Alexis admits, "The bad people who killed my family started to hunt me down."
"Honey, I won't let you get hurt. If it happened, then our family will take care of them."
"Really?"
"Really. We won't let you go without a fight." Knowing Alexis is still scared; Rosalie kisses her cheek softly, "You're safe here."
"Rosalie? Alexis?" Alice calls from the balcony that overlooks the living room. Looking up startled, Alexis spots Alice and takes a few calming breaths to relax.
Narrowing her eyes at Alice, Rosalie sighs.
"You're okay." Sitting up before getting to her feet, Rosalie carries Alexis upstairs to Alice.
"I'm so sorry for scaring you, Alexis." Alice apologizes sadly, "May I hold you?"
Nervous and fearful that if she doesn't let Alice hold her, she will get hurt or make someone upset, Alexis nods stiffly. Gently taking Rosalie's daughter from her, Alice gives Alexis a gentle hug before kissing her cheek.
"You don't have to be afraid of me, sweetie." Alice speaks softly. Wishing she could see Alexis clearly in her visions, she knows she won't be able to change that. Maybe it is because she is so young?
"Alice." Alice hears Rosalie's voice whisper to her. Looking at her breaking her train of thought, Rosalie gives her a possible knowing look, "Don't hurt yourself."
"I could barely see her." Alice admits.
"What? Why?" Rosalie gasps as Alice gently sets Alexis on the floor of her and Rosalie's bedroom.
"I don't know. Maybe it's because she is so young."
"But you saw me adopt her?"
"I barely saw her. I saw all the other children and that jerk clearly, but not your little girl."
"Is it possible that she's," Rosalie searches for the right word, "She doesn't know or think about her future or choices clearly?"
"Maybe. I'm not sure. Carlisle doesn't even know himself."
Watching Alexis stand there in the doorway taking in her surroundings, Alexis finally takes a step into the bedroom slowly. Peeking around the door, the closet and under the beds, like something will jump out at her, Rosalie and Alice could tell that she is trying to make sure she's safe. When Alexis comes back to them, she gives Alice a hug before getting Rosalie to pick her up.
"Thank you." Alexis thanks Alice shyly.
"Do you like it, Alexis?" Alice smiles seeing her little niece nod. Alice couldn't believe that she could call Alexis 'niece', "What do you think, Rosalie?"
"It's amazing." Rosalie smiles back at her sister, "You outdid yourself, again."
"Hey, I get to spoil my niece." Alice smirks before kissing Alexis's forehead, "Right, sweetie?"
Alexis looks at her oddly, "Huh?"
"I'm going to bring home special treats, toys and so much more for you. Now that I have someone to play with."
"You play with toys?" Alexis asks innocently. Giggling, Alice and Rosalie both hug Alexis to them, "I don't get it."
"Alice normally shows off her make-up and clothes." Rosalie clears up.
"So dress-up?"
"In a way." Alice agrees.
"Okay."
"Would you like to play dress-up?"
"I don't know." Alexis mutters before hiding her face in Rosalie's neck. She's scared she has upset Alice.
"How about we all play? Alice, take it easy on her. She's super young." Rosalie steps in seeing Alice's pout.
"Okay!" Alice says cheerfully.
"I'm not a doll." Alexis pouts as Alice plays with her hair.
"I know that." Alice laughs. Alexis is sitting on her new bed with Alice, as Rosalie models off her new clothes to Alice and her daughter.
"You look really pretty, Rose." Alexis smiles happily seeing Rosalie come out of the closet.
"You really think so, honey?" Rosalie asks looking down at herself before meeting Alexis's excited little innocent face.
"YES!" Alexis cheers. Squirming off the bed, Alexis runs over to Rosalie hugging her legs. Chuckling, Rosalie picks her up and holds her close. Alice sits on the bed still, smiling.
"Little human!" Emmett calls out from downstairs, making Alexis jump and shy away into Rosalie's arms.
"Emmett." Alice growls and glares at the doorway as Emmett appears.
"What did I do?" Emmett asks before looking to Rosalie and Alexis, "Alice, could you please leave?"
"Okay. I'll see you soon, sweetie." Pecking Alexis's cheek, Alice leaves the room as Rosalie walks over to the beds. Sitting down on Alexis's bed, Rosalie rocks her daughter side to side.
"Is she okay? I didn't mean to scare her." Emmett admits sadly.
"She'll be okay. You just have to be careful with her. She's afraid of everyone." Rosalie sighs.
"Okay." Emmett agrees, "Alexis, I didn't mean to scare you." Emmett speaks to Alexis gently. Peeking out at him, Emmett smiles meeting her beautiful brown eyes, "You can stay with your mom, but I was wondering if I may kiss your cheek."
"No hurt?" Alexis whispers as tears fill her eyes making Emmett frown.
"No hurting." Emmett promises.
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"Okay." Slowly moving over to the little human, Emmett kisses her cheek softly as he kneels down before both his girls. Meeting Alexis's eyes once more, she's staring at him in shock, "No hurt."
"I promised." Emmett smiles at the girl sadly. Blushing, Alexis turns away and buries her face into Rosalie's shirt.
Smelling something good, Rosalie grins as Alexis's stomach rumbles.
"Someone's hungry." Emmett chuckles making Alexis blush harder.
"Sorry." Alexis whimpers scared.
"Oh, honey, there is nothing wrong. It's normal for humans to be hungry." Emmett reassures.
"Pinky promise?" Alexis looks to him, holding out her tiny pinky. Nervous that he could hurt her, he carefully laces his with her's.
"Pinky promise." Slowly unlacing them, Emmett and Rosalie hear Esme tell them that Alexis's food is ready.
Quickly getting Alexis to hide her face, Rosalie and Emmett rush downstairs and into the kitchen, careful to not go super fast to scare Alexis.
"Sweetie, your supper is ready." Rosalie speaks up. Lifting her head, Alexis looks to see her meal, grilled cheese and chicken soup.
"YUMMY!" Alexis squeals excitedly. Carefully and gently setting Alexis on the chair, she thanks Esme before digging in. Esme only gave Alexis a little small bowl of soup, barely half full, and one sandwich of grilled cheese.
Once Alexis is done eating, she left the crust of her sandwich and a little bit of broth from her soup. Rubbing her stomach, Alexis suddenly burps and blushes.
"Excuse me." Alexis whispers looking down at her lap.
"Compliments to the chef." Emmett jokes to ease Alexis's shyness. Hearing Esme and Rosalie laugh, Alexis fights back a giggle, not knowing what will happen if it was released.
"Was that funny of Emmett, honey?" Esme asks leaning against the table to meet Alexis's eyes. Watching her nod, Esme smiles, "I think it was funny. Did you like your dinner?"
"Yes." Alexis mumbles softly.
"I'm glad. Would you like to watch TV with the others?"
"Okay." Alexis agrees before meeting Esme's eyes, "Do you need help?"
"I got it." Esme shakes her head, "Go and play."
Nodding, Alexis gets Rosalie to help her off the stool before reaching up for Rosalie's hand. Gently taking it, Rosalie and Alexis walk into the living room with Emmett in front of them.
"We have school tomorrow." Emmett comments, "Will you be okay?" Emmett looks to Rosalie.
"I'll be good. I got our sweetheart." Rosalie nods knowing he's meaning that she will be home for a week without Alice, Jasper, Edward and Emmett since they have school. Carlisle works at the hospital, and Esme is a designer for houses. Esme can work from home so it's all good.
"Rose, do I have to go to school?" Alexis asks carefully climbing up onto the couch as Emmett turns on the TV.
"Do you want to?" Rosalie questions.
"I went when my family was still alive."
"That's not what the mean lady told me. She said you never went?"
"I lied to her." Alexis whispers in admittance, "I was the new kid."
"What kind of class were you in?"
"Kin," Alexis struggles to say the name of the grade below Grade One.
"Kindergarten?" Rosalie clears up to make sure she got it.
"Yes. That's the one."
"She is too young to be in that class." Emmett mutters.
"Do you want to go to that class again, but here?" Rosalie wonders.
"Maybe." Alexis looks down undecided, "What will it be like?"
"Well, you will meet new people." Emmett jumps in, "And there are toys and stuff to play with."
"Will I be the smallest and littlest?"
"Most likely." Rosalie sighs knowing Alexis is confused and nervous.
"Will you take me?"
"If you want me to."
"I'll go." Alexis speaks determined. She wants to be like her new mom.