Chapter Two: Birthday Wishes

"Surely you want something, dear," My father said, sounding surprised.

I shrugged. "Not really," I repeated.

My father leaned back in his chair and studied me. I wanted to turn around and leave like Bella would have, feeling scrutinized, but my father would be appalled by such rude actions. He frowned and tilted his head to the side.

"A necklace?" he offered. "Earrings… a new bracelet? Some rings? What about some more make-up? You always seem to like to match your eye make-up with your clothes… would you like that?"

I forced a laughed, surprised that he had even noticed. "Daddy, really," I urged, "I don't need anything."

"Why don't you tell him about the necklace with matching earrings you've been admiring?" A voice asked from behind me.

I clenched my teeth together and turned slowly to face Bella as she glided into the room. She looked rather smug as she strode by me and up to our father's desk. She stepped behind it and stood by my father in his chair. They both stared at me.

"Have you been eying a set of jewelry, Narcissa?" my father asked, now curious.

I sighed and shot Bella a dark look. She seemed satisfied with herself. I looked back to my father and nodded. "But it is right in the display window as you pass by the shop," I quickly explained. "How can one not look?"

"Diamonds?" he inquired further.

I looked up at my sister and she nodded, urging me to explain the necklace. She smiled, clearly amused and satisfied with herself. I turned my attention back to my father. "It has some diamonds," I began. "It hangs on a small rope chain. The pendent is like a half-moon… well, no – more like a quarter moon. The outside curve is made up of smaller diamonds and on the bottom tip of it sits a Tahitian pearl. The earrings are Tahitian pearls, too. It's really beautiful, Daddy."

My father seemed satisfied with my description of the necklace. He smiled at me. "Is that what you want?" he pressed.

I opened my mouth to respond, but no sound came out. I shook my head and shrugged, not quite sure how to answer him. Of course I wanted it, but there were other things I wanted more. I didn't deserve anything, really. I closed my mouth and looked down at my hands, which were resting on the back of the chair.

"You know she does," I heard Bella say to my father. I looked up. She winked at me and then looked down at my father. He stared at me for a brief moment before looking up at my sister. "She's just worried about the cost or something petty like that. It really is a prime investment. I would think about it, Father."

My father nodded, glanced at me and then beamed up at Bella. I watched their interaction, wishing that I could be close with my father once more. But I kept my distance. I feared that he no longer loved me for what I did, for killing his wife. If I hung back and withdrew from interacting with him, then maybe he could somehow hate me less.

Before he replied, my sister cut him off. "I have to go now," she said quickly, bending down to kiss his cheek. "I'm staying at Rod's tonight, but we'll be here tomorrow afternoon." Tomorrow was Sunday, which meant that we had brunch at eleven and dinner at eight. Sunday was the only day we ate together as a family. Rodolphus Lestrange, my sister's current boyfriend (or maybe he was just a fling), usually joined us on Sunday. "Love you."

Bella then stepped out from around his desk and hurried across the room. She grabbed my arm as she passed me and dragged me along beside her. I did nothing to protest; I never did.

"Why are you fighting Father on a birthday gift?" she asked in a low voice. "He hasn't gotten you anything for your birthday in two years. Let him go all out this year." We stopped in the foyer and I pulled free from her death grip.

"Because," I snapped, "I don't want anything. Is that so hard to believe?"

"Are you talking about your birthday present?"

Both Bella and I turned to face the voice that had spoken. Andromeda stood there, her long hair braided and thrown over one of her shoulders. She looked between the two of us, waiting for an answer. Bella folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes at our other sister.

"Don't you know it's rude to eavesdrop," she stated, her eyebrows raised.

Andy rolled her eyes. "Shut it, Bella," she replied. She turned to me. "Dad's been hounding me for the past week, asking what he could possibly get you for your birthday. I guess he finally asked you, hmm?"

I looked from one sister to the other. Bella backed up to stand by Andy. They both studied me with fierce eyes. Out of all three of us, they looked the most similar. They had inherited the dark, yet beautiful Black looks. Bella's hair was a mess of unruly black curls and her eyes were dark, almost black; the color of coal, like our father's. Her facial features were cut sharp, making her seem mean and rude at first and most people tried to avoid her because of this. Andy had softer facial features. Her hair was just as curly, but it was a dark brown instead of black and her eyes were a honey brown. She was more approachable than Bella.

I, on the other hand, was a spitting image on my mother. I looked more like a Rosier than a Black. My eyes were blue (ice blue, as Bella would say) and my hair was golden and straight. My mother had often called me "angel" because of this. She said that her own mother, growing up, had called her "angel". I had once been proud of my beauty, but after my mother was killed, I knew I didn't deserve her looks. It just didn't seem right how my blue eyes shone on when hers were lacking any light they once had. I hated looking at myself in the mirror because all I could see was my mother.

"Cissy, I swear," Bella said irritably, "you are so dense sometimes! Speak, will you!"

I glared at her and directed my answer at Andy. "Yes, he asked me," I told her. "I told him about that necklace I'd seen. But, I don't really want it, so I hope he doesn't get it for me."

I hope he doesn't get me anything, I added silently to myself.

Bella sighed exasperatedly and I looked at her. She rolled her eyes. "I have to go," she said. She turned to Andy and they kissed each other on the cheek. Bella whispered something in her ear and Andy began to laugh. I hated when they did that sort of thing in front of me, their best friend thing. I always felt as though they were rubbing it in my face. "I love you, Andy."

"I love you, too, Bells," Andy replied.

Bella walked up to me, gave me an apologetic smile and kissed my forehead. I was the same height as she was; in fact, all of us were the same height. "I love you, Cissy," she whispered. "Let Father spoil you, okay?"

I nodded and reached out to hug her. "I love you," I whispered back. "Please be careful."

She laughed in my ear and we pulled apart. She nodded and then headed to the door. She waved goodbye and then slammed the front door shut. I stared at the door, wishing that she'd come back in and decide to spend the night with us. When she didn't, I turned around and walked up to my other sister.

"Let's have some tea before bed," Andy said, linking arms with me.

I nodded and we headed to the kitchen.

Author's note: Thanks for reading. The chapters are going to start getting longer, as I've realized that they're way too short. Reviews = love. =]