I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS. Reviews!
I stared down dumbly at the infant before me. Its tiny face stared back at me, puckered and confused. "Rose?"called Emmett coming up behind me."Something wrong?" Emmett looked down at the child for a moment and then back at me.
He grasped the basket by its handle and started to carry it inside. I followed him to the kitchen, too dumbstruck to comment. Setting the basket down on the oak table, Emmett began to speak to our curious family who had all gathered around the table. "It seems that,er...it looks like-" Emmett decidedly shut his mouth, unable to explain the infant's presence.
"Oh, what an adorable baby," commented Esme as she lifted the baby out its basket. While the rest of the family was preoccupied with the baby,Jake began rummaging through the basket and retrieved what appeared to be a piece of paper. He stared at it for a moment then handed it to me. For Rosalie, it read.
Alice read over my shoulder then announced its contents to everyone else. "The scent on the basket is familiar yet I can't place it," said Jasper. They stared at me, as confused and shocked as I was. As if to break the silence, the baby began wailing loudly, interrupting the awkwardness of the situation. Esme quietly walked towards me and offered the child to me.
I kept my arms locked by sides afraid to hold it. This was the thing I'd wanted most in the world- how could I know it wouldn't be ripped away from me again? "Rose," Esme murmured quietly. "It's alright," she said as she coaxed my arms around the child.
The child stopped crying and its eyes bored into mine. I instinctively tightened my hold on the baby. The blanket the child had been wrapped in fell away from its body and I examined it more closely.
The blanket had been the only thing it had in the protection from the cold night. Underneath she was a soft pink color that seemed to glow, round cheeks tear stained from her previous bout of crying. The hair on her head resembled the fluffy down of a duckling, which swirled around her head in small honey blond curls. Her lips were tiny and bee-stung, shaped into a small circle. Her truly most beautiful feature were her eyes. Framed by dark feathery lashes and almond shaped, they were the color of earth with amber flecks that resembled mine.
I pulled her closer to me and kissed her warm forehead. We continued to stare at each other and I felt my heart soften and gravitate to her. Her gaze was intent and fixed on my face, only broken by the sound of Carlisle clearing his throat.
"May I?" he asked, arms outstretched."We should really get her some clothing and feed her as well."She opened her mouth about to bawl again I was sure. Carlisle brushed his fingers across her face cooing,"Don't be upset, I won't bite."
His touch was the last straw for her. She turned her small head towards his hands and bit him."Ouch," Carlisle said with a sudden intake of breath. His eyes widened."She's venomous."
The baby, pleased with her actions, closed her eyes and snuggled back into the crook of my arm and fell asleep. Carlisle reached for her more carefully this time taking precautions, avoiding her head just in case she awoke.
"She has a heart beat-" he began but Nessie interrupted."She must be like me. A hybrid." I was pondering this when Edward's voice broke into my thoughts."Who would leave a hybrid child here- and for Rosalie specifically?"
Their faces looked back at mine again."Well, there's no point in standing around here. Alice, you and Tanya were just about to go out shopping. Do you mind getting some clothes for the baby?" Esme asked and continued with a list of other necessities the baby would need."Will I get to keep her?" My voice came out as a hoarse whisper.
Everyone looked towards Carlisle. " Rose," he said carefully. "We have no way of knowing where she came from or who this child belongs too, but I can't see why not. Just...don't get too attached. Whoever left her here may come back for her." I flinched at the thought.
The rest of the clan dispersed to the previous activities while murmuring their approvals and warnings. I glanced back down at the baby. Her rosy cherub face seemed to be smiling her approval as well even thought she slept.
Emmett stood in the doorway, appearing to be having an internal debate with himself, then bounded over towards us. He peered down at the child. I smiled weakly up at him, hoping to get his approval as well. Emmett had never voiced his opinions on being unable to have children, I believed he didn't because he knew it would just bring me pain.
Emmett watched the child and I closely. His angelic face broke into a grin that resembled the beaming smile on my own face. "Her cheeks make her look like some kind of chipmunk."
I could see where these comparisons were leading and a flash of anger joined my newfound happiness. "Oh no you don't!" I shrieked."I won't have my child named after any woodland creature or monster from a science fiction novel! Bella may have been a pushover but I won't allow it!" I shocked myself with my own possessiveness.
"Thanks a lot Rosalie." Bella mock glared at me while the rest of our family broke into peals of laughter. "You know she sorta looks like you Blondie," said Jake. I turned to him with serious business in mind."Jacob," I said. " Do not bring any of those mutts around here. Understand? No one will imprint on this child." I tried to keep my voice even imagining the poor dog who might have to face my wrath.
"Ah geez, Rosalie. It's not like we just sit around waiting to imprint on your daughters then steal them away in the night." Jacob said with a grin."Still," I said serious once more."Warn them to stay away or it will not go well for them."
Jacob held up his hands in mock defeat."As you wish Blondie. But what is meant to be will be," he joked. I hissed at him.
Alice must have brought home at least a dozen bags of clothing, in preparation for the baby's imminent growth spurts. I was surprised that I didn't feel at all jealous that their attentions were directed on the baby. I wanted them to admire her.
After everyone had settled down, I decided to make use of the rocking chair Bella re-gifted me with. Singing a lullaby to the still sleeping child, I held her in one arm and held a laptop in the other,scrolling through a baby name website. "So," Emmett said his voice tired. "Have you picked a name yet?" I'd asked his opinion on over two hundred names, and after the last fifty he'd grown weary of it.
"Yes," I smiled at him."Diana- it means divine." "With her temperament? Are you sure?" he grinned back at me, though I think he was more pleased I'd made a decision than with the actual name itself.
"Rosalie," said Carlisle stepping into our room."Wake her up. We need to feed her." I gently rubbed her cheek and she opened her eyes, surveying the room only once, her eyes landing back on me.
Carlisle held several baby bottles in his hands."Why so many?" I asked."We need to find out her blood preference and see if she will take milk," he replied. I noticed some of the bottles were a strange pinkish color. Carlisle spoke again," I mixed some of the blood with milk. Just to see her response."
"Ah," I said not bothering to comment on the strangeness of it all. I took a bottle of milk from his hands and began to feed Diana. At first her tiny lips didn't understand what to do, then she started to suck on the bottle greedily. After she had drained the bottle completely, she began to wail.
I searched my mind on what could be wrong with her. "Hand me another," I asked Carlisle, deducing she must still be hungry. She drained all twenty bottles before her appetite was sated and she fell asleep.
"I supposed blood or milk doesn't matter to her," Carlisle said his brow furrowed. We laughed quietly at this,and I never let go of her the whole night.
Within a week Esme had moved us into our own home in Maine. The mansion had a wrap-around porch and the walls were a light blue. The sprawling mansion had a huge bed of red roses behind it among other flowers and lush greenery. At the heart of the garden was a fountain with a stone replica of The Venus de Milo in the center of it.
There was also a quaint gazebo in a shady part of the garden. A small private beach curved on the west side of the property.
Jasper and Emmett were carrying the newly purchased furniture up the brown cobblestone path that lead to the side door. I tugged Diana out her car seat. " Do you want to go see your new home? Esme designed it just for you," I murmured into her soft hair. She smiled up at me.
Diana had discovered that by simply smiling she could get what she wanted. The whole family had run around doing ridiculous things to bring out that smile. Like the huge snowball fight we'd had last week.
Stuffing Jacob's face into the snow had been very entertaining and I gave Diana a repeat performance. She too seemed to enjoy agonizing the mutt and her charming little face smiled brightly while waving her pink-mitten covered hands whenever I dumped snow on him. Jake put up with it because he was dazzled and enchanted by her like everyone else.
Today we were taking Diana on her first hunting trip. For the last few months she drank milk and blood, and now it was about the same time Nessie had gone hunting herself. Of course we soon found there were large differences between the two girls.
Nessie had despised all foods while Diana consumed large quantities of everything. Her taste ranged from eating an entire chicken to macaroni and cheese with ketchup. Strange by human and immortal standards.
Carlisle believed it was because her body burned more calories to make venom, which we now knew was a trait by chance not gender as we'd believed. He hypothesized she needed around thirty thousand calories a day. She hadn't spoken a word yet, but we were sure she would soon.
I had settled her down on the on the ivory couch to watch television. We'd learned she would tolerate Elmo, but that strange purple dinosaur scared her to death. I carefully checked the cable show listings, and deemed the next hour Barney safe."Sweetie," I cooed at her. "It's time to go hunting with Mama. Are you ready to go?" I tried to smile at her reassuringly. I'm positive she had no idea what we were going to do but she smiled anyway.
"There's no need for all that Rose," Edward said from the doorway. " It's almost painful being around that child. All she does is think of you and her thoughts are louder than any being's I've ever come across. She would follow you anywhere if she thought it would make you happy."
I thought about this. Alice couldn't see a single thing when she was around Diana and constantly fled the room when "it got to be too much." It was worse for her now than it had been with Nessie.
Alice's high voice trilled from upstairs. "Alright it's time to get going, lets have the new family get settled in." I heard Esme's voice next. "Rosalie bring Diana and come see the upstairs. It's finished now."
Esme had happily designed Diana's room and the entire house. I was a bit afraid to go see it because I knew Alice had given her "input." Better now than never, I thought- besides, Esme wouldn't let Alice do anything too rash. Right?
Edward laughed hearing my thoughts and called Jasper and Alice to come down to the car. "Enjoy" Alice said with a smile as she kissed my cheek. Jasper waved good-bye and I went to join Esme and Emmett upstairs.
Esme had outdone herself. The previous homes she'd restored for Emmett and I had been spectacular. This was something completely different.
Diana's room had light pink walls and white antique furniture strategically placed so that it looked like a child's room but could be easily converted into a room for an adolescent. The bed was large, with a white canopy and a pink comforter edged with lace. The wide pink curtained window looked out onto the garden, sunlight filtering through on Diana's moon colored skin.
"Esme this is perfect," I said. "But where are the toys?" She smiled at me."That's the very best part." She led us through a white door within Diana's room that connected to a hallway which led to another door. The pink theme reigned here as well but it was a more rosy color.
Inside was a a giant toy carriage with plush cushions in it. The wooden floor of the playroom was covered in every possible toy imaginable and behind the enormous carriage was a castle. A huge box of dress up clothes and a doll house took up the rest of the space.
Emmett seized a small gold crown out of the dress up box and placed it on Diana's head. Diana screamed in approval."Esme," I asked."How did Alice get involved in this?"
My eyes searched the room for a touch of Alice's quirk."The princess theme was her idea," Esme said laughing. "She said something about you both being equally spoiled." We laughed until the beeping of my watch interrupted.
"It's time to go hunting. Emmett would you like to try? Again?" I asked. Diana would not let anyone but me hold her, but Emmett was determined she would like him. He had at least fifty bite marks covering his hands and forearms. I admired his effort but it didn't seem that Diana would be giving in anytime soon.
Eyes guarded, Diana watched his wary arms come towards her. Body twisting in my grasp, her crown fell off onto the wood floor. He picked it up then held it out as a peace offering. Diana stared at him a moment then reached towards him. Emmett returned the gesture and picked her up. They stared again at each other then Emmett placed the crown back on her head.
Diana did not try to bite him thankfully and Esme and I both breathed sighs of relief. I wish such trivial things had to be our only worries.
After Esme left we went hunting in a small forest near the house. Diana walked off a bit sniffing the air. "What is she smelling?" Emmett asked. We followed her as she made her way through some bushes. Behind the bush was a baby deer laying in a puddle, frightened and shaking having sensed predators nearby. Its leg laid at an odd angle. It shook again staring at us.
Diana's small hand reached for the deer and it seemed to calm down at her touch. She looked at me, her gaze intense. "You don't want to eat it? You want to keep it?" I thought aloud trying to guess what was in her mind. She nodded back at me. I smiled at her. "He needs a name," I said realizing the sex of it as I checked below its belly. "Lets just hope Uncle Jasper doesn't eat him." Emmett mumbled.
He suddenly turned sharply. "Rose do you smell that?" My body went rigid as I recognized a scent from a quite awhile ago. Then a young man stepped into the clearing, his eyes on Diana's face. Nahuel.
Nahuel looked at me carefully then held up his hands. "No need to worry. I'm not here to cause anyone harm. I'm here regarding her safety." My eyes followed him as I positioned my body in a protective stance of Diana.
"Why are you here?" Emmett asked Nahuel, his voice gruff. Nahuel paused for a moment to gauge his words. "There isn't much time left so I'll be blunt," he said. "My aunt Huilen and the rest of my family are dead." Emmett and I glanced at each other. "I'm sorry for your loss," I said. "But how does this concern Diana?" His lips tightened.
"Your...Diana, is my half sister." His words shook my body. I knew this day would come.
"Please," Nahuel started sensing my distress. "I'm not here for her, but you must know your circumstances and the danger I've placed your clan in." I looked at Emmett again, his lips pulled taut in a small white line. He nodded sharply and turned, having gathered the baby deer in his arms.
We led Nahuel quietly back to the house. After settling Diana in her high chair, I stood over the stove stirring a pot of spaghetti and meatballs. Diana, oblivious to the situation cooed at me which she always did when there was food involved. I set a large bowl in front of her and she enthusiastically proceeded to scoop up the pasta with her small fists.
"You should start running," Nahuel murmured quietly watching her. He took in a large breath and began his story. "Her mother was a tourist. My father had continued trying to build his super human race," he said bitterly. "He knew that he was sacrificing the life of a young woman for his...experiments. The Volturi made good on their decision to hunt him down and they killed him. They would have spared them, but my sisters foolishly ignored my warnings and tried to defend him. In a moment of weakness I tried to protect them and the Volturi decided to destroy us all. My aunt died to save me. I managed to escape. Not long after I found the young woman my father had impregnated, hiding in his old home. I tried to save her-" his voice broke off.
"The Volturi had found me there, and saw the hybrid child. They are intent on obliterating us- and they will use this as an excuse to destroy your family was well. You're harboring a fugitive child. I'm sorry- I had already lost so much and I'd hoped leaving her with you would ensure her safety. I can see now it was an error in judgment. I have just put you all in danger," he whispered.
My mind whirled, trying to process this information. "But why leave her for me?" I asked. Nahuel's head snapped up from his own thoughts. "Your sister Alice told me about some of your...history. I could not think of a better mother," he said with a weak smile.
He brushed his fingers across Diana's forehead and she cocked her head at him, spaghetti sauce dripping down her cheeks. Her beautiful face broke into a smile of remembrance that Nahuel returned. His face turned serious once more."You must run. The Volturi are closing in on me and I know I can't evade them for long."
I opened my mouth to protest but he held up a hand. "If you give me a few items of hers I can throw them off your trail for awhile. I just couldn't keep running without giving you some warning. You're all in danger because of my actions." I heard Emmett swallow deeply next to me.
All my happiness was crashing down around me, the void filled with dread of our impending doom. Our entire family would be destroyed. I imagined the cold,cruel look of the Volturi as they would kill her; stone faces set as they tore my baby apart and ripped her into shreds. Sweet little Diana's face filled with terror flashed in my mind.
I blocked these images from my mind. I could not, no- would not let that happen. I would fight.
"Emmett," I squared my shoulders and drew Diana into my arms, kissing the top of her head and ignoring the spaghetti sauce that now covered her face. "Call everyone to meet in Forks. We need to prepare ourselves."
I would fight, with my very last breath. I would protect pure little Diana no matter what the cost.
Author's Note: If you're a little confused, Nahuel was the other hybrid child in Breaking Dawn. Also, the links to the story pictures on my profile are up and working now. I found pictures to correspond with most of the main characters and settings. I even found a picture of Diana's toy carriage-so cute! Beware, there may be spoilers...the next chapter will be up by next Saturday.
xoxo,
Ana P3ach
P.s.- REVIEWS PLEASE! If you have any suggestions on the stories format please tell me.