Heyho, my dear readers!

Thank you so much for your reviews! I wasn't sure if you would like to read a sad chapter, but you are obviously all right with that! :)

dme875: Absolutely loved your review! You summed up all the thoughts I was having on this! She is facing a shitty future and is starting to realise it, because quiet frankly: What will ever change for her? I tried to show that in this story, that's why she got brattier and moodier over time so it would necessarily come to this depression.

About Jasper and Alice: They have a very good reason why they are like this towards her. It is better for all of them, because it would just add fuel to the fire if they'd get involved now. I'll try to finish my other story until Christmas. Everything that happens in there is important to understand the interaction between the characters in this story. So, the next chapters will reveal quite a bit!

My other story is called 'Better times will come'! So, to everyone who hasn't read it yet: Please do so, it isn't as bad as it sounds, haha :D

Btw, the Christmas chapters will have a lot more Alice and Jasper for those of you who like to read about them! I have to admit that they are a bit underdeveloped in my stories :-/

For the next few days Maddie was still like that, didn't talk but she did as she was told. Her sudden obedience was unsettling as well. It was like she was just functioning, but she definitely wasn't herself anymore.

Rose called Tanya to find out if Maddie had been like that while staying with them. But the talk wasn't much helpful, because Maddie had never been depressed before.

Tanya suggested they should bring Maddie back to them, to let her take a break from everything, but Rose was completely against it. It would send the wrong message, she said. Like they wanted to get rid of her now when she wasn't fun anymore and ship her off to the relatives who should sort her out. No, she would give Maddie some more time and then slowly try to talk to her once more.

Besides, it scared her as well as the rest of the family if Maddie would leave again and live at Tanya's. How long until she would come back to them? Last time it took her nearly two years to open up to the thought of joining her family again. How long would it take this time? Or would she stay in Alaska for good?

Tanya said that Maddie had been cheerful when she had stayed with them. She had shared a very close bond with Carmen - and Eleazar for that matter - and they had treated her like their own. But what had been different between how they had treated Maddie and how Esme and Carlisle did?

Tanya did not know, and neither did Rose.

Was it the fact alone that they had taken her in and cared for her, even though they were not obliged to do so?

Or the fact that they hadn't changed her - hadn't practically kidnapped her and inflicted the pain on her?

But the situations had been different, too: Maddie was still a newborn back then. She couldn't go outside without someone accompanying her, and she understood and accepted that. Maddie had experienced that the loss of a family member could destroy a whole family, and so she listened to the Denalis when they had told her she had to stay home where she wouldn't be tempted by the smell of human blood. She didn't want anyone to go through what she had to when she was still human.

Now she was able to control her thirst and she even went to school where she was surrounded by humans. But she didn't get the permission yet to spend a couple of hours away from home in her free time.

Was this about trust? Maddie probably got the feeling that Carlisle and Esme did not trust her and that's why they kept her home all the time. And Maddie didn't have the slightest idea what she could do to gain said trust.

It unsettled Rose having to admit that maybe Carmen and Eleazar would be better parents for Maddie than Esme and Carlisle. But why had she come back then? She had been happy under their care, hadn't she?

They had shown her the love and comfort she hadn't experienced for the last couple of years of her human life. With them, Maddie had learned to lose the wariness she had felt towards everyone surrounding her. It had taken some time, but the Denalis had managed to make her receptive for the joy of living again.

If she had a wish - which took her over a year to get herself to ask for for the first time - they sat down with her and made compromises or explained to her why she couldn't have something. That was for wishes they couldn't grant her, all the others were complied immediately, because they enjoyed making her happy and seeing her smile.

Carlisle and Esme weren't bad parents - quite the opposite actually - but still, maybe they weren't the right ones for Maddie. She needed a lot more privacy and freedom of choice in her life than they were currently offering her. Rose pondered over the possibility of telling them more about her sister, things they hadn't known yet. But then she dismissed that thought as quickly as it came; what she knew about Maddie, she had been told by her in confidence. And it might have the same effect on them that it had on herself: Being even more protective over her.

Alice and Edward took Maddie hunting after school on Friday. She fed, then leaned against a tree and waited for them to finish their deers.

She didn't look like she enjoyed it very much, everything seemed to be indifferent to her. Her eye colour was fine, maybe still a little darker than usual, but she was sad so that would explain that.

Esme thought that maybe it was time to approach Maddie once more by bringing joy to her.

So she busied herself in the bathroom, then descended the stairs to greet her children who were just coming home from their hunt.

"Sweetie? I drew you a bath. I thought you might enjoy it," She said with a smile and watched Maddie walk past her. "Rose said she'll help you with your hair if you'd like!" Esme called after her and hoped that her baby would soon be able to smile again.

They thought that a bath would relax Maddie enough to talk. She was depressed, and as long as she didn't talk about it, her mood would not improve.

But they knew that Maddie absolutely loved bubble baths, that is why they chose this in an attempt to lift her spirits.

While Maddie sat in the tub Rose came into the bathroom, carrying Maddie's turquoise bathrobe and a towel.

"You don't enjoy it very much, now do you?" she said while making a face.

Maddie looked up at her, then back down at the mountains of foam around her. The entire house held the warm smell of lavender as well as melting beeswax, because Esme had lit the candles that decorated the window sill, washstand, little side table and of course the rim of the bathtub. Flowery scents were something vampires liked and they had the same calming effect on them that they had on humans. Whereas fruity stuff - not so much. It practically smelled of human food, which was gross.

Rosalie sighed, then sat down on the rim of the tub, taking a soft sponge in hand and soaking it in the bathwater.

While she washed Maddie's shoulders and her back, she admitted: "You're scaring me, little one. I have never seen you like this before."

She then decided that it would do no harm if she talked some more.

"Trust me when I say that I do understand what is bothering you, but I have always thought it would make you angry and not impassive like you are now."

Rose eyed Maddie to see if she was listening.

"I was angry and full of hate for quite a while," she then added, hoping that the honesty in her words would show Maddie that she understood at least a little bit of Maddie's pain. "You know that Carlisle, too, was the one who changed me."

She reached out for Maddie's arm, on which she continued to wash the drying deer blood off.

Trying to talk to her once more, Rose said, "Your obedience is disturbing as well."

Maddie lazily licked some dried blood from the corner of her mouth before quietly asking, "Why."

Rosalie's eyes bulged.

Maddie was talking to her!

She quickly regained her composure before Maddie would look at her and detect the astonishment on her face, and said, "You are so different now."

Keeping her eyes fixed on the dancing flame of one of the candles standing at the end of the tub, she replied, "Just like you wanted me to be."

Rosalie answered with a frown. "Nobody wanted you to be like this."

"So I am doing it wrong."

Oh dear. Rose realised that this would take a lot of explaining - from Esme and Carlisle.

Maddie must be so confused.

Carlisle and Esme had a lot of rules for her and sometimes Maddie's natural sense of mischief would break through and she did whatever she wanted. She got punished and then she had the feeling that, because of her disobedience, they wouldn't trust her to be outside on her own.

Now she did as she was told, and it seemed like it wasn't right, either.

So what was there for her to do?

"Maddie, I love you so, so much. You know that, don't you?"

Maddie closed her eyes for a brief moment and nodded. Of course she knew that, but it wasn't what she wanted to hear right now. And it didn't help hearing that she upset Rose with her behaviour. No matter what she did, it would always affect others - she didn't like it.

They spent the next minutes in silence. Maddie stared straight ahead, even though her eyes weren't as empty as they had been before. Maybe she was contemplating something.

"Rose?" she suddenly asked in a weak voice.

"Yes?"

Without looking at her sister, she then asked in a voice free of any emotion, "Did they change me for me or for themselves?"

Rosalie froze completely. Her hand with the sponge in it stilled and her eyes were unblinking.

Briefly clearing her throat, she queried, "Why would you ask me such a thing?"

"Because I want an answer." Maddie glanced up at her then, her eyes held sadness but determination, as if she was longing for an answer but dreading it at the same time.

Rose looked at her for a long moment, pondering over her options.

What would be the right answer?

She knew they had changed Maddie to offer her a better life. That was their plan the moment they had seen in what condition the girl had been in, both mentally and physically.

But - and it was a very big but at that - they had done it because they were longing to have children and therefore accepted that she would never mature. Alice's visions had brought her to them; it was simply fate and never once had they doubted that.

The problem was that due to Maddie's physical age she would never be able to live an independent life; there was no way she could ever have a flat on her own or have a job like Carlisle. But they simply accepted that consequence when they had changed her ... maybe they thought she would never develop these kind of wishes and that way it was okay for them to bind her to themselves as their daughter.

Maddie would always have to assume the role of being a teenager, with parents and siblings. There was nothing else in tow for her.

And Carlisle and Esme knew that - they have known it right from the beginning. So - in all honesty - there had also been selfish reasons behind their decision of changing Maddie into what they were.

They had given her a future, but at the same time had taken it away from her.

Would she, with her fourteen year old mind, ever develop motherly feelings? Or better yet: Would she ever mentally develop further than fourteen? Would she grow up and behave like an adult or was she going to be trapped at that rebellious stage she was in now? What would the time bring for her?

"I think it's a little of both," Rose replied tentatively, but honestly.

Maddie bit her lip, then slowly nodded her head.

She did believe what Rosalie had just said, because she was the person she trusted to not lie to her. Maddie could have asked Carlisle and Esme again why they had changed her, but she had a feeling that the answer they would give her wouldn't necessarily be the truth. They had told her so much bullshit already that she preferred to talk to others.

So, for the last couple of days, Maddie had been calling Carmen or Tanya while being at school. Her family did not know that, but it was exactly what Maddie had been doing. Skipping one class each day to have someone to talk to in private, someone who would listen and console her. Maybe that had helped made Maddie talk to Rose now - she wasn't as depressed as before anymore, and Carmen had encouraged her to confide in her eldest sister.

Rosalie thought she needed to say something, because the atmosphere seemed so oppressing. "They love you very much and that's why they want to keep you from making bad experiences. They want to protect you."

"It can't go on like this forever," Maddie shook her head and swallowed heavily.

"No, it can't. You are right." Rosalie nodded while pressing her lips together tightly. It was then that she decided she needed to talk to their parents about Maddie, so they would understand what their superabundant protective instinct was doing to that girl. But first things first - Maddie needed to be cheered up.

"Emmett said he would like to watch a movie, just the three of us. How does that sound?"

Maddie just shrugged.

"He got it especially for you," She lured with a sweet, encouraging smile.

"I don't know."

Rose caressed Maddie cheek lovingly. "Just give it a try. He was also sad the last couple of days, you know?"

"My fault?" Maddie asked with big, guilty eyes.

"We really have to work on your newly acquired low self-esteem - I don't like it on you," she said reprovingly, even though Maddie detected guilt and even a little bit of fear in her voice. Why? Was Rose scared of something?

Grabbing the bathrobe from the hook next to the door, Rose then walked back to stand next to the tub, holding the robe up and turning her head away for Maddie to stand and put it on. "Shall we watch the movie in the living room?"

Maddie climbed out of the tub with one hand supporting herself on the rim and the other holding the robe tightly around her waist, before using the belt to secure it around her body.

"No. I don't wanna see them," she growled lowly.

It was clear what 'them' meant: Carlisle and Esme, of course.

"I understand. Well, then we'll just watch it in mine and Emmett's room. Don't worry, it won't be awfully long, but Emmett was so excited and said you'd need it."

"Need what?" Maddie asked, mildly curious now.

Rose smirked, glad that she could call Emmett her husband. This wonderful man had obviously managed - with something little like a movie - to get Maddie on the right track to being herself again. "That's what I didn't understand either. Probably the movie for your collection, I don't know."

Pulling the plug for the water to drain, she then watched Maddie towel down her hair for a moment.

Just like all those years ago, she still didn't know what decision she would have made.

This was her sister, whom she loved with all her heart and would do anything for. She couldn't imagine life without her anymore. Yet, here was Maddie, never growing old, never maturing, never independent. A girl caught in between childhood and womanhood, forever.

What could she ever say to her to make it all better? Probably nothing.

She herself couldn't imagine what it would be like. And it was saying a lot that Maddie, after barely three years into this life, was having a crisis like this. Hopefully she would get over the sad thoughts she was having and start enjoying her life again. Rose herself had detested this life so much, until she had found Emmett on that fateful day all those years ago. He was the person who had made it all better for her. Life was bearable, no, enjoyable, through him.

A little embarrassed at being caught staring at her little sister, who looked at her with confusion and uneasiness written all over her face, Rose quickly stood up straighter and let a hand run through her blond locks, dismissing the thoughts she had just been engulfed in.

"Let's go then. I'll brush your hair during the movie," she offered, grabbed the wooden hairbrush from next to the basin and held the door for Maddie.

Esme would come upstairs in a moment to blow out the candles for her. Rose didn't want to do it with Maddie in the room, because her little sister was - even though she would probably never admit it - a little afraid of smoke. Another horrible memory of Maddie's that would never go away.

Smoke couldn't hurt her or anyone in this family, but Maddie would always tense up and look uneasy the moment she saw or smelled it.

So why cause her unnecessary distress?

"Emmett? We'll be watching the movie in here., Rosalie said while entering her bedroom, Maddie traipsing behind on bare feet, being enveloped in her big, fluffy bathrobe.

Emmett turned around in his seat, a big smile formed on his face instantly when he saw his wife and his little baby sister. "I found the perfect movie for you, Tiny! You'll love it so much! I actually wanted to give it to your for Christmas, but then I decided: Nah, now is the perfect timing. I swear, I went to the store and the moment I saw it, I just knew I had to get it for you. It's so perfect!"

Yeah, he was rambling, but it was Emmett and he was excited to have his sister back.

Maddie looked up at him, a small smile playing on her lips. She was glad he neither looked sad, nor angry with her. And it felt good to hear that he had thought of her and tried his best to cheer her up.

The sorrow she was feeling for a while now had been because of her parents, not because of Rose or Emmett. Her siblings cared for her and - even though they were ridiculously protective of her, too - she felt completely different about them showing it.

And Emmett really was the best big brother in the world.

REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter!

Wanna find out which movie Emmett got for Maddie?

And what would you think about Carlisle and Esme having a talk with Maddie in the next chapter? I have an idea, even though Maddie might be 'a little' mean. Oh well, I better write it first and see how it would be going from there, because I don't wanna ruin their first Christmas together!

Stay tuned!

:D