Chapter 14

"What would it take to get you to let Pumpkin go?" Dawn asked Aro.

"She's lucky I walked in when I did," Aro reminded her, "must I remind you how easily Sirens can hurt vampires?"

Dawn sighed and shook her head.

"I know that," she said flatly, "but Pumpkin was younger then. People make stupid mistakes. I'm sure if you think about, you could name a few yourself."

Any lesser being would have attacked her on the spot, but Aro merely laughed.

"And what 'stupid mistakes' have you made, Aurora?"

"A lot," Dawn admitted, "but I never had a reason to grow up until now."

Aro smirked.

"Let me guess. Carlisle."

"Yes."

Aro thought for a moment.

"What would you be willing to do for Pomona, or Pumpkin as you so affectionately call her now?"

Dawn stared hard into his red eyes, past the sheen of white and tried to figure out what he was thinking.

"I would do anything. I would even take her place if you wanted me to."

"But why? She betrayed you more than once. She made you a fugitive from our laws for centuries."

Dawn shrugged.

"She's going to have a baby. For God's sakes, she at least deserves to see it grow up if she survives the pregnancy! And Alex has been abusing her. I can't let him get that baby. He'll somehow destroy it. She has her shortcomings, yes, but I've come to care about Pumpkin. She's like a little sister to me."

Aro crossed the room in one stride, pressing his hand against Dawn's forehead. She closed her eyes and allowed him into her mind. He saw her initial anger when she realized that Pumpkin and Alex were living with the Cullens. He saw her rage when she would inch closer to Carlisle each time Dawn approached. He saw her initial laughter at knowing Pumpkin was done for, but then the regret and fear. She was no longer afraid for herself, but for Pumpkin. He saw her determination as she held her weeping, frightened cousin and discovered the bite-mark that Alex had left.

"Hmm."

He released his hold on Dawn.

"Can't you forgive her? She's learned from her mistake," Dawn pleaded.

"I have much to consider. I will make my decision when she gives birth."

Dawn nodded and left the room. She did not realize it, but Carlisle had heard the whole thing.

"Dawn?"

She turned.

Her expression was more troubled than he'd ever seen it.

"Hey."

"I heard you and Aro talking."

She didn't answer.

"Maybe I judged you a little too quickly."

Dawn shrugged. She was scared and he could see it. He pulled her into an embrace. She cringed, surprised, but she returned the pressure.

God, if this is a dream, I never want to wake up...he's so beautiful, so caring...too bad it's not going to last....mmm, he smells so good.

"You've changed a lot lately," he whispered, "you've grown up so much."

Dawn couldn't help but smile.

"Does that mean I get a first date?"

"Don't push it."

He was teasing, she could see it in the way his eyes sparkled. Her scent was driving him crazy. They hadn't been in this close of a proximity since she'd been injured in the woods. Her face buried itself in his shoulder, inhaling deeply.

Oh, it's so not fair...if I can't have him, why did I meet him?

It surprised Carlisle that Dawn had gone from the most shallow person he knew to offering her life for Pumpkin's. It was something that....Esme...would have done. That she had done. In that moment, so many emotions flicked through his mind that it made him dizzy. His lips descended on Dawn's before either of them had a chance to think another thought.

Dawn's hearts were both pounding so loud that they seemed to echo in the dimly lit cavern. She melted in his arms, holding onto him for support. Her blood sang loud and sweet in her veins and it drove him wild. Esme's kisses had all been wonderful, but he couldn't ever remember them being THIS intense. Esme's love was like a candle flame, bright, warm, comforting. Dawn's however, was like fireworks: unpredictable, intense, and loud.

They parted and Dawn staggered backward a couple of steps before her back hit the stone wall. She slid down the bricks until she was sitting.

"What are you trying to do, Carlisle, make me have a heart-attack?"

Her scolding tone made him chuckle.

"Relax. I'm a doctor, remember?"

She gave him a Look, but it was a teasing one.

"I'm hungry. Let's go hunt."

The two of them left the city together, but they had to part ways. Dawn went on the search for some wayward hikers while Carlisle went into the woods.

A few wolves and some lost old geezers later, they emerged from the woods looking much better.

"I don't know what we're going to do about Pumpkin," Dawn admitted, "she needs to get energy, but they won't let her out of their sight and she's too miserable to sing."

Carlisle didn't have an answer for that one.

"I can't."

Pumpkin was staring at the floor. Dawn seized the smaller woman and hauled her out of the bed.

"Pumpkin, you're getting out of bed whether you like it or not. You want that baby to be healthy, don't you?"

She yanked Pumpkin's nightgown off of her, leaving Pumpkin shivering in her underwear.

"Here. Put this on. I don't have all day, you know."

She yanked a sky-blue summer dress over Pumpkin's head.

"Well, it's a tad loose, but the baby will make up for that, I'm sure. All right, let's make you pretty. Not that you need the help."

Pumpkin stared at her in shock.

"Why are you suddenly being so nice to me?"

Dawn rolled her eyes.

"I'm high. There, I've said it. Now, come here."

She started brushing Pumpkin's hair.

"High on what?"

Then, Pumpkin caught the second scent and grinned.

"Carlisle! He's here, too!"

"Yeah," Dawn secured Pumpkin's hair with a silver butterfly-shaped clip, "they all came. And I was faking the Carlisle thing before now. He kissed me last night."

Pumpkin's eyes sparkled.

"Congratulations."

The sparkle came and went very quickly. Dawn could tell she was thinking about Alex when her gaze became downcast again.

"Aww, screw Alex. Who needs the bastard anyway? You're in a city full of hot young Italian guys, pulse is optional. Why not enjoy that? You're a Siren, remember?"

Pumpkin laughed.

"I wish I could think like you."

She had transformed to a human form. Dawn dabbed some blush on her pale cheeks.

"It's not that hard, really. Get self-centered, boy crazy, and aggressive and you have me. I think you're done."

A few minutes later, Dawn's band arrived. Carlisle had donated a nice chunk of money to fly them overseas yesterday and some of Aro's cronies had arranged a concert in the city's park in exchange for some tourists. Dawn wasn't crazy about that at all; she and Edward decided to try and catch some criminals to make it less...disturbing. The band was in good spirits.

"Nice to see the two of you getting along," said Courtney, "I was worried you'd keep fighting."

Courtney was the band's keyboard player and she was very perceptive.

"Nah. We came to a mutual agreement," Dawn said, "Pumpkin keeps her paws off the good doctor and she can have whichever other one she wants."

Courtney laughed.

"I can't believe you got us a show in Italy! I can't thank you enough."

"Don't mention it," Dawn said flatly, "really. Now let's get this show on the road!"

Edward waved from the crowd. He'd chosen plain clothes to make himself as nondescript as possible and was keeping track of people for Aro's crowd.

"All right, everybody, are you ready?"

The crowd cheered. The music started in.

(Dawn sang) Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I'm exposed
And it's no big surprise
Don't you think I know
Exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me
To hold your hand
'Cause I'm just a girl, little 'ol me
Don't let me out of your sight
I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite
So don't let me have any rights

Oh...I've had it up to here!
(Pumpkin sang)The moment that I step outside
So many reasons
For me to run and hide
I can't do the little things I hold so dear
'Cause it's all those little things
That I fear

Cause I'm just a girl I'd rather not be
'Cause they won't let me drive
Late at night I'm just a girl,
Guess I'm some kind of freak
'Cause they all sit and stare
With their eyes

(Both sang) I'm just a girl,
Take a good look at me
Just your typical prototype

Oh...I've had it up to here!
Oh...am I making myself clear?
I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl in the world...
That's all that you'll let me be!
I'm just a girl, living in captivity
Your rule of thumb
Makes me worry some

I'm just a girl, what's my destiny?
What I've succumbed to Is making me numb
I'm just a girl, my apologies
What I've become is so burdensome
I'm just a girl, lucky me
Twiddle-dum there's no comparison

Oh...I've had it up to!
Oh...I've had it up to!!
Oh...I've had it up to here!

Dawn caught sight of Carlisle, Jasper, and Alice. She gave them a smile as the song ended. The crowd was cheering wildly. Color had appeared on Pumpkin's cheeks and she looked much healthier now that they'd had some energy.

The set continued for a little while.

"All right. Here's where that lovely mental manipulation of yours comes in handy," Dawn told Pumpkin, "Edward's going to show you who we're getting. You have to make them follow you."

They slipped behind a truck where they wouldn't be seen. Edward closed his eyes and concentrated on their faces. Pumpkin closed her eyes and concentrated on finding them. Then, they bolted towards the tunnels. They could hear several pairs of feet thumping around after them. Aro was waiting.

"Well?" he asked.

"We got lunch to go, so you guys better be fast," Dawn panted. The vampires lined the tunnels, preparing for the ambush. They had attracted quite a crowd. As soon as she heard the movement, Dawn grabbed Pumpkin and clasped her hands over Pumpkin's ears. The entire world went dark for both of them as Dawn closed off all their senses. They didn't hear the screams or the other sounds. They couldn't smell the blood and they couldn't see the lifeless bodies falling to the floor.

Is it over yet? Pumpkin asked.

I don't know, Dawn admitted.

I hate this. My thoughts are racing, I have nothing to focus on, Pumpkin said, sounding panicky.

Dawn concentrated again and they were standing in the middle of a rainforest.

"Better?" she asked.

"Yes. Since when did you get so good at illusions?" Pumpkin asked.

A tiger wandered over to them and Dawn stroked its head as though it were nothing but a kitten.

"Since I had to hide my castle," Dawn said, "remember those ruins about twenty minutes away from the Cullen house?"

Pumpkin's jaw dropped.

"THAT was where you lived? Why didn't I figure that out?"

"Easy. You weren't looking for it. Now, I'll be right back. I'm going to check and see if the vampires are done eating yet."

Dawn disappeared in a flash of light.

Still holding Pumpkin's limp body, Dawn looked around. The environment was once again calm and overly quiet. Trace amounts of blood and venom could be smelled in the air, but the bodies were gone. Dawn breathed a sigh of relief and popped back into the illusion.

"They're done," she told Pumpkin, "I'm bringing you out now."

Pumpkin stirred in her arms, stretching and yawning as if she'd just woken from a long nap.

"That was strange," she commented, "but I'm glad you did it."

There was a sloshing sound as a bunch of ruby-eyed vampires walked past. The sound nearly made Pumpkin sick, but she pushed that thought to the back of her mind.

"Good thing vampires can go a few days without eating," Dawn sighed, "I would hate doing that three times a day."

Pumpkin nodded.

The weeks passed quickly. Dawn got Pumpkin out of the caves as much as she possibly could. One of the Volturi guards was always there, though. Dawn just wanted to roll her eyes. She thought about killing whatever guard there was, but she knew it wouldn't solve anything. Aro would just come after them and she didn't want to risk that. She had made a promise and she would stick to it.

Pumpkin would have made a beautiful pregnant woman if she hadn't been afraid all the time. Her belly curved outward in sharp contrast to her small figure and her skin shone radiantly. Instead of taking away from her charm and appeal, it seemed to add to it. The men that came to see Dawn and Pumpkin sing often wondered if Pumpkin had someone who would be father to the child. Fall melted into winter. They didn't want to admit it, but they were all getting more and more worried. Dawn and Carlisle had pressed Aro for his decision a couple of times, but he warned them not to rush him. The day was drawing closer and they knew it. Carlisle had managed to convince them to bring in medical equipment for Pumpkin. Edward began to communicate with the child.

"I can't tell you whether it's a boy or a girl, but I hear it," Edward told her one day, "it knows that you're in danger and it's afraid for you. It loves you and doesn't want anything to happen to you."

Pumpkin's blue-green eyes filled with tears.

"I told it to be careful when it stretches so that it won't hurt you," Edward told her, "and I suppose now would be a good time to think of names."

She placed her hand tenderly on her swollen abdomen. She wanted so much to be happy for the life growing inside of her, but she was still afraid. As soon as the baby was ready to come out, it would be a death sentence. Without a word, she began to cry silent tears. Edward gave her a sympathetic look and Dawn hugged her.

It was in that moment that Dawn felt horribly guilty of all the times she had been jealous of Pumpkin. She felt guilty for all the times she'd considered sabotaging Pumpkin one way or another. She felt the most guilty for laughing when Carlisle had told her that Pumpkin's life was in danger.

At least there would be one way to make up for it, hopefully. If all went well, her last gift to Pumpkin and the unborn child would be her life.

"Don't cry, Pumpkin," Dawn said, her voice thick with emotion, "she'll hear you."

"She?" Pumpkin whimpered.

"Yeah."

"How do you know it's a she?"

"I just know."

"Dawn, are you crying?"

"No."

"Don't cry, Dawn. It's too hard for me to-"

"I SAID I WASN'T CRYING!"

"But-"

"Don't. Just don't. Ugh, I need a drink. I'll be back."

Dawn closed the door behind her before she allowed the tears to flow freely. Through the hot blurriness of the droplets, she didn't see Carlisle and ran right into him. He caught her before she could fall to the stone floor.

He didn't ask what was wrong. Instead, he just held her. She resisted at first, but couldn't for long. She shook and shivered against his strong arms, then collected herself.

"What's wrong?" he finally asked.

Dawn inhaled deeply.

"The usual. I think Pumpkin's hormones are contagious," Dawn sniffed, causing Carlisle to smile a little.

"How's she doing?"

"She's taking this whole thing pretty hard, but she's tougher than she looks."

"And what about you?"

Dawn didn't know how to answer that one. She stared at the floor.

"I'm scared for Pumpkin. I don't want anything to happen to her."

Carlisle couldn't resist kissing her on the forehead.

"Nothing will," he assured her, "if she has you to protect her."

Dawn smiled and wiped her face with the sleeve of her shirt.

"I'm glad you believe that because I don't."