Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Based on the characters created by Stephanie Meyer, in her Twilight Saga series of books

WARNING: This story will contains scenes of domestic violence, strong language and other forms of physical violence, up to, and including death.

Chapter 3

Hopeful Changes

Alison saw the short blond girl enter the room. She was very nervous and seemed very sad. Her dress was ill fitted and she looked extremely tired. Alison watched her as she took the empty seat across for her and Vernon.

"It's been a very long and trying day for you, my dear." Savannah offered. "I'm so glad you were able to come down for dinner. Let me introduce you to the family. Of course you've met my husband, Orin Brandon."

The girl looked to the end of the table and nodded to Orin, who only seemed impatient for dinner to start.

"This is my son," Savannah waved her hand to him, "Vernon Brandon, the father. And this," Savannah indicated Alison, "is the mother, Alison." Savannah then picked up May Alice, who woke up at that movement. "And this is the beautiful Miss Mary Alice Brandon." With that said, Savannah handed Mary Alice to this girl. "Everyone," she continued, "this is Callalilly, Callie, Preston. Mary Alice's new wet-nurse."

Alison was overjoyed by this news, and had to work hard to control the laughter that threatened to erupt from her. Vernon's sullen behavior was now explained, and she was glad that she was still able to believe and trust her mother-in-law. But before Alison lost all her manners, she remembered to welcome Callie to their home.

"Callie?" Alison started, "I'm glad you are here. Is your baby sleeping?"

Alison watched as a single tear worked it's way down the girl's cheek. "No, he's not" she told Alison.

"I'm so sorry," Alison felt for the girl, then she saw the wedding ring on her finger, but said nothing more, in case it might cause the girl more pain.

"It's alright," Callie told her. "You should all know, so it's all out there for you to understand." She took a deep breath and looked Alison in the eyes. "The hurricane destroyed our home. My husband and son were killed. Dr Wilton lived a couple houses down from us. He's the one who pulled me from the wreckage. I was staying with his wife, when Mister Orin came looking for a wet-nurse. I have nothing left, so it seemed an offer I could not refuse. My son was one month old. My husband and I had been married for two years. We are...were, not from affluent families, but we...I, am from a God-fearing family. I will treat your May Alice as my own, and help her grow to be a happy healthy baby. If you choose to keep me on as governess for her, we can discuss that at a later date. For now, I am glad my son's milk will go to help a child grow."

"Callie," Alison smiled at the young woman, and felt hope, "I'm glad you are here. I hope you will find solace with my daughter in your arms. And I am very sorry for your loss."

The two women smiled at each other, and then the soup course was being served. Callie rocked Mary Alice in her arm, as she ate her dinner. Alison noticed how easily she accomplished both tasks, without seeming the least bit awkward. The conversation centered on the storm and the damage it had caused. The women ate silently as the two men discussed the needed repairs, and the upcoming visit from the tradesmen that were expected the next day. Alison finished her dinner and nearly fell asleep into her plate.

"Oh, I'm so very sorry," she glanced around her and saw that Vernon was glaring at her. She could see the violence close to the surface.

"Quite alright," his father chuckled. "How could we expect different. After all, you just gave us a granddaughter. I think we can be a tad bit lenient on the table manners front."

"Molly!" Savannah called, and Molly appeared from the kitchen.

"Yes, Miss Savannah?"

"Perhaps you should assist Miss Alison to her room. And show Miss Callie as well. Take your time, Molly. I'll see to dessert." Savannah rose to retrieve her rhubarb pie, and present it to her husband.

Molly helped Alison to rise, promising to bring both her and Callie a slice of a second pie later. It was slow going, but Alison finally made it to the ladies, while Callie used the rocking chair to feed Mary Alice. Molly assisted Alison into her night dress and repacked her for the night. When Alison was finally ready for bed, Molly led her to another room. During dinner, her things had been moved to yet another room, an unused suite of rooms. Alison entered the parlor of the suite and found Callie rocking Mary Alice to sleep.

"Someone is bringing the cradle up, and should be here any moment," Callie whispered to Alison. "Would you like to sit and hold her?"

"Very much," Alison answered. Callie rose from the chair and helped Alison relax into the pillowed rocker, before handing May Alice to her.

"She really is a very good baby," Callie smiled down at the mother and child, for a moment. "Well," she seemed to suddenly remember herself, "Miss Savannah has had some things sent up for me. If it's alright with you, I'll retire to my room." She turned to a door on the left of the door to the hallway. "I'll be right here for the late night feedings. If you want May Alice in the room with me, just knock on my door, and I'll be happy to take her. The choice of the sleeping situation is completely up to you." Callie smiled and retired to her room.

"Molly?" Alison stopped the woman before she left the room. "I thought Callie was being housed in the east wing."

"She was there only to rest and change for dinner. Miss Savannah didn't want you disturbed." Molly had a huge grin on her face. "I think Miss Savannah just wanted to surprise you," Molly added quietly, then a thought crossed her mind, "Oh, I should let you know, Mister Vernon will also be sharing these rooms." Alison's smile faded. "You are to have the room in the center. Mister Vernon will have this room," she pointed to the door to the right of the hallway door "as his bedroom." Molly saw the look of fear and disgust on Alison's face. "We hope that he will spend as little time home, as possible. His mistress has been moved to a small house close by."

Alison breathed a sigh of relief. "One can only hope," she whispered, then nodded to Molly, to go ahead and leave. As she was leaving, the cradle arrived. Alison had it placed near the rocking chair, and placed a sleeping Mary Alice in it.

"Goodnight sweet thing," Alison said, as she carefully rose from her chair and retired to her room as well.

Alison examined the room carefully. She was glad to be back in a big bed, Vernon's boyhood bed had been hard and small. As she sat on the large bed, she was so happy it was of the soft variety. She noticed that all the furniture in the room matched. It all had intricate carving in it's fine cherry wood finish. Alison stood up again, and walked around the room. Her fingertips brushed along the surfaces of the fine furniture. The top of the dresser, along the front of the chest of drawers, the edge of the vanity, even it's cushioned chair. It was all beautiful. Then Alison noticed the smaller chest of drawers and diaper changing station placed in a small alcove in the room. She realized that she was looking at a bedroom/nursery suite of furniture that must have belonged to Savannah, when she had Vernon. Tears filled her eyes, as she understood the depth of Savannah's understanding of her situation. She was trying to compensate Alison for what was to come, by giving her a sanctuary of beautiful things to come to. To hide in.

Alison was back to sitting on the bed, when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," she said without asking who it was. Vernon walked calmly into the room and stopped just a few feet past the door.

"I know that it was not you that had Rita evicted," he started, "But I wish to make myself clear in this matter. I will have my heir! And you will give him to me." Vernon took in a deep breath and pulled himself up as straight as he could. "When I call for you, you will come to my room. There will be no diversions, no stalling for more time. You will obey me in this." Alison saw the anger again, lying just under the surface of her husband's barely maintained calm exterior. "Have I made myself clear to you?"

"Yes Vernon," Alison whispered. "But the doctor..."

"I did not ask you about the doctor." He took a threatening step toward her. "I told you what I expect. That is all you need to be clear about."

"Yes, Vernon." Fear filled Alison again, as she realized that her husband would not give her the six weeks that Doctor Wilton had recommended for her recovery.

"Very good," Vernon turned to leave the room. "Sleep well, wife." Vernon smirked at her, as he closed the door to her room.

Alison slipped under the blankets of her bed, and tried to relax. Tears began to flow to her pillow, as her mind spun at Vernon's threats. She knew he meant every word he said to her. Refusal was not an option. He was going to take her before she was completely healed. All Alison could think about was the pain her husband intended to cause her. She had heard of the death of women who died in childbirth for having children too close together. Even in this new age, medicine could only do so much, if the people involved refused to follow medical advice. Alison fell asleep, dreaming of the deaths of children, the deaths of mothers. She dreamed her own death.

Morning came early for Alison. It was not quite dawn when she heard Mary Alice fussing in the next room. Alison carefully extricated herself from the twisted bed sheets and blankets, grabbed her robe and hurried, as best she could, to the parlor. Callie was holding Mary Alice in the rocker, trying to calm the fussing child.

"I'm sorry, Miss Alison," Callie looked up at her. "She's been fussy all night. I've tried everything."

"It's alright, Callie," Alison stepped to the rocker. "Let me try."

Callie stood and waited for Alison to sit down before handing her Mary Alice.

"She's been fed, though she didn't take much, and she's dry."

Alison rocked and cooed to her daughter, and she slowly calmed and began to suck on her fist.

"Did you have a rough night," Alison whispered to her daughter. "Callie, why don't you try and catch a nap. You don't look like you got very much sleep."

"Are you sure, Miss Alison." Alison nodded to her. "Thank you, I am rather tired." Callie smiled and turned to her room. By the time her door had closed, Mary Alice was calmly sucking her fist and staring up into her mother's eyes.

"Did you have trouble sleeping, my little darlin'?" Alison pulled Mary Alice up to her face and planted kisses along her forehead and cheeks. "I had trouble sleeping too." Mary Alice reached a hand up to Alison's face. Alison caught the tiny hand and gave the palm a kiss, then released it to continue to grab at her face and cheek. Alison sat back and tried to relax with her elbows on the arms of the rocker.

"I hope you didn't have dreams like I did," Alison continued whispering to her daughter. "They were horrible, nothing for beautiful little girls to even think about. You should be dreaming of kittens and ponies. Beautiful boys with charming ways and genuine sweetness." Alison began to relax, with Mary Alice in her arms. After a while, she began to doze off. She dreamed of a black-haired girl who danced and twirled with a big smile on her face.

"What are you doing?" Vernon boomed as he entered the parlor.

Alison startled awake, Mary Alice began to scream loudly, and Callie came running from her room. At the sight of Vernon, she immediately went to Alison and retrieved Mary Alice. With a nod from Alison, Callie retreated to her room, with the wailing baby in her arms.

"You're drunk," Alison observed.

Vernon stumbled over to Alison and leaned down to breath in her face. "Yes, I am. And a lovely night I had. Are you healing well, wife?"

Alison turned her head away from her husband and said nothing.

"Don't you want to know what I was doing all night," he hissed in her ear.

"No." Alison whispered between tight lips.

"I better not catch you nursing that child," he spat at her. "I have need of some of your...delicate attributes." Vernon stood over Alison for a moment longer before turning to retire to his room. Before he closed the door, he turned back to Alison. "And shut that brat up. I want to sleep."

As soon as he had closed the door, Alison hurried, as best she could, to Callie's room to check on Mary Alice. She found Callie sitting on the bed, trying to feed a very fussy and frigidity baby. At Callie's nod, Alison sat next to her and placed a hand along Mary Alice's cheek. She instantly calmed and began to feed ferociously.

"I just fed her a little while ago and she's acting like she's starving." Callie smiled at Alison for a moment, then the smile faded. "I don't think she likes her father very much."

"Isn't she a bit young to think that she may have preferences?" Alison thought the idea was completely without merit, but a part of her wanted to believed Callie. "She's just two days old."

"I don't know," Callie looked thoughtful. "I sometimes wonder if they feel things, hear things, before they're born." Callie threw her head back as if to adjust her hair, and gave a small laugh. "Just me being silly. But I do know that she loves her mother." Callie adjusted her night dress, as Mary Alice released her breast, and handed her to Alison. "There she is. The sweetest baby there is. Sleeping, without a care in the world."

Alison took Mary Alice in her arms and carried her back to the rocker.

"Are you going to try and get some more sleep?" Alison asked, before closing the door.

"No, breakfast will be ready soon. I think I'll just get ready for the day."

"Alright, Callie. I'm gong to rock her for a little while, then get dressed myself. When you go down, will you ask Molly to come up?"

"I'd be happy to help you." Callie told Alison.

"Alright," Alison smiled at her. "Let me know when you're ready. I'll put Mary Alice down then."

Callie nodded and began to gather her things for her bath. She quietly left the suite of rooms for the bathroom down the hall. There she drew her bath and prepared for the day. When she had finished, she drew a fresh bath for Alison, then went down the hall to help her prepare for her bath. Alison was thrilled at the idea of a bath.

"You don't think it's too soon?" she asked Callie.

"I was in a bath by the second day. I was just dying for one. And the warm water really helps with the pain. Just relax for a while."

Callie helped Alison wash her hair and talked to her while she washed herself, then relaxed in the soothing water.

"It is getting late," Alison commented when the water had started to cool. "I should get out of this water." She laughed as she stood.

Callie helped Alison, even though she did feel less stiff. The two continued to chat, and the constant banter kept Alison from being too embarrassed at being naked in front of another woman. It had been different with Molly. Molly was a servant. Alison didn't think of Callie as a servant. She thought of her more as a friend. As she considered this, she thought about Molly. Yes she was a servant, but in the last two days, she had become more. Alison realized that Molly, also, had taken the step from servant to friend, in her mind. She would have to be even more careful in front of Vernon. He was very conscious of the differences in the classes. He would not look favorably on Alison considering either Molly or Callie, as a friend. At this point, she wasn't sure that Vernon wanted her to have any friends.

"Are you alright?" Callie asked Alison.

"I'm sorry, Callie. I was just thinking."

"Thinking very hard, I would say."

Alison shook her head, as if to clear it of unwanted thoughts. She finished dressing and gathered her things to take back to her room. Callie stayed close, even though Alison was much steadier. They both passed through the parlor quietly, more to ensure that Vernon slept undisturbed, than Mary Alice. When everything was back in it's place, Alison carefully gathered Mary Alice in her arms, and the three went down for breakfast.

When they reached the dinning room, Alison found another cradle on a low table situated behind Callie's place. Callie took Mary Alice from Alison and placed her gently in the new cradle.

"I thought this would be so much easier than carrying one up and down those stairs." Savannah smiled as she chose her breakfast from the assortment of breakfast food arranged on the buffet table. "And where is that dear son of mine?"

Alison looked down as she told Savannah, "Vernon appears to be quite indisposed this morning. I doubt he will be available until noon or possibly later."

"I see. " Savannah was tight lipped as she sat down with her plate. "Please ladies, join me. I'm sure Orin will be joining us shortly."

With that, Callie and Alison took plates and chose their breakfasts. They had just taken their seats when Orin Brandon entered the dinning room.

"Good morning ladies," he announced himself. "And how is that healthy lunged granddaughter of mine?" He laughed at the looks he got from both Alison and Callie.

"She's a bit tired this morning," Alison offered, collecting herself quickly.

"And no wonder. She was not sleeping well last night." Orin gathered a large plate of food, and took his seat. "And where is Vernon?"

"He's indisposed." Savannah answered for Alison.

"Indisposed?" Orin looked up from his plate. "What does that mean. This is breakfast. He knows that he is expected to be here. The workmen will be arriving soon, and he is to supervise the repairs to the house." Orin was turning a deep shade of red, as his anger increased. Alison had never seen her father-in-law angry, so she was quite surprised by his sudden eruption. "Molly!" he yelled.

Molly came dashing out of the kitchen. "Yes, Mister Orin."

"Go up and tell my son that he is expected for breakfast. Now!"

Molly looked terrified, but did as she was told. It was only a minute later that everyone heard a crash from the west wing, and Molly come running down the stairs. Tears rolled down her face, as she held her hand over her right cheek. Alison jumped up and ran to her, as she saw the blood running through her fingers.

"Mister Vernon says that he answers to no slave, and that he will get up..." with a look of abject fear, Molly stopped and stared at Orin.

"Say it." He said to her very quietly.

"He said that he will get up when he fu...fuck...fucking well pleases." As Molly finished, she ducked her head, as if to avoid another blow.

By the time she had finished, Savannah was handing Alison a towel to clean up Molly's hand, while she checked the cut on her face. Everyone stood and watched Orin Brandon as he grew an even deeper red, then stood up from his seat.

"Orin," Savannah tried to calm her husband. She placed Alison's hand on the towel on Molly's cheek and went to him. "Orin please. You know what the doctor said. You need to try to stay calm.

Orin simply looked at her and Savannah backed away from him. She gathered the women to her end of the table and sat Molly in her chair. They all watched as Orin kicked his chair out from behind his legs and turned to leave the room. They couldn't take their eyes off him, as he slowly walked out of the room and up the stairs of the west wing. They continued to watch the doorway even though he was long out of sight. The vision of Orin Brandon, angry, was too appalling to allow them to look away.

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