Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of the irrespective 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 14

Patience and Presents

It was still daylight when Alice woke. She looked out the window and saw that it would soon be dusk, so she used her bucket then sat on the mattress to wait for Thane. She hummed a simple tune, as she played with the hem of Thane's shirt. She was hungry, but she knew that he would bring her something. The room began to darken, sucking all light from the room. The jangle of the keys brought a smile to her face. Alice pulled her legs under her, and sat on her heels when the key turned in her lock. Thane entered the room, carrying several bundles in his arms.

Alice started to squeal and clap her hands, but he hushed her quickly.

"Quietly, my child." He warned her. "We mustn't draw attention to ourselves." He dropped the bundles next to her.

"Are we having Christmas?" Alice asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

Thane thought about it for a flash, then nodded. "I suppose you could call it a sort of Christmas. But first you must eat."

Alice watched in amazement, as he disappeared, then suddenly returned with a tray. He set the tray on the floor and watched as Alice looked at it.

"Is it for me?" The doubt in her voice nearly broke his heart.

"Of course it is for you. I do not eat such things. But you must eat slowly." He warned her, all to aware that she had not been given very much food in the lasts several days.

Alice reached for the milk with both hands, and drank half of it before setting the glass back on the tray. She tried the turkey and gravy next, moaning at the flavor as she chewed each bite thoroughly. Thane warned her against opening any of the bundles until his return, and advised her to chew properly, then left her to enjoy her meal, while he went to enjoy his.

Alice had finished her meal by the time he returned to her cell. She smiled at him as he entered her cell.

"May I open a present now?" Her smile was huge but her eyes were sleepy.

"You look tired." Thane told her. "Are you sure you do not want to take a nap first?"

"Oh no." Alice was suddenly very awake and alert. "I'm ready now."

Thane laughed and handed her a bundle. Alice carefully unwrapped the bundle and worked very hard to cut her squeal short. Socks, with lacy tops, fell from the plain brown paper, and into Alice's lap.

"Can I put them on?" Alice picked up the socks, then looked up into Thane's eyes.

"Yes. You may wear any or all of the clothing you will receive, today."

"Oh!" Alice nearly cried. "Clothes!" Her words came out as breathy awed whispers.

Alice took one of the two pairs of lacy socks, and pulled them onto her cold feet. She carefully folded down the tops, so the lace flowed down her heels and over the tops of her feet.

"Beautiful," she breathed.

She looked at Thane, and he handed her another bundle. Again, she carefully unwrapped the bundle, but this time she was unable to stop the squeal that escaped her throat. Instead, she slapped her hands over her mouth and shut her eyes tightly. Thane laughed at the sounds that evaded her hands, and watched as she worked to control herself. She held the dress up in front of her eyes, and clamped her lips shut, as more squeals threatened to bubble to the surface.

He laughed as he helped her remove his shirt, and put on the new dress. Alice danced around on the mattress until she launched herself into Thane's arms.

"I feel like a princess," she whispered into his neck.

"Would you care to continue with the packages, My Lady." He made a point of bowing his head to her, then smiled as Alice giggled at his play acting.

"Yes, please," Alice told him, her hands clasped together, and once again sitting back on her heels.

Thane handed her the third bundle. Alice gave the box a gentle shake near her ear.

"Ooohhh," she sang. "I think I know what this is." She was as careful with it's wrapping as she had been with the others, then pulled the top off of the shoe box. "So pretty," she sighed and gingerly took one of the black patent-leather shoes from the box.

Alice looked around at the dirt floor, then sadly placed the shoe back into the box. She smiled at the shoes and pet them, as if they were the most precious of kittens, nestled in their white tissue paper. She replaced the lid and handed the box back to Thane.

"What is wrong, my little Alice?" Thane couldn't understand Alice's actions. She obviously loved the shoes, but refused to put them on.

"They don't belong on dirt floors," Alice sighed.

Thane understood and smiled at her. "Maybe these would be better, for now." He handed her another shoe box, this one not wrapped in paper.

Alice opened the box and laughed at the tiny black boots in the box. She pulled her legs out from under her, and pushed her feet into the boots. She stuck out her feet for Thane to tie the boots up, one at a time. When she was securely tied into her boots, she stepped off the mattress and began to dance in circles, as she hummed a happy tune.

"Do you know any Christmas songs?" she asked Thane, as she flew into his arms.

He thought for a moment, then realized that he was doing that quite frequently, since meeting this small human. Thinking, that is. She was most certainly going to break his heart, he thought not for the first time.

"No. I don't believe I do." He tilted his head to his left shoulder. "I'll have to see about that." He mumbled, as he handed Alice another bundle.

Alice sat back down on the mattress, and accepted the next bundle. She was very happy to see a new blanket, and a clean sheet for her bed.

"This will keep me very warm," she told Thane.

In the next bundle she found a book, a small set of 15 colors of crayons, as well as pencils, lined paper, and a slate with chalk.

"Are you going to teach me?" Alice was in awe of this cold creature that called himself a monster.

"Someone will have to, my child."

Alice giggled, as he brought in the last of her bundles. It was large, and hard. Alice watched as Thane picked it up by the sides and placed it in the back of the room. Alice wondered why he would place one of her presents in the dark, but she would never think to ask him anything. She was far too grateful for all the things he had given her. She stood by as he disappeared again, then suddenly reappeared at her side. He lit a candle then pulled the fabric off the final gift. Tears immediately flooded Alice's eyes, as she slowly stepped forward and touched the small desk. Her hands slid along the smooth top, then down the drawers. She finally stretched her arms out over the top of the desk, and laid her head on it.

"Mine," she sighed almost silently.

Thane heard her, and smiled. "I have a stool you can use, until I'm able to get you a chair." Alice stood to listen to him. "You will have to hide your things in these drawers," he told her. "Make sure you put out the candle when you are done." He placed a saucer with a candle stuck to it, on the desk. "The candle will be fine, if you push it all the way into the corner. Human eyes can not see into the darkness."

Alice nodded and ran to the mattress to gather her things. She placed them all on top of the desk, then began to sort them into their own drawers. She talked to herself as she worked, jabbering away about learning to read, and write. He almost laughed out loud, as she told the box of crayons that she had just the right kind of paper, to make him some beautiful drawings with. Thane stood back and smiled at her. As he backed to the door, he wondered about the sort of man that could throw away a child as amazing as his little Alice. And he grew angry.

He quietly closed her cell door, and locked it. He stalked through hall in an ugly mood. He was the night keeper, and had his own room away from the stench of the cells. He retired to his room now, and studied the file on his little Alice. What he read did not match with anything that Alice had said. He chose to believe Alice. He thought about her father, and decided that he would have to do something about a monster of his caliber—soon.

He thought about the others Alice had mentioned. He was unsure as to what to do about the grandmother situation. Alice was a seer. Their world would brand her a witch, and she would have a very unhappy human existence. What could he offer her in exchange? Darkness? Sure, she was happy now, but that was because he had just given her gifts. Christmas. Thane stood at the side of his bed, as still as a statue. The possibilities ran through his mind. Many possibilities with a myriad of permutations. He decided that he did not have enough information to make any decisions, at this time. He would have to gain a better understanding of the people involved. But first, the father.

Thane smiled, and his teeth shown bright white in the dim candle light.

#

Alice was sure it was a Sunday. She could hear the organ music and singing from the floor above her. When she knew the song, she sang along with the music. When she didn't, she listened and tried to learn it. It was late morning and she was still awake. It had been a very exciting night for her. She smiled to herself, as she lay her head on her clean sheet, and pulled her warm blanket up under her chin. She hummed until she fell into a dreamless sleep.

She woke to the smell of bacon. Alice yawned and stretched. When her eyes finally opened, Thane was stooped by her bed, waving a tray slowly, near her nose.

"Wake up sleepy head." He smiled at her.

"Oh." Alice said as she sat up. "Your eyes are very bright tonight." She looked at him curiously. "Have you already fed?" She looked at the window slit and saw that it was only just past twilight.

"I ate out today," he told her.

"You did?" She was even more curious. "Did you have a good meal? Where was it? Where did you eat?" She walked with him, as he took her tray to the desk and lit the candle.

"You act as if I've eaten at a restaurant."

"A restaurant? What is that?"

"A place where humans eat, when not at home."

"Oooohhh. Did you eat at a restraunt?"

"Restaurant." He corrected her. "No, little one. I do not eat in such places, remember?"

Alice sat on the stool and looked at the bacon, scrambled eggs, and buttered toast. "Then what did you eat?" she asked.

"I ate a monster, tonight." Thane smiled as he stood straight. His head tilted to the left as he watched for her reaction. "And he was very good."

Alice took a bite of the eggs and suddenly smiled. She swallowed the eggs and turned to look over her shoulder. "You ate my Daddy," she stated easily.

"Yes I did, my child. Now it is time for you to eat."

Alice turned to her tray, and ate her breakfast. She watched her manners and drank her milk. When she was done, Thane took her tray away, and he began to teach her. He found teaching Alice to be a rewarding experience. She was intelligent, and quick. He made sure to stop during the night, to give Alice more food.

He found that he could feed her two meals each night, and leave her some sort of snack to eat during the day. He made sure she had fresh milk with both meals and a cup of cool water hidden on the desk, for later in the day. Her lessons continued between the meals, interrupted only by a short nap around midnight. By the end of the week, she knew her alphabet, and could count to one-hundred. Thane was proud of his star pupil. And Alice loved her Thane.

On the following Sunday, just before dawn, Thane was tucking Alice into bed when she, once again, shocked him with a question. He had leaned down to tuck the blanket around her when she looked into his eyes and stopped him cold.

"Thane?"

"Yes Miss Alice," he said as his fingers pushed the blanket under the sides of her body.

"Will you marry me when I grow up?"

Thane froze. The child never ceased to amaze him. He looked into her eyes and remembered his promise to always tell her the truth.

"No, my child. You are not to be my mate."

"Oh," Alice pulled her hands out from under the blanket, and looked at them sadly. "What is a mate?" she looked at him again.

"My kind, we have mates, like humans have wives and husbands. But my kind only have one mate, for all or our existence."

"Just one?"

"Just one."

"I'm not your one?"

"No, little one. You are not my one."

"Oh." Alice yawned and closed her eyes. She began falling asleep rapidly, mumbling to herself.

Thane listened hard to her sleepy words.

"I want to find my one," she mumbled into her blanket. "Umm...sper" was all that he could understand before she fell into a deep sleep.

Thane looked around the room, confirming that everything was put away and out of sight. He left the room and locked the door, once again chuckling at the mind of his little Alice. He went to the door at the opposite end of the hall from his room. He sniffed at the outside air that blew through the cracks around the ill-fitting exterior portal. Rain. Finally. He smiled to himself. Today he would explore the Brandon women. Then he would decide what to do about his little Alice. As his shift ended, Thane threw open the heavy wooden door and stepped into the light rain. By the end of the day, he would know what to tell Alice about her grandmother. He frowned as he left the house property. The idea of losing his little Alice was not a pleasant thought. But that was something he was going to have to deal with, once he had the information he needed. For now, he was content to know that she was sleeping safely and soundly.

#

Alice slept through the day, waking just before Thane came on duty. She heard the jangle of his keys, and knew he was coming to her room. He never visited the other rooms except to feed, but he always brought her breakfast before he did. She stood by the side of her bed as he entered the room.

"Good morning, my child." Thane greeted her.

"Good morning, Thane." She smiled broadly at him.

She followed him to her desk and sat down on the stool.

"Waffles." Alice moaned in happiness. "I like waffles."

Thane quickly cut the large waffles into small pieces for her. He poured the hot maple syrup over the pieces, then stood back and watched her begin to eat.

"Thank you, Thane." Alice nodded as he reminded her to mind her manners and drink her milk, then he left the room.

When Alice had finished eating, and Thane had removed her tray, he brought a chair in for himself, so he could sit close, while he talked to her.

"Alice," she turned toward him. "I want to talk to you about your grandmother." Alice's eyes brightened, and she began to bounce in her seat. "Please, don't," Thane shook his head slowly. Alice tried to rein in her excitement when she saw how sad Thane appeared. "Your grandmother has died."

Alice sat still, her mouth open and her eyes wide.

"I'm sorry, my child. I was too late with your father."

Alice reached a hand out to Thane, and grabbed his thumb. Her eyes rolled back and she saw what he did not want to tell her. She saw her grandmother fly down the stairs, on the morning she had disappeared. She saw her confront her father, and she saw him get angry. She began to shake as she watched him beat her grandmother, until she was dead on the floor at his feet. She watched as he carried her body out to the back of the house, to the burn pile. And she cried silent tears as she watched her grandmother's body burn, while her father chuckled.

Thane pulled Alice to his chest, as she cried. He watched her come out of the vision, and whispered soothing words to her. Eventually she reached her arms around his neck, and continued to cry.

"I love you, Thane," she whispered into his neck.

When she had stopped crying, he pulled out his handkerchief and helped her blow her nose. He sat her back on her stool and gave her a sad smile.

"I'm sorry I wasn't in time to help your grandmother." He watched her as she worked to calm herself. The strength of this small child constantly amazed him. "Do you want to know about the others?"

Alice nodded, and whispered a soft, "Yes."

"Rita and her son are gone. They live, but there was nothing left of your father's fortune, so she took her son and left town. No one knows where she went. There is speculation that she returned to her family in Louisiana. Callie inherited your grandmother's money. She still lives in the house with Cynthia and Molly. A man named Alexander has returned to the house, and works the grounds." Thane studied Alice's face before he continued. "Alice, my child. They think you are dead. They believe your father killed you."

Alice reached out to him as her eyes, once again, rolled back. This time the vision was short. Alice returned to him and sighed deeply. She stood and reached out for him to pick her up. She sat on his leg, and leaned her head into his shoulder, clinging to his shirt. They sat silently for almost an hour. Thane was uncertain as to how to proceed, but he was ready to try to engage her in conversation again, when Alice sighed again, and pushed herself off his chest. She turned so she could see his face, and gave him a sad smile.

"I can't go back," she told him. "It would not be good for Cynthia. And I would never meet my mate."

Thane smiled at her. "You are a very silly girl, my child. Humans do not have mates."

"I know." Alice climbed off his lap, and went back to her stool.

Thane watched her pull out her school supplies, while a large portion of his mind considered her last statement. It made no sense to him, unless she envisioned herself as one of his kind. Thane refused to think on that topic. He could not imagine any circumstance in which he would turn Alice. Nor would he allow any other of his kind to turn her. Not as long as there was venom in his throat.

The night progressed as normal. Alice worked on her studies while Thane watched over her. He corrected her work as needed, and adjusted her posture when she began to slump over the desk. He helped her to hold the pencil properly, and asked her to draw him a picture as dawn approached. Alice drew a picture of her grandmother, and gave it to him to keep. Thane found a hammer and a couple small nails and tacked the picture to the wooden wall, over Alice's desk. As the sun began to rise, he tucked her into her bed. Alice grabbed him by his cheeks and pulled his face to her.

"I love you, Thane," she told him. Then she pulled her head up off her mattress and kissed him on the lips. She let his face go, laid her head down and snuggled into her blanket.

Thane smiled a sad smile and left her room. He was still troubled by her statement about meeting her mate. The short conversation rolled around in his mind, refusing to keep quiet. It was a puzzle he would not solve today, and was very unlikely to solve it tomorrow. But it would stay with him, and one day he would understand. As he considered that, he realized that he wasn't sure he wanted to understand, not if it meant that his little Alice would one day become a part of his world.

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