Chapter Sixty Nine
Charlotte
When Peter asked me to take a walk with him I knew there was something important on his mind and I had an idea what it might be. After all I was his mate and I knew him better than anyone but I waited to let him bring up the subject. He took my arm and pulled me close,
"You know Charlotte, I never realized how fucking evil people can be until now. I always think of vampires as being vicious but humans take the biscuit. That bastard tortured Bella and the little girl and murdered Bella's parents possibly right in front of her. Why? What did the sick fucker get out of it?"
"A sense of power and authority for starters I suppose."
"Yeah I guess so but a kid, how long do you think Kat had been with him? She has no idea, she can't remember any other life. Can you imagine spending your young life in a cellar, cold and hungry, no clothes, no toys, nothing but the stink and cold food that someone else threw away. It doesn't bear thinking about."
"But you're thinking about it Peter. What's on your mind?"
He sighed and pulled me close for a kiss,
"I wonder what will happen to her if we can't trace her family."
"Child services if she goes back to her world."
He tensed,
"And you think she should go back to her own world?"
"I didn't say that, I'm just answering your question that's all. What do you think should happen to her? Maybe Esme would offer her a home, or Rose. After all they are both good women who love children and have a nice home. She needs a family, a mum and dad, maybe siblings too."
He sighed heavily,
"Yeah I guess you're right…"
Peter
Of course she was right, the kid deserved all that she'd missed in her life, a stable family, someone who knew what a kid needed, parents that would love her. I was the last person who should be thinking about taking on a kid but then I heard Charlotte continue,
"Of course the most important thing is that she has someone she trusts, someone who loves her and she loves back."
"Yeah, she doesn't seem to trust Esme too much but I guess Rose would be a good choice, after all she's looking after the baby. A sister for Kat."
Charlotte
I couldn't bear the sound of sorrow in Peter's voice any longer,
"Of course, she might be better off as an only child, she'd get more attention that way and it's going to be a lot of hard work helping her to fit into the normal world."
"You think?"
"Well she has no idea how to behave and she's confused and scared. It will take a lot of hard work to help her fit in."
"Yeah so she needs someone with plenty of time….someone. like…"
I smiled to myself,
"She likes you."
"I like her, I feel sorry for her."
"She seems to trust you."
"Yeah we did click, she's just scared, no one ever showed her any love, any kindness."
"And you think we could?"
Peter
I turned to look at Charlotte amazed by her question,
"Us?"
"Peter why don't you just come out and ask me."
"Ask you what?"
"If I'm happy to take Kat in as our daughter."
I spluttered,
"Cos I know the answer Char. Rose and Esme always wanted kids, they're really maternal."
"And I'm not?"
"No I didn't mean that, it's just you never talked about kids or babies."
"Did it ever occur to you that I didn't because I knew we could never have a family of our own?"
"No not really. Did you? I mean do you? Think about a family that is?"
"Doesn't every woman. I love you Peter, of course I'd love to have a baby with you though thinking about it I'm not sure the world is equipped to deal with two Peter Whitlocks."
I beamed,
"You thought about it though? Fuck me! So do you think we could take care of Kat? Would you be prepared to? Life would be really different."
"Yes, and that's only if the Volturi allowed it. She couldn't know what we are, not until she's older anyway. But yes, I would be happy to offer Kat a home if she wants to come live with us."
I could have yelled with joy and relief but instead I just grinned and kissed my wife.
"You are one special woman and I am a very lucky man."
she giggled,
"I'll remind you that you said that next time we fight."
I wanted to go straight back and ask Kat but Charlotte urged caution.
"Lets wait until we know what's happening first but you can speak to Carlisle and Esme, we can talk to them. I don't think it would hurt for us to take over her care for now. See how it pans out, if you like that is."
"Of course I do, come on I'll introduce you to her."
Kat was awake by the time we got back but she hadn't come downstairs despite Esme and even Carmen inviting her for breakfast. In the end they had left a breakfast tray outside the door.
"See if you can get her to come down Peter, she seems to listen to you."
I nodded, Esme had no idea how good that made me feel, and Char and I went up stopping outside her door and knocking,
"Kat, it's Peter. Can I come in, I've got someone I'd like you to meet."
She didn't speak but we heard her feet as she ran to the door and flung it open,
"You left me Peter."
I hugged her,
"Sorry Princess I had to talk to my wife, this is Charlotte. Charlotte this is my little princess, Kat."
Charlotte
I could see how much Kat had taken to Peter and I held out a hand,
"Hello Kat, it's nice to meet you. Peter told me all about you, aren't you hungry?"
I lifted the tray and carried it inside the room while Kat followed gripping Peter's hand tightly.
"I thought you'd left me."
"Hey I told you I wouldn't, now come on and eat."
She sat on the bed next to him and I put the tray down beside her.
"Whats your favorite breakfast?"
As I said it I could have kicked myself, did she even have a favorite food or was it just whatever he supplied?
She looked at me very seriously,
"I like cheesy fries best."
"I see, well they aren't really a breakfast food but we can get some for dinner if you like? What do you like to drink? Have you tried a lot of different drinks?"
"No, milk shakes are sour and I don't like the furry skin on them. I liked cola, we got that sometimes left in a cup but daddy gave us water, he said only good girls deserved treats."
"I see, well perhaps you'd like to try something with your cheesy fries later. I see Esme put you out a beaker of milk."
Kat looked at it dubiously,
"It tastes funny, too cold."
Of course, any milk she had was probably sour and certainly wouldn't be cold.
"Would you like me to warn it for you?"
She looked at Peter and he shrugged,
"Down to you princess."
She swallowed nervously weighing up if she said yes would she get a slap for being awkward then shyly nodded,
"Yes please."
"Kat I want you to know that you will always be safe with us, Peter and I, and I promise we will never hurt you or allow anyone else to hurt you."
She looked at me puzzled,
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
"Because both of us think you need that security, knowing you will be looked after and because Peter loves you and anyone Peter loves must be worth loving and looking after."
She seemed to take her her time to think about that before she answered me with a shy smile,
"Can I call you Charlotte?"