Babette didn't see it coming. It never crossed her mind that one day, she would wake up to feel her heart stop beating. It terrified her, and she screamed when she couldn't feel her pulse. Her parent's noticed nothing. No change in her apperance, no change in her behavior, no changes at all. She went completely unnoticed be others, but Babette knew something was wrong. And on that night, as she claimed her first victim, she realized what she had become.

That she was now one of the night children.

The changes were subtle, noticeable only to her. The first affect was her body. She felt as if blood had ran cold, as if ice had formed in he veins. It made her feel lifeless. Then, she felt strength. Even though she felt frozen, Babette could feel herself becoming more powerful. But she shrugged it off, thinking nothing of her physical stature.

The next affect was a bit more... noticeable. As she made her way outside for an evening stroll, Babette began to feel ill. It wasnt the type of ill feeling that you felt when you had a fever. It felt as if she had caught fire, as if she was thrown into a fire. The sunlight made her blood feel as if it was boiling. Babette could swear she felt herself cooking from the heat.

But Babette was a carefree child and wasn't concerned with her issues. But once the third affect took ahold of her, she couldn't ignore it.

Babette was very close with her family. She loved her parents with all her heart, and she always cherished her little sister. But one night, as she sang her sister to sleep, she felt a desire. A desire that she could only quench with blood. And as her little sister slept soundly in her bed, Babette couldn't hold in her need.

She leaned over and gently placed a kiss on her sisters neck, feeling her pulse beat gently.

Babette didn't remember the events that followed the kiss. She didnt recall biting into the girl's neck, or her parents comming into her room screaming as blood dripped onto the floor.

She gasped when her sister's cry reached her ears. Her mother shrieked, looking mortified as Babette covered her blood streaked lips. Her father held a sword to her throat and cursed. Babette didnt know how to react, feeling confused and ashamed, tears running down her face. They stared with wide eyes and shaky hands. She tried to speak to defend herself but the words were lodged in her throat. Her parents didn't waver, too terrified to move.

Babette was a monster, an abomination that needed to be hanged for her crimes. Even her family was terrified of her. She couldnt seem to breathe as she watched her life fade away. She couldnt stay at the place she once called home. She was a Vampire, not a little girl with her family. And she had claimed her own sister as her first victim.

With one last forlorn glance at her parents, she ran out the door and into the night.

~ 300 Years Later~

"Ha ha ha ha! Again! Again! Do the part where he tries to buy you some candy."

"Okay, okay. Wait. Here we go. 'Ooh, you are such a pretty little girl. Would the sweetie like a sweetie? Oh yes, how about some chocolate? Oh yes, please, kind sir. My mama and papa left me all alone, and I'm so very hungry. I know a shortcut to the candy shop. Through this alley. Oh ya, very good. Very good. My it is dark down here. Oh, but you are so beautiful. Such a lovely smile. Your teeth... your teeth! No! Aggghh!'"

Her family laughed as she reanimated her kill. Gabriella smiled and shook her head. "Oh Babette, you are so wicked."

Nazir chuckled, then turned to Festus. "What about you, Festus? How did that last contract turn out?"

Arnbjorn snorted. "Oh, yes, please, old man. Regale us with your tales of wizardry..."

"Ah, the young and stupid. Always mocking the experienced and brilliant. My contract went very well, I'll have you know."

He continued to tell his story while the family listened. Babette smiled to herself. So much time had passed, It felt like a dream. She remembered how it all started so long ago. When she had killed her own sister and her parents had threatened her life. When she ran from her past family and herself, never returning.

Astrid and the rest of the Dark Brotherhood took her in when the rest of the world treated her like a monster. Babette was lost in her life, but they gave her reason. And as the years went by, she became close to each and every one of them.

But they wernt just her colleagues, they were family. And the Sanctuary was her home. And Babette could ask for nothing more. When her own flesh and blood turned her away, the Dark Brotherhood welcomed her with open arms. She couldn't be happier with anyone else in all of Skyrim.

"Hey, Babette." Arnbjorn interupted. "You comming to see the new initiate?"

She snapped out of her reverie. "Hmm? Oh, of course."

And with a small smile on her lips, she hurried to catch up with her colleagues, her friends, and her new family.