empathy

EIGHTEEN

"Here we go, MyLady," Emmett bows while opening the door of his jeep, letting Antonina get out; her hand coming up to grab his as she stares at the big house ahead of them.  

Emmett can hear his family talking inside, most wondering who the girl is while Carlisle just seems to be worried. Edward is translating Emmett's thoughts, trying to get his family to act normal so they don't freak out Antonina and Jasper isn't home yet. He has gone hunting earlier. 

"Come on," he leads her inside, chuckling a bit when she hides behind his legs. "Hello, Antonina," Carlilse smiles gently at her, an expression mirrored by his wife, who leaves to get a glass of juice. They have it just in case. 

Bending down, Emmett's finger lifts the girl's chin gently, sending her a small smile. "Are you alright?" he asks, smiling a little wider when she nods her head before turning to face his family. "That's my family. Edward, Alice and Aurelia are my siblings but Edward is an idiot," Emmett goes to introduce them. "Alice is a little hyper and Aurelia is plain awesome," he goes on. 

"And that's Rosalie," he points to his own wife, who isn't sure what to think of any of this. "The angel?" Antonina whispers to Emmett, who nods with a grin. "Yeah, she's my angel," he agrees. "She's pretty," the girl mumbles. "The prettiest," he nods. "Right after you, of course, my lady," Emmett's face turns into a playful serious one before he turns to Esme, who is just entering the living room again. 

"And that's my mom, Esme," he introduces her. "And I believe you have met Carlisle," Emmett points out, who nods. 

"Are you thirsty?" Esme asks softly, going to step forwards but Carlisle's hand on her wrist stops her. "Let her come to you," he whispers lowly, only for his family to hear. 

Antonina looks at Emmett before shaking her head no, her arms wrapping around his leg when he gets back up. "Come on, I'll show you the house," his arms lay on her arms, waiting for her to pull away before picking her up and showing her around. 

They end up in his and Rosalie's bedroom, murmuring still heard from downstairs, but he pays no attention to them; focusing only on the little girl that is starting to get sleepy. 

"You want to take a nap?" he offers, putting her on the bed, not harshly but abrupt enough to have her bounce a bit; delighted but tired giggling leaving her tongue. "Want stuffy," she states. "Is Teddy in your case?" he asks before telling her to stay here while he gets the yellow suitcase out of his car. 

Making his way back inside, he hurries upstairs; finding Antonina already half asleep and holding on to Rosalie's pillow. Trying to stay quiet, he rummages through her things until he finds the small Peter Pan stuffed animal. 

"Hey, you. Look what I got here?" he crouched down in front of the bed, wiggling in front of her face until she takes it and presses it against her chest. "You want to get changed or are you comfortable?" Emmett asks her. "Comfy," she mumbles, slowly dozing off. "Good night, my lady," he tugs her in before making his way downstairs.  

"Who is she?" Rosalie is the first to speak up. Her voice is not really happy but also not distasteful. She isn't a fan of a human being here, nevertheless, a child as precious and adorable as her, simply because she does neither want to risk exposure more does she want to drag the girl into their lives. 

"Antonina, she's Anastasia's sister," Emmett wraps his arms around her from behind, pressing a kiss to her jaw in an attempt to help her calm down. "The inappropriate one?", "The hot one?" Edward and Aurelia speak up at the same time; Alice hitting her girlfriend's chest lightly. "She was bleeding," Esme observes worriedly; Carlisle resting his hand on her shoulder in comfort. 

--- - ---

Anastasia is glancing around the living room, her breathing scarily even, eyes icy cold and posture unusual straight.  

God, she can't believe she did that, can't believe she called Emmett and can't believe her sister is gone. Though, it's usually for the best. At least for Antonina, she deserves so much better than her as a sister. 

She deserves someone, who is able to protect her; someone, who can make her happy; someone, she doesn't have to be afraid of; someone, who is able to give her the childhood she deserves. Not someone, whose life was over long before she was even born. 

And yet, right now, alone in this house, it feels as though she just lost the last bit her soul had to offer. Anastasia would be lying if she said she's sad, mad or even afraid; she is just numb. Number than she has been in a long time. 

But well, it is what it is. You take one step forward and three steps back. 

Her step forward was Jasper because for a month she has felt as though her life was worth something; simply because he was there and willing to keep on being there. He was so patient and so... he was good. 

And her steps backwards, her steps backwards are losing herself so much she actually called Emmett for help, her steps backwards are giving up her sister because she knows that no matter what she is better off without her, her steps backwards are not seeing jasper anymore for however long it may be, her steps backwards are turning more into her father than she'd like to admit. 

Because despite everything that has happened, there is a bottle of alcohol in her hand, despite everything her vision is getting blurry and despite everything, her legs don't manage to carry her to her room and simply give out in the hallway. 

How could she possibly take care of someone as innocent and precious as her sister? Antonina deserves so much more than her and she deserves so much less than Antonina.