Chapter 7

Carlisle found Marcus in the study, reading silently as usual. The ancient hasn't changed much since Carlisle left the Volturi, still being the one who had more compassion and mercy than Aro and Caius combined. It was a shame that he lost his wife to none other than his brother Aro himself. He sure did prove to be loyal, for Carlisle would've left the second after the leader of the coven killed his mate.

"I know you want to talk, Carlisle." The ancient muttered and closed the book, "We've lived under the same roof for a while centuries ago, after all."

"Marcus, I never doubted your gift in sensing bonds but -"

"But you're wondering if I didn't make a mistake this once?"

Carlisle nodded, "I just never thought it was possible for a baby to be a blood singer."

"Just like we never thought it was possible to have half-human, half-vampire children," Marcus added.

"I don't know how it will work out." Carlisle sighed, "Demetri will feel bonded to Grace as Edward did to Bella, but what about Grace? She's too young to form that big of a bond with someone. A baby can't fall in love."

"She will feel attached to him." Marcus explained, "As she grows up, little Grace will more often seek comfort with him. You mustn't keep them apart, Carlisle. You saw what happened to Edward and Bella when they were separated. I've known Demetri for years and he's the gentlest member in the Guard. He's reasonable, polite and loyal to anyone he cares about. I'm very disappointed that his thirst has gotten the best of him the other day, but I still count on his calm nature. The only advice I can give you is to give Demetri a second chance. He'll think twice before letting it slip through his fingers again."

The door to the study opened and Esme peeked in, "Carlisle, Demetri wants to see Grace."

Anyone could tell that both covens were on their guard as Demetri entered the family room, his face expressionless. It felt like the day at the clearing all over again, except this time they were protecting Grace and not Renesmee. Rosalie held Grace close against her, not showing any signs of wanting to hand her over to the tracker. Emmett and Jasper were at either side of her with Edward close by to read Demetri's thoughts, in case he would lose control. They all knew that he wouldn't kill or harm Grace on purpose, but take the fact that her blood appealed to him in every pleasurable way possible, they were cautious that he might forget to hold his breath.

Speaking of breaths, everyone was holding theirs as he came closer and closer to Grace.

Demetri stopped two feet from Rosalie and looked from her to Grace, "I have no idea how to hold a baby."

Esme smiled compassionately and carefully took his arm to lead him closer to Grace, "None of us did. It was a big adjustment for all of us, especially for Emmett and Jasper. But we'll show you. Come."

Esme showed him to the sofa and took little Grace from Rosalie. Demetri shifted uncomfortably as the child came closer to him.

"Open your arms." she instructed him, "Use your right arm to support her head like a pillow, and your left to support her lower body. That way she won't slip or fall."

Demetri did exactly as she told as the lightweight was placed in his arms. At first, he sat there with his back stiff and all his muscles tense. How could the Cullens do this every day without feeling uncomfortable? Or even crave the blood that rushed through her veins? He shifted again, but this time to hold her more comfortably, moving her head a little upwards so that it was now resting on his bicep. Grace seemed new to this position but found his Volturi crest necklace too entertaining to care. She grabbed at it and examined it carefully, letting her tiny short fingers turn it over and over.

"She likes necklaces, buttons, anything that's close to your neck and in her way of reach." Edward explained after reading Demetri's thoughts, "Oh, and hair. She adores hair."

The tracker took the advice and lowered his head, his face inches from her small one. Grace's hands immediately dropped the crest and shot up to his hair. She softly tugged on the spiky strands and ends and giggled excitedly at the new feeling. After her tugging on almost every strand of hair he had, she took a new interest in his fingers and wrapped hers around his thumb. Demetri felt a strange warmness in his chest when looking into her crystal blue eyes that stared at him in total awe. How could something so innocent be destined to end up with something like him? A monster isn't enough to describe him.

He looked up to the Cullens, "I'll try."

He didn't need to specify what that meant. They all knew that Grace worked her magic on him and he was finally under her spell. Demetri leaned back against the sofa, finally gaining comfort. Grace let go of his thumb and also decided to get comfortable. She snuggled her head under his chin and was lying flat on her stomach on his chest. Without further hesitation, he wrapped both his arms around her small form and remained that way until she was fast asleep.

"It's better." he spoke softly, "I can control it."

Esme nodded, "We'll give you a moment. Someone just has to stay here though, no offence but we're just protective."

"You go." Marcus said, "I'll stay with Demetri."

The Cullens, along with Felix, left the living room to go do what they want, hunting being the biggest part of it. As the ancient sat across from Demetri and Grace, he couldn't help seeing the bond that already formed between them. He was indeed never wrong.

Emmett turned the stereo's volume louder as his favourite tunes bounced off the walls of the manor. Grace was, as always, in her ball pit, throwing rainbow balls around and hitting the back of Emmett's head several times.

"I probably shouldn't have taught you that," he muttered as he felt another hit.

He was about to get up to let her out but didn't see the balls behind him. He stepped on four of them at the same time and was sent flying backwards as he fell on his back. To top it, he hit his head on the TV display unit, causing two PlayStation consoles and the TV remote to crash on his face.

"Ow," he muttered, as if he actually felt the pain, because let's be realistic here, that would've hurt like stinking hell.

Rose rushed in at vampire speed after hearing the noise and found her mate just lying there on the floor. Looking at his surroundings, she quickly pieced the puzzle together and saw the actual picture.

"Looks like you've had a taste of your own medicine, Mr Emmett Cullen." She smirked and crossed her arms, "That'll teach you not to teach children your childish games."

"But that was darn cute, though." he smiled and lifted his head to look at a grinning Grace, "Proud of you, princess."

Rosalie seemed to notice Grace in her pit for the first time, "Have she really been in there for almost an hour?"

"Uh... maybe?"

"Sweet hell, Emmett! Babysitters put the babies in a ball pit and forget about them. You were supposed to play with her."

Alice and Jasper joined the room, despite the still blaring music. Jasper took a detour around the coffee table and turned the volume down to normal, before joining Alice on the floor next to Grace. In a blink of an eye, she was taken from the pit and in the pixie's arms.

"Is Emmett a bad example for you?" she cooed and placed several kisses on Grace's pink, puffy cheeks, "Should Jasper teach him some manners? Yes, I think he should."

Jasper smirked and ambushed Emmett by throwing a rainbow of multicoloured balls at him, leaving him no time to take cover or to plead for mercy.

"Okay! Okay!" Emmett begged as he covered his face, "Man, was I that annoying?"

"Worse," Rosalie admitted and joined the trio on the floor with Grace.

Grace seemed to have noticed the circle forming around her and pushed herself up from Alice. Her wide blue eyes surveyed each face and met Jasper's eyes across from Alice. She wanted to go to him instead, but couldn’t reach him with her short arms. The next happened very fast. She let go of Alice's shirt, which supported her weight and balance and took off for Jasper. No, not crawling or sailing, but actually walking!

The four vampires were too shocked to speak as they observed the tiny person making her way clumsily and unevenly to where she wanted to be. Jasper caught her as she reached him and only stared at her in awe, forgetting the whole fact that the rest were also still looking at them.

Emmett was the first to snap back to life as he rubbed his eyes out of habit, "She- she walked? Grace walked. Woah, wait a minute, Grace walked! Where's the rest of the family when interesting stuff actually happens?! Grace walked everyone!"

Words couldn't describe how fast the others piled into the living room. First Carlisle and Esme, followed by Demetri, Edward, Bella, Renesmee, Marcus and Felix. They all crowed around them in anticipation to see their beloved Grace walk again. The circle instantly became bigger when they joined them, except for Marcus, who preferred the couch.

"Alright, Gracie." Jasper spoke slowly and gently to her, "Will you walk again?"

He turned her around so she could see all the faces that were concentrated on her every move. Even when he was a mind reader, Edward couldn't see to whom she'll go because of her buzzing thoughts. She had a hard time choosing who to walk to; Carlisle or Esme, who were like her parents, Renesmee, her sister by choice, Rosalie, who she was very attached to, Emmett, the one who never seized to make her laugh, Alice, the one who steals her away from everyone to turn her into a dressing doll, Bella and him, who treated her like a second child, Or Demetri, who she was supposed to share a strong emotional bond with?

Marcus' gift was once again proved strong as Grace slowly walked to Demetri. He seemed just as surprised as the rest of the family when she chose him as her next destination. She stumbled a little here, lost her balance a little there, but eventually reached him. He caught her before she could fall with her final step and caged her small form in his arms. They remained that way for over two minutes, little Grace in his arms and his head on her tiny shoulder. Carlisle couldn't help but smile at the gentleness a Volturi guard could display. If it was Alec or Jane, then the situation would've been awkward. But with Demetri...

Emmett had to ruin the moment and ushered a soft "awe" at the cuteness of the two, "I could almost tell you'll be couple of the year one day." he snickered, "Now let her go. She needs to walk to all of us."

If he didn't want to prove his loyalty to the Cullens, Demetri would've definitely attacked him that very instant. Instead, he reminded himself that Grace was still present and hesitantly let her go. Her eyes darted through the faces once again. She left Demetri and walked unevenly towards Carlisle and Esme, who both seemed relieved that she chose them next.

"I think it's enough walking for one day." Esme smiled lovingly at the baby that felt like her own daughter, "Let's go give you a bath."

Alice jumped up excitedly and followed Esme up to the nursery with Rose and Bella close behind. All golden eyes suddenly fell on the tracker, who was staring at Grace while Esme carried her farther away from him. He didn't notice them until Felix cleared his throat and got his friend's attention.

"What?" the tracker asked.

Felix snickered and made googly eyes at him, "Oh, nothing..."

Demetri growled and pushed himself up to retreat to his room, "Idiots."