Street lights were rather interesting in her opinion. Electricity was a strange concept all together by her standards - though she was rather curious about it all. The power to create artificial light was enough to make her question what other things the world was going to create in time.

And with time she had been granted the pleasure of observing and witness many aspects of humanity that would ruin the world for any other person. The humans were delicate beings- their stability nothing but a mirage that kept them sane. Without the stability of communities, they would surely crumble. Marion wold have loved to play a grand role in society but fortune did not hold that for her.

Walking through the streets at night was a point that easily promoted the weak strand of order that society held. Night was dangerous for woman, their safety a mirage that was dependent completely on the men they came into contact with - though it did little to bother her as any man would be foolish to try and approach her.

Marion kept her head high as she traveled further and further away from the rich housing. The homes weren't in pieces and falling to bit, but they were not overly extravagant ans secure as they ought to be. They were lived in and warm - echoing with sound and love from the families that lived within.

Jealousy would not be the word to describe how she felt, but it was something akin to the feeling. Immortality was not the life that she had planned for herself but she wouldn't change anything for the life she had been granted with her brother and daughter.

But eternity was endlessly full of the strife and chaos that ensued in the world around her, and Marion prayed à Dieu for a mate of her own - for Estelle and Hugo to find their endless love. She wished for someone with whom she could spend forever, someone with who her eternal love would last and she would have nothing to fear of them being lost to her.

Her thoughts were cut short when she reached her destination. Ringing the bell, Marion beamed at the flustered young lady that answer the door.

"Marion!" Vera exclaimed, confusion clear. The vampire could pick up the subtle increase of her heart beat, and the way the mother tried to desperately fix up her mussed attire.

"Bonjour ma belle," she greeted, easily crossing the threshold into the softlt lit house. "A beautiful home to go with such a wonderful family."

A rosy blush covered Vera's cheeks and Marion found the girl to be completely endearing. Taking in her new surroundings, she was pleasantly surprised to see how well the décor truly was - pieces of furniture that were not rundown but matched beautifully despite being a tad worn in. She wondered if she could get away with purchasing a new, derserved furniture set for the young couple without it being turned away. Around the front room children toys littered the ground and the kitchen held various dishes, both dirty and clean as Vera had surely been in a state of tidying.

"Pour toi," she handed over a serving tray with pasta and a bag full of children clothes - boy clothing that she had specifically gone out and bought for the adorable Henry. "You must take it - I will simply not take no for an answer."

"I couldn't," Vera told her, trying to hand the items back, but the wanting was clear - the instinct to accept what she could not afford for her son warred against the thought of a handout.

"You must. I insist," she stated, waving flippantly. Making way for the kitchen, Marion removed her satin gloves and her coat - hanging them over a chair and moving to the sink.

"Sit," the vampire ordered, pointing at the chair. "You are to take this time to relax and spend with your son. I will deal with this for you."

"Mar-"

"Vera, it has been very long since I have had the chance to care for others such as this," Marion interrupted. "S'il te plait, allow me to do this for you. The clothes, look at them - it gives me a great deal of pleasure to purchase your son clothes because I cannot have children of my own."

The pity on the human's face was nearly instant - the new mother's eyes losing their shine in a second to be placed by a different emotion. Determination set the girl in a new rhythm and Marion could basically see the gears turning in Vera's head. She felt slightly guiltly for having guilted the woman, but not enough to take back what was said - Marion knew that her intent was pure, so that was all that mattered to her.

"Okay," Vera conceded, going to sort through the bag of items.

Satisfied, Marion set herself into motion cleaning the kitchen at a human pace, though in a much more thorough manner as she was capable of seeing what others could not. The dishes were easily done, the movements repetitive and relaxing. It cleared her mind - gave room for her thoughts to wonder.

It was thoughts of Estelle that she found comfort in. As a child, she had always been so happy and joyous - laughing at everything and anything. As a new mother and newborn, it soothed her to know that her little girl was happy.

The shudders were shut firmly during the day - blocking out all possible light. It was the safest way to live at times such as these, and though her good friend Carlisle didn't have much to offer, he had agreed to stay as long was necessary to make sure that the newly born Marion had self control.

And her control was impeccable, the new mother determined to feed solely from animals and to protect her small family at all cost.

Estelle was only a few months old when she let out a high-pitched squeal - frightening her at first but that fear quickly dissipated when the mother realized that it was laughter.

The baby had gorgeous blue eyes that, no matter what, would light up with joy at the sight of her mother - even if her mother's eyes were a horrifying ruby red.

"What is so funny, my pearl?" she had cooed, placing soft kisses to the baby's fingers. "Is it Uncle Hugo? Is he making silly faces?"

Estelle babbled happily to her mother as though the woman could understand. She nodded along in agreement - humming encouragingly to the sweet child.

"Excuse me? I do not make funny faces," her brother exclaimed crossing the room to stand by them.

He had been growing weaker, his sickness prevalent and she had no idea how to stop it. It was far too soon for her to lose him after everything that had happened. They had escaped the danger, made a new home for themselves in a farming district of Belgium - he still had time to grow old and get married. Being only twenty years he had so much to experience.

"You're right, brother," she taunted, "it is your face that is funny."

As though he was aghast, he sucked in a dramatic breath causing the small Estelle to cackle. Peals of laughter bouncing around the room melodiously.

"You are a crazy little thing," Marion whispered, lips brushing against her daughter's cheek. "I would never change a thing about you."

"Marion." Jolting from her memories, she faced a sheepish Vera and a squirming Henry. "Would you like to hold him?"

Her eyes sparkled at the prospect, her hands taking him from the woman with a gentleness she had not conveyed since she was oh so new to this life. He's smaller than Estelle was - her little girl was a rather big baby yet she still grew to be short and petite. Henry was smaller and glowed with a healthy shine that showed it was not due to any circumstances other than genetics.

Brushing her cheek against his, she breathed in the comforting scent of baby powder. He was warm - skin smooth and rosy.

"You are quite the jewel," Marion cooed. Heart aching to be holding a child of her own once again, she sent a thankful smile to Vera.

She hummed old French folk songs, tunes that she had not sang in many years - watching as the boy's eyes fluttered at the gentle tune. The constant beat of his heart, accompanied by the rhythm of his mothers had a warm feeling settling inside of her chest, spreading as in encompassed her in a loving embrace.

Swaying from side to side, Henry rested comfortably in her arms as Marion cared little for the time that passed. She knew it was late and that she would get grief if she was seen out at such a late hour but she hardly thought it appropriate to leave now as she cuddle the little Henry. She had finished the dishes but she wished to clean the rest for the family.

Hearing a squeak from the chair, she glanced over to see Vera fast asleep - the poor woman must have been exhausted as she slumped over the table with tiny clothes dangling from her fingers.

Taking a risk, Marion silently set Henry to bed and carried Vera to her room as well before zooming about the home. Everything was much faster when she was using a supernatural speed to clean the home. She was done everything before Vera's husband returned and was out the house - ensuring the door was locked firmly behind her.

The trip home was slightly difficult - having to avoid the men that gathered in the streets after long hours of work and then drink. Disregarding her brother in the sitting room, Marion went straight up the stairs easily picking up on Estelle.

She gave a brief knock before walking in, finding her daughter sprawled across a luxurious bed with a large book. The bed was unneeded though Estelle enjoyed having somewhere to relax and rest her mind.

"Ca vas?" the mother inquired, stepping close to her child. "What have you done today?"

Estelle grunted as a response, not looking away from the ceiling. Marion sighed placing herself down on the bed next to her daughter.

"I understand that you don't want to be here, je comprends, mais..." breathing deeply, she placed a hand on the girl's golden hair, "Maybe it will be good for us, to spend more time in America. It has been long since we've been anywhere other than Europe. Do you not hear how thick our accents are? We either sound super angry or super sexy."

"Mama!" Estelle exclaimed, laughing at her mother's antics.

"C'est vrais!" Marion replied, her fingers playing with Estelle's hair. "You know I love you, yes? More than anything."

"Je t'aime, maman."

Curling up next to her daughter, Marion began humming the old song from many years ago.

"Frère Jacques, frère Jacques, Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?" she sang, "Sonnez les matines! Sonnez les matines! Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong."

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This is kinda all over the place

Bonjour ma belle: Hello beautiful
Pour toi : For you
ça vas : You okay/how are you?
je comprends : I understand
mais : but
C'est vrais : it's true
Je t'aime, maman : I love you mom
Frère Jacques, frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines! Sonnez les matines!
Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong.: a French nursery rhyme, do I really need to put the translation?

Unedited.

2018-03-03