twispitefic

Title: Mommy Dearest

Author: mage_apprentice

Fandom: Twilight

Rating: PG-13

Word Count: 1000 (yes, an even 1000. i'm surprised too.)

Inspiration: Eclipse – Final Thoughts Part 1: The only reason she wanted one is because her best friend’s baby boy was adorable; that doesn’t sound like she wanted to be a mother and experience the joys of raising a child. Instead, it sounds like she just wants a baby, and gives me the impression that, had she remained human, she would have raised the child until it was past the age of being interesting to her before passing it off to someone else and working to have another so she could enjoy another baby.

Summary: One of Rosalie’s children comes back home to see her and the new baby.

There Mother was, singing the little bundle to sleep. She was the image of motherly perfection: blonde hair tumbling down in loose curls, the thin robe draped down her body, and her arms gently cradled the cranky infant. The age lines, the growing collection of fat around her amazingly large waist, or even the gray hairs mixed with those golden blonde locks could not mar this beauty. Her face showed nothing but pure adoration for her youngest child and made the entire room seem to light up, just like it had with every other child she had.

I knew what would happen once that baby started speaking in full sentences. Off to the poor black nurse to be raised, just like the rest of his siblings. Honestly, Mother should give poor Mrs. Jefferson a raise. She did what Mother should have done for me—for all of us.

The infant—no more than two months old, as Mrs. Jefferson kindly informed—whined some sort of sound resembling an “ah.” Mother grinned down and started reciting vowels. It took her a moment to remember that the child needed sleep and go back to singing. Then she continued cradling the child until she turned around towards the nursery’s door.

After the initial shock wore off, Mother met me with a cold glare. “You,” she said, “should not be here. You are more than old enough to have your own family.”

I found it remarkable that she even remembered that I am one of her children, though I doubted that she remembered my name. “Is it a crime to visit the newest member of the family?”

“My son is trying to sleep,” she told me. “Whatever business you have can wait.”

“I am waiting.” I have waited for years.

“You can wait for a few more minutes in the lounge.”

“I believe I can wait here.”

“If you are going to be ornery, then the butler can escort you out.”

“The butler is out.” I reminded her, “It’s his day off.”

“Then Roy will—”

“He’s off with Miss Elson right now and won’t be back until late, just as he had for the past six years.”

Mother’s posture tensed in indignation. She promptly turned about and tucked her youngest son into the old cradle before turning back at me with the most hateful glare she had ever given me or any of my siblings, which, I might add, was a record considering how we would often badger her for maybe a minute or two of her precious time away from another baby or our father. “Lies!” she hissed.

“I don’t lie. You taught me not to lie, Mother.” Then I said, “Or did you? I can’t recall if you even taught me anything besides ‘sit quite while the adults are talking.’”

“He would never!”

“I honestly don’t blame him. Every time he came to you, you seem to return in kind with another mouth to feed.”

“These babies are gifts from God!”

“For gifts from God, you seem to throw them away as soon as you grow tired of them.”

“I’m often too busy to tend to self-reliant children.”

My entire body went cold. “Too busy? Too busy to even drop by Link’s room while Mrs. Jefferson runs herself down to make sure he survives smallpox and make it to the age of ten by next year?”

“And get contaminated by—”

“What about Susan? Did you know that she’s engaged? She sent you a notice—”

“I have yet to receive it!”

“. . . sent you a notice two months ago. The wedding is in three weeks.”

“Then I shall ask her for the details—”

“Details that she included in the notice she already sent you. I doubt you will go, anyway. You didn’t bother with Andrew’s wedding, after all, nor did you bother with Emily’s college graduation.”

“Emily is a shame to the family for pursuing a man’s life instead of settling with the man Roy approved for her!”

“What about David?”

“He is a disgrace as well! Those friends of his ruined him! He drinks more than a fish at the age of fifteen!”

“What have you done to stop this behavior? Absolutely nothing! David started doing all of that to get your attention before it went out of control and yet here you are still doing nothing!”

“What can a mother do when her children have run her ragged?”

How dare she! How could she say that after giving lip service to all of us? My hands shook with rage. The very sight of my foreboding figure cowed her into backing against the crib. “Why are you here?” she demanded.

I remained silent as I kneeled down to grab the candlestick I had set down at the door earlier before entering quietly.

Mother’s eyes widened at the sight of the heavy object. She shouted, “Someone! Help! Please! Roy! Roy!”

“Roy isn’t here,” I told her as I stepped forward. “He’s off with Miss Elson and won’t be back for another few hours.”

“Stop!” Mother abandoned the crib to hide behind the rocking chair. “You wouldn’t hurt your own mother!”

“What does it look like I’m about to do?”

“Th-think of what the authorities will do to Mrs. Jefferson!”

“Mrs. Jefferson will be dead from old age by the time the paperwork is done.”

“Susan invited me to her—”

“She sent that notice out of courtesy. She never expected you to make an appearance.”

“Link! Do you think Link will survive smallpox without his mommy dearest?”

I just shrugged at that. “He survived most of his life without you.”

Any color left in her face disappeared.

It only took one hit.

I tucked the candlestick under my arm as I went to the screaming baby. I picked my baby brother up and gave him promises of love as I walked out the door—promises that I knew I would keep that Mother had never bothered with for anyone.