So...this idea just hit me, so I'm testing it out. It's definitely not the best I've written, but I hope the plot is worth it. Oh, and sorry about the really lame cliffy, by the way. So basically, this is the story of what would have happened if the baby Esme gave birth to was Bella. Esme certainly would never have jumped off of a cliff if she had lived, but she is found by the Edward and Carlisle anyways. Needless to say, the minute Edward sees Bella, Esme is the last thing on his mind.

Childishly Yours

Chapter 1: First Site

Esme POV

I looked down at the baby in my arms. She was so beautiful, with brown hair and bright blue eyes. It saddens me to think that they will not stay that way forever. Her eyes will most likely turn brown, reflecting my own. But whatever her eye color may be, she is mine. For you see, I, Esme Anne Platt Evenson, am a runaway. My husband, Charles Evenson, abused me, beating me within inches of dying.

When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I could not raise a child in that his house. I had formerly resolved that if and when I ever birthed a child, he or she would be raised in a loving household, and grow up in safety. My beautiful newborn may not have all the comfort that she deserves, but I will shower her with affection.

I will not snap, and I will not yell. She will never have any cause to fear me. But most of all, I will never raise a hand to her.

Three Years Later

"Mommy, when we go to eat?" The voice rang out behind me, making me jump. Then I realized it was just Bella. My daughter, at the tender age of three, was still learning her grammar.

I turned around, and my heart filled with the joy I always felt when I saw her. Isabella Marie Platt, or Bella for short, had curling brown hair and wide, doe-like brown eyes. With the childish smile she usually wore, she was the epitome of innocence.

"Soon sweetie, soon," I urged. The truth was that I had no money to get us food. Being a single mother without a job was by no means easy. People looked down on me, walking around with my baby, and so I could never get a job. The end result being that I had to scrounge and pinch to try to make ends meet. Needless to say, this was not easy. The last time I had eaten anything was maybe four days ago. All the food I had found, I had given to Bella.

"But Mommy!" she wailed, holding tight to her teddy, the last thing I had bought with the money we had, "I'm hungry NOW!"

"I know sweetie, I know," I soothed, bending down on my knees to encircle her in my arms. "How about we go look for berries in the forest?"

"Yay!"

She skipped out of my arms, towards the forest path beside the road we were walking on. The ribbons in her hair shone, touched by the setting sun. Smiling tiredly, I went after her. Even though I knew that my husband could never find me and take Bella away, I still don't like letting her out of my sight. As a result of this, Bella is anxious and uncomfortable in the presence of strangers, copying my behavior.

While I knew that the likelihood of us finding anything to eat in the forest, Bella did not. It was the beginning of fall, and the leaves were just beginning to turn colors, but Bella skipped merrily ahead of me, humming her own little tune. Walking behind her, I must have slowed down, and when I looked up from the forest path, she was gone.

"Bella? BELLA?" I cried in panic, whirling around in a circle, trying to figure out where she could have went. I saw one of her ribbons on a bush ahead of me, and darted off the path and into the woods. Somewhere, in the distance, I heard her scream.

"Mommy! Where are you?" she cried, the sound drawing me to her like a moth to a flame. I found her, curled up at the base of a tree, sobbing. I knelt down beside her, reaching out my arms to encircle her small body. Then exhaustion overtook me, and I knew no more.

Bella POV

"Mommy! Mommy!" I called, screaming and crying and wailing out her name. Mommy pitched forward, grey faced, and now she's just lying on the forest floor, face down! What do I do?!

Really, the only thing an unsure two year old in any situation could do. I started to cry.

A little while later, I heard something. Looking up from my mommy, I saw two pairs of golden eyes peering through the underbrush at me. I was so tired and hungry and cold and scared at this point that I just walked towards them, tears still streaming down my cheeks.

Edward POV

I lifted my mouth from the mountain lion I had just finished draining and looked around the clearing I was standing in. There was some…smell, hovering at the edge of my senses. As far away as it was, it was still the most delicious thing I had ever smelled.

Without another moments thought, I was on my feet, racing towards the smell. My adoptive father, Carlisle, looked up at me as I ran past. In the second it took him to identify what I was going after, I was already far away.

His body brushed through the trees as he raced after me. No! This human was my prey!

It was then that I saw her. A small girl, no older than three perhaps, was crying in the middle of a clearing. I couldn't see her face; the curly, dark hair tumbling out of braids on either side of her head obstructed it. She was crying though, it was clear from the wails emanating from her mouth.

Tearing my eyes away from her, I saw the source of her troubles. A woman, presumably her mother, was slumped beside her on the path. I hesitated. Could I really kill this distraught little girl?

My hesitation was all the time Carlisle needed to find and restrain me. Not that it was necessary. The realization that I would have to kill this innocent child to get the blood I craved froze me where I stood. For what could be more monstrous than killing an innocent? This small child, this beautiful little girl had her whole life ahead of her. Who was I to take it away, just to give myself a few moments of pleasure?

No.

I was resolute. I would not take her, even if it meant hurting myself to keep from having her.

Carlisle's voice in my ear brought me out of my reverie. "I know her."

His sharp intake of breath made me look at him. His eyes had gone wide with shock.

"She will die, and soon. From the smell of her blood, she hasn't eaten in nearly five days."

"So what do you propose we do, Carlisle?" I asked, my irritation apparent in my voice, "Change the mother, and leave the girl to die out here?"

Never. My mind answered swiftly for me. Even having just met this girl, I knew I would never allow her to be hurt, or to forsake that which should be most dear to all – life. If I had any say in it, she would live to a ripe old age, and be happy.

"Of course not!" Carlisle answered me. "I think we should change Esme – that's her name," he said, in answer to my incredulous look "And raise the girl – she must be Esme's daughter – in safety with us, at least until we find out if she has any relatives who may safely guard her."

I stepped back, rubbing my forehead. The possibilities of what he was saying pounded on my mind, begging to be let in. I could guard her! Make sure nothing ever happened to her, and raise her safely and happily. She could be mine! The place where my heart should have been gave a jolt at this spot, and I swelled with a love I had not thought myself capable of. Love for the little angel crying in front of us. Yes, I loved her. I didn't know how, or why, all I knew was that I did.

Underneath my feet, a twig snapped. The angel looked up, and I could see her large, lovely brown eyes, brimming with tears. Even with her face red and blotchy from the tears, she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

At that moment, she got to her feet and started to pad her way over to us. I took a deep breath, and walked out to see her.

Lame cliffy, I know, but I'm hoping you guys will like it enough to reveiw and tell me if you think it's a good story. Let me know!