A/N-Hi there! Welcome to my 'Time's Ticking' story! Thank you so much for taking the time to take a peep at my first fanfiction story! :) I really hope you enjoy this story as I've tried hard to think of what my readers (you!) would like to read. Also, the amazing Stephanie Meyer owns the Twilight Saga and I only own Danielle, Leonardo, Pippa and Nicolas Cara (that's their last name) at the moment. Okay. That's all. Enjoy!

Urgh! I am so sick of my family right now! They're getting on my nerves so much, I feel like yanking on my hair until it just rips out! My stupid little brother found an open bottle of my moronic Papa's beer sitting on the coffee table and being the curious little four year old he is, Leo just had to take a sip, and another sip, and another sip until he finished half of the dreaded substance. I don't know how much harm it will bring him but I reckon he might have a mini hangover tomorrow morning. Currently, Leo is in Mama's arms, bawling his little eyes out.

"Oh my God, Nicolas! You could have kept a better eye on your disgusting drink! Honestly!" Mama shouted. "Look after my drink? Look after my drink!? Geez, Pippa! You should have been looking after Leonardo!" Papa yelled back, his arms raised above his head as if he too wanted to yank his hairs out, or what little hair he has left. I sighed in frustration and got up from my tiny little corner in the sitting room. Discarding my book, The Secret Garden, I hopped up and raced up the flight of stairs. I need to get out of here.

"Danielle! Where are you going?" Mama called above Leo's loud shrieks, stopping me in my tracks. "Up to my bedroom, Mama." I yelled back, walking into my nice bedroom. I could always find some peace in here. I don't know if it's because of my green walls, the numerous books lining my bookshelves or the large window just next to my bed but I always feel safe and calm in my bedroom. I feel free and blissful in here. Or at least I usually do. I jumped on top of my bouncy bed and placed my chin in my hands. I guess I'm a pretty privileged girl. I live in a nice house and I have a good, private school teaching me. I reckon I have a bedroom that any teenage girl in Italy would want. Except for one wall, which was pretty chock-a-block with posters and photos, my three others were entirely books.

Well, there are just three very large bookshelves lining the three of my walls and they took up nearly the entire space so it feels like they are replacing my original walls. I adore reading, you see. Lining my floor is a plain white carpet, my ceiling is white with little luminous stars glued to the top, I own a fancy dresser with a tall mirror in the middle of it and the awesome thing about my mirror, it has little light bulbs lining the edges, making me feel like a movie star when I switch them on! My bed is sort of a simple bed, except for the fact that it's a double! I have a deep blue duvet with cute little dolphins on it, a stack of soft pillows and an adorable little collection of plush toys sitting proudly on top. I let myself fall back and I huddled up with my plush toys. I grabbed my favourite little buddy, Gino. He's a soft little bird who I've had since I was a small infant.

I tell him everything. I told him about how I first heard my Mama was going to have a third baby but aborted it, I told him about how I won a dazzling award at school for having a perfect attendance, heck I even mentioned how I know my scoundrel Papa is seeing another lady. I've only told Gino though. No one else. Papa doesn't even know that I know. I just so happened to see him kissing his little lady friend outside on the street late at night. Mama and Leo were in bed. I couldn't sleep so I stared at the twinkling little stars, lighting up the night sky, out above my window but then I peered down and saw Papa and that woman. Although I could hardly call her a woman, considering the way she was dressed. Anyway, that's why our family is beginning to fall apart. I think Papa is thinking of running off with this woman. He's been drinking more than normal too. Mama knows something is going on with Papa and she's constantly feeling agitated nowadays. I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my Papa calling me.

I raced down the stairs. It's not really a sensible idea to keep my Papa waiting when he's in a mood. "Yes?" I said politely. He suddenly smiled at me. Mama tended to Leo, patting him on the back now that his crying had subsided to a few gentle whimpers. "Here. Go into town and buy yourself something nice. Take Leo with you, why don't you?" Papa said, digging into his left breast pocket and taking out a small wad of Euro. I took it eagerly and stashed it in my short's pocket. "Thank you, Papa." I thanked, keeping up my 'good little girl' charade. Mama looked upon us disapprovingly and reluctantly handed Leo to me. Leo looks an absolute angel right now, with his eyelashes damp with tears and his cute little lips frowned into a pout. At times though, he can be a little devil when he gets sugar into his system. I would know first hand. "Bye." I muttered and lugged Leo properly onto my hip. The arguing started up even before I was out of the front door.

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I have to admit, I'm enjoying myself! The thing I love about living in Volterra is all the nice little trinkets that are constantly being sold along the bustling streets. You can buy all sorts of cute and handy knick knacks here! So far I had bought a lovely shell necklace, a pearl bracelet, obviously fake, a few cute French penny hair ties and a small tube of cherry lip gloss. Yay! I bought Leo a little something too. Just to shut him up. Right now, he's happily sucking on the red pacifier I bought for him, moments ago. He is a bit too old for that kind of baby stuff but he began howling again and he just wouldn't shut up! So for the sake of my ears and everyone else's, I zipped into the nearest chemist and bought him his sucker.

I continued walking up the cobble street, my poor feet beginning to ache. Leo's half asleep now, his head lazily resting on my shoulder. I scurried over to a close by bench as soon as I saw it. I exhaled as I relaxed on the hard wood. I placed my bags up next to me and repositioned Leo, cradling him in my arms. He's fast asleep now. Probably the effects of the beer. Bless the little terror. Quietly as I could, although there wasn't much point trying due to the noisy and familiar chatter going on around me, I peered around in my little bags to take another look at my purchases. Yes, I am quite happy with what I've bought. I barely used up any of Papa's money either. I'll come back tomorrow and buy that darling little jewellery box I really wanted! It was such a fine jewellery box too. It's smooth mahogany with tiny, colourful gems lining the top of the lid. Yes, I'll do that tomorrow. If it's still there. I gently closed my eyes, thinking about that precious jewellery box and how it would sit on my dressing table. I drifted off into a dream.

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A cold breeze blew on my bare legs, raising the hairs on me and causing me to shiver softly. Hmmm. Why's it suddenly so cold? I tried to pull up something around me to protect me from the cold, but there was nothing there. I quickly came to realisation. My eyes snapped open, terror immediately beginning to travel through my body. Leo is no longer in my arms. My bags are there but my silly little brother, gone. His pacifier is lying discarded on the dirty ground. I leaped up, wildly searching around in the dark night.

It mustn't be too late at night as lights are still blazing from the windows of houses. "Leo!? Leonardo!" I yelled, hoping this is just one of his stupid hide-and-seek games. No one called back. I raced away from the bench, my belongings now insignificant, little things compared to the horrible dilemma I'm now faced with. "Leo!" I screeched. What am I going to do? My parents will murder me! Oh, poor little Leo! What if he had been abducted and he was currently being tortured? Terrifying thoughts sped through my head as I raced up the now deserted streets, madly searching for my baby brother. "LEO!" I screamed. Harsh breaths began to flow out of my mouth. I broke down and cried when I didn't get any reply-what I expected but had hoped for all the same.

I drew in breath quickly and just as I happened to avert my eyes from the ground, I caught sight of a tiny figure, huddled on the ground in a small alleyway up further ahead. I gasped and a sudden flare of hope spread through me. I sprinted across the uneven bricks until I reached the entrance of the alleyway. "Leo?" I said quietly."Dani?" a soft and childish voice replied after a few seconds. A wide grin broke out on my face as I ran as fast as I could towards him. I swept him up into my arms and squashed him tightly against my chest. "Oh Leo! You have no idea how worried I was! Why did you leave me!? Anything could have happened to such a little boy like you!" I rambled. "Ow! You're hurting me!" Leo protested. "Oh, sorry." I apologized quickly and loosened my grip on him. "Why did you run off?" I questioned gently. "I wanted Mama so I twied waking you but you wouldn't wake so I twied to go find her." Leo calmly answered.

"Why did you sit here though?' I questioned, peering around at all the muck that's lying about and the mangy rats scattering about. It's such a filthy place for a boy with such an easily penetrable immune system to be. "I was cold and I was scared and I didn't know where to go." Leo said, his guilty hazel eyes staring straight into my blue ones. I kissed the top of his blonde head. "Let's go home then, mate. Mama and Papa must be worried sick!" I turned around and hurriedly made my way out of the smelly alleyway, Leo firmly on my hip."You're lucky you found him before someone dangerous did." A cold, male voice said, his voice echoing quietly against the damp brick walls.

My heart seemed to stop in my chest. A horrid chill ran up my spine. Oh no. I turned around slowly, not knowing who I would face. A hobo? A drunk? A disgusting man with devious thoughts? I saw at the other end of the alleyway a distinct outline of a tall, thin man. I clutched Leo tighter against me as this strange and chilling man began to walk steadily towards us. Oh God.

A/N- That's it! The first chapter! :) Yay! I hope you enjoyed it and stick around as I will be posting new chapters every so often. (I'm so excited!) It would be so very lovely if any of you would review. In stories I've read, people say they won't post again unless that get a certain amount of reviews but personally I think that's not very nice. All I'm saying is, it would make my day and make me much more enthusiastic to write more of my story if I get just maybe a few reviews. It could even just be two words. But if you really don't want to, you don't have to. I adore writing so I will be posting no matter what. :) Feel free to PM me, I check my inbox every day. Thanks for reading and I hope you stick around! Farewell!

-Unicorn360.