Saved By A Bully

Chapter 1 : New Beginning

~ Anastasia's POV ~

I felt someone lay on me and is licking my face for over thirty minutes, but I didn't wake up. Why would I? I was never a morning person. That thing is making soft baby noises and shaking over me. I frowned while thinking about where I am. The ray of the sun hit my face and the sound of birds crisping outside the window indicates it is early in the morning. 

The thing who is on me, rubbing itself against my chest. When the realization hit me, I scolded myself for being this stupid. How could I be so heartless to compare her with a thing? That is not a thing, but a little human. She held my face into her little hands and called, "M....mo...m...my," My heart skipped a beat. This is the first time she called me her mom.

As I opened my eyes, my gaze fell on my one-year-old daughter, Emma who was giving me a toothy smile with her baby blue eyes shining like a pure diamond. She made my day beautiful by waking me up by calling me, mommy. 

Her smile is the only thing that makes me stronger to face any issue being fearless. I know I will not fail no matter what happens. I know I can do this as I have been in a hideaway for years. No one gets a hold of me before and they will not succeed this time as well. 

I kept my right palm on her small back and asked in a hoarse tone, "When did you wake up, Emma? How did you manage to climb on me?" She's very small. I could not get how her small frame climbed on me who was lying just beside me and pawing me like a kitten, licking and rubbing her cheek against my cheek all over. She said something coherent by making small bubbles with her saliva. That chubby little thing.

Lifting myself, I slowly sat on my bed with my baby in my arms. I asked in a soft tone with tickling her little tummy with my forefinger, "Is my baby girl hungry?" She giggled at me. My baby is a little ticklish anyway.

Sighing, I left my bed with Emma in my arms and went to the washroom to brush her hardly thirteen to fifteen tooth which is very precious to me, well, cut the fact she bites me whenever she is angry with me with her those teeth. I brush her teeth and make them shiny and in return, she bites her momma. I sighed.

After doing her and my morning business, I took her in my arms and left for the kitchen. I made her sit on the kitchen slab before taking a step away from her and asked dramatically with bowing my head, "My queen, what would you like to have for your breakfast?" I smirked, seeing her struggling to say the name.

She pouted her small lips and said, "Po...ee...dg...gee." I frowned at her, trying to say I could not understand her alien language. She again repeated with a whine, "Po...re...dee." She puffed her chubby cheeks and her eyes turned teary. 

My heart clenched in pain to see her giving me a doleful expression. I think I went too far with playing with her. Smiling, I asked her, "Porridge?" Her eyes lit up and she nodded her head thrice. I kissed her chubby cheeks before I started preparing our breakfast in front of her. She loves whatever I cook for her, except...

I was about to cut banana and peaches for her, she said out, "Nooooo!" 

See, I told you! I sighed.

She hates fruits on her porridge. 

I looked at her and found she was shaking her head in denial by showing fruits with lifting her right hand. She whined, "Moeeyyyyy, no!"

My heart jumped in joy when she tried to call me by mommy for the second time this morning. But I did not give in to her. I am still going to feed her porridge with fruits. Narrowing my eyes, I told her, "I granted your request for porridge for breakfast and now you have to eat fruits as I listened to you, Emma Ivanov."

She gasped and her eyes widened as I called her by her full name. She knew I was serious and not going to fall for her emotional trap. She tried to melt my heart for the last time with innocent eyes, "Pweeseee."

Please! I snorted at her. Sticking my tongue at my baby, I began cutting fruits and then I fed her by taking my time and later I handed her a milk bottle to drink like an obedient little girl which she did where I started gulping down my coffee and porridge before I started preparing her lunch as I have to leave for my work as a waitress in a nearby restaurant. Emma was giggling to see me running here and there all time.

I hurriedly took a shower and packed Emma's bag with her two pairs of clothes and diapers with her lunch, two water bottles, and a milk bottle before leaving our home after locking the door. I began walking with Emma in my arms to the next-door neighbor's home with her bag on my back. My heart says to take her with me wherever I go, but I can't take her to my workplace. It always happens when I have to leave Emma alone before leaving for my daytime job. I took a shaky breath before ringing the calling bell of that home. 

The door opened and there was standing a woman in her fifties with a warm smile on her face which vanished the anxiety and an unknown fear from my heart and my mind engulfed with peace beside gratefulness to her. I can't imagine how I could manage my work and my baby at the age of seventeen years old mine. Seven months ago, if she did not approach me with her helping hands, I don't what I have done by now. It is not easy for a teenage girl like me to handle everything on my own, but I didn't give up.

I was lost in my thought when greeted me with her soft tone, "Good morning, Ana." I looked at her and greeted her back, "Morning, Aunt Lina." My baby also greeted her, "Moiiinnnn, Graneeee." My eyes widened with surprise and awe. How? I thought to myself. I looked at aunty Lina who was laughing softly to see my dumbfounded expression. 

She took my baby from my arms and kissed her cheeks while she was giggling. My baby is ticklish, you see. They both looked at me and giggled and laughed at me. I pouted at them sadly. They both teamed up without my knowledge. How unfair! I am her mother and look at her! I fumed.

Aunt asked me with a knowing look, "Did she call you by mommy this morning?" I was beyond shocked. How? I couldn't find the exact word to tell her at that moment. Emma was giggling to see my dumbfounded expression. That naughty little girl!