AN: ok guys, here is chapter 12. it is posted alot sooner then the other chapters have been i am happy to say. i hope you all enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think.


Anna was completely shocked as she watched the two female vampires come into the house carrying so many shopping bags apiece. She did not know what Edward had meant when he had whispered a warning to her but she guessed that it was just a males reaction to the over abundant shopping sprees that some women tended to enjoy, not that she had ever been one of those women before, she had never had the money but even if she had she knew that she would not be one of those women, unless it came to shopping for her children that was.

Anna had gotten the idea that the Cullen's were well off, with how big their house was and how it was decorated along with what was said or rather implied the night before and if that was how Alice and Rosalie liked to spend some of their free time that Anna was now realizing everyone, including her had an abundance of then she was happy for them. She wondered though what else the two women could have possibly needed that would account for so many shopping bags.

Before Anna could even blink both Rosalie and Alice were gone, racing upstairs to what Anna supposed was their bedrooms to put all of their purchases away. A moment later a pair of arms were wrapped around her from behind and hugged her tightly. Shocked Anna turned around to see Alice smiling brightly at her, tentively Anna hugged the smaller vampire back before she was let go and she could only see blond and black flashes as the two women went outside and unloaded more bags before coming into the house and racing back up the stairs. Anna had thought that the bags that they had first come into the house with were a lot but now she could only wonder just how many there were as once more Alice and Rosalie ran quickly outside and then back in again, still heading up the stairs without talking to anyone.

Turning to Carlisle and Esme, Anna was about to ask if the two girls did this kind of shopping often when both Alice and Rosalie came into the living room and stopped right in front of her. "We have a surprise for you, Sam and Ben Anna." Alice said excitedly as she bounced up and down and clapped her hands, her smile stretching a mile wide. Anna looked at the small pixie like vampire in front of her in confusion, she also saw that behind Alice Rosalie went and knelt down next to her children.

"Sami and Ben, would you like to come with all of us and your mommy up the stairs so that your aunt Alice and aunt Rosie," as Rosalie said the last part Anna could see her putting her hand to her chest to indicate that 'she' was aunt Rosie, "can show you a surprise that we got for you?" She said as she stood back up and held out her hands for the two children.

Hearing what Rosalie had said to her children Anna was very confused but before she could start to think about it Alice was taking both of her hands and pulling her toward the stairs. "Please, you did not need to get us anything." Anna started to protest but was stopped as she looked around her to see that everyone was already up and walking to the stairs as well, Rosalie already had Sam and Ben waiting at the bottom of the stairs for her and it was then that she felt a hand press into the middle of her back.

Anna turned around to see Carlisle and Esme standing behind her with large smiles on their faces. "It really is useless to argue with them Anna." Carlisle said as Esme left his side to come up to Anna's. "It is best if you just go with them and see what they have done." Esme said as she too began to lead Anna to the stairs, her on one side of Anna and Alice on the other side. Looking up Anna saw that Rosalie was walking with her children in front of her up the stairs and everyone else was either in front of them or following behind Alice, Anna and Esme.

They did not stop on the second level where Anna knew that Alice's and Rosalie's bedrooms had to be along with Esme's and Carlisle's, they continued up to the third story of the house. Anna became even more curious because the only rooms that were on this floor, that she knew of anyway, was the one that her children had slept in, Edward's room and a small library that Carlisle and Esme had told her about the night before.

Anna was even more shocked and confused when Rosalie had led them all to the bedroom that her and her children had used the night before. Watching as Rosalie opened the door Anna jumped a bit as her children went running into the room shouting and laughing, she could not yet see into the whole room where her children had disappeared to but as she got closer to the doorway and looked inside she stopped dead in her tracks.

In front of her was all of the shopping bags that Alice and Rosalie had just brought home. Some of the bags, Anna could see, were in one corner of the room while others were on top of the bed. Yet others had obviously been opened as there were toys for both a girl and a boy set out on one side of the room, dolls and stuffed animals of all sizes, legos and toy soldiers, there was even a full children's tea set that was leaning against the wall under the window still in its big box, there was even children's books stacked up in three piles that were each two to three feet high.

The actual double walk in closet doors sat open with new clothing hanging on the clothing rods that Anna could see, on one side there were woman's clothing as well as shoes that sat beneath them and on the other side was separated into two parts, one had clothing for a girl while the other had cloths for a boy, again both had shoes that lined underneath the cloths.

Anna was frozen in place still standing in the doorway. She could hear her children marvel and laugh at all of the toys that now sat in the room but she could not seem to be able to move her feet. Closing her eyes and taking a couple of deep breaths Anna slowly looked to all of the bags of new purchases to the two overly excited females in the middle of the room. "Take it back, please." She said in a soft and quiet voice. Everyone stopped and looked at Anna except for her children sense she had said it in such a quiet voice that no one could hear her unless they were a vampire. Looking directly to Rosalie and Alice, Anna said in a voice that was a bit louder, "Please, I cannot accept this, please take all of this back."

Everyone looked at Anna in confusion, though Alice looked at her with a pout firmly on her face. "But Anna, you need all of this." Alice said as she crossed her arms in front of herself. "You and Sam and Ben need new cloths and children cannot go without toys and books. I did not even get all that I wanted to get for you because I saw that you would not take it." Alice said as she walked closer to Anna until she was standing right in front of her. "But I know that you will take this because I have seen it so you might as well except it and not argue with me." She finished defiantly.

Anna was shocked by the little pixie-like vampire. She did not know what to say; on the one hand she did not want to take what had just been obviously bought for her and her children because she did not buy it herself and pay for it herself. She hated to take charity and had never done it a day in her life no matter how hard and tight things got. On the other hand she could see that Alice would not budge on the subject though it was not until her children left their exploration of the newly purchased things and came over to her.

Pulling on her hands, Sam and Ben brought Anna down to her knees so that she was at the same level with her children. "Please mommy, can we keep everything that Aunt Alice and Aunt Rosalie bought us? Please, please." Ben said as he looked into his mother's eyes with a pleading look on his face. Not to be out done his sister put a pout onto her face as well. "Please mommy, you know we need new cloths sense we had to leave all of ours at the old house because of the monsters and all of this new stuff is really, really great. Please can we keep it mommy? Pretty please mommy?" Samantha said as she folded her hands together in front of her.

Anna did not know what to do. Looking at her children and then at the seven other people in the room she could see that every one of them had the same pleading look on their faces. She knew that they were just trying to help and that they had been helping sense the moment that she and her children had met them out in the forest. Looking back to her children Anna closed her eyes and sighed, "Alright." She said and before she could elaborate both her children as well as Alice began to jump up and down and cheer while Rosalie had a smug and happy smile on her face. Quieting her children down Anna continued, "But," she said while holding her hands up, this time looking directly to Alice and Rosalie. "I want to be able to pay you back for all of this. I don't know how yet but I will think of something soon and I want you two to be able to let me pay you back for all of this. That is my condition for letting us keep what you have just bought for us. Please." Anna said though she added the last part with what could only be considered as a plead.


Alice had been so excited as they brought everything in and raced it up the stairs. She knew it would be hard to get Anna to except what her and Rosalie had bought for the new vampire and her children but she was determined to get her to except. Her vision was a bit fuzzy as to the outcome of Anna seeing all that they had bought but Alice was confident that they could get her to except everything for the gifts that it was. If nothing else Alice knew that she was not above using Sam and Ben to get Anna to except that all of the things that she and Rosalie had gotten was actually necessary but that the things that Alice bought in the future was also necessary. Alice smiled to herself as both she and Rosalie finished bringing in everything and getting it all set up to how she had envisioned it.

Coming down the stairs one last time, Alice went straight to Anna while Rosalie went to Samantha and Benjamin. Hearing Rosalie talk to the children Alice smiled brightly up at Anna and after a few moments got everyone heading up the stairs. She could not wait to see all of their faces when they got to the room that was now Anna's and the children's, though she was going to ask Esme if they could turn the basement into another library and bedroom for Emmett and Rosalie so that Edward could move to the second floor and Anna and her children could have the whole third floor to themselves. Alice knew that it would actually be better to have Rosalie and Emmett in the basement because with cement walls it was less likely that they would break so many things when they were, shall we say, intament. Then Sam and Ben would have their own rooms as well as Anna, though Alice knew that Anna would not leave her children for a while yet so it was pointless to even suggest anything until everyone was completely settled in and Anna trusted everyone more. Though Alice knew it would happen soon, she was so excited that she could barely contain herself. From beside her Jasper squeezed her hand and smiled down at her, she knew that he was able to feel her excitement and happiness.

When the door was opened and everyone went in Alice clapped her hands together with a huge smile on her face as she saw the children's reactions to their shopping spree that they had done that morning. Turning around Alice looked at everyone around her, she could see Carlisle and Esme had big smiles on their faces and approved at what her and Rosalie had gotten in their shopping. Edward and Emmett too were happy about what was bought and Jasper was as well, though the look in his eyes said that he was not only happy for what her and her sister had gotten for the newest additions to the family but he was also happy to see how happy Alice herself was. Next Alice turned to Anna only to have her smile fall from her face at the look on her newest sister's face.

Hearing the softly spoken words from Anna everyone looked over to the newest family member with confusion and a frown. Then, when Anna spoke louder Alice began her protest, she knew it was going to take a bit go get her to except but she hoped that her 'little bit sneaky' way, with having Sam and Ben go first into the room and see everything first would help in letting Anna except everything that was bought for her and her children. Alice did not have long to wait either because after she had spoken both Sam and Ben came over to their mother and instantly Alice got a very clear vision of Anna excepting, though there was a condition of her paying them back but Alice knew that after awhile, when they felt more like they were a part of the family that Anna would forget about it or Alice would then be able to talk Anna into the fact that it was a welcome to the family gift and that she should take it as that and speak no more of it. Jumping up and down and clapping her hands, Alice was once more excited and knew that everything was going to be just fine. Alice knew that if all else failed that Anna's children would be able to convince her though she also saw the conversation that would be taking place that night when both of the kids had gone to bed. She knew that she was going to have to talk to Jasper later and make a few phone calls to try and get done everything that Anna was going to ask that night for her new sister, after everything that the newest members of the family had gone through and everything that she could see that they would do for the family it was the least that Alice could do for them.


Anna still did not know what to say for everything that Alice and Rosalie had gotten for her and her children. She knew that they needed clothing and such and was going to ask Carlisle and Esme that night to see how they could either get some of their things from the cottage or how she could get some new things but she did not expect this, though she was very grateful that they agreed to let her pay them back.

Walking more into the room Anna looked more closely at the things that had been bought. She started in the walk in closet and was amazed at the choice in clothing for all three of them. There were casual clothing; some dresses though most was pants and blouses, there were still some jeans and t-shirts as well as sneakers and dress shoes along with boots and sandals. The children's clothing were the same though there were more jeans for Ben then there were for Sam, there were also dress shoes, sandals and tennis shoes too.

Coming out of the closet Anna walked over to the bags that were in the corner and could see that there were socks and underwear and underclothes that would go in the dressers that stood on the other side of the room. There was also a small bookcase that she did not notice earlier that stood in another corner that was for all of the books that were stacked on the floor, Anna was grateful for that because both she and her children were picky when it came to organizing books and were glad that they could do it themselves. Next she looked at the toys that her children were playing with, Ben had a Bumblebee action figure that he was looking very closely at while Sam was holding a baby doll that looked like it came with diapers and a bottle that was supposed to hold real water. She could see next to the doll there were more dolls as well as two boxes, one that said it was a highchair and the other one was a stroller that had to be put together.

Looking to her right Anna could see everyone was by the door and the wall next to the door looking at them with big smiles on their faces and she could tell that they were honestly happy that her and her children were happy and that they could help them and give them things that they thought that she and her children needed. Though a part of her was upset to be taking things like this without paying for it herself, she was also very grateful, not just for the things that were bought that she knew they needed but for everything that they had already done.

With that thought in her mind Anna walked over to Rosalie and Alice and hugged them tightly. "Thank you so much for all that you have gotten us. I did not mean to sound ungrateful because I am not. It's just that I…." before Anna could finish speaking she was shushed by Rosalie.

"There is nothing to be sorry for Anna, we are happy to help and we have plenty of means to do so, trust me." Rosalie said, though leaning down she added quietly into Anna's ear, "it would have been a lot more if I had not been able to rein Alice in a bit." The taller blond said as she leaned back out of the embrace with a smile on her face towards Anna.

Anna could not help but giggle softly before turning toward Carlisle and Esme. Walking over to the heads of the family Anna also hugged first Carlisle and then Esme. "I cannot thank you enough, for everything that you have done for us." She said and struggled to find the right words to continue. Before she could do so though she was interrupted and found that she did not need to anyway for the look in each of their eye's said that they understood completely.

"You have nothing to thank us for Anna. We really did mean it when we said that you felt like part of our family from the moment that we met you. You ARE a part of our family and family takes care of each other, no matter what. Family is always there to help and protect each other. We are just glad that you decided to stay and be a part of our family. We really do think of you as a daughter, even after just a short amount of time and we are over the moon to be able to have the grandchildren that we have always wanted put never thought that we could." Esme said, all the while never letting Anna out of the hug that she had started when she had come over to thank them.

Anna could not help the smile that came to her face as she stepped out of Esme's embrace and looked to everyone that was in the room. 'Family,' that was something that she was not used to having. Granted she had her children and they were her world and a part of her could remember her late husband who was more her best friend then a lover though she remembered she loved him greatly. Looking over to her children who were still quite fascinated with their new toys, Anna let a soft sigh escape her lips as she thought of finally having a whole family, for her children to know what it was like to have a whole family, for them to have grandparents and aunts and uncles who loved them just as much as their mother did. It was something that Anna had always wanted growing up and something that she wished that she could give to her children but it was also something that she knew would never be and so being she tried to not think and dwell on it too much. Now it seemed that what she had desired for sense being young and wishing she could give her children was now within reach to have, for all of them. Walking over to her children Anna smiled at them as they showed her what they had gotten and she pulled them to her, hugging them as tightly as she could without hurting them. 'Perhaps,' Anna thought to herself, 'everything will be ok after all.'


As Anna, Rosalie and Alice began to put everything that was still in the bags into the dressers and getting them organized, everyone else made their way downstairs. Esme went into the kitchen to make Sam and Ben some lunch while Carlisle asked Jasper and Emmett to go hunting once again for Anna, he knew that she would still not be comfortable in leaving her children for any length of time to hunt on her own and the boys seemed to be happy enough with hunting for her for the time being. Carlisle had called the hospital for some time off when Anna had come simply because he knew that they all needed to be there for the newest members of the family, to be able to make Anna and her children as comfortable as possible. He had planned on staying home with everyone for at least two weeks and if more time was needed he could take it seeing as he never took any holidays off and he only took 'sick days' when the sun was shining and even then, because Alice saw it ahead of time, would change his shifts around accordingly to work the night shifts on those days so it really was no days off.

Sitting in the kitchen watching Esme make the children's lunches Carlisle sensed his oldest son Edward come and sit next to him. Thinking of how happy he was that his family was growing and of his newest daughter and grandchildren Carlisle could not help but have a thought come into his mind, something that could be potentially problematic and dangerous. Turning to his son he could see that Edward had been listening to his thoughts and turned to him.

"We are going to have to speak to the wolves about this and our newest members of the family." Carlisle said quietly so as to not let any of the others in the house that were still up stairs hear. Carlisle and Edward both turned as they heard a gasp to find Esme with her hands over her mouth.

"Yes, I know." Edward said with a look of concentration on his face. "But I think that we will be able to wait a while, as long as Anna does not leave the house then they will not be able to pick up her scent. That way we can give it time so that she can adjust and become more comfortable before we have to tell her about the wolves and to also tell them about Anna and the children. You know that when we tell them that they are going to want to meet her and the children, not only so they know the scent to not attack her when they come across her but also so that they know as much about her and the situation as possible. They will also need to see that she is no threat to them and to her children or else they will demand that the children be turned over or sent away and we both know that Anna will not stand for that." Edward said just as quietly as his father.

"I think it would also be a good idea to talk to Bella and to tell her not to mention Anna and the children to them. She is friends with all of the wolves and if she speaks about Anna, Sam and Ben then we will have to confront them before we are ready, before Anna is more settled and comfortable." Carlisle said still keeping his voice to just a whisper.

Edward nodded his head before getting up and heading out to the garage to leave for Bella's house. He knew that he needed to talk to her as soon as possible and as he was walking out of the door he pulled his cell phone out and quickly dialed her number before closing the door behind him. A moment later his car could be heard starting and then racing out of the garage and down the driveway.

Carlisle turned to Esme as he heard her quiet voice. "You don't think that we will have problems with the wolves do you Carlisle?" She said as she put the finishing touches on the two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with some cheese and fruit as well as two glasses of orange juice.

"I don't know Esme, I hope that once Anna and the children are settled that they will be able to listen to us and to let, not only us but Anna as well, tell them of what has happened. I think that some of the elders as well as Billy Black should be there also. I think that they will understand more than the wolves as they are parents themselves." Carlisle said a bit pensively though quickly put a smile on his face to reassure Esme that no matter what he would make it ok.

As Esme took the two plates of food as well as the two glasses of orange juice to the table Carlisle called up the stairs to let his three daughters, 'I can definitely get used to that' he thought to himself with a smile, know that lunch was ready for the children and to hurry and come down.


Alice had begun to put everything away that had to be in drawers while Rosalie and Benjamin began to put together everything that was in boxes for the children's toys. Anna and Samantha began to put away all of the books onto the bookshelves with loving soft touches. Anna was very happy and proud that she had passed her love and respect for books to her children. They always took very good care of books and made sure to never 'dog ear' any pages and to never let them be just strung about.

After everyone had finished their respected jobs, Rosalie with Ben's help putting everything together very fast because of her vampire speed, they all stood in the middle of the room to survey their handy work. Anna turned and once more hugged both Alice and Rosalie. "Thank you, both of you. For everything that you have done for us." She said smiling as both Sam and Ben came and hugged Alice and Rosalie to.

As they had been working they had heard a car leave and Alice had said it was Edward and that he was going over to talk to and see Bella. A few moments after they had heard him leave they heard Carlisle call up the stairs that lunch was ready.

Taking both of her children's hands Anna looked down at them. "Come on guys, I think that Esme…I mean grandma has lunch ready for the two of you." She said, though at the looks on her children's faces made sure to correct herself and call Esme 'grandma'. Her children really had taken a shine to the whole Cullen family and thought of them as their own family, not that she could blame them as she could feel the connection to. It was just a bit harder to get used to having a whole and big family then it was for her children.

With a smile to both of her children they all went down the stairs and into the kitchen. Anna smiled as she watched both Sam and Ben let go of her hands and run to the table, though not before they gave Esme and Carlisle big hugs and thank you's to them as they sat down to eat their lunch. Anna leaned against the kitchen island and smiled as she watched her children eat.

"Thank you Esme." Anna said and smiled at the older woman, well older in years because of being a vampire though Anna was pretty sure that she was older in human years then both Carlisle and Esme.

Standing up Carlisle motioned for Anna to come to the other side of the kitchen. "I had Jasper and Emmett go hunting for you Anna." He said and as he saw Anna about to object he held his hands up for her to wait. "I know you may think that you are not very thirsty but newborns need a lot to drink for at least the first few months and even with your control being as remarkable as it is I don't want you to go for long without drinking. Please Anna, let us do this for you and take care of you. I know that you are not ready yet to leave the children and hunt on your own and that is just fine, we will not rush you into anything, though eventually you will need to learn to hunt on your own. For now it is no trouble for one or two of the boys to hunt for you and bring back thermoses for you to drink, we can do this for as long as you need until you feel comfortable to go and hunt on your own." He said quietly so that the children would not hear him though he had a warm smile on his face.

"Thank you Carlisle, very much. You are right, I am not ready to leave Sam and Ben just yet, it may be quite awhile until I am and I can't thank you enough for doing this for me, for Jasper and Emmett for doing this for me." She said as she leaned forward and hugged Carlisle tightly. Leaning back she gave him a smile before going back and sitting next to her children.

After lunch Anna and her children went back up into their room and picked out books that they brought down stairs and into the living room to read. Sitting on the floor with their backs to the couch both Sam and Ben were soon engrossed into some of their favorite children's stories. Anna stood back a bit and smiled as she watched them read. Turning though she heard the back door quietly open and then closed and knew that Jasper and Emmett had to be back. Looking one last time at her children Anna walked into the kitchen where Esme and Carlisle still sat talking quietly.

"Esme, would you mind going into the living room with Sam and Ben for a moment?" Anna asked as everyone in the kitchen turned to see Jasper and Emmett coming in with two thermoses each in their hands. Nodding her head Esme seemed to understand Anna's silently asked question and that her newest daughter did not want her children to see her drinking the blood that she now had to consume.

Anna watched as Esme walked into the living room and sit down next to both of the children to ask them what they were reading. Walking over Anna hugged both Jasper and Emmett in thank you for going hunting for her. Walking over she set three of the thermoses down on the island before opening the forth one and downing it just as fast as she could without spilling any. She did not realize just how thirsty she was.

As she downed the next two she heard as both Jasper and Emmett go up into what she thought was Emmett's and Rosalie's room and heard the TV and a video game come on and thought that they were playing and just did not want to disturb her children from their reading.

Turning to Carlisle, Anna began to talk quietly while she slowly sipped the last thermos of blood. "Carlisle, do you think it would be ok that when Sam and Ben go to bed tonight that we could talk?" She asked softly.

"Of course Anna. That is not a problem, we can talk quietly enough that they cannot ear us. One of the perks to being a vampire is that we can talk so quietly that no human can hear us, even if they are standing right next to us and we can talk fast enough that our lips do not even appear to move." Carlisle said just as quietly so that he knew that both of his new grandchildren could not hear from the other room.

Smiling a bit wider Anna took another drink before turning back to Carlisle. "Thank you." She said.