AN: here is chapter 14 everyone. i have chapter 15 finished and am starting on chapter 16 but i want to stay a chapter ahead so when i have chapter 16 finished then i will post chapter 15.
i know that so far in the story it has been kind of slow but i promise that it will pick up. i still dont have a Beta so please please bear with me on the spelling and grammer. it would mean a lot to me to be able to know what everyone thinks of my story so far so please i ask to review. it will help me to better my story.
thank you,
Anna
Just before dawn Anna decided that she would take a nice hot shower before her children got up. Walking over to the dresser drawers she picked out a pair of underwear with a matching bra that Alice had bought yesterday before going into the walk in closet and picking out a pair of jeans and a pretty long sleeved dark blue blouse that buttoned up in the front. Looking at the jeans and blouse she saw that they were a size 6 and a small and wondered how on earth they were going to fit her sense she was used to wearing at least a size 16 in pants if not a size 18 to make it loose and comfortable and a size XL in shirts to a 2XL to make them nice and large and comfortable to lounge around the house in. Granted there were times when she went down to a size 12 in pants and a regular large in cloths when her sickness caused her to lose weight but she would always gain it back. Though she did not think that she had lost that much weight but then again she never really looked in the mirror so far sense she had been there.
Deciding to just trust that Alice knew what she was doing when she had gone shopping yesterday morning Anna went into the bathroom and, making sure that the bathroom door was open so that she could hear her children if they got up, she started the shower and got two towels out of the linen cupboard and jumped in under the spray of water that was as hot as it would go.
Anna was grateful to see that there was strawberry scented shampoo and conditioner as well as ivory soap and some children's two in one shampoo and conditioner for her children as well. After spending about twenty minutes under the water just enjoying being able to get clean after the last couple of days Anna finally got down to washing her body as well as her hair before she turned off the water and stepped out, making sure that she got as much of the water out of her hair as she could before she threw a towel around it and dried off the rest of her body. Peaking out of the door real quick Anna made sure that her children were still sleeping peacefully before put on the cloths that she had picked out. Surprisingly all of the cloths fit perfectly, the jeans were just a bit snug but standing with the bathroom door closed, so that she could see herself for the first time in the full length mirror, Anna let out a soft gasp. Looking back at her in the mirror was a beautiful woman with still damp hair that hung past the middle of her back with some coming over her shoulder to fall well past her breasts that she knew would be a medium light blond when fully dry. She had lost a lot of weight when she was turned and now had a very nice slim figure with slight curves at her bust and her hips, her face had slimmed down and seemed to radiate with soft unblemished skin and did not have the slightly sunken in look from being sick for so long, though there was slight discoloring under her eyes that looked like she had not gotten any sleep but it was not too noticeable. Over all, for the first time in her life Anna could say that she looked very pretty, except for the color of her eyes. Her eyes had always been the one feature about herself that she had always liked, they used to be a green that would change to blue at times and again to hazel, but sometimes her eyes would turn teal and almost seem to glow. Now Anna could see that her eyes were red though she could see that they were lightning a bit to an almost orange and remembered the first night that they were here that Carlisle had explained that newborns always had red eyes as did vampires who fed from humans but that they would change to look just like theirs after a month or two from drinking the animal blood. She was just glad that it did not frighten her children, with eyes that looked too much like the monsters who had done this to her, for her sake.
Opening the door back up Anna then turned to the sink and counter and, opening one of the drawers, found a brush and began to brush out her long hair. Making sure that it was mostly dry and completely tangle free Anna went back out into the bedroom and back into the walk in closet to get a pair of tennis shoes, going to the dresser drawers and getting a pair of socks she made her way over to the rocking chair and sat down putting everything onto her feet.
Looking out the window and seeing that the sun was now all the way up over the horizen Anna got up and sat on the edge of the bed and gently shook both of her children awake. "Come on sleepy heads, it is time to get up and get ready for the day." She said, smiling as both of her children slowly sat up and rubbed their eyes.
Getting up Anna went to the dresser again and got out a pair of underwear for both of her children as well as two pairs of socks. Laying them on the end of the bed she then went into the closet again and got out a pair of jeans and a tee shirt for her son and a really pretty long sleeved light blue dress for her daughter. It was getting warm in the late mornings now and Anna knew how much her daughter loved to dress up and wear dresses and she also knew that there had been far too little times that her daughter had gotten to wear them so she thought that it would be perfect for her to do so now, with all of the beautiful dresses that Alice and Rosalie had gotten the day before.
Having Ben play with one of his new toys for a little bit Anna went and ran a bath for her daughter. Coming into the bathroom and closing the door part way Anna helped Sam get undressed and into the bath tub, helping her daughter to get all washed up and to wash her hair. After about fifteen minutes Anna had Sam out of the tub and dried off though keeping the towel wrapped around her she had her daughter go back into the bedroom to get dressed while she brought her son into the bathroom for his bath.
After running another tub full of clean water Anna got her son quickly washed up and then dried off. Having Ben stand in the bathroom Anna quickly went into the bedroom and grabbed his cloths as she saw that Sam was already dressed. Telling her daughter to pick out a pair of shoes from the closet Anna took her son's cloths back into the bathroom and quickly got him dressed before leading him back into the bedroom and into the closet for him to pick out his shoes as well.
Once they were all dressed for the day Anna took their hands and they made their way out of the bedroom and down the stairs into the kitchen. Anna was surprised that she did not hear much noise coming from the house but she did smell food being cooked as soon as she had left her bedroom. Coming into the kitchen Anna could see Esme cooking pancakes as well as having some cut up strawberries and peaches in two small bowls.
Going and helping to set the table for her children Anna came up behind Esme and hugged her. "Thank you for this Esme, but you don't need to always do this. I can make their breakfasts, lunches and dinners Esme." Anna said with a soft smile on her face. She did not want to make Esme have to do all that she was after everything that she had already done for her and her children.
"Nonsense Anna, I don't mind at all. Really. I love cooking and it is so nice to have more people to cook for then just Bella." Esme said with a smile on her face as she took the now finished plates of pancakes over to the two children who were sitting at the table eating their fruit. Going back to the island Esme quickly poured two glasses of orange juice and took them to the table as well.
"Thank you Esme." Anna said as she took a seat at the table next to her children. Esme just smiled back at her and took her own seat next to her and across from Sam and Ben.
Looking around the quiet kitchen Anna turned her attention back to Esme. "Where is everyone this morning?" She asked quietly so that her children did not hear. Looking over to them Anna was happy to see that they were too busy eating to take any notice of the quiet question that their mother had asked their new grandmother.
"Well, Carlisle, Jasper and Alice already left about an hour ago to head into Seattle and Emmett and Rosalie went out hunting about thirty minutes ago and Edward is still over at Bella's house." Esme said just as quietly though with a smile on her face as she reached over and patted one of Anna's hands that was resting on top of the table.
Even though Esme's voice was just as quiet as Anna's had been both of her children perked their heads up with anxious looks on their faces. "Did you say Bella grandma?" Sam asked as she finished swallowing a bite of pancake.
Esme smiled at seeing the anxious faces on both of her new grandchildren's faces. "Yes I did baby, why do you ask?" She said with a smile still on her face.
"We like Bella, can we see her again. Please, please." Ben said while clasping his hands in front of his chest. Looking at her brother Sam copied him with the same look on her face as well.
"We would really like to see her again grandma. She was so, so nice to us when she was here the other day just after we first met you and grandpa and our new uncles and aunts grandma. She said that she would like to come and play with us if it was ok with everyone when we were eating dinner and talking with her before. Do you think that she would like to play with us today grandma?" Sam asked while looking between Anna and Esme.
Esme looked over to Anna and spoke very fast and quiet so that Sam and Ben would not hear her. "Would that be ok with you Anna? I can call Edward and see if he could bring her over in just a bit. It is Monday but the kids don't have school today due to a teachers in service day, I know that Alice said about working with you on your gift this afternoon but Bella could come over and you could meet with her more and then this afternoon she could help play with Sam and Ben while you and Carlisle and Alice and Jasper are working with your gift." She said.
Anna thought about it for a moment. She did like Bella when she first really got to meet her after they had all come back to the house from the forest and her children seemed to really like her as well with how they were talking so adamantly at the table while they ate that first night. Smiling Anna nodded her head to Esme, she would also like to apologies for the what had happened out in the forest when she had first come upon her and Edward.
Turning to her Children Anna smiled. "Let's have your grandma call Edward and see if he would like to bring Bella over this morning shall we." Anna said and smiled as she got shouts of joy from her children.
Sam turned to her mother. "It's Uncle Edward mommy, Uncle Edward." She said to her mother putting emphasis on the 'Uncle'. Smiling Anna just shook her head at her daughter before holding her hands up in a 'surrender' position and nodded her head to show that she understood of the correction that Sam had made.
Still smiling, Anna watched as Esme got up from the table and made her way to the other side of the kitchen to where the phone sat in its cradle on the wall. Anna watched as Esme dialed the phone and spoke quietly into it though still quite clear to Anna's hearing before turning her attention back to her children as she watched them finish their breakfast. When they were done Anna picked up their dishes and took them over to the sink and began to wash them before Esme got off of the phone and told her that she could do it. Anna wanted to be able to do something instead of having everyone do it for her. She felt bad that she could not do the normal things that she would do for her children like make them meals and clean the dishes and the house, especially now that she had the strength and energy to do so.
Smiling she had just put the last of the, now clean, dishes into the dish rack to dry when Esme came up next to her. Seeing her smiling face Esme smiled as well knowing that Anna wanted to be able to do something to help and was able to while she had been on the phone.
Motioning for Anna and the kids to follow her Esme led them into the living room and sat down on the couch. Anna sat next to her while Ben climbed up into her lap and Sam climbed up into the surprised yet happy lap of her new grandmother. Watching as Esme put her arms around Sam and give her a slight hug she turned her attention back to Anna and began to talk. "I spoke with Edward and he and Bella were just having breakfast at her house. When he asked if she would like to come over today she laughed and said that she would love to come over and play with two of the cutest children that she had ever seen." She said as she made sure to say exactly what Bella had said on the phone. "She would also like to be able to meet you more properly and get to know you Anna." She added while still holding Sam to her on her lap.
Both Sam and Ben began clapping their hands and cheering that they would get to see Bella again and talking about how nice she was when they got to meet her for the first time the other day.
"I also wanted to tell you," Esme started looking down and smiling at her granddaughter who was still in her lap. "That you and your mother look very beautiful today. Do you like your new dress that Aunt Alice and Aunt Rosalie bought for you Sam?"
Anna watched as her daughter smiled up at her new grandmother. "Oh yes grandma, I just love it. It is so pretty. I have never had a dress like this one and do you know what." She heard her daughter say. Watching as Esme smiled and shook her head she then watched as Sam leaned up and cupped her hand over Esme's ear to whisper to her though Anna could hear everything just as clearly as if her daughter was whispering her words directly into her own ear. "When I went to go and pick out my shoes, there were tons and tons more pretty dresses hanging in my closet to. Isn't that so neat!" Her daughter exclaimed happily.
"Hey, what about me grandma!" Ben said from Anna's lap while crossing his arms in front of himself for being left out of the conversation.
Anna watched as Esme giggles softly. "You look very handsome as well Ben." She said smiling as Anna could see Ben puff out his chest and smile back.
"Thank you grandma." He said happily. Anna just smiled and shook her head at her children's antics.
Sam looked up at Esme again and smiled. "My mommy bought me this really, really pretty dress that we were saving for Easter grandma. It was a light pink and that is my favorite color as well as purple, but pink is my most favorite color though. We don't get to dress up a lot but mommy said that it was a special day so that we could. Did you know that the Easter bunny hides the eggs that we make all over the yard and then hides Easter baskets for us as well." Sam said smiling widely and talking excitedly.
"It sounds like a lot of fun. I bet you looked like a princess in the dress." Esme said with a smile as she hugged Sam closer to her.
"Ah-uh, that is what mommy said as well." She said though all of a sudden she got a pensive look on her face.
"What is wrong baby?" Anna said looking at her daughter. "Are you ok?"
"Yes mommy, I was just thinking." Her daughter said as she turning her attention back up to Esme. "Grandma, do you think that the Easter Bunny will find us here at our new home with you and grandpa?" Sam asked worriedly.
Anna did not know what to say but smiled as Esme answered her daughter. "Of course the Easter Bunny knows that you are here. We can make Easter eggs here with everyone and the Easter Bunny with hide them just like at your old house as well as Easter baskets too." Esme said smiling at both Sam and Ben.
"Thank you grandma." Sam said as she hugged Esme. Not to be outdone Ben got off of Anna's lap and went to hug Esme as well. Anna could not help but smile at her children and the woman who was quickly becoming like a mother to her.
As everyone was getting ready to leave that morning Esme kissed Carlisle before he, Jasper and Alice could walk into the garage to head into Seattle. Once she had done so she quickly hugged Jasper and watched as he followed her husband out of the door. As she hugged Alice though she heard her daughter remind her of what the family had over heard her talk about with Anna before she had come down the stairs after Anna had gone back up into the children's room after their family meeting the night before. Nodding her head she watched as Alice left as well and quickly heard Carlisle's Mercedes and Alice's porch start up and head out of the garage and down the driveway.
A few moments later Emmett and Rosalie came out of their bedroom dressed in their usual casual and faded cloths that they always went hunting in so as not to get any of their other cloths dirty or ripped and torn. Smiling Esme remembered the fight that Rosalie and Emmett had gotten into years ago because Emmett would always get his nice clothing destroyed in his hunts as he liked to 'play' with his food before he would finally eat, especially with the bears that were his favorite to hunt. After getting scolded and threatened with no 'play' from his wife, Emmett quickly learned to never wear his nice new clothing that his wife and sister would always shop for and get him and instead began to wear old and faded jeans or sweats and old shirts that were kept strictly for hunting.
Waving at her son and daughter Esme watched Rosalie and Emmett leave out of the back door. Smiling she looked up the at the ceiling and wondered when her newest daughter and grandchildren would get up. She did not have long to wait however as about fifteen minutes passed before she heard the shower start running and knew that Anna had to be in the bathroom and that soon she would be getting her children up and ready for the day as it was already dawn and the sun was coming up. Humming to herself Esme set out getting everything out that she would need to make pancakes for Sam and Ben and started to slice up some fresh strawberries and peaches. She would wait just a bit longer until she heard the children up before she started making the pancakes so that they would not get cold before they came downstairs to eat them.
Esme smiled as she thought about what her and Carlisle had discussed last night once everyone went their own ways after the family meeting that they had all had. They were not going to tell anyone just yet to make it a surprise but she had a feeling that Alice already knew and that Edward would know before too long. Carlisle was going to make a little side trip while he was in Seattle after he was done with all he had to do at the bank and after meeting up with Jasper with all of the papers to make sure that Anna's money from her old bank account could be transferred into a new one under her knew name of Anna Cullen. It would take about a week at the most for hers and Carlisle's surprise to be finished but she could not wait to see the looks on Anna's and her grandchildren's faces when it was done.
Humming to herself it was not long until she heard Anna finish with her shower and then heard her getting her children up to get ready for the day. Getting the batter made up and getting the griddle heated, Esme set about getting the rest of breakfast finished up for her grandchildren so that when they came down the stairs they could eat.
After her new daughter and grandchildren came down the stairs and Sam and Ben started eating Esme had begun talking with Anna. She could not help but smile at seeing Anna come down the stairs with some of the new cloths that Alice and Rosalie had bought for her and she looked just beautiful in them. She could already see Anna's eyes changing color from the deep red that all newborns had to a soft orange color and was so happy that her daughter was taking to this life so fast and easily. Though her eyes were changing a bit faster than they normally would Esme could not help but keep the smile on her face as she thought that it was only fitting seeing as how Anna seemed to do everything fast. Her change had happened fast, her control seemed to be very fast as it was as if she had been a vampire in this life for a hundred years or more, it was only fitting that her eyes would change fast to. Esme also hoped that Anna would be able to uncover all that her gift was and be able to control it just as fast as well.
After answering Anna about where everyone had gone she was surprised that both of the children seemed to hear some of what they were saying as they perked up at hearing Bella's name. Though she hand to hold back her laughter at seeing them get excited over the prospect of seeing Edward's mate again. Looking over to Anna and receiving her answer Esme quickly got up and went to the phone on the other side of the kitchen to call Edward to see if he would like to bring Bella over today.
The phone rang only twice before it was picked up and she heard her son on the line. 'Hello Esme.' Edward said. Talking fast and low enough so that the children could not hear in case they had already made plans for the day Esme began talking with her oldest son.
"Hello Edward, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something." She said.
'Of course Esme, is everything alright?' He asked
"Of course it is. Carlisle, Jasper and Alice have already left for Seattle and Emmett and Rosalie are out hunting. The children are eating their breakfast and Anna and I were just talking. But that was the reason that I was calling." She said as she turned back and smiled at her daughter and grandchildren before turning back to look out of the window that was in the kitchen. "I was wondering if you and Bella had anything planned for this morning and afternoon."
'Not really, Bella is just eating some breakfast now and we had just thought to hang out for the day sense we don't have school. Why, is there anything you need us for?' He asked and Esme could hear Bella in the back ground asking if everything was alright.
"Tell Bella that everything is fine dear. I was just calling to see if you and Bella would like to come over here for awhile. Anna and I were talking just a bit ago and when I mentioned Bella's name both Sam and Ben became excited and wanted to see if they could see her today and play. Apparently the other night when Anna and the children joined us and as they were eating Bella was talking to them and told them that she would love to see them again and to play with them. Do you think it would be ok? It would also help that as Alice and Carlisle wish to work with Anna about her gift this afternoon that Bella could help watch the children and play with them so that Anna can focus in trying to figure out and control her gift." Esme said as she waited to hear Edward ask Bella what she thought.
'Hold on for a moment Esme.' Edward said as he told Bella what Esme had said. It was only a moment later that she heard Bella exclaim that she would love to and that she would like to get to know Anna some more sense she was now a part of the family.
Esme guessed that Edward had told her some of what had been going on and that Anna and the children would be staying with them and was now a part of the Cullen family and was happy that Bella was not jealous or anything that they had new members to the family that she was becoming a part of as well. She could hear Edward come back to the phone from talking to Bella.
'Of course we can Esme, we will be there in about a half hour. I would also like to be there for when Carlisle starts to help Anna with her gift as well.' Her son said before saying a quick goodbye and hanging up the phone.
Turning around Esme smiled as she saw Anna finishing up the dishes from the children's breakfast. Walking over she could not help but give her new daughter a hug before taking her, Sam and Ben into the living room and telling them what Edward had said.
Esme could not help but smile as Sam talked about the tradition they had for Easter and told herself that they could do the same thing here as well. She also told herself that she would talk with the boys later to see that when they went to Anna's house in Idaho if they could get the dress that Sam had told her about. She knew that Anna must have saved for awhile to be able to buy her daughter that dress and knew that it was very special to not only Sam but to Anna as well and she knew that they would like to be able to have it back again.
She could not believe at how well behaved both Sam and Ben were and was quite proud at how well Anna had raised her children. She knew that they did not have much from the way that Anna had talked and that instead of both of the children being envious or jealous of the things that they didn't have they were instead very grateful for what they did have.
Esme looked over to Anna and smiled as she saw her daughter talking quietly to Ben. Hugging Samantha to her for a moment Esme picked her granddaughter up and placed her next to her mother and brother. "I will be right back." She said as she walked towards the stairs and then raced quickly up them and into her room that she shared with Carlisle.
Coming back into the living room she set out some blank paper as well as some coloring pencils that she used when she was designing down on the coffee table in front of the couch that they were sitting on. "How would you guys like to color?" She asked to Sam and Ben.
"Can we grandma?" Sam asked her with a big smile on her face. "I love coloring so much."
"Me too grandma, me too." Ben said not to be out done by his sister as he looked up at Esme with a hopeful look on his face.
"Of course darlings, I went and got you some paper and colored pencils." She said gesturing to everything that she had just put on the table. "Go ahead babies." She said smiling.
Both children gave a cheer and immediately sat down on the floor in front of the coffee table and began to color, taking one piece of white paper each before putting the rest of the paper off to one side for later.
"Thank you Esme." Anna said from her left as she turned to see a big smile on her new daughter's face. "They love to color and draw and I was thinking of making a list and seeing if we can maybe go shopping after Carlisle can get my money transferred over so that I can get some more things for them that they love to do." She said to her and Esme almost started to cry and she began to realize just what her daughter and grandchildren have had to go through. Not just being attacked by creatures that were not supposed to exist but to then have to leave everything that you owned behind when you had to run away to try and get away from those that had just attacked you to try and keep your family safe.
Leaning over Esme pulled Anna to her and hugged her tightly. "There is nothing for you to thank me for sweetheart. Don't worry honey, we will all go shopping very soon and I will make sure that you get everything that you and the kids need and want when we do." She said softly as she pulled away a bit and cupped Anna's face in her hands as she could see that she would be crying as well if she was able to.
Leaning back into the couch both Esme and Anna watched as Sam and Ben kept coloring for about twenty minutes or so until both women looked up at hearing a car coming up the driveway and knew that it had to be Edward coming home with Bella.
Even though Anna and Esme could hear Edward's car coming up the drive way Sam and Ben couldn't and they were so engrossed in their drawings that they did not hear when the car came to a stop right in front of the house. It was not until the door opened and both Edward and Bella walked in did her children take notice that someone was there.
Looking up Anna watched as Sam saw Edward and Bella first. With a loud shout of joy Sam went running to Bella and hugged her around the waist. "Bella, you're here, you're here. Did you come to play with us?" Sam said excitedly talking a mile a minute which caused Bella to laugh.
Ben, hearing his sister's shout looked up and went running just as his sister had, only he ran to Edward first. "Uncle Edward, your back and you brought Bella with you. Are you going to play with us?" Ben asked at the same time that his sister had spoken to Edward.
Edward laughed right along with Bella. "Yep, a little birdie told us that you and your sister wanted Bella to come and play with you so I brought her to you so that you could." He said smiling and ruffled Ben's hair a bit.
Before Bella could even get a word out Anna had to laugh as her daughter pulled Bella into the living room as Ben did the same with Edward still talking a mile a minute. "It is going to be so much fun Bella. I can show you what Aunt Alice and Aunt Rosalie bought for me and Ben and mommy and we can have a tea party and have lunch together and everything." Sam said and Anna was pretty sure that her daughter did not even breath as she was talking so fast to Bella. Bringing both Bella and Edward farther into the living room Anna watched as they led them to the coffee table to show them their drawings that they had been working on before they had arrived.
Anna laughed along with Esme at her children's excitement with having Bella there. Standing up Anna walked over to Bella and gently pulled her into a hug. Out of the corner of her eye she say Edward stiffen up a bit and wondered as to why he would do that but put it out of her mind as she let go of Bella and smiled at her. "Thank you for coming Bella, you made quite an impression on my children the last time you were here and they just could not wait for you to come back and play with them." Anna said smiling softly to Bella.
Bella smiled back at Anna. "They are really great kids Anna, they are so sweet and I would love to be able to come and play with them." She said a bit shyly though Anna could tell that she meant what she had said.
Looking over to Esme Anna glanced to her children really quick and then back to Esme, asking a silent question and Esme seemed to pick up on as she nodded her head. Turning back to Bella and Edward Anna asked quietly. "Would it be alright if I talked to both of you in the kitchen for just a moment?"
"Of course Anna." Edward said as he nodded his head to his new sister. Smiling slightly Anna nodded back and the three began to walk into the kitchen only to be stopped short before they had taken a few steps.
"Wait, where are you going." Sam asked getting up from the coffee table to walk over to Bella, Edward and Anna.
Kneeling down Anna took her daughter's hands into her own. "Mommy just needs to talk to Uncle Edward and Bella for just a moment and then I promise I will bring them right back here ok." She said smiling reassuringly to her daughter.
Smiling back Sam nodded her head. "Ok mommy. But don't be too long cause I want to show Bella the drawing that I made for her ok." She said though the last part she leaned closer to Anna and whispered making it look like she did not anyone else to know. Anna smiled at her daughter and nodded her head.
Seeing Sam go back to the coffee table to keep coloring with her brother and Esme, Anna led Edward and Bella into the kitchen and took a seat at the table. Edward and Bella followed suit and sat down as well.
"First I wanted to apologies to you Bella." Anna said softly as she watched Bella give her a confused look. "I know that I talked to Edward a bit about this and he has maybe explained a bit about what has happened to me and my children but." Here Anna took a deep breath. "I wanted to apologies for the other day when I came across you and Edward in the forest. For what we had just been through, I was very scared and worried for my children and myself. I … When I saw you and Edward, I only saw someone like the ones who had done this to me and saw him with someone who I knew to be human. My first thought was to protect my children and then to protect you because I thought that he would do to you what had just been done to me. I did not understand then of what the people who attacked me and my children were or what I now had become and…." Anna put her head down trying to find the right words to say what she was meaning. Feeling pressure on her hands that were resting on top of the table, Anna looked up to see that Edward had put his hands on top of hers.
"It's ok Anna. We both understand what happened. You don't need to apologies for anything." He said quietly, squeezing her hand softly to show his support.
Anna looked from Edward over to Bella when she heard begin to speak. "Anna, Edward told me of what had happened to you and your children. That three nomads had come to your home, attacked you and turned you. I can only imagine how scared and confused you were and it was only natural that when you came across me and Edward in the forest that you would think that he was trying to hurt me and want to help. Want to protect me and your children from someone you saw that was similar to those who had hurt you. I don't blame you at all. I am very glad that you did come across us though because now you have wonderful people to help you and your children and I don't know anybody more perfect to help you then the Cullen's." Bella said, though Anna watched as the girl before her blushed and looked down. Anna could not help but smile at that.
"Thank you, both of you." Anna said softly. Edward just squeezed her hands a bit tighter to show his support.
"You are different Anna." Bella said shyly and Anna could not help but be confused at that statement. "From what Edward has told me about newborns, well, you are not like how they are supposed to be and I am glad. I can tell that you are a great mom and I am so sorry for everything that you have had to go through. If there is anything that I can do to help, please just let me know. I can take you shopping if you would like because as you will soon find out." Here Bella lowered her voice to a whisper. "Alice can be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to shopping. I can even watch Sam and Ben if you would like for when you have to go hunting or out or something. Only if you are comfortable with that, that is." Bella added the last statement quickly.
"Thank you Bella, that means a lot to me." Anna said standing up and pulling Bella into a hug. She hugged her tightly but tried to remember not to hug her to tightly though feeling Bella wince a bit Anna let go and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry Bella." She said softly.
"It's ok Anna, you did not hurt me, I promise." Bella said smiling reassuringly. "Why don't we go back into the living room." Bella continued as she began to walk into the living room.
Just as Anna was about to follow Bella, Edward took a hold of her arm to stop her. "Thank you Anna, you did not need to apologize for anything but I thank you all the same." He said softly.
"I did need to apologize Edward, with everything that happened I could have hurt or killed you and I could not have lived with myself if I had done that. And to think that after everything that happened out there you and your family still took me and my children in, gave us a home and support and understanding. I can never thank you or even begin to repay all of you for what you have done for us." Anna said softly but sincerely while looking Edward in the eye.
"Can I ask you something Edward?" Anna said and after receiving a nod from Edward she continued. "Can I ask why you flinched a moment ago in the living room when you and Bella first came in and I gave Bella a hug?"
Here Anna watched as Edward put his head down as if in shame, it confused Anna greatly. "I am sorry about that Anna. You see Bella's blood smells very, tempting guess you could say, especially to me. I sometimes forget that you are so new and yet, with Bella, I sometimes forget how much control you have. I just…." Edward said keeping his head down.
Anna walked up to Edward and pulled him in to a hug. "You love her very much, I can see it in your eyes when you look at her. You want to protect her and you are a afraid sometimes that, with me being so new, that I might suddenly crave human blood and attack her." Anna said as she stood back a bit and put her hand up to lift Edward's chin so that he was looking at her. "I understand completely, I would do the same, or worse even, to someone who could possibly hurt my children. You have nothing to be sorry for Edward and I make this promise to you now. If I even do feel that craving, if I ever feel myself start, I will tell you, if anything I will shout it in my mind and I want you to do anything and everything to get not only Bella but my children away as fast as you can alright. But know that I would never ever do anything to hurt Bella and you know I would rather die than to ever hurt my children. I don't know about this gift that I have but whatever it is allows me to not take notice at all of human blood and I can't think of how that would change. But I don't blame you for one minute of being cautious though." Anna said and once more she hugged Edward. Just before she turned so that they could go back into the living room Anna heard a quiet "Thank you sister" from Edward and smiled softly before the two of them rejoined her children, Bella and Esme.
It was two hours later and Anna, Bella, Edward, Sam and Ben were in the living room while Esme was making Bella, Sam and Ben some lunch when Carlisle, Alice and Jasper returned home from their trip to Seattle.
Sam and Ben had Bella coloring with them on the coffee table again and all three were laughing while Anna and Edward sat close by on the couch smiling at the three. Hearing a two cars coming up the drive way both Anna and Edward stood up and looked out the window to see who it was. Anna looked over to Edward as he whispered to quietly for the humans to hear telling her who it was and she relaxed a bit though she knew what their coming home would mean. It was time for her to train to see what her 'gift' could do.
Looking back over to Edward Anna tried to focus her thoughts so that he would hear her. 'Edward, can you watch Sam and Ben for a moment so that I can go and talk to Esme?' She thought to him. Seeing him nod in return she knew that it worked. Edward had told her earlier that most of her thoughts did not come through for some reason, just snippets here and there was all he could ever pick up, so she was trying to find a way to let him hear a bit better, well when she wanted him to hear her better that was.
Moving quickly with vampire speed Anna made her way into the kitchen where Esme was just finishing up with lunch. "Can I talk to you really quick Esme?" Anna said softly.
"Of course Anna." Esme said as she stopped what she was doing to give her newest daughter her full attention.
"Would it be alright if you stayed in the house with Sam, Ben and Bella while Edward, Alice, Jasper, Carlisle and I go into the back yard to train. I don't want them close by incase something goes wrong. I want them safe in the house but I…" Anna said as she trailed off. She did not know how to put into words that Esme was so far the only one besides Carlisle that she really trusted at the moment with her children. She knew that no one here in her new family would ever hurt her children but she still did not like to be away from them and she felt the most connection with her new 'parents'. It was very hard for her to explain, especially to try and explain without hurting anyone's feelings.
Esme seemed to understand just fine though and smiled. "Of course I can sweetie, that is not a problem. And you can take breaks to come and check on them if you would like." She said as she came around the island and hugged Anna.
Anna let out a small breath that she did not realize that she had been holding and smiled at Esme. "Thank you so much Esme. For everything. Especially for understanding." She said softly as she hugged Esme back.
Going back into the living room Anna stood by her children as Carlisle, Alice and Jasper all came into the house. Looking up Sam, Ben and Bella finally realized that someone had come into the house and Sam and Ben, upon seeing who it was that had walked in, cheered and ran to the three vampires.
"Grandpa, Aunt Alice, and Uncle Jasper you are home." The two children said at the same time as they went running and threw themselves around Carlisle's legs. Everyone laughed as Sam and Ben then let go of their 'grandpa' and hugged Alice and Jasper.
"Nice to know where we stand seeing my favorite niece and nephew run to their grandpa first instead of their favorite Aunt." Alice grumbled quietly so that only the vampires could hear her. Though she perked up more when Sam hugged her tightly while Ben hugged Jasper.
"We missed you." Ben said still hugging Jasper.
"Where did you go, you were gone a really, really, really long time Aunt Alice." Sam said while still holding on to Alice around the waist.
It was Carlisle who knelt down and spoke. "Your Aunt and Uncle and I just had some errands to take care of. But we are home now so there is no need to fret little ones." He said as both Sam and Ben left Alice and Jasper to give their grandpa another big hug which he returned happily.
When Carlisle stood back up he looked over to Anna and Edward with a look that said it was time. They both nodded their heads, Anna a little hessatantly before walking over to Carlisle, Alice and Jasper. Right then Esme came into the room and said that it was time for lunch which had Sam and Ben cheering again.
Walking over to Bella, both Sam and Ben began to pull on her hands. "Come on, come on grandma makes the best food ever. Well so does mommy but you just have to come eat with us. Please." They said as they began to pull her into the dining room.
As she watched her children and Bella go to eat their lunch Anna took a deep breath. Seeing her hesitation Carlisle walked over to his new daughter. "It will be alright Anna. The children will be just fine in the house with Esme and you will be able to hear everything that they do from in the back yard. It will be fine." He said trying to reassure her.
Nodding her head Anna smiled softly at Carlisle before following him to the back of the house and out the back door. Edward, Alice and Jasper were close behind. It was time to start training and to get an idea of what she could do.
AN: i usually dont put author notes at the bottom of my chapters but i thought that you would like to know that the next chapter will be practicing Anna's gift as well as some comady in there as well.
Anna
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