All characters except for Annabelle Causley and a few others belong to Stephenie Meyer…and, of course, the writer is not receiving any profit for this story whatsoever.

This is an AU out of Stephenie Meyers' Twilight series. This story starts after Eclipse, two weeks before Edward and Bella's wedding.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Jacob growled deep in his throat as he moved silently through the trees, wishing he didn't have the driving need to see Annabelle…especially after what had happened the night before. He couldn't stop cursing himself for being stupid enough to give in to his desire for her. He was bound to her tighter than ever but he didn't like it…he didn't want it.

Ever since Annabelle came into his life and redefined the person that he was, he had kept himself from phasing, not willing to let his brothers see the shameful fact that he had imprinted on one of them…

Jacob couldn't understand how this could be happening or even why it was happening to him but one thing he knew, he would do his best to keep himself from becoming so entwined with Annabelle where he would turn his back on his pack; on his people…he wouldn't do that. He refused to love her at all, knowing full well that the imprinting alone was already putting him in a position where he was leaving behind all that was important to him just to be with her.

He refused to love her, to get attached to her, to care for her…and yet, here he was, wandering the woods, craving to see her again. He wanted to touch her, feel her lips against his, bury his nose into the hollow between her neck and shoulder and breath her in until she completely took over all his senses…until he couldn't hate himself for wanting, no, aching to be with her…


Annabelle walked up the porch steps, trying to ignore the incessant teasing from Emmett and Jasper. It had taken an hour, and a tree, before she was finally able to drive as well as any of the Cullens.

Opening the door, Annabelle walked in, a small smile on her face as she took in the decorated living room. A surprise party, Alice's idea and, more than likely, the reason Edward tricked her out of the house.

"Welcome to the family," Alice chirped happily as she danced across the living room towards her, throwing her arms around Annabelle and hugging her tight. Annabelle chuckled as she returned Alice's hug, allowing herself to be pulled forward deeper into the living room towards a table filled with wrapped gifts, "Tell me, are you surprised?"

"Not really," Annabelle smiled indulgently as Alice grabbed a wrapped box and handed it to her, "I knew you were up to something…and Edward wasn't as covert as he would like to think."

"Whatever," Edward muttered as he stood from the couch where he had been sitting with Bella and headed towards Jasper and Emmett, "I got you out of the house, so it worked."

Annabelle looked into each of the Cullen's faces, feeling a deep appreciation at their effort to let her know she was a part of their family. Even Rosalie had made an appearance, stepping out of the garage for the first time since the family meeting several days ago. Annabelle couldn't help but wonder if Rosalie would ever warm up to her as she opened the neatly wrapped box to discover blank high quality sheet music.

"Oh…" Annabelle gasped as she gently touched the paper, feeling a tightness in her chest.

"Edward told me you left your music behind," Alice smiled at her as she grabbed another box, "So I thought I'd get you sheet music so you can re-write your pieces…maybe even share them with us…"

Annabelle smiled as she opened the small box Alice handed her, revealing a dark gold iPod.

Bella reached over and turned on the iPod, "I uploaded songs from everyone's music library…although most of them are from Edward's collection. There are some in there that are my favorite. I just thought you probably enjoyed music as much as Edward…now you have something to do at night when everyone's paired off."

Annabelle looked into Bella's brown eyes, wondering how she would react to her late night activities involving Jacob. She caught Edward's deep frown from the corner of her eye warning her to keep her mouth shut.

Jasper handed her another wrapped package, "I thought you might enjoy this…what with your voracious reading habit…I swear, you and Edward are so alike, it's almost scary."

She chuckled as she tore the wrapping paper to reveal a first edition of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. She couldn't help but give Jasper a brilliant smile in appreciation to his thoughtfulness.

She opened the rest of the gifts swiftly, revealing a pair of silver and sapphire hair combs from Rosalie, a hand held video game from Emmett, and a dark red laptop from Carlisle and Esme.

Esme gave her another box, which contained software for the computer, "We know you don't want to go back to school and that Alice mentioned the possibility of home schooling you once we move out to New Hampshire, so I thought the easiest way for you to catch up with the school system was through educational software. Carlisle and I have both agreed that home schooling is a good idea…but only for this year. Part of being a Cullen is fitting into the human world. I know you don't like the pretense Anna, but it is necessary."

Annabelle looked into Esme's compassionate gaze, her throat closing up at how much she sounded like a mother…like her mother. Nodding her head in agreement, she set the box on the table next to the laptop and turned to hug Esme. It had taken time for this family to warm up to her but once they did, they hadn't hesitated to adopt her as one of their own, despite the danger she brought to their doorstep.

Pulling back, she turned to look at the rest of the Cullens', a smile spreading across her face as they looked back at her with warmth and acceptance. This was her family now and she knew she would stay with them for the rest of eternity.


Edward entered Annabelle's room, knowing that she was focused on a piece she had composed seventy-five years ago, a piece she had titled Set Me Free. Closing the door softly behind him, he couldn't help but smile at the fact that she was completely unaware of his presence as she moved a fine ink pen over the sheet music Alice had given her. He cocked his head to the side as he listened to the piece as it flowed through her mind, amazed at her ability to put together such a complex piece.

Moving further into the room, he sat on the suede couch, setting the bulky gift next to him and leaned back to enjoy the music in Annabelle's head. It would take her time, since she was deeply engrossed in what she was doing, but she would eventually realize she wasn't alone.

Annabelle filled in the last stanza, a pleased smile spreading across her face as she put her pen down and looked at the five sheet composite of one of her favorite pieces. She only wished she had her violin to play it once again, to feel it as each note spilled from the strings and vibrated against her fingers, the music filling the room and not just her head.

She turned to look at Edward, knowing he thought she had no awareness to his presence. She knew the moment he had entered the room despite the fact that she was focused on the music she was writing. Placing the music into the black leather portfolio Alice had given her along with the music sheet, she turned towards Edward, giving him her full attention.

"That's a beautiful piece you were writing," Edward smiled at her as he slouched deeper into the couch, "I actually think it would make a great piano and violin combination."

"That would be difficult to put together since I don't have a violin," Alice moved from the desk chair to the couch, briefly glancing at the bulky package Edward had placed beside him. Edward grinned as he pushed the package towards her, lifting his eyebrows in invitation. Annabelle smiled as she opened the package, her smile slowly disappearing in awe as she revealed a violin case. Snapping the latches, she opened the case to reveal a dark brown Strunal violin, the soft light given by the many lighted candles in her room casting a warm sheen upon the wood of the instrument. Pulling the instrument carefully out of the case, she softly plucked the strings, enjoying the notes as they rang clear and sweet.

Looking into Edward's eyes, she couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

"Because music is important to you…just like it is to me," Edward shrugged as he shoved his hand into his pocket, his fingers wrapping around velvet, "Besides, I couldn't think of a better gift to get you."

Annabelle placed the violin back into its case, "This is definitely an amazing gift. But why didn't you give it to me at the party?"

"Because it's a little more personal than the other gifts, given how much you miss your old violin," Edward pulled out his hand from his pocket, handing her the small velvet pouch, "Besides, I needed to give you this."

Annabelle opened the small velvet pouch and tipped it upside down, a silver chain with a small heart pendant falling into her open hand. Annabelle ran her fingertip over the pendant, watching the small diamond centered in the pendant throw rainbows across her fingers. She couldn't help but sink into the memories induced by the simple piece of jewelry.

"My mother always meant for you to have it," Edward watched the memories go through Annabelle's head, "I've given away some of her pieces to my family but I couldn't give this one away…it's always belonged to you."

"Thank you," Annabelle whispered softly as she looked into his golden eyes, "I always loved this necklace…"

"My mother knew that."

Annabelle burrowed deep into the sofa cushions, her fingers caressing the pendant as she remembered Lorena Masen…a wonderful woman that had showed her so much love as a child. She closed her eyes, recalling sitting on her lap and playing with the delicate heart pendant, the small rainbows bouncing off the small diamond and onto Annabelle's face.

She finally looked up to find herself alone in her room. Edward had left her to her reminiscing, which she greatly appreciated. Standing up, she went into the bathroom and placed the necklace around her neck, watching the silver heart settle in the hollow place where her collarbones met.

Sighing, she turned away and headed into the walk in closet, quickly changing into a golden brown silk dress that ended beneath her knees, thin straps over her shoulders holding the dress in place. She was hoping to meet Jacob tonight and wanted to make sure that he wouldn't be able to resist touching her. Undoing the French braid she had worn all day, she shook out her hair as she tried to make up her mind if she should wear shoes. Deciding to forgo the shoes, she quickly extinguished all the candles before slipping out of the room through the window, despite Edward's insistence that she could use the front door.

Edward and Alice knew about Jacob…she wanted to keep him to herself just a little longer before the rest of the family found out…more specifically speaking, before Bella found out. She wasn't sure how Bella would react to her involvement with Jacob, but she knew that it wouldn't be with smiles and encouragements.

Annabelle sighed as she walked through the trees, looking around, trying to pick up his scent. He had been here but the scent was so weak, Annabelle couldn't help but wince as her heart sank. He had come and left, not willing to wait for her. Leaning against a tree several feet away from the treaty line, she closed her eyes and waited, hoping he would return.

Biting her lip after half an hour, she turned to head back to the Cullens, not understanding the pain in her chest. She didn't care about Jacob…she just wanted to be with him, to have him satiate her hunger…so why did it hurt that he found it so easy to stay away from her?

Annabelle had walked several feet away from the tree before she was grabbed from behind by strong arms with the ability to keep her from escaping, a gasp escaping before a large hand covered her mouth. Annabelle couldn't help but wish she had been paying attention as she was dragged back into the wooded area.