Chapter 4
A month later….
Whispers are heard very faint. So low that I cant make out anything. I open my eyes and I see I'm laying in something warm, soft and plush. I sit up and look around. I'm in Momma's and Daddy's room but all alone in my basinet. The light is dim, a soft glow. The blinds from the window down. Momma or Daddy are always here for when I wake up. Where are they? I start sniffling, I hate feeling alone.
"Look whose awake," Uncle Jasper walks in. His smile warm. I stretch my arms pleading for him to carry me. "There you go. Why so sad?" I forget he can feel what I feel. I shrug. "Miss mommy and daddy?" I nod and shove my face at the crook of his neck. He rubs my back. "They'll be back sweetie. Don't worry. They went hunting because they needed food." he explains the disappearance of my Momma and Daddy.
"Is she ok?" Aunt Alice asks by the frame of the door.
"She misses Rose and Emmett," He sighs and walks out the room next to Aunt Alice. Walking in the hallway I see that is day outside.
"Are you ok Annie?" I hear Grandpa. I turn around and almost jump in his arms. He chuckles heartily. And I shake with tears. I never thought I'd miss Momma and Daddy like this. "There, there. They'll be back soon." he gives me the same reassurance motion by rubbing my back like Uncle Jasper.
I feel a wave of calmness. I turn to Uncle Jasper and smile; he returns it. "Annie would you want to go into Grandpa's study?" I've been everywhere in the house but his study. I nod fiercely and he chuckles and runs towards it.
My eyes widen to see that this room is much bigger than Momma's and Daddy's; I didn't think that was possible. I see many colors, thin, lining up perfectly against each other. "Those are books," Aunt Alice motions to them. Oh, that's what those are.
"They are to fill you with knowledge," Grandpa clarifies. I begin reaching for one. "Ah, let's see which one you would like?" he rubs his chin with his free hand and looks at all the books. And there must be hundreds.
"What about the history?" Uncle Jasper asks. There's a hint of joy in his eyes but at the same time sadness.
"Ah, yes. You can help her with that while I finish some work." Grandpa says slipping the book off the shelves.
He hands me to Uncle Jasper and then the book. "I'll be in the room fixing up Annie's clothes. She seems to be growing again," Aunt Alice looked at me in a frown.
"Let's measure her," Grandpa said. "Hold still honey," I did as I was told. "Same like Nessie, it's actually quite interesting."
Grandpa kisses my cheek and Uncle Jasper runs to the living room sitting me down in his lap. "Let's begin in my favorite time in history. The Civil War. I was there," the pictures look old and as he lets the last piece of information leave his lips my eyes widen in surprise. "Oh yes, we are quite old," and that made me giggle.
He starts with how the Civil War began and we went on from there. Then in between the story, which was actually in-between the War, he told me how he became a vampire. I listen to every detail, fascinated by the elegant words. By the way everything was back in those times. How cruel Maria was, it reminded me of Richard. I shiver but Uncle jasper reassured me, that nothing will ever happen to me. His story continued and the War ended. He also laid the details of later on were he met Aunt Alice.
"We're home!" My Daddy's voice booms. I happily squeal in response. He takes me in his arms holding me close and twirling me around.
"Where's my baby?" Momma asked now standing beside Daddy. I turn towards her and throw myself in her arms.
"She missed you. She almost started crying. I had to clam her down."
"We missed her too," Momma whispers. "It's ok baby girl, we're back." I smile but stop when I see Momma frown. "She seems bigger," her tone worried.
"Carlisle just measured her. He said her growth is normal, well for a half-Vampire." Uncle Jasper says closing the book we were looking at.
"Was your Uncle boring you with books?" Daddy asked with large grin.
I shake my head. "I'll have you know that she seems to really like it," Uncle jasper said proudly.
"Where's Baby Annie?!" Nessie calls from the door. She runs towards us… with Jacob behind her; of course. "Hi Uncle Jasper, Uncle Emmett and Aunt Rose." she hugs the all. "Hi Baby Anna," she coos. I smile and jump happy in response.
"Did she eat?" Momma asked Uncle Jasper.
"No," he says ashamed.
"Let's go eat then," Daddy cradles me and he walks right pass Jacob without a hi.
"Emmett use to be the one who liked me," I hear Jacob whisper. Whispers in this house are pointless, everybody can still hear them.
"That was before you upset his daughter so much that Annie has you in the mean book," Uncle Edward frowns stepping into the house. I squeal after him.
"Hello Annie," he coos.
"Um, Edward. Rose does this stuff … so how much should I put in her bottle?" Daddy says hopeless, in need of some help.
Momma walks in a swoosh Vampire speed and takes the bottle away from Daddy. "Emmett look closely," she mocks.
Uncle Edward laughs. "Don't miss a detail Em,"
"What? Something Emmett is not good at? I never thought I'd see the day," Aunt Bella also mocks.
"Whatever," I think Daddy was suppose to sound mad but failed.
"There you go baby," Momma gives me the bottle and I eagerly get it sucking on it instantly.
"I don't know honey, you would have to ask your Aunt and Uncle," Uncle Edward replied to someone's thoughts.
Nessie steps closer and stands in front of Momma and Daddy. "Uncle Emmett, Aunt Rose can I take Baby Anna to La Push, first beach?" her big chocolate eyes wide and pleading.
I don't know what she asked but its sounds fun. I stop sucking my bottle and sit in my Daddy's arms. I look at him dead in the eyes and poke my bottom lip, quivering it a little. He looks between me and her. "Girls, that's not fair!"
"No?" I see Momma is also struggling with the decision. We look at her the same way we did with Daddy. Uncle Edward looks like he is holding back the laughter. Everybody waits for the answer. "Ah, Emmett?"
My eyes widen mimicking Nessie's still having my pout. "Alright! But no later than Five do you girls return," He gives in. I surprise everyone when I kiss his cheek. I love them both.
"She says she loves you and you too Rose," I am grateful to have Uncle Edward around.
"We love you too," Momma hugs me and Daddy circles his arms around us both.
"Jacob, we're taking Baby Anna with us!" Nessie squeals.
"Jacob," Daddy's voice screams authority. "You better take care of my daughter. Or you will be sorry," he warns. If he wasn't my Daddy I would've been scared.
"Emmett, you're scaring her," Uncle Jasper scowls.
"Sorry sweetie," Daddy kisses my head and I relax.
"Don't worry Emmett, I'll protect her the way I would protect Nessie," Daddy doesn't seem sure and he seeks guidance from Uncle Edward who only nods.
"Alright," Daddy relaxes a little.
"If she wants to leave, you leave, ok?" Momma looks directly at Ness.
"Yes, Aunt Rose. I wont let anything happen. Or do something she wont like," Nessie smiles.
Momma places me in Daddy's arms and leaves for a couple of seconds and returns. "Here is extra clothes and an extra bottle," Momma hands her the soft pink book bag. Momma then takes me after Daddy gave me another kiss and straps me in my car seat securely. Every time I try to walk on my own I fall and hit something. So now I'm not allow to do it until I'm taller and stronger.
Jacob takes a hold of my seat and we walk out the house. He slowly and carefully puts me in the back of his small car compared to Daddy's. I look out the window to see Momma and Daddy smiling and waving at me. I still see concern in their faces.
"Have fun honey," Momma smiles.
I nod. Nessie slides in the passenger seat after she said goodbye to everyone and Jacob at driver seat starts the car.
We drive off into the street surrounded by the green forest I came to know as the first thing I saw when I was born. He drives slower then my family but I take the time to absorb the scenery around me. A human would say that to some extent the trees look the same but to a Vampire… or half-Vampire like myself I say not. Every curve, denture, leaf makes every single tree different. I noticed that now, in a much slower car. I should tell Momma or Daddy to walk slower when outside so I can see everything better.
"You ok Annie?" Nessie asks turning around to face me. I nod smiling.
We drive for a couple more minutes until we stop near a beautiful site. A huge body of water with waves hitting the sand. I believe it's called an ocean. I start feeling excitement. "Is everyone coming?" Nessie asks Jacob.
"Yeah, I believe the whole pack will," they both step out and Nessie immediately comes to my side. She unbuckles the straps and holds me carefully.
"Nessie do you want me to hold her?" Jacob asks eyeing us.
"No, or do you forget I'm half-Vampire and strong?" she raises her perfect eyebrow up.
He chuckles. "No, of course not. I would never forget anything that has to do with you," Her cheeks turn into a cute red and looks down at her feet. "Come on," Jacob calls and Nessie begins running.
Today I have a white shirt, simple, and some purple jean shorts. Not a descent outfit for a month old but I don't look like it. I'm a month old and I look like a year old. I like being half-Vampire. I know Nessie is two years old and looks seven years old.
The nice wind blows through my wavy locks of light brown hair. It has grown really long. She carefully takes my white flats off and sets my chubby feet on the water. I giggle splashing around. It feels better than the bathtub.
Nessie is laughing along with me while Jacob sits in the sand smiling. Nessie had already taken off her flats and is splashing the water with me. "Jacob!" I hear a different male voice call him farther away.
Jacob turns around and grins. "Hey Seth!" he yells back. This bothers me a little. Back in the house nobody has the need to yell.
With this Seth character comes a lot more people. All equally huge. Not as huge as Daddy but huge with Jacob's skin tone. Some women approach too. With my vampire eyes I see that they're pretty; not beautifully gorgeous like my family but pretty.
"Baby Anna I will put you here for a second so I can say hi to them. Don't go to the water because you don't know how to swim." I nod understanding every word. And she knows because she smiles after putting me down on the sand a few centimeters from the water and walking away. I look how the waves manipulate the water and the sand seems to change color where the water hits.
I take a little bit of sand in my tiny hands and see the way it falls as I hear their conversation. "Hey Ness whose that?" someone of her friends asks.
"That is Annalise," I hear her step closer. "Hey Annie can I introduce you?" I nod and stretch my arms so she can carry me.
All the women fawn over me in awes. I'm use to it from my family. I smile, my face feeling hot. "Look at her hair. Light brown with a hint of blonde in it." a women with a scar gushes. I know its bad to stare so I smile and look at the other women.
"And her eyes. They're a mesmerizing gray," She squeals.
"How old is she?" The one with the short black hair asks.
"A month old," Nessie answers honest.
They all gasp. "She's-"
"-Like me," Nessie finishes.
"Where is the mom?" The one with the scar asks sad.
"She died giving birth. Annie was about to get attacked by a bear when my Aunt Rose found her starved, naked with the blood still around her." Nessie whispers probably whishing I wont hear but lived it, its all good.
"Poor thing," they said at the same time.
"So let me guess, Blondie adopted her," one of the huge guys said smiling.
"Yes. Her full name is Annalise Sara Cullen," Nessie answered for me. I love my Momma even if she wasn't the one who held me.
"Let me see her," Someone said. I tense.
Nessie moved away form him. "You will have to ask her. And introduce yourself." Nessie explains.
"Hey Annie, I'm Seth. Uncle of Nessie. Can I hold you?" he seems like a cheerful guy. I feel safe. I nod. "Wow, you are beautiful," I smile.
"Whoa, she likes you…hates me," Jacob mumbles.
"Why?" Seth asks.
"His fault." Nessie shrugs looking at me as I examine Seth. He is handsome but nothing like my uncles, Grandpa, and Daddy.
"Misunderstanding," Jacob defends himself.
"Annie, you already know grumpy Jacob," we all laugh. "That is Paul and his girlfriend Rachel," I wave and they seem stun and can do that. "Sam and Emily," so Emily is the one with the scar but still pretty. "Quil and last but not least Embry," Qui smiles at me and waves. His curly hair and a fro sort of type. The other one, Embry hasn't looked up since being introduced. "Embry," Seth whispers yells to catch Embry's attention away from his phone.
He groans shoves his phone into his butt pocket and looks up. That's when I feel the air being knocked out of me. His eyes are so beautiful I can fall into them. The sun comes out and shines hot.