Chapter 28

Annalise's POV

My eyes flutter open. I rub my eyes with the heels on my hands and I stretch. As my vision clears the soft color aqua painted smoothly on the walls greets me and I smile. Ambient noise is coming from the open window letting the summer air in. I sit up and look around. My room from the cottage. The beige chair in my vanity is the exact way I left it with my old favorite red sweater hanging over it. The morning light softly glowing, invading my room. I bring my knees up to hug them as I sigh contently when I look at the picture of my whole family in my first birthday standing effortlessly on the side table. Taking the frame in my hand I smile looking at all the grownups pretending to have a good time for me. Their smiles genuine but it seems like they rather go hunting or something. I giggle lightly as I wipe the tear rolling down my cheek. I turn when the mattress sinks momentarily next to me as Nessie moves to her side.

Her big brown eyes looking at me. "Good morning," She smiles her full toothy, happy, excited smile.

I stretch again. Yawning and throwing my body on the mattress, "Good morning," My eyes water when I'm done yawing. I smile.

The doors burst open with the sound of heels clanking on the floor. In a swift moment Momma sits next to me. Her cold hand running gently over my face. Studying every little detail. Like if my face fascinates her. "Good morning sweetie,"

I jump up and surprise her with a hug. "Momma," I whisper as she wraps me in a tight embrace.

Before I know it strong cold arms envelope us. "Daddy," I giggle.

"Well I'll go to my cottage to change," Ness says in a happy tone as she jumps out of the bed and in a blink of an eye is gone.

"How did my princess wake up today?" He says smiling as he lets go and stands next to me. Momma plays with my hair. Letting her skinny pale cold fingers glide over my light brown hair as she stares at me with a huge smile.

"Good. Better then I have in…" I close my lips regretting the words. Momma's hand falls and she looks down. "I love you," I say looking at her. Her eyes snaps towards me and her smile returns.

"Baby I love you too," She hugs me again. "More than you know."

"I love both my girls," Daddy holds out hands.

"Love you too Daddy,"

"I need to go with Edward." Daddy bends down and kisses my forehead. "See you later sweetie," He smiles sweetly before disappearing.

Momma stands from the bed smiling while looking at me. I giggle. "What?" I smile.

She shakes her head. "Nothing, I'm just happy to have my baby back,"

"Mom," I stand and hug her again. I feel like I'm walking on a cloud. I haven't felt like this in a really long time. It feels like forever really; I'm so happy to be here.

"Alright, I believe I should leave so you can get ready." She gives another light squeeze before letting go.

I nod smiling. She passes her hand sweetly over my face before disappearing out of my room. I hug myself as I twirl around to look at my beautiful room. I helped Daddy build it. Nessie helped me pick out the furniture; walking in every store and taking funny pictures. Embry helped coloring it. When I would get bored I painted his nose and he acted to be hurt but then painted my cheek. We went running around until Momma yelled at us. I wipe the tear of happiness as I laugh at all the memories.

I hop up of happiness and skip my way to the bathroom. My smile disappears as I look at the mirror. I move it side to side, looking at all the bruises that are healing. "You had to leave your mark on me," My eyes pool in anger. I close them inhaling sharply. I turn around trying to control my breathing. I turn the water and practically rip the clothes off of me. I let the water cascade over me like if the water was the remedy to erase every bad memory.

"Scarlett, you've been naughty," I hear Heaven laugh from behind the curtain. Her cynical laugh, like if she was enjoying.

"No," I say shaking my head scared out of my life.

"Very naughty. Your father won't be pleased." I keep shaking my head scared to look. I cover my ears, my body slides down until I'm sitting on the floor of the shower. Water falling on me.

"Go away," I whisper shutting my eyes. "Go away, go away, go away," I chant. I continue to chant when I feel hands over my arms. "No," I move my arms away fast preparing myself to fight.

I see Nessie. Her eyes sadden as I try to calm myself down. "Shh, it's ok, it's just me," She pets my hair. She stands and turns the water off. She comes back to me and hugs me. "What happened? I came in when Aunt Rose left to the main house and I heard your heartbeat," She coos.

"I just-just…" I look at the ground trying to grasp reality. "Why can't they go away? Why?"

"Who baby Annie? Who are you talking about?"

"…Them…" My eyes widen. Then it hits me, it's all in my head. All of it. I look back at Nessie's scared look. I shake my head trying to force a smile. "Nothing, I'm ok," I try getting up.

Nessie stands reaches for a towel. I notice she's wearing a white dress that ends at the knee and brown pumps; her long beautiful hair in a high pony tail. She wraps the white fluffy towel around me as her scent covers me too and helps me up. "Annie, you're not ok. Tell me what's going on," I look away from her face to try to untangle my jumbled thoughts. What can I tell her? She will think I'm crazy. "No I won't,"

My brows crease in confusion. "What?"

"I won't think you're crazy," She clarifies.

"I didn't say anything,"

"But you thought it," She smiles.

I look at her in the eyes. "Wait, you read minds? I thought you can only transfer your thoughts into people,"

"Well I evolved as Grandpa called it. Turns out every half-Vampire evolves at-"

"-Maturity age, Axel explained that." I stay serious again. "So that means you already know what's happening?" She nods. "Why ask me then?"

She sighs. "Because I need you to let it all out,"

Oh god, she knows everything. "Ness please tell me you won't tell them I ate humans." I walk a few feet away. I huff in frustration. They made me, I didn't want to in the beginning, I promise."

"Annie, it wasn't your fault."

I walk to her grasping her hands in mine. "Just… please you don't say anything. I don't want them to see me as a monster." I place my palm over my forehead. "And what will Embry think of me? He wouldn't want to even see me." I look back at her. "Please don't say anything…please,"

"Annie I won't say anything-"

"-Promise?"

She takes her pinky. "Promise," I hook mine as a few tears fall out. I hug her. "Now finish getting ready. Everyone is waiting for you in the main house. Aunt Alice said she was coming over here if you don't hurry,"

I smile. "I guess I should start getting ready." I stop in mid-step. "Can you stay here; I'd feel better,"

She nods and I walk back into the bathroom. I breathe in and out. You can do this. "I believe in you," Nessie says from behind the door listening on my thought.

I smile and start getting ready.

Nessie helps with my hair to get ready faster. I do my makeup making sure to cover every bruise, I just want to forget. I put on my small coral earrings. When she's done I take off my robe and put on a blush color dress that ends in mid-thigh. Nessie hands me my 5inch peep toe heels that match my earrings. I'm use to this type of clothing because I did it for Momma and always will. Aunt Alice said when I was younger that I was sort-of a mini her.

"Wow, you are not that little girl anymore that's for sure." Nessie says astonished. "Let's go before hurricane Aunt Alice comes barging in."

I nod and we walk out. The day looks gloomy, normal weather. I look up and the clouds immediately disappear. I make the sun shine hotter. I move my hand to create a soft a pleasant breeze. "This is much better,"

"Much," Nessie looks around please to see the change of weather. We walk in silence taking in the ambient noise. The sun rays peeking through the tall tree branches. Nessie begins humming and I listen.

"Ness?"

"Yeah,"

"Has anything happen with you and Jake?"

She stops and looks at me wide eye. "Why do you ask? Has he said something?"

I giggle. "Whoa, I was just asking. Why? Is there something I should know? You do know that I'm not a little girl anymore and I know more stuff…" My voice trails off.

"Annie," She gasps. "Nothing like that has happened. Daddy would've killed him long time ago,"

"True… "

She looks ahead. "Nothing has happened,"

"Yes Ness you already told me,"

"No, I mean nothing has happened. Nothing,"

"Not even a kiss?"

"No,"

"Oh," I look ahead not knowing what to say. "It's not too late," I suggest.

She blushes and looks down. "We'll see,"

"I will," I smile as she hides her face in her hands. "What if I don't know how to do it? Will I mess up? Will he laugh at me?"

I giggle as she keeps on worrying about nothing. "Ness you'll be fine. When Embry kissed me it all came naturally. You don't-"

"-Embry kissed you?! He kissed you?!"

I feel my face get red as I nod. "Yes! And it was magical-"

"-Finally you two are here," Aunty Alice playfully scowls. She smiles. That's when I realize we we're in front of the house. Too close to the hearing range of many vampires. I'm dying of embarrassment inside.

Daddy walks out calmly with a smile on his face; almost looks like he's trying hard not to laugh. He hugs me tight. "We…uh will…talk about the kiss later," He whispers.

My face gets hotter and I nod slowly. He lets go and puts an arm around my shoulders chuckling as we walk inside the house. Momma shakes her head but I can see the playfulness in it. "Embry is lucky he isn't here,"

"Momma," I cover my face of sheer embarrassment as everybody laughs.

I feel a cold hand on mine and I see its Jessie. I giggle as he twirls me around. "So how is the most beautiful girl on the planet today?"

Aunt Alice coughs to get the attention. "Excuse me; there is one more here that is beautiful on this planet,"

Jessie turns around and smiles. "You're right… Nessie how did you wake up today?" Everybody laughs as Alice fake punches him.

Daddy pats Jessie's shoulder. "I like you, almost reminds me of me," We continue to laugh. And I smile feeling happy to be surrounded by all of them; almost forgetting all the bad…almost.

"Annie," Ness calls me. I turn to look at her and I gasp at all my favorite flowers around the whole room; the words 'WE LOVE YOU' on the wall written with pink rose petals. How come I didn't notice? The beautiful aroma around the room of the flowers and the love of my family.

I turn around smiling as my eyes pool. "How-"

"-The night is surprisingly long when you don't have the need to sleep," Jessie chuckles. "Once we were done it was football all night," He high fives Daddy. Oh great, Daddy found his partner in crime.

"So…" Aunt Alice skips all the way to the couch and sits beside Uncle Jasper. They hold hands. "...How did it happen? The kiss. How did you feel afterwards?"

All the men grunt. The women wait for my response; except Momma. "Don't ask that kind of questions in front of me Alice," Daddy grunts looking away.

"Yes Alice, my Annie is my baby and I don't want to hear that," She stands next to me while petting my hair. "Not yet anyways."

"We'll talk later," Aunt Alice winks. I giggle as I lean in on Daddy. He rubs my arm reassuringly.

I turn towards Grandpa's study as the doors open revealing my brother and Grandpa laughing. Axel smiles kindly and addresses the family. He stands formally with his black jeans and a white dress shirt. His dark brown hair nicely combed. "Thank you for the gentle hospitality. You've all been very welcoming." Axel walks up to me and smiles. "And for being the family that my baby sister needed,"

I caress his cheek as we smile at each other. "I love you," I whisper to him.

"Love you too," He whispers back smiling as he wipes the small tear escaping from my eye.

"Axel you know…" Grandpa walks up to Grandma. He hugs her from behind. "This can be your family as well,"

My eyes widen as my grin grows. I look between my grandparents and my brother. He looks at everyone, at me, then at my Grandpa. "But-" He his cut off.

"-Axel, you defended my grandbaby. You gave her the hope to come back to us. You made this family whole once again. I wouldn't know how to repay you for that." He looks at the entire family as do I; everyone has a huge smile. "Axel, would you like to become a Cullen?"

A/N: I hope you enjoyed it. I just want to say I LOVED YOUR REVIEWS! They made my day. Guest wish I knew your name I know the feeling of sleeping late because the book is too good to put down. I'm so happy you like my story that much :D A new chapter is coming very VERY soon. Please keep reviewing. Tell me what you think.