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 Eight

Annabelle slid her hand down the tree trunk, brushing the dirt away to reveal the gash she had left as a marking. Hunkering down to her knees, she dug her fingers into the soft dirt at the base of the tree.

Alice had scheduled the shopping spree for the coming weekend and even though Edward had offered to cover her expenses, Annabelle didn't feel comfortable taking money from him, especially after the strain she had caused between him and Bella.

Annabelle hadn't lied when she told Edward she had no money. Her personal assets were a little more –glittery, so to speak. Her fingertips brushed against leather, bringing a smile to her face.

"You're too close to the treaty line."

Annabelle froze, keeping her hands wrapped around the leather pouch. Slowly turning her head, she looked over her shoulder, her eyes resting on a large russet skinned dark haired man. She felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end as an unpleasant smell reached her nostrils. Wrinkling her nose in distaste, she looked into his dark eyes, seeing the hostility she had heard in his voice.

"Treaty line," Annabelle asked calmly, refraining from making any sudden movements. Her ability to sense danger was legendary and she knew that this man was no mere human –in all reality, his smell was quite…canine.

"Yes…you are three feet away from it. The Cullens or any of their kind is not allowed pass the treaty line. I take it from the color of your eyes you are with the Cullens?"

Annabelle looked down at the pouch in her hands, her eyebrows lowering. She sighed as she slowly got to her feet, "Yes…I suppose I am. I'm Annabelle Causley…the newest Cullen member."

"I'm Sam Uley," Annabelle noticed his muscles tensing in response to her movements, "Chief of the Quilete tribe."

"Well, Sam Uley," Annabelle took a step back, adding distance between herself and this man, "I just came to retrieve something of mine. I won't come near your treaty line again."

Turning her back to him, she quickly walked away, her long hair fluttering in the midnight breeze. She wasn't sure what to make of that encounter but she knew she would be asking Edward.

Reaching the Cullens' home, she stopped to admire it in the moonlight. It was so different from the Italian villas she had seen for the past hundred years or the Chicago brownstones she faintly remembered. The Cullens' home seemed almost mythical…just like its inhabitants.

Reaching the front door, she quietly entered, hoping no one was waiting for her. Looking around, she found an empty living room. She quickly climbed the stairs, reaching her room in seconds. Closing the door behind her, she sat cross-legged in the middle of the room, placing the pouch before her.

"Hope you haven't been waiting long," Annabelle pulled the drawstrings, having seen Edward sitting at the far end of the leather couch from the corner of her eyes.

"No, not really…I came back soon after Bella fell asleep," Edward joined her on the floor, sitting in front of her, his legs crossed. Annabelle looked up at him, frowning before her face cleared.

"Liar," Annabelle shook her head as she looked into the pouch, "You've been here for several hours."

"And you know this how," Edward kept his eyes on Annabelle's face as she turned the bag upside down, spilling its contents onto the dark blue rug.

Annabelle shrugged as she sifted through the tangle of jewelry, trying to find a certain piece. Edward looked down, his eyebrows rising at the amount of jewels. Tugging at a necklace, Annabelle pulled it out of the tangled mess and handed it to Edward.

"That was the very first piece Aro gave me…at the end of my first year. After that, he made it a habit of giving me something new every year."

Edward held the choker in his hands, examining the alternating starburst diamonds and small square cut rubies. The clarity of the stones was amazing and Edward knew the value of this piece would be very high.

"What was it like," Edward handed the choker back to Annabelle, "Your first year with the Volturri?"

Annabelle took the diamonds from him, holding them gently in her hands as she turned to look out the window at the moon, "It was…I belonged to Aro. He kept me in this large bedroom and brought me my meals…so to speak. I was his protégé…but that wasn't all. It was strange. He treated me as his child yet...he used me in so many ways. It got worst after he discovered my talents. He favored me, constantly rewarded me for what I could do. Thanks to my mind trick, only Aro, Marcus and Caius know I exist. Otherwise, I'm sure Jane would have found a way to get rid of me…she's always trying to win Aro's favor."

Annabelle turned to look at Edward, placing the choker beside her as she filled the leather pouch with the rest of the jewels. A cultured pearl necklace slipped through her fingers and landed on the rug. Annabelle picked it up, a small smile on her lips.

"He gave me this last year, after that incident with you, Bella and Alice. I assured him that Bella would be changed and this was my reward."

"You were the reason he let us go," Edward's eyebrows lowered as he recalled that evening, "I thought it was Alice."

Annabelle chuckled softly as she dropped the pearl necklace into the pouch, pulling the drawstrings closed, "It was a combination of Alice and me. I confirmed what Alice showed him."

"What exactly is it that you do, Annabelle," Edward stood up and walked to the couch. He kept his eyes on her as she moved towards the dresser, opening an empty drawer and placing the bag inside. She shut the drawer as she turned to look at him, cocking her head to the side. As children, she had been able to trust Edward with anything. Could she trust him now?

"Of course you can. I haven't changed much. I can still keep secrets," Edward crossed his arms, leaning back into the cushions, a small smile on his lips.

"You know," Annabelle joined him on the couch, keeping space between them, "I was the one that wrote that letter to your parents, letting them know that my parents and I were dead. Aro didn't know I did that…not until after I mailed it. All I could think about was you and what you would say if you found out what I was. I couldn't stand it, seeing your face when you realized I was a vampire…a monster."

"It hurt," Edward turned his body towards her, keeping his arms crossed to keep himself from touching her, "I couldn't stop thinking about you. At the time it seemed so unfair to me how my future with you was taken away from me. That year after you were gone, it was the hardest…"

"I thought of you all the time. It drove Aro crazy. He was quite possessive and my memories of you made him jealous," Annabelle reached out and took Edward's hand in hers, "I'm sorry I had to hurt you. I just knew I couldn't go back to you. I was no longer the girl you fell in love with."

Edward stared into Annabelle's eyes, seeing that golden tint to them. It looked like her system was starting to get used to the new diet. Reaching out, he softly touched her face, remembering how she used to blush whenever they were together.

"I understand why you did what you did, Annabelle," Edward dropped his hand to his lap as he pulled his other hand away from hers, "But what I don't understand is why you are here."

"Surely you must have some idea Edward," Annabelle moved away from him, walking to the windows, her arms crossed in an attempt to protect herself, "I never stopped loving you."

"Annabelle," Edward stood from the couch and slowly approached her, reaching out to touch her shoulder. Without warning, she turned and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face into his chest. Edward stood frozen for a few seconds before gently settling his arms around her.

"You gave her my ring," Annabelle looked up into his face, a deep well of sadness evident in her eyes. Edward pressed his lips against her forehead, sighing deeply as he realized there was a part of him that still had feelings for the girl Annabelle used to be.

"I know," Edward pulled away, unwilling to apologize for his love for Bella. Taking a few steps back, Edward looked deep into Annabelle's eyes, "Annabelle, please…don't do anything to mess up my relationship with Bella. She's the one I love now. She's the one I want to spend forever with."

Annabelle watched Edward walk out of her room, closing the door softly behind him. Annabelle sighed as she turned to look out the window. The hours passed by and soon the moon disappeared as the sun began to rise.

Even though Edward had claimed he loved Bella, Annabelle knew there was still a part of him that belonged to her and always would. Now all Annabelle had to do was make a decision…