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 Sixteen

The one she would have married is marrying another in twenty-four hours. Annabelle sighed as she closed her journal, carefully putting the cap back on her ink pen. It was hard to deal with losing everything that would have been hers…if only she knew who took it all away from her without any consideration to her desires.

If she had to be honest with herself, she would rather have lived a normal human life followed by a normal human death. It was unnatural to be forever sixteen and she didn't like it. She should be dead, along with her parents.

Staring out the window, she kept her eyes on the cloudy sky, wondering about the legends she had heard and read about…werewolves…the only ones able to destroy a vampire…if she had the opportunity, would she do it?

She looked over her shoulder at the sound of a soft knock on her door. Narrowing her eyes, she slowly walked towards the door. She wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone...even Aro had learned to leave her alone during her dark days.

"Hi," Annabelle's hand tightened on the wooden door as she looked into Bella's brown eyes, feeling that rising monster she had fought for the past hundred years, "I was wondering if I could talk to you."

Annabelle stepped back to let Bella enter, her eyebrows raised in surprise that Edward wasn't with her, "You're alone. Doesn't Edward realize how foolish that is, letting you be alone with me?"

"He told me you would never hurt me," Bella stood in the middle of the room, feeling slightly apprehensive about the dark look on Annabelle's face. Annabelle's lips tightened into a flat line as she closed the door, walking around Bella towards the windows.

"Please, sit down," Annabelle gestured towards the couch as she opened one of the window panels to ventilate the room…she was still unable to handle Bella's scent in an enclosed space.

"Thanks," Bella sat on the edge of the couch closest to the door, keeping her body tense and ready to run if she had to…not that it would be much help, since Annabelle was faster than her and she would more than likely trip…she hated being a klutz.

"So what did you want to talk to me about," Annabelle swung the desk chair around, sitting across the room from Bella and next to the window. If Edward trusted her with his most prized possession then she would make sure not to disappoint him.

"This is kind of embarrassing but I thought, because of your…uh…talent…you might be able to help me," Bella gave her a tentative smile, wishing Annabelle would stop glaring at her. She was certain her dark mood had nothing to do with her but then again…

"My gift? You mean disappearing?"

"No, the…uh, the other one," Bella felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, averting her eyes from Annabelle's, glancing around the room at the mahogany bookcases filled with books.

"What other one," Annabelle's jaw tensed, "Did Edward tell you about it?"

"No," brown eyes locked with golden eyes as Bella shook her head, "Edward hasn't told me anything about you. I'm referring to the, uh…your, uh…sexy talent."

Annabelle couldn't help but laugh even though Bella's face was a bright shade of red, "I don't think of that one as a talent…more like a skill. What about it?"

"Well, uh…I was thinking that maybe you could…help me with something," Bella looked down at her hands, the fingers twisting in nervousness. She couldn't believe she was actually going to ask Edward's former girlfriend for help in this area but she didn't know who else to turn to.

"Well, that depends," Annabelle cocked her head to the side, "If you're trying to find a way to turn on Edward, you can pretty much do that on your own. You don't need me."

"It's not that," Bella took a deep breath, releasing it slowly; "I…agreed to marry Edward on one condition."

Annabelle pursed her lips, trying to keep herself from smiling. Interesting how Bella had been able to lighten her mood where no one else, not even Edward, could succeed…then again, this entire conversation was humorous enough to lighten anybody's mood, "And that condition is?"

"That we would…try…to…you know…before he turned me."

Annabelle's lips spread into a grin, knowing full well what Bella was referring to but still unable to help herself in teasing her a bit, "Try to do what? I don't know what you mean by 'you know'."

"That we would…have…make…uhm," Bella felt a familiar embarrassment fill her chest, immediately recognizing it as the emotion she had felt when Charlie had given her the sex talk after she started dating Edward.

"Come on, Bella, spit it out," Annabelle chuckled as Bella looked up at her, realization that Annabelle was teasing her evident on her face.

"Sex."

"I see," Annabelle crossed her legs, linking her fingers together, cocking her head to the side, "If anyone should help you out with that is Edward. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to teach you whatever it is you want to know."

"It's not that, it's just…" Bella looked into Annabelle's smiling face, her golden eyes inspiring a sense of trust in her, "Edward doesn't want to do it. He's afraid of losing control and hurting me."

"You mean killing you," Bella nodded as Annabelle stood up, slowly walking towards the couch to sit on the far end of it, "If Edward loses control, you wouldn't survive. I understand his apprehension."

"Yes but…" Bella sighed, "I want this last human experience before I become a…a…"

"Vampire," Annabelle leaned back into the arm of the couch, crossing her arms as she pointedly stared at Bella, "So this is the only human experience that you're not willing to give up?"

"Right," Bella swallowed hard as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, "I'm afraid that after I become a…vampire…all I'll want is blood. Right now, all I want is Edward. I don't want that to change but it might. That's why I want us to…you know…and he promised we would at least try but I'm afraid he won't really give it a chance."

"So you want to figure out a way to seduce him so he doesn't back out," Annabelle looked down at her lap, trying to understand the weirdness of this conversation, "Yet at the same time, you don't want him to lose control."

"Yes."

"And you think I could help you with that?" Annabelle gave her an incredulous look.

"Well," Bella took a deep breath, "I was kind of hoping you could…give me pointers…so that Edward won't back out at the first sign of trouble."

"I see," Annabelle smiled at Bella, not sure if this was irony or a good omen, "Well, first things first, you have to believe yourself to be the sexiest, most beautiful woman alive."

Bella couldn't help but laugh despite Annabelle's responding frown, "Do you not believe me?"

"It's not that," Bella gasped, trying to keep from laughing again, "It's just that it is really hard to believe I am sexy and beautiful with Rosalie and you around."

"Forget about us. See, confidence is key when you want to seduce a man. In fact, if you're confident about yourself and your sexuality, it will turn him on," Annabelle pursed her lips, "In fact, confidence will turn anyone on, male or female."

"Confidence," Bella shook her head as she bit her bottom lip, "That's one I'll have a hard time working on."

"Well, aside from that, I only have one tip for when you two actually attempt to…you know," Annabelle wagged her eyebrows suggestively, making Bella burst out laughing once more, "Make sure you're on top."

"On top," Bella gave her a confused look, "On top of what?"

Annabelle laughed as Bella realized what she was referring to, her face going red again. She couldn't help but tease her, "On top of Edward of course. It will give you the control…to some extent…other than that, it will depend on how good Edward is in controlling himself."

"Thanks Annabelle," Bella smile at her as she stood up, realizing this whole conversation could have been a lot worst if Annabelle hadn't been willing to help, "And could you please not tell –"

"Mums the word," Annabelle smiled at Bella as she walked out of her room, softly closing the door behind her. Falling back into the cushions, Annabelle let out a long sigh. This day couldn't get any better.


Annabelle looked away from the mountains and watched Carlisle and Esme walk towards her. She was sitting under her tree behind the Cullen's home, where she spent most of her time if not out running, hunting or in her room. She narrowed her eyes as Carlisle and Esme drew closer, wondering why, if they hadn't talked to her in the past thirteen days, were they coming to her now.

She kept herself from running as a sudden irrational fear welled up inside her. The thought that they may be asking her to leave Forks dug into her mind, causing her a sudden pang of anguish at the idea of being alone.

"Hi Annabelle," Esme smiled at her, "We were hoping we could talk to you?"

"Why now," Annabelle couldn't help but be defensive, "I've been here for almost two weeks and you haven't talked to me since I got here."

"I've been pulling extra shifts at the hospital," Carlisle gave her an apologetic smile as he sat down a few feet away from Annabelle, "and Esme has been busy with the wedding."

"My job is to make sure Alice doesn't drive Bella and Rose crazy," Esme sat down next to Carlisle, "It's a full time job. But even that is no excuse for having kept my distance. I'm really sorry but I thought it would be best if I gave you your space."

"Thank you for that," Annabelle smile at both of them, feeling the tension inside her slowly dissipate, "I really appreciate you letting me stay here."

"You are welcome to stay here as long as you need," Carlisle took Esme's hand in his, keeping his eyes locked onto Annabelle's to let her know of his sincerity.

Esme nudged him with her elbow, "Actually, Annabelle, we want you to know that you can stay here as long as you want. We would like for you to be part of our family."

"You want me…" Annabelle swallowed hard, once again wishing she could release her emotions through tears, "…to be part of your family? Why?"

"Because you are a friend of Edward's and he cares very much for you," Esme reached across the space separating them and took her hand, squeezing it gently, "And that makes you special to us."

Annabelle bit her bottom lip as she looked down at their joined hands. She felt overwhelmingly grateful at the way this family was reaching out to her, trying their best to include her into the family as well as getting to know her.

"Thank you," she whispered, her eyes bright with unspoken gratitude. Carlisle and Esme smiled at her as they stood up.

"One more thing," Esme looked down at her, a grin spreading across her beautiful face, "We were hoping you would join our family table at the wedding tomorrow."

Annabelle smiled up at both of them, "Thank you. That would be an honor."

Annabelle stared after them as they walked back towards the house, holding hands. She couldn't help but glow in the aftereffects of their kindness. They wanted her to be a part of their family.

Without warning, someone grabbed her from behind, causing her to scream as she quickly sprung to her feet, tripping over an exposed root, hitting the ground hard and bringing down her attacker.

She quickly rolled over as laughter rang across the field. She smacked the back of Edward's head, frowning at him with displeasure.

"You were so distracter I couldn't help myself," Edward laid flat on his back, spreading out his arms as Annabelle sat up, shaking leaves and twigs from her hair.

"Edward," she growled at him as she kicked his side, "I didn't like it when we were kids and I don't like it now."

"Yeah, well, it was fun when we were kids and it sure as hell is fun now," Edward pillowed his hands behind his head as he looked up at Annabelle, a smile on his face.

"You're in a good mood," Annabelle gave him a side smile as she brushed off her pants and shirt, "It's obvious you're about to get married tomorrow."

"I'm excited," Edward gave her a big grin as he sat up, "Of course, the fact that Alice won't let me see her all day is driving me crazy. Jasper, Emmett and I are going hunting…want to come?"

"She can't," Annabelle turned to look over her shoulder as Alice approached them, "She's going to join us for a girls' night. Besides, you'd be embarrassed to have her along since Emmett is planning on turning the hunting party into a big bachelor fest."

"That's right, Edward," Annabelle nodded, her smile growing as she crossed her arms across her chest, "They're going to demand that I tell them stories of when you were a kid…"

"And then they will start talking about sex," Alice stood next to Annabelle, crossing her arms in a similar fashion as Annabelle, "With Emmett there, it is a sure-fire thing. Having Annabelle along won't stop it…no matter how much you want to."

Annabelle laughed at the look on Edward's face as he sat up, knowing full well he was embarrassed despite his inability to blush, "Don't be so embarrassed, Eddie, I'm sure Emmett will give you excellent wedding night advice."

"Okay," Edward fluidly rose to his feet, "You are not the one I want to talk with about this."

"Maybe I should go," Annabelle cocked her head to the side, a teasing smile lighting up her face, "I mean, I have a lot of things I could share with you about this subject."

Alice laughed as Edward glared at Annabelle, his fists balled at his side, "Not funny Annabelle. The last person I want to talk about sex is with you."

"Of course not," Annabelle laughed as Edward growled at her, "It would be like talking about sex with your sister."

Alice and Annabelle laughed as Edward stomped off to the house, muttering under his breath about annoying family members.

"Well, what do you say Annabelle," Alice turned to look at her, her golden eyes filled with laughter, "Would you like to join us for a girls' night?"

Annabelle smiled at her as they walked towards the house, "I would as long as Bella and Rosalie are okay with it."

"Of course they are," Alice opened the back door, letting Annabelle go in first, "Rosalie promised she would be on her best behavior, with you and Bella. As for Bella…she just wants the chance to get to know you."

"A girls' night," Annabelle smiled as they walked up the stairs, "Last time I hung out with girlfriends was when I was a new debutante in 1914. This might be kind of fun."

"It will be," Alice opened her bedroom door, inviting Annabelle to enter, "We're finalizing make up and hairstyles for tomorrow…well, ours. I've already decided Bella's look. We are also watching movies, doing manicures and pedicures and maybe even some shopping at Port Angeles."

Annabelle smiled, certain the day would be filled with fun and laughter…and some tension. This might be a great night but she won't make up her mind until it was over.

The wedding was less than twenty-four hours away…

Would she survive it? Would she be able to learn to move on, live past this moment? Or would life cease to exist now that she was losing her center?