I Own Nothing Twilight. S.M. Does. Enjoy!

Chapter Eighteen - July 2016: Anberliegh

I feel like running away
I'm still so far from home
You say that I'll never change
But what the fuck do you know?
I'll burn it all to the ground before I let you in
Please forgive me, I can't forgive you now.
I remember everything.
If I could hold back the rain, would you numb the pain?
'Cause I remember everything.
If I could help you forget, would you take my regrets?
'Cause I remember everything.
It all went by so fast;
I still can't change the past
I always will remember everything
If we could start again,
Would that have changed the end?
We remember everything, everything.

Remember Everything: Five Finger Death Punch

Leverage. That is all I saw as I looked around this little room. Just a bunch of leverage. We were at the Cullen's house. Esme, Carlisle, Rose and Emmett were all helping cook. Dressed in nice clothes still. Billy, Emily, and the wolves, along with a few of their imprints, were sitting in the backyard enjoying the twilight air. Charlie was having a conversation on the back porch with Sue. Alice, Edward, Bella and I were still being tortured by Jasper and his camera thanks to Esme. We were still in our caps and gowns. And Paul, Paul was watching me from across the room with a loving expression on his face.

Leverage. They were all leverage. I itched to run. Leave the country, hide and let no one ever see me again. It would be best for them. They wouldn't miss me, I could make them not, but I would miss them. I was being selfish. I had this fake smile plastered on my face but inside I felt like crying, or screaming. One more day of me staying here could mean life or death for all of them, just because I cared for them. Eventually the pictures stopped, the caps and gowns were shed and I was standing on the front porch in my little black dress.

Edward and Bella stepped out of the front door and shut it quietly.

"You okay?" Bella asked.

"Yes, it is just weird to see you graduate Bella, I remember when you were this big." I laughed when she grimaced.

Yes I was being selfish, but not for much longer. I would leave soon and that would be the end of it. I would leave before he found me and got his leverage.

Bella…

Edward and I were walking back to his house after the lunch picnic he planned for us. The sun would be down within the hour a making the sky a beautiful peach color. Having graduated only a month ago the question of what are you going to do was still hanging in the air. I knew what I was going to do. Be changed into a vampire, but I couldn't exactly tell everyone that. So I told them that Esme was tutoring me in interior design. I was just waiting for Edward to propose.

We walked into the house and heard laughter tinkling from the dining room, Esme laughter. It was rather strange to hear laughter because lately Annie had been on edge. Making everyone else rather jumpy. Edward and I hurried into the dining room. Rose, Emmet, Esme and a stranger were seated at the large table. Edward eyed him suspiciously.

"And here is my son Edward and daughter Bella." She said with a smile on her face. Everyone at the table seemed so at ease it was almost creepy.

"Edward, Bella, this is Luke." Esme said as Luke extended his hand to shake Edwards, and mine.

At the mention of his name my eyes shot to him. I examined him. He was gorgeous, with an almost feminine nose and golden eyes that held the attention of everything. His mouth was in a shy, but confident smile that probably made girls swoon. He was tall. Slightly taller than Edward, and had black hair that fell in a way that looked planned.

He extended his hand to me and I looked at it. Is he the Luke Annie had been with? I refused to shake his hand and Esme frowned.

"Why are you here?" I asked him.

He laughed and ran his hand through his hair. "I heard there were people that had my same diet out here and decided to investigate."

"She isn't here." I said and hurt flashed across his face.

"Who? Alice or Annie?" Esme asked and at the mention of Annie's name he stopped breathing, but kept the same smile on his face with effort.

I noticed it, as well as the rest of the Cullen's. He sat down and set his hand on Esme's forearm smiling at her. "You and your family are so close, I truly envy it."

She smiled back and seemed to forget the tense moment, all the Cullen's did. I glared at him and his smile disappeared. Seconds passed before we heard a motorcycle speeding up the drive. It screeched to a halt and within seconds Annie was in the house walking straight up to Luke.

"Get your hands off her." She growled as she swatted his hand away. "Don't let him touch you, he can manipulate people when touching them." She told the rest of us never looking away from Luke.

The Cullen's seemed to break out of a trance and the only thing Luke could do was smile.

Annie was glaring at him when he stood up wrapping his arms around her. Everyone gasped, Annie stood stiff in his embrace.

"I thought I would never get to see you again." He whispered. It almost sounded like he was crying, well if he could.

"Annie? Annie, say something please?" He asked and she just looked at him.

"You should go Luke." She told him and hurt flashed across his face.

Someone walked in behind us and started clapping.

"Bravo, bravo. And here I thought you wouldn't be able to even get her here." A man said as he walked into the house through the glass door in the dining room without being invited, leaving it open. "Dear Annie, what's it been 58 years since I last saw you." He looked an awful lot like Annie.

"And I thought I made my decision clear then." She told him.

Luke let go of Annie fast and went to stand over by the man. "You said that I could just talk to her before you showed up." He growled.

"And then I saw your reaction to her. You would have blown everything just like last time." He went over and sat down. "Last time, the time was right, but then he was going to take off with you before we got to you. Hopeless romantic fool."

Annie was staring at Luke with the most peculiar look on her face and it hit me. Luke still loved Annie, this wasn't good.

"Annie, Luke, People I am not acquainted with sit. Relax. I think it is time to air some things out." He said pointing to the empty seats around the ten person dining table.

"No, I think you need to leave Robert." Annie said and a hint of recognition flashed in Edwards face.

He ignored her and went to the table.

The man sat at one end of the table. We all started to the seats. Luke sat on his right and the next two seats were empty. I sat at the fourth seat, with Edward at the end directly across from Robert. Esme sat across from me with rose next to her, and Emmet next to rose. An empty seat was between Emmet and the new man. Annie looked like she was debating where to sit and Luke pulled out the seat next to him a little.

Paul burst through the front door and right into the dining room. Annie looked at him a hopeless look on her face as he rushed right to her and wrapped her in his arms.

Luke looked like he was going to vomit.

"I told you, you would be replaced." The man laughed and Paul glared at him.

Annie sat down next to Luke and nodded to the seat next to her, Paul cautiously sat down.

"Good, when is the last time we sat down at a table like this as a family Annie?" He asked looking at Annie.

"You tell me, better yet, just get to why you are here." She said.

He just smiled at her. "Remember Annie."

"My memory serves me well. I happen to be remembering a lot more these days Robert." She said rudely.

"You need to respect me." He said firmly.

"No. You need to get to the point then get out of my house, Robert." Carlisle told him as he entered the room. He touched Esme's shoulder as he walked by and took the empty seat.

"I am still her father." He said and the room went still.

That was Annie's father!; it explained why he looked so much like her.

"You are a donor, Carlisle is my father." Annie spat.

"This is an irrelevant, useless, ongoing argument. Annie it is that time of the century again. And this time I have leverage." He smiled at her.

"No this is a useless argument. You don't have anything more than what you had last time." He looked at everyone sitting around the table.

"Don't I?" he asked. "I told you be careful of your bonds."

"Try to touch them and I will have to kill you." She whispered a deadly whisper that sent chills down my back. Paul scooted her chair closer to his.

"Cute." He told her. "But that is not what I am talking about. Luke is going to help me. Though the rest could come in handy."

Luke looked down at the table. Ashamed.

Annie stared at him.

"Luke was supposed to come here by himself to see you, but I knew that it has been to long and he wouldn't be able to resist you. What has it been anyway? 350 years?" He asked Luke.

"392." Luke mumbled.

"Remember that day Annie? I know Luke does. You broke his heart leaving before he got home. His plan was to tell you the truth, be the hero. You two would leave and happily ever after." He watched Luke as he said it. As did Annie.

"Luke was useful in the beginning, but he made the worst mistake. He fell for you. Now he is more of a burden than anything. Once this is over, he will most likely be disposed of. Unless of course he can prove himself." Robert told her watching closely.

Annie's breathing hitched.

"There it is. Seeing that day from his point of view puts life in another perspective doesn't it. You still care for him. My leverage." He told her.

"What do you even want me to do?" She asked.

"Same as always. Come with me and try it. If it fails then you leave, no harm done." He smiled.

"No." Luke said and looked at Annie. Their eyes were having a conversation that we would probably never know. Even I could feel the bond between them.

Paul shifted uncomfortably and Annie laid her hand on his forearm.

"Luke, what are you telling her?" Robert growled and without looking away from Annie he whispered. "The truth."

In seconds Robert had Luke pinned on the floor. "I knew I should have disposed of you before this." He told him and Roberts teeth went for Luke's throat.

"Stop!" Annie cried and lunged herself at her father. She flung herself and Robert out the open door and pinned him to the ground.

No one moved as we watched her hold him there. The look of death on her face.

"You killed your own mother, and now you are going to kill your own father too?" He choked out and Annie jumped off him like she was shocked.

"I will see you soon. Now that I have all the information I need. I look forward to our next meeting my daughter." He told her and took off. Luke took a hesitant step in her direction, but Paul was already out the door.

He ran right up to her and held her. Anger radiating off her in waves.

Annie looked at Luke. "I need a minute to clear my head, when I get back we need to talk." She told him and Paul let her go. Annie ran off.

Luke walked in the opposite direction stopping at the edge of the river.

Paul looked distraught. Fear and worry were etched on his face and you could tell that he did not want to let her go.

I walked over to him. "It will be okay."

"What if she picks him, and I never see her again?" he whispered his fears out loud.

"I don't think she will." Edward said. "She was really vulnerable right there and I could see into her mind more. She may still love him, but she has lived for almost 400 years without him. She needs you; she doesn't think she will be able to live without you.'

Paul looked a little relieved at Edwards's words. Esme went over to him and set her had on his arm.

"Come inside, I made some lemonade earlier. We will get you a glass." She told him

It was amazing how much the Cullen's had accepted Paul. He was a part of this very dysfunctional family.

Anberliegh…

I got to a small clearing in the woods and broke down. No tears, but the trees near me were not in good shape at the end of my rant. How dare Luke. I felt my heart break as a first sob left me and I dropped to my knees crying. How dare he love me, just when I was letting myself be happy. I was accepting Paul and this happens.

Now all of the Cullen's were at risk as well as Paul and Luke.

For the first time in my life I felt completely helpless. I hugged myself and tried to think of a way to get my family out of this safely.

I saw it and then I heard a gasp behind me.

"Annie?" I heard Alice ask but it was as if she was speaking through water.

"One moment." I had to wrap my head around what Alice and I both just saw.

Eventually I got control, and I turned to look at Alice and jasper.

"You can't tell anyone what you just saw, please don't." I begged and she just nodded.

"What about…" She asked and I stopped her.

"No Alice, it is either me or them." I whispered and she nodded. "Go back and tell them I will be along in a minute, please?" I asked.

"Of course." She whispered and walked away.

After a few minutes I started to follow. I had to put on a happy face, not let any one of them know the danger that was coming. I thought back to the vision of the future again and shuddered.

My father and the man who killed my mother stood beside a body on the floor. Rose was being pulled from the room by Emmett as they were trying to flee. Emmett also trying to keep Paul out of the room as an evil smirk crossed my father's face and a glint of happiness found its way into his eyes. Luke stood there emotionless, looking like death.

Then there were my eyes, as the last bits of life drained from their depths and I die.

It would be me or it would be Rose, Emmett, Paul, and Luke.

And I wasn't about to let my family die.

I walked back to the house and followed the same path Luke took. I joined him by the river.

"Two years. Tell him to give me two years and I will be there." I told him.

"No, they will kill you." He protested.

"I know, but I am not about to let my family get hurt."

"Come with me." He said grabbing my hands.

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

"Run away with me. He will leave your family alone, let's just leave."

"You and I both know that isn't true. I have to do what I have to do." I whispered.

"I can't even begin to tell you what I felt when I saw you today, you know that. God Annie, I love you so much and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you. Just remember that. I love you, I have since that night I first saw you then we stayed up all night while I told you stories about your mother." He wrapped me in his arms and I didn't want to stop him. This was goodbye. "I will always love you. The only thing I could do is hope one day that is enough and you will come back to me. Until then I will tell your father your message. I just want you to remember one thing. I am happiest when you are happy."

He kissed my forehead. "Goodbye Luke." I whispered and watched him go.

I walked back to the house and into the living room where everyone was seated.

"I hate that man." I said exasperated.

"What happened?" Paul asked and I frowned.

"I don't know he will probably be back in another decade, to get me to go with him, I am just sorry that all of you had to be dragged into this fiasco." I told them.

"Annie we are your family." Carlisle told me.

"That is right, and no matter what we have your back sis." Emmett told me and I smiled at him.

I finished that night with not one person except Alice knowing that I only have two short years left with this family.

Edward…

"Bella, Will you marry me?" I asked

"No."

"Isabella Swan will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

"No."

"This is hopeless." I told her and Annie laughed.

"You will get it. I don't know why you are so worked up about this; I mean she has already said yes." She told me and I smiled at her.

"I know, but I want this to be perfect."

"It will be." She assured me.

"Now let me fix your tie. Then I have to go make sure Bella is ready." She told me. Straightening my tie.

Tonight Esme and Annie were throwing a party for Bella's 18 birthday party. That meant I had to propose to her in front of my whole family, Paul, and Charlie. Of course Charlie already knew and had already given me his blessing, but still I was nervous.

It was a white tie event and I couldn't wait to see Bella in an elegant dress.

Annie took one of my cars to go over and help Bella as I walked down stairs. The whole family was busy doing something so I went out back to stand with Paul who was admiring Esme's hanging lights.

"Annie went to go get Bella." I told him.

"Ya, she stopped by and said so." He was deep in thought. "How long have you and Bella been dating?" He asked.

"Forgetting that I left, almost two years, but we are going to spend the rest of our lives together." I shrugged.

I started getting glimpses of Annie dressed in white. Her hair long and flowing, making a beautiful bride.

"Really?" I asked him and he laughed.

"I know, it is a bit ridiculous. I never even wanted any of that until I met her." he sighed.

"I have a feeling that even if she wasn't your imprint it would still be like this." I laughed.

"You are not the first one to say that." He chuckled.

I heard a car pull up out front and went to get my soon to be fiancé. Paul made his way to the living room to see Annie. I was amazed by the amount of love he had for her. Every part of him loves her, but he was always worried that she didn't feel the same.

I met Bella on the front steps. She was wearing a thin strapped deep blue dress that stopped at her knees, along with white heels. If I knew her the heels would be off within the hour.

I smiled at her. "You look so beautiful Bella." I said as I took her hand. "And Happy Birthday."

She smiled. "You look rather dashing yourself."

Dinner was served in the dining room; once everyone was done I turned to Bella.

"Will you join me outside?" I whispered and she nodded.

She walked with me, leaving her shoes under the table and we went out back.

Twinkling lights were hung above and music was playing lightly in the background. I lifted Bella on my feet and started to dance with her.

"Enjoying your birthday?" I asked her.

"More than usual, now that I know that there won't be too many more." She smiled.

I dipped her slightly and Bella started to giggle. I loved to see her so carefree and happy.

"Is there anything that can make this night better?" I asked her.

"Well you could kiss me." She whispered.

"How about I do one better." I said and stopped dancing.

Grabbing both of her hands in mine I sank to one knee, then let go of her hands and pulled out the little box in my pocket.

I opened it and she gasped. "Bella, my love, will you marry me?" I asked and tears started to form in her eyes.

"Yes, Edward." She whispered and I slid the simple, but elegant ring on her finger.

"It was my mothers." I told her as she looked at it, standing and wrapping her in my arms.

"It is beautiful." She told me then I lifted her chin to kiss her.

After a few seconds Alice burst through the door. "Okay stop hogging her." she said as she ran over to hug Bella.

"You are going to be my official sister now." She said happily.

"Congratulations Bella." Charlie said and she smiled at him.

"Thanks dad."

"Only one left, right Annie." Emmett said jokingly.

A hopeful smile broke across Paul's face as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. Annie smiled as well, but when everyone looked away it turned into a frown. I was the only one who noticed it.

The rest of the night turned into our engagement party. Bella forbid any gifts so we did as she wished. Bella stayed at my house that night and talked into the early hours with Rose, Esme, and Alice about her wedding. Annie was there as well, but she didn't participate.

Almost like she wasn't making long term plans, like she would be leaving soon.