Anna's POV:
This time please someone come and rescue me
Cause you on my mind got me losing it
I'm lost, you got me lookin' for the rest of me
Love is testing me but still I'm losing it
This time please someone come and rescue me 'cause you on my mind got me losing it
I'm lost you got me looking for the rest of me, got the best of me, so now I'm losing it
I'm losing it…..Ain't that right? My subconscious sighed while she was sprawled out on her lounge chair.
Just as the last part of the bridge of Rihanna's song blasted through the loudspeaker system a knock on the door broke through the melody of the song.
"Come in." I sighed not intending to move from my position on my bed.
I did get up in the morning. I did my morning routine, got dressed but in the end I did not go down and had breakfast instead I laid back down, lolled my head to the side and gazed out of the window at the pale blue sky watching the few fluffy, grey clouds slowly move by.
"Hi," Edward's velvet but quiet voice rang just above Rihanna's.
"If you are here to ask me how I'm feeling I'm going to seriously hurt you." I mumbled in a lifeless voice still staring out of the huge window but not seeing anything in front of me.
A sighed followed my empty threat and the door closed shut after I heard a few steps that indicated that Edward had entered my room.
"What?" I asked when he knelled down before me gazing sadly and with sympathy into my eyes.
"Can you stop the brooding?" I huffed as I sat up straight in one fluid motion bracing myself with my arms stretched out behind me.
"I'm not brooding I'm just concerned," I cranked my neck to looked at him as he bowed his head, glared down at the comforter on my bed and ran his fingers through his brown locks, "about you, my family, the entire situation we are in."
I sighed and suddenly his anguished and tortured amber pools snapped to mine.
"I …" he began but the words died in his throat before he closed his mouth and looked away.
Expelling a huge breath I crawled up on my bed. When I sat back down I looked back at Edward just in time to catch him raise his head to look at me.
Smiling softly I patted the space next to me.
"I think I really need a friend," I murmured as Edward was looking at me with his huge, confused and carefully hopeful pools of gold that couldn't quite believe what they saw. As if it was too good to be true.
Cocking my head to the side I narrowed my eyes at him in question when he didn't make a sound for several long moments.
He swallowed hard and hesitatingly nodded his head before rising to his feet and joining me on the comfortable mattress.
I sighed contently when I rested my head on his shoulder while he lazily draped his arms over my back and waist as I snuggled into his side.
For a long while no one spoke and we just lay there enjoying the warm silence and the comfort brought by each others presence.
Hmm….heavenly. My subconscious murmured in approval.
"What happens now? To the treaty I mean" I wondered all of the sudden and looked up into Edward's brilliant depths.
"You found a way around it … so….."
"Not me," I interrupted him. "You did in Breaking Dawn."
He looked at me with wide pools of gold for a moment before he nodded and exhaled while I offered him a half smile and looked back out of the panorama window. My mind was immediately assaulted with thoughts and images of how things had gone wrong.
Everything was so different than in the books. Jacob hated the Cullen's so much now and instead of being allies the Vampires and the Werewolves drifted even further apart.
And who is the root of all the evil? My subconscious questioned with her arms crossed over her chest and a sour expression on her sinister face.
Suddenly Edward's hand buried itself in my hair, brushing through my tresses and pulling my locks causing goose bumps to erupt all over my body.
"I love that." I nearly mewed.
I had always loved it when someone was playing with my hair something my mom, my grandma and I had in common. My chest constricted painfully when that thought past my mind.
Recently it had become harder for me not to think of everything I had lost and how much I missed my family instead of concentrating on the problems at hand.
Edward started to hum along to the song that played on the radio while my fingers began to play with his bottom down shirt and I felt the rising and the falling of his chest as he breathed under my hand.
"Aren't you hungry? You didn't have any breakfast and it is already noon."
"Nope. Not hungry." I shook my head.
The fingertips of Edward's free hand which had been tugged under his head before tipped my head up so I would look at him.
"I was thinking ….. how about we go out? Get away from here just for a few hours?" His amber pools were sparkling with hope.
"What about Jane and the others? What if they suddenly turn up here and we are gone?" I immediately worried.
"They have informed Aro and his brothers about the happenings here and are currently waiting for a decision how to go about the upcoming fight. According to Alice Aro and Caius are in the argument over wherever Jane and the others should help to fight the newborns or if we should deal with them on our own and maybe our number would reduce that way as Caius hopes." Edward muttered with a dull and flat voice but there was also a hostile and bitter edge in it.
I sighed and silence settled between us for a minute while I waited for his harsh breathing to calm down.
"Do you really think this is the right time to ….."
"Anna." The dark expression that had occupied his face when he spoke of the Volturi softened and he placed his finger against my lips to silence me.
"Someone once said: In this short brutal life, you've got to seize any opportunity you can to celebrate. I would like for us to have a few carefree moments before reality has us back tomorrow." His golden pools were pleadingly shining into mine.
Come on how can you resist this puppy dog eyes? My subconscious teased.
I shook my head and sighed while a smile spread on my face.
"Where do you want to go?"
A mysterious smile spread over his face.
"It's a surprise."
"You love this whole surprise thing, don't you?" His grin widened as he beamed at me.
"Well do your worst." I couldn't help but smile back at him.
"I will." He breathed before he bent forward and placed a small kiss against my forehead.
Before I knew it he was gone from my side and opening the door to let Esme and Rosalie in.
"You've been planning this, didn't you?" I narrowed my eyes at him while I moved my body into a sitting position.
He beamed at me again in victory and was out of the door a second later, closing it behind him.
"Not that I'm complaining but behaving like this is so not like him." I murmured to no one in particular, being equally pleased but also puzzled to why he wasn't the nervous, overbearing and tense basket case I was expecting him to be in this situation.
"Edward changed a lot because of everything that had happened," Esme sighed before her gaze fell on me, "and because of you." she added smiling softly at me and I could tell that she wanted to say more but paused for just a moment.
"He is stronger now …..and calmer." Esme had a far way look in her eyes as she seemed to gather her thoughts while Rosalie sat down on the office chair and turned around to grab the magazine that was lying on my desk.
"As horrible as it is to imagine ….. I think that seeing us all die in the other time line and having no means of stopping that from happening or helping us in any way changed his world view." Esme nodded to herself and closed the distance between us, sitting down on the bed next to me.
"And you helped him to put everything into the right perspective."
"Don't really know about that Esme most of the time I was yelling at him or ignoring him when he had done something to upset once again." I shrugged.
"And that is exactly how you train them." Rosalie muttered in approval briefly glancing up from the magazine in her hand.
Esme gave her daughter an incredulous look before she shook her head, rose from the edge of my bed and made her way into my bathroom while I giggled and bit the inside of my cheek as Rosalie came over and took the place Esme had just vacated.
"About what I said before ….."
"Rosalie," I interrupted her and for the first time ever since our quarrel on the balcony she looked into my eyes.
"I don't think I would be able to choose death even knowing the downsides of this existence." Her hard, amber pools sparkled with an emotion I couldn't quite identify before she looked away - clearly dismissing the topic - and stood up.
Weirdest apology ever but I guess that's as good as it gets with the ice queen. My subconscious shrugged.
"I do your hair." She commanded when she stepped over to the office chair next to my desk and Esme emerged from my bathroom having fetched some of my make-up and hair products.
"So where exactly is Edward taking me?" I glanced up at Rosalie.
"Isn't that supposed to be a surprise?" She huffed a laugh as the corners of her mouth twisted.
"Doesn't mean I can't try to figure it out beforehand." I shrugged and the both female Vampires laughed.
A small smile also formed on my face when Rosalie started to tell me some embarrassing stories of Edward's adventures through the wild seventies and early eighties.
I had no idea how to describe how I felt in that moment or ever since I woke up this particular morning. First I thought that the right word would be numb but that wasn't quite it. I was strangely calm like I was standing in the eye of a tornado as the chaos and disaster were swirling around me.
I could see the imminence waiting for us at the end of the road but the storm had not clashed down on me yet. It was just how I always felt before I had to take an exam I was cool and calm until the very last minute were I would freak before diving into the matter.
Only that this time a bad grade or a failed driving test won't be the worst thing that could happen. My subconscious muttered soberly.
"How should I dress?" I asked while I was admiring Esme's and Rosalie's exquisite handiwork in the mirror, deciding then and there to pull myself together and make the best of the few carefree moments that we had left.
"Something between casual and elegant." Was Rosalie's answer.
I slipped into a cute peach coloured mini dress with spaghetti straps and choose a white bolero jacket to go with it since it was a little fresh outside. Black high heels and a silver bracelet complete the outfit.
"You look beautiful." Edward murmured when I stepped down the stairs.
His soft amber pools were shining brightly as he gazed at me.
"Thanks," I answered and my eyes swept over his outfit – black slacks and a crisp white bottom down - "you don't look bad yourself."
The shadows of the upcoming events were looming in the back of my mind but I tried to push them away as good as I could because who knew if we would survive this week and I really didn't want to spend my "maybe last days" being all gloomy and wasting time.
Overdramatic and pessimistic much? My subconscious gave me an incredulous look.
"Are you alright?" Edward asked and I snapped back into reality.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I questioned back looking up at him as he was guiding me to his car.
"What were you smiling about?" He cocked his head to the side looking curiously at me.
"Just laughing about myself." I shook my head and Edward helped me into his Vanquish while he pouted at me.
"Are you sure the sun is not going to shine?" I asked as I watched the bright grey sky above us while we were on our way to Port Angeles.
Edward chuckled, "I don't think the weather can outsmart Alice."
I gave him a look, rolled my eyes and shook my head before I turned the radio on.
"I love that song," I bobbed my head approvingly when I heard the first notes of the song reach my ears.
"What's the song called?" He questioned curiously.
"Snow Partrol - chasing cars."
For the rest of the drive we fell into easy banter, talking about music and god and the world.
"Are we going to play golf?" I asked when I saw the sign where "SunLand Golf & Country Club" was written on it in elegant green letters.
"We can if that is what you want." He chuckled while he was driving up the road that led to the huge complex of buildings that were surrounded by a beautiful garden with a little see with a build in fountain, lush, dark green grass and flowerbeds with the most vibrant colours.
When we pull up to the front entrance I could see that the place is decorated for a party and employees of the Country Club are welcoming the guests.
"Is Carlisle a member here?"
"He and Esme are enjoying the dance events here and they do golf every once in a while." Edward smiled at me before he parked the car.
"So we are going dancing?" I narrow my eyes at him after he came to my side of the car and opened the door offering me his hand.
"Among other things," he grinned mysteriously and amused while I pouted.
Holding my hand firmly yet gently in his Edward and I stepped into an opulent looking hallway and we were immediately greeted by an employee in a tux who guided us inside the elegantly in white and cream colours decorated ballroom.
My eyes swept over the room that was filled with tasteful dressed people but not overly so, clearly from the higher society, until my gaze suddenly landed on Esme who was beaming at me.
She and the others sat at a round table near the glass wall of the room that was fully open letting the music from outside unhampered stream inside. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the grills where several cooks looked after the grilled goodies.
"Let's join the others," Edward murmured into my ear.
I gave him a curious look but bobbed my head in agreement.
Like the gentlemen he always had been Edward helped me into my seat next to Carlisle while he took his place on the other side of me.
They all looked and smiled mysteriously at me as if they were on a secret that I had no idea of, which most likely was the case.
Swallowing hard my stomach surged with nervousness and anticipation of what was to come next.
"Er…" my eyes travelled from one Cullen to the other, "what am I missing?"
My gaze was frozen on Edward's amused looking face. He chuckled and leaned into me bringing his lips dangerously close to my ear.
"Impatient aren't we?" He chuckled softly.
Sharply I pulled a little away from his just enough to be able to look at him and I narrowed my eyes at his bemused expression.
"I just don't like it to be kept in the dark."
"You won't be for too long anymore." He grinned at me and suddenly the cheerful music from outside ceased and a song I knew but didn't really like was sung by five different voices.
My head snapped around and I was met with the sight of a couple of singing waiters pushing a cart in front of them as they walked in our direction. My head was turning as I looked around trying to figure out who was celebrating their birthday as suddenly they stopped directly in front of me.
The song ended and a cool, strong arm sneaked around my waist. Still utterly stunned by the beaming faces of the waiters in front of me my head whipped around to be met with a soft amber gaze.
"Happy birthday, Anna," Edward whispered before he placed a gentle kiss on my cheek.
Shocked I blinked at him when he pulled back.
"How…..How do you?"
Immediately his cheerful and soft expression saddened and darkened a little.
"The other timeline," he whispered quietly only for me and the sensitive ears of the supernatural creatures around us to hear.
"You have been there when I was in the hospital." I blurted out without thinking.
I had always suspected but never asked him if he had been sneaking in while I had been locked up in the funny farm.
His amber pools looked fearful and sad as he nodded his head.
Exhaling I smiled softly at him in reassurance before I turned back around and inspected the beautiful looking cake before I blew out the candles.
Heat rose in my cheeks when the entire room applauded me but I couldn't keep the stupid grin from exploding on my face.
"Would you grand me the honour of the first dance?" Edward asked after we had some of the delicious cake, well I ate it while the Vampires pushed the pieces of the pastries around on their plates.
"It'll be my pleasure," I smiled and shook my head before I laid my hand into his outstretched one.
Edward led me outside on the dance floor and pulled me close to his body, burring his nose in my hair just as a new song started to play.
I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you
I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
That's why I need you to hear
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is You
And the reason is You
And the reason is You
And the reason is You
"You are my reason, Anna." He murmured into my ear.
My breath hitched when his rich golden pools burned fiercely into my own. Unable to form a reply I just nodded slowly before I rested my head against his shoulder and we continued to sway over the dance floor.
One song changed into another and another and suddenly I felt his body tense up and his grip on me tightened almost desperately.
"Why do I suddenly get the vibes of an apocalyptic mood?" I whispered after I pulled back to be able to look at his face.
His expression looked pensive and he swallowed hard.
"I am hoping for the best ….. praying that…" He shook his head, "I have no idea if there will be a next week for us …. I'll do anything in my power to protect you," he vowed as he pressed me closer to his strong body and his amber pools stared intensely into my eyes.
"Edward…" I breathed but he shook his head interrupting me.
"I just want you to know how I feel about you …. That you mean the world to me …..that…." he was stumbling over his words as his emotions chocked him.
"Edward…." All I could do was to push his mane in a breathy whisper past my lips as the rest of the words died in my throat.
"Anna," he shook his head before his brilliant, golden depths pleaded with me to let him finish.
"I know that it is still too early for us but I want you to know that … " he swallowed hard, "I'm hoping that one day we can be more than friends." His breath shuddered with his final word.
Awww….and look how nervous he looks. God, he is so yummy and cute I could eat him here, right now. My subconscious gushed as she was lying on her bed kicking her legs in the air like a teenage girl.
Deep golden pools were shining intensely down on me while trying to convey what he couldn't put into words. My heart stuttered in my chest and my breath hitched.
I had to look away to gather my thoughts. That was the first time I noticed how dark it had become and that countless little lights were the only light source besides the brightly shining moon.
Esme and Carlisle were floating over the dance floor among the other couples looking love drunk into one another's eyes while Emmett was dipping Rosalie like a professional receiving a melodic laugh from her.
A smile spread across my face when I saw them so absorbed in each other and suddenly I became hyper aware of Edward's hard frame against my own, especially the places where we were touching.
My body was slightly trembling in his arms as my conflicted feelings managed to slightly break my iron hold on them. In respond Edward drew me even closer to him pressing his cheek against mine.
It was strange the close vicinity to Edward was causing an emotional chaos inside of me leaving me raw and clueless as well as feeling helpless and vulnerable but at the same time I felt protected, safe and content in his arms as if nothing could touch me as long as I was close to him.
The calm and comfort he offered me along with the burning sensation of excitement and ecstasy was nothing short of addicting. My attempt to clear my head by drawing some fresh air into my lungs was undermined by his intoxicating scent that clouded my mind.
Shaking my head to at least gather some of my wits I looked back up at him.
His amber depths were still burning intensely and curiously down at me, screaming with longing and unanswered desire as his gaze was fixed on my lips.
"I…." the word stumbled out of my mouth before I had even formed a sentence in my mind but I suddenly stopped not really sure how to continue.
Edward looked hopefully at me and in the back of my mind I noticed that we were not swaying over the dance floor anymore and suddenly I knew what I wanted.
"What I ….." I began but was interrupted by a loud explosion followed by a bright silver light that spread across the dark sky.
My head shot up and I was greeted with the beautiful sight of a firework. Quietly Edward sighed beside me before he pulled me into his side watching the colourful spectacle with me while his hand brushed in comforting patterns over my back.
I allowed myself to fall into him, to be caught up in a little bubble where we were giving and drawing comfort from one another. In this torturous sweet moment I forgot that the world outside wanted to harm us, all the problems suddenly fell away and a magical while I let myself enjoy …. This dance…..the closeness to Edward….this night …
(*.*)
I was humming softly to myself while I finished with my morning routine, running my hand over my shirt, taking one last look into the mirror to check if everything was in place.
No toothpaste to be seen. Check! My subconscious nodded approvingly.
My head was filled with images of the night before as I put the platinum watch that Edward had given me for my birthday on my wrist.
It had been nice to see him and the others enjoy themselves a little. Even Alice seemed to have been more cheerful than usual.
Pushing the door of my bathroom open I was still humming to myself lost in my thoughts when out of the corner of my eye I caught a movement that nearly gave me a heart attack.
Before I knew it a shriek of utter terror ripped from my throat and I jumped about three feet in the air. Stumbling back my back hit the wall next to the door I just emerged out of as my heart was beating a frightened tattoo against my ribcage.
My breath was leaving my mouth in hard pants while my hand covered my wildly racing heart. My gaze snapped to whatever scared the living daylight out of me and I was met with a sheepish looking Edward.
"Jesus! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" I barked curtly at him slowly recovering from the scare.
"Sorry." He muttered quietly.
"I should really tie a bell around your neck. When did you get in?" I asked wondering why he was in my room in the first place.
I did assume that he was watching me sleep at nights but as far he was never there when I woke up. He usually never entered my room without being invited by me beforehand.
"Jane and the others returned a few hours ago." He informed me in an emotionless voice but the expression on his face spoke volumes.
"Oh…..and?"
"They will fight with us against Victoria…." He said before his voice trailed off and his face hardened.
"Where are they now?" I asked curiously and saw his jaw clench.
"They are here and they will be our guests until the situation had been taken care off." He pushed out as politely as he could.
Wow he does not like that, does he? My subconscious looked wary at me.
My first instinct was it to ask if Jane and the others have been given orders to get rid of some of the Cullens in the middle of the fight but with them just a level below me I kept my mouth shut and played along.
"Cool," I shrugged and made my way past him as his jaw hit the floor in utter incredulousness.
Giggling I approached my desk to check my purse to make sure I had everything I needed.
"That's not funny." I heard him mutter and when I turned around to look at him he was glaring at me with an adorable pout on his face.
"What are you doing?" He asked suddenly looking confused at me.
"What does it look like?" I questioned back, shaking my head as I was getting ready for my shift in the diner.
"What about breakfast?"
"Oh, don't remind me. I ate so much of the grilled chicken and that delicious cake I am still stuffed." I moaned, patting my belly.
"Why did you let me eat so much?" I playfully glared at him.
Edward snorted, rolled his eyes smiling silently to himself and shook his head before he opened the door for me.
Stepping down the stairs I was surprised by the impressive sight of Felix who looked curiously up at me, greeting me with a small smile and a nod.
"Morning." I smiled back at him and felt something dark and cold behind me.
When I turned my head around I saw Edward glaring daggers at Felix …. and me?
Really what's his problem? My subconscious screwed up her nose.
"Going somewhere?" Jane's cold voice rang out behind me when I was slipping my shoes on.
"Good morning you too, Jane. And to answer your question my shift, in the diner I work for, will start in about twenty minutes." I replied politely.
She raised an eyebrow at me as did Felix.
"Well despite all the Transylvanian chaos I still have to keep up appearance, don't I?" I smirked at the both of them slipping into my jacket.
Felix chuckled amused and shook his head while his eyes were shining with an emotion I could not name whilst Edward stood next to me clenching and unclenching his fists at his side, looking like he wanted to rip Felix into pieces.
Jane merely rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Don't worry I am not stupid enough to try to run from you."
The little doll like Vampire narrowed her bright red and dangerously shining eyes at me before she sneered in displeasure.
"We'll see."
(*.*)
"They are not planning on killing you during the battle are they?" I blurted my question flat out the second I saw Edward relax behind the wheel of his Volvo which meant we were out of earshot.
His head slowly turned around while he was wearing an incredulous expression on his face. Edward blinked at me before an uncontrolled laugher broke out of him.
"You are really outspoken are you." He chuckled.
"I just don't really see the point in beating around the bush," I frowned at him," well most of the time at least and don't avoid my question."
"I am not it's just…." He shook his head before he sobered up and briefly glanced at me.
"It is just strange."
"What's strange?"
"Not to have to walk on egg shells around you. I was raised to protect women since they were believed to be weaker, shield them from anything …"
"I am assuming correctly that neither Alice nor Rosalie ever heard that particular speech? Or else I really wonder how you are still alive." I raised an eyebrow at him.
A crooked grin exploded on his face that he sent my way and he shook his head.
"Since Jane and the others are staying at our place I wanted to give you a heads up about the fact that I will be around more often …."
"I'll translate that; you'll be my shadow from now on." I interrupted him.
"Anna, please don't be difficult." All of the sudden he sounded really tired.
"Edward if I was being difficult you would know it, trust me." I rolled my eyes at him. "So you are going to be my shadow what else?"
He glanced at me before swallowed hard and went on.
"I'll stay in your room at night …."
"Aren't you doing that anyway?"
A guiltily expression flashed over his face as he stiffened in his seat.
"Er…."
I raised an eyebrow at him and he had the decency to look sheepish.
"You knew?"
Again I only rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest before I sighed changing the topic.
"I will somehow have to break it to Charlie today that I will not be able to make it to dinner with him on Saturday."
I was usually looking forward to the meetings with the Chief but today I was dreading it because I hated it to disappoint the poor man. He was such a nice guy with a heart of gold under that rough surface of his.
I briefly felt Edward's eyes on me as we sped down the highway before silence settled between us for the rest of the way and his cool, long, pianist fingers curled around my hand.