New Neighbors

I would like to take a moment to thank ALL my reviewers. I am going to start trying to individually thank you now hehe. This is from my last ch's reviews.

Reaper07 - You never know just gotta read this chapter hehe.

MelSlaes - Glad your enjoying it so much I am having a ball writing it.

OokamiMomo - I thought so to. She is just so unique and you will see more

AceSpades - My biggest fan of them all, you have been through this since my first review, you were it hehe. As for betting on the characters um honey my money $20 on Rosalie, have you seen her mommy action??? Hehehe

To all my other reviewers OMG thank you SOOOOOOO much. Your reviews bring me smiles that your enjoying this story as much as I am. Sorry that the updates are slowing down though. Really I am. Well on to Ch 18. Enjoy.

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Esme went to answer the door while everyone waited—with baited breath—in the dining room. When she opened the door , she gasped. “Well hello, Charlie. This is a pleasant surprise.” She smiled.

“Hi, Esme. Bella called and said she was coming up here with Jasper and Alice, so I thought I would come up check up on Anna Belle, to make sure she is adapting well to the family.” Charlie smiled as Esme let him into the house.

“Of course. Everyone, Charlie's here.” Esme called out as she lead him to the living room.

“Mmm, that smells so good.” Charlie sniffed the air.

“Oh, Anna Belle helped me cook dinner.” Esme smiled as everyone came walking out. Bella was extremely shocked to find her father there.

“What are you doing here, Dad?” Bella asked, hoping he wasn't here to drag her home.

“Well, I wanted to check and see how Anna Belle was doing. You look much better. Oh my. You have such beautiful eyes, that other color must have been contacts huh?” Charlie asked, looking at Anna Belle who nodded. “Is something wrong?”

“Oh, she caught a case of laryngitis while on the trip. It seems that she was weaker than we thought. She's going to stay home for the next week at least. Doctors orders. But Bella won't get sick, I promise.” Esme answered quickly with a smile.

Charlie shook his head. “Well, it's a good thing we got you to the Cullens when we did then, huh?” Charlie asked Anna Belle. “Well, I should be getting back to work. Since your eating here Bella, don't worry about me, I'll catch dinner at the diner.”

“Oh! I will not hear of such a thing. We made more than enough to feed you too, Charlie.” Esme said just as Anna Belle rushed into the kitchen to make up some food for him. She quickly put everything together for him and came back out at a slower speed, handing him a big paper bag full of food. “There you go. A good healthy meal.” She smiled.

“Wow and heavy. Well, I guess then I had better get to the office and eat this quickly. Not to late Bella, Anna Belle is going to need her rest and it's a school night.” Charlie looked at Bella.

“I know Dad.” Bella nodded.

As Charlie turned to leave he remembered something. “Um, have you been having a problem with wild animals?”

“No, why do you ask?” Edward answered this time.

“There is a wolf cub sleeping on the porch like he belongs here.” Charlie said, his voice filled with concern.

“Oh, Anna Belle befriended it and it's been staying around the house. Carlisle is looking into buying him a little house. We are not trying to domesticate him, just make him more comfortable.” Esme explained with out missing a beat.

Charlie nodded. “I could come up and maybe help build one if you'd like.” He offered.

“I will mention it to Carlisle. Thank you for the offer, Charlie.” Esme smiled as Charlie left.

She turned and smiled at Bella. “Well, that's one person fed; now for the next one. Back in to the dining room, come on everyone.” She shoo-ed everyone into the dining room where Anna Belle was now setting out Bella's salad.

“This looks so good Anna Belle.” Bella smiled as she sat down to start eating.

Meanwhile Alice and Edward left the dining room to talk. “What was that vision about Alice?” Edward demanded.

“What? Are you telling me that you and Bella haven't done that yet?” Alice looked up at Edward. When she didn't get an answer her eyes went wide. “You haven't?”

“NO! It's always gotten to be too much for me. The blood lust almost takes over, so I stop us just before that.” Edward admitted softly. “There is no way that can happen tonight, or any other night for that matter.”

“I saw it, Edward. It will happen. Don't fight it for a change, okay? Just let it happen.” Alice smiled up at Edward before pulling him down for a quick peck on the cheek before rejoining everyone in the dining room. That girl was going to be the death of him.

While Bella was busy eating the main course of her dinner Carlisle came home, a smile upon his face. “Someone is in a happy mood.”

“I am. Sam and Billy came by my office to see me.” Carlisle said, his smile growing. “About Anna Belle. They gave me something that may help with her voice.” He held up the bag full of herbs. “Its an herbal remedy they use when ever anyone gets a really bad throat problem. It might help, it's worth a try.”

Rosalie narrowed her eyes at the bag. “It could do more harm though. She isn't human, Carlisle.”

“I understand that Rosalie, but we can at least try. We need to get some blood from one of the animals close by. Edward, go up and get my mortar and pestle. We need to grind these down into a powder and add it to the blood. Jasper, Emmett, I can trust you two to get the other part. I am sorry, Bella. I hope I have not ruined your appetite.” Carlisle then realized what he was doing.

Bella laughed softly. “No, I'm fine. I have gotten use to it, I guess. I don't have to see it...do I?”

“No, we have silver cups so you won't see a thing.” Esme said as Edward, Jasper and Emmett rushed from the room to do as they were asked.

“Good.” Bella returned to eating her dinner.

“So, what's the idea?” Esme was intrigued at this whole thing while Edward returned with the mortar and pestle.

“Thank you, Edward. Well the idea is to take the ground herbs and mix it in to the drink and have you drink it, Anna Belle.” Carlisle poured some out and started to grind it down. “It's normally left whole and made into a tea, but since we can't drink tea, Billy thought doing this might work just as well.” Soon enough the leaves were ground to a fine powder, just as Jasper and Emmett returned with the cup.

“Got lucky, we found an elk close by.” Emmett said, handing Carlisle the cup who nodded. He quickly added the powder and mixed it up before handing it to Anna Belle. Everyone was watching her as she slowly drank down the entire cup. Then everyone continued to stare.

Carlisle laughed. “All right, I don't think it will work that quickly, so you can all stop staring.”

Once Bella was fed and the food was all packed up to go home with her for lunches and dinners for the next few nights, Carlisle set up a small section of his study to sit with Anna Belle while she was sick and help her with her school work so they were off doing that. Blaine—having left—never met Charlie, as he hadn't left the dining room. The others were off doing their own things, leaving Bella and Edward alone.

They laid upon the couch in his bedroom, Edward stroking Bella's hair. “That was nice of Anna Belle making dinner like that. I really enjoyed it.” She said, looking up at him.

“I am glad you did. Was it that much better than Esme's attempts at cooking?” Edward laughed softly.

“Don't laugh at her, she tries. It isn't her fault she completely forgot how to cook, and it's harder to learn now when she can't taste any of it.” She nudged his chest with her hand. “I hope the herbs work. It will be nice to hear Anna Belle's voice again.”

“I know it will be. Then we can go back to things being somewhat normal.” He watched her as the vision Alice had earlier ran through his mind again and again. Bella leaned up to kiss him. He returned the kiss as they snuggled down upon the couch. His hands moving upon her gently and slowly. As she became more excited, her blood started to heat up and the scent became stronger. He felt the primal vampire urges kick in for her blood. Just a few more minutes, he wanted to give Bella just a few more minutes. Just before it got to be too much, he started to realize the urges were being pulled back, reined in. He broke the kiss with a gasp as he looked down at her. “I.....I'll be right back.” He suddenly said and tore off from his room.

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Jacob groaned as he sat at the kitchen table working on homework, the mountain of papers he had due. “Why can't I just stop going to school?”

“Because the state wouldn't like that. You may be part of the wolf pack, but still have to do normal things boys your age do.” Billy wheeled himself into the kitchen. “Sam is coming by in a few minutes.”

“What about this time?” Jacob snapped, earning him a slap in the head from his father before he wheeled himself out. Jacob shook his head as he went back to his work.

Billy had just got back into the living room when there was a knock on the door. “It's open Sam.” He called and the door opened, Sam stepping in. So, what do you think of what happened earlier today?”

“I think it went well. They seem sincere about the girl, that's for sure.” Sam looked at Billy. “Do you think those herbs will really work on a vampire?”

“ I don't know. Anna Belle will be the first one to ever take them. I am sure Carlisle will be able to help her if something happens, though.” As soon as Billy got that out they heard a crash from the kitchen.

“You helped those blood suckers again? What the hell? Is this 'Help the Blood Suckers Month' or something?” Jacob snapped highly upset.

“The girl needs help, Jacob. Vampire or not, she is important.” Billy sighed. “We did this for a reason. You have to trust your elders and your pack leader.” Jacobs response was a growl before heading back into the kitchen. Billy sighed. “Always was a handful.”

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Edward searched the house until he found Jasper sitting with Alice watching a movie. “What did you do, Alice? Tell Jasper about the vision so he could manipulate my emotions so it could happen?”

Alice and Jasper both looked up shocked. “No, I haven't told him about the vision. He isn't doing anything, are you Jasper?”

“Right, I'm just sitting here. What is wrong?” Jasper asked concerned at Edwards current emotional state.

“I was just with Bella and my natural instincts were kicking in, but then suddenly, it was like they were being pulled back.” Edward explained.

Jasper looked up confused. “Edward, I can't do that. That's taming your instincts, not manipulating your emotions.”

Alice gasped. “But someone else can.” Just as Alice got that out Edward was off again rushing back upstairs.

Carlisle sat explaining an algebra equation to Anna Belle when all of a sudden Edward barged into his study. “Edward! This isn't polite. I am trying to help Anna Belle with her school work.”

But Edward ignored Carlisle, instead staring at Anna Belle. “You don't realize what your doing, do you?” Anna Belle tilted her head to the side confused.

“What are you talking about, Edward?” Carlisle asked, watching his 'son'.

“Edward! You better not be tearing the doors off in this house! You may be able to read my mind but I will get you if you do.” Esme's voice came up from downstairs. Edward ignored it.

“When we were on the trip, Anna Belle got away from Rosalie and was with the bears. Carlisle, the one thing I didn't realize was that she wasn't trying to tame them. The ability must naturally seek out the aggressive nature of someone and tames it. I was just with Bella and.....well, we were getting rather intimate. My natural instincts were starting to come to the surface, the blood lust was becoming overwhelming, when suddenly they were being pulled back as though they were being tamed. I sought out Jasper first, thinking maybe Alice had told him about a vision she saw earlier.” Edward blurted out so quickly Anna Belle's jaw dropped.

Carlisle raised an eyebrow. “Jasper can't do that, Edward. Calm our emotions yes, but not what your talking about.” He still didn't understand why the boy interrupted his session with Anna Belle.

“I know, that's what he reminded me. Then the next thing I could think of was Anna Belle.” Edward looked at Anna Belle in awe.

“Ah, now that makes sense.” Carlisle smiled but then narrowed his. “Edward, did you leave Bella right in the middle of what you were doing to go searching for who was taming you?”

Edwards eyes grew wide as he rushed out of the study to head back to his room. When he got in to his room Bella looked up. Her eyes wide with questions. Before she could speak he was on the couch with her, pulling her towards him to start kissing her again. Anna Belle around could be a good thing after all, a very good thing.

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Alexander laid down on his bed in his room, alone. He stared up at the ceiling thinking of a time long past.

When Alexander turned to look at the girl coming out of the corner store, he knew he wanted to possess her. When she laughed it was like music to his ears. “I want her.” He nodded towards the girl.

“We will get her for you Alexander. She looks like a cute little meal.” Morgan laughed softly, watching the innocent young girl walk away from them.

Alexander was pulled from the memory at the knocking upon his door. “What is it?”

Loreen opened the door and walked into the room. “Alexander, we've been here a week. Morgan is getting antsy to move on. What are we still doing here?”

“I am planning a way to get Anna Belle back that will, in a way, seem to be her choice. Something no one can deny.” Alexander growled at Loreen.

Loreen approached the bed and sat down next to Alexander. “Maybe we should leave things as they are. Just go back to the way things were before. We had so much fun then. It could be the same again.” She whispered softly to Alexander who snapped up grabbing and throwing her down to the bed.

“We will get Anna Belle back! She is mine, you hear me! Mine! I will not let anyone else have her. Ever.” He growled as he glared into her eyes angrily.

“All right, Alexander. We'll get her back.” Loreen was scared. She'd never seen Alexander act like this before. His eyes were glowing with the insanity of his idea. She wasn't sure how far he would go to get her back, but she was afraid she would soon find out.

AN

Yes finally the chapter is up.  Sorry for the long wait.  Myself and my beta reader had some issues so I am hopping this makes up for it.  I hope you enjoy.