New Neighbors

It was Saturday morning and work had to be done at the Cullen home. Yard work that is. Anna Belle's progress was a cause for celebration, and celebrate was exactly what they were planning on doing. Alice had planned a party, inviting most of the school to the house for it. Well, those who liked Anna Belle. That meant every Cullen was outside cleaning up the yard. Jasper and Edward were busy mowing the vast lawn. Alice, Esme, and Bella were busy trimming the shrubs and pulling weeds in the flower beds. Charlie was even there with Carlisle, building a dog house for the wolf pup, who sat watching them work almost knowing the building they were building was for him. Rosalie, Anna Bella, and Emmett were inside doing some work in there.

Charlie kept an eye on the wolf cub while Carlisle followed his instructions for the next part. “Don't you think it's strange that a wild wolf cub is acting like a household puppy?”

Carlisle looked at the cub who was laying down on his belly, looking up. “He may have lost his mother and sees Anna Belle as his surrogate mother. We are trying to not tame him to be a house pet, but we don't want him thinking we don't want him around. He isn't really allowed in the house and such. He finds his own meals—most of the time—so we don't have to feed him. For the most part, he's here just for the comfort.” Carlisle explained as he continued to work.

“Oh, well that sounds reasonable. I guess it's better that he have someone to care for him, than have no one at all. This way he will not be a danger to people. It would be a sad day to have to put him down if he attacked someone.” Charlie nodded as he moved to get another board for the house.

“I thought you might want something to drink, Chief Swan.” A sweet voice made them turn to Anna Belle, who was carrying a tray with a large pitcher of lemonade and five glasses. She smiled sweetly at them, glad to be able to talk again.

“Why thank you, Anna Belle, that's so sweet of you.” Charlie smiled, walking over to grab a glass full of lemonade. He quickly chugged it down, while Anna Belle—easily with one hand—held the tray while holding the pitcher to refill the glass. She did so with a smile. “This is really good stuff. Carlisle, you should try some.”

Carlisle looked up, taking a glass from Anna Belle. The wolf pup took off running full speed towards Carlisle, effectively knocking him over. He quickly began lapping up the spilled lemonade. “Well, it looks like he was thirsty.” They laughed as Carlisle got up off the ground, brushing the grass from his pants. “I wasn't really thirsty anyway.” He said, still chuckling, the rest of the family joining in.

“Thank you, Charlie. I'm going to go give some to Bella, if you're sure you don't want anymore, Carlisle.” Carlisle shook his head. Anna Belle put the pitcher back on the tray and started towards where Belle was with Alice and Esme.

Charlie watched Anna Belle with a smile upon his face. “You and Esme are really lucky to have six great kids.” He turned back to Carlisle who was nailing another board to the structure.

“I know. We both know, and are very thankful for that. We are grateful that Edward and Bella are together as well. Bella has become like another daughter to us.” Carlisle smiled as Charlie came back to help more.

Anna Belle came up to Bella and Alice while they were busy stringing some lights on some of the bushes. “I thought you might want some lemonade, Bella.” Anna Belle held up the tray towards her with a big smile.

“Thank you, Anna Belle. I was starting to get thirsty.” Bella took the glass and started to drink it. “Oh. Wow, this is good.”

“She is good at making things, isn't she?” Esme said, walking up behind Bella, smiling. “She has had a fun planning the menu for tonight. In between her gabbing sessions since she got her voice back, she actually got some of the cooking done.” Esme teased.

“I have not been gabbing!” Anna Belle protested.

“Oh, really? You have been talking with me on the phone for hours every night since you could speak.” Bella reminded her of their late night chatting sessions, which were long and made Anna Belle look down and away, a little embarrassed. “But, I wouldn't stop a minute of them.” This made Anna Belle's frown turn upside down within minutes. “When do you start working at the shop?”

“Tomorrow, after Carlisle takes me to see Billy Black and Sam at the reservation line. They want to see how well the stuff they gave to Carlisle worked for me.” Anna Belle quickly filled up Bella's glass again with the lemonade. “I am going to go back inside and finish working on the food for tonight.” She said, skipping back into the house happily.

Bella smiled after the girl. “She really has taken to living with you guys. I'm glad it wasn't difficult for her.” She commented with a smile.

“She has. It's like she has always belonged here, which is good all the way around.” Esme watched Anna Belle disappear into the house. “Come on, we have to finish getting these lights up so we can start setting up the tables.”

***********************************

Soon enough the yard was done. Lights twinkled in the bushes, on the back porch, and the front porch. The front yard had been transformed into a small dining room for everyone. A long buffet table waited for the food to be set down upon it. It was a small dinner party that they were having, nothing wild about it, not that you could tell that from the decorations. Alice tends to go a little overboard sometimes.

Inside, everyone was getting ready, dressing in their nicest dresses and suits. Bella was—of course—wearing a new blue cocktail dress. Alice did her hair and make up, which was just taming the curls in her hair and putting some light makeup on her clear complexion. “Anna Belle is really excited about this it seems.”

“She hasn't stopped talking about it since I mentioned it. Carlisle thinks it will be good for her. She is, after all, going back to school on Monday. Everyone needs to realize she is part of our family now, as well as that she is better but not exactly perfect just yet.” Alice explained while she put more eye shadow on Bella's eyes. That way, when Anna Belle's voice cracked, people would know she was still healing.

“I guess tonight will definitely prove that.” Bella smiled as Alice finished her work turning Bella to look at herself. The makeup was light and looked so pretty with the curls falling around her face, framing it perfectly. “I love it. You did great, as always.”

“Glad you let me help.” Alice smiled at Bella. “Esme and Rosalie won't leave me alone to work on Anna Belle, not since I was going to cut her hair.” She bounced off to the closet to look for something.

“You were going to do what?!” Bella looked over at her shocked.

“Cut her hair. To look like mine, so we could be twins. I saw a vision of it, but they said no and the vision changed.” Alice said her voice going down some as she was disappointed. “She would have looked so cute too.”

Bella laughed softly. “Alice, there can only be one of you around. If there were two, I think we would be in trouble then.”

Alice threw a pillow gently at Bella who caught it while they laughed. “That's what Esme said, too.” She came back with a jacket to go over her dress, which was a pale green color.

“I still can't believe we're doing a formal dinner party type thing tonight and everyone agreed.” Bella commented as she stood up to take one last look at herself.

“Oh, come on. You don't think those in our class would want to do this? Most of them, well... probably all of them, have never been to our house. They wouldn't pass up a chance to be here.” Alice smiled as she looked at Bella and herself in the mirror. “I wish someone would let me do something with your hair, it will look cute.”

“No way.” Bella scrambled for the door as fast as her low heels would take her. She swung the door open to find Edward on the other side, ready to rescue her from the beautician Alice.

“No cutting hair, Alice. What did Esme tell you about that?” Edward reminded Alice, who huffed as he escorted them from the room. They made their way down the stairs to where the others were waiting.

When Bella looked at Anna Belle, she realized they're dresses were all the same. Except the colors, Anna Belle's dress was a pale purple color. “I guess I know who went shopping.” Bella laughed softly while the girl just shrugged.

“I wanted to go, but Alice was too fast.” Rosalie said from the stairs, as she had descended wearing a red evening gown that had slits up the sides. Rosalie had pulled her hair into an elegant up-do, along with Anna Belle's.

“Well, you all look just perfect. Now remember, everyone else has curfews so no late night tonight.” Esme reminded them.

“We know, Esme.” Anna Belle's voice chimed in with a slight crack to it.

“We took the food out there. It's in the tent waiting for the guests.” Carlisle smiled as they all started for the door to walk out to where the party was set up.

They arrived at the tent just in time for the first guests to arrive. Before long, they started showing up, mostly in groups. Unlike the Cullens who have the ability to buy fancy dress clothes, everyone else simply wore what they wore to the last school dance. They flocked around Anna Belle, glad to know she was all right and finally coming back to school. Luckily, it was a buffet type meal so no one noticed the Cullens weren't eating.

Within minutes, Lauren pulled Bella off to the side. “So..how does it feel to finally have some competition?” She asked Bella.

“Competition? For what?” Belle was confused about the question.

“For Edward, of course. After all, Dr. Cullen is known for fixing up his foster kids... and Anna Belle is his foster child now. Don't you remember Jessica telling you that?”

“Get off it, Lauren!” Angela came to Bella's rescue, pulling her away. “Don't mind her, she's just jealous.”

“Thank you, Angela.” Bella smiled at her as the party continued. The kids from school were surprised that Dr. and Mrs Cullen were staying out of sight, at least until it became late.

Carlisle walked down the lawn towards the crowd laughing and dancing to some music. “Sorry to do this kids, but it's getting late and I think your parents wouldn't be happy if you all came home after your curfew.” His charming smile kept the groans of protest at bay as everyone slowly left, telling Anna Belle they would see her in school on Monday.

Clean up was a quick affair, and soon enough everyone was inside. Bella sat on the couch with Anna Belle, both nearly asleep.

“Looks like it's bedtime, girls.” Esme ginned at the two girls fighting sleep.

“No, I'm fine.” Anna Belle protested as Emmett picked her up and started up the stairs with her, Rosalie and Esme following behind him.

“Did you want to sleep in my room tonight?” Edward asked Bella as he sat down next to her. He gathered her into his arms gently.

“With you? Of course.” Bella shivered as he held her before standing up to start up stairs.

“Edward, please come back down when you get Bella to your room. I'd like to speak to you.” Carlise's voice held that fatherly tone to it that said he wanted to have an important talk with his son.

“Of course, Carlisle.” Edward nodded before starting up the stairs. He got Bella into his room, putting her gently down on his sofa. He had purchased a bigger one that almost resembled a bed. “If your father only knew that you didn't use the room Esme made for you when you stay here.”

“He won't, unless you tell him, and I don't think you will.” Bella smiled up at him. “Go on, go talk to Carlisle while I get ready for bed.” She kissed him softly on the cheek before he stood up and left the room, and she began to get ready for bed.

*************************************

Esme and Rosalie were busy getting Anna Belle ready for bed. The day had been a long and exhausting one for the girl. Having missed her small nap in the afternoon made her very tired right at this point.

“I am starting to wonder if she is well enough to go to school.” Esme sighed softly as she gently tucked the girl into bed watching her curl around her teddy bear like a small child.

“Me too. It isn't like she can take a nap at school. Unless Carlisle has a plan for that, too. Plus, she's supposed to start working at the shop on Monday. I think it is going to be too much for her to soon.” Rosalie sat down on the other side of the bed next to Anna Belle.

“I'm sure he'll have something in mind for that.” Esme softly said as she wound up the small music box next to the bed before looking to Rosalie.

“I don't want to take her tomorrow. Those wolves have something they are hiding from us about her. I fear for her.” Rosalie admitted to Esme, slowly looking up at the other woman.

“I know, but they have helped and this was what their payment request was, to see her once she was healed and hear her voice.” Esme smiled at Rosalie. “I'm sure everything will be fine.”

A/N

Sorry this one took so long, between writing it, betaing it and reading to make sure its good it took a while. Sorry. Hopefully things will get faster again.