XXIX.  Make peace.

I sat on the couch, staring at Alice, my eyebrows furrowed as she leaned in extremely close, putting in contact lenses that matched the color of my human eyes. "These will irritate your eyes at first," she explained as she stepped back, and I rapidly blinked my eyes to get used to the sensation of having something in my eyes.

"The main thing is not to move too fast," Carlisle explained as he and everyone else stood behind Alice, watching as she put makeup on to try and hide my paleness.

"Try taking a seat," Esme suggested as she pointed to a chair on the opposite of the room. I stood up, focusing on walking at a normal pace as I made my way to the chair and sat down. "Crossing your legs."

I nodded and crossed one leg over the other, neatly folding my hands on my lap, sitting straight as I looked at everyone. Alice walked over to me. "And blink at least three times a minute." She said and I nodded again as I timed my forced blinks. "Good."

Jacob snorted as he stood by the door, his arms crossed over his chest. "For a cartoon character." He mocked as he rolled his eyes.

My head snapped to the side, my eyes narrowing as I looked at him. "Right now, I don't want to hear any of your snide comments," I warned him sharply and he pursed his lips.

"Hold your breath. It will help with the thirst." Carlisle instructed and my gaze turned to him, nodding in understanding as I held my breath.

Edward approached me, standing beside me as he looked down at me. "Just don't forget to move your shoulders so it looks like you're breathing," he added as he demonstrated how to move my shoulders and I followed his lead.

"And don't sit so straight. Humans don't do that." Rosalie told me as she slowly shook her head, Delia resting on the blonde's hip.

"Okay," I replied as I nodded my head and stood up. "I got it. Move around, blink, slouch." I said as I let out a slow sigh, running a hand over the tight-fitting black ankle-length dress I was wearing.

Esme approached me, placing a kiss on my cheek. "Good luck." She said softly before walking away with Carlisle.

I looked at Jasper when he turned around to walk away along with the rest of the family members. "Jasper, can you maybe stay close, please?" I asked him as I stepped closer.

Jasper stopped and turned to face me. He offered me a small smile as he nodded his head in agreement. "I'll keep you calm," he assured me.

Everyone left, with Jasper staying just in the other room. Jacob was in the living room with me while Edward went to get my mother when she arrived. I was tense as I paced a small circle in the living room. Every time I passed Jacob, I shot him an irritated glare.

I heard my mother's small footsteps approaching, her breathing tense, her perfume stronger than I remembered. I turned to the door when she entered with Edward, and I immediately held my breath while a calm feeling fell over me. "Anastasia?" she called out softly.

"Mom." I greeted as a smile spread across my face. For the first time since my wedding day, I realized just how much I really missed my mother.

"Oh thank God, you're okay." She sighed in relief before approaching me. She immediately wrapped her arms around me, hugging me softly. I hugged her back, thankful my long-sleeved dress didn't expose any cold skin for her to feel.

"I'm okay," I assured my mom as I pulled away. I could hear the thud of her soft heartbeat, the blood rushing through her veins, but none of it bothered me, none of it appealed to me.

My mother looked at me, then shot a cautious look at Jacob before looking back at me again. "You don't turn into an animal, too, do you?" she asked hesitantly as her eyebrows furrowed. I could hear the change in her voice. It was slightly trembling.

Jacob snorted in amusement as he shook his head. "She wishes she was that awesome," he replied as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Let's give them some privacy," Edward suggested as he looked at Jacob, noting the irritation that bubbled up inside my chest. Jacob rolled his eyes but nodded in agreement, following Edward out of the room.

I led my mom over to the couch, and we sat down together. My mom's eyes roamed over my face and I could tell she knew something was different, but she was trying to figure out what. "What's going on Ana?" she asked softly as her brows furrowed.

I pursed my lips, remaining silent for a moment before sighing. "I can't tell you everything," I informed her as I slowly shook my head.

"Why not?" My mom questioned, her eyebrows furrowing even more as a frown tugged at her lips.

"Because there are very powerful, very dangerous people who will kill you or me if I tell you," I explained softly as I folded my hands on top of my lap. I moved my shoulders, slouched a little, and forced blinked, just like I was instructed.

My mother's eyes widen, and a look of fear crosses her face. "Are you in trouble, Ana?" she asked in concern as her frown deepened.

"No," I replied as I shook my head. I diverted my gaze, thinking silently for a second about how to explain my situation to my mother. With a soft sigh, I looked back at my mom. "Mom, my and the Cullens' situation is almost the same as Jake's," I explained carefully. "People can't know." I insisted as I shook my head firmly. "It's just...with us, if it gets out, we will be killed."

"Well, what can you tell me?" My mother asked softly, the concern and worry growing on her face.

"That I've changed," I muttered softly as I slowly nodded my head. "In...a way that's supposed to be impossible," I added and my mom's head tilted to the side, confusion entering her facial expression as well. "But I want you to know, I'm alright. If I'm going to stay in your life, you need to make peace with the fact that there will be things that won't make sense at all, and I can't explain any of it to you."

My mother silently stared at me for a moment before shaking her head. "And if I don't?" she questioned as she raised her eyebrows.

"Then I have to move away," I informed her softly as I pursed my lips, something inside my chest aching when my mother's face fell.

"You can't tell me anything?" She asked softly as her eyebrows furrowed again.

I shook my head firmly again. "It's for your own safety," I told her and she sighed deeply.

My mother silently stared at me for a moment, the look of devastation on her face hurting me. "I won't tell anyone, Ana," she promised softly.

"These powerful people, they'll know." I argued as I shook my head "Even if you don't tell a single soul, and no one else knows that I told you, these people will." I explained, giving her a serious firm look.

"Are they people?" My mom asked hesitantly, her eyebrows furrowing once again as she frowned deeply. "Or are they like Jake?" she asked softly, sending a worried glance in the direction where Jacob had disappeared.

"They're not people, but they're not like Jake either," I explained vaguely as I shook my head. After a moment of silence, I let out a soft sigh. "I really wish I could tell you everything," I admitted softly.

"Can't you just give me a little more to understand?" She pleaded softly with me.

I silently stared at her for a moment before briefly lowering my gaze. I nodded slowly before holding out my hand towards her. "Take my hand, Mom." I urged her softly.

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but she reached out, taking my cold hand in hers. I watched as her eyes widened and her face fell after a moment. I heard her heart faltering for a moment and it broke me. "Ana..." she whispered, refusing to let go of my hand as she looked at me with teary eyes. "That..."

"I know, it's not humanly possible to be this cold," I whispered as I pulled my hand away. I wish in the moment I could cry so that I could cry this terrible feeling in my chest away. It didn't last long until Jasper made the feeling dull for me.

I heard the soft heartbeat of my daughter, her soft whines followed by Edward's footsteps approaching. I stood up, smoothing down my dress. My mom looked up at me, still horrified, still concerned, and worried.

Edward walked into the room with Delia on his hip and my mom stood up beside me. "Eleanor, this is Delia." he introduced.

"Your niece?" My mom asked as she raised her eyebrows, looking at the baby with a small smile before her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"Our daughter." Edward corrected as he walked closer and I went to stand beside him.

"Right. The adoption." My mom muttered softly, her eyebrows furrowing even more as she stepped closer, reaching out to run a hand across Delia's cheek. She swallowed hard, her eyes flicking over Delia's face before looking between me and Edward. After a second, her eyes settled on me. "Ana...she has your eyes. Is she one of the things?"

"She is," I admitted softly as I slowly nodded my head.

My mom sighed softly, her face falling a little as she nodded her head. Her gaze returned to Delia and she smiled softly. "Delia...it's a beautiful name," she said softly before lightly pinching Delia's cheek. "A beautiful name for a beautiful little girl," she said and Delia giggled softly as she squirmed in Edward's arm, holding her arms out to her grandmother.

"Do you want to hold her?" Edward asked and my mother immediately nodded her head as she reached out for the little girl. With a soft squeal, Delia went to her grandmother, settling on my mom's hip. I smiled softly, happy to see my mother and daughter together. And very happy my daughter was behaving.

My mom stared down at my daughter, looking at her, noting the many similarities between me, Edward, and the little girl in her arms. Her gaze turned to me. "Ana..." she whispered, struggling with the thought of not knowing what was really going on.

"Mom, you can't," I told her softly as I shook my head, knowing she had a lot of questions.

She sighed and nodded before going quiet for a moment. She bounced Delia in her arms, smiling down at the little girl before looking at me. "What about Charlie?" she asked softly as she raised her eyebrows.

"You can't tell him anything, Eleanor," Edward explained as he shook his head. "You can't tell him something's different with Ana."

"Mom, we really will have to leave," I added softly as my head tilted to the side, giving her an apologetic look as I frowned.

"Okay." She sighed as she nodded her head. She stepped closer and cupped my cheek, and I felt her hand tense on my cold skin before she forced herself to relax. "I won't ask. I won't risk losing you," she whispered.

"Thank you," I replied softly, giving her a sad smile as I put my hand over hers.

After a second she pulled her attention away from me and looked down at Delia. "Such a pretty girl," she said softly as she ran her hand over Delia's dark hair. She sighed, her smile turning to me. "Oh, Ana, if your dad could see you," she whispered, and my sad smile grew a little as I nodded.