⊱ ──── {⋆☂ ❉ ☽⋆} ──── ⊰

"Bella, you need to seriously relax," Anna told her sister as she brushed her hair into a ponytail, the two had been invited to the Cullen's home so the family could meet Bella more formally now that she and Edward were public. While Anna had already spent time with the Cullen's, especially after the subjective vision that Alice had of her 'causing Jasper to be more protective than before.

"How are you so calm?" Bella asked her sister adjusting her shirt. "I'm calm because I'm well acquainted with their home. Now, I'll see you later," Anna told her sister before giving her a side-hug. Jasper had decided to pick Anna up early per Rosalie's request, since Anna's strange mental attack, Rosalie had formed a protective bond with her and the two became friends.

"Bye, dad!" Anna shouted out to her father before walking outside right as Jasper pulled up to the house. "Hello, darlin'," Jasper greeted as she climbed into the car, the two shared a chaste kiss before Anna pulled on her seatbelt. "I can feel Bella's nerves from here," Jasper told her with a small smile, interlocking their fingers and resting their hands on Anna's thigh.

"I think she's internally panicking about becoming the meal," Anna told Jasper with an amused smile, the couple both laughed. "Your sister has quite the mindset," Jasper replied which made Anna laugh again. "And how has Rosalie reacted to this? She has been hesitant," Anna asked Jasper as she watched the trees pass by.

"Rose is... hesitant about this. There are risks with Bella and Edward's relationship compared to our own," Jasper explained, he was glad that Rosalie had accepted Anna so quickly. "How so?" Anna asked. "Bella isn't just Edwards mate, she's his blood singer. Her blood is more... desirable for him which can be a risk," Jasper explained.

"Oh, that makes more sense. Anyway, what is Esme cooking because I am hungry for some mama Esme cooking," Anna asked with a wide smile, her stomach purring in delight. From the time Anna had spent at the Cullen home, Esme was given an opportunity to cook ─ something she deeply enjoyed ─ And Anna fell in love with her cooking. "She's cooking Italian," Jasper answered as they pulled up to the house.

Anna didn't wait for Jasper to shut off the car, she opened the door and raced into the house leaving Jasper smiling fondly at her excitement. "Mama Esme!" Anna called out as she stepped in the door. "Beth!" Rosalie called out as she walked towards her, the two embraced each other in a tight hug before walking into the kitchen.

"Oh my, that smells so good!" Anna practically moaned as she relished the smell wafting through the kitchen. "I'm glad, Annabeth," Esme told her before planting a soft kiss on her temple. "Is Bella nervous, Anna Banana?" Emmett asked with a smirk on his face as Anna sat next to him at the counter.

"She's a little nervous so, uh, tease her," Anna told him with a smirk on her face, Colton laughed as he nodded. "You'll all leave Bella alone. This is new for her and us," Esme warned them all causing Emmett, Colton and Anna to pout. Rosalie wouldn't admit it but she loved how Anna seemed to fit into the family perfectly, she didn't leave anyone out.

Jasper walked up to Anna, standing behind her as he wrapped his arms around her, watching her talk with Esme about school. "Get a whiff of that," Emmett spoke up suddenly causing Anna to perk up. "Here comes the human," Rosalie spoke while Anne raised a brow at her. "Oh hush," Rosalie told Anna who laughed.

They made their way to the foyer just before the kitchen where Edward and Bella stood, Anna smiled at her sister before leaning back into Jasper. "Bella, we're making Italiano for you," Esme informed her with a loving smile. "Bella, this is Esme. My mother for all intents and purposes," Edward told Bella.

"And I'm trying to convince her to adopt me," Anna added making the others smile while Bella laughed softly. "You've given us another opportunity to use the kitchen," Esme explained while Anna began thinking about the food, catching Edward's amused expression.

"I hope you're hungry," Esme added while Anna nodded her head. "Yeah, absolutely," Bella answered sheepishly. "She already ate," Edward informed everyone causing Anna to roll her eyes at Edward's blunt harshness while the sound of something breaking caught Anna's attention. "Perfect," Rosalie seethed out as Anna frowned at the salad that lay on the floor never to be eaten. "Rose... not the salad," Anna whined causing Rosalie's lips to twitch upwards slightly.

"Yeah, it's just because I know that you guys don't eat..." Bella told them attempting to save the awkward situation. "Of course. It's very considerate of you," Carlisle replied with a kind smile. "Just ignore Rosalie. I do," Edward told Bella causing Anna to frown at him, she did not like the way Edward treated his family when they are the ones risking themselves so he could chase after his alleged mate.

"Let's just keep pretending like this isn't dangerous for all of us," Rosalie snapped at them. Anna shrunk into Jasper's arms, she knew that Rosalie had warmed up to her but as Jasper told her, Bella was Edward's blood singer too. Anna knew this situation was new, Rosalie accepted her because she was clearly more than human and Jasper's confirmed mate; but Anna felt bad for the treatment towards Bella.

"I would never tell anybody anything," Bella assured Rosalie before looking to her sister who nodded in agreement. "She didn't even tell me and I knew," Anna added in defence of her older sister. "She knows that," Carlisle assures hoping to lessen the tension. "Yeah, well, the problem is, you two have gone public now, so..." Rosalie continued causing Edward to look at Emmett, the bear-like vampire stepped closer to his mate but she glared at him.

"No, she should know. The entire family will be implicated if this ends badly," Rosalie added as she crossed her arms. Anna finally caught onto Rosalie's full concern; The Cullens were already considered outcasts due to their diets but it was the gifts that already labelled them as threats for the Volturi ─ A powerful coven that rules over the vampires ─ and if something happened to twins that the Volturi didn't like, then the whole family could suffer the consequences.

"Badly, as in... I would become the meal," Bella replied causing the family to laugh while Anna shook her head. "Oh, my God, Bella..." Anna muttered with a smile before sighing as Alice and Colton ─ who returned after looking for his beloved ─ arrived relieving some of the tension in the room. Anna smiled at Alice who approached Bella without hesitation in her attempt to brighten the room.

"Wanna sneak away?" Jasper whispered to his little mate, he'd grown tired of the tension in the room and just wanted to be with Anna alone. "Yes, please," Anna answered before the two made their out of the foyer and towards the stairs, Jasper lead her to his room which now had a bed in it for Anna. And the two talked aimlessly for hours, just enjoying each other's presence.

⊱ ──── {⋆☂ ❉ ☽⋆} ──── ⊰

"Baseball?" Anna asked Jasper as she moved around in her room. "Why not?" Jasper asked her with a playful smirk, his eyes focused on the shirt she was wearing ─ his shirt. "You do know that I can't play baseball as is and now you're suggesting I play baseball with vampires?" Anna asked as she approached him, standing between his legs. "It'd be quite amusing for me, darlin'," Jasper told her.

"Funny. I am, however, happy to be a referee but don't think I'll be assisting you in cheating just because you're my boyfriend," Anna told Jasper as she leaned down and kissed him. "That won't be an issue, darlin'," Jasper replied before resting his head against her stomach, his arms wrapped around her waist. "Bella is introducing Edward to your father," Jasper suddenly told her, the two smiled happily knowing that Charlie had already met Jasper.

It was only three days after the two got together, Anna had bought Jasper home with her after school knowing that Charlie wanted to meet the boy that was making his youngest daughter so happy. "Dad, this is Jasper Hale. Jasper, my father; Charlie," Anna introduced dramatically making both males laugh. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Chief Swan," Jasper spoke as he held out his hand for Charlie to shake.

"It's nice to meet the person responsible for my daughters' smile," Charlie replied as he shook Jasper's hand, Anna dramatically wiped a fake tear away making the first encounter so much more memorable for all of them. The three of them sat down and spoke for a while, Jasper sticking to his story about being a foster kid from Houston, Texas while Charlie admired his manners. Charlie approved of them instantly.

⊱ ──── {⋆☂ ❉ ☽⋆} ──── ⊰

Anna walked up to the family, she bounded over to Rosalie and the two hugged each other tightly as Edward and Bella approached them all. "Glad you're here. We needed another umpire," Esme told Bella as Anna pretended to play fight against Emmett, the two dramatically throwing their heads to the side mimicking hits before laughing.

"She thinks we cheat," Emmett told Bella while Anna laughed. "I know you cheat," Rosalie told her mate with a smirk, grabbing Anna's hand and pulling her towards her. "Call them as you see them, Anna, Bella," Esme told the two girls before they all got into their positions. Anna grabbed Jasper's hand and pulled him closer before kissing him. "That's for good luck," Anna whispered to him before he kissed her again.

"It's time," Alice told them with an excited smile. Anna and Bella stood with Esme. Rosalie was batting and Alice was pitching. Anna watched in amazement as Rosalie hit the ball right as the thunder hit, sending the ball flying through the air. "Okay, now I see why you need the thunder," Bella stated while Anna smirked. "That's gotta be a home run, right?" Bella asked as Rosalie ran the bases, Edward chasing for the ball.

"Edward's very fast," Esme told Bella as Jasper winked at Anna as he spun the bat around, the blonde blushing as she adjusted the shirt she had taken from him. "You're out," Bella told Rosalie after Esme caught the ball, tapping the blonde vampire out. "You're out! Whoo!" Emmett called before noticing his mate's scowl. "Babe, come on. It's just a game," Emmett told her as Anna pulled Rosalie up, sending her a reassuring smile.

Carlisle was up next, hitting the ball hard towards Emmett causing him and Edward to both rush towards the ball, colliding playfully in the air as Carlisle got a home run. Jasper was next causing Anna to smirk, the way he tossed the bat around made her stomach fill with butterflies along with the look of concentration on his face. Alice pitched the ball and Jasper sent it through the air before running the bases, Emmett climbed a tree and caught the ball.

"My monkey man," Rosalie commented with a smile as Emmett threw the ball back to Alice. Rosalie was up to bat again, she hit the ball and began to run when Alice suddenly faltered ─ Anna was the one who noticed as an uncomfortable shiver clawed its way up her spine. "Stop!" Alice called out causing everyone to freeze in place, the vampires instantly picked up on the new presences while Anna stepped closer to her sister.

Jasper walked straight to Anna, pulling her along as Edward did the same with Bella. "Let's go," Edward told them but they were stopped. "It's too late," Carlisle told them, Anna stepped closer to Jasper as he pulled her hair from its ponytail ─ Bella doing the same after Edward instructed her to. Carlise walked ahead of the family while Jasper kept his arm around Anna's waist, Bella stood close to Edward but her hand gripped her sisters.

Anna looked up at the three vampires approaching them, the middle one was a dark-toned man with dreads that rested down his back ─ his aura was taunting yet merciful from what Anna could pick up on. The one on the left was a blond pale man with his hair tied back ─ his aura made Anna uncomfortable, the harsh killer vibe coming off him in waves. The remaining vampire was a red-haired woman with pale skin and killer eyes ─ And Anna was scared of the outcome.

⊱ ──── {⋆☂ ❉ ☽⋆} ──── ⊰

⊱ ──── {⋆☂ ❉ ☽⋆} ──── ⊰

Rosemary Speaks

It all truly begins now...

See you next chapter!