"Hello" Annika Greyson is the local owner of the apothecary to the little village just outside of what is now known as England. Annika is known as the most beautiful in the village for her blonde hair, crystal blue eyes, ruby red lips and porcelain skin. While here she was married to the towns pastor John Diggory, they had a son who died a month after his birth from a snake bite. Years have gone by and Annika can't help but wonder what her life would have been like if she had married her first love Brandon. A tradesman who would visit every few months.

A few weeks ago her husband John died of the flu, many think she had done something but John was away in another village at the time so they had no proof. So now Annika sells herbs to those who come in when they need to.

When Annika looked up at her current customer her breath catches seeing the blonde man in front of her, his eyes dark but she doesn't believe those are his true eyes. As she stares at the man she realizes what she's doing and blushes at the man "hello" she manages to calm herself down "how can I help you?"

"I was wondering" he asks "if you have something for head pain"

"Yes" turning around she grabs some herbs before bringing it over "Two spoon fulls of this in your tea once a day and it should do the trick" she says "though there are some other ways to ease head pain"

"Really? Like what?"

"Less strenuous activities, more sleep, lots of water" she suggests, wrapping the herbs up handing it over "no need" she tells him when he goes to hand her some money "I don't do this for money" another thing about her, was her kindness she showed. She never charged, everyone in the village loved her about that,

"What's your name?" the man asks

"Annika"

"Caius" the two smile at each other for some time before the door opens and in comes Alec and his twin Jane. The twins were out picking more herbs for their mother since she was running low on some of them.

"Mother" Alec gives her the basket filled with Oleander "we couldn't find any poppy"

"Quite alright" Annika looks to her kids "thank you for bringing me what you could" they both smiled "now, Jane I need you two cut up the vegetables" they nod their heads and head up the stairs that led to their small apartment like home above the apothecary to cut up food for tonight's dinner.

When Annika looked back she saw that Caius was gone, but that he left her some coin even though she said it was free. Annika took it and saw that the coin was actual gold, she was surprised someone would leave gold and not silver or even many copper pieces behind.

For the remainder of the day, Annika thought about Caius.

I watch from a distance as my mate and her two adoptive children prepare a meal for one another, we've heard stories that the children were known as witches because they were twins and that they had psychic abilities. Many years back when we first came here, Aro was interested in the twins but I was interested in Annika. I knew from the moment I saw her that she was destined to be mine.

Aro told me not to turn her just yet, that when we come back for the twins who are almost 18 can we turn my mate. I've heard what happened to my mate and I just want to envelop her in my embrace to shield her from the world around us. But unfortunately I can't, as humans they must experience pain such as one losing a child or having her husband pass.

"Don't worry brother" Aro comes up beside me "soon" I just pay mind to my mate as she laughs with her children.