Disclaimer: All characters and Twilight belong to the wonderful Stephenie Meyer. I imagine she's on nearly everybody's Christmas Card list.

Bonjour there! I decided to write a fan-fic on the night before Rosalie's transformation.

So this fic is a short story and I hope you get to see exactly what it is that Rosalie lost and why she's so bigheaded. Got all the background from Eclipse and Twilight Lexicon- legends!

Anywho, its not going to be that long. Hopefully no longer then three chapters, the last one from Carlisle's POV as he finds his second child.

Let me know if there are any spelling mistakes and such. (:

The Thorns of Rose

"Would you like to hear my story, Bella? It doesn't have a happy ending—but which of ours does? If we had happy endings, we'd all be under our gravestones now."

—Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer—Page 156

I was primped and brushed by our maids for the majority of the afternoon. I sat in front of the tall mirror as Ethel twisted my hair into an elegant French-bun with a focused face. She had to get my hair right: Mother was standing right behind, eyeing her work critically. We'd changed my golden hair into many different styles at Mother's demands. I had to look absolutely perfect. Mary, our older grey-haired maid, was tightening the waist on the brand new dress I was to wear tonight. Mother was insistent on perfection.

"There!" Mother sighed with satisfaction. "That's perfect, Ethel!" She began tilting up my face and making me look this way and that.

Ethel and I exchanged a tired smile. Her own dark hair was wrapped in a bun but strands of hair were beginning to come loose after the long hours of trying to please my Mother.

"You look wonderful, Rosalie." Mother said affectionately, kissing my cheek. "Right, Mary, are you done yet?"

Mary tied up the last thread and cut the needle off from it. She put it aside and brought over the ball-gown for Mother to inspect.

"Looks good enough," Mother murmured to herself. "Let's put this on, Rosalie."

"Ok," I got off the stool and took off my simple dress and stretched my arms up whilst Mother and Ethel carefully slipped on the royal blue dress. It was tight around the waist, complimenting my statuesque body in the right places. The silky fabric flowed down to my ankles, the rich colour bringing out my violet eyes and making my snowy skin glow. The dress had no sleeves, just frills off the shoulder and a square neck that just escaped showing my cleavage. Silver necklaces, bracelets, dangly earrings and sparkly rings were put on me and my feet were slipped into silver shoes with small heels.

When the finishing touches were added, I looked at my reflection. The others stood around me, admiring looks on their faces. I smiled at my reflection, twirling this way and that. I couldn't look any better. My face was rosy, my eyes alluring, and my smile breathtaking. I looked beautiful, as per usual.

"Thank you," I said to Mother, kissing her cheek. Ethel and Mary hugged me carefully and then left the room for a well earned break.

"What time is Royce coming?" I asked as Mother fussed over me.

Just then, Ethel came back into the room, her face flushed with excitement. "Mr. King is here!" She announced breathlessly.

My stomach was assaulted by butterflies.

"Oh!" Mother gasped. "Tell him we shall be down in a few minutes."

"Yes Ma'am," Ethel said, hurrying out the room again.

"Mother, can you stop now?" I said pointedly, pushing her hands away as she tried to find a flaw with my outfit.

"All right, all right," She straightened up and scrutinized me some more.

I sighed and regarded my reflection. Mother cared more about my looks then I did. Still, I liked the attention.

Mother began fiddling with my hair again. I sighed pointedly and my eyes flitted over my polished bedroom, adorned with roses of pink and red and violets. My room was a sea of flowers, gifts from my fiancé Royce.

"Ok, let's go down." Mother finally said, her hand linking through my elbow.

"At last," I said theatrically with a smile. Mother steered us out of my large bedroom. The soft fabric felt nice against my skin as I moved. My fingers began drumming anxiously against my thigh when I heard Royce's voice floating up the staircase along with my Father's.

"We're coming!" Mother called out, unable to keep excitement out of her voice.

The talking ceased and as I descended the stairs gracefully, two figures loomed into view. I first saw my Father, who saw me and looked satisfied with my appearance, a smile upon his face.

Then Royce came into view.

He stepped out of the parlour; my handsome prince. His light-blonde hair was combed artfully, his clothes boasting of his wealth.

My heart began drumming louder as Mother left me at the last step to join Father. I stood there, watching Royce's pale blue eyes gazing at me.

A slow smile spread on his face and he stepped towards me, his palms extended. "Darling Rosalie, you look stunning." He said with awe.

I took his hands and smiled. "Thank you."

He kissed my cheeks, whispering, "Truly beautiful."

My heartbeat accelerated and I looked down, trying to hide my blush. I was used to compliments, they were so frequent for me, but I loved it when Royce complimented me most. His words carried a lot of weight on me.

After chit-chatting with my parents, Royce and I left my home. His Chauffer stepped out of his shiny black car, a Crossley Torquay Saloon—it was a great model, released the year previously— and opened the door for us. Royce took my hand as I slipped in, careful of the dress.

He got in when I was seated and smiled at me. "How are you feeling about tonight?" He asked as the Chauffer started the car.

"Fine," I said honestly. I'd been to a few parties with Royce before. "How is business?"

"It's fine,"

The rest of the journey consisted of small talk. I had my hand in the space between us, my fingers drumming absently. I wished Royce would hold it but he didn't catch on my hint. He rarely ever did.

After a long time of silent driving, we pulled up to a grand Manor, standing solitary with acres of lawn around it. Dusk was approaching, the skies a deep purple, the grounds dark. Many other cars were there; filled with more people, their voices a buzzing hum in the cold, spring air. The Chauffer pulled up to the front entrance and our door was opened. Royce held out his hand to me and helped me out of the car. I drew my silky shawl tighter around me as the cold air blew onto my skin.

"Shall we?" Royce held out his arm to me.

I took it with a smile and we walked down towards the large door.

"Are you cold?" He asked, noticing me shivering slightly.

"Just a little," I admitted hesitantly.

He smiled and drew me closer to his side. His head swivelled this way and that as he searched for people he knew. Royce was a very connected, popular man. The butler greeted us welcomingly, familiar with Royce. No sooner had we taken three steps into the vast hallway, Royce's name was being called out.

"That's Jeffrey Williams and his wife, the ones who invited me," he murmured to me as he walked towards the middle-aged couple. They were dressed very exceptionally but the woman looked mediocre compared to me.

"Royce, good to see you," The dark-haired Jeffrey and Royce shook hands firmly.

"Same to you," Royce replied. "Helen, looking lovely as ever," Royce complimented William's wife, kissing her hand.

"Thank you," she said warmly, fluttering her eye lashes. My eyes scanned over her pale-pink dress that was ruffled out by the knees. It was a good dress but she had too many wrinkles, I thought.

"And this must be your fiancé we've heard so much about!" Jeffrey said, looking at me with surprise.

"Yes, this is my darling fiancée, Rosalie Hale." Royce introduced me proudly.

I extended my hand as Jeffrey extended his, kissing my hand eagerly. Helen and I kissed cheeks and I thought she eyed me enviously.

We mingled with them for a while and then moved away and Royce introduced me to nearly the whole house, over and over. It made me happy to see him proud to show me off. I liked seeing the ladies stare at me, green with envy. Though there were many pretty girls in pretty dresses, some perhaps costing more than mine, I was undoubtedly the most beautiful girl there. I had class and elegancy; I carried myself with confidence which excelled with every compliment.

Overall, it was a great night. Music sang loudly in the air and I danced with Royce and a few other men whose admiring gazes were poorly disguised with lust but I was used to it. I knew when to pull away.

The dazzling lights of the party intensified as I had a second glass of champagne. Royce himself only had one glass, sipping now and then as I stood beside him.

"Do you want another drink?" I asked as we walked away from the couple he'd been talking to.

"No, I haven't much tolerance for wine." He said, swivelling his glass with boredom.

"Oh, right."

"Now, Miss Hale, shall we show these people how to dance, again?" Royce asked, taking our glasses and putting them on the platter a white-clad waiter was walking by with. Royce held out his hand.

I took it eagerly and he pulled me close quickly, his other hand snaking around my waist. We danced to two soft songs, occasionally greeting some of the guests as we twirled by them. I knew a few faces and tried to hide my smirks as they were introduced to Royce King the Second, my fiancé. We were being eyed by nearly the whole crowd. We were the talk of the town.

I'd gone into the bathroom earlier, to freshen up. I'd just finished fixing my hair when two girls came in.

"Did you see Rosalie? Did you see who she was dancing with?" A young woman, about my age, exclaimed in an envious voice.

"Of all the luck: Royce King!" Her companion moaned. "As if her being the most beautiful girl in town wasn't enough, she only went and got engaged to possibly the wealthiest man in Rochester!"

"Some people have it all." The first girl said bitterly.

When they came around the corner and saw me, their faces flushed. They exchanged quick glances, wondering whether or not I heard. I decided to pretend I hadn't and left the bathroom, having fixed my hair. Perhaps I'd send them invites to the wedding. Then they would see just how lucky I was.

The night ended on a good note. Royce took me home and I got to lean against his shoulder whilst his Chauffer drove us back to my house. His arm was around me but it felt… so loose, so careless. Perhaps I'd read too many romantic novels but I wanted him to stop the car at a secret hillside where he'd have candles lit and a blanket spread. We'd watch the stars and talk about what we would do together when we were married, what we would name our children, all the while sitting close, entwined.

But he wasn't that kind of a guy. Perhaps it was simply because we weren't married yet. Maybe when we were wedded he would be closer with me. I mean, he gave me gifts: the flowers he'd given me day after day made my insides melt but sometimes I'd wish he would just say words as beautiful as the roses and violets. True, we'd only been engaged three months but perhaps I was just being too expectant. I was beautiful and engaged to a lovely man. My parents approved of him heartily—the whole town approved of him—and his family approved of me. It was more then I could ever have asked for.

I was almost falling asleep when Royce told me we were at my home.

I sat up and blinked rapidly, my eyes out of focus. I felt Royce leave the car and he reached in for me, taking my hands in his. With his aid, I got out of the car, trying to wake up. He pulled his coat off and wrapped it around me. I smiled meekly at him and he returned my smile, leading me up my porch, his hand around my waist.

"Would you like to come in, have a drink?" I offered as we stopped outside my front door.

"Maybe not tonight, dear," He replied. "I'm quite tired myself." He chuckled.

I smiled and looked down at his shoes.

A finger titled my chin up. I eventually looked Royce in the eye. He had half a smile on his lip. "Thank you, for coming tonight, Rosalie. It was a pleasure to have you by my side."

"Thank you for taking me." I said, blushing. "It was lovely spending the evening with you."

He smiled back and his hand trailed down my arm till our fingers were twined. He looked up at me with a sneaky smile and lifted our hands up. They slipped beneath his coat that I was wearing until they stopped at a breast-pocket. I felt something hard.

"What's that?" I asked, my brows coming together with wonder.

He pulled his hand away, leaving mine there. "Look and see," He grinned.

Slowly, I reached inside the pocket and felt a satin-box of some sort.

"Go on," he encouraged.

I pulled the box out and held it in my fingers: it was about the size of my hands put together. Royce's long fingers clipped open the box to reveal a silver hair comb, encrusted with jewels, patterned with roses.

I gasped. "Royce, it's…" My voice trailed off.

Royce chuckled: it was a deep sound. "Only the best for my beautiful girl," He picked it out of the cushion and cupped my face with his other hand. They were cold in the spring air but his soft fingers left tingles of heat along my jaw. Royce slid the clip into place, on the top of my bun.

"There," he said, hands sliding down to my shoulders. "Perfect."

"Thank you, Royce." I said sincerely. "You really shouldn't have."

He shrugged. "Nonsense, darling, it's nothing."

True, for his bank balance it probably wasn't.

"Right, you should go inside before you catch a cold." He said.

"Oh, right, yes." I squeezed his hands. "Thank you again, tonight was amazing."

He leaned towards me and hugged me. "It was my pleasure, Rosalie." He kissed my forehead, his face lingering inches from mine. "Soon we won't be saying goodbye at your door anymore. Soon, we'll be walking through mine together."

I couldn't think with him so close.

"How about I pick you up on Friday and we go and choose your ring?" he said softly.

My eyes widened.

He smiled in response. "Night, darling," He drew back and I handed him his coat. He slung it over his arm and sauntered off down the porch.

I watched him longingly as he got into his car. I hoped to wave him off but he wasn't watching as he drove away.

No sooner had his car disappeared around the street, my front door was wrenched open.

"Let me see the comb!" Mother exclaimed ecstatically, pulling me inside.

"Mother," I moaned half-heartedly.

She stood on her tiptoes to see the clip and gasped when she did. "Rosalie, it's beautiful!"

"I know!" I squealed, unable to hide my excitement. "It's so gorgeous!"

"When is he next coming?" Mother demanded, practically bouncing.

"He said he was going to come in three days, and we'd go pick up my engagement ring!"

Mother froze. I counted the seconds until she managed to say something.

"Oh my—that's wonderful! I can't believe it!" She pulled me into a tight hug. "Oh, my beautiful baby, you're going to be so happy! You'll have the best wedding Rochester has ever seen!"

If only...

Next chapter Rosalie goes to visit her close friend Vera. But she stayed a little too late...

R & R (: x