A/N: Thank you to those that added this story to their favorites/alerts! I am going to do my best to keep this as in-character as possible. I've always been fascinated by Rosalie and Emmett's relationship, but I had a hard time swallowing that Rosalie just found Emmett and fell in love with him right then and there considering what she had been through. I don't intend for this to be terribly long, but who knows. My goal is to examine the beginning of their relationship and then important snapshots leading up to Bella's arrival in Forks. I will try and keep updates regular, but I am a research scientist and unfortunately scientific publications take prescient over fictional ones. However, if you are all very nice and send some reviews, I'll do my best to keep things rolling along :) ~Pippa
The atmosphere in the house unexpectedly easy; I had been anticipating some backlash for my actions, but everything appeared perfectly relaxed. Esme, Carlisle, and a now clothed Emmett had relocated to the front parlor, a much warmer, sunnier room than the study which was paneled in heavy mahogany with only two high windows to let in the light. Living deep in the woods of Appalachia had its keen advantages, particularly the significant lack of humans for over 50 miles in any direction. Even though it was sunnier than many locations that we could've chosen or had chosen in the past, we were so secluded that we were able to go out in the sun without fear of exposure. Currently, Emmett was sitting on the couch nearest to the wall of windows under a large patch of sunlight. He was staring at his arms in wonder, turning them over and over again with a look of sheer amazement spread over his features. He reminded me of a young child at Christmas; it was as though someone had given him exactly what he had wanted and he couldn't believe it was really in front of him.
Esme looked away from our newest family member and caught my eye, a kind, sad smile playing on her lips. I knew how desperately she wanted to help me, but she loved me too much to try and interfere. She knew me well enough to understand that when I was ready to deal with something, I would; but pushing me to do so would only force me further inside of myself.
I was still wary of the gamut of emotions coursing through my brain; I couldn't quite wrap my head around how it was possible for me to have wanted nothing more than to comfort this man and at the same time be nowhere near him. I was beginning to think I had gone completely mad. But regardless of what I was feeling, I knew what was anticipated of me, so I set out to meet those expectations.
"Emmett," I began, moving to sit beside him on the couch. "I apologize for the way I behaved earlier, it was entirely inappropriate of me." I realized how stiff and formal that sounded, but I had been raised to be a proper lady and I saw no point in shedding that persona after I became a vampire. If I was going to retain my human memories for my entire existence, I may as well use the beneficial ones to my advantage.
"It's really okay," he answered, looking away from his luminescent skin and taking in mine. "Carlisle explained to me that not everyone takes to this whole 'vampire' thing as well as I have. I mean, I don't see why anyone wouldn't want this; I mean besides the whole using blood for sustenance thing…but everyone is different. I'm sorry for being so forward, I was just very grateful to be alive. Well, as alive as a biologically dead person, anyways." He grinned wide, his eyes lighting up at his own joke.
Esme and Carlisle chortled from behind me and I even heard Edward's rumbling laugh from the far corner. I smiled slightly, pleasantly surprised that I was not put off by his relaxed demeanor. I was always what people would later come to call "bitchy", but I couldn't bring myself to be displeased with his attitude.
"So…can I ask how long you've been, um, with the family?" He queried. I could tell he was trying his best to be tactful, but clearly it was not something he had been used to in his human life.
"A little over two years," I answered, silently praying that he didn't ask the question that was only a natural follow-up. But, like a curious child, he did.
"Why were you turned?"
I went to open my mouth, but Edward interjected smoothly, knowing that what was about to come out would not be socially acceptable.
"You will learn in time that some people's stories are very personal. Some of us are very willing to share how we became what we are while others of us are not so eager. It's best to let those things alone until the information is volunteered," he explained evenly.
Emmett nodded in understanding and turned back to me. "Apparently I'm not very good with social graces, even as a vampire," he quipped, shrugging his behemoth shoulders, apologetic but entirely unconcerned.
"It will come with time," Carlisle noted, effectively ending the conversation. "I'm actually quite surprised with you. Most newborns are practically frothing with thirst by now."
"Is that what I'm feeling? I'm thirsty?" Emmett asked, genuinely surprised.
"You'll get used to the sensation. It's not the same thirst we experience as humans. It takes some time, though it's vastly instinctual for most of us." He rose from the sofa and looked around at his family members. "On that note, we should probably take a little excursion into the woods to teach this one how to hunt."
"I've been hunting for almost the entirety of my human life, I most certainly know how to hunt!" Emmett interjected, looking hurt by Carlisle's words.
"I think, if you had known how to hunt, you wouldn't be sitting with us right now," Edward commented under his breath, eliciting a laugh from everyone but Emmett.
"Hey! I'll have you know that bear was enormous…or, I think it was…" his brow knitted in confusion as he tried to reconstruct his own demise which caused us all to laugh harder.
"No matter," Esme interrupted through dying chuckles. "The way we hunt and the way humans hunt are two entirely different things. We'll teach you dear. A bear will never get the better of you again; I promise." His face softened at her motherly tone and he smiled amicably, rising from the couch.
Seeing him at full height for the first time was almost overwhelming. Still seated, he absolutely towered over me, my head barely above his waist. He turned back and looked down towards me, "are you coming with us, Rosalie?"
"I'll come for the show, I suppose," I agreed and rose lithely to my feet. Even at full height, he stood almost a foot taller than me and was twice my build. But instead of feeling intimidated by this, I found it oddly comforting; safe, even. I unconsciously took a step away from him, not used to seeing a man in that fashion.
He didn't seem to be aware of my reaction or if he was he was excellent at being stoic, though I somehow doubted that. We followed our family out of the house and towards the woods, Carlisle taking a moment to explain to Emmett how to make use of our incredible speed and agility.
It was comical to see such a hulking man try to be graceful, his movements more similar to a linebacker than a sleek killing machine, but his newborn vigor overcame physics and he was soon running faster and jumping harder than any of us.
Not surprisingly, the hunt came easily to Emmett. He clearly did have training as a human as he did a brilliant job tracking and was incredibly patient while stocking his prey. He was far more agile when he was working towards a goal and not just bounding about, moving with an ease that rivaled Edward. However, he had very poor control over his own power and practically decimated the deer he'd set out after in one pounce. This happened 14 more times that night and several hundred over the next year. National Park records for 1935 blamed the Appalachian deer shortage on some unidentified disease; but really, it was all Emmett. He was more successful with big game; the sturdier it was, the easier it became.
Perched on a middle branch of a sequoia tree, I watched with interest as he interacted with the rest of my family. Even Edward – sullen, broody Edward seemed to relax around Emmett. He was so genuine, so sure of who he was, regardless of the species he'd suddenly become. I was intrigued by this, but at the same time I was insanely jealous. If immortality were to be my fate regardless of circumstance, I wished that I had come into it differently. I wished that I had been a different person when I had been alive; more aware of who I was and not just how I looked. Had I known what my heart wanted instead of enjoying being desired for my body, I never would have ended up with Royce and I very likely would have never endured the trauma I had gone through before Carlisle found me. I couldn't change my past actions or experiences, but I could change how they affected the choices I made for my absurdly long future. It would be an excruciating process, but I would learn to love and allow myself to be loved. I just had to take the first step.