Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N Well, dear readers. This chapter represented the original conclusion of "Find My Place." I initially ended it here because it felt most appropriate. However, as you have no doubt figured out by this point, I went ahead and took it further into the extended plot line.

I wanted Rosalie to have a chance to work through some of her inner demons. Bella may seem a little forceful, but I needed her to have a bit more gumption that she usually has in stories such as these. She is going to continue to get more and more courageous because she realizes the Cullens need her to be strong for them, even if they don't know it. Try not to let her slight OCCness detract from the main point of the story- which is the breaking down and the rebuilding of the Cullen family.

Reviews, as always, are appreciated.

Thanks for reading ^_^

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RPOV- Friday June 22

I had been sitting at the piano for a little over an hour now and I still felt just as tense and distressed as when I first sat down. I kept waiting for the release of my emotions, but it never came. I wanted to pound on the keys and scream at the top of my lungs, protesting how unjust this whole situation was, but I couldn't, not with Bella sleeping upstairs. I had still come no closer to creating a believable lie to tell her either. I just couldn't think straight with all the thoughts and realizations rolling around in my head. My brain was in chaos and even if Edward were here, I doubt he could have made sense of any of it.

I had begun repeating "Kesson Daslef" by Aphex Twin over and over, getting lost in the repetitive themes, which seemed to mirror my thoughts. I felt like I was running through one of those funhouses with the mirrors and the tunnels, trying to find my way out, but only succeeding in getting lost further and further in the maze, loosing all hope of ever getting out. I felt myself sinking into despair; I had no idea how to fix any of this and there wasn't anyone I could talk to. I didn't have any friends I felt comfortable enough with and I couldn't go to anyone in the family for obvious reasons.

I just wanted to curl up in a ball, allowing the anguish to take over, and just stop fighting. I was so tired of fighting; I just didn't have the strength anymore. I only caused pain to the ones I loved and no one wanted me. I felt like one of the dolls I had when I was a human girl. They were pretty to look at, but soon I grew tired of them and shoved them up on shelf where they collected dust and their beauty faded. I was the doll of this family and now it was time to put me on the shelf. I was already damaged when I came into the family, and I had only cracked further in the years since. Now I was crumbling more and more by the minute and soon there would be nothing left of me worth repairing.

I didn't even realize I had stopped playing and was now sobbing into my hands. I cried for Emmett, who had to love such a broken person for all of these years; I cried for my siblings, who had to put up with me just because Carlisle couldn't let me die; I cried for Carlisle, for whom I was the one stain on his perfect record; I cried for Esme, who had lost her son, and had to make due with me as a daughter. Mostly, I cried for myself because here in the darkening hour of the day I saw the reality of my being for the first time; there was no light to blind people from my faults, no shadows to cover them up. There was only the ugly, bare truth. I, Rosalie Lillian Hale, was a tarnished wreck, too shattered to be whole ever again, undeserving of the life I had and condemned to an eternity of an existence which mocked my pain and suffering; there would be no escape for me, no relief from this torture, no end to my misery.

My sobs grew louder and longer and my body curled further into itself on the piano bench with each shudder that racked my frame. I was overcome with desolation. I don't know how long I had been weeping when I felt a hand run through my tangled tresses.

I bolted upright from the shock and swiftly turned around on the bench to face Bella, her hand frozen in the air, her eyes swimming with tears. She still looked pale and ill, but here she was, standing behind me. She did not look shocked by my sudden movement, rather pity and a burning desire to comfort radiated from her expression. I struggled to recover my mask of indifference, desperate to avoid what was coming next. I needn't have bothered because she shattered what little control I had over my raging emotions when she spoke.

"Oh Rose, just let it out. You've been holding it all in too long. Don't try to fight it anymore."

I dissolved into body shaking sobs, wailing into my hands, unable to hide anymore. I was too far gone at that point. I felt Bella tug weakly at one of my hands, trying to pull me off the bench. I raised my eyes to meet hers and watched as she motioned to the chaise lounge over in the corner. I followed dumbly and watched as she situated herself in the corner with the armrest, wrapping herself in the blanket I had just noticed she was carrying. She beckoned me to sit next to her and I all but collapsed by her side. She shifted me so my head was in her lap and she began to run her fingers through my hair as I continued sobbing.

"Shhhhhh, Rose. Shhhhhh," she cooed. I was still inconsolable, but Bella just sat there with me, waiting for me to regain my composure, stroking my hair all the while.

It could have been minutes or hours, but eventually I regained some semblance of control. My sobs grew quieter and less frequent, and my breath only hitched every so often. As I recovered from my emotional outburst, humiliation and horror replaced dejection and anguish. How could I have fallen apart in front of her like this? I lifted my head from her lap, avoiding her gaze, and began straightening my appearance, in attempt to regain control of the situation. Bella stilled my shaking hands.

"No, Rosalie. Don't put those walls back up. Don't hide from me. Tell me what's wrong. What has you so upset?"

I didn't want to answer her. I had just come down from the emotional rollercoaster and I was in no hurry to get back on it. I turned to face her, trying to avoid her eyes and failing miserably.

"Leave it be, Bella. It isn't any of your concern," I directed her. She was the last person I wanted to talk to right now, not to mention, she was still so very sick. I watched the anger and frustration flash in her eyes.

"Like hell it isn't my concern. You're my sister. I am sick and tired of everyone in this family telling me what is and isn't my concern. No, no more stalling, just tell me Rosalie," she all but shouted at me.

I was so surprised by her outburst that a few words slipped from my mouth before I had a chance to stop them.

"I'm broken," whispered, so softly I hoped she hadn't heard me.

"Rosalie?" Bella questioned, her voice laced with confusion. "I don't understand." Anger was replaced once again with pity as she tried to make sense of my statement.

I took a minute to decide if I really wanted to pour my heart out to Bella. I knew once I started, I wouldn't be able to stop; the words would flow from my mouth, unfiltered and unrestrained, until I had once again exhausted myself. Could I do this? Could I trust her to listen without judging? Or would she be disappointed in me, just like everyone else. Would she decide I wasn't worth the effort, or even worse, would she confirm my fear that she would take my place? I was locked in another internal battle and I didn't know how to return to reality.

"Just start at the beginning Rosalie. We'll go from there."

Her simple statement struck a chord within me. She wasn't going to make me stand alone. She was going to stand with me. That made all the difference. I had been standing alone for so long, against everyone, I had forgotten how much strength came from someone else supporting me. I should have known, Bella, more than anyone else, would recognize how feeling like an outsider would hinder my ability to verbalize what was wrong. Maybe I could tell her and maybe she would prove me wrong. Oh, how I wanted her to prove me wrong. I started to ramble through my thoughts before I knew it and Bella just sat there and listened, her eyes never leaving mine.

"I'm broken and I don't know that anyone can fix me. Even if they could, I don't know that they'd want to. I cause so many problems and no one ever stops to listen to my opinions. They are all so sure I am wrong. I don't belong here. I don't have a place. I think they only kept me because Carlisle feels so guilty for turning me. I never asked for this and I know I can never have what I want. I try to hold everything in, to protect everyone from how unhappy I am. They all love being vampires and they love each other. All I do is ruin everything. I just get so overwhelmed by how much was taken from me, knowing I can't ever be whole, that I can't deal with it. So I lash out, and I upset everyone. I don't know how to fix it.

I am such a disappointment to the family. I am bitter and hateful most of the time. I know I am and I'm sorry, but I just can't get past my frustration. And now you are here, and it's just making everything worse. It wasn't so bad before when everyone was worried about Edward. The spotlight wasn't on me, but now he's found you and that just throws how flawed I am into full relief. You're everything I was supposed to be in the family- the perfect daughter, the perfect sister, the perfect everything. You've already cemented your place, but even after almost a century, mine is tenuous at best. They are going to change you, and you are going to be so perfect, so much better than me, that they are going to realize they don't need me anymore. You're taking my place, and no one seems to care. Alice likes you better than me. Edward would gladly sacrifice me for you. Carlisle and Esme already consider you their daughter. You and Jasper have so much in common that once you can be close, he'll like you better. Even Emmett will be happier once you're really part of the family. No one will choose me when they can pick you.

It isn't my fault I am like this. No one ever asked me what I wanted. Not Royce, not Carlisle. I just wanted a family and now when I finally felt like maybe I could have that, not the way I wanted, but a family nonetheless, it is all being taken away again. I can't take anymore. Everyone is tired of me and I have to stand alone against my family because I don't want this for you. I don't want you to regret being changed in ten or twenty year because you finally realize you want a family. No one should have to feel this way. No one should be this shattered. I'm broken and no one wants to fix me because I am not worth it."

I was speaking so quickly by the end of my outburst, I wasn't sure Bella was actually understanding anything I was saying. I wasn't even sure if I was making any sense. I was so confused, so how was I supposed to explain what I was feeling to someone else. I avoided looking at Bella because I know I must have hurt her at some point during my rant and I just couldn't look into her eyes and see the pain I caused. I stood up to leave the room. I just couldn't be in here anymore.

"Rosalie, look at me," she commanded. "Turn around and look at me."

I could hear the fury in her voice and I wanted to be anywhere but in that room with her. Didn't she see how shattered I was already? I couldn't take anymore.

"Rosalie, I won't ask again. Turn around right now and look at me."

The ferocity of her demand surprised me and I found myself turning to look at her. She looked so angry, and she had tears streaming down her cheeks. If I had not been so upset, I would I have laughed as Edward's tiger kitten analogy floated through my mind. Angry and distressed though she may be, Bella was still curled up on the chaise in her blanket, looking as ill as she had when I brought her home a few hours ago. I was amazed she had the strength to order me around in her current state. She beckoned me to her and motioned for me to kneel in front of the chaise.

When I settled on my knees I was just about at eye level with her. I was startled when she reached forward and grasped my face between her hands, forcing me to maintain eye contact as she spoke in a hoarse whisper.

"I want you to listen and listen well to what I am about to say Rosalie," she began. "First of all, you may be damaged, but you are not broken and you are certainly not irreparable. The last moments of your human life were horrific. Your innocence, your hopes and dreams, were all cruelly torn from you and anyone who does not allow you to grieve for what you have lost is not worth your time.

No one in this family is disappointed in you because of how you've reacted to your past. They are disappointed because they can't find a way to help you. You are invaluable. You were Esme's first daughter, and as such, you will always hold a special place in her heart that no one else can ever fill. You taught Carlisle a lesson in humility, showing him that he must carefully consider his actions to avoid playing god. He regrets changing you because you are unhappy, but he is also glad he changed you because you keep Edward balanced and you make Emmett so happy. You and Jasper may only pretend to be twins, but you two are so connected that you may as well have been twins in your human lives. You are the only one in this family that can appreciate his struggle because you have your own equally challenging struggle. I know you feel like Alice prefers me, but she really just wants to avoid causing you more pain. She is so content being a vampire; she doesn't want to taunt you with her happiness, knowing how much you want to be human.

Your family needs you. You fight for them; you protect them; and most importantly, you love them. The Cullens aren't the Cullens with out you. You say that you feel as though you don't fit, like you can't find your place, but you have one, whether or not you can see it. Carlisle is the patriarch- Esme, the matriarch. They are the loving parents who dote on their children and rejoice in their family. Edward is the "first born" son who can do no wrong. Emmett is the jokester and the big brother. Alice is the lovable little pixie who keeps us all in style. Jasper uses his talent to understand us, always providing a shoulder to cry on when we can't handle our problems alone. And then there is you Rosalie. You remind your family just how precious humanity is. You show them why it is important to maintain the human façade, because it isn't really a façade at all. You, more than anyone else, appreciate what it is to be human, and you inspire them to show the same level of awareness. You keep your family grounded, because with out you, they would not know the true value of humanity. Without your emphasis on those qualities that denote humanity, your family would not and could not exist. You show them what it is to suffer, what it is to love despite anguish, what it is to be a part of a family. You are not heartless. You suffer alone so that your family can be happy. You love them more than you love yourself, and I never want you to believe anything else.

I could never replace you and I would never want to. I need you. You are my sister. I've never had anyone take care of me, not really. Edward protects me, but that isn't the same thing. I understand now that you never really disapproved of me because you didn't like me. That was never the problem. You wanted to ensure I didn't suffer. I'm sorry you felt like an outsider in your family just because you wanted to save me from your pain. I am even more sorry that they didn't recognize what you were doing and that they sided against you, making you feel unwanted and unloved. You and I agreed long ago to disagree on my becoming a vampire, but I want you to know that I did listen to what you said, and I did think about it long and hard. I know what a struggle this has been for you. I know what you were forced to give up.

I grew up without what I would really consider a family. My parents divorced early and I never really had a chance to be a child. I took care of my mom, making sure the bills were paid, keeping food in the house and even when I came to live with Charlie I was much more of a parent to him than he was to me. I have been the parent, and now I am enjoying being one of the children for once. For the first time, with your family, I feel like I don't have to take care of anything. I have siblings who are looking out for me, and parents that act like parents. But until I am a vampire, I am never really going to be part of the family. I can't play baseball, I can't be close to Jasper, and I am so very limited in comparison to all of you. I have been given the choice, and I choose all of you, because for once, I feel like I might actually have found where I belong, where I fit.

But, I need you to feel like you fit too, because I won't take anything else away from you. You need to see that you are wanted and needed and that no one can take your place. You are a beloved daughter, an adored wife and a treasured sibling. You are Rosalie Lillian Hale and no one can ever replace you. You are beautiful not only on the outside, but inside as well, because you value humanity and you inspire others to do the same.

It may not be today, or tomorrow, but someday, you are going to be whole again, because you are too strong to ever let anything defeat you, and you are too important to your family and to me for us to let you stay broken. You don't have to stand alone anymore Rosalie."

I never once looked away while Bella was speaking, but my mind was working a mile a minute. I vehemently grasped onto the lifeline she threw me, praying the sparkle of hope she ignited would last. Maybe she was right. Maybe I wasn't alone. If my family had stuck with me this long, surely they must love me in spite of my faults. Bella wasn't going to take my place; she had her own role to fulfill. She saw through pretenses and laid bare the truth. She would keep the family grounded in reality and not allow us to hide from each other. I searched her eyes for any sign of deception, but what I found there finally soothed my battered soul. There in her eyes I saw that Bella thought I was something precious and worth protecting. I was worth saving. I was worth fixing. In her eyes I saw confirmation that I would not be shattered forever.

Reminiscent of Bella's actions a few weeks previous, I threw myself into her lap, holding her waist, and sobbing once again, only this time the tears were not tears of desperation and loneliness; they were tears of relief and hope. As emotionally drained as I was, I recognized the flutter of happiness rising inside of me and before I could stop it, a giggle of elation escaped me. Bella just continued to hold me, giggling with me. When I controlled my crying, I pulled back and gave her a smile so huge I felt it might crack my face. Bella returned my smile and we just sat there grinning like idiots for a few minutes, having finally bonded with each other.

The tenderness of the moment was interrupted by a coughing fit. Despite our new revelations, Bella was still sick and needed to be cared for.

"Thank you," I expressed sincerely. "I have been lost for so long, I didn't think I was ever going to find my way back. You saved me from myself and helped me find my place. I'll never be able to repay you."

"You're welcome Rosalie," she responded once her coughing ended.

"Now, let's get you back into bed. Do you think you can keep down some chicken soup?"

She nodded and I picked her up and carried her back to my room, propping her up with the pillows and tucking her in under the blankets. She sighed happily in her cocoon of warmth and I made my way back to the kitchen to prepare her meal. I pulled out a container of frozen broth Esme kept on hand for Bella and proceeded to add some fresh vegetables and chicken. While the soup simmered on the stove, I rang Carlisle.

"Hello?"

"Carlisle, it's Rosalie."

"Rosalie dear, thank you for calling. Is Bella feeling any better?"

"I think so. She's slept off and on since we got home. I've been keeping her hydrated and now I am going to see if she can keep down some chicken soup."

"I am impressed Rosalie. It sounds as though you are doing an excellent job caring for Bella. I am so relieved to know she is home with you. I may have to stay a little longer tomorrow; there are several cases that need my personal attention, but I should be home by late afternoon. Will you be all right alone with Bella until then?"

"Don't worry, Carlisle. Bella and I will be fine until you return."

"Very well then. I'll see you when I get home."

"See you tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Rosalie. I am so proud of you."

He ended the call before I could respond, but I felt my happiness bubble over again. This time I did not dissolve into worrying. No, now when I heard Carlisle's praise I knew he loved me and was proud I was a part of his family. I was about to ready the tray for Bella when I heard my phone indicate that I had received a text message.

I flipped open the phone to look at the screen and smiled at the message.

I'm proud to call you my sister. I love you Rosie! XOXO ~A

I realized Alice must have seen a vision of either my breakdown or my discussion with Bella. She knew I needed someone to talk to, and I never would have opened up with anyone in the family. Bella was the only person who was going to help, so Alice made sure we had the chance to talk. I would have to thank Emmett later for forcing me into this bonding weekend. I felt more relieved and uninhibited than I had in several decades.

"Rosalie?" Bella called from upstairs. "Would it be too much trouble for me to eat in the music room while you played?"

I smiled at the thought of playing for an audience for the first time in many years. I sprinted upstairs to Bella.

"No, it's no trouble at all."

I brought her, blankets and all, back to the chaise and settled her in before returning to the kitchen for her tray. Once Bella was happily slurping her soup, I arranged myself at the piano.

"Is there anything in particular you want to hear me play?"

"No, Rose, you just play whatever makes you happy."

I thought for a minute, before I launched into a rousing rendition of Pachelbel's "Canon in D." This song had played at my first wedding, and it always brought back fond and happy memories.

"You should play more Rosalie. You look so carefree and happy."

I nodded my head in agreement as I continued to play, enjoying pouring happiness into the music for once. I carried on for nearly an hour and Bella just sat, listening to me play with a smile on her face. I chuckled to myself as I watched her eyes slowly blink and her head sink into the pillow on the edge of the chaise. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep to the sound of Brahms' "Lullaby." I allowed the final note to ring out pure and clean before I walked over to Bella and removed the tray from her lap.

She didn't even stir as I carried her upstairs, but I noticed her fever returning. Even when she was feeling poorly, she pushed aside her own discomfort to help soothe me. I held her in my arms like a child, placing her overheated forehead into the crook of my neck to cool her off. She unconsciously snuggled into my wintry embrace, relaxing even more at the feeling of my skin. I sat with her in my arms, enjoying being able to comfort her, like I would have comforted my children if they had been ill.

I felt a tiny piece of my broken soul return to its place and I knew Bella was right. It might not be today, or even tomorrow, but someday, I was going to whole again. For now, I would comfort Bella, and in a few days, I would embrace my darling Emmett and bask in the glory that was my family. I was Rosalie Lillian Hale- beautiful and tenacious- beloved daughter, adored wife and treasured sibling- and first the first time in my stretch of eternity, I truly felt like I was home and I had found the place where I belonged.

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A/N:

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