Rose POV

We all sat around my destroyed living room. Well maybe destroyed is a bit extreme but it is very very messy. The wind that blew threw the room seemed to move everything out of place.

Carlisle had explained all that he knew about the volturi. They were the rulers of the cold ones, I had pretty much learned of all the strengths and weaknesses of this kind of vampire. Of the Cullens.

"Rose has become a family friend very quickly and we protect our friends. We need to come up with a plan. Even if this has all been directed at Rose, if it involves the Volturi it will inevitably drag us in sooner or later. We need to stop whatever evil they are up to now." Esme's voice rang clearly through the room as she stated this in a diplomatic tone, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. I really admired this woman as she seemed to handle any situation that life threw at her with poise and grace.

Everyone agreed with her but were at a loss for ideas. Silence settled over the room as we all racked our brains in the hopes of finding a plan that would not only ensure our success but also everyone's survival.

Rosalie was the one to come up with the only half decent idea.

"The summertime ball is coming up in about two months. I think we should take Rose and introduce her as a new member of our clan as the volturi would call us. We look out for a reaction. Pretend to be their friends and make them think that we suspect nothing. We accept their invitation to stay a little longer, the one they issue every year hoping that Edward, Alice or Jasper will join them. Watch who comes and goes, get close to the inner members and hope that they slip up. If they don't we could always use brute force. I can reflect any of Jane of Alec's attack. That will be a surprise to them. No one other than everyone in this room knows of my power."

Everyone stared at Rosalie who looked smug. The plan was thought over and any faults picked out and examined but we had to admit that the plan was almost full proof.

"Until then we will train" This was met with a cheer from Emmett who said that he would kick my ass. We shall see about that . . .

By the time that the living room was once again immaculate it was nearing midnight. Unwilling to leave me alone the Cullens decided that Edward should stay.

As good as that boy looks I was peeved that they thought that I could not protect myself. I guess I will just prove them wrong at trainings. At that thought my grin turned slightly evil and menacing earning a confused and cautious look from Edward. He should be cautious.

Edward POV

I watched Rose intrigued as she flitted around the kitchen preparing a snack before she went to bed as she had missed dinner. She plopped down on the seat beside mine giving me an agitated look as she muttered "What?" in between stuffing her face with hot chocolate fudge cake with ice cream.

"Nothing. Nothing at all" I chuckled as she threw her spoon at me, then full out laughed at the raging expression on her face as she realised that she had given up the utensil that she was using to eat her cake.

She cast a look at the cutlery draw, looked at her cake and shook her head in irritation; apparently the cutlery draw was too far away. I gasped in surprise as the draw slid open slowly and a clean spoon floated into Rose's awaiting hands. I imaging that that is only the start of Rose's powers, it's nothing compared to what she is capable of if she is at full strength.

I tried to splutter out a response but gathered that I looked like a blubbering mess by Rose's hysterical laughter. It took a lot to have me at a loss for words but Rose accomplished that feat. Frequently. And I have only known her for two days.

My gaze turned imploring as I thought back to the excruciating pain I felt radiating off of Rose through Jasper. Yes, it's a complicated dynamic this power of mine.

"Rose" I started unsure of how to ask her what the cause of her pain is. I have only known her a short two days but already I was becoming fascinated with this mysterious creature known as Rose Hathaway.

She looked at me urging me to go on. I don't know if I have mentioned but Rose is a very impatient person.

"Those feeling that you were experiencing whilst walking up to my porch . . . " I trailed off still slightly confused how to word my question with seeming to interested or appearing to pry into her private life.

"What was the cause of those?"

Rose looked down at her cake conflicted, I'm guessing about answering my question. I was positive that she wouldn't answer until her voice which I barely hear sounded through the room. It was timid; something that with Rose I didn't even think was possible. But on the plus side it didn't disturb the atmosphere of tranquillity that had descended over us.

"There has only ever been two people that I have loved unconditionally in this world; my best friend Lissa and Dimitri." My breath caught as Rose mentioned the man who had shown up last night. I know it was wrong of me but I had hoped that it was a sibling love between them and that I might have a chance with Rose.

"Go on." I encouraged her as I saw her slipping back into her head, I wanted to wipe the expression of pain off her face.

"My relationship with Dimitri was doomed from the start. For one thing he was my mentor and seven years older than me, we were both fated to be Lissa's guardians and he was also a dhampire.

This didn't stop us though. We fell in love. At first we fought our relationship but relented after a while."

Rose broke of as a gut wrenching sob tore its way from her throat. I picked her up and carried her to her bed hoping that it would help her clam down. It didn't. She gripped my collar with surprising strength and wouldn't let me go.

"Please stay with me. I need to finish this story, it's the first time I have said it out loud. To anyone." I nodded and scooted into bed beside her gripping her tightly wishing that I could take away her pain and suffering.

"The night before the attack I got into a fight. Dimitri was asked to take me away and get me cleaned up. He was trusted to not let me kill some asshole; he was the only person of authority that I would listen to. He took me to a cabin in the woods as it was in the opposite direction of the clinic where they were taking Jessie. He helped me calm down. I lost my virginity that night in the cabin. I loved Dimitri with all of my being and he felt the same way. But given the messed up world that we lived in we had to leave before someone came looking for us. As we walked back through the forest surrounding the school to the main building we talked about ways to make the relationship work. We decided he would resign as Lissa guardian and our relationship would stay private until my eighteenth birthday. As for those who frowned upon dhampire relationships? Fuck them."

Rose tensed up and I stroked up and down her back in the hopes of calming her enough for her to carry on with her story. She did after a few minutes.

"That was when we were attacked. We were surrounded by strigoi. Dimitri told me to run and warn the others. Told me to tell them the code word for an attack. The whole academy erupted into chaos. I fought along side my best friend Lissa's boyfriend Christian. But we were separated and I was surrounded. One of the strigoi bit my neck and something hit me over the head causing me to black out. When I woke up everyone was dead. All of my friends and family. It turned out that all of the moroi, dhampire and strigoi communities were dead too. I inherited everything."

Rose yawned and said she would tell me the rest another time.

It pained me to look at her agonised tearstained face and I made a promise to myself that even if I couldn't have her I would help her recover from her devastating loss. How I don't know.

Anyone remember what the code word was? :/ xx