Thank you to lovably17, Sarah, yingyanggirl, xxtwilightx and Jessie Alice for your reviews.
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Once Rosalie was settled in her room Esme sat in the living room with her and they began to make some designs for her new room. Rosalie was absolutely stunned at the care and detail Esme put into the drawings she made and she was feeling very loved by all the attention. On the other side of the room Edward was sitting at the piano playing a solemn tune and it wasn't until Esme suggested a shopping trip that he stopped playing.
"Do you really think that's a good idea yet?" he asked softly.
"Rose has been around humans with no problems," Esme smiled. "I'm sure she'll do fine."
"Maybe you should wait for Carlisle to come home from the hospital?" Edward suggested.
"I can handle it," Rosalie snapped.
"I'll be with her," Esme added.
"But will you be able to stop her if she slips?" Edward asked pointedly.
"She isn't going to slip," Esme said surely. "I trust her."
"I wouldn't," Edward grumbled. Rosalie rolled her eyes at him but stopped quickly when Esme gave her a sad, begging look and she flashed a smile at her new mother. Esme's mood seemed to lift as soon as she did and they both got up and hurried upstairs to get ready for their first shopping trip as mother and daughter.
When they were ready Esme let Edward know they were leaving and they walked out of the house and into the forest. They broke into a run together and Rosalie enjoyed the feeling of the wind rushing past her as she ran with Esme. They soon reached the outskirts of Rochester and they slowed to a human pace as they stepped out of the trees.
They moved onto the streets and Esme stepped closer to Rosalie in silent support as the people began to move around them. The light drizzling rain ensured no one saw them for what they really were and Esme kept her coat tucked firmly around her body as they walked through the crowds. As they reached the main shopping district Esme grabbed Rosalie's arm and pulled her to a stop and then she got something out of her bag and held her hand out to Rosalie.
"Put these on," Esme whispered and Rosalie realised it was a pair of rose tinted glasses. "They'll hide the red of your eyes."
"Oh, of course," Rosalie nodded and quickly slipped the glasses on. Once she had her eyes covered Esme led her into the first store and they began to collect up things that would make Rosalie's room more comfortable.
XXX
Esme and Rosalie had been shopping for nearly three hours and were laden down with bags as they moved through the busy streets.
"What next?" Rosalie grinned as they walked together quickly.
"I want to get some material to make curtains for your room," Esme told her. "What is your favourite colour?"
"Red," Rosalie answered and Esme looked at her and giggled.
"What?" Rosalie frowned.
"The colour of blood," Esme whispered.
"Oh!" Rosalie gasped and then she started laughing too.
"Rose? Hey Rosie!" a voice called out suddenly and Esme and Rosalie both stopped cold. They turned towards the voice and Rosalie let out a groan as Esme's eyes went wide when she saw a human man shoving through the crowd in a desperate attempt to get to them.
"Oh no!" Rosalie gasped.
"Who is he?" Esme asked quickly.
"My brother," Rosalie whispered as her eyes locked with Jackson's. "He is supposed to be in North Carolina."
"We need to get out of here, now," Esme said and grabbed Rosalie's arm and pulled her through the crowds as quickly as she dared.
"Rose, hey Rose, wait!" Jackson yelled out, still pursuing them. "Mrs. Cullen, stop!"
"He recognises you," Rosalie gasped.
"Keep moving Rose," Esme murmured and kept a firm grip on Rosalie's arm. Rosalie turned back to look at Jackson and her heart broke at the desperation on his face as he fought through the crowds in an effort to catch up with them. As soon as they turned a corner Esme dropped the bags she was carrying and grabbed Rosalie firmly by both arms.
"I am sorry sweetheart but we must run from him," she told her. "He must not know what you are. This is part of the hardest bit about becoming one of us, turning our backs on those we loved."
"But he's my brother," Rosalie gasped.
"I know sweetheart," Esme sighed. "But trust me, he cannot know what you are. It is dangerous for us but it is even more dangerous for him. If you love him you need to do this. Now come on, we must run."
Rosalie seemed to be frozen in shock but when Esme tugged her hand she broke into a run with her and they raced through the deserted alleys at such a speed that a human wouldn't even be able to see them. Esme kept a firm grip on Rosalie's hand until they reached the forest on the outskirts of Rochester. Once they were in the forest they began to run even faster, both of them eager to get back to the safety of the Cullen house.
XXX
As soon as Esme and Rosalie burst through the front door they were confronted by Edward and Carlisle. Esme moved straight to Carlisle's side and his arm instantly went around her shoulders.
"Carlisle, we…" Esme started but Carlisle cut her off.
"Yes I know," he nodded. "Edward read it."
"I am so sorry," Esme gasped. "I knew she could handle the thirst, I didn't think about someone she knew recognising her."
"It is alright my love," Carlisle assured her and turned to look at Rosalie. "Are you both okay?"
"I'm okay," Rosalie mumbled although she knew she would never forget the desperation on Jackson's face.
"He recognised Esme too," Edward sighed. "He might be on his way here, now."
"Oh no, he did," Esme gasped.
"We need to move," Carlisle decided quickly. "I don't think we have very long. Grab any of the heirlooms and special things you need, don't worry about the rest. We leave in ten minutes."
Edward, Esme and Carlisle rushed off to gather their things and Rosalie let out a sigh and sank down onto the couch, not having anything in the house that she needed to take with her.
XXX
Ten minutes later Carlisle returned to the room and he gave Rosalie a sad smile as he set down a carry bag and his medical bag by the door. Esme walked into the room behind him and put a larger bag with his things and Rosalie got up and walked over to them.
"I am so sorry I caused all this," she whispered.
"Nonsense," Esme snapped lightly. "It isn't your fault. I should have thought of it."
"I assumed we might need to move once you were turned anyway," Carlisle added. "It is part of who we are Rose. We need to move every few years so the humans don't become suspicious. Sometimes it happens quite abruptly like today, other times it's just a decision to move on. There is never any blame placed when it happens. It is part of being a Cullen."
"Where will we go?" Rosalie whispered, having never been out of Rochester before.
"Esme has organised us a home in Signal Mountain in Tennessee," Carlisle told her. "It's a small town near the mountains. We will be able to hunt freely there. We often have our next home ready in case something like this happens. Once we get there you can settle into our way of life more and you'll feel better, I promise."
"I hope so," Rosalie sighed.
"We should get going," Esme whispered.
"Of course," Carlisle nodded. "Esme and I will get our things in the car. Have a look around and make sure there is nothing you want to take and meet us out there in a few minutes."
Rosalie nodded her head and watched as Carlisle and Esme gathered up their things and waited until they had walked out of the room before she got to her feet. She walked over to the piano and ran her hand softly over the keys, deep in thought, and she was still standing there when Edward walked into the room.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" he sighed when he saw her. "And thanks to you, I have to leave it behind."
"I'm sorry," Rosalie whispered.
"No you aren't," Edward snapped. "Someone like you isn't sorry for anything. Everything is always about you."
"I didn't want this to happen!" Rosalie hissed. "I didn't want any of this to happen!"
"Poor spoilt Rosalie," Edward smirked. "Are you going to throw a tantrum now?"
"No!' Rosalie snapped. "I was just trying to be nice by apologising but you know what, stuff you Edward!"
"Now there's the Rosalie Hale I know," Edward laughed.
"Yeah well, you're stuck with me for eternity now," Rosalie hissed. "Deal with it!" She turned on her heel and flounced out of the room and Edward rolled his eyes and followed her out to the garage.
XXX
1935
Rosalie moved through the forest, her senses trained as she searched for her next meal, but even though she was hunting she could still feel her anger at Edward surging through her. They had lived in Signal Mountain for nearly two years since they had fled Rochester but nothing had really changed between herself and Edward.
Carlisle tried to make excuses for him and Esme just looked sad every time Edward and Rosalie clashed but Rosalie was getting sick of his attitude. She loved Carlisle and Esme but she was starting to wonder if it would be better for them all if she left the family.
The scent of blood suddenly filled her nostrils at the same time that the roar of a bear filled her ears. Her head snapped towards the sound at the same moment that she realised the blood wasn't animal but human. Before she had even thought about it she began to run in the direction of the noise and when she got to a clearing she saw a bear holding down a struggling human as it attacked him.
Rosalie stopped for a moment and she couldn't help but admire the toned, tanned man that was being mauled, his shirt already ripped to shreds, exposing his muscled chest. Even though he was concentrating on the fight for his life his head moved slightly and his eyes locked on her. She gasped at the look of terror in his eyes and she felt like time stood still as she looked at him.
He let out a scream as he turned his attention back to his struggle with the bear, a struggle he was losing desperately. In a split second Rosalie noticed everything about him- his gorgeous body, his deep eyes, the dimples in his cheeks and even the way his hair curled softly with sweat from his exertions. Something filled her deep inside, something warm, a warmth she would never have dreamed was possible in her cold, icy body.
The bear was moving in for the kill now and the human man was completely defenceless against his strength. Rosalie let out a roar of protest and the bear turned slightly towards her as she lunged towards it. She was aware of the man's wide eyed horror as she launched herself at the bear and it turned its attention to the vampire attacking him.
Rosalie moved quickly, making short work of the bear and after she had overpowered it she sank her sharp teeth into the soft skin of its neck. It gave a roar of protest but as she sucked the blood from its body it stumbled and fell to the forest floor. Rosalie was completely engrossed in her feeding and didn't notice the human still watching her in horror. When she was sated and the bear was dead she tore her lips from him and dropped his carcass to the ground and only then did she remember the human man observing her. She turned her attention to him and noticed he lay bleeding on the ground, his eyes still locked on her as his breath became ragged.
"What, who?" he stammered, his voice etched with pain.
"Don't worry, I wont hurt you," she smiled softly as she moved carefully towards him. "What is your name?"
"Emmett," the man struggled to say.
"I am Rosalie," Rosalie smiled at him.
"Rose," Emmett whispered. "My saving angel."
"Very poetic," Rosalie smirked as she bent down beside him. She could smell the blood gushing from him but it wasn't until she was close that she realised how badly injured he was.
"You need a doctor," Rosalie whispered when she saw his injuries.
"Why, I have my angel," Emmett gasped. "My Rose." He smiled at her then and his dimples intensified and again Rosalie felt the warmth spread through her body. Her eyes locked with his for a moment and then his eye lids began to flutter.
"No, stay with me!" Rosalie begged desperately.
"My Rose," Emmett whispered and then his eyes closed and Rosalie could hear his heartbeat starting to fade.
"No!' Rosalie screamed and grabbed him and pulled him into her arms. "Emmett, no please, don't die!" She shook him desperately but his limp body didn't respond and she let out a cry of anguish.
"No!" she dry sobbed again and she quickly gathered him in her arms and in one fluid movement jumped to her feet and carried him and she began to run in the direction of the Cullen house.
