Chapter 8 - Revelations
After my sister's obnoxious revelation several weeks earlier I kept it entirely to myself. I didn't see the point in worrying Emmett; in fact my concern was that it wouldn't worry Emmett.
My partner could live forevermore as a vampire and not blink an eye as long as I was by his side. The future was never a concern to him, as he never wanted for nothing. He had me, he had our family and that was all he needed. He wasn't like me, selfish and greedy for more.
The thought of Hannah truly, deeply and always meaning something to me alarmed me. I welcomed motherhood with pleasure, but at the same time it frightened the wits out of me. Most new moms had nine months to prepare, I had a snide comment from my sister that just happened to slip from her mouth.
I let the comment from Alice sink in over the course of several weeks, sitting back to watch my mate's interaction with our future child. Their camaraderie and odd friendship was endearing to me. Emmett became like a brother bear to the little vampire so quickly I couldn't pinpoint it starting. They even had little "in jokes" that no one but them got. The more I watched, the more I could see how attached he was becoming, the way he threw me proud looks to show he was trying to make her feel welcome made the cockles of my ice cold heart warm.
He was making me fall in love all over again, but with someone else entirely.
My sister and brother also quietly observed. I knew Alice would be feeding this back to our other brother. He sent cautious emails every few days, feeling the need to inform us of their whereabouts and a surprise visit to our young niece would not be welcome with present company.
Alice and Jasper eventually returned back home to the new family abode in northern Michigan, citing the need to help with interior decoration in October. I think Jasper was just ready to leave, he could only handle so much time with Emmett and I and it had been months now.
It was finally time for Carlisle's long-awaited visit. With him arriving as the others left. Briefly passing as they flew across the deeply forested area we now abided in. I watched him on the approach; it had been so long yet nothing changed. My father closely resembled a brother to me rather than a father, but nonetheless I admired him as deeply as I had my human father. I just denied it at every turn, nothing much changed there.
"Hello, Rosalie," smiled my father, reaching forward to pull me into a hug. "It has been some time now, we have missed you around the house."
"I don't even know what the house looks like," I lamented, although I knew full well my mother had saved us a beautiful corner room with views. "You're just trying to push us out, I know it, Carlisle."
Carlisle's lips pulled upwards, his eyes twinkling. "Never."
"All lies," I sang out, leading Carlisle inside the cabin that belonged to him, not us. "They're playing outside, deforesting the native plants."
"How helpful of them," responded Carlisle, stalking across the room to peer out the window, "Emmett enjoys having a new playmate?"
"They have the same mental age."
"Ever charming, Rosalie," Carlisle said, looking back over to me. "How are your interactions with her, has she threatened to stray again? Alice informs me she cannot see anything happening for a long time, and she says that case isn't clear or set in stone."
"Alice told her that, you know."
"I know."
"Well she shouldn't have," I huffed, watching my father for his reactions but he was as closed off as usual. "Alice shouldn't have given her false hope."
"According to Alice there is nothing false about it," Carlisle pointed out, walking back towards me before sitting down on the couch. "She says Hannah will be a solid feature in our lives, your lives."
"I never agreed to this vision or committed to it," I said icily, refusing to sit down as I crossed my arms across my chest. "Alice does not see, or know, everything, Carlisle."
He smiled. "Rosalie, you have a choice in everything, but don't let your stubbornness close off what could be a path to happiness."
I ignored him, but he simply kept smiling. I turned away just in time to see my mate and Hannah running up towards the house. She gave me a wide smile and waved at me from outside.
Emmett burst through the door and embraced me, giving no heed for our father's presence in the room. I remained tight lipped but his enthusiasm wasn't short lived, he enjoyed pushing buttons especially when in public.
Hannah's blissful laughter awoken his spell and I watched as Carlisle reached out to shake her hand. She ignored it and gave him a quick hug, blinking her eyes in such a way as if showing their recently acquired yellow hue.
"It is nice to see you again, Hannah."
"Thank you, Dr Cullen," she practically sang out, beaming up at him. "I haven't strayed once since…you know."
"I have heard, you seem to have excellent resistance," replied Carlisle, his eyes roaming over her, picking up things unknown to us. "And your thirst now?"
"Emmett took me to feed this morning," Hannah replied smoothly, flashing a look to us before returning to Carlisle. "But I'm still thirsty."
"You will adjust, you're still so young," he commented, gesturing at us to sit down as he resumed his position. "It has been a long four months, but your progress is to be commended."
"She always tells us when she needs to feed, Carlisle," Emmett interrupted, looking almost boastful as he pulled me into his lap. "We're trying to extend her now though, right, Han?"
Hannah nodded ferociously, looking unusually nervous. "Yes, it's hard but I will try. I've averted twice from humans, so that's good."
"Most definitely," smiled Carlisle warmly, "But it will take some time for you to find this lifestyle easy, we all have our challenges. It may be time to start testing you further, taking her out into the public," he said, looking at us both now. "Esme has asked if you will consider returning home, what with Alice's visions we're confident she could assimilate quicker."
Hannah's eyes lit up and Emmett's mouth formed an answer but I replied first.
"No."
"Rosalie!"
"Babe?"
"Why not, Rosalie?" Carlisle asked, a slight frown forming on his impeccable face.
I hesitated, but not long enough for them to notice. "Hannah is new, not just to this lifestyle but this life. She needs to master her human mannerisms."
"I thought I was getting better," she grumbled.
Carlisle flashed Hannah an inquisitive look. "I wasn't aware of your vampire age, what is it?"
"Rosalie doesn't know, she's making assumptions." Hannah replied, her lips tight over a much-wanted answer. "It's not relevant."
"Are the assumptions correct?"
"Does it really matter how old she is?" Emmett asked loudly, his eyes narrowed towards our father. "She's not going to go back and attack Nessie, if that's what your so worried about."
"No but she's not going to blink and breathe when she ought to either," I hissed at Emmett, giving him a look. "She might know how to hunt but she doesn't know how to act!"
"Rosalie, Emmett," Carlisle said firmly, Hannah glowered at the insults. "Hannah, are you comfortable enough to return to human society?"
"Yes."
"Well you can return with me if Rosalie is not comfortable making that move herself," he said lightly, standing up. "I know you two came for your own space, so perhaps you can have it now. It is doing her no good to remain here now."
Hannah stood up with Carlisle but I flew to her side, grabbing her arm and thrusting her behind me. The she-beast inside me roared at the thought of this little thing being snatched from me.
"I said no, Carlisle," I growled, my teeth almost baring as my eyes narrowed. "She is going nowhere. I know what is best."
I could feel Hannah's foreign breaths behind me, her fingers holding around my hand tightly. Emmett just smiled from where he stood. Carlisle didn't even looked phased and I began to wonder if I was trapped.
"Rosalie," sighed Carlisle, a brow raised in amusement.
"We will see you at Christmas."
Carlisle smiled now, shaking his head as he walked for the door. "You know Esme will not settle for anything less than you moving in."
"Well Esme will have to wait until at least June."
"It's a date."
A/N: Yet again I apologise! I am hopeless I know. I have the best attentions then things seem to fizzle out and my brain skips ahead instead to story number 3. I have the next chapter waiting in the wings already, and will begin working on Chapter 10 this evening. As always I do really appreciate feedback about the direction the story is going in. x
