Fragile

Finally, things seemed to be coming together for Bella. Edward had pulled her from class this past Friday and had taken her out to the woods. After apologizing immensely for his behavior he vowed to her that everything was fine now, and she had no reason to worry. All was right with the world. Bella agreed with him simply because she didn't want to argue. Granted, she loved the fact that Edward had dropped her dream and variants of, but that was only half of the problem. Rather, one fourth of the problem, if she was going to be precise.

The other three fourths of the problem still hadn't spoken to her. Bella couldn't decide if she liked that or not. She closed her eyes as she lay on the bed in Edward's room. The sheets, freshly washed of course, smelled rather wonderful and she grabbed a pillow and placed it over her head, inhaling deeply. It smelled like really expensive detergent and Bella inhaled over and over again, the scent calming her nerves. No matter how many times Bella tried to put the blame on herself, she found that she couldn't. Yes, she did lie to Rosalie. That was her one and only concession. She shouldn't have lied to Rosalie, though if she'd been given another chance she wasn't sure if she would tell the truth anyway.

But Rosalie had done far worse. Rosalie had attacked her, made Bella afraid of her. And Bella hated that. The last thing that she wanted in the world was to be afraid of Rosalie. But she had been so angry, so forceful. Bella couldn't deny that when she'd pressed their bodies together out of anger that she had felt some form of arousal but that would come from anyone, wouldn't it? It was human nature to get aroused in an act like that. If it was vampire nature, she still wasn't sure.

Rosalie needed to apologize.

Bella needed to apologize.

But Bella wasn't going to be first. And Rosalie didn't seem like she wanted to come out of her room any time soon. Bella sighed, suddenly longing for Edward's content presence. The boy liked the tone of his voice, no doubt, but he was also perfectly happy to sit and hold her. And Bella wanted that right now. She longed for Edward. She longed for Alice. She longed for Rosalie, though she tried desperately to throw that longing out the window. Using the pillow as a brace, Bella beat down on her head, trying to force the blonde from her thoughts. Though it seemed that the more times she hit herself, the harder she hit herself, the more prevalent Rosalie became. Pretty soon she was all that Bella could see, and she smiled at her, taunting her mind at the fact that she, Rosalie, couldn't be thwarted so easily.

Pathetic human

Bella hit the pillow harder, tears of rage pooling in her eyes as she did so. What right did Rosalie have to make assumptions about her? What right did Rosalie have to anything? And why the hell did it matter so much? The pillow was slowly becoming pulpy as Bella wailed on it, kicking her feet against the mattress as she unleashed her anger on her sleeping quarters.

"Perhaps this is a bad time," called a voice from the corner of Bella's mind. The thrashing stopped instantly and Bella shot up, the pillow falling from her face and landing with a plop on her lap. Crimson flooded into Bella's cheeks as her eyes focused on the statuesque figure of Rosalie standing in her doorway. Rosalie met her eyes for the briefest of moments before bringing them down to study the package she was holding in her hands. Bella took this opportunity to note that Rosalie's hair was pulled up again, and familiar shoes were on her feet.

"You could have knocked," Bella told her, still blushing as she crawled off of the bed and put the pillow back in place. Rosalie looked slowly up at her and nodded.

"I did. But you didn't answer. And I heard strange sounds. It sounded like you were strangling yourself in you sheets."(1)

"And you thought you'd come to my rescue?" Bella's tone was light and indeed questioning, but both girls knew that this was the extent of what the human's bitterness sounded like. She was still frightened of Rosalie. That was certain, she could feel it in the thudding of her heart. But she didn't want the vampire to go. So, she did the best that she could do, even if it was snide, to keep Rosalie standing at her doorway. Rosalie looked sadly at Bella, easing the human's thudding heart just a bit, and continued to run her hands over the box.

"I…I wanted to make sure you were okay, as far as it goes. I'm glad that you are." Rosalie took a deep breath, in disbelief that the words fell so effortlessly from her lips. "And I wanted to apologize. I was extremely out of line." She lowered her head, finding it terribly difficult to keep focus with the human. Bella watched her do this, thoroughly confused. This was Rosalie, right? Rosalie being…diminutive? She had to have been faking, or put up to this. No, Bella didn't buy it just yet, no matter how much she wanted to.

"Did someone put you up to this?" Bella asked, gesturing for Rosalie to enter the room. The blonde took one step inside of the threshold and stopped again, shaking her head.

"No, I was out of line. I'm trying to correct it. Are you or are you not going to accept my apology?"Her eyes hardened and fell upon the human. There was the Rosalie that Bella knew. Now that she was asserting herself Bella found that she could understand all of this a little more clearly. But it was still…bizarre. Days of silence only to come in as the submissive one. It just didn't add up. Then again, maybe Bella didn't know enough to judge.

"I want to accept your apology if it's sincere, Rosalie. If Alice or Edward or someone told you to do it, I don't want it." Bella crossed her arms, waiting for the vampire's response. Rosalie looked around the room for a moment before placing the box on a dresser and stepping towards Bella. In spite of herself, Bella panicked just a bit, hitching when Rosalie came near. Rosalie hitched also and Bella watched as her strong shoulders fell.

"I don't want you to jump when I'm near. I don't want you to be afraid. I don't know how to convey it any better than that." Rosalie met Bella's eyes for just a moment, then looked away again. Bella took a deep breath and a step forward, closing the distance between them.

"I don't want to be afraid either. Apology accepted." Rosalie exhaled slowly, almost in relief and flashed Bella the tiniest of smiles. Then she stepped back and headed over to the dresser, picking up the box from it.

"Your alternator came in. I didn't know if you want to…" Rosalie drifted, not wanting to say it for fear that Bella would hear the opinion in her voice. Luckily, Bella seemed to understand. She smiled and gave an eager nod.

"I'd love to watch."

0-0-0-0-0

Bella stood to the right of Rosalie, watching like she had before as the blonde worked on her car with ease. She was doing a lot of connecting and bolting it seemed but Bella didn't dare ask. Things were still fragile, it seemed, between the two of them. She would know. As a result of this fragility, neither of them had spoken since Bella accepted Rosalie's invite. They had walked side by side together down the stairs, out the door and to the garage. It was only when they were nearing Bella's truck that Rosalie sped up, reaching the car and lifting the hood up. She tossed the keys to the Chevy at Bella and though it didn't look pretty, the human managed to catch them. The box was then placed at Bella's feet and she knelt on the ground, using the keys to open it. Inside was what Bella could only assume was an alternator. Rosalie lifted it from the box, gave it a quick look over, and proceeded to the truck with it. Bella came over to watch and was still doing that now.

Rosalie kept darting back and forth for new wrenches and sockets and the like, but she appeared at ease. As time wore on Bella neared a bit closer to the vampire and was able to see her hands as they worked. She noticed that, yes, they were dirty but also that they were tender. A stupid word to use for car maintenance but Bella could see it no other way. Rosalie was being as gentle with this truck as she would with Bella herself. Bella blushed at that sudden thought, causing Rosalie to look up in concern.

"Something wrong?" she asked, lifting her hands from the truck and placing them on her hips. It dirtied her shirt and jeans this time. Bella shook her head, mumbling a sort of apology and Rosalie looked at her for a few moments more before she returned to the truck. "Do you want to help?" she asked quietly, looking over to the human.

Bella's eyes widened. This truck was big, most likely complex and she was sure to find the implode button on it. But Rosalie was confident. She could see it in her eyes. Rosalie was confident in her. Deciding not to answer outwardly, Bella merely stepped closer, shoulder to shoulder with Rosalie. She leaned over the engine as Rosalie was doing and held her hands out, waiting for instruction.

"Do you see these wires?" Rosalie asked, waving said wires in her hand. Bella nodded. "I just need you to hold them out of the way while I work on these mounting bolts and dig around for the drive belt." She waved the wires again and Bella reached out, clutching them in her hand. She pulled them gently to the side and Rosalie placed her hand on hers, moving it over just a bit more. When she let go Bella noticed grime on her hand and she smiled as Rosalie left and returned with a wrench. She worked quickly. Far too quickly for Bella's tastes and when she finished she smiled at herself, dropping the wrench to the floor and digging around in the engine. Finding what she was looking for, Rosalie reattached the belt and took the wires from Bella, connecting them quickly.

To attach one of them, Rosalie had to lean a little to the right, causing her to bump into Bella. She whispered an apology, as there was no need to use her voice so close and attached the wire, fully aware that Bella had not moved and was allowing her to push into her when she could have simply moved out of the way. With the wire attached, Rosalie slowly withdrew herself from Bella's side until she was standing tall once more. "Would you mind starting it for me, just to make sure?" Rosalie asked, breaking the silence. Bella sifted the keys from her pocket and headed over to the truck. She put the key in the ignition and listened as the truck roared to life. She smiled and watched as her hood closed, revealing Rosalie, who was also smiling, but just a bit. She seemed fairly proud of herself and Bella shut the truck off, heading back over to her.

"Well, that's that," Rosalie said quietly, staring at the hood of the truck.

"Thank you," Bella said, hoping that Rosalie caught just how much she meant it. Rosalie kept staring straight ahead, but she nodded her head slowly.

"You're welcome. Normally I would advise you to take it out for a drive but since this old heap doesn't have a computer of sorts, you should be fine for now."

"I think I'd still like to take it out for a drive. Just in case. I mean, we all know my luck."

Rosalie's brow rose a bit at that and she nodded thoughtfully. Bella looked her over and found herself toying with her hands. "Would you like to come with me?" she asked slowly. Rosalie looked at her then, her brow furrowed in confusion. Bella could understand why and a certain fear rose up within her as she contemplated setting the dream straight, with the vampire. She didn't want to. Not yet. Things were still very fragile. "I mean, you have a better ear than I do. You could maybe listen to make sure that the truck is good in all aspects?"

Bella blushed and Rosalie sighed. For a moment she considered informing Bella that she had already given the entire truck a look-over. And that as far as that old Chevy went, things were in top functioning order. Bella licked her lips and her eyes darted from side to side as she fumbled with the keys in her hand. "Sure, that'd be a good idea," Rosalie answered slowly, not bothering to witness Bella's reaction as she went over to the passenger side and climbed in. It looked like Bella stood there for a moment before she actually started moving and climbed into the truck. Rosalie watched as she then closed her eyes when the truck started with ease.

Bella pulled the truck out slowly and headed down the long pathway that led to the Cullen home. As she was driving into town, Bella looked over at Rosalie. She had a seatbelt on, most likely to keep up appearances and Bella reminded herself to put hers on at the next stop. Rosalie's hands were folded neatly across her lap. Again, she was looking straight ahead and staring much further than down the road. It was hard to look away from and Bella found herself compelled to find out what Rosalie was thinking about.

Suddenly, Rosalie gasped and Bella turned her eyes to the road. Something was in their way and Bella didn't care what. She closed her eyes and slammed the brakes, feeling something hard press gently into her chest. Her entire body lifted from the seat and yet she remained in place, never moving forward towards the windshield. The truck came to a rather impressive stop and Bella fell back into the seat, opening her eyes, feeling that they hadn't hit anything.

A car in front of them had come to a stop and Bella could tell that she'd just missed rear ending them. She took a deep breath and looked over at Rosalie. She was staring straight ahead, her hand gripping the ledge on the side of the truck. Bella noticed now that her left arm was extended and was in fact the object that was pressing into her chest, keeping her from colliding through the window. Bella whispered her name, noting that she didn't respond. The light turned green and Bella allowed Rosalie's arm to stay as she pulled off on an ill-used road. Once stopped, she brought her hands up and placed them gently on Rosalie's arm, rubbing it softly. Slowly the vampire looked over, watched Bella's actions for a moment, then tentatively withdrew her hand. Bella let her fingers graze along Rosalie's arm until it was gone.

"Did I hurt you?" Rosalie asked softly, her brow furrowing in anger already. Bella shook her head.

"No, you saved me. Thank you."

Rosalie swallowed hard and looked out the window. She closed her eyes and Bella watched as she took deep, even breaths. For a moment she contemplated reaching out and touching the blonde's shoulder, but Rosalie spoke before she could put that thought to action. "I thought that you saw it. And then we were growing closer and I don't get visions like Alice does. But you were flying through the windshield. It was in slow motion and you looked like you didn't even know you were out of the truck. Like you were still resting in the cab with my arm across you."

She looked over to Bella and stared at her for a moment. Bella noted that she had started gritting her teeth again and she also saw that her chin was quivering just barely. Throwing all of her qualms out the window, Bella scooted next to Rosalie, throwing her arms around her neck. Rosalie went rigid and Bella held her tightly, breathing into her collarbone. She pushed her chest against Rosalie's arm and the inside of her wrist against the vampire's neck. She wanted her to feel her pulse, her breath, to let her know that she was alive. She hadn't gone flying through the window, she was right here. And it was all thanks to Rosalie.

After a few deep breaths from Bella, Rosalie seemed to wake back up and Bella felt the saving arms on her back, holding her, not really tightly, but enough. Then she slid her arms back and rested them at her sides. Bella could tell that she was slightly embarrassed so she let Rosalie alone and instead scooted back to the driver's side and put her seatbelt on. She put the truck in gear and drove the both of them back to the Cullen house. Instead of stopping in front of the house, Bella went around to the back and parked the truck near the garage. The minute the truck stopped Bella heard the click of the seatbelt. Knowing the vampires all too well, Bella lunged out the door and called Rosalie's name. The blur stopped about twenty feet away and Rosalie, still standing tall, turned and waited as Bella raced up to her. She glared down at the girl but Bella was far too motivated to fall for her fear now.

"Rosalie," she breathed, out of breath from her run, "I just want you to know that I'm sorry too. I'm sorry for what I said about the dream. I lied." Rosalie's glare only grew as she huffed and turned to walk away. Bella lunged again and caught the blonde's hand, causing her to turn around.

Rosalie's brow rose and she opened her mouth to speak, but Bella shook her head and cut her off. "I don't want to tell you what I really think. Just know that what I said, my feelings about the dream, they were wrong." There was slight resistance to Bella's grasp and she placed her hand on top of Rosalie's to sandwich it between hers. Rosalie looked at it hesitantly and Bella could see the mechanics in her mind at work. She blushed, but couldn't find it within her to let go. Rosalie's hand was so cold, so perfect down to the nails.

Finally, Rosalie took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I accept your apology." Bella smiled, only to feel Rosalie's other hand on top of hers. She looked up to meet the vampire's eyes, only to find that they were hard.

"Bella, what is thi—

Rosalie was suddenly cut off as Bella shook her head. "No, no questions. Please, let's just have one night of ease. One night where I'm not crying and you're not hurting…we're not hurting." Bella squeezed Rosalie's hand and let it fall from her grasp. Both of her hands fell and she never lost eye contact with Bella. After a moment or two, she seemed to relax and nod.

"One night,"

Bella opened her mouth to thank Rosalie, but she was already gone, the only trace of her found in the sound of a door closing.