Thank you to lovably17, Marshmellow, AliceD21BallerinaGypsy, Sakura Maeda, EsmeAliceRose, yingyanggirl, sarah, Jessie Alice,ellelady and Nikita for your reviews.
Sorry it took me so long to get this update to you. I am having a major case of writer's block for this story. It's the time period from now (which would be 1935) to when Jasper and Alice join the family (1950) that I am having issues with. I know I had to ask this when I wrote Midnight Shadows too but if any of you have any ideas or things you would like to see in this story would you please share with me in your reviews or PM me and I'll try to include them. This worked with Midnight Shadows to kill my writers block once and for all so I'm hoping any help from you guys might fix it again this time.
XXX
When Emmett and Rosalie finally managed to pull their lips from each other Rosalie looked up at Emmett and he noticed the same nervous look creeping into her eyes as the last time he had kissed her.
"Rose, what is it?" Emmett frowned. "Both times we have kissed you have initiated it but then it's like you pull away and you're scared of me."
"It isn't you," Rosalie said quickly.
"But something is going on?" Emmett asked.
"Yes," Rosalie nodded. "I think there are some things about me you need to know."
"I know everything I need to know about you," Emmett smirked.
"No, you don't," Rosalie sighed and turned and walked over to sit on the arm of the couch, both to put a little distance between them and to collect her thoughts.
"Okay, well what is it then?" Emmett asked, sensing the gravity of the situation and for once not making jokes of funny comments.
"You've probably heard us making references to the night I was turned," Rosalie sighed. "But has anyone ever told you exactly what happened that night?"
"No," Emmett answered. "I've figured out you were somehow injured, Carlisle found you and brought you home, much to Edward's annoyance, and you were turned to save your life."
"It's the how I was injured bit that you need to know," Rosalie whispered.
"I don't need to know Rosie," Emmett smiled, noticing the topic seemed to be upsetting her.
"If we have even the slightest chance of taking what is between us further you have to know this," Rosalie argued.
"Okay, if you think it's important, tell me," Emmett sighed.
"I was the oldest child of a middle class family," Rosalie murmured. "I had a brother and sister much younger than me and a brother only a year younger. We weren't rich but my father worked in a bank and we had everything we needed. I met the son of my father's boss, Royce King, and he started to court me. We got engaged and I was so close to having everything I ever dreamed of. A husband, a house of my own, and children. That was very important to me."
"I can understand that," Emmett nodded.
"I had a friend, Vera," Rosalie continued. "She was already married and had a baby son. My last night as a human I went to visit them. I got engrossed playing with Henry and didn't realise the time. By the time I set off for home it had got dark. I wasn't too worried, I was close to home. But as I walked I began to get nervous, get scared. I turned the corner and I was so relieved to see Royce standing on the side of the street with some of his friends. I rushed over to him, hoping he might escort me the rest of the way home. I didn't realise they had been drinking, or what an evil, cruel man he really was."
"What did they do?" Emmett growled and Rosalie glanced at him and noticed his normally cheerful face was twisted in a scowl as though he sensed the outcome of the story.
"They dragged me into an alley," Rosalie whispered, averting her eyes as she spoke. "And they did horrible things to me, awful things. All of them."
"They forced themselves on you?" Emmett snarled, wanting to be sure he fully understood what she was saying.
"Yes," Rosalie nodded. "When they were finished they left me there to die. And that's where Carlisle found me. He took me home with him and turned me. I would have died from my injuries if he hadn't."
"I'm glad he did," Emmett murmured, his expression still dark. "What about the animals that did this? Did Edward or Carlisle go after them?"
"No," Rosalie sighed.
"Then I will," Emmett growled. "What were their names? Do you know where they are?"
"Yes, I know where they are," Rosalie nodded and smirk slipped onto her lips. "Carlisle and Edward didn't go after them, I did."
"You did?" Emmett echoed.
"Yes," Rosalie smirked. "I found them one by one and killed them. I saved Royce for last. He was terrified by the time I got around to killing him. I dragged his death out for hours until he was begging, just like I had that night. Once they were all dead I felt numb. The revenge had sustained me but I didn't have anything then. I found my way back to the Cullens and they accepted me as one of their own. It was hard though. Carlisle and Esme were so nice but Edward and I hated each other. It wasn't until the day I found you that I could actually start enjoying my life again. Finding you made me happy again."
"I'm glad you found me," Emmett smiled. "And I'm glad those monsters are dead. I'll never let anyone hurt you like that again Rosie."
"I know," Rosalie grinned, and deep down she did. "I just wanted you to know. That's why I keep freaking out when we make out. I know it isn't them, I know with you I am safe. But when I close my eyes it creeps up on me. It's hard to explain, it's like this deep, dark feeling inside me and I can't stop it. I want to, I know you won't hurt me that way, but I can't."
"It's okay Rose," Emmett sighed. "We can just take this slow. You take all the time you need. We have the rest of eternity."
"We do, don't we?" Rosalie smirked.
"We do," Emmett grinned and leaned closer to her. "Would it be okay with you if I kissed you again?"
"Yes, please," Rosalie giggled and Emmett's grin broadened as he pressed his lips to hers again.
XXX
When Edward, Esme and Carlisle returned to the house Emmett and Rosalie were sitting on the couch talking and Esme flashed Rosalie a soft smile as they walked into the room.
"Edward, are you up for a game of chess?" Emmett demanded as soon as they got inside the house.
"I guess so," Edward sighed.
"I don't know why you bother," Rosalie laughed. "You do realise he can cheat and see all your thoughts don't you?"
"One day I'll beat him," Emmett said surely and Edward just laughed at the unlikeliness of it as Emmett raced off to find the chess board.
Once the two men were engrossed in the game Carlisle wandered off into his study and Esme walked over and sat down beside Rosalie.
"Is everything all sorted out with you and Emmett?" Esme asked in a low voice.
"Yes," Rosalie whispered. "I told him and he took it pretty well."
"I knew he would," Esme smiled softly and glanced over at the two boys playing chess and she hoped that Emmett would be everything Rosalie needed to be happy in the life they led.
XXX
The following day was the first day at school for Emmett, Edward and Rosalie and Carlisle dropped them off on his way to the hospital. They stood in a group for a moment near the front entrance and Rosalie noticed that Emmett's eyes were darting over the students milling around on the front lawn.
"Are you okay?" she murmured as she slipped her arm around his.
"I haven't been this close to this many humans before," Emmett whispered. "Can you smell them?"
"Of course I can," Rosalie nodded. "Just try to ignore their scents."
"Easier said than done," Emmett mumbled.
"It gets easier," Edward assured him. "Just stick close to Rose and I. After you've been here a few weeks you will barely even notice it."
"I hope you're right," Emmett murmured and Edward just shrugged as he led them inside. Because Esme had enrolled them all as sophomores they had most of their classes together and by the end of the day Emmett was more than ready to get away from the humans.
After their last class they walked out of the school and disappeared into the forest and then broke into a run and headed home. When they walked in the front door Esme was waiting for them, like a good mother, and she grinned when she saw them.
"How did it go?' she asked instantly.
"Good," Rosalie smiled.
"Same old boring stuff," Edward shrugged and disappeared up to his room.
"Emmett?" Esme questioned.
"It wasn't too bad," Emmett smiled. "The humans stink though."
"They do don't they?" Esme laughed, glad they had all coped with their first day of school. They settled into an easy afternoon and it wasn't long before Edward came back downstairs and asked Emmett if he wanted to go hunting with him.
"Hell yeah," Emmett smirked and glanced at Rosalie. "Babe, you want to come?"
"Nah, you boys go have fun," Rosalie grinned.
"We will," Emmett announced and turned and bounded out of the house and Edward rolled his eyes as Rosalie and Esme laughed at them and he hurried to catch up to his brother.
Once the men had gone Rosalie helped Esme arrange some flowers and then she grabbed her book bag and tipped it out onto the dining table and sorted through her school things. She was sitting flicking through a textbook, wondering to herself why they needed to bother with attending school and doing homework when the front door slammed open. She jumped to her feet instantly, her senses on alert and she relaxed a little when she saw Edward racing into the room.
"Edward, you startled me!' Rosalie chided and then she realised he had a horrified expression on his face.
"Edward, what is it?" Esme asked as she rushed into the room.
"I didn't see it quick enough,' Edward gasped. "I'm so sorry, I didn't catch it in time."
"See what?" Rosalie demanded. "Catch what?"
"Emmett," Edward groaned. "He slipped."
"He what?" Rosalie gasped.
"We were hunting and he slipped," Edward explained quickly. "He fed on a human, two of them actually."
"Oh no," Rosalie groaned. "Where is he?"
"In the forest, near the creek," Edward whispered. "He wouldn't come home. He thinks you will all be disappointed and angry. I tried to reason with him but it didn't work. Rose, maybe…" He broke off as he realised Rosalie had already raced out of the house and he let out a sigh as he walked over and hugged Esme, seeing how upset she was.
XXX
Rosalie raced through the forest towards the creek, her every instinct screaming at her to find Emmett and help him. She wasn't sure how she was meant to help him, she had never slipped herself and didn't really understand the emotions that rushed through them after a slip. She stepped out of the trees and immediately saw Emmett sitting by the water's edge, his head hung and his shoulders slumped as he stared out over the water.
"Emmett?" Rosalie murmured carefully as she walked slowly towards him.
"Yeah Rose?" Emmett responded and Rosalie took in a sharp breath she didn't need at the sound of his voice. His usual cheerful, loud, booming voice was absent and he sounded so depressed and defeated.
"Edward told me what happened," Rosalie said gently as she reached him and sat down beside him.
"That I'm a monster?" Emmett asked angrily.
"No, that you slipped," Rosalie sighed. "It happens Em."
"Has it ever happened to you?" Emmett demanded.
"Well, no," Rosalie admitted. "But I've never tasted human blood. It's happened to Edward and Esme."
"I hadn't tasted human blood either," Emmett reminded her. "Now I have and I know how much better it tastes. I won't be able to stop now Rose."
"Do you want to kill humans?" Rosalie asked outright.
"No," Emmett snarled.
"Then you won't," Rosalie said firmly.
"You don't know that," Emmett argued. "I've got the taste now."
"But you don't want to do it," Rosalie smiled sadly at him. "You'll build your strength to resist them up again. I'll help you."
"Will you?" Emmett asked in a small voice. "Help me?"
"Of course I will Emmett," Rosalie whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. "I love you."
"I love you too Rosie," Emmett murmured and buried his face on her shoulder as he snuggled into her embrace.