And the last half of the final two chapters :) Author Note at the bottom, enjoy reading.

Epilogue: RISING

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"Emmett, where are we going exactly?" I asked for the umpteenth time. I popped my lips to apply the lipstick properly and tilted my head to the right to check my hair.

He sighed dramatically and winked at me.

"It's a surprise, Rose." He rolled his eyes and moved to stand behind me. "Geesh…" He pulled my hair teasingly, making it a mess all over again.

"Damn it, Emmett." I swatted his hand irritably and fixed my hair to its original state of perfectness.

He gave his tie a little nudge, and my gaze flickered to his reflection. My eyes grew slightly wider, and I licked my lips in lust when I saw how absolutely gorgeous he looked. The dark suit he'd changed into moved around him as if it was a second skin, making his muscles and tall frame stand out. He looked more handsome and sexy than I'd ever dared to dream. Emmett saw me looking and grinned a sideways smile.

"You liking the view, sweetheart?" he asked mischievously.

I tore my gaze away with difficulty and reminded myself I was annoyed at him and not aroused. "You just tell me where I'm going, and yes, I am," I muttered.

He laughed and ran a hand through his hair, while he offered me his other one. I grabbed his hand delicately and made a movement to stand up gracefully. I uttered a squeal of surprise when he yanked me out of my seat and spun me on my heels like a ballerina. I heard his soft chuckle just as he arched my back backwards, one hand supporting my small waist, the other one tipping my head to face him. He bent over me and blew a warm, tickling breath in my décolleté. I shivered and panted a little when I looked in his wide eyes that shone with glee.

"Are you ready, babe?"

I smirked, heated. "I guess I am."

I untangled myself from his arms and checked myself in the long mirror once more. My smile grew wider when I saw the beautiful reflection, and my eyes began to shine significantly lighter. I was absolutely breathtaking. The long indigo-blue dress I'd recently gotten from Esme hung delicately around my form, accentuated my small waist and twirled around my legs, feeling like water. I twisted around so I could see the other side of it. The back was cut very low, the fine material joining again just as the curve of my hips began. I pulled up the dress and reached out to secure the strips of my silvery stilettos.

When I straightened up, Emmett came to stand behind me and carefully placed a kiss in my neck. He wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on my shoulder.

"You look absolutely magnificent. You're such a breathtaking woman," he whispered, burying his face against my neck.

I smiled warmly and stroked his cheek before I pulled one strand out of my hair and let it curl around my face. The rest of my hair was pulled backwards and the long, wavy curls flowed over my bare back fluidly. I inhaled contently.

Beautiful.

Emmett released me from his embrace, and I turned around to grab my purse from the desk. I slipped my arm through Emmett's offered one and looked up at him, smiling for once. Emmett looked lovingly back at me and bowed his head to give me a gentle kiss.

"I love you so much," he whispered.

I leaned against him. "I love you, too."

Emmett sighed and pecked my cheek. "Well, come on, babe." He guided me down the stairs.

At the bottom, Esme and Carlisle were standing with their arms around each other, happily looking up at our approach. Their eyes began to shine visibly when they saw our appearances. Esme covered her mouth with her hand.

"You two look so gorgeous," Esme whispered, looking as if she was about to cry.

I smiled gratefully at her. "Thank you, Esme."

Carlisle chuckled and looked down at his wife. "Esme, didn't you want to…?"

He didn't have to finish his sentence, because Esme gasped and fluttered her hands around, flashing to the small coffee-table in the corner. She grabbed the metallic object laying there and was back in the blink of an eye. She pushed it into Carlisle's hands.

"You have to do it. I don't think I can do it properly," she said hastily, and Carlisle chuckled again, while Esme's shining eyes refocused on us.

Carlisle was still laughing when he held up the camera. My smile widened and next to me, Emmett grinned.

"Say 'hi' to the birdie, Rosie," he whispered in my ear, and he pulled me closer.

I laid my head against his chest and smiled. Carlisle pushed his finger down, and the camera snapped with a blinding flash.

Esme clapped her hands excitedly and rushed forwards to give us a hug, a sob escaping her lips.

"Okay, seriously," I said, suddenly suspicious. "What the hell is all this about?"

"Have fun, kids." Carlisle smiled at us, and he, too, looked close to crying.

I scowled, and my suspicion grew when I saw his knowing smile. "You two know something, don't you?" I asked. "Where am I going?" I demanded, but Emmett was leading me out of the house. "Carlisle, Esme, where is he taking me?"

"Have fun!" Esme cried with a huge smile and gleaming eyes. She hugged her husband closer and leaned into his embrace. For God's sake, what was going on?

I huffed and stepped through the front door that Emmett held open for me.

"Not fair," I muttered, while I stepped into the passenger seat.

Emmett walked swiftly to the other side and when he sat down and started the car, he offered me his hand. I took it without thinking, still annoyed that I didn't know where I was going.

"Am I even dressed right?" I asked. "If this is a joke, Emmett McCarty, if you're taking me to a football match… inthisdress… It's silk. If this is going to be ruined…"

"Then what, babe?" he asked with a grin from ear to ear, making circles with his thumb on my hand.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I narrowed my eyes accusingly, the light mood of earlier completely ruined.

He nodded enthusiastically. "I am, actually. I really am."

I huffed again and stared out of the front window.

"Relax. You're going to enjoy it."

"I am, Emmett?" I asked sarcastically.

"Oh, I'm one-hundred percent sure about that," he laughed, and I grew more irritated at him. I pulled my hand back and crossed my arms.

"Oh, come on," he coaxed, but his smile only grew wider, and I turned my head away from him to look at the forest shooting by.

The side mirror shimmered in the sun, and I could only catch the reflection of my full lips and my porcelain chin and throat. The red of my lipstick contrasted perfectly with the paleness of my skin. It had a pretty effect. The corners of my mouth lifted a tiny bit.

We drove far. Really, really far. The drive itself lasted at least four hours because it was already twilight by then and in that immense span of time, I hadn't gotten more words out of Emmett than laughing and him trying to seduce me in a lousy attempt to distract me from my irritation.

I grew crankier by the minute, so by the end of the four-hour drive I was actually quite pissed, and I stepped out of the car with a rigid motion, gripping the front of my dress to save it from being dragged through the filthy streets. I snatched my purse and hung it on my shoulder, ignoring Emmett when he put his arm around my waist and forced me to walk to the opposite side of the road what seemed to be a bridge.

Thousands of scenarios involving me pushing Emmett off the bridge flashed through my mind and my mood spiraled down with each image. The annoyance still whirled through my body, and by the time we made it to the other side of the road, I was so irritated I had to rely fully on Emmett to lead me the right way, because I honestly didn't care to notice my surroundings.

My heels clicked loudly on the stones, and the ticking sound echoed through my head, fuelling my exasperation until I was ready to yank them off of my feet and throw them into the canal.

My eyes grew huge when I actually noticed the canal. I untangled myself from Emmett and strode towards the banister to get a better look.

The banisters of the bridge we'd been walking on were decorated with small, delicate lights. Those lights and the lights of the city were being reflected in the canal, and the water seemed as if it originated from a fairytale. It was breathtaking, and I took it all in with a greediness I could barely recognize.

My shining eyes saw boats floating calmly on the quiet waves, on the coastline were trees that looked dazzling from the superfluous decorations draped over their branches. Miles and miles andmilesof ropes that were sparkling with billions of bright lights hung from tree to tree, from house to house, from shop to shop. They were wound around tree trunks, cars, banisters, statues… The whole view was one shimmering, glowing… fairytale…

The most beautiful of all, was the reflection the brilliant objects cast upon the silent water. The water was bathed in shining sparkles that moved quietly with the waves. For a moment I could fully believe that those mysterious lights were guardian angels, each flickering orb. The water seemed to be alive. It was dreamlike.

Emmett probably felt my dark mood had disappeared, and he casually wrapped his arms around me, giving me a gentle kiss on my collarbone. My lips touched his swiftly, but I wanted to see more.

I turned my head and focused my eyes on the city. I could see the marketplace, and I could also see some of the narrow alleys. They were lit with lampions and all kinds of festive lights in every color you could think of.

Calm, dreamy music filled my ears, coming from street artists standing on a small stage on the plaza. People walked around it, softly talking, occasionally letting out an outburst of laughter. Cute, perky restaurants had opened their doors, and the waiters were walking around, laughing, talking animatedly, offering drinks and appetizers.

The air was brimming with the delicious smell of plants, flowers that grew in every corner of the street hung from every balcony of every house. The murmuring sound of the water, splashing against the poles of the bridge, made a perfect tune with the music made by the artists…

It was as if I had stepped into a dream.

Emmett chuckled next to me, and I twisted in his arms to look at him in wonder.

"You…"

"There's some kind of feast or something," he said, shrugging in innocence and smiling his dimpled grin. "Come on."

He offered me his arm, and I took it without hesitation, my mouth still slightly agape with amazement.

"What do you think?" he asked while we walked through a narrow alley – the smell of incense mixed with Emmett's delicious scent caressing my nostrils like a fresh summer breeze. The street stones were little cobbles that were bumpy and dissimilar to each other. It was a holiday in another country, that's what it was.

"I think it's absolutely amazing," I breathed, looking around me, not wanting to miss a single thing. I nudged him with my elbow and pointed at a balcony with flowers overflowing it, their petals almost hanging on the street. "Look at that, Em."

Emmett buried his nose in my hair, and I could feel him smile.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I asked with a smirk.

"Well, you're not angry anymore, so… yeah…" he said, confident of himself.

"Well, I'm glad you are," I said with a grin of my own.

"And she smiles…" he said and pulled my hair softly.

"Cut it out," I said, laughing, patting my hair back in place.

We strolled to the market place and kept standing to watch the band. They played soft, swooning music. We stopped just outside the dance area and watched people dance intimately and slowly with each other.

I was content standing against Emmett, soaking in all this brightness, but then he stepped forward and offered me his hand. "Miss Hale, will you dance with me?" he asked with shining eyes.

I rolled my eyes and took his hand. "Of course, Mr. McCarty.

We quickly found ourselves dancing closely to each other. I had my arms around him and rested my head on his chest – utterly and irrevocably in love, the fluttering feeling making itself quite clear in my stomach and in my head.

Nothing was clear anymore. Everything was Emmett, Emmett, and Emmett. He stroked me softly over my back and pulled me against him, laying his head on my hair, inhaling my scent.

My heels ticked softly on the cobbles, and I found myself not annoyed with it anymore – instead it was carrying the tune of the music now, laying the foundation so the notes could climb up, tumble over, fall down – play with this constant basis.

I closed my eyes and surrendered to it all.

The music, the swaying, the magical feeling… Emmett…

Suddenly the soft singing stopped, and the music became softer, faded to the background and stayed there, burbling and playful.

"I'd like to make an announcement," the singer whispered huskily, keeping the tone of his voice in sync with the music.

"Not only is this a special day," he continued and the sound of his voice sounded so gentle and tender, blending in perfectly with the soft thuds of the drums.

"Something very special is going to happen," he chuckled, "right now."

Emmett's arms tightened around me, and I gave in willingly, leaning closer.

I heard a sharp click and I looked around to see the singer jump off the stage, the detached microphone in his hand, and walking in the crowd that parted to get a clearer view on him. The music got a little bit louder.

To my enormous surprise, the singer stopped in front of us, and he smiled kindly at me.

"Well, man," he then addressed to Emmett. "Idoenvy you," he chuckled again, and I looked at Emmett questioningly. He only winked at me, his eyes huge with excitement.

I looked at the singer again, my eyebrows raised in confusion. He grinned and suddenly the pressure of Emmett's body against mine was gone, and I whirled my head around to watch where he'd gone to, my lips already forming his name.

I almost got a heart attack when I saw Emmett on one knee in front of me, gazing into my eyes with such a passion in his stare I swore I could've flown if I wanted to.

There was a clear ringing in my ears that got louder when Emmett reached in his pocket and took out a small, shining black box. Maybe it was the music, but the band didn't have any bells...

Emmett grabbed the lid of the box. The crowd sighed, but my breathing hitched and stayed stuck in my throat, hopelessly lost.

"Rosalie…" he said softly and the singer held his microphone lower, trying to be inconspicuous about it. "Rosie… I have loved you from the very first moment I saw you." He grinned. "You're one of the most pessimistic, sarcastic and humorless people I've ever met," he chuckled, but I couldn't bring myself to scowl. "But you're also the strongest person I've ever met. And above all, you're the most gorgeous, fiercest, smartest and most perfectwoman I've ever had the fortune to be with. I love you, Rose, and I want to share my life with you."

He pulled the lid, the box opened and the most beautiful diamond ring was flashing at me. My breath had been found again and rushed through my throat, searching its way out.

"Rosalie Lillian Hale, will you do me the great honor of marrying me?" he asked, and he gave me a full smile, his dimples throwing shadows across his cheeks, his eyes twinkling from the emotions.

The breath I'd been holding burst through my teeth and suddenly I was on my knees, throwing my arms around his neck, the crowd going wild, the singer laughing with delight.

"Yes." I kissed him on his cheek. "Yes." I kissed him on the other cheek. "Of course." I kissed him on the mouth, and it was a long and passionate kiss we shared. "I don't want anything else more than to marry you," I whispered, and I squeezed him so tight that if he were a human he would've choked.

"I love you," I breathed in his ear. His arms gave me a firm but tender hug, but then he pushed me off of him.

"Rose, the ring," he mumbled, a shy smile playing with the corners of his mouth. He grabbed my left hand, and my smile was huge when he slid the beautiful jewel on my finger.

He gave it an approving look. "Perfect size." He winked at me and pulled me back in his arms.

"Thank you," I said smiling. "Thank you."

It was perfect.

Everything was perfect.

The crowd was whispering their delight – saying that I was too beautiful to be true and murmuring their envy directed at both of us.

"I love you," I muttered.

He chuckled and gave me fluttering kisses on my face.

"She'ssogorgeous…"

"He's so lucky…"

"Look at herhair…"

"Look at hisbiceps…"

"She's so slender…"

"Beautiful…"

"Beautiful…"

He knew me too well.

I adored the spotlights this place had caught me in. It made me feel alive again. It made my dead heart leap in pride – feeling like it was beating again, making me feel human for a short while.

The music swelled and burst out in a happy tune. The singer grabbed his microphone and attributed his happy tone with the instruments.

They sang about love, about soul mates, aboutthe one.

But I didn't need songs…

I was staring right at my everything – my love, my soul mate, my best friend, the one, myfiancé. The words had never sounded that good, that splendid, that phenomenal, that fabulous.

My fiancé.

Emmett… my fiancé.

I liked the sound of it; it fit him perfectly.

I twirled around, Emmett never holding me longer than an arm's length away from his body. We spun around on the plaza – the crowd watching wide-eyed and red-faced with excitement. We danced and danced and danced, and the whole time I only had eyes for Emmett.

And every time I gazed into his eyes, my heart fluttered happily, trying to fly with love, making it beat the whole time. I felt it bounce against my ribs loud and clear, almost resembling a real heart beat. But this was enough. It made me feel normal again. It made me feel extraordinary. It made me everything again. It made me feel like my human self again.

It made me feel Rosalie Hale. The human Rosalie Hale.

And I was eternally grateful to Emmett for that.

We kept dancing. Twirling and spinning, not stopping when the music slowed down and eventually ended. The crowd strolled away, the place getting quieter and quieter and still we kept dancing. Dancing and dancing all alone, underneath thousands of flickering lights – the water and the whooshing of the wind serving as our music.

A particular harsh breeze flung my hair in my face, and I felt Emmett's fingers tucking it daintily behind my ear. I looked into his eyes with a warm smile, and I realized I wasn't alone anymore. I would never ever be alone. Because I had him. I had Emmett.

I had found my true love, and he was smiling down at me like he loved me every bit as much as I loved him. I could believe he did because I recognized the amazed glimmer in his eyes.

It was the same glittering that shone in mine.

I smiled up at him and kissed him lovingly.

I wasn't falling any longer. My rising had finally,finallystarted. And I owed Emmett forever for that.

Good thing eternity stretched out for us without any intention of stopping – ever.

So in the end, Rosalie came out pretty okay, right? Who'd complain with an Emmett at their side? Right. You don't.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Okay, it's obviously the end of the story and I want to thank my beta Crimson Love20 profusely for sticking with me even though it took so long for me to get the chapters to her... THANK YOU! She's awesome - really, she is :) And if you're a Jalice fan, you should look out for a story of mine I've just begun to write. It can take a while, though... :) But I promise you it will be good, I learnt a lot considering writing from this story :)

Well, I guess that's it. Thanks again everyone :)

Love
- Rose