The Secret Beneath the Roses
Chapter 21: The Rose and the Lily Grow in a Garden Together
A/N: The last chapter with the Volturi. About damn time. I feel like half the story deals with them. I ended up having to write extra chapters to fit everything with them in. Originally I had meant for the story to be about 15 chapters but now we are at 21. However I am not ending the story just yet. I want to progress the relationship between the two girls and also I might add in an extra plot point but I am not entirely sure about that. So if I don't add it in, then I foresee the story only going so far as 25 chapters.
Alice turned the tap water off and stepped out of the shower. Brownish red water drained out and she grabbed a towel off of the shelf and scrubbed away at the remains of the dirt that clung to her. Her body felt tired and aching all over. The wounds she had sustained from battle had already reknitted themselves but they were still a fresh pink and tender to the touch.
She wrapped the towel around herself and stepped out of the bathroom, going to the bed she was sharing with Rosalie. The blonde had washed and was lying on the bed in her pjs. Her face was lacerated with cuts but they were gradually fading. Her bones in her arms and legs had been broken too but she had recovered from that already, most of her bodies resources focusing on fixing that up before centering on the more minor wounds.
She looked up from the TV she had been watching as Alice riffled through some of the bags of clothing she had bought for her sleepwear. Rosalie didn't say anything as Alice took a pink outfit and went back into the bathroom to put it on. When she came back she was clad in a over-sized t-shirt and short shorts. Her short spiky locks were still dripping with water but she let it be.
She settled down next to Rosalie and laid her head on the older vampires shoulder. Both of them were tired, their bodies aching for a sleep that they could no longer achieve. But they were lucky they hadn't received worse. Alice closed her eyes as she let her mind drift back to the battle that had occurred mere hours ago. Every detail was etched into her memory, such was the power of a vampiric mind. But she choose to not dwell on that. What mattered was that the Cullen's had won. Carlisle, Esme, Aro, and Marcus had fought back against Sulpicia and her two sidekicks. The Quiletes and other vampires that the Cullen's had brought had joined the battle too and they had pushed the tide of war in the families favor. Bella had joined the fight as well, and it was thanks to her that Aro was able to regain control over his army. Carlisle had had a hunch that perhaps Bella's shield powers, might be able to repel the control Sulpicia had over the army. And it had worked. Bella had gradually swept away the control the blond vampire had on the Volturi and those who regained their minds turned to Aro's side.
Alice and Rosalie had fought viciously, side by side, never leaving the other. Rosalie had wanted to go after Sulpicia but Alice held her back. She didn't want to risk the blonde's bond over a stupid grudge. Rosalie hadn't been happy about this but she had listened. Mainly this was because she didn't want to leave Alice's side after they had finally reunited after so long.
In the end, Sulpicia, Alec and Jane had been driven out and Aro had stood victorious with Marcus and Carlisle next to him. But his victory was bittersweet. He had been betrayed by his own wife and coven and it stung deeply. He had no more heart to deal with the Cullen family and so he had dismissed them, even Alice, and the family had been more than happy to comply with his request to vacate the vicinity. This meant that Alice could go back home and that Bella's and Edward's daughter was no longer in danger.
Haggard, and war torn, the family had rented out a bunch of hotel rooms across the other side of Italy, trying to get as far away from Rome as they could. There they could recuperate and pull their appearances together once more before they departed for America the next day.
Alice opened her eyes, letting out a sigh of content. After all this time, she was finally going to go home. Even the prospect of Sulpicia still being on the run and swearing vengeance on the Cullen's for ruining her plans did not worry her. Right now she was filled with bliss, her mate bond thrumming warmly inside her. It had been years since she had seen Rosalie and she could just lie next to her for years to make up for lost time.
"Alice." Rosalie's words brought Alice out of her inner thoughts.
"Yes, Rosalie?"
"I-Well, I've been thinking. Over the years when you were gone, I realized that-well, uh," Rosalie took a deep breath and cleared her throat. Alice turned her head to look at the blonde and saw she looked incredibly uncomfortable right now. But she had never been good with admitting to her feelings and the inner workings of her mind, so Alice waited patiently.
"Just, basically I decided that I would be more open about our relationship. Our time is precious together and we never know what could get in the way. So we should make the most of it." Rosalie finished and Alice nuzzled her neck in appreciation.
"Of course."
"So I was thinking we could go on a date or something when we come back."
"Definitely. What were you thinking of?"
"A picnic perhaps. Unless you want something like a movie or-"
"I think a picnic is fine." Alice sat up at this, away from Rosalie so that she could re-position herself. She laid down with her head on the blonde's lap. Rosalie's hand threaded through the pixie's short hair. "We could have it at night so we could watch the stars," Alice continued.
"That would be nice. This picnic of ours was long overdue," Rosalie mussed and Alice knew exactly what she was referring to. They had meant to have a picnic all those years ago but it had never happened.
"This time we have to make sure that it happens. Even if the sky is falling down, we'll be there." Alice didn't want to ever part from her mate's side ever again. The experience had been horrid. What had she been thinking, doing that willingly in the first place? "And we'll have to do other things too. To make up for all the time we missed."
Rosalie smiled this. "Shall we get started?" She leaned down and kissed Alice, the pixie's arms coming up to encircle the others neck to keep her there.
The plane landed, reaching the destination of Forks, Washington. The Cullen's had finally arrived back home. The other vampires they had recruited for their army had long departed Italy before them, Carlisle paying for their transportation. The Quiletes had remained back, on the search for Sulpicia and her helpers. They knew she would be coming after the Cullen's, meaning Forks would be endangered as long as she lived so they wanted to hunt her down before that.
"I'm finally home!" Alice cheered, hands in the air and jumping out of the car Emmett had driven to get them back to the mansion. She couldn't wait to be back inside, to be in her room. She raced up the stairs and threw herself on her bed, rolling around like a puppy on her blankets. She was so excited and relieved to be back home that she couldn't even describe it in words. Rosalie stood there, watching her in the doorway, chuckling softly. "Enjoying yourself?"
"Yes, very!" Alice replied and patted the bed next to her. "But I would enjoy it much more if you were in the bed with me too."
Rosalie couldn't resist Alice asking her so nicely so she complied and plopped down on the bed next to her. Alice threw the comforter around their shoulders and drew the blonde into a kiss. She felt so giddy and lightheaded. Everything was going to be just fine now that she had her mate again.
Rosalie deepened the kiss, pressing the pixie down to the bed as she tried to drink more in of the smaller girl's mouth.
"Rosalie and Alice, Carlisle wants to talk to the whole family. So cut it out with the kissing. I swear that's all you've been doing ever since you've gotten back together." Edward interrupted them from the door, causing them to groan in annoyance and pull back. It was true their lips were never more than a few inches apart in these past few hours but that was because they hadn't seen each other in so long.
"Shut it Eddy," Alice huffed as she threw a pillow at him. He dodged it.
"Yea, Eddy, shut it," Emmett added from downstairs. "At least their not fucking yet. I can recall a certain couple doing a lot of that when they discovered they were soul mates."
"Ugh, Emmett shut up!" Edward growled at him and rushed back down the stairs, no doubt going to punch the giant man.
Alice felt her insides flush at Emmett's statement. There was no question that was what she wanted to do too...but would Rosalie be okay with it? She cast a minute glance at the other and saw her eyes had darkened, yet she stood up calmly and cleared her throat. "Let's go downstairs and see what Carlisle wants and then we can do whatever we want."
"Yea, sure." Alice nodded her head, wondering if Rosalie could pick up the scent of her arousal. Her throat felt dry and she swallowed thickly, doing her best to dislodge certain thoughts from her mind.
They made it downstairs to see everyone had gathered in the living room. It had changed since last Alice had seen it. Where the room had once been red and gray with black accents it was now light green with yellow and gray accents. It appeared the only room in the house that had remained the same was Alice's room, for which she was grateful. Emmett was spread out on a green couch and taking up one half of it, his arms on the back of it, spine slouched. Edward and Bella sat on the couch next to him, their daughter sitting on both of their laps. She was playing with the ends of Bella's hair and humming to herself quietly. She looked bigger than the last time Alice remembered but that must have been just her imagination. There was no way the girl could have age a year since she yesterday.
Alice and Rosalie took a seat on the other empty couch, filling in the space next to Jasper. Rosalie was careful to keep the entire length of her left side touching Alice's right side. Their hands laid intertwined on the blonde's lap and she would brush her thumb over the pixie's knuckles occasionally.
Esme was sitting stilly in an armchair, Carlisle behind her, hands resting on the back. "It's been years since we have last been reunited." He cast a wide smile at the precious family in front of him. "I'm glad to have everyone back safe and sound. Especially you, Alice. For far too long you have been gone. We almost lost you to the Volturi."
"And I'm glad to be back here. I missed you all so terribly," Alice let melancholy creep into her voice.
"But we appreciate what you did, Alice," it was Bella who spoke up and her voice was smoother, more melodic. It seemed that during her vampiric transformation even her voice had been upgraded. She no longer faltered as she spoke and even her posture was different. It was more confident, spine held straight, her back no longer hunching in on herself. "I heard that you did it to protect me from the Volturi and I appreciate it more than you can know." She smiled sadly at this and Alice nodded her head in acceptance of Bella's thanks. "I just want you to know that I'm sorry for all this pain you have suffered. If only I wasn't-"
"Bella, don't worry about it." Alice couldn't stand to listen to Bella beat herself up for Alice's predicament. "I would do it again if I had to."
Rosalie gave a little growl in the back of her throat, so low that only Alice heard. Alice knew Rosalie wasn't thrilled about the idea of Alice doing that again. Alice squeezed her hand to reassure her that nothing of that sort would happen.
"Speaking of the Volutri, we need to address something." Carlisle cleared his throat before he spoke, paying attention to make sure everyone's attention was on him. "Aro has dismissed all of our crimes for now as a sign of gratitude for us helping him, and because he is too deep in grief over what has occurred with his coven to pass judgment. But there is no telling how long this will last for, therefore we need to relocate. Not only will this relocation serve to protect us from him but also from Sulpicia and her lackies." There was a pause at this, the man waiting to hear if there would be any objections. Hearing none he continued. "After we chased her off she claimed vengeance on us for ruining her plans. And she also swore to capture Alice once more." A loud growl came from Rosalie's throat at this. "I will never let that vile creature touch Alice again!"
"Rosalie, it's okay. Nothing like that will happen," Alice reassured her, squeezing her hand.
"It already happened once," Rosalie shot back.
"But I trust that with you around to protect me, it won't happen again." Rosalie calmed down a bit at Alice's words, but a low rumble stayed in her chest for the remainder of the conversation about Sulpicia.
"As the situation is, it is best to leave Forks for an undefined period of time. The Quiletes are currently still in Rome hunting down for her but there is no telling if they will be able to stop her. Until then we must fend for ourselves. We will not allow Alice to fall into Sulpicia's clutches. If she does, then there is no telling of the advantage Sulpicia will have over us. No doubt she will not rest until she has hunted us down and slaughtered us one by one."
"I'd like to see her try," Emmett bristled, as did everyone else in the room. Talking about the Volturi royalty was putting everyone in a bad mood. "I'd show her a thing or two."
Carlisle nodded his head at this. "So we are all on the same page. We will pack up and leave by the end of this week. This should give enough time for everyone to wrap up any last minute matters they have here." This part was mainly directed at Bella whose father lived in Forks. Alice wondered how the man took the news of his daughter turning into a vampire. Given how he had reacted to the knowledge of Edward being a vampire, then not very well.
"Where are we moving to?" Jasper inquired as he stood up. The meeting was now over, indicating the vampires had leeway in choosing what to do up to the day of their departure. "We cannot move to a warm country. Too much sunshine. We'll never make it there."
Esme shook her head, answering for her husband. "We're going to lay a false trail around the world before we finally settle down. We're going to Alaska, to stay with the Denali's temporarily."
Alice's eyebrow twitched nervously at this. The Denali's. That meant Tanya would be there. Alice shot a quick look at her and Rosalie's conjoined hands. She had a feeling Tanya really wasn't going to approve of this. But how did she break the information to the girl, without the girl breaking anything? Should she tell Rosalie the extent of her and Tanya's relationship too?
"You okay?" Rosalie asked, sensing Alice's unease.
"I'm fine," Alice responded quickly. "I was just hoping to spend more time at home. And now we have to leave again. Doesn't the constant moving around bother you?" The two girls were going back up to Alice's bedroom to just spend time together without other interruptions. Rosalie frowned at this. "I can't believe you just said that. What happened to wanting to travel the world or to never being able to sit still?"
Alice shrugged. She still wanted to travel the world but right now all she wanted to do was stay home and not leave anywhere for a long time. Like maybe for months. She had had enough of foreign countries for a while. "I just missed home is all. I missed having all of us in one place." Alice dropped down onto her bed, letting her back hit the floor. Her gaze went up to her ceiling and her brows furrowed. Was that a crack? Would she have to repaint it? Rosalie sat down next to her, her weight rocking the mattress slightly.
"Alice, no matter where we are, you will always be home to me." Rosalie was looking down at Alice as she said this, tender affection in her eyes. Alice just stared blankly at her for a moment before the intense corniness of the phrase sunk into her.
"Whoa. I can't believe you just said that. Have you been looking up bad romantic one liners or something? Cause that was so bad I can't believe it just came out of your mouth."
If Rosalie could blush she would be doing so right now, all the way from the roots of her hair to the tips of her ears. "Shut up," she hissed, mortified. "So what if I was." She looked away, crossing her arms over her chest. Alice sat up with a chuckle, wrapping her arms around her back.
"I'm glad you did. It was cute." Alice placed a gentle kiss on Rosalie's neck, feeling the blonde relax under her hold. They stayed like that for a while as the sun set outside the window, throwing the room into shades of red and yellow.
A/N: You guys can probably tell but I got real lazy with writing the fight scene between the Volturi and the Cullen's. This is because I really didn't feel like writing another battle scene between them. They already went through one and I thought it would be better to just summarize the events of it. Also it's much easier for me and it gets the plot moving.