Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns everything in the Twiverse. I'm just playing around in New Moon with Rosalie.

For those who didn't see my message last night, I am SO SORRY for the delay in posting. Our internet was doing the mess-around all day yesterday, and I couldn't get online until this morning. Thanks so much for your patience!

I hope you feel it was worth it, as we find out what Bella wants...

What Have We Done?

Chapter 25

I have no idea what Bella is about to say.

No idea if I'll be able to comply.

And no idea how non-compliance will affect our tentative peace.

So when she finally lays out her non-negotiable request, I am too stunned to respond.

"Did you hear me?" she asks.

I blink, uncertain. "I heard you. I just... I can't believe you said that."

"Why not?"

"Because... with everything else going on, I just can't believe you're thinking about that."

"Well, that's your fault," she says archly. "You've changed my outlook, Rosalie. And I can't go back now."

"Which means..." I fold my arms. "You want me to take a shower."

"I demand that you take a shower. And change your clothes." She looks me up and down, wrinkling her nose. "Because neither of us should look like we've been spending quality time in a tree."

I bark a laugh, relief flooding my soul. "You scared the crap out of me!"

"Why?" She seems genuinely confused. "What did you think I was going to ask you?"

"I don't know! Something you thought I might refuse."

"Well, I know these aren't the swankiest accommodations, so I didn't think you'd be willing to shower here. Plus..." She tilts her head. "Do you have, like, luggage or something?"

I shake my head. "I wasn't exactly planning to stay, remember?"

"Right." She looks away but not in sadness, snapping her fingers in a burst of inspiration. "Oh! Renee sent me some clothes a few weeks ago, trying to cheer me up. They are not my style and one size too big, but I think they'd be perfect for you."

"One size too big?" I arch a brow. "Are you suggesting I'm fat?"

Her eyes widen, then she catches my tone. "I'm saying you're thick. Is that better?"

I snort another laugh and follow her directions to the large bag in the back of her closet. "Saks? Has your mother ever met you?"

"I think the Florida heat is getting to her."

I look inside the bag, unable to hide my feelings. "This… this is really decent of you, Bella. Thank you."

"You came back, Rosalie," she says softly. "This is nothing."

Her words hover in the space between us, and I am content to enjoy them without responding.

Until another yawn spurs me into action.

"I'm going to let you sleep now." I remove the breakfast tray from her bedside table. "Sweet dreams."

She is burrowing under the covers and pauses. "Wow."

"What?"

"This... this is the first time since my birthday that might actually be possible."

"What might be possible?"

She meets my eyes again. "Sweet dreams."

Her gratitude is overwhelming, and I offer a tight nod. "I'll see you when you wake up."

"Mmm-hmmm." She snuggles against a pillow. "And this time, I won't scream."

I smile because I know she wants me to. "I'm holding you to that."

I close the door behind me, leaving the bag of clothes just inside the bathroom. I take the stairs at a human pace, needing to keep a tight lid on the supernatural side of myself.

Because if I lose the slightest bit of control right now, I will lose it all.

I set the tray on the counter and expel a heavy breath. Bella is already snoring, and the sound of her slumber should fill me with peace, satisfaction, and maybe a bit of pride.

And although a small part of me feels these things, the rest of me is stuck.

Stupefied and stuck.

This situation... this entire situation is so utterly screwed up I hardly know how to wrap my mind around it. Bella, though slowly clawing her way out of the dark, is still clueless about what is really going on here. She doesn't understand our family, her relationship, and especially how those two parts intersect.

And after only a few minutes of relative peace, I don't think she's anywhere near the point where explaining it to her is possible.

I thought telling her about the family covenant would be the perfect way to start, even as the explanation itself was lacking. I had to be sure she could handle the first part before I even attempted to address the more difficult nuances.

Nuances we didn't have to consider before her relationship with...

I cover my mouth with both hands, trying to suppress the growl rising from my bowels. The thought of him... the very idea of what he has done to her... I can hardly bear it, and I only learned of his treachery an hour ago! How the hell Bella Swan isn't streaking through town, screaming the obscene truth about our family is anyone's guess.

Her humanity—both physical and philosophical—would never allow it, but she owes us an eternity of misery, an endless outpouring of her rage and resentment.

Him most of all.

She owes each of us all of that and more, and we would consider ourselves grateful to take it.

But Bella would not do that to us, even were she actually able, and for one very simple reason.

She still loves him.

After all he has done, with all his absence continues to do, Bella still loves my brother. She hasn't said it... hasn't even said his name in my presence... but she doesn't have to.

Even as only an echo of her former self, everything she essentially is still exists and always will.

And everything she essentially is still loves Edward and always will.

Because he is her mate.

Which not only makes this situation in urgent need of a remedy, but it moreover makes his decision to stay away from her both impossible and illogical.

Damn him!

Damn him to the very hell in which he insists he belongs!

But I cannot damn him without damning her, and the truth of that causes my breath to leave me in a broken whoosh.

I shouldn't have stayed in that tree, but I should have been better prepared.

For her, for this, for what has happened, and especially for what needs to happen next.

Whatever the hell that is.

Thanks for reading—see you Monday.