AN: Well, I'm back, I guess. Two years… sorry? I hope this makes up for it. I have a lot of ideas for where to take this story and am excited to get back into it.

Chapter 9

"Well, results are in," Carlisle says conclusively, "definitely not human."

We sit in silence for a moment as he allows me to take this information in. I suppose I should have been more mentally prepared for this outcome. Still, I find myself feeling extremely nauseous. I can only assume this shows on my face, which has no doubt turned very pale, as Carlisle is quick to hand me the bin.

"Sorry," I say, halfheartedly, after having thrown up my insides.

He offers me a sympathetic smile, waving off my apology, "Don't be, it's bound to be a shock."

I huff at his understatement of the century, "Is that it then? Not human, is that all?"

"I'm afraid so," He sighs, "I was hoping for a match on something else, but it seems there's more to it than that." He takes a seat across from me, observes me for a moment, before continuing, "I'm going to ask you something now that may be difficult to answer."

I narrow my eyes at him slightly before nodding for him to continue.

He pauses. Then, "You don't look like Bella." I know my confusion is clear as he quickly clarifies, "I mean to say, is she your biological sister?"

"You mean was I adopted?" I ask, rhetorically, as that is clearly what he's asking. He humours me with a sharp nod anyway. "No, I mean, I don't think so."

He contemplates this for a moment, "Okay. Well perhaps that's something for you to look into." He stands, steps forward, and places a comforting hand on my shoulder, "I know it may seem a scary concept, should you find that you were adopted, I mean. But I want to assure you that whatever the outcome, we're all here for you."

My breath catches at his words as my eyes fill with tears. I see in his eyes that he means it, that I'll always have a place here. Somehow, it fills me with a strength I didn't know I had, and I immediately resolve to seek the information he and I were now looking for.

I open my mouth to respond when the office door flies open.

"Everything okay?" Rosalie greets, worry clear in her tone as her eyes give me a once over, checking for signs of distress. When she finds none, she lets her eyes wander up to my own, and in them finds her answer. "What's wrong?" She asks gently, taking a seat beside me.

I send her an accusatory smirk, "Don't pretend you weren't eavesdropping."

"I wasn't this time, actually," She says, smugness dripping off each word, "I was hunting when Alice had vision, said you both looked tense."

Carlisle excuses himself, pats me on the shoulder, and makes a brisk exit.

As soon as the door closes, Rosalie turns her body in my direction and takes my hand, rubbing soothing circles over the back, "What is it?"

I sigh heavily, not sure where to begin, "Well, I don't exactly know." She nods, encouraging my to elaborate, "The blood test showed that I'm clearly not human. Which I suppose lead Carlisle to the fair enough assumption that I may not be who I think I am. Now I have to go home and ask my dad if I was adopted, and if he says I was then I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do."

A heavy silence envelops the office. I let my eyes fall to my lap, where mine and Rosalie's hands are entangled. I can tell she doesn't know what to say. Not that I blame her. This is anything but a normal situation that one might have to comfort there… mate about. Yes. Not normal at all.

The silence continues for a while until, "You're not alone you know." Rosalie whispers, lifting my hand to her lips and kissing it softly, "Not matter what happens. You've got us, always."

I chuckle softly, "That's sweet, but I'm afraid to say Carlisle already beat you to it."

Her reaction is even sweeter. She lets out a disappointed huff, and a small pout appears on her lips. I raise my eyebrows in response, shocked to see such an adorable expression on her usually stoic face.

"Well, that was rude of him." She retorts, rather pathetically. I smile at her in amusement before pulling her into an abrupt hug that clearly catches her off guard, if the small squeak she lets out is anything to go by. She soon relaxes into it, however, as I run my hands through the hair that cascades like a waterfall down her back.

We stay like that for a while, hours it seems, before she softly asks, "Are you scared?"

I pause for a moment, considering the question. I'm scared to shift, when the time comes. That much I know. I'm scared of the reaction I'll get when I go home and ask the dreaded question. But am I scared? Right here, right now? In this moment? With Rosalie?

"No." I answer resolutely. While it doesn't encompass everything I'm feeling about every possible situation, it certainly rings true now.

Rosalie pulls back from our embrace then, a frown on her face, "Really?"

I feel the pull of a smile on my lips as I look at her, an entirely involuntary action, "Really. As long as I've got you, I don't see what I have to fear."

She rolls her eyes at me, a playful grin gracing her beautiful face. Suddenly, the mood shifts and her expression changes to something more gentle and almost nervous.

"Well, seeing as your whole life thus far is about to come into question, I think nows the right time, so to speak."

I look at her perplexed, "What-"

My question is cut short when she surges forward, kissing me with both immense force and great softness.

"Fucking finally," I sigh against her lips, causing her smile to grace her own as she pulls away, much quicker than I'd hoped.

She laughs at my clear disappointment, "Don't worry. There's plenty of time for that. Right now, though, you've got things to do."

She stands then and holds out her hand for me to take. She turns to leave before stopping abruptly, spinning on her heel, and placing one last peck against my lips.

"Everything's going to be okay," She assures me, before guiding me through the house and to her car.

I squeeze her hand, "I hope you're right."