Previously on Can start over?
"well you say that I act like a 100 year old but I sure don't have the stamina of one just ask your sister"
"couldn't keep me away even if you tried Esme"
" peanut take me home?"
Once Rosalie brought Bella home, she finally managed to relax some of the tension in her body. They were outside of her home, away from Edward and his self righteous ideas of who Bella should be with. Having space between them made her feel a bit better.
"Are you coming in?" Asked the enchantress softly, she was staring at her home, she surmised it was empty from the lack of cruiser in the driveway—her father was still at work. She felt sorry for him— all these unexplained animal attacks the man barely had time to sleep —with no tangible evidence the case lead nowhere, other than the string of dead bodies left in its wake.
"Are you sure? I thought you wanted to get some rest?" Asked Rosalie, her mind had been fighting against her instincts —attack Edward or protect and calm down her mate? The fight was exhausting.
Bella laughed softly " I'm sure I can rest with you there...besides your presence calms me Rose, so please stay?"she pouted a bit. Rosalie rolled her eyes in mock annoyance.
"Of course darling"
The two women exited the car and found themselves in the empty house quite quickly. Rosalie looked around the room, there was a small desk in the corner—a laptop on top of it and a small chair. The rest of the room looked nice—there wasn't much other than photographs pasted on the lavender colored walls. She looked at a few and noticed Bella's human friends and a two photos of a girl she didn't recognize, she was turning to ask the enchantress about it when she saw Bella shedding her clothing leaving her in a silk boxer and t-shirt.
She stared longer than socially accepted making it clear that she was 'checking her out' or whatever its called but she made no move to hide her interest or arousal. Rosalie quirked a brow at the current state of her mate.
"Well I certainly didn't think this was your idea of rest" she said somewhat suggestively.
The brunette barked out an amused laugh at the suggestive tone before climbing onto the bed making herself more comfortable.
"I just want to be comfortable peanut" she scoffed playfully "you have a dirty mind" her tone was light but her eyes drifted close as she spoke. A few seconds later she felt the bed dip. "And I know you enjoyed the show, I felt your eyes on me" she teased
"I never said I didn't" she paused now fully looking at her mate, she looked tired she could literally feel Bella's heat from where she was. "you look exhausted" she added concerned, as she settled herself in the bed brushing some of Bella's hair out of her face.
"Hmm I am, my magic has been wilder than it has been for a while.
Keeping my calm and my human faćade was almost impossible with Edward claiming all those things. It took everything in me not to lash out at the prick and light him up where he stood." Rosalie laid down on the covers listening to the brunettes tired voice.
She understood where Bella was coming from.She knew how difficult it was to try and keep her cool, she herself had been battling to either keep Bella calm when all she wanted to do was dismember her 'brother'.
"I know, I was fighting myself too" she said softly , her eyes trailed her girlfriends features, she certainly looked much more relaxed than she did in the Cullens home. So much more relaxed that she found herself wishing she brought Bella home sooner.
Deciding to voice her thoughts she asked"Why didn't you want to leave sooner?"
Bella sighed softly curling herself into Rosalie cold body, the lack of heat was a welcoming feeling. Her body felt like a furnace, the cold emanating from Rosalie's body was perfect. It felt like having a glass of ice cold water in the dry heat of the desert sun. She let out an involuntary moan at the pleasant feeling
"He needed to hear it, I needed to make it clear to him that I will never choose him" Wrapping her arm around her mate she tugged Rosalie impossibly closer.
"Ever"
A genuine smile curled onto the vampires lips as she let herself being pulled into the brunettes orbit. The heat from Bella's body made her own feel tiny bursts of electricity throughout her entire body, if she didn't know any better—she would've told you she felt her heart give off a strong beat akin to a drum—but no, it was Bella's heart that beat strong like a drum in the silence of the small room, feeling it as if it was her own —the words her mate told her earlier that day rung in her ears.
"I'll have my heart enough beat for the both us" her eyes fluttered close concentrating on the strong sound resonating throughout the room.The rest of the tension, anger and disgust she felt toward her so called brother swept away at the sound.
"Am I your choice then?" She whispered into the silent room, the sky outside darkened slowly giving way to the stars and moon. The last rays of light filtering through the flimsy curtains that hung near the window.
Bella's eyes opened at the vampires words, her magic feeling significantly calmer—her body temperature lowered the longer she held the vampire in her arms. A small chuckle left her throat at the words.
Her hand drawing lazy patterns on Rosalie's hip above her clothing—it wasn't sexual, it provided comfort, reassurance that her mate was finally in her arms after months of pining, working to get into the vampires good graces, flirting that at times was the cheesiest things she would ever say but none of that mattered because in the end she got the girl even if she nearly had to burn Edward to do it.
"Choice?" She echoed.
"There never was a choice, it was always you and will always be you" she said honestly.
Placing a reassuring kiss to the vampires collarbone, she let herself drift off to sleep with her vampire firmly in her arms.
The following day Bella woke up to an empty bed, opening her eyes was a struggle, her muscles protesting at the sudden movement. She looked to the now empty spot beside her, wondering when the vampire left, or why the vampire didn't even wake her. Sighing sadly she shuffled up to her feet, slowly stretching out her muscles with a satisfied groan.
She heard two voices downstairs, as she put on a pair of sweat pants. 'Probably dad in the phone' she thought as she continued her journey. Making a stop at the bathroom quickly brushing her teeth and washing away any evidence of sleep. The time read 8:34am—she slept for 14 hours well it's not the first time, but usually her displeased stomach would wake her.
Deciding to fix herself some breakfast downstairs the conversation became clearer and for some reason she didn't expect her girlfriend to be sitting in front of her father on a Sunday morning talking.
Pinching herelf discreetly as she looked at the scene —it seemed so very domestic and way too casual for someone who slept over especially someone that her father's never met officially . She expected her father to wake her but clearly he had other ideas.
Clearing her throat gaining attention of the two seemingly oblivious people—though she was 100% sure Rosalie heard her get up. "Good morning" she said confusedly looking between the two, her father sat at the kitchen table with a mug in hand while Rosalie mimicked his movements, discreetly scrunching up her nose in disgust at the coffee in her hand.
"Bells! you finally up? You slept like a log" Bella who still watched wide eyed nodded her head dumbly
"yeah dad I was pretty tired, as soon as I came home I conked out." She said honestly.
"I know Rosalie here told me all about it , meeting the parents of your girlfriend can be very tiring" he said teasingly.
"Yeah" she breathed out, Rosalie covered her mouth fighting a laugh at her girlfriends confused expression.
"Now, imagine my surprise when my version of meeting the girlfriend meant finding her in bed with my 17 year old daughter holding her like koala bear" he stated matter of factly.
"Wha.. what dad ... uhm nothing happened" she rushed out quickly, nearly face planting off the last step of the stairs. She righted herself quickly —too quickly that Rosalie raised an eyebrow at the seemingly supernatural feat.
Charlie kept his expression stern, but witnessing his daughter splutter and stammer nearly cracking her head open he couldn't help left off a gruff laugh.
"Relax Bells, I know nothing happened but still keeping your new girlfriend hostage isn't the best way for your dad to meet her kiddo" he joked
Bella rubbed her neck sheepishly, shaking her head at her fathers version of humor. She wasn't ashamed obviously but having your girlfriend in your bed and having your father find said girlfriend does make one a bit disoriented to say the least.
"hardy, ha dad and no I didn't keep her hostage." She grumbled our moving forward to pour her own cup of coffee. She dropped off a kiss to Rosalie's cheek with a small murmur of good morning.
"It's still way too early for you to be teasing me" she pointed to her father then turned her gaze to her girlfriend who'd been watching the scene with an amused smile. "and you peanut shouldn't be sitting there quietly." Hmph— she stomped her foot. Not something she was proud of but hey it was way too early—she was hungry —and these two were looking for making fun at her expense.
"Mature" teased Rosalie.
"Alright now Bella since I met Rosalie here why don't you tell me how long has this been going on?" Asked Charlie breaking the girls staring contest.
"two days officially dating" answered Bella before Rosalie could.
"And she's been pining after me for what?months right?" Added Rosalie with a teasing grin on her face. Bella flushed in embarrassment, while Charlie laughed at his daughters embarrassment.
"I like her bells , she's got spunk" he declared approvingly, rolling her eyes at her father.
"Yeah, she's got spunk alright" she murmured with a small smile on her face.
The rest of the morning went swimmingly, Charlie excused himself saying he needed to catch up on sleep since he'd been at the station for hours burning the midnight oil trying to find answers to the case they've been working on for the past week.
Bella watched him go up the stairs with a worried frown etched onto her face. She knew they wouldn't find anything and now apparently they were organizing a manhunt to see whether the animal that attacked the hikers was still in the woods.
"You look worried" states Rosalie, watching her girlfriend chew on her bottom lip.
Turning back to Rosalie—Bella shook her head giving Rosalie the smallest of smiles hoping to reassure the vampire but clearly it didn't work when the vampire raised a single eyebrow.
"Just a bit, these killings has been happening for the past week and it's getting closer to forks." She said thumbing her third cup of coffee for the morning.
Sitting on the three seater leather couch beside her mate, giving her a small nod of understanding.
Carlisle has been called to consult on most of the cases, he confirmed it wasn't an animal but a vampire, as if being drained of all their blood wasn't a big enough sign—but she had to give these vampires credit they covered up their kills fairly well, tearing up the bodies making it look like a wild animal was the cause.
"has this happened before?" Questioned the vampire, she knew the look on Bella's face —it already told the vampire that the enchantress was aware that This was not an ordinary animal attack. She clearly knew her fathers search or rather manhunt for this beast would fail.
"Yes" she answered flatly. Her face blank, she didn't want to talk about James with Rosalie, she knew the vampire would become protective even though she didn't need it—but her instincts would demand her take Bella away and that wasn't something she needed or wanted. She needed to face James—Kill James and whoever else got in her way. It wasn't the same thing like Edward where she could have a conversation and reason with him no — James would use her loved ones against her —he would turn it in a game for his own sick amusement.
Rosalie stiffened at her mates flat voice, but not to be deterred she narrowed her eyes at the one word response " and ?" Prompting the enchantress to continue.
Bella stood up walking to the kitchen to drop her cup in the sink. With her back facing Rosalie.
"And nothing Rose" she said louder than she needed " whatever happens, happens.
We'll deal with it when the time comes. There's no need to rehash it now" pushing a hand through her hair, jaw clenching as her mind played back how helpless she was the first time—when James threw her up like a rag doll—taunting her—how stupid she was falling into his obvious trap.
"End of discussion " she said pointedly. Clenching her fists—breathing heavily through her nose.
Rosalie feeling the change in the air—tension hanging thick —like lightning crackling.she blurred through the room standing close to her mate who seemed to be controlling the anger in her voice. Her tone was clear it wasn't a question but a statement that needed no response or argument.
Her lip curled in disappointment, even now Bella still hid things from her—given they hadn't been together for long hell it's barely been 48 hours but it was clear she didn't want to share that nugget of information with her.
"I see" she said shortly—her own anger getting the best of her. "I'll go home it's clear that we can't have a honest conversation, since it's clear that you're still hiding things from me" she said picking up her bag and keys on the table.
Bella didn't turn to face her vampire mate, instead she allowed her to leave, she knew telling Rosalie or doing something different than the previous timeline might change the outcome no matter how small it was.
That theory had already been proven in two ways— with outing her sexuality she invited a predator to nearly attack her—deciding not to go to that bookstore allowed an innocent person to be sexually assaulted in her place. So yes telling Rosalie about what's to come might even result in more people being killed by the three red eyed vampires —and once again she didn't know whether any other changes had already happened... so no, she wasn't going to take the chance— after all even deviating a tiny bit from the current line of events might even get someone close to her killed. That wasn't a chance she was willing to take.
Shaking her head sadly at the lack of response she received from Bella hurt her more than she was willing to admit.
Opening the front door she spoke once more hoping to atleast her a response.
"Alice says they'll be a thunderstorm later this afternoon." She paused "it's the only time my family can play baseball ... we'll be leaving our home at 3pm.she really wants you to come." She said turning away and leaving shutting the door softly.
If Rosalie had stayed one second longer she would've seen the water from the sink rise wildly—forearms alight with flames.
A/N oooooh baseball dun dun !
Rosalie still feeling that Bella's lying to her? I know they barely got together already having issues but hey not everything can be rainbows and unicorns.
I hope y'all enjoy this chapter and I seriously hope it came across as I've imagined it.