Some snapshots from longer chapters that I lost between updates. I was told a few things about the way I write and how I write, and it's stuck with me. It's a good thing, but it's also something that makes me look at all of my stories in a different light. Nevertheless, we proceed.
Also, unfortunately, after I finish this story, I will be permanently moving my stories to ao3.
Two Months Post-Bella – Storybrooke
Rosalie lies on the bed in her old room at Regina's house and stares at the ceiling. Downstairs, she can vaguely make out Regina discussing blueprint corrections with Ruby and one of the construction workers. Outside, Emmerson mows the lawn and recites poetry under his breath, a new development that he refuses to talk about. She can hear a bird as it claws at the tree across the street, and Rosalie sighs when Hook's sword scrapes against the concrete of the driveway as he teaches Belle how to spar. Everything is the same, but it hurts when Rosalie looks over to the other side of the bed and sees the same thing.
Rosalie's ear twitches when the door opens downstairs, but it's just Emmett. Regina tells him not to track dirt into the house, and Emmett promises to be careful. Rosalie glances at the door as the heavy footsteps of her best friend get closer, and she sits up when the door opens. Emmett pokes his head into the room and smiles.
"Hey," he greets.
Rosalie pushes herself against the headboard and gives a short nod. Emmett isn't deterred, just like the last three weeks of Rosalie's silence, and he opens the door wider. Rosalie's mask cracks just enough, and she blinks.
"Mornin' sis. A little birdie told me you were feelin' down, so I decided I'd come and kidnap you." Jasper clasps his hands behind his back and winks. "All expenses paid, of course," he says.
As much as Rosalie wants to say yes, to run away from the emptiness around her, she can't. Jasper picks up on her mood and sits down on the edge of the bed.
"I know you're afraid," he says. "That if you aren't here when Bella comes back, that she'll think you're gone, but what good would you be if you're like this when Bella returns?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Rose, you haven't hunted in nearly two weeks," Alia sighs, coming around the corner. "We're worried."
"And by we, she means everyone," Emmett adds. "Regina was all too willing to open the barrier to let Jazz in after Ruby threatened to drag a dead animal into the house. You're wasting away here, and I think it'll be good for all of us to get away for a while."
"But-
"Regina already promised to call if Bella shows up while we're gone," Alia said. "But what if it's a year before that happens? Two? You can't sit here and starve yourself for that long."
"I just can't-
"You no longer have no choice." Rosalie's head snaps to the newcomer, and Regina clears her throat. "Do you all mind pretending to give us some privacy?" she asks the others.
Jasper, Emmett, and Alia leave the room, and Regina shuts the door. A tense silence falls between them. The last time they were alone, Isabella was gone, and they both blamed the other. It took five days before Rosalie gathered the nerve to go back to the house and thirty seconds for Regina to let her in. They haven't spoken since, but there's a mutual understanding they're in it together.
"You cannot keep doing this to yourself," Regina sighs, sitting on the bed. "I know for you this is the worst pain imaginable, but she wouldn't want you to waste away in the house until she got back. Alia's right. What if it happens two years from now?"
"I don't know how to let go," Rosalie confesses. "She's everywhere."
"And she always will be for you. Me too," Regina jokes weakly. "I carry her with me always, and each morning is a reminder that she's off somewhere having her heart broken all over again. But if this is how Isabella needs to grieve, to move on, I can't stop her. I won't."
"You don't want to bring her back?"
"From the moment I read the letter."
"Why didn't you?"
"I already told you. This is for Isabella more than it is for me, and you can blame Archie for that. She and I were selfish the first time, and that's how we ended up here. We skirted over the issues, the conversations, and the unspoken tension. There was abandonment, lies, and too many secrets that weighed on us until everything broke. I had a hand in it just like she did, but this separation is good for us. At least this time, it is on our own terms." Regina puts a hand on Rosalie's knee. "Bella will come back, that much we know, but until then, we have to make peace with her absence. This is what happens with change, and as painful as it is, the end result will be beautiful. Go with your family, explore the world and do things that most of the world can't. Send me pictures of impossible places I can only dream of going to and heal. You need to laugh until it hurts all over again and learn to trust that someone's going to be there to help you put the pieces back together again."
Regina moves and kneels before Rosalie, grasping her hands.
"I need to know that both of my daughters are healing the way they need to for them to be happy."
Rosalie jerks forward and wraps her arms around Regina. She memorizes the woman's heartbeat, her smell, and she sighs.
"I hate you."
"That means I am doing my job. Now," Regina stands, which forces Rosalie to let go. "I have to take Ruby to the site and make sure the changes are implemented. When I get back, I expect you to be gone."
Rosalie nods, and Regina goes over to the door. She stops and looks back over her shoulder.
"For the record, if I had to have someone to share my heart with, I am glad it's you."
"Your…" Rosalie trails off and smiles. "I'll always take care of it," she says instead.
Regina opens the door and leaves. Jasper, Emmett, and Alia wait patiently outside, and Rosalie looks around the room one more time.
"So?" Alia asks. "Are you ready?"
"No," Rosalie admits. "But let's do it anyway."
Emmett fist bumps and throws Rosalie over his shoulder. Jasper and Alia share a laugh when Rosalie doesn't even fight it. He carries her down the stairs and out the front door to Jasper's truck. Emmerson stands with Ruby, Hook, and Belle as the vampires leave the house. Regina is nowhere to be found, but Rosalie can hear her in the kitchen. She picks up on the shuddered breathing, muffled tears, and Rosalie touches Emmerson's arm.
"Go inside," she whispers.
Emmerson gets the hint and kisses Rosalie's cheek before he jogs back to the house.
"Glad to see you finally off your ass," Ruby says.
"I'll miss you too, pup."
"Yeah, yeah. Make sure you send care packages."
Rosalie snorts and looks at Belle. "Keep her in line, will you?" she asks.
"I'll try."
"Hey!"
"Be seeing you, mate." Hook bows at the waist and winks at Rosalie. "Don't take too long to come back, alright?" he asks.
"I make no promises."
Hook grins and steps out of the way. Rosalie looks back at the house, sees Regina at the window with Emmerson wrapped around her, and waves.
"Please don't look for her," Regina says, knowing Rosalie can hear her.
Rosalie hesitates, but eventually, she nods. Regina turns away from the window. Emmerson touches his heart and smiles before he follows her. Rosalie gets in the passenger seat while Emmett and Alia sit in the back. Jasper honks once before he drives down the main road. When they ride over the barrier, all the pain hits Rosalie at once. Jasper grimaces but doesn't try to help. Instead, he reaches over and grabs Rosalie's hand. He intertwines their fingers and squeezes to keep her grounded.
Three Months Post-Bella, Storybrooke
Emmerson stares at the weights, flexes his fingers, and he tries to hype himself up to pick one up. With Regina busy with Euphoria and the new barrier initiative, Emmerson spends too much time on the couch or in his office back at the station. Becoming Sheriff again has its perks considering crime rates went way down once the Charming family returned to the Enchanted Forest. Storybrooke has officially turned into a small town, minus a few differences, and it's peaceful. Emmerson chews on his bottom lip and tries to keep from running from the gym. This is something he'd always been nervous to start. He had pictures taped to his office wall that he stared at for hours, wondering why he couldn't look like them. It took Ruby accidentally finding them to put an intervention together. It was confirmation from the family that Emmerson is loved and will be loved no matter what.
That was three nights ago, and he's still hesitating to take the first step. Emmerson's about to panic and leave when he looks into the mirror.
"Hook?" he exclaims.
"Morning." Hook pokes at the nearest weight in curiosity before he looks at Emmerson. "You started yet?" he asks.
"I- no. What are you doing here?"
"Lifting weights? Or at least learning how to do that without breaking something. Never done it before, but when you mentioned it a few nights ago, I figured why not give something new a try? Adella seems to be on board."
"That does explain the outfit," Emmerson says.
"Part of her new exercise line. I'm wearing the Enchantment collection or something like that. Now. What's first?" Emmerson shrugs helplessly, and Hook smiles. "I guess it's a good thing I brought some friends then," he adds.
Emmerson's jaw drops when Jax, Vincent, and a few other guards enter the gym. They all form a circle around Emmerson and give him matching grins. Emmerson doesn't cry, he doesn't, but he can't ignore the rush of affection for the men slowly becoming his best friends.
"Thank you," Emmerson says, his voice cracking.
"Anytime, brother," Jax says. "Now, first things first, stretching."
Four Months Post-Bella, Ireland
"This is what I call a view!" Emmett shouts.
Rosalie can't disagree. She takes out her phone and snaps a picture, sending it to Regina before she pockets the device in her jacket. This is their last stop before they head back to Maine, and Rosalie will admit she misses the small town.
"Who the fuck chose this location?" Kate huffs. "I'm freezing my tits off."
"You can't even feel the cold," Rosalie argues.
"Doesn't make it any less true."
Rosalie rubs her temples out of habit. Inviting her other family was a surprise Jasper assumed would be a good idea. But when Kate shocked Rosalie so hard she vomited the blood from her hunt that afternoon, Jasper spent the rest of the evening apologizing. Rosalie told him not to worry about anything and that he couldn't have known, and she dragged herself into the house they were renting in Dublin. After a long two days of arguments, screaming, and fighting, Rosalie got her sisters back.
"Kate, enough," Tanya sighs. "You have been complaining since we got here."
"I wanted a vacation," she whines. "If I wanted to go somewhere cold and dreary, I would have stayed in Alaska."
"No one asked you guys to come up here," Rosalie exclaims.
"Technically, Jasper did when he invited us. And also, if I didn't come, how would I get to annoy you for running off with your mysterious, wayward mate?" Kate asks.
"Watch it," Rosalie warns.
"I'm just saying. For someone who followed some chick to the middle of fucking nowhere, you -
Rosalie kicks Kate off the cliff. Tanya sighs heavily and looks at Rosalie. Irina snickers and looks over the edge.
"You know, when you mentioned they had an interesting relationship, I assumed something different."
Rosalie glances at Peter, who is talking to Jasper and Emmett. Alia and Charlotte share a breathless laugh at the exasperation on Rosalie's face.
"Rosalie and Kate love one another in a way no one else can," Tanya says wryly.
"Yeah, the massive holes in the wall back at the house says otherwise," Peter replies.
"Those were love taps," Irina mutters. "They once took down an entire house after Kate ripped Rosalie's shirt in half."
Peter purses his lips in thought, and Charlotte puts a hand on her husband's arm.
"Baby, let it go," she says.
Peter shrugs and moves on to something else. Rosalie ignores the conversation in favor of stripping off her jacket. She hands it to Alia, who stares at her oddly, and Rosalie exhales before she jumps. The freefall is the closest thing to freedom Rosalie's felt in weeks. Rosalie sinks down to the ocean floor, where she finds Kate with her arms folded. Rosalie swims to her and taps her shoulder. Kate looks up, and Rosalie flexes her fingers before she signs-
I know you mean well, but please, leave Isabella out of the argument.
But she's the reason why you left me.
Rosalie drops down in front of Kate and waves away the fish circling her head.
I'm sorry I left. I'm sorry I stopped calling. And I'm sorry you found out from Jasper I was back in Alaska, but I'm not sorry for chasing my mate. I'm not sorry for helping her. I love her.
She left you.
And that hurt. It still hurts. Rosalie stops. She doesn't look at Kate directly as she adds, But that doesn't mean she isn't still my mate.
I hate seeing you sad.
That comes with the territory. And if it helps, I am always happy around you.
Kate finally smiles, and Rosalie points to the surface. Kate nods and gets to her feet.
Race you.
There is a full second between Rosalie realizing what Kate said and getting a face full of sand as Kate propels out of the water. Rosalie scrambles to catch up, laughing when Kate kicks her back into the water as soon as she starts climbing the cliffs.
Same Time, Storybrooke
Regina smiles at the picture Rosalie sent. The vampire herself isn't in the frame, but Regina sees Emmett's broad shoulders off to the side. Regina puts down the phone and goes back to work. It's only six in the morning, and Regina's already deep in paperwork. Who knew putting a Pride parade together would require so much planning? Her office door opens, and Emmerson ducks in with two cups of coffee and a bag clearly from the new breakfast place in Miller Heights. Regina swoons like every morning when Emmerson brings her coffee and food. She also takes a moment to appreciate how his clothes are starting to get tighter around his shoulders and arms.
"Gina?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you alright? You kind of zoned out on me."
"Oh. I was just thinking that you look nice in that shirt."
Emmerson gives Regina a weird look as he sets down the food.
"Thank you? But I wear this shirt all the time when I work out."
"I know, and it's obvious you've grown into it."
Emmerson flexes his arm, and Regina is thankful she's able to catch the whimper before it escapes. Naturally, he notices, but he doesn't tease. Emmerson just chuckles and pulls out the bacon and egg sandwich Regina refuses to order for herself.
"Thank you," she says.
"No problem. I like these moments where I can do this for you."
"Should you be eating this before you work out?" Regina asks.
"I'm not going today," he laughs. "I just grabbed the first thing clean."
"What happened to four days a week?"
"Yesterday, we kind of talked about it, and we realized today should be an off day. Hook and Adella are preparing for her clothing launch, Jax and Vincent are doing some kind of project back in Miller Heights, and the others just want to sleep in. Ruby took the morning shift for me today, so that means I'm all yours."
Regina glances at the paperwork on her desk and decides they have plenty of time before the parade. She saves her work and shuts down her computer before she picks up her coffee.
"Okay. What's first?" Regina asks.
"What?"
"You said you're all mine today. So. What's first? I took the day off."
"I- you- just like that?"
Regina nods, and Emmerson flounders for a bit before he huffs. Emmerson wipes his fingers on a napkin and comes around the desk. He kneels in front of Regina and pulls a box from his pocket. He opens it, and Regina nearly chokes on her coffee. Emmerson winces and scratches the back of his neck.
"This is the worst possible time to do this, I know, but I keep finding an excuse not to do it. I kept telling myself that I had time, but that car accident last week…." Emmerson trails off and sighs. "Life is short, and I realized there would never be a perfect time. So. I'm going to do it now over a greasy breakfast that you pretend to hate in an office where I first fell in love with you."
Emmerson takes a deep breath and closes his eyes before he looks at Regina.
"Regina, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You're the love of my life, and I never want to be without you. You have saved me a million times over without ever knowing it. You're the brightest part of my day and the sweetest part of my night. You are so patient and understanding and loving and kind. It's impossible to fall in love with you more each day, but somehow, you find a way to make me do it. God, I had an entire speech, but looking at you, being with you now, I can't remember a single thing other than I love you. I love you so much, and I- will you marry me?"
Regina's hand trembles as she puts down the coffee, and she holds it out to Emmerson.
"Are you saying yes?" Emmerson asks, his voice high and cracking at the end.
"I am," Regina laughs, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Holy shit! Yes! Oh, fuck, wait. I didn't plan this far ahead."
"You thought I would say no?"
Emmerson puts the ring on Regina's finger and sheepishly confesses, "I thought you would say not yet."
"Nothing with you is ever not yet."
"Yeah?"
Regina nods, staring down at the ring, and she smiles. It looks suspiciously like the one Belle was showing her a few weeks ago. Regina looks back at Emmerson and smirks.
"How many people know?" she asks.
Emmerson blushes and wrings her fingers together.
"Just the family. And the guards. And like…half the people at the gym."
"So, the entire town, then?"
"Probably?"
Regina shakes her head and bends down, kissing Emmerson sweetly. She murmurs against his lips, "Take me home, please."
"But what about breakfast?"
"Seriously?"
"Yes. I went through a lot of trouble to get you that sandwich this morning." At Regina's look, Emmerson groans, "Belle is still at the apartment setting up something for you, and she hasn't texted me yet."
"You are so lucky that I love you, future husband of mine."
Emmerson gives a lazy smile and says, "Yeah, I don't think I'm going to get tired of hearing that."
"Well. I can always show you my appreciation here instead of the apartment."
"Appreciate- oh. Oh! Okay."
Regina tugs Emmerson forward by the collar.
Five Months, Three Weeks Post-Bella, Storybrooke
Emmerson stares at the results in disbelief.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," he huffs.
Emmerson writes down the addresses and shoots his friend a thank you email before shutting down his old laptop. He hides it back in his office before he grabs his jacket and rushes from the station. He runs into Jasper and Emmett.
"You find her?" Emmett asks.
"She's in fucking New York," Emmerson says.
"You going to get her now?" Jasper asks.
"I have to. The wedding is at the end of this week. Regina won't admit it, but she wants her there, and I'll drag Bella here by the hair if I have to."
"Okay. Maybe one of us should go with you," Emmett says.
"I don't give a fuck who comes with me at this point. I do know whoever stays needs to wait until I'm at least an hour out before telling Rosalie."
Jasper shares a look with Emmett before he hurries to get in the car with Emmerson. Emmett realizes at the last minute he got played, and he whines under his breath.
"Damnit!"
Hour Before the Return – Somewhere over Vermont
Jasper relaxes in the back of the private jet. Bella has no idea how they grabbed a private plane, but she's getting the impression Emmerson's not in the mood to answer. She shifts in her seat and ties her hair out of her face. The only thing on her mind is that Regina and Emmerson are getting married. That's… a lot to process. It doesn't even feel like she's been gone that long. Emmerson slips into the seat beside Bella and folds his arms. Bella pokes his bicep without really thinking about it, and she blinks at how solid everything feels.
"Six months."
Bella drops her hand and says, "I know."
"Were you ever coming back?"
"Eventually, yes."
"How did you end up in New York with a teaching position in six months?" Emmerson asks.
"An old friend of Charlie's hooked me up when he found me in Boston. I told him I was a boxing instructor at a former school but had to leave after Charlie's death. He said his school was looking for a substitute P.E. teacher, and I took the job. I needed the money."
"I can't believe you up and left for six months. It would've been more than that had I not found you."
"How did you find me?"
"A friend. Why? Wasn't expecting someone to track you down?"
"No." Bella lays her head on the seat and smiles tiredly at Emmerson. "You look good, Em," she says. "I am happy to see you and Jasper. It seems there are a few things that have changed since I've been gone."
"Some things, yes, but not really. The family misses you. A lot. The new vampires are causing mayhem, the new club opened up, and oh, yeah, I'm getting married."
"How'd that happen?"
Emmerson lets a smile slip and says, "I proposed over a bacon and egg sandwich."
"No wonder she said yes." Emmerson looks at her funnily, and Bella rolls her eyes. "Even after all this time, you still don't get it," she says.
"Get what?"
"You could've proposed with a ring pop, and Mama would've said yes to you."
Emmerson rubs his jaw and shrugs. The conversation stutters, and Bella doesn't know what else to say. She's lost again, and Emmerson sighs before he wraps an arm around her. He kisses the side of her head and pulls her close.
"Nothing's changed where it matters," he says softly. "We all still love you, and the new people are going to love you too. And I know I'm giving you a hard time, but your Mom really missed you. She didn't think you'd be gone that long. None of us did."
"It was just six months," Bella says.
"Six months of knowing you're out there, knowing she has to let you come back on your own, and trusting that you will," Emmerson replies. "Not to mention Rosalie, who literally had to be dragged around the world to keep her from wasting away while waiting for you to come home. Ruby misses you coming into the diner and ordering for everyone. Belle misses you in the library, Hook misses fighting with you, and the guards want their Princess back."
"And you?" Bella asks.
"I missed my best friend," Emmerson confesses. "I missed the person who understood me almost as much as Gina, and I missed the person who ruined her own life to keep our family safe. I missed your laugh, your jokes, and I missed knowing you were just down the street. So. Yeah. I'm giving you a hard time because it's easier than confessing that without you, I felt alone."
Bella lays her head on Emmerson's shoulder.
"I'm glad it's you bringing me home," she whispers.
"Me too."
Present
Regina shuffles by the barrier to stay warm. She's hoping Alia and the others can distract Emmerson and Isabella long enough for her to do this. A jacket lands on her shoulders, and she spins around. Isabella gives her a dry smile and shoves her hands into her pockets.
"How did you know-" she taps her chest, and Regina snorts. "Of course, you listen to it now after that shit you pulled," she says.
"Wow, language. And I was always listening to it," Isabella replies. "Doesn't mean I was hearing what it was saying."
Regina smacks her daughter out of habit.
"What are you doing?"
"I invited a few people to the wedding that Emmerson doesn't know about."
"Who?"
Headlights in the distance catch Regina's attention, and she waves as the car gets closer. Bella stands off to the side in the shadows, and the driver's side window rolls down. Regina's heart is practically beating out of her chest, and she can tell her nervousness is making Bella nervous.
"Hi, it's very nice to finally meet you all in person," Regina greets.
"Same here. I'm really, really glad you reached out. Do you want us to follow you?"
"Yes! Yes, I have my car. You'll be staying at the Bed and Breakfast, and then, tomorrow afternoon, we're doing a luncheon thing. After that, you'll move into the house until after the wedding. Does that work for you?"
"Sounds awesome."
"Great. Well, let's get you all tucked in. I know that was a long trip, but I'm happy you were able to make it."
"Anything for him."