Place and Time

A/N: After two and a half years, it seems my muse has rolled into town again. She's in the spare bedroom, unpacking her bags, and sorting plot bunnies into drawers, so it looks like she's planning on sticking around a while.

Thank you for your tinkering, Frannie!

Now, back to that unexpected phone call Bella got (2 ½ years ago!) on the return trip from her Seattle apartment hunt with Charlie…

C-5: An Overdue Reconnection

Dad wordlessly passes me a tissue from his stash in the driver's side door. I take a quick swipe at my eyes and nose as Rose responds on the other end of the phone line.

"It's really good to hear your voice, too, Bella." She sounds as choked up as I am, but the sincerity in her voice comes through loud and clear. "Are you busy? Can you talk?"

I'm certainly not busy, riding home from Seattle after a weekend of apartment hunting with Dad. And though it might feel awkward with him overhearing my half of the conversation, I'm not about to ask Rose if I can call her later. It's been long enough. If she's willing to talk, I am too.

"Yeah, I can talk, Rose. I'm not busy." It's rather obvious what prompted this unexpected call. "I guess you got my wedding RSVP?"

"I did, just today. I was gone this weekend, but I found it in my mail when I got home a little while ago." She pauses a beat. "I was so afraid to open that little envelope, Bella; afraid of what I might read after all these weeks…all these years. But of course, I did open it. I read what you wrote about your move and the mix-up with the mail and the invitation taking so long to get to you. And then…" Her voice suddenly cracks with emotion. "There was your phone number…in case I wanted to talk."

My eyes are brimming with tears again. She sounds so contrite. So sad. Just like I am. But she forges on before I can say a word.

"I should have called to apologize ages ago, Bella, but I honestly didn't think you'd ever want to hear from me again after I crapped all over our friendship. And I honestly didn't expect a response when I sent you the invitation, but I really wanted you to know that Royce is long gone from my life. I mean, I hoped I might hear from you, but as the weeks passed… Well, I figured I deserved your silence."

"Oh, Rose. I'm so sorry…" It's all I can croak out as Dad hands another tissue my way.

"No, don't apologize, Bella. I now know that you were just trying to be a good friend, and I'm so ashamed of the awful things I said to you. Can you ever forgive me for being such a hot-headed, pig-headed dumbass and ruining our friendship?"

"Gosh, Rose, of course, I forgive you. But I'm at fault here too. I'm sorry I didn't try to get in touch with you, but I felt the same way. I assumed you wouldn't want anything to do with me. I figured you'd written me off. I mean, you said some hurtful things, but I absolutely pushed you to that point. I was the one who overstepped, trying to tell you how to live your life. I was just so concerned for you."

"I get that now, so please don't apologize, Bella. You were trying to look out for me, and it's my own fault I didn't want to face the truth. You were absolutely right; I should never have moved in with Royce."

A few years older, extremely attractive, and a real charmer, Royce King seemed like quite the catch when Rose first met him in college. It wasn't until after they were together that it became clear he was quite possessive and had a jealous streak. He would call to check up on Rose when she was out with friends, and before long, he simply showed up uninvited, cutting into her time with others.

Rose excused his behavior. I think she must have been kind of flattered by it. But to me, his possessiveness felt off. I thought he was rather manipulative and controlling, and I felt certain he was to blame when Rose's relationships with her family and friends began deteriorating. I began to doubt that Royce loved her at all. It seemed more like he just wanted to possess her and steer her away from those who truly loved and cared about her. When Rose told me she was moving in with him, I couldn't hold my tongue any longer. I told her exactly what I thought about Royce, and we had a horrible fight. That was the last time Rose and I ever spoke.

Until now.

"It was exactly like you tried to warn me, Bella. Things between Royce and me only got worse after I moved in with him. "

"Oh, no. What happened?"

She sighs. "Pretty typical, actually… Things were fine at first, but then he began complaining and getting mad about the stupidest things. He'd been having some issues at work, and I just figured he was under stress from that. Then he would belittle me or make crude comments in front of his friends when he was drinking. He'd apologize afterwards and ask for my forgiveness, promising to clean up his act. And he would for a while. Until the next time."

"Rose, that's awful."

"It was. I finally told him I couldn't take the ups and downs and wanted to part ways. He absolutely lost it. He was so angry I was afraid he was going to hit me. He'd never struck me before, but he sure looked and sounded capable of it that night. So I backed down, apologized profusely, and played nice. But I knew I had to get out before he did become physically violent. I hadn't spoken to my parents in ages, but I called them the next day and explained the situation. The following day, after Royce left for work, they came and helped me clear out all my things and move back home. My dad went back that evening, confronted Royce, and threatened him with legal action if he ever contacted me again. That was three years ago and thankfully, I never heard from him again.

"Oh my gosh, Rose, what an ordeal. That must have been frightening. I'm so glad you had the courage to call your folks and ask for help to get out of that awful relationship."

"Me too. But it was hard to face the fact that I'd stayed with him and allowed him to manipulate me like he did. I kept trying to please him, hoping that things would change. I was ashamed and embarrassed that things had gotten to the brink of physical abuse. I wound up going to counseling afterwards, and that really helped me understand that none of it was ever any of my fault."

"I am so sorry he hurt you—emotionally and mentally if not physically. But I'm glad you went to counseling to sort through everything."

"Yeah. It was hard at first, but worth it. I learned a lot, including how to move on and not dwell on the past. And things are good now. Really good. In fact, things have actually been pretty wonderful for the past two years…" Her voice has a sudden very happy lilt to it, and I think I know why.

"Speaking of which, I'm sure we've got some other really important stuff to talk about," I remind her.

"I'd say so," she agrees, laughing. "Oh my god, Bella, I'm getting married!"

"You are!" I cheer, laughing with her.

"And you're back in Washington!"

"I am!" I mimic her tone.

"And you're coming to my wedding!"

"I am?"

"Of course you are. You have to, Bella. You have to meet Emmett, and you have to be there on our special day. I don't care what it takes to get here; you're coming to the wedding! And the reception!"

"Okay, okay!" I laugh. "Of course, I'll come to your wedding. But isn't it too late for the reception? Didn't you already have to give them a final headcount?"

"Don't worry about it. There's still some wiggle room. And if not, I'll sit on Emmett's lap at the head table, and you can have my seat right next to us!" We both laugh at the ridiculousness of her suggestion, but the sentiment sounds like it rings true.

"That sounds like a fine plan. Oh, wait! Can you send me a photo of you and Emmett?" I ask. "I haven't seen you in years, and I'd really like to see this guy you're marrying."

"Sure. Give me a sec, and I'll find a good one. And send me a photo of you, too! Or you aaaand…?" Her voice hangs on the last word.

"No, there's no one else in the picture right now. But I'll send you a recent shot of me. Hang on."

We pause to do our photo swap, and the image that pops up on my screen shows a stunning, smiling Rose with a grinning, dark-haired, giant of a man. And the way he's looking at her in the photo… It's obvious this guy wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to her.

"Oh, Rose, you look so glamorous, and Emmett is a total hottie. But he also looks like he'd be a big cuddly teddy bear."

"Thanks, Bella. And yes, Emmet is both of those things. He's also really good to me. I can't wait for the two of you to meet. And Oh. My. God. Look at you, Bella Swan! You look amazing. And you finally got boobs!"

"I did!" I laugh. "I didn't have to pay for them or anything; they just grew there. Finally!"

"Bring them to the wedding too!"

"I will," I laugh. "I promise."

"Oh, crap! I just remembered I have a final fitting for my wedding gown in half an hour. Oh my god, everything is so hectic right now. Can I call you back sometime in the next few days?"

"Definitely. I'll talk to you soon, Rose."

"Okay, sounds good. Man, have I missed you, Bella."

"Same here."

We end the call, and I just sit there, smiling to myself.

"Sounds like that went well," Dad says simply.

"It did. And I'm going to Rose's wedding. And the reception."

"So I heard," Dad says, looking over with a smile. "So I heard."

A/N: Thank you for reading. I've missed writing and I've missed you. :)