Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
"Aaaaaghh," Emmett groaned.
"Hush!" Rosalie laughed. "The whole town will hear!"
"No, they won't," grinned Emmett as he stretched even more on the warm grass. "Aaaaaaagh!", he groaned again, louder this time to drown out Rosalie' tisk-tisking next to him. They were laying on their backs on their favorite cliff outside of Forks, feet dangling off the edge and basking in the warmth of the sun. This high up, they were above the cloud bank that covered the city and could enjoy the sun's rays in complete privacy. That privacy often led to other...amorous activities as well which they often took advantage of when they came here. They did so again this morning (and again and again) but now both of them were content to just lie next to each other and relish each other's company.
A sudden chuckle from him had Rosalie eying him warily. "What?" she asked.
"Don't kill me," he said with a glint in his eyes. "Ever wonder if you really are related to them?"
"Oh for god's sake," she puffed.
"Come on! I'm serious!" He cried out, "You even look like them."
"Jasper looks like them too."
"Jasper doesn't have what you got, babe."
"Don't start," she rolled her eyes. This wasn't the first time Emmett had wondered out loud at the strange similarities between his wife and the three succubi in Alaska. The most obvious being, of course, her insatiable sexual appetite.
"Hey, I'm not complaining," he grinned. She turned and gave him a look. "Well, not anymore!" He added reluctantly. "I've got a wingman now!"
Rosalie shook her head, torn between wanting to flick him off the cliff and snuggling closer into his side. She decided on the latter.
Both quieted down for a while and listened to the birds before Emmett spoke again.
"You should bring her up here," he said quietly. "Show her this place."
Rosalie frowned and looked up. "You don't have to do that, Em. This place is ours. You shouldn't give up everything."
He shrugged and turned onto his side so he could look at her as he spoke. "I don't think of it like that. I want these things for her. She's not just your lover, not to me. She's-"
"She's your Bella Bear..." Rosalie finished and smiled gently.
"I'd rather keep some things separate for now," she whispered. "That'll probably change...but I think it'll do us all good while we get used to this. But...it would be nice for the three of us to do something together. I think Bella would like that."
"I'd like that too," Emmett smiled. "Maybe we could go somewhere Christmas break? The beach? Hey, I call dibs on buying her a swimsuit!"
"Absolutely not!" Rosalie laughed. "You'll have the poor girl dressed like Princess Leia!"
Emmet whistled. "Now that'd be a sight...provided you're in a matching suit of course."
She slapped his arm. "Ass."
Author's Note: The song that Bella plays till the end of the chapter is "The Shape of Things To Come" from Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009 remake) and is the piano version by Joohyun Park. It's youtubeable. Please hit CTR-T and listen to it :) On a completely sidetracked note, I have to take the time to praise Battlestar Galactica (All hail!) and its music composer Bear McCreary for 1. one of the awesomest TV shows on the planet and 2. one of the best tv/movie scores EVER created.
The music drifted through the house from the living room where Bella had been playing for the last few hours. The piece was finally starting to come together. Esme stopped for a few seconds to listen as the melody took shape before resuming her final once-over of Edward's room. Everything looked as it should. New furniture, sound system, and as many books and records as she and Carlisle could think to buy. Downstairs, the music room too had received a similar makeover. There was little else she could do now but wait and wonder when he'd return home. Alice had not had any visions of him and it had been almost a week since Bella and Rosalie's return. All calls went unanswered.
She hummed along with Bella's song as she made her way through the now heavily used kitchen. A little olive oil here, a touch of paprika there, and a whole lot of chopping later...ingredients not only for Bella's dinner but for a soothing few minutes during which Esme could think in peace. She would miss this when the girl became one of them. As usual when she indulged in this sort of thinking, the heavy guilt descended until she nearly felt sick. It was horrible that she wanted this so much. She wanted Bella's human life to end-there was no other way to put it. And yet...don't people crave eternal life? If given the choice between wasting away and eternal youth, wouldn't most people choose life...no matter how lifeless it seemed? And was it really all that terrible, this life she and her family led? They did not kill innocents. She and Carlisle earned an honest living and invested wisely (honesty there rather stretched, she had to admit, since Alice's visions were decidedly not an ethical way of conducting business). They gave back to the community through countless charities. Before she had someone to cook for, all the food she bought to maintain their cover went straight to the food bank. Their nature was to be ruthless, murderous, and unfeeling...and yet all of them have managed to set aside that vileness and become upstanding members of society. They were good and kind and charitable. No one could say Bella would be giving up a natural life for an immoral one if she followed their lifestyle. She sighed...who was she kidding? Vampires are no fairytale. To be one meant subscribing to the authority of the Volturi. It meant clashes over territory. It meant having to deal with nomads and newborns. Worst of all, it meant dealing with death. She and Carlisle had largely insulated themselves and their family from this with their vegetarian lifestyle and congenial approach to other vampires...but somewhere above them, death always hung waiting to drop. Inevitably someone makes a mistake. It happened to her. It happened to most of her children. Bella had already seen so much, caused so much...she shuddered at the thought of the poor child having the added burden of blood lust on top of her other burdens.
"Do you need any help?" Rosalie asked from the doorway, interrupting her thoughts.
"Hmm? Oh, no sweetie. Thank you, I'm just about done here."
But Rosalie seemed determined to help somehow and so picked up the dish towel and started to dry the few dishes by the sink. Esme knew her daughter well-something was on her mind.
"I can't bring myself to speak of it," Rosalie whispered. "I just can't, Esme."
"Oh honey," Esme sighed quietly. From this distance she knew Bella couldn't hear. She was far too focused on her music now anyway. "I know. It's been torturing me too."
"Are we so selfish as to go through with it?" Rosalie asked, the pain clear in her eyes. "Would we really wish this on someone who had a choice? Esme, I just want her to be happy...but I want her with me."
Esme took the towel from her shaking hands and held them in her own. "She is happy with you," she said. "She positively glows when you're near her. I think whatever happens, as long as she has you she will be happy."
"But-"
"No buts," Esme said with a confidence that did not at all reflect her conflicted emotions. "It's far too early to even be considering this. She has two years left of high school. You have time to talk to her. Don't torture yourself for nothing...but Rosalie, think carefully about this: Whenever, if ever it happens...or doesn't happen...would you love her any less?"
"Of course not..."
"Then don't dwell on it," Esme said. "Focus on living now-you and her. Focus on your relationship. With Emmett too. Make things work over the next two years and then...and then what will come will come."
Rosalie nodded as she hugged her. Esme hoped she wouldn't see through her blatant hypocrisy. She knew she wouldn't be following her own advice and that this topic would constantly be on her mind until a variable changed. Regardless, she hoped her brave front would be enough to soothe Rosalie's guilt. They were all just beginning to get used to the strange anomaly that was a giddy, overjoyed Rosalie. Bella was the final key, along with Emmett, that unlocked a truly happy Rosalie, and Esme didn't want her internal conflicts to overshadow that.
Bella too, had a serenity about her that felt out of place in a human. Jasper had confided to her his observations...that Rosalie's presence acted much like his calming power over her. The blonde needed only to touch her before Bella's raw negative emotions were subdued. It was much the same with Emmett, especially when he was still a newborn. Both he and Bella were enchanted by Rosalie, she thought with a smile.
A couple of odd notes reached her ears and she giggled at Bella's frustrated growl. She fixed it soon enough though, and Esme stood by the entrance to the living room so she could watch her play.
Alice was starting to get annoyed with her family. First Bella, and now Edward seemed to have mastered the art of not making decisions in order to thwart her visions. The school year was to begin in two days time. Edward had to make it back by then. But if he was making the trip he certainly made no plans for it. Nor did he decide to hunt, to read a book, to take a long walk, or any of the typical things that Edward did. Since this was highly unusual the only thing she could deduce was that he, like Bella had done in Canada, was actively avoiding her visions. Ugh. What was the point of having a clairvoyant in the family if they didn't use her gift?
A moment later, her eyesight got blurry as the familiar start of a vision came through. But it wasn't Edward. It was Bella deciding the song was finished and planning to play it through one more time now that it was complete. Sigh...well so much for that. While disappointed that she hadn't seen Edward, she was aware enough to notice how much easier it was to see Bella's decisions when she was on the piano. Not that she left her spaced out state that often when she really got into the music...but when she did, Alice was guaranteed to get something from her...a rarity, that was for sure. She'd seen decisions to move measures around, decisions to get more water, decisions to go to the bathroom (Alice would rather she forget that image) and so on.
She was halfway through her song when she picked up his scent. They all did, she could see. Everyone became still, save for Bella who continued on in blissful ignorance. Rosalie and Emmett, who were sitting together on the loveseat visibly stiffened, though this time it was Emmett's touch that helped calm her down. Jasper and Carlisle looked up from their chess game in the corner. Esme sighed in relief.
As for Alice...she wasn't the empath, but even she could sense the unease sweeping the room. When it came to Bella, Edward was a loose cannon...in more ways than one. He paused at the front door. She guessed that he was listening to Bella's music and that he didn't want to interrupt with his entrance. Whatever was going on in his head, the family stood absolutely still waiting for Bella to finish playing. Too soon for some of them, she finally did. Her small satisfied smile slowly changed to confusion than to understanding when Edward walked into the room.
He cleared his throat. "That was very good, Bella." He paused and looked at his family. "Hello everyone."
Author's note: Sorry this is on the shorter side. I had some more planned but decided last minute I wanted it in a different chapter to maximize drama :) Would love to hear your thoughts!
By the way, in case you're wondering how serious I am about this fic...I know exactly what's gonna be in the epilogue. SO, have no fear O wonderful readers. Your devotion will not be in vain (you know, unless I get killed or something...wouldn't that just suck?).